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OUR ARMAGEDDON.
The connecting link which unifies the history
of this world is the social redemption It
planed its firstbatter when the promise was
given that the seed of the woman would bruise
the serpent's head.
It has its fruition in the way, and perished with their houses.
reality which John saw in vision, the redeemed
city. established on earth. Between this beginning
and this ending lies the trail of the
Savior's blood.
What is written large in the
history of humanity is in miniature in the individual
life. The struggle for the social soul
is the macrocosm, the great world, and the individual
soul is the microcosm, the world in
epitome. Within me is the battle of the giants.
Jesus Christ and Satan wrestle for the prize,
and the issue is.my soul.
It is not a conflict
of influences, not of forces; it is the duel of
personalities.
If Jesus and His Spirit gain the
conquest of my soul, it means life for me;
if Satan and the flesh win, it is death for me.
The .declaration of war is older than creation.
The war has had no truce.
x\t Golgotha Jesus
broke the power of Satan, but he will not
give up the field. It is guerilla warfare, for
Satan fights with any weapon and disregards
every rule of war.
His order is to kill, and
kill, and kill. The issue is already
Jesus has surrounded
decided.
Satan; life has con-
Cjuered death; love is victor over hate. Jesus,
my
Captain, has won for me.
SERVIAN SECTS.
By \Y H. Morse, M. D.
Although the Greek Church is the religion
of Servia, it is not without its schisms and
sects, and notwithstanding the severity practiced
against those who leave that communion,
the sectaries abound.
Unlike the Roman Catholic
Church, the Greek
Catholic is divisive.
The dissenters are known as the Raskuls, and
THE CHRISTIAN NATION. Vol. 61.
quence many sects are priestless. In some sects
every member has the right to baptize and hear
confession. Some recommend ''baptism by
fire," which means suicide by self burning.
Whole families have been "baptized" in this
Another
correlated belief is "death baptism," which is
applied to those at the point of death. Strangling
is the method; and believing that eternal
happiness awaits only those who die a violent
death, the rope about the throat to accentuate
the last breath is quite orderly.
Some sects
celebrate communion by the distribution of currants.
The Khlysti Raskuls are self-flagellators,
and bestow great dignities on zealous members,
distinguishing them as "prophets,"
"Christs," and "mothers of God." In tbeir
services there is much
singing, and members
are accustomed to whip themselves, often til!
faint from loss of blood. The Skopski Raskuls
are self-mutilators, and amputate fingers
"for God's sake." Both the Khlysti and Skopski
are numerous in Russia as well as in Servia.
They delight in mystic rites, and mi>:
mysticism with rationalism in some curious
ways.
One sect objects to all forms of devotion Its
name signifies "those who do not pray.'' Various
injunctions are in doctrinal vogue, such as
"Man, as the image of God, is to be revered."
"There is no heaven." "Life is a punishment."
"The birth of a child is a misfortune."
The Raskuls are not wanting in sobriety and
industr5^ They are among the most useful
citizens, and in patriotism as stalwart as any.
Their independence of character is often admirable,
but it is evident that some very extraordinary
ideas must develop among them. .\1-
though their "creeds" are offspring of ignorance,
there are sects which preach quality of
men and good will toward—all of their own
faith. In war-time the strict church men, the
sacerdotal sectaries, and the members of the
priestless sects are all united in arms, and, as
in the present war, they find brethren among
the same time when nihilistic ideas are exploil..
ed. Dissenters as well as adherents to the
church are pledged to the advancement of Servia,
and to the resistance of oppression. Ths
assassin of the grand duke is "protected" by
both loyalists and Raskuls, who in polivics
know only one patriotism. Both pretend to
describe the missionary efforts of Protestants
and Roman Catholics as shameful, but the disposition
toward an interest in the "invaders"—
in reading the Bible, and in the mass.—ig
wholesome, and "conversion" is from bofi;
ranks.
The British and Foreign Bible Society in
its distribution of Scriptures in Servia finds
the dissenters and the loyalists equally interested.
Both are numbered among the emigrants,
and in some of the manufacturing towns
in the United States and in the agricultural
districts in Canada, it is not uncommon tofaiii
both living in community. Where they have
been reached by Protestant efforts, they are as
eager to carry the printed Word to the old
country as are the Italian Protestants to do thi
same on their return to Italy. There is sure
to be a brand-new Servia, and it is incumbent
upon all who come in contact with the Serbsiii
this country to lead them to the true faith,
both for their own and their country's sake.
Hartford, Conn.
REVI^'AL AND REVIVAL METHODS.
A Spiritual .Awakening in Each Congregation
.The Minister's Sermons, Use of Church
Organizations and Other General
Methods."
By Rev. J. G. McElhinney.*
AVords are suitable to state cold f arts, to explain
a theory, or to develop an argument, but
they are inadequate fully to express the inner
feelings of the heart during a deep religions
experience. The historian may describe in
words the shrewd tactics and successful maneu-
\ers of a general and his army, but it is
impossible for him to record the intense excitemient,
the joyous thrill or tlie boundless enthusiasm
of the soldier in the finalcharge and
glorious victory of the battlefield.
It would be impossible for me to tell you
tonight, just what the revival at Quinter has
are regarded as religious rascals. Their dissent
began at least two centuries ago, and in the Russians. Those who call themselves loyal
to the Greek Church in the madness of war
its origin it was quite laudable. It seems that
forget all about doctrinal differences, and are
many errors had in the course of time crept
meant both to pastor and people. The nearest
wont to say that the schism is not in either
into tlie ritual, due to careless copying by ignorant
monks and a demand had advanced for It is not improbable that students of the
approach to it which I eould make would be
the flesh or the spirit, but in the clothing.
in the words which the two disciples used to
describe their experience as they journeyed m
their correction. But against this reform a early Christian sects may recognize in the sects
company with Christ on the way to Emmaus:
strong opposition manifested, as many refused of the Greek Church some tinct or taint of
"Did not our heart burn within us, while he
to believe that the copyists had ever erred. The Gnostic and Manichaean ideas. Platonism, old
talked with us by the way, and while he opened
Orphic ideas, and some of the strangest Indian
errors -were often inconsequential, such as to
unto us the scriptures."
or Egyptian mysticisms may be discovered in
u'hether crossings had ought to be made witfi
However. I may tell some of the things we ^
the same connection. All, in common, have
two or three fingers, and like minor matters.
did even though I cannot tell how we felt. Possibly
every one who passed through the revival
resisted the Moslem discolorations, and tho
The great council of 16G6 decided in favor vices that are common to one are as common
at Synod wondered how far-reaching it would
of the corrected texts, and the result was a rerolt.
All the bishops, except one, who d"ed priest" is balanced by "as drunk as a Easkul.'*
to others. The expression "As drunk as a
be and how long the effects of it would be felt
in the Church. The pastors and elders especially
were anxious to Imow how to take home
At Christmas the dissenter and the church man
soon after, were in favor of the revision. Naturally
the sectaries would not recognize priests
to their people such an impression of the re-
laugh alike, and when taxes are due, the on-o
growls as well as the other. Both are supposed
consecrated by these bishops, and in conse­
*Ad^ess delivered while still pastor at
to resist Russian nihilism, but both wink at
Quinter, Kansas.