The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-18
Consult Your Rihle

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 In this day of many religious denomina- tions and substitutes therefor, how are we to know the truth, what are we to accept as the truth? There are the va rious Christian denominations, whose names l need not recall, they are so well known, as well as multitudinous others anti-Christian in practice, whatever their claim, and each sect has strong fathers. having known nothing else from child hood, and during the years of imma- turity both of body ana brain. nothing e,se is to be expected. But men and women having arrived at the years of dis cretion, should think for themselves, de- liberately, cautiously, and prayerfully at the same time not to slip from their moorngs or give up a good thing until they have found better.
 Many questions arise from time to time in regard to which there are such diver gent opinions as have a tendency to un- settle our most cherished beliefs. and. in our ignorance of the Bible, we are apt to look to some one whom we consider good and wise to thresh out the truth for
 
 is a mistake. Let no one do your think ing for you along religious lines, the source of their information is equally as accessible to you as to them, neverthe- less carefully consider the result of their thought and study as published or pro- claimed on printed page or by word of mouth; then take up your Bible and see what it says. Make it a practice when ever confronted by any strange doctrine to go straight to the Bible, and unless tEere is authority for it within those blessed pages, do not give it credence. By so doing we cannot go far wrong in our deductions, for we have the assurance:
 If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" .Continue'-that is it: keep at it and the light will come.
 There has recently come into my pos session a theological dictionary which has thrown a great deal of light on scrip tural matters I cannot tell the denomi- national bias of the compiler, and that is as it should be- but many authorities are quoted as this or that doctrine or be- lief is expounded, and it is evidently the authors object to give all the assistance possible to be derived from the arguments and conclusions of students and theolog- ians of note, forerunners in the paths of research, both in support of and arrayed against each particular creed. I would advise all Bible readers to supply them selves with the best dictionary of the kind l nave described, and look up debatable subjects and puzzling questions for them selves. Where references are given, search for them and judge of everything according as it conforms to the teaching of the New Testament scriptures. The value of the Old is now chiefly historical and because it supports the New, while at the same time it's study is exceedingly profitable and. interesting.
 You remember the words of St John in his first ep1stle, fourth chapter and first verse: Beloved. believe not every spirit. but try the spirits whether they are of God.~ This, I think. applies to the doe Urine as we'll as its exponent. Turn the light of the gospel upon every belief you are asked or expected 10 accept and do not be satisfied with any that are not in conformity to it's teachings This is the