The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-01-24

llfASlG)K RUSSElL)) great Enanclpa'
tor. All enslavers
are opposed to the Truth. realizing its
power upon the minds of their victims.
The taskmasters of today would fain
hide the Truth from the wage-slaves.
but in general fipd it impossible-so
great is the power of the press-and
there are still publishers who have not
sold their moral sense for sordid gain.
In times past. when chattei slavery
prevailed. the master found 1T to his
advantage to educate his slaves and
thus Increase their value. but to his
disadvantage TO give them ethical cRi-
tire aloug the lines of human rights.
The feudatury lords of the past estab-
liShcd ~ scrfdom aud were very willing
that the common people should con,
slider them demigods, not amenable to
the same laws as their subjects.
The same principle apparently
prompted the cmperorS of old Rome,
yea. aud back 10 Nebuchadnezzar. the
first world emperor to proclaim them
selves P0Htifer M0rimHs and to en-
courage their people TO render them
religious as well aS secular devotion.
The natural selfiShness of man has
ever thus prompted him to take as
much advantage of his fellows as cir
cumstanceS would permit
am not here saying that the masses
may not have Jared about as well I'M
der those letters as if they had been
free | am not arguing that all men
are born equal. am merely stating
the facts as all acquainted with his
facts as a background. that my text
may shine out the more LUMINOSITY.
The Truth shall make you free
Which Is the Torch Of Liberty?
+ | can imagine many able men identi-
fed with the sciences. each claiming
that his science. or truth, has done
more than any other to break the
shackleS of ignorance and to set men
free. The artist would tell us Of the
power of the picture to influence even
those who cannot read. The publisher
would tell us of the enlightening infiu'
ence of the press. The astronomer
would laud bis science and tell us OF
its broadening Influence upon the hui
man mind. The geologist. historian
and dramatist would each claim fer bis
art the honor of setting men free.
But admitting all the claims thus SCI
before us. | ask you TO consider my
plea that the Bible has been the great
| Emaucipator from human slavery
mental, moral and physical All other
| torches derived their spark from the
Bible. the Torch of liberty lighted by
| Divine Providence.
! The secret of this great power is thai
the Bible alone sets forth the relation
ship of man to man. The Bible alone
tells us that all humanity are of one
blood. all creatures of the same God
all ameuable to Him. either for re
wards for well doing. or punisbments
for ill-doipg While the Bible in
structs that kings, princes and all il
authority should be recognized. aut
that honor should be rendered to whom
honor is due. yet it also tells us tina
the king upon his throne is amenabl'
to exactly the same laws as his mos
mental servant. and that if he violates
the law he is as sure to be punished
No other book in the world ever placed
ai humanity thus on the same level.
Moreover. the Bible points out tina
The present life is merely scboolin;
time related to the future life as caus
to effect II shows, as none other bool
does. that every act of life. every spo
ken word. yea. every wiIful thought
bears upon our character developmen
and prepares us for higher things il
the life TO come. if faithful. or. contra
riwjSe. will give us more steps to re
trace in the upward way. aud CORE
spoudingly more difficulty in eve
reaching the reward of life everlasting
"Hope Thou In God"
AS we look back into the past. W
zee the nations stupid i'm the hands Il
crafty soveregns We see the natiO
! Of Israel. sodden with fear of thei
Egyptian taSkmasterS. not daring a
themselves to take steps for libert,
But after they had been delivered fror
Egyptian bondage, after God had Ell
tered into Il Covenant with them as
natiGn at Mount Sinai. they were
changed people.
The thought that God was for tber
and had promised them aid worke
wonders, not only with the leader:
but also with the rank and file. True
they were inclined to gravitate tOwar
The ways Of the heather nations Blu