The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1914-08-31


8s8&Sl his books and by
ltRASTOR RUSSElL)I his weekly Bible
Studies, preached
today from the text, He that hath
pity upon the poor lendeth unto the
Lord: and that which he hath given
will He repay him again. PROV. 1917.
The Pastor sllrmised that because he
has preached for thirtyeight years
without having ever taken up collec-
ton or appealed for money in connec-
ton with his work, some may have
reached the erroneous conclusion that
he Is opposed to charities. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Dur
ing his ministry many thousand dol
lars have passed through his hands
voluntary gifts from grateful souls, for
the spread OF the Glad Tidings of great
10y. Moreover, it is his conviction that
no one could be an acceptable Chris
tan unless he possessed the spirit OF
charity, beneyolence.
From the speakers viewpoint, mis-
sionary enterprises might properly be
considered charities-but not SO Church
enterprises. The Church, he claimed,
is not missionary society for the
worlds benefit. but an arrangement
for the benefit of its members. Hence
each member Of this brotherhood
should consider himself in duty bound
to cooperate to the extent of his abiii-
ty in providing for the necessary ex-
penses connected with the meeting
place-lignt, japitorage, etc.-the bless
ings and comforts Of which he enjoys.
The Pastor considers it wrong for
congregation to aspire TO an expensive
auditorium and general establishment
beyond their means, and then to go
outside to solicit money from the
world, the flesh and the Devtl. He
declared that God never authorized
such proceedings; for as surely as It
would be offensive to any right-mind-
ed person to have money solicited il
his name. so must 1t be displeasing to
the Almighty to have begging done In
His name without His authority.
Apparent Loss Real Gain.
Should any protest that If solicita-
lions, collections, pew rents, fairs,
festivals. etc. were abandoned, all
churches would be closed, except those
benefcially endowed, the speaker re-
Piled that if this were the case, never
tneless the Church would gain respect
and In IL G 1880 rr;th- the world Whic1
would malInoh compensate, +
half of the churches were to disorg
ize, doubtless the other half, righN
supported in accordance with the Dt-
vine precepts and the example of Jesus
and His Apostles. would accomplish
more good than would twice the num-
Der under present conditions. AS 1t Is,
they have considerable Of the worlds
scorn.
To illustrate this conviction, the
Pastor cited the fact that the Divine
blessing has attended his own
He admitted that the money passing
through his hands is really as nothing
compared with the large sum spent an
nually by the various denominations;
and that the International Bible Stu
dents Association owns no valuable
real estate and boasts Of no large bank
account They use actively and eco
nomically in Gods service whatever
money comes voluntarily to them.
God blesses the work; unsolicited
donations increase annually; and the
activities incidental to the use Of these
funds now extend to all parts Of the
earth, preaching the Message Of Gods
Love and opening eyes Of understand
ing long blinded by creeds, plilosophies
and misunderstanding of Gods Word. :
Generosity Is GodIikensss.
In declaring generosity to be Godlike- |
ness the Pastor would not be misun-
derstood to mean that gifts could pur-
CHASE Divine favor and relationship
There is only one way into Gods fam
ly-renouncement OF sir, turning to
righteousness, acceptance Of Glrist's
Eedemptive work and full consecration|
to do Gods will, even unto death. Only
such spirit begotten ones are SCRIPTURE
ally acknowledged as Coos childreni
All others are called aliens, strangers
to God and His promises.
who have not entered this narrow way
and therefore are not children Of God.
but who naturally possess some OF
mans original Godlikeness. In pracf
Using charity these are blessed in their
own hearts and lives. While not uDs
der the provisions for the Church, neF-
ertheless these are being benefited by
their generous course IN contributing
to the relief of suffering. Tor the msiH-
tenance of widows, orphans. hospssalt,
etc. Under Nessiah's Kingdom, ;shen
the world shall enter upon trial for
life or death everlasting. these noble
souls will be several steps Ia aayanfe
of others who have failed to develop
this quality Of bepevoieRee. charity.