The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-07-22

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followers must necessarily ncverthc-
less be true heroes, copies of their
Master. not afraid TO speak thu truth
and not afraid to die for their courage,
What a power quarter Of a million
prnfossed ministers Of Christ might he
II they truly took their stand on lIls
side, lifted up their voices, and even
now confessed how seriously they have
misled the people IN respect 10 earthly
things, as well as regards the things OF
the hereafter!
Hypocrisy the Greatest Of Sins.
Judged by their uttcranees, the great
mass Of those protesting 10 be minis
tiers OF Christ are hypocritcs In pri-
vate conversation. II cross examined.
they confess that they do not believe
the Bible. and declare that no educat-
I'd person could believe II 10 be a Di-
vine revelation Asked whether they
believe In future life, they answer
that they have some hopes OF future
! life. but that these are built. not upon
the Bible declaration OF a resurrection
OF the dead. but upon the Platonic phi
losophy that nobody is dead. Asked
whether they believe In eternal tor.
ture, they reply, Certainly not! lndi-
rectly, however, they have given tho
inference that they believe It; and
surely they have not done anything TO
take from the people that nightmare
invented during the Dark Ages, when
for twelve hundred years the few b.
| bles there were were relegated to the
cloister and the closet, and the world
was taught by self-styled apostolic
bishops, who claimed the same author
| fly of inspiration as the Twelve Apos-
| ties whom Jesus named as His only
mouthpieces.
There were murderers, thieves and
| today; yet the Master denounced as
| still greater sinners the religious hypo-
critics of His time who made void
Gods Word substituting for It human
Misunderstanding and misleading the
people-"bind leaders Of the blind"
Were He to speak forth today, His
strongest condemnation would he ex-
pressed against the clergy, who seem
intent upon keeping the people In dark
ness respecting the true teachings OF
the Bible teaching them evolution and
unbelief If they are educated, or de-
lusions Of the Dark Ages II they are
uneducated. Policy seems to take the
place of honesty. The Apostle speaks
OF such as having their consciences
scared toughened. hardened.
As a result, nearly all ministers VIII
say, 1--WE do not believe In the doctrine
of eternal torture. We would not think
of torturing anybody ourselves; we do
not know any human being 50 deprav-
ed that he would wish to torture his
felow-creature everlastingly. We do
not believe that any god would do 80.
We doubt whether any devil would
long take pleasure In such sufferings
Asked why they support creeds which
SO teach, and why they give such In
ference to the public, some reply, 1t
Is required Of us by our denominations.
We would much prefer to tell the truth
about the Love Of God and His ar
rangement for the blessing Of the non
elect during the Times OF Restitution.
Acts 3:19-21) But we are bound hand
and foot Our support and our honor
amongst men depend on our adherence
tn this doctrine. If we could see
way out of the difficulty, we would DO
glad to be liberated"
Others answer that they give their
consciences no concern, that their de-
nomination takes the responsibility for
its creed and for its teachers. 9th
ers answer that they are Higher Crit
les and Evolutlonists, who believe
that they must not tell the people their
heart sentiments but that they hope
that soon public sentiment will out
grow the influence Of the Bible, ana
that then they will be called upon TO
teach Cbristless and, IL necessary,
Goddess morality.
After the Example Of Judas.
Such bartering Of the honor OF the
Almighty for honor Of men ana an
easy living * as difficult TO understand
as that Of Judas. who sold Jesus for
thirty pieces Of silver. So scared are
the consciences Of these educated men
that they seem not to realize that BIAS
phemy Is the most serious OF sins;
and that directly or indirectly giving
the Inference that the God Of all grace,
the Father Of mercies, Is roasting 990
out of every 1900 of humanity Is the
worst blasphemy that could be con-
cocted. How much allowance God
makes for these basphemers we know
not, but we feel that theirs Is a terri
bic position. Would that some word
OF mine might assist In awakening
their consciences; and that even yet
nobility and manhood. not to say saint
ship, might gain the victory!
And does not the pew share this re-
sponsibiity? Has II no meaning TO In
telligent men and women that they
have subscribed 10 creed that bins-
phemes Gods holy name totally mis-
represents His character, and throws
a .I.4I la