The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-03-23
Public Forum
DIR. OLIVER REFUTED.

false statements about a roaming
pastor (D" as appeared in Dr. divers
sermon, published in The TIMES I'M
der date of March 18th, 1916. Said !
pastor" is accused of being divorced
by his wife" and selling wheat at
fancy price" and lost his suit
against the Brooklyn Eagle because |
they exposed him."
While we take no particular Of
Tense to the statements as published |
1t is because they indorse and give |
weight to previous pulpit attacks that |
we offer serious objection. Our re-
fusal to disprove these false charges |
would not only the more impress the |
public with their possible truthful
ness, but would be convincing that |
they are true, for many know that |
the writer is intimately acquainted |
with Pastor RUSSELL having lived for |
number of years in his home town |
pittsburgh, PENN, besides being an |
associate worker with him at his pres
ent headquarters in Brooklyn, ~ Y |
We have availed ourself of opportuni-
ties that come to few, to prove the |
truth or falsity of the many serious
accusations preferred against him, and |
when we speak we are not ignorant |
of what we affirm.
Pastor Russell is the duly
elected-ordained pastor of the Pitts
burgh Congregation of Associated BIZ
BILE Students $500 members) the New
York City Congregation of A. B. S.
Q200 members) and the Washington,
d. G. Congregation of A. B. S. (400
members), besides being pastor of
congregations in hundreds of cities
,o1,a 4bo TTptf
States and Canada.
Pastor Russell is not a divorced
man. There were no grounds for
granting one. A semi-monthly reli-
gious journal, the Watch Tower, was
published, of which Pastor Russell
was and is still the editor Mrs Russell
bece ne dissatisfied with his manner of
conducting this journal and attempted
to dictate the policy thereof. Being
the head of the house, Pastor Russell
would not submit to his wife's die
tating the manner of conducting his
business affairs. Without notice, she
voluntarily separated herself from him
in 1897, nearly IS years after their
marriage For nearly seven years she
lived separate and apart from him,
he furnishing her a separate home.
In June, 1908, she filed in the court
of common pleas at Pittsburgh a suit
for legal separation They had been
actually separated for nearly seven
years. In April, 1906, the cause came
on for trial before Justice Collier
and jury.
1t has been remarked by a number
of lawyers who have read the record
in this case that mo court has grant
ed a separation upon so slight testi-
mony as appears in this case" The
record discloses nothing except a mis-
understanding between husband and
wife, and which at one time was adj
justed, by mutual consent The issue
being submitted to the jury they evil
IDENTIFY concluded that, being already
actually separated for seven years, a
legal separation might as well take
place. There has never been an abso-
lutte divorce of either of the parties.
John Wesley, the great founder of
Methodism, was a divorced man. 1t
is evident that DR.. Oliver has "use"
for him because it serves his purpose
better. Pastor Russell is not guilty
of committing adultery" immoral
ity" or perjury" He is a Christian
gentleman, whose standards of NOR
ality and righteousness are of the
highest order and living on a plane
of purity in thought and word and
deed attained by remarkably few
In our article, "Why the Preachers
Attack Pastor Russell" we tell the
truth about his alleged deals in
miracle" wheat Pastor Russell did
not discover it, nor did he name it,
nor did he receive any personal bene-
fit therefrom.
Upon the trial of his case against
the Brooklyn Eagle for slanderous
defamation of reputation, counsel for
the Eagle severely ridiculed the re-
ligious teachings of Pastor Russell.
The jury being largely composed of
men of strong religious preiudices,
and at least one of them an atheist,
disregarded the testimony of the
eleven practical farmers and wheat
raisers, and the several exhibits of
miracle wheat actually produced and
shown to them and decided the case
in favor of the Brooklyn Eagle, upon
the unsupported testimony of one gov
eminent official who never raised
grain of wheat in his life. The case
was at once appealed and is now
pending in the appellate division of
the supreme court. A free copy of
above mentioned article sent to any
one addressing lHe WRITER, DIT oOO
Third avenue north.
Pastor Russell has never defrauded
anyone of single penny.
Many are inuiring: "If the many
charges against Pastor Russell are
not true, what is the secret of the
opposition and SANDER being raised
up against him?'
We reply that it is malice, hatred
envy, strife on the part of those who
are still hugging the nonsense of the
dark ages and neglecting true Bible
study. They see that their influence
is waning. But they have not yet
awakened to the true situation. They
think that Pastor Russell is respon-
sible for their smaller congregations
and small collections. But not so.
The real difficulty with them is that
people are becoming more intelligent
and can no longer be driven with the
Of mo n QUica6 w In