The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-07-10

many hule Speuk-
ers. Pastor Russell was one OF the
speakers Of today. and his vast audi
ence WIS evidently much In sympathy
with his utterances. He took for his
text the words. '"The Father Of mer.
Giles, and the God OF all comfort. -
Corinthians l:3.
In his opening remarks, the Pastor
stated that when IN India, China and
Japan last year. he was fOrc!bly struck
with the intelligence Of many among
these peoples. lie visited their idol
temples for the purpose OF noticing
the degree Of reverence exhibited and
the status OF worshipers. He was fa-
vorably impressed: many seemed sin.
cere. absolutely unmindful OF any 9th
er matter than their own worship He
made inquiry rs to what Importance
was attached to the idol. Was 1t re-
garded as the god. or merely re.
hinder of their god? He was assured
lof the latter-that the. idol itself was
known TO be OF metal. or stone. or
wood. and was used merely us re.
minder OF their god. In much the same
way that Catholics use the cruelty
not MS worshiping the image or the
picture. hut merely having these be-
fore the mind to assist In fixing rever-
cnce and the spirit Of worship.
Our Greed Idols Worse.
At first. said Pastor Russell, I felt
disposed to chide the heather for the
horrible features which they give their
images. said to myself. Why do
they not make graceful. beautiful idols
instead of horrible ones? But n little
reflection brought me shame and con.
fusion. said to myself. Look Mt the
creeds. the idols. the images OF God.
set up in Christendom. We have not
attempted TO picture our Deity in wood
or stone or mineral. but we have writ.
ten out n description OF His character
our Christian creeds.
These creeds stand before our men.
tai eyes with exactly the same hide,
GUS features that the tangible idol has
before the natural eye OF the hcathens.
Each different creed shows n slightly
different image OF God. but they are
, all horrible. They all picture God MS
:, n most atrOciOus character. more hide.
ous by far than are any Of the idols
, OF hcathendom.
How could anybody carve, or cast.
or model. mute Image. or idol, that
would speak such horrible things rs
all Of our creeds portray by descrip.
ton? Where Is the artist who could
picture n God celebrating upon the
creation Of the human family, and be.
fore beginning His work planning and
arranging great place called He'll
land some say another called Purga.
tory. creating fire. proof devils TO man
these, laying up fuel for use therein
through all eternity. and then start.
Ing the human race with provocative
lowers. with the foreknowledse that
thousands Of millions would spend
eternity in these horror chambers!
Who could picture or model an Image
representing God who would. after
preparing such place. inject new life
and vigor into the poor sufferers so us
20 prevent their ever dying-so as to In
sure that they must live everlastingly
under those horrible conditions! Nc
heather was ever capable Of such al
masination: and hence none was ever
able to picture such q God, either Ia
clay. or stone. or metal. or wood, OF
with the pen. 1t remained for the mos,
cultured and civilized peoples OF the
world. who had enjoyed most OF Gods
favors and blessings and Enlightenment
to misunderstood Him most. to mis-.
represent Him worst. and carry those
Misrepresentation to the bc4then.
The Heather Know Il, Too.
Missionaries have indeed reached q
few people and brought them under a
measure Of Christian influence. but
their number Ia small; so also their In
telligence. Like SOME true Christians
here. they have reverence for God
sadly encountered with error. The
more intelligent classes are agnostics
christianity. so-called. has led them 10
doubt their own religions. but It has not
given them anything in their stead.
When some Of the higher caste M
tives learned that my preaching was
different from that Of the missionaries.
md TINT It presented God Of Love
and an ultimate opportunity to all man,
kind TO come into harmony with Him