THE TRAGEDY OF
SAMSON THE STRONG
Judges 13:8-16, 24, 25— Jan. 31.
Bamson Born a Nararite —His Birth
Foretold—His Mission Foretold—The
Value of a Mission —How He Judged i
Israel Samson’s Weakness His
Loyalty to God—Victory In Death.
"Bewere, / pray thee, and drink not urine
nor strong drink.” —Judges 13:4.
HLL Israelites who took a cer
tain vow were styled Naza- ■
rites. No one should confound_
these people with the resi
dents of Nazareth Jesus was a resi
dent of Nazareth, but not a Nazarite
The Nazarite vow was that spiritous
liquor in every form should be avoid
ed, and that the hair should not be cut.
Samson from birth was under tb‘
vow, which, by the direction of tne
angel of the Lord, was adopted for him
by his parents. In some sense the vow
seems to have signified complete con
secration to God and His service.
Twice before Samson’s birth, the an
gel of the Lord communicated with his
parents to the in
tent that the moth- ~
er’s mind, especial- V. \S.
ly, should be im- ' —'' l u
pressed with the cjjl (N
importance of ab- #7 4 1
stemiousness; and
that her child
should be born
under a favorable }f \ ~ [U ‘
endowment. Un- " L
doubtedly his par '
ents realized to
what extent par- oisappear
ents may give ing in the flame.
mental am. physi
cal strength to their children, and
would be on the alert to endow their
offspring favorably.
According to Divine promise, Sam
son was to be one of Israel’s Judges—
Deliverers. The need of deliverance is
evident from the context The Philis
tines resided to the southwest of Pal
estine. They were a warlike people,
and very intelligent as respects manu
factures. Their cunning is shown in
that they not only disarmed the Israel
ites, but prohibited their making any
iron implements or doing any kind of
blacksmithing work, in this manner
they held the Israelites in a species of
peonage, exacting tribute of them.
Samson's work for his people must
not be measured by merely the amount
of damage which he did to the Philis
tines as a warrior and as a strategist
setting fire to their wheat-fields by in
geniously using foxes for the purpose,
etc. Doubtless his chief work was one
of reviving the spirit of his people, who
had become thoroughly hopeless under
the oppression of their enemies. The
lesson of what one could do when he
devoted his life to delivering his people
from their enemies must have been a
great stimulus to patriotism and an
encouragement to return to the Lord.
Points to Ba Remembered.
We must not forget that the Jews
were not Christians, and that the rules
laid down by Jesus and the Apostles
for Christians were not applicable to
the Jews. According to the Scriptures
Moses and the nation of Israel were a
House of Servants (Hebrews 3:5, 6).
They were promised Divine blessings
in proportion as they served faithfully
the Divine Law, which did not call
upon them to be saints in the Chris
tian sense of that word
Another difference between the Jew
and the Christian is that the former
was promised temporal blessings as a
reward for faithfulness, while the lat
ter is promised spiritual blessings with
temporal adversities and trials of faith,
patience, love and loyalty. Dnless this
distinction between the two Ages and
the two Laws be borne in mind, we
shall continually be in difficulty.
According to the Law. Samson was
rated as a very faithful servant of
God. His faithfulness consisted in his
loyalty to the Divine requirements and
to Israel, God’s covenanted people. His
faith was continually manifested in
all he did: and his life was used in
serving his people. He is rated as an
Ancient Worthy.—Heb. 11:32, 39. 40.
Samson was neither a Christian nor
an example to Christians. In many
respects he lived after the flesh, not
withstanding his noble self-sacrifice in
the Lord’s service.
We should remem
ber, however, that
he was never be
gotten of the Holy
{.(]* (*' \ i Spirit. Only since
1 A / Pentecost have
' any been begotten
of the Spirit as
“New Creatures
in Christ" True,
we read that the
Spirit of the Lord
The Boy Samson. was upon Samson;
but we are to bear in mind the wide
distinction between spirit-begetting
and the Spirit’s mechanical operation
upon the Prophets and other Ancient
Worthies to move them to accomplish
the Divine purposes. But Christians
are to receive the Spirit of Adoption.
A woman was Samson's undoing.
He confided in her, and she betrayed
him. While he slept his deceitful
friend cut off his hair, and then deliv
ered him to his enemies. They gloated
over him, put his eyes out and kept
him as a slave, grinding at the mills.
But at a great feast, they brought him
forth as a trophy. He stood between
two immense pillars, which support
ed the roof of the great building: and
with a prayer to God, tie grasped these
—-hH"* pulled down’ the entire structure,
doing more damage to the Philistines
In the killing of their great men, and j
more therefore for the' deliverance of
his people, in that one act than in all
the other experiences of his life.
Directors Election.
The Annual Meeting for election of
Directors of the Eureka Life Insur
ance Company, of Baltimore, Md.,
will be held at the home office of the
company at Baltimore, Md., Tuesday,
February 9th, t 915, at noon.
J. P. Sansom,
Advt. Secretary.
NONE ARE TOO POOR to sub
scribe for the home paper, when it
costs but ?1.50 per year, a little less j
than 3 cents per week. i
TO HELL AND BACK i
IN THE BIBLE WAY!
(
Verily, Truth Is Stranger Than j
Fiction. ,
i
i
The Hell of the Bible Not the Hell of I
Theology—Bible Hell to Be Destroy- 1
ed—Jesus Went to the Bible Hell and *
Returned —Everybody Going There.
Christ Died Not to Prevent People (
From Going Into Hell —Millions Had ,
Gone to Hell For Four Thousand j
Years Before Christ Came—Christ’s
Mission Was to Rescue All From the
Bible Hell, Sheol, Hades —Bible Tells ,
How and Approximately When the j
Prison Doors of Hades Will Be Open- I
ed —All Prisoners Shall Come Forth. 1
Baltimore, Janu-
SSfe|j[,. Russell preached 1
... <|S here today at The
SpiipS!’affgfel Academy of Mu
”topic was
4L I el, the audience
W%b. \ agreed that he was
lllllßsl 118 strict| y uusensa
kgogg&mji
not leave My soul
In Hell.”—Psalm 16:10: Acts 2:27.
The Pastor declared that the Bible j
Hell is a very reasonable one, but that j
the theological Hell is a most unrea
sonable one, as all must agree. The ,
theological Hell is a red-bot furnace, |
manned with fire-proof devils, and con- ]
tabling practically all of the human
family who have ever lived —the ex
ception being the comparatively small
number of saintly followers of Jesus.
This Hell is the common property of 1
Catholics and Protestants: and they
are welcome to it. so far as the Pastor
is concerned. He declares it an ab
surdity, wholly contradictory to the '
Bible: and lie proved his points well '
in the estimation of nearly all present.
Hells Galore—Modern Theology.
The Pastor remarked upon how
many different kinds of Hell there are, :
according to theology. It seemed to
him that each preacher felt that he
had a right to make a hell for all non
church members according to his own
conception. None seemed to think it ’
necessary to go to the Bible. He re- 1
minded ns of the views of the saintly 1
Thomas A Kempis, in which he de- '
scribed the horrible smells and sights <
of Hell so graphically as to make one 1
wonder if he had made a special visit i
and returned to write its description. <
He reminded us of the vivid picture
this writer gives of a naked soul—lf <
anybody knows what a naked soul is .
—and how the fiery blasts finally as- -
bestosized the outer skin, rendering :
the suffering somewhat less. i
But this decrease of suffering, ac
cording to Thomas ft Kempis, was dis- i
pleasing to God; and a description Is >
given of how this torture was renew- i
ed and intensified. The asbestos skin 1
split down the back like the shell of a ’
locust, and into that crack the flames 1
of Hell licked the I ,' way furiously I
upon the raw flesn of the damned 1
souls. This process, the saint inform- <
ed us. is to be kept up throughout all
eternity for the joy of God and the 1
holy angels, for the satisfaction of i
some kind of justice which the saint 1
had in mind, but which we of today, ’
thank God! are unable to comprehend.
The Pastor declared that fire Is used
in the New Testament as a symbol of j
destruction, an illustration of how all ,
the wilfully wicked God will destroy ,
eventually. People do know something ,
about fiery trials, and about heaping
coals of fire upon the heads of their t
enemies figuratively. But whenever j
the word fire occurs In any connection ,
where it can be twisted into signify
ing eternal torment, those who love
that kind of punishment for their ene- ,
mies are swift to take advantage of it ,
—eternal torment is the just, the lov- ,
ing thing to give to all the heathen
who never heard of Christ, to all the ,
poor, ignorant and degraded who, born
in sin, in weakness, find themselves .
discouraged and overwhelmed by the ;
Adversary-to all not church members. {
This sort of thing has been going on
so long, the Pastor said, that every- j
body gradually came to believe it, and j
remarkably few have inquired as to its ,
unscripturalness. Many sensible peo- ,
pie held aloof from religion entirely, ,
unwilling to confess themselves believ- ,
ers of such a doctrine or worshipers
of such a God.
But now we have variations to suit
our more refined feelings. Ministers,
without giving their authority, now tell .
various tales about Hell. Some have |
it with a slower fire, not so red-hot;
others have it that it is; merely a place
of mental; remorse—following in 'this, ;
to some extent, the leading of Dante’s
picture of Purgatory, where various i
punishments are metecD out~for vari- ;
ous sins. They do not. however, go so
far as Dahte and call the place Purga- i
tory. or admit that there will ever be
any release from it. They content
themselves by saying that there is 1
nothing in the Rilile about Purgatory, i
and forget that there is nothing in the I
Bible about their kind of Hell, the Bi- ,
ble Hell being a totally different one. 1
According to the Catholic doctrine. I
all Catholics go to Purgatory to be i
purified and fitted for Heaven; and I
they rejoice in this lesser torture be- ’
Make Bunflower Useful.
In some countries, notably in the
Russian provinces north of the Cau- ;
casus, the sunflower serves other pur
poses besides ornamenting gardens
with Its huge golden blossoms. The
seeds are used to make oil, which Is
employed both in the manufacture of
soap and in cooking. The stems and
leaves are burned and the ashes used
to make potash. Last year the sun
flower factories of the Caucasus pro
duced 16,000 tone of potash.
I
cause it is less than the eternal tor
ture reserved for others. From their
viewpoint, happy is the man, the wo
man, the child, that through baptism,
holy water, holy candles, the mass
and the Extreme Unction, gets inti
Purgatory, for he may be helped oil!
of it by further masses, etc.
We are not complaiuing at this. We
think it a great deal better than the
Protestant theory; but we leave it,
said the Pastor, for those who like it.
We notice, however, that very few
seem to like it for themselves; nearly
all prefer these tortures for their op
pouents. If any oue is happy in these
beliefs, the Pastor does not wish to
disturb his serenity. He was merely
addressing the growing multitude who
are looking for a better God and a bet
ter future than is held out by the
creeds of the Dark Ages. Others
should not read his sermons, he said,
nor come to bear him.
The Rich Man In Hell, Etc.
When once the human mind has be
come settled upon certain convictions,
no matter how foolish. It seems able
to find support for its delusions, con
tinued the speaker. Thus one of our
Lord’s parables has been seized upon
to prove that Hell is a place of torture,
parched tongues, etc. We cannot here
discuss this parable or the two figura
tive statements in Revelation used to
bolster the doctrine of eternal torment;
we must confine ourselves to our text
But we can offer free of charge a
booklet which we have written with a
view to making these figurative state
ments clear. Whoever will address
me—Pastor Russell. Brooklyn, N. Y.—
requesting a copy of a pamphlet about
Hell, will be promptly served free of
charge. That pamphlet will settle all
your questions, supplementing what I
am saying to you today. I take pleas
ure in giving it away free, because I
kuow the joy. the blessing, the relief,
it brings to many earnest, honest
hearts. I know that many after read
ing are enabled to iove, worship and
serve the great God of Love heartily,
intelligently, as never before.
Where Is Hell? Who Are There?
Our English word Hell comes to us
from the German language— hoehle,
signifying a hole. It is, therefore, a
very good translation for the Hebrew
word Sheol. which signifies a pit, a
hole, a grave. The New Testament
Greek gives us Hades us the exact
equivalent of Sheol. Whenever Sheol
is translated into the New Testament
Greek the word Hades is used. Thus
the Psalmist wrote, “Thou wilt not
leave My soul in Sheol" (hell—the
grave): and St. Peter translated this
in the New Testament, rendering It.
“Thou wilt not leave My soul in
Hades" (hell—the grave).
St. Peter tells us that these words
were not true respecting the Prophet
David, who used them; that he is still
in Hell, in Sheol. ih Hades. He says.
“His sepulchre is with us unto this
day.’’ The Prophet David had not yet
been resurrected out of Sheol, out of
the state of death, out of the grave
condition. St. Peter explains that the
words were a prophecy relating to
Christ’s resurrection—that God raised
Jesus from the dead on the third day
—raised Him. therefore, from Hades,
after He had been in Hades for parts
of three days.
There is not a shred of authority
anywhere for the absurd statement,
sometimes made by cornered clergy
men. that “Paradise is on one side of
the creek and Hades on the other.”
The Bible tells of a Paradise, but it is
future. It tells of Hades, the state of
the dead: but it is present, and is to
be destroyed in the future. The de
struction of Hades, Sheol, the grave,
will progress during the thousand
years of Christ’s Reign. Every time
an individual is resurrected from the
dead, his grave will be destroyed—lt
will be a grave no longer.
Good, Bad, Rich, Poor, In Hall.
At a time when the Bible was not
in the hands of the people, and not
considered necessary to them, because
they had the creeds, various errors
spread; and both Catholics and Pro
testants helped to spread them, and
no doubt many were deceived into be
lieving all that they said. We are not
charging them all with hypocrisy, but
with error—with being out of harmo
ny with the Bible. The Bible does
not tell about any going to Heaven at
death; but it does tell that all, both
good and bad. rich and poor, go to
Hell at death: that King David went
to Hell, and is still there. Note the
Apostle Peter’s words, "David is not
ascended into the Heavens.” (Acts
2:34.) David is not one of the elect
Church. He was never called to the
Heavenly Calling. He was not a fol
lower of Christ: for he lived centuries
before that time. His blessing of res
urrection will be to human nature,
earthly nature; and his reward will be
a share in that restored Paradise,
which will eventually be world wide.
We remind our readers that the Bible
history of four thousand and more
years has no reference to any other
Hell than Sheol. We remind you that
although (our Bible was translated by
people who believed in a fiery Hell,
they were unable to translate quite
half of the occurrences of the word
Sheol by our English word Hell. They
were obliged to translate the majority
as grave or pit. They should not have
made any exception; in every case the
word should have been rendered grave
or pit; for this is what it means.
was raised up out of Sheol.
Hades, the tomb; for His death had
been a sacrificial one. and there was
no real cause of death in Him. But
there was another person brought back,.
Jonah, who the Lord declared was typ
ical of Himself—Jonah’s three days in
the belly of the fish corresponding to
our Lord’s three days in Hell. Hades,
the grave. The resurrection of Jesus
was represented also in the experiences
An Optimist.
When you hand a lemon to an op
tlmist.he will dig up a little sugar and
a little somesthing else and a little hot
water and make himself comfortable.
—Cincinnati Enquirer.
Applicatioi of Pain,t.
Paint should be applied only to a
clean and dry surface. Moisture un
der a paint causes it to blister when
exposed to the sun; also moisture be
tween coats has the same effect
i . ’ *
THE FROSTBURG SPIRIT, FROSTBURG, MD.
A TYPICAL SPACE GRAFTER.
We can make some allowance for
certain people who seek to work pub
lishers of newspapers for free adver
tising of their goods or of money
making affairs when we know the at
tempt is made by ignorant people who
can’t distinguish the difference be
tween news and advertising.
But when people try to work the
press for free advertising which they
try to fool the publisher into thinking
is purely news matter, it is not only
amusing, but also astounding and
provoking.
Recently J. Broode Boyle, manager
at Cumberland of the C. & P. Tele
phone Co., sent a lengthy communica
tion to The Spirit concerning stock
that the American Telephone and Tel
egraph Company has for sale, and full
details were given as to Who could
buy, and upon what terms. It was
the strongest kind of advertising for
a subsidary of the Bell Telephone
Co., of which the C. & P. Co. is also a
subsidary, but J. Broode called it a
news article, and no doubt thought
that the editor of The Spirit would be
jay enough to consider it such and
fall over himself in his eagerness to
publish the desired advertising free,
as news, all for the pure “love of
Mike.”
But “Uncle Pete” didn’t fall for it,
and he wrote to Manager J. Broode
Boyle that The Spiri dispenses all its
charity through the American Red
Cross Society and the Salvation Army,
and told him if he could convice those
organizations that the American Tel
ephone and Telegraph Co. was a
worthy object of charity, to apply to
The Spirit through one or the other
of those organizations.
Let J. Broode Boyle brood over that
a while and then boil such nonsense
out of himself as to think he cau work
this sheet for free advertising for a
great and prosperous corporation.
Ta! ta! J. Broode, this may be
rude, but then b’gosh were not a
dude. We speak our mind to all man
kind, and you’re old ax we cannot
grind. We tell you truly, tell you
well, that space for “ads” is what we
sell; and those who’d bum it go to—
well, we cannot tell just where they
go, but think it’s somewhere down
below, in regions where there is no
snow.
WELCOME BACK.
Greeting, Mr. Editor,
And here is to your health ;
For I’m a whole-souled creditor,
Who envies not your wealth.
I’m glad that your esophagus
Is healed, and you’re again with us;
And truly hope that you, “by heck,”
Again won’t “get it in the neck.”
For, though when you were on your
back,
Your lieutenants were never slack,
And though they hustled well about
And sent a “bloomin’ ” good sheet
out,
There was a “something” missing that
Flows from beneath your office hat—
A “something” that I can’t explain,
And I am glad you’re back again.
C. R. Ryan, Bogota, N. J.
Edwin Jandorf In Town.
Edwin Jandorf, formerly of this
city, but now of the great city of New
York, arrived here last Thursday
night and departed on Friday night.
He met many of his old friends here,
who always warmly welcome him
back to old Frostburg on the Pike,
where he says many of his happiest
days were spent.
Mr. Jandorf is president of The
Jandorf Oxberry Co., makers of the
celebrated “Best-ov-al” barefoot san
dals, play shoes and drawer leggings,
and he always does a nice lot of busi
ness for his firm when he comes to the
old home town.
In speaking to Mr. Jandorf on
Thursday afternoon, that gentleman
informed us that The Spirit is a most
welcome visitor in his home, and that
he considers it a very interesting and
worthy paper, wishing it continued
success, etc., all of which warmed the
cockles of the heart of The Spirit
man, who has an extremely friendly
feeling for all good Frostburgers, no
matter where they have roamed. And
all good ones, like Mr. Jandorf, are
loyal to the old home paper.
State of Maryland
STATE ROADS COMMISSION
Notice to Contractors
SEALED PROPOSALS for hauling out approx
imately 1148 tons stone chips for oiling State
Roads, as follows :
ALLEGANY COUNTY.
Contract No. —ll4B Tons, will be received by
the State Roads Commission, at its offices, 601
Garrett Building, Baltimore, Maryland, until 12
M. on the 9th day of February, 1915, at which time
and place they will be publicly open ed and read.
Bids must be made upon the blank form con
tained in the book of specifications. Specifica
tions and plans will be furnished by the Com
mission upon application.
The successful bidder will be required tq give
bond, and comply with the Acts of the General
Assembly of Maryland, respecting contracts. ,
The Commission reserves the right to reject
any and all bids. *
BY ORDER of the State Roads Commission
this 26th day of January, 1915.
Wm/'C. O. E. Weller,
**' Chairman.
<ColKl>t. by HjeTUue BdvOlowtbft
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000^00000000000000
I Six tans Why Yon Should Join|
| Our Christmas Club. |
g 1. It provides funds for an occasion when funds are very g
o desirable and reduces the effort to a minimum. o
02. It stimulates the resolve to save something and lessens 8
o the inclination to spend everything. o
03. It illustrates the importance of small savings, showing g
g how rapidly they accumulate and aggregate a consid- g
o erable amount. 8
8 4. It demonstrates that money saved has an earning pow- 8
o er as well as a purchasing power. o
05. It increases one’s capacity for greater demands, larger o
8 expectations and further possession. 8
86. It teaches economy, punctuality and perseverance — 8
8 three necessary requisites for success. o
o Our Christmas Club is still open. Prepare for next 8
g Christmas by joining NOW. 8
§. = §
g 50c a week will start you, SI.OO a week will start you. o
g The 1, 2 and 5 cent classes will also provide you with g
8 a tidy sum at the time of year when you need it most. 8
Q o
g o
I Hie Citizens National Bank,!
§ FROSTBURG, MD. |
§ “The Bank That Helps You Save” |
8 8
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooocoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
THOMAS GATEHOUSE,
Justice of the Peace,
4 MECHANIC STREET,
FROSTBURG, MD.
□ All business entrusted to me is attended to
promptly and satisfactorily.
Dr. J. C. Pfeiffer,
THE DENTIST,
7E. Union St. Frostburg, Md.
Notice of Application for Saloon License -
WHEBEAS, The following named person '
has, in compliance with Chapter 140 of the 4
Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland
for the year 1894, as amended by Chapter 415
of the Acts of 1903, being Article 1, and as I
amended by the Acts of 1904, and of the Acts of
1908, and of the Acts of 1910, Public Local
Laws of Allegany County, filed with the Clerk I
of the Circuit Court for Allegany Counnty,
his Application for License to sell Spirit
uous and Fermented Liquors at his place 4
of business in Allegany County as below
stated—
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That all re- 4
monstrances against the issuance of Licenses .
to said Applicants must be filed with the
undersigned WITHIN TWENTY DAYS after 4
the filing of the Applications. ,
LLOYD L. SHAFFER. Clerk.
FILED THURSDAY, JAN. 7, 1915.
EUGENE BRUNER Place of busi- *
ness, about 200 yards west of post- 4
office, Eckhart Mines. Residence,
Frostburg. Owner of premises,
Mrs. Tillie Eogsdon. 4
FILED FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1915. 4
JAMES J. BARRY —Place of busi- 4
ness, about 200 yards west of post
office* Railroad street, Eckhart *
Residence, National Pike 4
leading from Cumberland to Frost
bwrg, Eckhart Mines. Owner of {
premises, Peter Scprelli. 4
' i
Notice to Stockholders.' 4
The the G. E, PeEjce <
Drug Company will meet at the offices (
of the company in i-'rostburg, M,d;, at
8:00 p. m., February 4th, *
1915, for the y gjirpose of transacting *
business usual, upon such occasions. (
G. E. Pearce, j
1-21 1-28 President.
? M A Lafte Acknowledgment.
It’s a little late to acknowledge the
following friendly message from John
Hutchinson, one of our Pittsburgh
subscribers, but The Spirit is none the -
less grateful on that account.
“We surely enjoyed reading your
reply to the knocker on ttie Russell
sermons. We think those sermons
are the best we ever read, and we look
forward to the weekly visits of your
paper to our hoihei This week’s issue
is surely artistic. Kindest wishes for
the new year to yourself and familY.”
, LIBRARY FURNITURE
should be comfortable and convenient
jAJ S* |!| @lll aS Well aS attract ’ ve and artistic in
ra jPPU'/ ill Sm It! ifi atll -* comnlo dious, the bookcase easily
'fejfe— ;tsa !!|!Jij]|i we consider an ideal display of such
M l|B I l'|j: >:: furniture. Come and see if your
HHW f' tI'IJJS M iI i; judgment coincides with ours.
J. lI^JU JACOB WAFER,
Union Street, Frostburg, Md.
tjj kAAA A A A AAA A A AAAAAAAAA A A At A J jjj
3 ELECTRIC POWER
—_ FOR =_ t
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i WECANDO YOU MUCH GOOD IN THE l
j MATTER OE LIGHT 1; AND POWER. \
Frostburg Illuminating X Mfg. Co. e
I
< OFFICE, 17 BROADWAY I*
i- f t
WWW V V V V V V V V W V vv vvvvv w
THE MAIN OF JUDGMENT
/'jpi Selects his shoes for comfort and style .
dUr Our ne late modeled shoes have
f" II v all the dash and style desired in con
' ;A\ -—jyS junction with perfect ease in wearing
them. We are showing shoes in all
' leathers, have your style and can fit
'-vY Ip——- , y° u - At the price we are asking they
will move quickly, so select yours at
(f. . {-% H Mrs. Annie Schneider
/ 07 E. Union St.,
- - Maryland.