The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-07-11

FRS. Pastor Russell was one Of the
speakers of today. and his vast audi
ence was evidently much in sympathy
with his utterances, He took for his
text the words. The Father of mer-
lies and the God of all comfort. %
Corinthians 3.
In his opening remarks. the Pastor
stated that when in India. China and
Japan last year. he was forcibly struck
with the intelligence of many among
these peoples. He visited their idol
temples for the purpose of noticing
the degree of reverence exhibited and
the status of worshipers. He was ia
vorably impressed: many seemed sin
cerc, absolutely unmindful of any 9th
Pr matter than their own worship. He
made inquiry as to what Importance
was attached to, the idol Was it re-
garded as the god. or merely re-
minder of their god? He was assured
of the Iatter-that the idol itself was
known TO be of metal. or stone. or
wood and was used merely as re-
hinder of their god. in much the same
way that Catholics use the crucifix-
not as worshiping the image or the
picture. but merely having these be-
fore the mind to assist in fixing rever-
ence and the spirit of worship.
Our Creed Idols Worse.
At first. said Pastor Russell. I felt
horrible features which they give their
images. said to myself. Why do
they not make graceful. beautiful idols
instead of horrible ones? But little
reflection brought me shame and con-
fusion. said to myself. Look at 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 a 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 heathens.
Each different creed shows a slightly
different image of God. but they are
all horrible. They all picture God as
a most atrocious character, more hide
Gus by far than are any of the idols
of heathendom.
How could anybody carve, or cast,
or model, mute image. or idol. that
would speak such horrible things as
all Of our creeds portray by descrip-
ton? Where is the artist who could
picture a God celebrating upon the
creation of the human family, and be-
fore beginning His work planning and
arranging q great place called Hell
land some say another called Purga-
toryl. 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
powers. with the foreknowledge 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 a place. inject new life
and vigor into the poor sufferers so a:
to prevent their ever dying-so as to in
sure that they must live everlastingl,
under those horrible conditions! NJ
heather was ever capable of such al
imagination; and hence none was eve
able to picture such Cod either IL
clay, or stone. or metal. or wood. o.
with the pen. 1t remained for the mos
cultured aud civilized peoples of th,
world. who had enjoyed most of Cod
favors and blessings and enlightenment
to misunderstood Him most. to mis-
represent Him worst. and carry thOs
misrepresentation to the heather.
The Heather Know 1t, Too.
Missionaries have indeed reached
few people and brought them under
measure of Christian influence. bu
their number is small; so also their in
teIligence Like some true Christian
here. they have a reverence for Co
sadly encountered with error. Th
more intelligent classes are agnostics
Christianity. so-caIled. has led them t
doubt their own religions. but it has no
given them anything in their stead.
When some of the higher caste ne
tives learned that my preaching wa
different from that of the missionarie:
and that 1t presented God of Love
and an ultimate opportunity to all maj
kind to come into harmony with hin