By the REV. JAMES MCLEOD, Greenock.
THIS infamous sect is a weapon which Satan uses for the ruin of precious souls for Eternity. Who was Pastor Russell? He was born in the United States of America, and became infatuated with religious notions about heaven, earth and hell. Indeed, Russell “banished hell” and advanced a theory about a “heaven” which no other reformer ever heard of but Pastor Russell. He preached that the day of judgment was passed, and many other unscriptural ideas which could only be concocted by a madman! However ignorant and blasphemous his teaching was, Russell, like Mohammed of old, gained a large body of thoughtless, irreligious and senseless men and women to believe his doctrine. He became so popular that, not only in the U.S.A., but in this country many sent for the “Pastor” to explain in person his “new gospel.” He duly arrived in London, accompanied by a “Mrs. Russell.” He was received with great applause by gullible Londoners, of whom many no doubt deeply and reverently believed that Pastor Russell had discovered a new Utopia for the ungodly and unregenerate. The Albert Hall, London, was engaged for the Pastor, and there was no lack of money to meet all financial expenses, which such a great public gathering involved. The hall was packed to hear the “new gospel” of this modern son of Diotrephes! He was, naturally, praised as he could show and prove that the day of judgment was passed, and that there was no such place as hell. After the Pastor discharged his duty to the public, and proved his doctrines to be absolutely true to all the facts of his own revelation and interpretation of God’s will and purpose towards mankind. Russell had, of course, to banish the doctrines of the Lord Jesus about the future state of saint and sinner. Christ may be a good teacher, and a good living man, but just a man, and no match for the learned Pastor Russell!
When the Pastor had ended his mission in London, of course, he had to return to his vast flock in the U.S.A. They were looking forward to his return, and preparing to receive him with all the honours due to a great Prophet who had unexpectedly arisen among them. There was, however, one individual waiting in the city of New York for the arrival of her husband—Mr. Russell! This was the Pastor’s legal wife, and the “Mrs. Russell” who attended to the Pastor in London was not his wife. Mrs. Russell had to sue her husband in the law courts of New York City. The records of the case and the decision of the courts are public property. The Pastor made a great show of learning when preaching his infamous doctrines, of his knowledge of the Hebrew tongue, and the Greek language without ever learning to conjugate a single verb of those noble languages. “Thy sins shall find thee out” came like a thunderclap on this rogue of Satan. He passed on to his final and eternal account, and we might add, in the words of God to Jeremiah, “He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem” (Jer. xxii. 19).
Like the tares sown by the enemy among the wheat, this evil and wicked blasphemer left behind him able lieutenants to carry on the work which the Pastor had to give up at the call of the inexorable messenger of death. The principal lieutenant was a man called “Judge Rutherford.” He was no judge, but the devil is fond of giving high titles to his most active and vicious agents—like, for instance, His Holiness the Pope! The Russellites, as they were then known, having gathered a great deal of wealth, began to pour forth their cursed doctrines through the press of the United States, Canada, Britain, the Colonies, etc. The Devil opened the purses of deluded men and women to advance “The Good Cause,” which taught “no hell,” “the judgment is passed,” “Christ was a mere man,” and “Pastor Russell was the first and only man who knew and understood the purpose of God towards sinners.” Who would be so hard-hearted and cruel to refuse to support financially this “new gospel”? The crusade must be advanced, at all costs. Millions and millions of dollars poured into the laps of the Russellites to pay for the printing, publishing, and sending forth, to the utmost bounds, the doctrines of the founder of this new religion.
What are the doctrines of the Russellites? In fact, they are not doctrine in the sense in which we understand the Word of God. They form such a concoction of extraordinary ideas about heaven, earth and hell that it would be impossible to explain the meaning of this new cult of Satan. They are a mixture of the Mohammedan Koran, Hindooism, Indian Pantheism, and, at the core of it, the attitude of the Communists towards the Lord Jesus Christ. The fall of Adam is denied, and the necessity of the Atonement is therefore tabooed. It is simply pandemonium—or, as the word is described by Milton—”the great hell of demons or evil spirits.”
Like the chameleon (famous for changing its colour) the Russellites changed their designation often, and in more recent times they call themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” which shows, to all reasonable and intelligent men, that this herd of Satan have reached the summit of their blasphemy! We know Satan is bold in this age, but this is a sign, and a clear sign, that Satan’s kingdom is drawing to its end for the thousand years, when he must be cast out and the blasphemers must depart with their father, the devil! We know with what reverence and respect the people of God held this great Name of God, and even our translators translate this sacred name “LORD,” no doubt following the example of the godly in Israel, from the days of blessed Abraham, Moses and the Prophets. This sect of Satan, however, are not afraid to assume this designation, and this is a proof to all right-thinking men that they are the servants of the devil, and therefore are bold to take the sacred Name in vain. It will happen to these blasphemers as happened to the sons of Sceva—”and the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?” (Acts xix. 13-17).
We know that these servants of Satan are busy, and that there is no lack of money with them—they have dollars by the million. They appear at our doors with their most subtle, soul-destroying and Christ-crucifying literature, to deceive the simple and to lead poor sinners down into a lost eternity. They invade all nations like the plague of locusts, and it is difficult to resist their crafty machinations. There is a similarity between them and the Communists, and Roman Catholic Jesuits—all are subtle, plausible, in appearance refined, lovable, gentle, cautious. They are as determined to spread and propagate their dangerous religion as the Mohammedans were from the eighth to the sixteenth century.
How is it that the priests of Rome are so much opposed to this sect? The only explanation we can offer is that the priest is opposed to them, not on Biblical grounds, but because he is afraid of losing his flock to the influence of the Russellites. In fact, many Romanists have accepted the lead of the Russellites in Canada and in the U.S.A. The priest is alarmed that more of his own deluded flock will follow the Russellites. Like the Communists, they are both from the Devil. Our people must be on their guard against this herd of Satan who are as dangerous as Communists or Romanists. They are malicious enemies against the gospel of our Lord.
To prove the “righteousness” of their cause, the Jehovah’s Witnesses quote the Word of God. In this, as in every other way, they resemble the Devil. Satan can quote Scripture when it suits his malicious purpose. No doubt, they are among the “frogs” of “Revelation” that issued forth from the bottomless pit.
Russellites, Romanists, Communists, Mohammedans, Modernists, with the rest of the pagans and godless of this age are all opposed to Christ. His people, the gospel, and to the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Their doom is hastening on if they do not repent of their wickedness. The pulpits of the Modernists are silent on these solemn questions which beset and destroy souls in hundreds and millions. The Bible is against them, and hence their silence. “Dumb dogs, that cannot bark.” Our young people are in grave danger that they may fall into the nets of this subtle organisation. Let us warn them and instruct them in the fear of the Lord, pointing out to them the infinite value of paying attention to their Bibles. We have an inspired Bible. Our blessed Reformers—Calvin, Knox, and many others—left to us precious doctrines, creeds, and confessions, which should be carefully studied by the young. Schoolboys of to-day can, and should, read Calvin’s Institutes of Religion, and be able to gain some knowledge and holy instruction by applying themselves to the writings of such holy men of God.
Is the Confession of Faith studied as it should be? We believe not. That is one reason for unstable souls being driven away from the truth of God. “Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?” We live in dangerous times. We have a sort of a calm before the storm that may, at any moment, break in upon us like a mighty flood that rushes forward—or, like a forest fire, leaving no way of escape open. To your Bibles, young people, yes, and old people too, to find there the light, the knowledge, the hope and the consolation that we need for time and eternity. Flee from vain books and from all kinds of literature which destroys the soul.