The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-26

taire or Ingersoll, ever suffered such
ruthless attacks as have been made upon
Mr. Russell.
Whether this persecution and misrepre-
sentation is due to prejudice or ignorance
OF this mans real character and writing,
is not for me to say, but l believe both
are elements that play q part in the
widespread criticism uttered both from
The pulpit and the press.
Naturally. men will resent any attack
made upon the creed Of their persuasion,
for they hold to their religious creed and
affiliations with more tenacity than they
realize. until some strong mind, backed
by scripture proof. begins to uproot
their doctrine by showing their inconsis-
tencies and errors.
This is what Mr. Russell proceeds to
dc. The fact is, very few of us have
taken the pains to examine, critically, by
tae light of the divine word, the doctrine
handed down to us by our fathers This
accounts for the fact that Methodist pa
tents raise Methodist children and Bap-
tists raise Baptist children, etc
am amazed beyond measure to read
many idlibtlpun SldifAhtitAoE PPpii7ttS'
regarding the character and the writings
ef this man. He has been called gray
earded egotist. "blgot,' "haber-
fasher'' and many other uncompllmentary
terms have been applied TO him, and
statements made which l know to be
& lthont foundation, and which strikes
gte as being not only very unkind, but
very un-Christlanlike. | can say with
n phasis that | have found nothing In
ri his sermons and writings that would
Indicate a bgoted or egotisticai spirit. On
he contrary, he manifests a very meek
:no humble spirit, and urges his readers
rat to be content with his argument. but
TO go to the scriptures which he points
out and read for themselves.
He is charged with teaching heresy. An
a .tiele by a minister was recently pub
Ii shed in a religious paper in Birming
ham. in which he gave a lengthy criticism
Of Mir Rnssells writings, referring to
them as heresy apparently forgetting
tHaf there was time when his own de-
rnmlnational views were considered heret-
{eaD. Tais article not only misrepresented
A., RUSSELL but showed lack of crit
-; comparison of his writings with the
scriptures
I.or instance, the statement was made
IN thai article that Mr.. Russell denies
me resurrection of Jesus Christ. The
ftath is, | doubt whether one of his crit
H.. can preach a stronger sermon on
tne resurrection than one which was re-
Gently published by him in about 1906
newspapers IN the United. States Canada
cl eat Britain and elsewhere, and was
read doubtless By 100000 people. show
i,ts most conclusiyely that the world s
tspe of everlasting life rents entirely
iron the resurrection of the dead. Jesus
Christ being the first fruit of them that
rlept-God thus giving assurance unto all
nj, n for a hope Of a resurrection, as lie
iaised Christ from the dead.
The resurrec ton Is the thread of mis-
discourse from the beginning Of the first
y. hume to the end Of the sixth.
Mr. Russell was further charged IN the
same article Of Denying the atonemcn,
made bv Christ between God and man
\. thing could be further from the truth
sir. Russelis first sentence in tho ffth
,elume. entitled. The Atonement Be
tween God and Man, Is as follows;
's1he atonement lies at the very foiin-
d,,tlon Of The Christian religion and