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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 30, 1913)
LEPROSY OF SIN IIEEDUSAVIOR DIvIna Remedy the Only Cure, Says Pastor Russell. THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS. Every Unrighteousness Is Sin Open Sine Secret Sine Hypocrisies False Accusers What God Approves. What God Hates The Wiles of the Adversary The Redeemer Soon to Be the Good Physician Ten Lepers Cleansed Only One Appreciative. St raul, Minn., June 29. -Pastor Russell spoke at the Auditorium here this t after noon, also at the Shubert Theatre. Minneapolis, In the evening. The an nouncement of his coming is always sufficient to draw a crowd. We re port one of his ad dresses, based npon the Savior's words respecting the ten cleansed lepers: "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Only one hath returned to give glory to God."-Luke 17:17, 18. Leprosy, said the Taster, has long been regarded as Incurable, and there fore Is used as an illustration of sin. which is also incurable. As only the Master's word could heal the lepers, so nothing short of a Divine remedy can cure the leprosy of sin. Lepers In old en times were obliged to separate themselves from others, nnd whenever approached were required to cry, "Un clean! Unclean!" Cut off thus from association with others, the condition of the poor creatures was far from en viable. So sinners by Divine decree are isolated, separated from the pure, the holy, the righteous. Though all humanity are sinners by heredity, we must not forget that they constitute but a small proportion of God's great family, amongst whom are angels, cherubim, seraphim, etc., who always have fellowship with God and with each other. But while the Scrip tures declare of humanity that all are sinners, that none are righteous, no, not one, yet all do not appreciate their condition, nor cry aloud, Unclean! In deed, there are various degrees of un cleanness; some are more and some less sinful. The two extremes of sin are repre sented in our Lord's parable of the two men who went up to the Temple to pray, the one a publican the other a rharisee. The publican realized his sin and smote bis breast, saying. "God be merciful to me a sinner!" The rharisee. on the contrary, felt himself so superior to the publican that he did not realize himself a sinner at all: he thanked God that he was not a sinner. Jesus declares that, because of his ac knowledgment of sin. the publican was more acceptable than the rharisee. In other words, the Creator wishes that each one of Adam's race should realize his imperfection that he comes short of the Divine standard of per fectionshort of that standard which God would be pleased to bless with everlasting life. While the Bible thus declares that all are sinners. It does not unreasonably say that there Is no diifference. What it does say is that the slightest degree of sin would mean that we are sinners, and that hence the person with the least taint of sin upon him would need the Savior, the De livererwould need to be cleansed. And, In order to realize his need of as sistance, he must see his sin nnd cry unto the Lord. Unclean! Lord. save, or I perish! Here again many of us have made a serious mistake in the study of our Bibles. When reading that the sinner would perish, we forgot the meaning of the word perish, that It signifies to file, to lose life. There is nothing In the word perish that signifies to be tortured to all eternity. "The wages of sin Is death." destruction annihila tion. If you please. And If God had not made some provision for man's recovery, there would be no future life for Adam nor .for any of his race. Death would indeed have been n hope lees state: Just as leprosy, whether In a small or greater degree, signified the presence of a hopeless disease, from which there Is no recovery. Jesus the Good Physician. Jesus is the only physician who can heal this leprosy of sin; nothing that the sinner himself can do would cancel the sentence. God purposely so ar ranged the mntter. The Good Physi cian heals humanity at a great cost to Himself. As the wage, or penalty, of sin upon Father Adam and his race means death, so whoever would redeem Adam must be prepared to pay his penalty before he could assist the sin ner legally. Justly. None of Adam's race could serve as a redeemer, be cause each and all were born In sin and therefore as subject to the pen alty as Father Adam himself. Nor could any of them be born without sin. because the life of the race came from Its father. Whoever, therefore, would be the savior of man must have a life sepa rate and apart from that of Adam, and must bo willing to sacrifice it on Adam's behalf. All of the angels had such a life separate it utl npart from Adam's life A:- 1 1 L X (foSTOR RUSSELL) and say f them, therefore, would have been capable of being man's re deemer If the Heavenly Father had made them the proposition and they had chosen to accept it But Jehovah God gave the first offer to become man's redeemer to the very highest of all His creatures-Ills Only Begotten Son, the Logos, of whom we read that He was the Beginning of the creation of God, the First-born of every crea ture, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last "For the Joy Set Before Him." It was not within the province ol even Jehovah Himself to demand that one holy creature should die to rescue, to redeem, humanity. The matter, therefore, wus optional with the Logos: and If lie had not chosen to accept the proposition, It doubtless would have been extended to others. But such was the love and loyalty of God's Only Be gotten that to know the Father's pleas ure in the matter was to cheerfully obey. It was a Joy to Him to serve in any manner and to further God's will. No doubt the Son would have duut this without any suggestion of a re ward, but the Apostle suggests that a great reward was proffered Him. . He says, "Who 'for .the Joy that was set before Him endured." Ills Joyful obe dicnee began when He exchanged the higher nature for the human. The same Joy coutinued when, as the Man Christ Jesus. He offered up Himself, and was faithfully obedient to the Fa ther's will to the very last, saying. "The cup which My Father hath pour ed for Me, shall I not drink it?" St Paul further explains that it was the Redeemer's faithfulness and loy alty to the Father, in doing Ills will to the extent of laying down the human life, that became the basis of His still higher exaltation above His prehuman condition. The Apostle says, "Where fore God also hath highly exalted Ilim, and given Him a name which Is above every name; that at the name of Jesut every knee should bow, of things in Heaven and things in earth." Thus, as the Apostle explains, He has been ex alted and qualified to be made a Prince and a Savior and able to grant forgive ness of sins to as many as will comt unto the Father through Ilim. What Sin-Forgiveness Means. Forgiveness of sin has two aspects: (1) the cancellation of the legal con demnation; and (2) the recovery of the sinner from his loss, his Imperfection. Jesus came into the world to accom plish both of these results. By His death He would legally satisfy the Di vine Justice, giving His life as Instead of Adam's life, which was forfeited by sin. Then, according to the Father's promise, belli? raised from the death state to a glorious state, with plenitude of power. He would use that power and opportunity for the release, or re covery, of mankind from the meutal. moral and physical degradation brought about by sin. Thus we read that Jesns died that God might be Just and yet be the Justiller of all those who believe in Jesus of all who shall become Ills dis ciples and follow Ills leading and di rection. Again, we read that ne came to seek and to save, to recover, that which was lost. Sinners of Two Classes Saved. It was Just like our great Heavenly Father to take advantage of the oppor tunltv of human salvation from sin to illustrate different characters amongst men and different degrees of Ills favor toward these. He foresaw that the great necessity of the world would be the Messianic Kingdom, the powerful Reign of the Redeemer forcefully put ting down sin and all unrighteousness, scattering ignorance, darkness, super stition, etc. ne foresaw that some of the human family would need to have stripes, punishments, corrections In righteous ness, In order to teach them the great lesson that all unrighteousness Is sin: and that all sin brings degradation, sorrow, pain, death, according to Di vine arrangement Messiah's King dom would be necessary to show how obedience to God would, on the con trary, bring a gradual uplifting and recovery out of sin. sorrow, tears and death, eventually back to perfection. But while the great mass of mankind would need the severe lessons of the Millennium, the Reign of Christ, a cer tain few would be able now to develop an eye of faith and an ear of faith by virtue of their desire to do God's will. These would be doubly precious In God's sight; for "without faith It Is Im possible to please Him." and those who could exercise faith under ndverse con ditions would be Ills peculiar treasure. Therefore God hns arranged to gather out this special class in advance, and these He calls nis Elect, the Church of Ihe Gospel Age. This call, to which these resjiond, la not so forceful as will be the call of the future; they must have hearing ears and attentive hearts to bear the voice of God in the present time at all. Additionally, they must be both able and willing to walk by faith, their path lighted only by the Lamp of God's Word. "Thy Word la a lamp to my feet, a lantern to my footsteps." Furthermore, they must walk In a nar row way, a difficult path of separation from the world. Not only must they strive to live separate and apart from sin. but after the pattern of their Re deemer they must present their bodies living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God. through the merit of Jesus' sacrifice. These are scrlpturally styled the Jus tified by faith, the sanctified, or set apart to the service of God. These, under the typical arrangement of God with Israel of old. were pictured In the tribe of Levi, who were set apart from the remaining tribes to be God's spe cial servants, and ultimately to be the Instructors and guides of their breth rcn of the other tribes. So the elect class In process of selection since ihe ascension of .lesu-,lnM Pentecost are to be God's special servants bj and by in the blessing of the world in geucrnl; for they are to be Joint-heirs with Jesus, their Redeemer, in all tin great work of His Millennial Kingdom, designed, arranged, prepared, for the blessing uud upllftlug of all huimiuity. and for the destruction of the wilfully, intelligently, sinful and rebellious. "Though Your Sins Be Scarlet" The Lord used crimsou uud scarlet as indicative of the most flagrant sins, and then declared that His arrange ment for the forgiveness of sin through the great Redeemer Is effec tive even for the very worst sins "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18.) This is an as surance for us. God knows that all ol Adam's children were born with the hereditary taint of sin. "prone to sin as are the sparks that fly upward." He Is not expecting perfection of any under such conditions; all must have help, and the Savior whom God has pre pared Is qualified to give help to all. The help given to the special class that Is In process of selection during this Gospel Age Is In the Scriptures figuratively represented as the Robe of Christ's righteousness, covering each of the sinners, and thus hiding the actual blemishes of his flesh. In other words, the Lord declares of this class that He will judge them, not accord ing to their flesh, but according to the spirit of their minds, the intentions of their hearts and the efforts which they will put forth in resisting sin and in doing God's will. This Robe of Righteousness will cover sins of every kind and degree, except wilful sins. "O blessed thought! O words with Heavenly comfort fraught!" The arrangement for the sins of the world, to be carried out In the future, will similarly be ample, though differ ent The world's sins will not be covered, nor will the world be dealt with merely according to their minds and hearts. The world's salvation is spoken of as being one of works. Each sinner will be encouraged and assisted back to perfection along the lines of good works. Assistance and strength of charactet will come to them day by day nnd year by year until, before the Millennium will have ended, all the willing and obedient will have become perfect, mentally, morally and physically. They will have attained the image and like ness of God. lost by Father Adam in Eden; and with this perfection will come their right to human life, forfeit ed by Adam and redeemed by Jesus. But some one may say, 12 mankind are to have an opportunity during tin Millennial Age, will that not be a sec ond chance? We reply. No. None w ill have a second chance for everlastlnp life. By nature we are all sinners, con demned to death. Our chance for life at all is through the Redeemer's sacri fice. He died for ail.' But only when we accept the fact nnd come under His direction as Ills disciples, do we obtain our share. I Since Jesus accepts as Ills disciples during this Age only such as conse crate, or sacrifice, their lives to the do lng of God's will, only they get the, benefit of the Redeemer's sacrifice dur lng the present life. Those who do not get that benefit now still have it as sured them by Jesus' death, according to the Divine promise. Those who do not get their chance of everlasting life now will get it during the Millennium. Sin a Transgression of Law. Human laws are not always the same as the Divine, though properly Intended so to be. Thus the Lord in forms us that 6ome who are highly es teemed among men. nnd approved by human standards, are an abomination in the sight of God. Contrariwise, sometimes things disapproved by man are In accord with the Divine Law. God seems to put Justice in the very highest place In His estimation of sin. while poor human Judgment sometimes gives it a very low place. For Instance, some will cry out vigorously and vengefully against immoral dances and petty thievery, who would not hesitate to Join In a Trust intended to deprive thousands of fellow-creatures of their share of the blessings of our day. In the eyes of human Judgment these would bo esteemed noble examples; while In the sight of Divine Justice, we believe, they would rank as very vi cious and criminal. Ten Cleanssd but On Thankful. When ten lepers came to our Lord praying for healing and were granted their request, only one of them re turned to thank the Savior; and Jesus called attention to the fact It well il lustrates the difference between the two classes of the saved. The entire ten lepers would well represent the world of mankind in sin. All would be glad to be relieved of the leprosy of sin and to be holy and happy. But as only one of the ten was so appreciative as to come back and wor ship the Redeemer and offer Him bin services, it represents the fact that only a small proportion of humanity Is properly appreciative of the blessing of forgiveness of sins and healing there from. The only one who was thankful would well represent the class of sin ners who now constitute the true Church, and who. realizing the Divine arrangement for the forgiveness of sins, come thankfully and offer the Lord their little all to be used in His service. The "exceeding great and precious promises" of God's Word are given only to the thankful and consecrated, who have already presented themselves living sacrifices to God. "To you It is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom." "God hath revealed them unto us by Ills Spirit." which is grant ed only to the consecrated. These prom ises are to strengthen and nerve the consecrated and to enable them to overcome. In fulfilment of thvlr cove Dant of consecration. BILL TO PENALIZE LOBBYING FILED Senator Thompson Is Sponsor ol Drastic Measure. - AIMS AT EX-LEGISLATORS. Kansas Statesman Proposes $10,000 Fines and Five Year Jail Terms For All Found Guilty of Infractions. "Legislative Counsel" as Defined by Bill Are Legitimate. Although the end of the lobby Inves tigation in Washington is not yet in sight, a sweeping bill to regulate lob bying and restrict certain of its forms has been Introduced by Seuator Thompson of Kansas. Penalties up to $10,000 and Imprisonment not exceed ing five years are provided. It is ex pected that a bill along the lines of Mr.' Thompson's proposals will be pre sented by the lobby committee with its report. Mr. Thompson's measure throws no restrictions around the activities or private citizens in their own Itehalf. Individuals employed by other per sons or by corporations are divided into two clusses legislative counsel and legislative agents and detailed provisions are made for their control. His bill distinguishes, however, be tween persons employed In behalf of private measures nnd those supporting measures as representatives of the "whole people of the United States." Bill Defines Lobbyists. The term "legislative counsel" ns de fined in this bill shall apply to any per sons employed to appear before either house of congress or Its committees or subcommittees and present briefs or oral arguments or examine witnesses with a view to affecting, legislation, "legislative agents" are those who seek to accomplish these ends by any other menus. The bill creates a Joint congressional committee on lobbying, to consist of five senators nnd five representatives, with a clerk at a salary of $2,500 and an assistant clerk at $1,800. The clerk's duty would consist In keeping two dockets. In which shall be regis tered legislative counsel and legislative agents, with detailed statements of their employers, the time of their em ploymeut and the various subjects of their activities. Except in the class of claims against the government, legis lative agents und counsel Ore forbidden to accept employment for contingent fees. The bill strikes at former senators nnd mefnbers of the house serving In the cnpaclty of lobbyists by providing that no lobbyist shall go on the floor of either house or In the adjoining cloak rooms or reception halls while that house Is in session. As former senators and representatives are practically the only agents who would havo the right to the floor, this provision is evidently aimed at them, but does not apply to the representatives of a state or other local government. Registration Requirements. The requirements for registration do not apply to persons summoned by committees to testify before them. But if an agent files a brief under the terms of this bill he may be required to supply additional copies for the use of the document room. The penalty for violating the law for Individuals is fixed at a fine not to ex ceed $10,000 or imprisonment for five years. Corporations employing legisla tive counsel or agents In violation of the act are subject to tho same flue, while tbelr officers, cognizant of the violation, are liable to imprisonment IS IT BOAT OR AIRSHIP? Harbor Officials and Aero Club Dis agree About Hydroaeroplane. "When Is a boat not a boat?" or "When is an aeroplane not an aero plane?" The flying boat development of the hydroaeroplane has raised this ques tion, and no one appears to be able to satisfactorily answer It The officials whose duties Include the enforcement of Uncle Sam's harbor regulations maintain that it is a boat and as such comes under the regula tions governing motorboats and there fore must comply with the law by car rying the stipulated equipment of sig nal horn, lights, life preservers, etc. On the other hand, the Aero Club of America officials as stoutly maintain that It Is not a boat, but an aeroplane, and for proof point to the fact that It must have Aero club sanction to par ticipate in competitive flylug events and that its pilots must operate under an aviator's license, Just as though It bad only wheels Instead of a hull for water maneuvering. Even the tentative court of last re- ort, the American Power Boat assoda tion, confesses Itself "stumped." In 8ix Weeks $1 Grows to $300. Starting six weeks ago with $1, "Da go John." n Kansas City huckster now has n prosperous business and $300 In the bunk. He bought a thirty dollar gold watch on the Installment plan, paying the Jewelry company his last dollar down. After obtaining th( watch he pawned It for $10. With this money he purchased a cart nud consignment of fruit and started out He has redeemed his watch. ttv 'H-I-K- T EAGLE. T" I k t rl i ( til ml .A. ' r.v W-H-fW-'H-H ! Hay Wells reports Ihe loss of a valuable nurse Sunday afternoon in the effects of lockjaw. Grandpa McKey is reported lo' quite sick at the home of his lighter, Mrs. Charles Henner. Im J. II. J.atroiii lias just received an appointment to some big fat (i llice. but lie refuses to lell ns win at it is. W e are sorry to report that Mrs. C. Men, is gradually growing J W( aker at her home in this citv. Mr: Men, lias had a long sick ness and has borne up bravely miller Ihe strain. We all hone 'or the best. The little hoy of Mr. ami Mrs. Hay Wall, who reside oast of agle, fell from a lounge one ening last, week, receiving a aiiured arm. At this writing ie little one is reported to he 'ing nicely. A. (liehenarth ami wife came uii from Davey, Neb., to atleml the funeral of Grandma I' in la ml Tuesday aflernoori. They will peml a few days at the home of their daughter, Mrs. S. Yanlainl- ingliam, south of town. On Wednesday evening. June 25, at 8 o'clock, at the home of Ihe bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. . M. Dawson, well known and re flected residents of Meiinell. Neb., occurred Hie marriairc of I heir daughter, lleva, to Mr. Win. II. Crnbtrce of Eagle. Mrs. Win. t'lirislophoi'son, who ecenlly underwent a serious operation at a hospital in Lincoln, s rapidly improving and was re moved to the home of Mr. Chris- pherson's parents in Lincoln Wednesday. It is Ihoimht nroh- ulile that she mav he able lo re turn lo her home. soul heasl of lagle, Sunday, i MCU(lllf t v News. .j. Mrs. Irene Mason and son, Mort, left Saturday evening for Omaha, where Mrs. Mason will keep house for her children. . Harold Hrunson of Portland. Oregon, and Miss Georgia Dele zene of Louisville, were here visit ing their cousin, Frank Hoedeck er. Andrew I'itlmaii got up (own yesterday with a dollar for tin printer. He is HI years old and complains of being- feeble. God bless you, Andrew, you are en titled to a little leisure. Mr. and Mrs. John Ahresiiian are rejoicing over Ihe safe arrival at their home Saturday morning of a baby boy. Mother and son are reported as doing well, and the dad, well, lie's alright. Mrs. O. Knudson and little daughter, who are down in this pari of the country from Min nesola, were here the llrst of Ihe week visiting Mr. and Mrs. Wil liam Hose. Mrs. Hose is an aunt of Mrs. Knudson. Mrs. Hockwcll left Wednesday for her future home in Tuscola Michigan. She has been helping her brother, J. M. Palmer, in I In poslotlice for the past two year. ami has made a host, of friend; that will regret, to see her go am wish her all manner of success in her new home. J. S. Hough went to Omaha las week in response to a telegram from the chief of police, and r covered (tint part of the clothing belonging to Mr. Hates that was stolen from Hie automobile. The bundle was recovered in a pawn shop, where it had been "soaked by Ihe party' that look it. They did not get Ihe thief. Robert Wilson, the aged hermit who lived in a hovel on Ihe east edge of town, was discovert' Wednesday evening in an tincon scions condition in his garder He was brought to a room in Ihe old hotel and Dr. Thomas ralh who pronounced him suffering with apoplexy. He was given frealhient, but never regaim consciousness and (lied about midnight, Earl Toney and Obi Miller being with him when he died. .4-HM f WEEPING WATER. Republican. Mrs. Calkin returned to her home at York Monday morning after her visit, with her parents Mr. and Mrs. .1. W. Kuhga. Missses Ethel and Veroni' Langhorst of Elmwood are visit, ing aheir uncle and aunt, Mr. am Mrs. Win. l.anghorst, this week Grandma Klepsercame up from Kails (lily last week am) is visit ing with her son, N. C. Klepset tnil family at. Ihe farm southwest of town. A. V. Wollen and sons f Klm- wood hae just returned Lo Jieir me after spending their vaca tion ul "Grandpa's" W.C. Wollen, nt ti of town. Mrs. George Sehradcr and the. children returned to their home Atchison Monday morning; af several days' visit with her mother, Mrs. J. H. Davis. Karl Wiles, son of George iles, northeast of town, met ith a painful accident Friday. 'liile bridling a young horse he was kicked on Ihe left let,',' frac turing the hone below the knfeti. m is around with a pair of niches, hut, has a very sore limb. Mr. J. U. A. Meland. the nro- prielor of the Hotel Eller, hag re modeled his sign to read Gibbon Hotel. This was the, name that Ihe hotel, carried from the time it was first started until a few years fro. It looks natural to see the ign (iihhops Hotel again. M :w:j ! LOUISVILLE. 4. Courier. f. -I I 21 2 I I i l- -I 2 I rI- -I I I I 1- Mrs. Elmer Amick and children are here from Tekamah visiting ith relatives. Misses Ethel and Stella Trifseh of Platlsmouth visited their many little friends in this vicinity over Sunday. Henry Ossenkop and wife and 'red H. Ossenkop were passeng rs to Omaha Thursday on the Schyler train. Mrs. Will Irwin and daughter, iwendolyn, of Table Hock. Neb- visited the former's sister, Mrs. . L. Horsey, over Sunday. Mrs. G. N. Merriam of Chicago and Mrs. E. G. Hennell of South Omaha are visiting at the home of . W . Merriam this week. G H. Meyers of Omaha has ac epled the position of manager of Ihe local telephone exchange, Itcv. Iheo. Hartnian. naslor of tbe German Lutheran church, four miles southwest of town, is unending conference al Heemer this week. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Ifeim have received word that. Ibeir daughter, Mrs. Hugh Seiver, of im lleno, Oklahoma, has recovered iroin an operation for anoendi- citis, . which she underwent re-' cently. Attorney W. C. Eramnlnii and family, and Miss Fay Lichlen- steiger, of Lincoln, were the guests of Mrs. M. Peterson Tues day. They were on their way home from Omaha, where they visited friends and relatives over Sunday. Miss Grace Erhart has return ed for the summer from the Sacred Heart academy al St. Jos eph, Mo. She had I n attending school in Omaha, but Hie convent was badly damaged in the late cyclone and the punils were transferred to the school in SI. Joseph. MM"IM-J-MMKI-M UNION. Ledger. - .J. MK"M Mrs. Gertrude Wiley, residing a few miles noi l heasl, of hen,, went to Lincoln yesterday. Mrs. Malt MrOiiin departed a, Saturday for Steele City, Neb., to make a few days' visit with one of her sisters. Miss Eleanor Carpenter, a well known and popular young lady of this vicinity, was married Mon day to Mr. Herbert H. Jones of Hillings, Mont. Mont Itobb and wife of Sutton came in last Saturday to attend the Jones-Carpenter wedding Monday, and visited their son, Hugh Kobb and family. Henry Eastwood ' of Lhierty, Neb., was here to attend the fun eral of Mrs. Mary A. Everell, r,. turning home on Wednesday. Miss (iussie llobb of Stilton was here to atleml the wedding of hep cousin, Miss Eleanor Carpenter, on Monday, and visited relatives and friends a few days. Hert Tulene of Hlattsniouth was here Saturday to confer with the reunion committee regarding the nierry-go-roum business at the big celebration here August 15-16. Hoy Delaney or Falrvfew, Vu., and David Delaney of Mt. Morris, Pa., brother and nephew of Iteese Delaney, urrived Wed nesday morning ami are visiting relatives at the Delaney home. Ed Everett of Lindsey, Mont., arrived Saturday night, in re sponse to a message informing him of the very serious illness of his mother, and fori iinalely he was able to get here several hours lie fore her death. Ed is farming on a largo scale and owns a large tract of good land, and is very well pleased Willi prospects in Ihe Montana country. i