Library : Books, Articles, Clippings Etc.
Title:
The Flaming Sword
Accession#:
2006.08.29
Pubication Date:
1916/11/01
Object ID:
PA—0215
Collection:
Flaming Sword
Additional Notes & Full Text:
Current Events in Our Community Life
BY D. J. RICHARDS
November 1916

ON SUNDAY evening of October 8, a brother read the following articles from the writings of KORESH: "Deterioration of the Modern World," F. S., Feb'y 9, 1900, and "The Mission of the Messiah," F. S., April 27, 1900. The quartette sang "Adonai." The first article dealt with the fallacious. reasoning of modern scientists; the attitude of Christian nations toward one another, show-ing that they have adulterated everything that was good and true in the church at the beginning of the Christian era; also that Wall and Lombard Streets have prostituted every branch of the Government, and as a result of this prostitution, we are now on the verge of the greatest revolution that the world has ever experienced; but after this revolution, "the world will be better. * * * Com-munism will take the place of competism; labor will be changed to industry, and the economics of the Divine Imperialism will dominate the world and establish its pleasures and universal peace." In the second article read, we find that the Lord Christ was tlie pneumo-psychic center of the human race, as shown in the following:
."It was the planting of the Christ in the race that made it possible for a new Teacher to arise, and new receptacles to receive the gospel of that Teacher. Human-ity can only be saved through the Lord's mission to the world, by applying the law that he taught men to observe."
.The eighteenth of October has past and gone; a day that we shall long remember. At seven o'clock, half an hour later than the usual time, we met at the Dining Hall for breakfast. The hall was beautifully decorated with nags, bunting, and palm leaves, and a profuse variety of potted plants were banked at the east end of the hall, around the table and chair that our beloved Master used, as well as in many other parts of the hall; the whole giving a most attractive appearance, being a credit to Sister Hattie Newcomb's excellent taste.
An impressive prayer from the writings of our Master, which was read before we partook of the many good things provided for the morning meal, was a source of great com- fort to us. During the breakfast hour we had the pleasure of listening to the reading of a letter from Brother Peter and Sister Jennie Campbell of New York City, who no doubt were with us in spirit during the whole day, as well as a host of others whose hearts, we know, are very near to this work. After breakfast Sister Virginia Andrews and Brother James Bubbett handed to each member the Master's picture, the Koreshan colors, which are red, green, and gold, and the Solar Festival card, upon which was printed the following:
"Let the standard of nobility be the cynosure of every eye, and the attainment of human perfection the goal of every ambition; and may the blessings of the God of peace and plenty be yours to eternally enjoy."—Koresh.
Particular attention had been given to the cleaning of the walks and park, and much credit is due Brother John Watson and others for accomplishing so much. The north and west sides of the Dining Hall with the fresh coat of paint has transformed the appearance of the building, and the remaining portion of the work, which will soon follow, will complete a long-anticipated improvement.
In the afternoon-our brass band gave a very creditable concert at Statue Point, and the music was much enjoyed by all. After the concert we met again at the Dining Hall to partake of refreshments, which consisted of ice cream and cake.
This notice would be very incomplete should we omit a word concerning the decorations of the Art Hall. The arrangement was fine, and the general effect very attrac-tive. The principal decorative feature was banana plants with their long, graceful leaves; the one at the center had hanging on it a big bunch of the largest size bananas grown here. On the stage there were eight smaller plants, besides many other varieties of plants, such as rubber, croton, palms, and ferns, and a great quantity of flowers, both wild and cultivated. The effect was most beautiful; and while we have had excellent decorations on previous occasions, this one excelled all. We are truly thankful to Sister Isadora Van Duzee and those who assisted her for this unusual treat; and while our hearts yearn for the culmination of events when God's Kingdom will be fully established in earth, we are grateful to our Shepherd, whom we regard as our Father and our Mother, for the privilege of being here to appreciate the many blessings that he has left for us. As for the final outcome, we are satisfied that CYRUS (KORESH) will perform all God's pleasure, as predicted in Isaiah xliv: 28 and xlv: i.
The Service itself was most impressive, and as one sister expressed it, it seemed as if the Master's spirit brooded over us. In another Department of this issue will be found the prayers that were read at the Dining Hall, and the invocation, orations, prayer, and response read at the evening Service, as well as the song, "How Long, 0 Lord," the words of which were written by Brother George Hunt, and sung by the male quartette. "We Await Thee Here," sung by Brother James Calderwood, was very appropriate. The rendered program follows:
SONG SERVICE AT HALL OF ARTS
October 18, 1916. A. K. 77. 7:15 P. M.

1. Selection, "Incline Thine Ear," -- Schaefer. -- K. U. Orchestra.
2. Song -- "The Resurrection," -- Congregation.
3. Reading of the Invocation, -- Bro. Henry D. Silverfriend.
4. Annunciation, -- Children of the Koreshan Unity.
5. Solo, -- "Fear Not Ye, 0 Israel," -- Dudley Buck. Bro. David J. Richards.
6. Orations, -- From Published Writings of KORESH. -- Bro. J. A. Weimar, Sr. Isadora Van Duzee, Bro. David J. Richards, Sr. Etta Silverfriend.
7. Vocal Quartette, -- "How Long, 0 Lord," -- Words by Bro. Geo. Hunt. Bros. George Hunt, David J. Richards, Jesse Putnam, Charles Hunt.
8. Selection, "Berceuse" (Jocelyn), -- Benjamin Godard. -- K. U. Orchestra.
9. Solo -- "we Await Thee Here," -- Adapted to "Schubert's Serenade," Bro. James W., Calderwood.
10. Prayer, -- Read by Bro. George Hunt.
11. Response, -- Congregation"
12. Anthem, -- "Lift Up Your Heads, 0 Ye Gates,"-- Congregation.
13. Recessional, March, -- "The Periscope," -- T.S. Alien, -- K. U. Orchestra.

We were pleased to have with us on the Birthday, Brother Ezra Stewart, from the Shaker Community, St. Cloud, Fla. Brother Ezra visited the' Unity some nine years ago, and thought at that time he would visit us again in a year, but was unable to do so until a short time before the Birthday. We hope his next visit will not be'so long delayed.
Miss Marie McCready, daughter of our Brother William and Sister Abbie McCready, has been here for a short visit, having just returned from a trip to the Pacific Coast.
At our Sunday evening Service of October 22, the following articles were read by a sister: "The Progress of the Koreshan Movement," F. S., April 10, 1906, and "The Bond of Social Obligation," F. S., Jan'y 16, 1906.
The latter part of October we harvested a very good crop of peanuts, from our planting of last June. There are many excellent results derived from a crop of peanuts. The nuts in themselves contain much food value, being rich in protein and carbohydrates; the hay produced is most excellent for cattle, and since feeding our cows this hay we notice a very perceptible increase in the quantity of milk produced; peanuts are great soil builders owing to the quantity of nitrogen that they attract to the soil.
We are at the beginning of another fruit season, and our boat, "The Estero," has already hauled two loads to Fort Myers, our nearest shipping point.
Sisters Evelyn Bubbett, Berthaldine Boomer, and Elizabeth Robinson have returned from several months' visit with relatives in New York. They report having had a most enjoyable time and are much benefited by their vacations.
On Saturday evening, Nov. 4, the K. U. Orchestra gave an impromptu concert in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Covelle, of Venice, Calif. Mrs. Covelle is the mother of Bro. Jesse Putnam. They have rented a cottage near by, expecting to stay several months. The orchestra played eight numbers, including a violin and cello duett, "Angel's Serenade," by Bros. Harold Moreland and Jesse Putnam, which was rendered in a very pleasing manner.
A brother read at our Sunday evening Service of Nov. 5, the following articles from the writings of KORESH: "Analysis of the Theology of Russellism," F. S., Jan'y 20, 1899, and the "Termination of the Present Age," F. S., June 14, 1904. Brother James Calderwood sang "There is an Hour of Hallowed Peace." It was very apropos to read the first article above mentioned, after having read in the daily papers of the demise of the founder of what is now known as the "International Bible Students' Associa-tion." In the spring of 1895, the Master lectured in Pittsburg, and made considerable inroad into the cult which was generally known then as Russellism, which caused Mr. Russell to issue a warning to his disciples "against doing anything which would indicate any sympathy for such false doctrines as are presented by Mr. Cyrus Teed and his so called Koreshanity."
In 1878 Mr. Russell, with a group of his followers all dressed in white robes, waited in the upper chamber of his residence in Allegheny, Pa., to be caught up in the air, and be with the glorified, literal, material body of the lyord. Having failed in this he concluded that they would have to pass through death, and enter iu through the gates of the new world. The Master, emphatically declared Mr. Russell's theology to be anti-Christian, and the function of THE FLAMING SWORD is to declare to the world that which it knows to be false. We would like to quote liberally from the above article, but lack of space forbids; however, we will quote from one paragraph:
"Mr. Russell's theories of the Lord Jesus are a slight modification of the doctrines put forth by Mr. Bar- bour twenty-five or more years ago; and no man ever lived, with any pretensions whatsoever to Biblical knowledge, who could crowd so much absurdity into so small a space as first found lodgment in the brain of Russell, and subse- quently found expression in the form of books."

Author:
[various]
Category:
8: Communication Artifact
Notes:
This is part of a bound set for the year 1916.
Object Name:
Periodical
Subcategory:
Documentary Artifact
Phys Desc:
24 p.
Publisher:
Guiding Star Publishing House
Publication Place:
Estero, Fl.
Search Terms:
Flaming Sword
Subjects:
Periodicals——Theology