CULTS CRITIQUE by Betty BrueeHert
Q. What is the Megiddo Mission of Rochester, New York? Is it not a kind of cvlt? A. Yes, it is a unique mission- church-school-type sect, founded by L. T. Nichols, 1844-1912, an itiner ant preacher. Nichols led a group of followers from Wisconsin to Oregon in 1904. At first he preached the Gospel, then claimed private revela tions o f his own and turned to law keeping as a means of salvation. From preaching in rural churches, he went on to the inland waterways of the U.S. Evidently greatly influ enced by Seventh-Day Adventism and Russellism (now Jehovah’s Wit nesses), Nichols and thirty families left their homes and went aboard a three-deck steamboat called The Megiddo to “ sound the midnight cry” along the Mississippi. They travelled from St. Paul to Nashville, disembarking enroute in Middle Western towns where they set up tents and propagated their doctrines. Later they carried on the same type of work on the Ohio River. After some time, they moved to a per manent location in Rochester. Vari ous leaders succeeded Nichols, one a woman; a group of young men, call ing themselves the Megiddo Progres sive Workers, engaged in the work in the Upper Hudson River and Lake Champlain area, covering the coun tryside on foot and bicycles. At first, as one reads the history of this sect, it appears to be a rustic, innocuous body of people. The zeal of its followers seems commendable. So an examination of their Scrip ture-denying views comes as a shock. Space does not permit a review of all of their views, but among them are the following, with quotations from their own publication, History of the Megiddo Mission: Denial of Christ’s -pre-existence: “ Christ had no existence before His birth; He was plainly said to have been ‘made of a woman, made under the law1 and could not have existed before the woman of whom He was made.” Denial of the Trinity: “ This is a doctrine of pagan origin, which de fies both reason and mathematics” (borrowed wholly from Jehovah’s Witnesses). Denial of Heaven: “ The Bible plain ly teaches that the earth — not the heaven above — but the earth — T H E K IN G 'S BU SIN ESS
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THE BIBLE IS A SPECIAL BOOK LaVerne Ashby. Illustrated by Anne R. Kasey. As Jim reads the Bible to his grandmother, he discovers its long and interesting life story. Intro duces children to Çible study and tells them why and how the Bible is a special book. Ages 6-8 $1.35
WHEN MARCIA GOES TO CHURCH Doris Monroe. Illustrated by Maggie Dugan. Marcia's experiences at church help children understand each part of the worship service. A ’ ‘church-word" glossary defines such words as invocation, anthem, benediction, etc. Ages 6-8 $1.35
C o lo r fu l P icture E o o L
THE THINKING BOOK Melva Cook. Pictures by William Dugan. A pre school child meditates on the exciting fact that people can think. Explains that God gave us minds for thinking—“ I don't know how I think . . . but I know why." Ages 4-5 $1.35
BARRY AT CHURCH Eugene Chamberlain. Pictures by Dorothy Teich- man. Barry's interesting adventures show nur sery-age children all the nice things they enjoy at church. Helps children feel they are loved and wanted at church. Ages 1-3 $1.35
D o L L tLem understand and (ove the E i l l e if,
THE BIBLE STORY BOOK Bethann Van Ness. Illustrated by Harold Minton. A must for every child's library! The Bible Story Book tells the Bible in language little ones un derstand. Ages 8-12 can read the 298 stories for themselves. They'll enjoy the beautiful illustra tions—85 in full color, and 130 in all! A special 70-page supplement explains life during Bible times. Completely indexed; endpaper maps. 672 pages $4.95
A BIBLE DICTIONARY FOR YOUNG READERS William N. McElrath. Illustrated by Don Fields. Especially for boys and girls — definitions of almost 2,000 words found in the Bible or associ ated with Bible study. Gives many extra facts that widen the young reader's knowledge of the Bible. 85 illustrations, 128 pages. Ages 9-up $2.95 HOW THE BIBLE CAME TO US Robbie Trent. Illustrated by Don Fields. Lost books! Burned books! Exciting discoveries! Kings, farmers, inventors, and others writing, preserving, printing, and translating the Bible. Children read all this and much more as the Bible, as far as possible, tells its own thrilling story. Ages 9-14 $2.95
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