Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 22, 1910)
Ooo PEOPLE'S Sermon by CHARLES T. RUSSELL Pastor Brooklyn Tabernacle. Ooo rtica. N. Y- Aug. 21.-rastor Rus ell of Brooklyn Tabernacle preached here twtc today to largo audience. W report one of bla discourses from the abova text lie aald In part: One of tbe wonderful things about the Bible and tbe Christianity founded upon tbe Bible's teachings la tbe fact that It contains so much aympatby comfort for the bereaved, the Borrow ing, tbe troubled. This la not trie of any other book or any other religion In the world And who la there that does not at acme time In life need sym pathy, need encouragement, need a powerful and loving friend such as our Bible assures us our God Is to all who will accept bis favor? But our great Adversary, Satan, seeks to make the light appear dark and the darkness appear light He seeks to negative the testimonies of God's Word, and, to a very great de gree, his deceptions have been success ful, ns is witnessed by the creeds of Christendom. Practically all of our creeds, even though they assert that God Is gracious, merciful, kind and loving, contradict this description ef him and bis Plan for humanity In monstrous terms, fiendish In tbe ex treme Tbe majority of creeds tell us of bis foreordlnatlon ond pre-arrange-ment of whatsoever comes to pass and that this slgnllles that a saintly hand ful will gain eternal life lu Joy In heaven, and that the unsulntly thou sands of millions of heathendom and Christendom uro equally foreordained to spend an eternity of torture fore known, forelutended and provided for before their creation. Is there com fort In this? Is such a plan God-like or Botanic? Could any Intelligent and good being rejoice In such a plan of damnation or sincerely worship an Al mighty God who would so misuse his unlimited power to distress bis crea tures, "born In sin, sbapen In iniquity; In sin did their mothers conceive them?" The minority of Christian creeds de clare tbe same results, but that they were not designed of God, not fore known by him, not predestinated. They toll us in other words that we have an Incompetent God, well-meaning, but deficient In wisdom and In power. Is there any comfort In this? Would It assuage tbe grief and pain of those suffering In eternal torment If they could be assured that their lot wan such, not becauso of Divine premedita tion and design, but because of Divine Incompetence? Rarely there is no coin fort to be had from such a view! After all, we I'rotestauts did not mnke much of an Improvement upon the theory held by our forefathers against which we protested In the six teenth century. Burely purgatorial tortures of a few centuries are no worse, no less comforting than our I'rotestunt conceptions of an eternity of torture for all the non-elect Our Catholic forefathers manufactured Tur imtory without a shred of Scripture upon which to base tbe theory. They liullt It In their Imaginations; they In vented Its Ores and tortures. Our Protestant forefathers, using their Im aginations, gavo us an eternal torment hell-not moro tangible, not more Scrip tural than Purgatory. They did In deed use a Scriptural term shcot. hades, hell but, overlooking the fact that these words all signify tho state of death, the condition of the dead, tliev wrested the luugunKe and warjH'd It In un unscriptnral manner to signify torture. The penally or "wage of sin Is death." They made of It torture eci lasting, without the slightest on thoiity of Pi-rlplitre except u misunder stood and misapplied parable, which rightly iindcr.tnoil, twite n totally different Iotwoii. The false (!oel has surely lost Its power. People are becoming ton Intelligent tu ordure It. As a com:otiien'-e attendance ; Churches Is decreasing and reverence tor God l dlPihilsliiu r. lnt:d!lty. call ed Higher Criticism, etc.. W Inen asl ir.. The need of the hour Is tln (inspH cf comfort. St. Piml dcclnrcs what we nil know, namely, that "the whole creation rroancth and travalleth In pain together until now waiting for the manifestation of the sous of God." Here we we the necessity for this Gospel of comfort. We see also that God has provided It and that It Is coming to the world in tho end of this Age, in tho dawning of the new Age. It will come to the world tu general ns soon os tho elect Church shall have been selected und, by the "First lies urrectlon" power, glorified with her Lord os bis Kingdom class, as the glorified sous of God, whoso mission ' it will be to bless all the fumllles of tho earth. "Father of Msreist Cod of All Com- fort." When St. Paul says. "Knowing the terrors of tho Lord." be evidently ro fers to the fact that our Creator has declared that "tho wogo of Bin Is death" mot oternul torment); that "the soul that vlnneth. if shall dlo" (not live In torment); that "ull the wicked will God destroy" (not preserve In (Ire) and that only such as come Into vital relationship with the Redeemer can have everlasting life. Knowing these things respecting the IHvluo govern I i OOO PULPIT... Most Comforting Words, Words, of Life "Comfort one another with these wordi" (I Thessalonianj iv, 1 8). ooo ment we persuade men everywhere, "Be ye reconciled to God" and thes attain tbe only eternal life which be promised. But, on tbe other hand, note tbe kindly description of our God which the Apostle furnishes, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father, of mercies, the God of all comfort; who com forte th us In all of our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them that are In any tribulation, by tbe comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the suffer ings of Christ abound In us. so our comfort also aboundeth by Christ. And wbethpr we be afflicted. It is for your comfort and salvation or whether wo be comforted. It Is for your comfort and salvation. know. Ing that as ye ore partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the comfort" (II Corinthians I. 3-7). What a wonderful statement respect ing the Divine Intentions for the com fort of the world and the comfort of the Church, all proceeding from "the God of ull comfort." Nothing written in any sacred books of any people at any time reveals such a God os the God of the Bible a God Infinite In Justice, Wisdom. Power and Love. It is ho that is "working all things ac cording to tho counsel of bis own good will." for tbe ultimate comfort and salvation of as many of his creatures as will accept his favors, after being brought to a knowledgo of the Truth respecting them. Tbe Cburcb Is now comforted during this Gospel Age (saved to the highest plane of the heavenly nature) and during the com ing Age tbe world is to be comforted and saved to tbe human nature as many as will. For the world this means tho glorious opportunity of the mediatorial reign of Christ which will constitute their time of restitution, up lifting, resurrection to all that was lost In Adam and redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (Acts 111, 10-21). , "Comfort With Thsse Words." In order to appreciate the meaning of our text we must consider the words of the Apostle preceding It. be ginning with the 13th verse. He de clares, '1 would not have you to be Ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not. even as others which have no hope?' Ail Christian people agree that the word sleep here refers to those who died. They are not asleep In heaven, of course, for there all is wakefulness and Intelligence and Joy. They are not asleep In Purgatory, of course, for. uccording to our Catholic friends, sleep there would be an impossibility. They Hre not asleep In an orthodox hell, for, according to the description given by Protestants, none could sleep there. Where, then, are those who are "asleep"? St. Paul says that we should not be Iguorant concerning them. Have we not been ignorant In tbe past foolishly Ignorant? We have Ignored tbe Apostle's words entirely. We have refusod to believe that any are asleep and claim tbut all are aware, alive a few In heaven, the many lu Purgatory or eternal torture. But St. Paul was right! Tbe entire Bible tenches that all who die fall asleep. Thus we learn of St. Stephen. the first Christian martyr, that he "fell asleep" (stoned to death). We read of the good and bud, kings and peasants. falling asleep In death. We read that King David slept with his fathers- some of them good, some of them bad. Wo reud that Abraham slept with his fathers some of them heathen. The Bible tells us w hero they sleep and that they tv II I h II beuwakened from the sleep of death In duo time In the resurrec tion, during Messiah's reln of n thou mud years. The Prophet declares that "Many that sleep In the dust of the earth shall nwake, some to life ever lasting nnd some to shame and lasiiag contempt" (Daniel xll, 2i. Those who w!H be awakened from the sleep of death unto resv.rrectlou of ilfe will lie tho blessed oud holy, the saintly, who will be associated with Messiah In the Kingdom work for the blessing nnd uplifting of the non-elect. Those who will be awakened from the sleep of death to shame und age-last- Ing contempt will be the non-elect world. Their shame will be In propor tion os they hove enjoyed light, knowl edge ond opportunity ntul have failed rightly to appreciate nnd use these. They will have contempt from their fellows. In proportion us their short comings of the present time will be shown up. Many highly esteemed amongst men will be awakened to that shame and age-lasting contempt. But their case will not be a hopeless one Much of their weakness nnd derolle lion were the result uf Adam's trans gresslon and the sinful conditions which have resulted, including unfa voruoio environment, tiod tins pro vided in Christ redemption for all from the sins und weaknesses resulting from Adam's disobedience nnd thus tho entlro race of Adam is guaranteed an Individual trial under fnvorablo conditions for Ilfe cverlnstlug or death everlasting. All who will render obedience to Ihe sws and regulation j of Messiah's Kingdom will begin to rise up. up. up. out of their fallen, degraded condition of sin. and be brought buck to all that was lost In Ada lu aud redeemed at Calvary. In proportion us they will retrace their steps and come back Into Divine fellowship their shame will de crease and their contempt also. Filial ly In the comrummatlon of that age all who will may have attained full res toration and regeneration and free dom from shame and contempt. Tbe unwilling and disobedient and rebel Uous will be destroyed in tbe Second Death "twice dead, plucked up by the roots" without hope of any further resurrection or restitution. "Comfort With Thsse Words." St Paul urges that Christians should not be Ignorant concerning those who are asleep that they "sorrow not even as others who have no hope." It is bad enough to think of millions of the heathen as being totally extinct hope lessly dead, without any prospects of a resurrection. Tbe same would be true respecting our neighbors and friends, parents and children, brothers and sisters, who are not saintly, who are not In "Christ Jesus," who are not walking after the Spirit, who are not heirs of God and Jolnt-hclrs with Jesus Christ our Lord. And If it would be a sore trial to tblnk of them as utter ly destroyed In death and without hope of resuscitation, resurrection, bow much worse would It have been when, in our misunderstanding of God's plans. we thought of them as being In either Purgatory or eternal torture. Such a false conception of the Divine plans Is even worse than to believe them with out hope and extinct. Tho Apostle proceeds to point out the basis of this hope In these words, "If we believe that Jesus died and rose ognln, even so them also which sleep In Jesus will God bring (from the dead with (by) bira" (I Thessalonlans lv. lli. So. then, the Apostle declares, the resurrection hope Is the Christian hope, and tho basis of the hope of this resur rection Is that Jesus died that he might be man's ransomer that he arose from the dead that he might be tbe great Deliverer of mankind, the Prophet, Priest and King of God, and that he might gather to himself the elect Church, the Bride, tbe Lamb's Wife, as his Jolnt-hclr. Christians, of course. In thinking of the resurrection of tbe dead, would pri marily, chiefly, consider their deur ones of the household of faith; hence the Apostle continues bis argument saying, that those of tbe Church living at the time of the Second Advent will not precede or hinder those members of the Church who have died during the past centuries, for the dead lu Christ shall arise first shall be awak ened first from the sleep of death. "Them That Sleep In Jssus." We cannot think that tbe Apostle re fers merely to tbe Church In this case, for uniformly. In speaking of the resur rection of tbe dead, be refers both to the Church and to the world, the resurrection of tbe Just and of the unjust" So In this case be evidently refers both to the Cburcb and to the world as "asleep In Jesus." The ex pression will be noted as different from another one of his respecting those who "sleep In Christ" The lutter ex pression evidently refers to the Church as the glorified members of Tbe Christ. But In speaking of those asleep in Jesus be evidently has reference to the whole world of mankind. The whole world died in Adam without having u voice In the matter of their birth or trial or condemnation. "Condemnation came upon ail because of one man's disobedience." Likewise Justification Is to pass upon ail of our race through the precious merit of Christ's sacrifice. Tbe fact that he "died, the Just for the unjust" constitutes bis death a satis faction price for tbe sins of tbe whole world. From this standpoint, therefore, the whole world not only died In Adam. but now sleeps or waits unconsciously for a resurrection of the dead through tho merit of our Redeemer's sacrifice. If we believe that Christ died for our sins and laid the foundation thus for his great work of blessing tbe world of mankind, Including tbe Church, the first-fruits, let us believe also that God who began his good work will not stop until he shall have brought forth Judgtneut unto victory until nil the re deemed world shall be brought to a knowledge of the Redeemer nnd of the Heavenly Father and toon opportunity for life everlasting through obedience. The world died In Adam-"In Adam nil die." Jesus Is tho Redeemer of the world. "Even so nil In Christ shall be rondo nllve." The message has reached tbe Church only, as yet. in due time it will reach every member of the race. The Church is already reckonedly quickened from tho dead by the holy Spirit nnd will shortly bo born from tho dead lu the "First Resurrection." The world, therefore, from the Divine standpoint Is not dend in Adam now. but merely asleep iu Jesus, waiting for the glori ous time when, his Kingdom establish ed, he shnll call nil mankind from the prison-house of death, from the tomb, that each may learn to the full of the grace of God In Christ, nnd bnve op portunity for attaining Ilfe everlasting These ore tho words in which we are to comfort one another words of hope respecting tho resurrection of the dead both the Just nnd tho unjust words of sympathy, words of assurance, words that show that God Is better than all our fenrs; that yet In a little while he that shall come will establish bis Kingdom first tbe Church In glory and secondlv Israel nnd nil the fnm Hies of the earth through them. Every thing connected with the Divine tries snge Is full of hope, full of encourage ment, full of blessing, to thrp In the condition to receive It. ALL SOUTHERN ITALY IN PAN! CliDlsra Scacr3 Be:cmss Ep dsmic in Irani and Vicinity. PEOPLE FLEE FROM THE TOWL King and Queen May Visit Stricken District to Direct Work of Health Authorities Church Co-Operates With State Epidemic is of Most Virulent Kind. Barl, Italy, Aug. 20. The epidemic of cholera which has broken out in southern Italy ia steadily showing an increase In the districts affected, par ticularly in the town of Tranl, where the number of deaths already is more than thirty. The latest official reports gave twen ty deaths at Tranl, showing the rap idity with which the disease is Increas ing there. The epidemic is of a virulent type and the death rate is high. Even graver danger is anticipated from the fleeing population of the in fected district, who may bear the germs of the disease to regions not yet involved. Tranl seems almost de serted as a result of panic, 20,000 of the residents, fully one-half of the pop ulation, having fled the town. Fully as many have escaped from the island town to Barletta. Church Will Aid State. Rome, Aug. 20. The Influence of the church 13 to be used to assist the civil authorities in fighting the epi demic of cholera, the clergy having been instructed to use all means to enforce compliance with the sanitary regulations on the part of their par ishioners. No final decision has been taken regarding the proposed depart ure of King Victor for the cholera re gion. The king, It is said, has deter mined to proceed personally to the scene if conditions become more seri ous, In which case Queen Helena, it Is feared, would Insist on accompanying him. Hundred Thousand Cases In Russia. St. Petersburg, Aug. 20. One week's cholera record for Russia shows 23,- 944 new cases of cholera and 10,723 deaths, bringing the total number of cases in Russia this year to 112.985. Of these 50,287 have died, the mortal ity percentage being 44.5. FIRE CHIEFS TO ST. LOUIS Next Session of National Association Is Captured by Mound City. Rochester, Aug. 20. At the closing session of the convention of the Na tional Firemen's association, St. Louis was selected for the 1911 convention. These officers were elected: President, Chief Huso H. Delfs of Lansing, Mich.; vice president, Chief Thomas R, Johnson of Crookston, Minn.; secretary, Captain Bert Fisher of Chicago; re-elected treasurer, Chief Charles Slemp of Anadarko, Okla.; national organizer, J. W. C. Austin of York, Pa. SLUMP IN GRAIN PRICES Wheat and Corn Weaken Under Heavy Receipts at Chicago. Chicago, Aug. 19. Wheat and corn prices fell off sharply today largely Influenced by accumulated supply, the decline being from lc la wheat and from lc la corn. Oats sagged, also dipping off Vic, while provisions advanced all along the line. Closing prices: Wheat Sept, $1.00Vh1.004; Dec. $1.04; May, $1.09. Corn Sept., 6lie; Dec, 59Vj59a Oats Sept., 33V'jC; Dec, 37Vc. Pork Sept, $21.47V4; Jan., $18.75. Lard Sept., 112.07V,; Nov., $U.57Vi. Ribs Sept., $12.50; Jan., $9.85. Chicago Cash Prices No. 2 hard wheat, $1.00i1.02; No. 2 corn, 63 064c; No. 2 oats, 3334MC Omaha Cash Prices. Omaha. Aug. 19. Wheat No. 2 hard turkey, 9899V.jC; No. 3 hard turkey, 96 97c. Corn No 2 white, 58 V4 (fESc; No. 3 white, 58S58'ic; No. 2 yellow, 57-fl'58,4c. Oats No. 3 white, 33P33ic; No. 3 yellow, S2'j if33c; No. 4 yellow, 3ii532c. South Omaha Live Stock. South Omaha. Aug. 19. Cattle Re celpts, 1,340; strong; beef steers, $3.75 P7.73; cows nnd heifers, $2.73fff 4.90; Btockers nnd feeders. $3.2505.00; calves, $3.40Jf fi.50. Hogs Receipts, 5.23S; steady; bonvy hoira of good quality brought $S10 nnd better, with mediumwelght mixed around $8.30 8. 55; lights commanded the largr pre miums, selected raron hogs selling ns high as $8.G5; bulk went at $S.10(fr 8.35. Sheep Receipts, 1,823; un changed. Chicago Live Stock. Chicago, Aug. 19. Cattlrt Rereirts, 2,r.D0; shade higher; beeves, 14.70' 8.35; western steers. $4. 006 85; Btockers and feeders, $4.00R 6.15; cows and helf.-rs. $2.G0G.40; calves, IC.COfff 8.50. Hogs- Receipts. 16,000; shade lower; ll.ht, $3 3f? S SI; mixed, $7.90 JT8-73; heavy, $7.f.0f: S.43; hulk of sales. $S.OO(?f8.30. Sheep Receipts, 8.000; Rtronz; nntlves, $2!504 55; wrjiternx, V 7 '?4.T: vnrllnps, t.80 05.70; lnmbs. ? 1.7:1 83. Children Cry mm 4j i VXXVVVVWVVV-.XXXXV The Kind Yoa Have Always in use for over 30 years, and ry'f-f zonal . Allow All Counterfeits, Imitations and "Just-as-good" are but Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of Infants and Children Experience against Experiment. What is CASTORIA Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare- ' goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It Is Pleasant. It ' contains neither Opium, Morphine nor Other Narootio substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys "Worms , and allays Feverlshness. It cures Diarrhoea and Wind Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food, regulates the Stomach and liowels, giving healthy and natural sleep. The Children's Panacea Tho Mother's Friend. GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS (Bears the The Kind You Have Always Bought In Use For Over 30 Years TMC CCNTAUR COMPANY, TT MURRAY STRICT, NCW YORK CITY. OLD SETTLER'S BE AT union Large Crowd Present to Hear Mayor Dahlman Speak. From Saturday's lally. A large crowd visited the Old Set tlers picnic at Union yesterday, there being more people assembled than at any pervious session. Owing to the fact that Mayor Dahlman missed the train which was to have taken him to Union, and made the trip by auto arriving on the grounds in the mid dle of the afternoon. When Mayor Dahlman motered through Union the Red Men of Platts mouth surrounded him and held him for a few minutes, but noting the time and that he was over due to the grounds the Indians allowed him to proceed to the grove where his ma chine was again surrounded. Mayor Jim alighted and shook hands with the Red Men, then assisting his wife and daughters from the machine the tribe escorted the party to the plat form. The mayor's speech was preceded by an address by R. W. Wolfe of Omaha and Judge Travis of Platts tncuth, and when Mr. Dahlman was introduced he was enthusiastically cheered. His speech was vigorous and well received, and did not touch on political matters. A sumptuous dinner was served the mayor and his party by the la dles of Union and this proved a pleas ant feature of the day. The Red Men pulled off a thrilling capture on the grounds which added to the ex citement of the afternoon, and caused a great deal of merriment. Ed. Kru ger was the unhappy victim of the capture and although trying hard to make his escape he was followed by the braves as he swiftly made his way through the crowd when shot af ter shot from the guns of the pur gurers were fired, at the fleeing fig ure. After quite an exciting chase Ed. was winged by a shot from the trusty rifle of Brave Koubek. Kruger rolled over on the grass and his bleeding form was quickly carried off by the redskins, who took him to their tepee to be finally carved Into bits. Taken all In all It was a great day for Union. Improvement at Majestic. V. V. Leonard, owner of the build ing in which Mr. R. M. Schlaes runs the Majestic theater, is Just complet ing a twenty foot addition to his building and fitting it up for stage and dressing rooms. The brick work and plastering Is being done by Harry Johnson, the carpenter work by L. G. Larson and the metal roof is be ing placed by John Bauer. There are to be two hundred and fifty new op era chairs placed on the main floor whtch Is raised in the rear so that a good view of the stage is shown from every seat In the room. Mr. Schlaes, the gentlemanly manager of the theater, says he will be able to seat three hundred people comfort ably. These improvements will be appreciated by the public and no doubt the theater will enjoy an in creased patronage. for Fletcher's Ml Bought, and which has been has borne the signature of has been made under his per- supervision since its infancy. no one to deceive you in this. Signature of A Pleasant Surprise. A most pieasant Dlrthday surprise was given by the friends and neigh bors of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Smith Thursday evening. The surprise was given in honor of Mrs. Smith, it be ing her thirty-seventh birthday an niversary. The funmakers assembled at the home of Matthew Sulser and it was a merry crowd that so myster iously came in on Mrs. Smith about nine o'clock. Mrs. Smith was most surely surprised, If anyone ever was. The evening was delightfully spent in social conversation, music and games, the music being furnish ed by Miss Eleanor Todd and Mrs. Smith. About midnight a delicious luncheon, consisting of sandwiches, cake and lemonade, was served. Games were indulged in by both old and young. At a late hour the guests, after wishing Mrs. Smith many more such happy birthdays, departed for their homes. Those who were present to enjoy the evening were: Lena Hlrz, Bertha Smith, Sophronia Pelton, Eleanor Todd, Geraldlne and Muriel Smith, Alice Lewis, Marion Smith, John Isabel, Fred Heisel, Matthew Sulser and wife, Adam Stoehr, wife and daughter, Allie Todd, wife and son, Alonzo Todd and wife, Charles H. Lewis and wife, Will Schutz, wife and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Isa bel, Eddie Todd and wife, Russell Todd, wife, son and daughter, Mrs. Eddie Todd, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry -Smith. Leo Tighe and his sister, Miss Lil lian Tighe of Manley and Miss Wun derlich of Nehawka were in the city a few hours attending the teachers examinations at the superintendent's office. WE HAVE TWO GASOLINE ENGINES WE WILL SELL AT A OXK 1 AIKIUXKS MOUSK 3 horse, on truck, new One Regal 2Vi horse, second hand, but overhauled and in ex cellent condition. Just the thing to pump water when the wind mill breaks or there Is no wind, run the cream separator, churn butter, Baw wood and a hundred other things there are to be done on the farm. Come in and see us as they are a rare bargain. Remember, we sell gasoline, dry batteries, and the best oil you can buy, MONARCH." Guaran teed not to foul your engine for a year. All automobile sup plies. We vulcanize your tires and guarantee them. Automobiles and Repairing. 8 I 5 GREAT S IC PnlTESu PLATTSMOUTH