River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-09-03

to deep research
along many lines. With very few ex-
eepti0ns those who have seen it de-
clare that it has revealed to their as
tOnished eyes the lengths, breadths,
heights and depths of the Love of God,
which passes human understanding. and
thus has brought them great blessing.
Phe discourseSs6f Pastor Russell to-
day was unique in every sense OF the
word. He took for his text st. Paul's
words, Whereby, when We read. We
may understand my knowledge In the
Mystery Of Christ Ephesians 81.
The Scriptures clearly teach that
during this gospel Age our God is
proposing a great Temple class, began
the Pastor. After this class shall have
been glorifed. the Divine Power will
operate through this Temple. God will
be IN the ChuFch-the Temple-and all
nations viii begin to draw near to
their Creator. All claSses-Jews, Gen
tiles. bond and free-will come to the
Father through this Temple; for the
glory of God will be in it.
The Priests in this new Temple of
the future Will be Jesus, the great
asA S4ineek viss8 the Church, the I'M
issasssgazsAa. Mas High Priest will also
i be Efss-"a Pest Upon His Throne"
aftsa. the ,Ozxser of Melchizedek The
upaer-TRieGts are still in training for
their Office The Royal Priesthood will
consist of those alone who shall be de
clared worthy TO sit with our Lord in
His Throne AS it is written, BLESSED
and holy is he that hath part in the
First Resurrection; on such the Second
Death hath no power, but they shall
be priests Of God and of Christ, and
shall reign with him thousand years"
The Pastor then discussed the ques-
ton, How may one become member
of this Order of Melchizedek- these
Knights Templars on the Heavenly
plane! The Church of Christ, he de-
clared, is the most wonderful Secret
Order ever known. The Mystery of
God is not yet finished, the Revelator
tells us; this Mystery which God has
kept secretyfrom the foundation of the
we9ld with not be finished until the
sounding Of tire Seventh Trumpet. This
Mystery. the Scriptures teach, is the
Church. These members of the myst1-
cal Body of Christ are in the world,
but the world knows them not, even
as it knew Him not.
Tho Degrees of the Order.
It was then shown that the great
condition for membership In this Or
Ger Is the absolute denial of self-the
giving up to the Lord Of all that the
candidate possesses, himself included.
This condition is the most stringent
ever known. The first degree in this
Order Is the recognition of Jesus Christ
as our SAVER and faith in His re-
Geen4ing bfoed. Some merely take this
fnhiatory step. and never go on to per-
lection. Those In the first degree
know practically very little about the
Order: for, as the Apostle declares,
.sthe natural man 1.-THE world receiv-
eth not the things of the Spirit OF COD
for they are foolishness unto him; mel
ther can he know them, because they
are spiritually discerned" Since the
secrets OF this Order must be spiritually
discerned. whoever would know them
must progress beyond the first degree
The second degree, the Pastor ex-
planned. is conservation, which is i'm
medately followed by spirit-begetting
Those who have progressed thus far
hare become New Creatures in Christ
To these, ~old things have passed
away and all things have become new.
Tilenceforth these should grow ID
grace and in the knowledge OF ouI
lord Jesus ChTfst; and as they do sc
they are privileged to advance to high
er degrees. La due time they may be
come Knights Templars. This degree
is very honorable: those who have ac
tanned it have become leaders In the
Church of Christ. especial function
aries in any matter pertaining to the
interests Of the Temple. These know
most about the things of the Temple
AS these members of the Order pro
gress from one degree to another, lney
learn more and more about the 1iys-
sREy ~ Ca2xast Those who have taken
rn5ny degrees. therefore. know mucn
more than do those who have taken
fbut few degrees. The Apostle urges