The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-08
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Amused at Knocks Against Russell


To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
am very much amused indeed at an
editorial comment which friend called
my attention to recently.
1t was in an issue of the Alabama
Christian Advocate, October 30 1918, and
was another one of those filings at Pastor
Charles T. Russell who is so wonderfully
shaking the ecclesiastical world today,
just as John Wesley and other Christian
characters did in centuries past
The most ludicrous statement in the
extract referred to is in the first para
graph. insnuating that Pastor Russell
and his propaganda" are seeking to lead
people away from the churches and CSC
cure their money for Russell and his
crowd"
Think of it,
A sectarian organ of the city Of Biz
mingham coming out on the heels of the
Gipsy Smith meeting and accusing body
of Bible students of trying to secure the
peoples money! Whist do you think of
that?
I happen to know that the International
Bible Students association, which has
of which Pastor Charles II. Russell is
president. has just closed a series of four
Bible Lectures. which it has given the
public in the city OF Birmingham and
vicinity.
The lecturers, four in number, came
from quite distance: one from Philadel-
phia, one from Indianapolis, one from
Brooklyn and one from Canada. 1 had
the pleasure. of attending three of the lee
f,tp nj Al.
was there any appeal for money. At none
of them was the collection basket passed
around. All of them We're advertised,
Seats free; no collection notwithstand-
ing the fact that there was some expense
attached to them, such as railroad fare,
rent for halls, advertising, etc.
This is not all. L happen to know also
that Pastor Russell will not deliver a
lecture under any circumstances, except
with the understanding that no charges
are to be made for seats and that no col
lections are to be taken up. The same
Is true with all of his co-worlkers
Not one of the four lecturers took
money from the Birmingham vicinity, Or
any other community that has been for
tunate enough to secure the lectures. Not
one of them asked for or limited in any
way for any financial assistance
The only appeal that is made by them
make q closer study and examination of
Gods word In the light of reason. As /
understand it. this Is the prime object of
these lectures that are now being deliv-
cred in hundreds of cities and towns all
over the world.
There is not an instance on record so
am informed. in all the 40 years of Pas
tor Russell's work. where money has been
solicited from his hearers or followers,
yet he has never lacked for money to
carry out or execute his plans to encour-
age more extensive Independent and
non-sectarian study of the Bible.
/ am quite sure that il the Christian
Advocate and other sectarian papers and
preachers could see that every knock
against a fellow Christian worker whose
doctrines and methods happen to differ
from their own is simply boost. all the
more causing the unbiased readers to
take up and investigate such matters,
they would cease from their insinuations
and make a self-examination to see
whether they themselves are right in har-
mony with the great Master Teacher.
Be this as it may. it is a fact that
since the onslaught of the Religious Ram
bier Mr. Ellis, against "Russellism." as
he Is pleased to term it, there is a greater
demand on the part of Christians for Rus
sell lecturers and Russell literature, than
It's best friends even dreamed OF before
Mr.. Ellis and DIR. Morehead began their
attacks.
1t seems that the money question is a
terrible thing and that every time an at
tempt is made to knock Pastor Russell
something is said about him getting the
peoples money.
I do not like to be personal. but think
will be justified at this point in suggest
ing that go far as I know, Pastor Rus
Sell has his first collection to take up to