The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-12-01
so PASTOR RUSSELL TELLS HIS
HEARERS AT GRAND OPERA
HOUSE SUNDAY.
ENORMOUS CROWD HEARS ABLE
ADDRESS BY NOTED BROOK
LYN DIVINE.
THE THEME OF THE SPEAKER
holy! HOLY, LORD OF
HOSTS

| ,fHSlOT huSSell, tHC HOlSu DlOOh-
Ign preacher, whose sermons have
been delivered from the platform In
all parts of the world and which are
read by millions OF people each week.
through the press, paid his first visit
to West Virginia when he spoke at
the Grand opera house Sunday after
noon 20 an audience which filled
every seat in the house with scores
of people standing during the serV-
ices. II
| Pastor Russell arrived in the city
Sunday morning from New York, and
was at the Manlcy Hotel during the
day where he was called upon by a
number of his admirers and news
paper men. He was asked what the
idea was for giving the recent series
of lectures here, and whether or not
he intended to organize a church
here and maintain congregation.
He stated that he had no such In
tention, that in his belief there were
already too many denominations and
it was the purpose of the society
which he represents TO teach the BIZ
bic not only to those who are already
church members but to those who
do not belong to.any of the churches.
No Collections.
| When asked why he did not take
up collections at this service his
only reply was that Christ never
collected money while he was preach
Ing during his stay upon earth. Re-
Gently, he stated, after lecturing in
another city a woman with her hus-
band hailed him as he was leaving
the auditorium who stated that her
husband wanted to speak to him and
when he stopped the man thrust a
five dollar bill into his hand stating
that 1t was the first service he had
attended for a long time when the
hat was not passed and he felt like
giving the preacher something. His
offer was refused. Pastor Russell
states that many do contribute 10
the extension of the work voluntarl-
ly and as such contributions are re-
ceivcd the work Of extending the
scope of the Bible studies is increased.
He went from Fairmont to
Clarksburg where he spoke to an
other large congregation Sunday
evening.
House Fills Early.
The services were advertised 10
commence at 8 o'clock, but the peO-
pie commenced to take their seats
at 2 o'clock and before the lecture
commenced every seat in the house
was filed and those arriving later
were forced to stand or leave the
building. The subject OF the ad-
dress as advertised was Heaven,
He'll and Purgatory" and another
feature of the advertising was that
there would be no charge for seats
and that there would be no collee-
tions taken. The stage was hand
somely decorated with ferns, palms
and flowers. DR.. Smith, of Pitts
burgh, presided at the meeting and
briefly introduced the speaker, who
spoke for two hours, his audience
giving him the closest attention.
The speaker reviewed the progress
Of Christianity from the beginning
OF the Christian era, brought up It's
slow development with lack of UNI
Outstanding of the Bible through the
dark ages, passing through the times
of tile great reformers like Luther,
Calvin, Wesley, ct al, and by Ills
analysis of his subject made 1t very
plain to the audience that for most
| all Of this time, believers In the
Christian religion, although honest
and sincere were not following the
Bible as it is laid down by those who
were inspired TO impart its teachings
TO tho world, but we're in most pars
depending upon the Creeds of denom-
nations and the explanations of the
Bible as handed down by those high
| in authority in the church. He as
serted that there is not an orthodox
preacher in Fairmont who dared
standup before the public and defend
lallAthat his creed taught him: lie
says that creeds are man made laws
and not God made.
Pastor Russell is a man of large
physique, and with his long white
hair, brushed across high forehead
and curling in heavy rolls behind
his ears, his snowy bread nicely
kept, with clean shaven upper lip
and chin, and with heavy black eye
brows overhanging his penetrating
grey eyes, he presents commanding
presence upon the platform. He has
deep mellow voice with good de-
livery and his sentences are well
rounded and the force of his gestures,
I while simple, gives much weight to
| his logic. He moves with easy grace
I about the platform and while he at
tempts no spectacular effects, either
| in speech or gesture, he has the
agility and training of the polished
actor and the delivery Of the gifted
1orator!sslsa
We report one Of his themes, from
the text, "Holy, holy, holy is the
II r ~ q T q In