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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1910)
MlfilJU'Oltl) MAIL TKIBUNK, MBDFOBD, OREOON, MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1010. , .ns THIS SERMON IS p --O0o PEOPLES Scnnon by CHARLES T. RUSSELL, Putor Dfooklyn Tabernacle. o - Li iQQO Utlcn, N. Y Auk. ill.-Pniitor Itu noil of Ilrooklyn Tntxiruuclu iirritcticri lioro twice lodny to Inrco nmllunccH. Wo roport ono of hl dlscourituii from tho above toxt. Ilo wild In parti Ono of llio wondorful tlilnM nbont tho Illblo Mini tlio CbrlHtlnulty founded upon tho IUuIo'h toacliliiKH In Hit) fnct Mint It contains no much nynintuhy comfort for ttiu boronvml, tho mirrow ItiR, tho troubled. TIiIh In not true or nny other hook or any other roHghm In tho world. And who U thoro that doca not nt mmio tlmo In llfo iiimmI ajrm pnthy, now! oucouragiMiicnt. ntl powerful nod lovluj; friend audi iih our Illblo aHHiiros tin our God In to nil who will iiccopt hln fnvor7 Hut our jjreat Advoritnry, Bntnn, ROokN to tunko thu llk'ht appear dark and tho durknciiN appear light. Ilo Het'kH to uitntlvo tho tcntlmouloM of Gori'a Word, nnd, to a very Krcat ! un-e. hln deception linro boon niiccohh ful, H8 U wltuuancd by thu crevdn of Christendom, rrnctlcttlly all of our crwd, won thotiKh thoy niuicrt that God In KrucIoiiN. merciful, kind and loving, contradict thla description of him nnd hln Plan for humnnlty in luoiintroun tcrinn. tlendUh In tho ox Home. Tho majority of creodn toll iih of hla foroordlnatlou nnd pro-iirruugo uicut of whntnoowr cornea to pntts anil that thU olKulfli'fl that u tutlutly hand ful will k'nln otvrnnl llfo lu Joy In heaven, nnd that tho utmalutly thou anuria of mllllotiN of heathendom nod Cbriiitondom ant equally foroordnlned to apoud an eternity of torturo foiv known, forelntoudrd nnd provided fur before their creation. In there com fort lu thl? In mich n plnn Cod-llki or Batnnlc? Could tiny Intelligent and Kood being rejoice In kucIi ii plan of damnation or iducorely woralilp an Al mighty Clod who would no uilauao hl unlimited (tower to dlntrrnH hU crea turca, "bora In rIu. nhnpeu In Iniquity: lu mIii did their mot hem conceive tuumV" Tho minority of Christian creed de clare the name reiiultn, hut that they were not designed of (Jod. not fore, known by him. not prodwttlnnUil. They toll iih In other worda that we hnve nn Incompetent Clod, wvllmenuliiK. but deficient In wisdom nnd In wver. In there nny comfort In ihtu Would ll assuage the grief nnd pain of those aurferliiK In eternal torment If they could bo assured that their lot wax such, not because of Dlvluo premedita tion nnd design, but because of Divine Incompetence? Surely Micro lu no com fort to be hud from nuch n view! After nil. we l'roieatnnta tlld not mnko much of an Improvement upon the theory held by our forvfnthcra against which wo protested lu tho alx teenth century. Surely purgatorial tortures of n few centuries are no worse, no less comforting than our Protestant conception of an eternity of torture for nit the non-elect. Our Catholic forefathers manufactured Pur. gatory without n shred of Scripture upon which to bnae tho theory. They built It In tholr Imaginations; they lu vented Its llrcn nnd tortures. Our ProtcHtant forefathers, ubIuk their Im aginations, gavo us ou eternal tormout hell not moro tangible, not moro Scrip tural than Purgatory. Thoy did In deed use n Scriptural term Bhcol. hades, hell but, overlooking tho fact that thoHo words ull ulgnlfy the state of death, tho condition of tho dead, they wrested tho language nnd war pod It In nn uuBcrlpturnl manner to signify torture. Tho penalty or "wngo of Bin Is death." They inado of It torturo everlasting, without tho slightest au thority of Scripture except n misunder stood nnd misapplied parable, which, rightly understood, teaches n totally different lesson. The fill no Gospel has surely lost Its power. People arc becoming too Intelligent to endure It. Ab n consequence attendance at Churches In decreasing nnd rerorence for God In diminishing. Infidelity, call cd Higher Criticism, etc., Is Increasing. Tho need of tho hour Is tho Gospel of comfort. St. Paul declares whnt wo nil know, namely, that "tho whole creation grouneth nnd travaJloth In pain together until now waiting for tho manifestation of tho sons of God." Here wo uec tho necessity for this Gospol of comfort. Wo ueo also thnt God has provided It nnd that It Is coming to the world In the end of Mils Ago, In tho dawning of the new Age, It will come to the world In general as soon as the elect Church shall have been selected nnd, by tho "First lies tirroctlon" power, glorified with her Lord ui Ida Kingdom class, as the glorified sons of God, whose mission It will bo to bless nil the families of tho earth. "Father of MarolaaQod of All Com fort." When St. Paul says. "Knowing the terrors of the Lord," ho evidently re fers to the fnct Mint our Creator him declared thnt ''the wage it sin h death" mot eternal torment); that "the iou that slnneth, It hIiiiII die" (not live In torment): that "nil the wicked will God destroy" (nut prcscrvo In flroi; and that only such as come Into vital relationship with the Redeemer can have overlaatlnx life, Knowing them tltffltfs reapectluR tht Divine govern I A REGULAR WEEKLY FEATURE lows nml regulations of .Mi'mnIhI' Kingdom will begin in rise up, up' "I', out of their fallen, degraded coiiilitli'ii of sin, and he hroujtht hack lit ml Unit wns lost In Adam mill redeemed ill Calvary, lu proportion iih ilie, lll retrace their Mteps nnd come Inn It Into Divine fellowship their shame will tie creaso nnd their contempt also. Final ly lu tho couimiuiuatloii of that ago all who will may hnve attained full res toration nnd roKonorutlon nnd free dom from shame and contempt. Tho unwilling nnd disobedient nnd rebel I Ions will bo destroyed In tho Second Denth "twice dond, plucked up by tho roots" without hope of nny further resurrection or restitution. "Comfort With Thaw Words." SL Paul urges thnt Christians should not ho Ignorant concerning those who nro iisleep-tlmt they "sorrow not oven im others who have no hope," It I bad enough to think of millions of the heathen as beiiiK totally xlnct. hope lessly dend. without nny prospcctH of u resurrection. Tho sumo would ho truo respecting our neighbors mid f f jiidn, pnrenlM nnd children, brothers nnd slsteni, who nro not saintly, who nro not In "Christ Jesus," who nro not walking after tho Spirit, who are not heirs of God nnd Jolnt-hclru with Jesus Christ our !ord. And If It would he n sore trial to think of them as utter ly destroyed lu death nnd without hope of Resuscitation, resurrection, how much worse would It hnvo been when, In our misunderstanding of God's plans, we thought of them nn being In either Purgatory or eternal torture. Such n false conception of tho Divine plans Is oven worse than to believe them with out hope nnd extinct. Tho Apostle proceeds to point out the basis of Mils hope lu these words, "If wo bellove that Jesus died ami rose again, even so them also which sleep lu Jesus will God bring (from the dead! with (by) him" (I ThessnlonlatiH Iv. Hi. So, then, the Apostle declares, the resurrection hope Is the Christian hope, nnd tho Uisls of tho hopo of this resur rection Is Mint Jesuu died thnt ho mlghl he man's rnusomer Mint ho arose from tho dead that ho might ho the great Deliverer of mankind, the Prophet. Priest and King of God. ami that he might gather to himself the elect Church, the llrlde, tho Lamb's Wife, ns his Jolut-helr. Christians, of course. In thinking of tho resurrection of the dend. would prl mitrlly, chiefly, consider their denr ones of the household of faith: hence tho Apostle continues his nrgumeut, saying, that those of the Church living at tho tlmo of tho Second Advent will not precede or hinder those member of tho Church who hnve died during the past centuries, for the dead lu Christ shall arlso first shnll bo awak ened first from the sleep of death. "Thtm That 8Up In Jaiui." Wo cannot think thnt tho Apostle re fers merely to tho Church In this case, for uniformly. In speaking of tho resur rection of tho dead, he refers both to the Church nnd to the world, the "resurrection of the Just nnd of the unjust." So lu this case ho evidently refers both to the Church and to the world ns "asleep lu Jesus." The ex pression will bo noted as different from another one of his respecting those who "sleep In Christ." The latter ex pression evidently refers to tho Church ns tho glorified members of Tho Christ. Hut In speaking of those nslecp In Jesus ho evidently tins roferenco to the whole world of mankind. Tho whole world died In Adam without having n volco In the mnttor of their birth or trial or condemnation. "Condemnation en mo upon ull becnuse of one man's disobedience." Likewise Justillcutlon Is to pass uiKHi nil of our nice through the precious merit of Christ's iincrltlcc. Tho fnct thnt ho "died, the Just for the unjust." constitutes his death n satis faction price for the sins of the whole world. From this standpoint, therefore, the whole world not only died In Adam, but now sleeps or waits unconsciously for n resurrection of tho dend through tho merit of our Redeemer's sacrifice If wo bollcvo thnt Christ died for our sins nnd Inld tho foundntlon thus for his great work of blessing tho world o mankind, Including the Church, the tlrst-frulls, let us believe nlso that God who began his good work will not stop until he shall have brought forth Judgment unto victory until nil tho re deemed world uhnll be brought to n knowledge of tho Hedcomer and of the Heavenly Father and to nn opportunity for llfo everlasting through obedience The world died hi Adam "In Adam all die." Jesus Is tho Redeemer of the world. "liven so all In Christ shall be mnde nllvo." Tho message has reached the Church only, nH yet. In due tlmo It will reach every member of the rneo. Tho Church Is already reckouedly quickened from the dead by the holy Spirit nnd will shortly be born from the dead lu the "First Resurrection." The world. therefore, from the Dlvluo standpoint Is not dend In Adam now, hut merely asleep In Jesus, waiting for tho glori ous tlmo when, his Kingdom establish ed, he shall call all mankind from the prison-house of death, from the tomb, thnt each may learn to the full of the graco of God lu Christ, nnd hnve op portunlty for attaining llfo ovorlOBtlug, These nro the words lu which wo are to comfort ono another wordB of hope respecting the resurrection of tho dead, both the Just and the unjust words of sympathy, words of assurance, words that show that Gcd I" belter thnn nil our fears; that yet lu a little while ho that shall come will establish his Kingdom first the Church lu glory and secondly Israel and nil Mm fam ilies of the earth through thorn. Kvery thing connected with tho Divine mes Dago Is full of hope, full of encourage mont, full of blessing, to thoso In tho coudltlon to receive It. OQQi i i i i n ii ! iQ PULPIT... Most Comforting Words, Words of Life "Comfotl ono another with theie t word" (I Tlicualoru'flni iv, 1 8), ooo ' merit we penwndo men everywhere, "Ilo y reconciled to God" nnd thus attain the only eternal llfo which ho promised. Hut. on tho other hand, nolo tho kindly description of our God which tho Apostle furnishes, "Illumed bo God. even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, tho Father of mercies, the God of all comfort; who com forteth us In all of our tribulation, that we may bo nhlo to comfort thorn Mint nro In nny tribulation, by tho comfort with which wo ourselves ore comforted of God. For ns tho suffer ings of Christ abound In us, so our comfort nlso nboundeth by Christ. And whether we lx nflllcted. It la tor your comfort and salvation or whether we bo comforted. It Is for your comfort and salvation, know Ing Mint ns yo nro partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye ho nlso of the comfort" (II Corinthians I. 3-7). Whnt n wonderful statement respect ing tho Divine Intentions for tho com fort of tho world and tho comfort of tho Church, nil proceeding from "tho God of nil comfort." Nothing written In nny sacred books of any people nt any tlmo reveals such a God as the God of the Illblo a God Infinite In Justice, Wisdom. Power nnd Love. It Is ho that Is "working nil things ac cording to tho counsel of his own good will." for the ultimate comfort nnd salvation of nn many of his creatures aB will accept his favors, aftor being brought to a knowledgo of tho Truth respecting them. The Church Is now comforted during this Gospel Ago (saved to the highest plane of tho heavenly nature) nnd during tho com ing Age the world Is to bo comforted nnd saved to tho human nature us many ns will. For tho world this menriB tho glorious opportunity of tho mediatorial reign of Christ which will constitute their time of restitution, up lifting, resurrection to nil thnt was lost In Adam nnd redeemed by tho precious blood of Christ (Acts ill. 10-21), "Comfort With Thota Worda." In order to nppreclnte the meaning of our text we must consider the words of the Apostlo preceding It. be ginning with tho 13th verse. He de clares. "1 wouhl not have you to be Ignorant, brethren, concerning them which nro asleep, thnt ye Borrow not even ns others which hnvo no hope." All Christian people agree Mint th word sleep hero refers to those who died. They are not asleep lu heaven, of course, for there nil Is wakefulness and Intelligence and Joy. They arc not asleep In Purgatory, of course, for. according to or.r Catholic friends. Bleep there would bo nn impossibility. They nro not asleep In nn orthodox hell, for. nccordlng to the description given by Protestants, none could sleep there. Where, then, are those who are "nslt-op"? St. Paul snys that wo should not be lguornut concerning them. Hav we not been Ignorant lu tho past foolishly Ignorant? Wo have Ignored tho Apostlo'n words entirely. Wo hnvo refused to believe that any nro asleep and claim that nil nro nwnko. allvo a few In heaven, tho ninny lu Purgatory or eternal torture. Rut St. Paul was right! The en tiro ItlbU tenches that nil who die fall asleep. Thus we learn of St. Stephen, tho first Christian martyr, that he "fell asleep" (stoned to death). We rend of the good and had, kings nnd peasants, falling asleep In death We read that King David slept with Ills fathers some of them good, some of them bad. Wo rend Mint Abraham slept with tils fathers some of them heathen. The Ulble tells us where, they sleep nnd that they will nil ben wakened from the sleep of death in due time In tho resurrec tion, during Messiah's reign of a thou sand years. The Prophet declares Unit "Many that sleep lu thu dust of tho earth shall awake, some to life ever- , lusting nnd some to shame and lasting contempt" (Daulel sll, l'i. Those who wlrl he uwnkened from tho sleep of death unto resurrection of life will be tho blessed and holy, the saintly, who will he associated with Messiah In the Kingdom work for the blessing and uplifting of the non-elect, Those who will be awakened from the Bleep of death to ahauio nnd age-last ing contempt will bo the non-elect world. Tholr slmmo will bo In propor Hon ns they have enjoyed light, knowl edgo nnd opportunity nnd hnve failed rightly to appreciate nnd use these. They will hnve contempt from their fellows. In proportion us their short comings of the present time will he shown up. Many highly esteomed amongst men will be awakened to thnt shame and tigo-lnstlng contempt. But their ense wbl not be a hopeless one. Much of their wenkness and derelic tion were the result of Adam'H trans, gresslon and the sinful conditions which have resulted, Including unfa vorable environment. God hits pro vided In Christ redemption for ull from tho bIdb and weaknesses resulting from Adam's disobedience and thus tho entire race of Adam Is guaranteed nn Individual trial under favorable condltlons-for life everlasting or death everlasting. All who will render obedience to tht FOREST FIRES BENEFIT TO JACKSON, SAY8 KING Ocorgo K King of Mcdford is in lorviowoil in the I'ortlnnd Orcgonian regarding thu effect of forest fircn in JuckHon ceunty: "Now thnt tho fori'Ht firnu in Southern Oregon nro dying out, tho oxlcnt of dnmngo 1m found to ho far Ichh than tho cnrlv !. O. HANSEN Wo mako any kind Wo carry Glass of MEDFORD SASH & DOOE CO., Medford, Oregon. J. E. ENYART. President. J ;; JOnN S. ORTII, Cushion W. B. JACKSON, Apb'I Cashier. THE MEDFORD .NATIONAL BANK CAPITAL SURPLUS .. UNDIVIDED PROFITS - SAFETY BOXES FOR RENT. A GENERAL BANKING BUSI- :: NESS TRANSACTED. WE SOLICIT YOUR PATRONAGE. The Jackson Offers its services and twenty-two years' experience of successful banking to the people of Medford and those in the vicinity thereof. It solicits the accounts of merchants, farmers, fruitgrowers and all others requiring the services of an old, conservative banking institution. CAPITAL $100,000.00 SURPLUS $ 50,000.00 W. I. VAWTER, Pres. C. W. M'DONALD, Cashier. G. R. LTJSTDLEY, Vice-President. T FOR SALE $2600 will buy 160 acres in fine locality; 5 acres of bearing orchard, good buildings. It will pay you to in vestigate this. 70 ACRES 35 acres in fruit trees 1 year old; 60 inches of water; iy miles from town; aU farming im plements, tools, etc., together with team of horses, go with place; good buildings. A bargain if handled by September 15. Al STOCK RANCH 160 acres; Clear creek rims through place; good outside range; easy terms. Let us show you the Nickell Addition, where the fine homes are being built. 428 ACRES Rogue River bottom land, suitable for fruit and general farming purposes. 300 ACRES Alfalfa land, covered with irrigation ditch and perpetual water right; has coal outcrop ping; at a bargain on long time, easy payments. GOLD RAY REALTY CO. 216 WEST MAIN STREET. J. B. Wood, W. D. Poster, Sales Agents. Phono 1681. Crater Lake Route 1910 LOCOMOBILES The cars of the Crater Lake Company will leave Hotel Nash on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 a. m. Round Trip $25.00 Children under 12 years, half fare. Secure your tickets at tho hotel. CRATER LAKE TRANSPORTATION CO. J. O. NEPP, Manager. Medford Address: Nash Hotel. t'HlimutcH. On tho contrary, tho fires have been u benefit, according to 0. F. King, owner of extcnuivo timber (irons in Jackson county. Mr. King Hnyn tho firos in many instances hnv burned only the underbrush, which permits a growth of grnwH nnd IcnvcH tho forcnlH in less danger of subsequent fircH." TOM MOFFAT and style of Windowa. any size on hand. A. PERRY. Vice-President. t $100,000.00 20,000.00 15,000.00 County Bank 1910 Mt. Angel College MT. ANGEL, OR. Tjq charge of the Benedictine Fathers. For young men and boys. Term opens September 6th. Pre paratory, commercial, scientific and classical courses. Write for catalogue. The finest Sample Rooms in the city. Hotel Moore Fire Proof Rau-Mohr Company Proprietors. European Plan NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS: Plans and Specifications for tho six stories above ground of Hotel Medford will be ready to figure upon September 3 at the of fice of Messrs. Clark & Foerster. THE TIME IS HERE H. B. PATTERSON THE QUAKER NURSERYMAN is booking orders now for early fall plant ing. Don't delay in placing your order, all stock guaranteed. Office 116 MainI Street Medford Iron Works E. G. Trowbridgde, Prop. FOUNDRY AND MACHINIST All kinds of Engines, Spraying Outfits, Pumps, Boilers and Machinery. Agents in So. Oregon for FAIRBANKS, MORSE & CO. Excursion Rates to the East DURING 1910 Southern Pacific (UNES IN OREGON) TO RATES , .' Chicago $72.50 Council Bluffs $60.00 Omaha 60.00 Kansas City $60.00 St. Joseph $60.00 St. Paul $60.00 St. Paul via Council Bluffs $63.90 Minneapolis direct $60.00 Minneapolis, via Council Bluffs $63.90 Duluth, direct $66.90 Duluth, via Council Bluffs $67.50 St. Louis $67.50 Tickets will be on sale Mav 2d and 9th: June 2d. 17th and 24th; July 5th and 22d; The above rates apply from Portland only. From point3 south of Portland, add ONE WAY local rate to Port land, to make through rate via Portland. One way through California, add $15.00 to above rates. Except that fares to St. Paul and Minneapolis one way via Cal- uornia win oe $2iy& mgner, and fare to Duluth $24.75 higher than fares via direct routes. Ten days provided for the going trip. Stop-overs within limits in either direc tion. Final return limit three months from date of sale, but not later than Oc tober 31st. Inquire of any S. P. Agent for complete information", or WM, McMTJRRAtf Gentral Passenger Agtnt, Portland, Orfon Single rooms or en suite also rooms with bath FROM ALL POINTS ON THE August 3d; September 8$U .rr -,!