Thirty Years In Hell - Or, From Darkness to Light

Bernard Fresenborg

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• Publié par: dipon
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 33
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Thirty Years In Hell, by Bernard Fresenborg This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Thirty Years In Hell Or, From Darkness to Light Author: Bernard Fresenborg Release Date: March 23, 2006 [EBook #18040] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THIRTY YEARS IN HELL *** Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Geetu Melwani and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Transcriber's Note: A number of typographical errors found in the original text have been corrected in this version. A list of these errors is found at the end of this book. [Pg 2] Yours in His name Bernard Fresenborg. "Thirty Years in Hell" ... OR ... [Pg 3] "From Darkness to Light." BY Ex-Priest, Bernard Fresenborg, Who for thirty long years tread the slippery and deceitful path of abhorrent Catholicism, but who to-day stands at the Vatican's door, with the torch of Protestant wisdom, and denounces Popery with a tongue livid with the power of a living God. Like a Meteor From God's Throne, This great book has stirred America from center to circumference. About 400 Large Pages, And each Page a stinging rebuke to Roman Catholicism. Published by North-American Book House, St. Louis, Mo. [Pg 4] Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1904, by NORTH-AMERICAN BOOK HOUSE, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D.C. [Pg 5] Author's Announcement. A structure of enlightenment is to be built in this land, which to finish, every man of intellectual power must contribute. The structure which I refer to, is the structure of "SPIRITUAL LIBERTY," as the spiritual part of man must have room to expand and grow the same as any other God-given privilege that man is blessed with. Unless we grow in faith we become dwarfs in the worship of God. Those who go forth into the world and profess to be the teachers of men should be giants of intellect and fully prepared to contribute to this monument of "SPIRITUAL LIBERTY." These giants are the "KNIGHTS OF THE SPIRIT," who stand upon the summit of righteousness and proclaim an intelligent God to a sinful world. Many say they do not feel that they possess the ability to contribute to this structure of "SPIRITUAL LIBERTY," but I say, none who possess the power to reason are exempt, for if they cannot place in the arch of this structure the golden "key-stone" that shall securely bind this structure together, they can carry mortar or stones, which is as imperative in this structure, as the polished "Cap stone" which shall complete this great pyramid of emancipation. I do not crave to have my name engraven in bold letters upon the "Cap stone" of this structure, but I do desire to contribute my mite towards the completion of this grand structure of free thought, which, when completed, will stand out upon the horizon of time as a towering monument to Christ and his cause. Roman Catholicism, as taught by our modern priests and inspired by the papal power at Rome is naught but the distant rumblings of an antiquated chariot of darkness, as the teachings of this MONARCHICAL creed has naught in view but the enslavement of reason for the financial gain and benefit of the "Robed" few who claim the right to think for the masses. For thirty long years I was bound to this bewitching spirit of darkness by the chords of superstition and never dared to look above my blind superiors for wisdom, until a "something" which I will call "fate" broke the windows of my mental dungeon and permitted the light of "SPIRITUAL LIBERTY" to filter through my being which awoke "reason and common sense" from her long [Pg 6] sleep of lethargy. Now, what I once thought "Holy" I detest as abominable; What I once worshipped, I now hate. It is not the glitter of gold nor the applaudits of the protestant world that I crave, but it is the Master's approval that I desire. Therefore I deem it my duty to both God and mankind to proclaim to the world what I know of the awfulness of Roman Catholicism, and I know enough to make my poor soul often wonder if I shall ever be permitted to sing with the blest around that GREAT WHITE THRONE in the New Jerusalem. As you peruse these pages, I pray that you may whisper a prayer to God in my behalf, as I am now fifty-six years old and only a child in wisdom. With pity for the blind hosts of Catholicism and a prayer upon my lips for their deliverance from the trenches of paganism, I dedicate this book to the world as coming from a heart which poured out its youth's vitality upon the barren fields of superstition, and wasted its vigor in serving only the god of myths. With a feeling of brotherly love for the entire world, I am, Yours in His name, BERNARD FRESENBORG. [Pg 7] [Pg 8] [Pg 9] TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page Chapter I. Who I Am, What I Am, and Why I Am What I Am. Chapter II. Some of the Abominations of Catholicism Carried On in the Name of Our Blessed Savior. Chapter III. All Children of Protestant Parents, Declared Bastards by Catholicism. Chapter IV. Tear from the Citadel of Reason, the Power to Reason and You make Slaves of Humanity. Chapter V. Innocent Girlhood at the Confessional Box. Chapter VI. The Nations completely dominated by the Power of the Pope, are Nations of Illegitimacy. Chapter VII. The Power of the Pope in Cuba, Porto Rica and the Philippine Islands. Chapter VIII. Monasteries are often 15 33 51 65 81 97 109 Criminals' Abode, and Nunneries the Slaughter Pens of Virtue. Chapter IX. Unmarried Cussedness of the Roman Priest-Craft. Chapter X. A Brazen Insult to God. Chapter XI. The Characters of the Followers of Catholicism, Compared to the Followers of Protestantism. Chapter XII. Why the Teachers in our Public Schools should not be Selected from the Ranks of Catholicism. Chapter XIII. The Influence of the Priesthood in America. Chapter XIV. The Chastity of the Home Invaded by the Lustfulness of the PriestCraft. Chapter XV. Nations which have been Disgraced by the Toleration of Popish Rule. Chapter XVI. Nearing the Trenches of Physical Strength. 127 149 171 181 193 223 239 255 281 [Pg 10] LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. [Pg 11] Page Author's Picture. "What Shall I Do To Be Saved?" The Two Inspirations—The Holy Bible and Catholicism. The Unmarried Life of the Priest-Craft, compared to the Married Life of Protestant Ministers. The Two Ways—"As the Twig is Bent, the Tree's Incline." Immorality of the Priest-Hood—With Romish Lust, the Blossom of Virtue is Destroyed. America's Ruin. Free in Name Only—Take Their Chains Off Uncle Sam, or You will always have Trouble with Them. 2 14 33 50 64 80 96 108 Save The Girls—Batter Down the Doors of Convents, and the Civilized World will Stand Amazed. Take Your Choice—The Christ of Protestantism Compared to the God of Catholicism. Being Ex-Communicated for Reading the Bible—"May She Be Damned in her Mouth, in Her Breast, in Her Heart, Etc., Etc." A Modern Judas—In His Wake, Misery always Follows. Foes to Knowledge—Like a Poisonous Serpent, Etc., Etc. Heathenish Practices—A Catholic "Dupe" Kissing the Supposed Bone of St. Ann. A Catholic Tool—Begging in the Name of the Lord, but in Reality, to Support the Priest-Craft, Etc. Systematic Robbery—The Road to Glory along the Catholic Highway, Etc. Uncle Sam—"Here is Your Next Fight Boys." 126 148 170 180 192 222 238 254 280 [Pg 12] [Pg 13] [Pg 14] "WHAT SHALL I DO TO BE SAVED"" Chapter I. Who I Am, What I Am, and Why I Am What I Am. My parents were Catholics, and for this reason I suppose, is why I became a Catholic Priest. I was born in Germany, in 1847, thus you see I am now almost what the world would call an old man—56 years old. A few years ago, I was of the opinion that my life had been well spent, but today I firmly believe that the major part of my life has been spent in erroneous doctrines and nonsensical teachings, as the broad light of wisdom and independent thought has penetrated the dark resources of my bewildered conception of right, and has caused me to look upon things in general in an intelligent manner. Therefore, I feel that my youth and the vigorous years of my manhood have been spent in what one might term idolatry. From this time forward I am going to endeavor to undo, as near as possible, what I have helped to accomplish in the past. In the first place, I desire to give the reader an idea of who I am, as the reader is entitled to this knowledge, and in the second place I want the reader to understand what I am, and in the third place to understand why I am what I am, as there must be a reason for all things. My ancestors came from Sweden, but becoming tired of religions warfare under Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, they settled in a Catholic colony in Germany, in the southern part of the Dukedom of Oldenburg, near the River Haase. The reader, if he be a Protestant, is familiar with Protestant affiliations, and I am led to believe belongs to one of the many Protestant denominations, known under the head of Methodist, Baptist, Christian, United Brethren, Presbyterian, Free Baptist, or some one of the many other Protestant Churches. Therefore you can easily see why it was that I became a Catholic, as I was taught it from my infancy. My father, like his ancestors, lived in Essen, Oldenburg. Essen is a town of considerable trade in grain, in fine Oldenburg horses and Holstein cows, in fact, it is a town noted for its fine stock. The beautiful town of Essen has a considerable population. Two fine rivers, which unite their rapid waters in its very midst, make it an ideal spot to live. My relatives were among the first and best families of the Dukedom. These families were by name Dickmann, Meyer, Junker and Mohlenkamp, who are at the head of the intellectua