The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-29

ton are now in progress, the other TIVE
being at Columbus, Ohio, and Clinton,
Iowa. Upwards Of 2.0o0 delegates are
in attendance at each Convention. Be
ing President Of the Association, Pas
tor Russell expects to be present three
days at each Of the assemblies.
Two sessions are held daily In each
Of the cities. and the Pastors famous
Creation Drama is exhibited each even
ing. There being four parts to the
Drama, three full presentations win be
given.
Pastor Russell's theme today was
n Of great interest. The discourse
set forth the philosophy Of the untold
suferings of Christians throughout
this Gospel Dispensation. Part ". Of
The Photo Drama of Creation. now on
exhibition both at home and abroad.
depicts the unwrttten history of the
Church Of Christ, and enables those
who see 1t to realize 30 some extent
what 1t has cost true Christians to "fol-
low His steps" The Pastors text was,
Jehovah hath appointed Me TO preach
good tdings to the meek, to bind up
the broken-hearted. Isaiah 61:1.
The Pastor opened his discourse by
drawing attention to the statement
that the Gospel Message is for the
meek. the broken-hearted. During the
Millennial Reign Of Christ Ged will
take away the stoninesS oe heart from
mankind and will give, instead, hearts
Of flesh. Under the blessed conditions
of the Kingdom, hard, selfish hearts
will gradually become soft, tender,
kind. gentle. But now. in advance Of
Mess1ah's Kingdom, God is seeking
those who are seeking Him. Those
who are not especially seeking Him are
not likely to find Him.
Preaching the Gospel to the meek
is the work Of this Age. This is the
only class which God wishes to have
now. He is seeking the class that de-
sire to be Of the Bride Of Christ, Jesus
joint-heirs in the Messianic Kingdom.
Therefore the Message Is not such as
would suit the hard-hearted. Only the
tender-hearted care to knew about the
love of God, the mercy Of God, the
forgiveness Of sins, the privilege Of re-
turning to the Fathers House and
Of having Jesus as their Savior.
The Pastor believes that In the past
we have had a wrong idea Is to whom
the Gospel Message is to go. We went
out into the highways and byways to
find those who were very wicked
blasphemers, ETC., thinking that these
were the one with whom we were to
deal. The Scriptures do not authorize
any such idea. A person living in IN
repented sin Is not in the proper con-
dition to receive Gods great Plan of
the Ages, the speaker claimed. God
has declared that none Of the wicked
shall understand" He does not wish
them to do 10. The very reverse is
true. His purpose is to bind up the
broken-hearted.
Gods Message speaks peace TO those
who are In trouble and who IN look
ing to Him, seeking the righteousness
which He provides. Some apparently
have made a great mistake In think
ing that the Gospel is a sledge ham
mer with which they are TO break
mems hearts. The speaker does not
Know Of any Scriptural commission
for any OF the people Of God to break
the hearts OF men. On the contrary,
he thinks that the Devil does most Of
such work.
The Two Conversions.
There are W conversions, declared
the Pastor. The first is a turning from
sin: the second, a turning to God.
Those DESTROYS Of approaching God are
seeking to leave sin. Those who are
living In sin wish to be away from God.
We cannot 60 In two directions at once.
The course which Ged would have any
pursue is this: When one finds that
he is q sinner, he should repent and
turn away from sin; then. when he
learns that God has made an arrange
ment by which sinners. may be recon
ciled to Himself, he should ascertain
what steps he should take in order to
obtain his share In that reconciliation.
While turning frsm sin may liza some
respects be called a conversion, yet 1t
is not the principal conversion Only
those who take the step OF full con-
~secration TO the Lord may receive the
Holy Spirit and obtain a clear view of
the Divine Plan. Az the Apostle says,
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