Souvenir Notes — Bible Students Convention, Niagara Falls (1905)
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(Motes from)
Watch) Bible and Tract
Tower Society's Convention
Society's Convention
Cowet Society's Convention
ROCK OF AGES
Other foundation can
no man lay.
A RANSOM FOR ALL
Niagara Falls, M. Y.
July 8,9,10,11 1905
THE CHICAGO PARTY STARTED
FROM
THE NEW
LA SALLE STREET DEPOT CHICAGO, ILL.
President—Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society,
Editor—Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence,
Author—" Millennial Dawn " Series of Bible Helps,
Pastor—Bible House Chapel, Allegheny, Pa.
DEAR FRIENDS: This is not an official report by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, but merely notes on the sermons, incidents and circumstances connected with the
AT NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. JULY 8,9,10,11 1905
This report is gotten up with the hope that some of the dear friends in places, from which no representative went to the Convention, might share, with those who were privileged to be present in person, at least some crumbs of the feast of fat things which were spread so bountifully before us, as "meat in due season," for the household of faith.
Credit is due to a few of the friends whose assistance made it possible to get out this report and thus bless many others. Credit is also due to the Natural Food Co. for their kindness in allowing us to use cuts of their wonderful building and also of the Falls.
Please send these notes, cover and all, from friend to friend of the truth. Keep them going and may the Lord's blessing go with them.
Yours in fellowship and service,
Chicago, Illinois, U. S. A.
L. W. JONES, 2024 Washington Boul.
Notes on the Sermons, Incidents and Circumstances Connected with the
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY'S CONVENTION At
Niagara Falls, N. Y., July 8, 9, 10, 11, 1905
ABOUT 1 o'clock, Thursday, July 6, the friends began to gather in the new, large LaSalle street depot in Chicago, and after much greeting each procured about a yard of paper, called a ticket, boarded a special car reserved for us, and were soon on the way to the convention, to which so many had looked forward, hoping they might be permitted to attend. Our party consisted of the following persons:
CHICAGO.
Brothers一
Sisters一
G. F. Gustafson
Florence Snyder
John Spietz
Hulda Jacobson
Jona Johnson
L. Spietz
Jacob Christensen
M. L. McPhail
John A. Peterson
Laura McPhail
O. K. Jones, Jr.
Mabel Jones
John T. Read
E. M. Benjamin
Oscar Magnuson
Irene Magnuson
G. A. Aldine
Della Snyder
Olgot Holmgren
F. Orloff
L. W. Jones
Etta C. Jones
Harry Manning
Geo. Keutzer
Geo. Fisher
Martha Hastings
Frank S. Perry
Mary A. Perry
Madge Jones
Mary Ansley
Mary Axley
Anna Williams
Mary Rockwood
Hazel M. Perry
Flora L. Baker
Earl C. and Forest Dymond
LIBERTYVILLE, ILL.
A. T. Metz
Emma Osburn OUR trip of about 18 hours was a prelude to the convention itself, for we had a grand time in fellowship, singing "Zion's Glad Songs," distributing tracts, etc.
We reached Buffalo about 9 o'clock Friday morning, changing cars for Niagara, and arrived there about 10 o'clock. On getting off the train we found Bro.J.H.Cole and others there to welcome and guide us to the convention hall. After walking about six blocks through a very pretty residence section of the city we arrived at the hall, were ushered into the large reception parlor, greeted the friends and met Bro.A.E.Williamson, chairman of the convention. We then received our assignment for rooms, where we at once went, cleaned up and prepared ourselves for the blessings that were in store for us.
Right here it would not be amiss to speak of the
HOME OF SHREDDED WHEAT
THE NATURAL FOOD CONSERVATORY BUFFALO AVENUE, BETWEEN FOURTH AND SIXTH STREETS NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y.
In this wonderful and beautiful building were the Convention Hall, Reception Parlor and other convenences, which were turned over to us for the use of the Convention, FREE OF ALL CHARGES, by the NATURAL FOOD COMPANY.
THE home of shredded wheat—the finest, largest and most hygienic building in the world devoted to food production—stands in the heart of the residence district of Niagara Falls, far away from the smoke and dust of factory and railroad, fronting the ranids of Niagara River and within sound of the rush and roar of the great cataract
This noble structure, with the sunlight streaming in through thirty thousand lights of glass, flooding every nook and corner with cleansing rays, is dedicated to the scientific truth that "a grain of wheat contains all of the elements of a complete and perfect food for man."
Here in this industrial palace of white tiling, marble and mosaics, visited every year by nearly one hundred thousand pilgrims to the Falls, are made every day over a million and a quarter Shredded Whole Wheat Biscuits.
From 1,500 to 2,000 bushels of wheat are used every day in this work, nothing being taken from and nothing being added to the wheat. The grain is first carried to the top of the building to the cleaning room, where it passes through ingenious devices that remove from it every particle of dust, sand, chaff, rock, cockle and other foreign substances, dropping it clean into tanks of sterilized water. There are 20 of these machines, each doing its special work of cleaning.
The swelled and softened kernels are then spread on clean cloths and exposed to cool air for 14 hours, being turned from time to time with paddles until ready to feed into the hoppers for the great shredding machines, each 80 feet long and consisting of 36 pairs of
corrugated rollers.
The wheat kernels are caught between these rollers and drawn out into fine porous shreds, laying layer upon layer, until the thickness of a biscuit is formed, when the long band of white filaments is brought into a cutting device, which separates them into oblong cakes and drops them into pans holding 48 biscuits each. The pan is then placed in the arms of a large drum, shaped like a Ferris wheel, which revolves in an immense oven until the biscuits are baked brown, but they are still damp inside, so are passed through a second long oven. They move slowly and it requires about three hours for them to pass through the long oven, but when they come out they are thoroughly dry, and then they go to the packing tables, where they are put into boxes by girls, and this is the only time in the whole process that the biscuits are touched by the hands of anyone. Previous to visiting this institution we had used some of their product, but not knowing how it was made or whether adulterated we had formed no special liking for it. After seeing such a process and realizing what wheat is many of us began at once to incorporate Shredded Whole Wheat Biscuits in our diet. Purity and cleanliness seem to be the watchwords of the Natural Food Company.
work done in it at considerable length because we think we see in it foreshadowings of restitution blessings, both in the product and in the manner of treating the employees.
The more you know about the plant and the process the better you will like the Shredded Wheat products. Why does the Natural Food Company keep "open house" for the thousands of visitors to Niagara Falls? Because nearly every one who visits this model plant and notes its spotless cleanliness and the scrupulous care with which the purity and healthfulness are guarded becomes a consumer of Shredded Whole Wheat Biscuit. He gets the "Shredded Wheat Habit." An industrial building that is visited by so many thousand people every year is worth knowing something about, and we are glad to in a measure reciprocate the kindness of the company to the convention in general by incorporating some facts concerning them in this report.
Certain factory ideals have been attained in this building which make it unique among the industrial plants of the world. Mere figures give a very inadequate idea of the noble proportions of this building. They do not tell the story of the architectural symmetry, its costly equipment or its perfect adaptation to the work of making the cleanest and most healthful food product on earth. Those who like figures, however, will be interested in knowing that the Natural Food Conservatory is 463 feet in length by 66 in depth contains 3,000 tons of steel and 200 tons of marble. Its beauty is greatly enhanced by the
844 windows, with their 30,000 lights of glass, making it indeed a veritable "crystal palace." The building is entered through a large foyer, on either side of which are writ-
Foyer, or Reception Hall
ing and reading rooms for guests, furnished with beautiful rugs and sumptuous weathered oak, leather-upholstered furniture.
From the middle of the ceiling hangs a pendant, a great crystal ball, inside of which are 36 electric lights. At the base of the vast columns supporting the ceiling are upholstered settees. In one end of the foyer dainty "demonstration lunches" are served to visitors, and here may be found guides to pilot visitors through the building. The gallery around the foyer, as well as the floor above, are taken up with administration, publicity and accounting offices.
On the fourth floor is a convention hall or auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,080, though on Sunday afternoon about 1,200 crowded in to hear Bro. Russell, who gave the principal address of the convention.
Auditorium or Convention Hall (Seating 1080)
The building is electric-lighted throughout, and has all modern conveniences in keeping with the other handsome appointments. There are elaborate lavatories and bath rooms finished in marble and mosaics at a cost of $100,000; these are provided with not only hot and cold water, but with needle and shower baths. These are for the use of all of the employees of the company, who are furnished with soap, towels, etc., free of charge and are given one hour a week, with pay, for bathing purposes, and are permitted to take other baths before and after working hours and at the noon hour if they wish. The woodwook of the entire building is of white enamel and is kept immaculately clean. The windows are double glazed, making them dust proof. The pure air, filtered through sieves, is forced through the structure by means of great suction fans and ventilator shafts. It would require a good-sized booklet to describe the many departments of "welfare work" carried on by this company to guard the health of their employees and to secure their comfort, contentment and intellectual and moral improvement. The company not only provides a locker for each employee, costly lavatories and baths and hygienic noonday lunches, but also maintains a circulating library, and gives them access to hundreds of other periodicals. It provides addresses by men and women of note, classes in English composition, essay contests, cooking school, sewing school, boys' vegetable gardens, with cash prizes for the best work and children's play-grounds. It furnishes the girls in the manufacturing section with caps, aprons and sleeves free, and they are also provided with chairs which have foot and back rests. They are allowed fifteen minutes morning and afternoon for rest and recreation.
The company gets its power from Niagara Falls. The "harnessing" of this mighty cataract to the wheels of industry was made possible by the electrical power transmission. It is this great engineering triumph which makes the Natural Food Conservatory a bee hive of industry by day and a palace of electric beauty by night. Thus the most wonderful achievement of modern electrical science is yoked to the greatest of dietetic science. Nature's greatest wonder is providing the world with Nature's greatest food product, and here was held the best convention of Bible students the world has ever known.
Cave of Winds and Rock of Ages
AS the convention was not to open until the next day, Saturday, many of the friends went in the afternoon to see the wonderful Niagara Falls.
Walking about a block through the Natural Food Company's park we arrived at the shore of Niagara River, about a mile above the Falls. Here the water is calm, without any suspicion of the disturbance further on, except for the roar that could be heard even up there, and for a faint view of the rapids in the distance. From this point in front of the Natural Food Company's Conservatory to the Falls themselves along the American side of the river is the Government park, kept in the nicest kind of order by the Government, and which offered a most delightful walk while viewing the rapids and falls. The entire view must be seen again and again to be appreciated.
to the visitor as he stands upon the brink of the current above the falls and looks out across the tossing, foaming stretch of water, a very emblem of chaos itself. All the shades of green and violet are displayed in the colorings of the water, while spread over it, like a network of filmy lace that rises and falls with the tumultuous heaving of the water's bosom, is the white foam and spray and mist. A walk of about three-quarters of a mile along the edge of these grand, sublime, yet awful rapids brings us to the falls themselves.
The fall of the Niagara River from the head of the rapids, three-quarters of a mile above the cataract, to the edge of the precipice, is nearly 60 feet, the velocity of the current varying from seven to 27 miles an hour. No words can describe the grandeur of this sight
The American and Canadian falls are divided by Goat Island, which is reached from the American side only, and is connected with the mainland by a beautiful stone bridge, which takes the place of several crude structures that served as passageways the past three-quarters of a century. Many have wondered how a bridge could be built across these awful rapids. The piers were formed first by building a massive abutment of timber on the water's edge, from which were projected enormously long and heavy beams of timber. These were secured by great piles of stone, and their outer ends rendered steady by stilts thrust into the bottom of the river. A platform was then built, loaded with stone and then sunk, and on this a pier was built.
No view of the fall is so terrifying as that of standing on Prospect Point, a jutting rock which is perched on the very brink of the American fall. It was at this very point, after the convention was over, that a party of about 60 one evening and about 125 the next evening went down to, viewed the falls by moonlight and had a little song service; our dear Brother Frank Draper being with us both evenings, and our dear Brother W. Hope Hay being with us the first evening. The majesty and overwhelming grandeur of the sight from this spot can never be forgotten by those who have witnessed it. Not five feet away is the very brink of the fall, over which the waters pour in resistless might. The whole sweep of the catract's brink is visible from this point. The line of the precipice over which the waters sweep is jagged and irregular, and causes the spray to dash out in great spurts, as though some titanic hand were tossing the water from hidden depths. Here and there where the rocks come near the surface, their ebony outlines can be seen beneath the crystal whiteness of the flood. There has never been an accident at this point, though the entire falls are said to claim about 50 victims each year. More than one mortal (not immortal) tired of life or fascinated by the sight has sought death by leaping into the flood. A stout railing encircles Prospect Point, which is part of Prospect Park, a beautiful spot containing about ten acres.
It is estimated that 275,000 cubic feet of water pass over these falls every second.
The present height of the American falls is 161 feet, while the Canadian side is 158, a discrepancy which is caused by the slope of the land.
For three-quarters of a mile above the falls the river drops 60 feet, the falls themselves about 160 feet, while the river at the foot of the falls is 180 feet, making a total depth from the beginning of the rapids to the bottom of the river of 300 feet.
Below the falls the water is again calm and quiet for about two miles, when we come to the lower rapids. At this point the river is not more than 100 yards wide, and through this narrow defile the united water of Lakes Superior, Michigan, St. Clair, Huron and Erie go thundering by at the estimated speed of 27 miles an hour. The roar is deafening. The force of the water is like the rage of some imprisoned Titan, who, struggling beneath the flood, tosses the water in snowy spray and angry billows from 20 to 30 feet above the head of the spectator standing securely upon the shore. It is estimated that fifteen hundred million cubic feet of water rush through the whirlpool rapids every minute. The depth of the water here is problematical; it is supposed to be about 300 feet.
The whirlpool is about a mile below the rapids. The popular conception of it is that of a maelstrom, a vortex of water swirling in gradual narrowing circles to a depressed center. Instead of this the force of the water pouring into the basin raises it in the middle to a distance of three feet above the outer surface. The whirlpool is the natural result of the mighty body of water rushing into a confined space, seeking an outlet. Bodies, drift-wood and everything that finds its way into the whirlpool circles around for days, and perhaps is never gotten out. Below this whirlpool the water is again calm and flows on through a country with rich farms and orchards.
THIS whole picture, from beginning to end, presented to the truth people a picture of the plan of the ages. First, the river above the falls is calm, as was the world of mankind originally, soon they began to get into more and more trouble, as illustrated by the upper rapids, then we see mankind coming to an awful time of trouble, such as the world never saw, no, nor ever shall see again, said our Saviour. The trouble
WRITE DOWN THE VISION AND MAKE IT PLAIN UPON TABLES,
THAT EVERY ONE MAY READ IT FLUENTLY. -- HABAKKUK 2:2.
CHART OF THE AGES.
will be caused by a division of the people because of their selfishness and waywardness; this is illustrated by Goat Island, which is well named, as the goat is noted for its selfishness and waywardness. Then the whole torrent goes over the falls into the river below. Then as the water is quiet for about two miles it illustrates the peaceful condition of the world during the Millennial Age, but toward the end of that age there is more trouble, illustrated by the lower rapids emptying into the whirlpool, illustrative of second death. Below the river flows on peacefully, as will the world during the "Ages of Glory" to follow the Millennial Age.
We felt that the Lord was exceedingly good to us in combining so many earthly blessings, such as the Natural Food Conservatory, the beautiful Niagara Falls and rapids, etc., with the rich feast of spiritual things and delightful fellowship with the brethren from all parts of the country.
CONVENTION OF BELIEVERS
in the
ATONEMENT-SACRIFICE OF CHRIST,
Saturday, July 8.
AT about 8 o'clock the friends began to gather in the reception parlor of Natural Food Conservatory and greet one another, and watch for the arrivals of others, for every train brought some new ones.
One of the first questions asked by many was, "When will Brother Russell be here?" Bro. Williamson replied that when he left Allegheny Bro. Russell intended to arrive Sunday morning. But who should we meet Saturday morning but Bro. Russell himself. He said he had been thinking the matter over, how many friends there would be to meet, etc., so he decided to be with us Saturday.
The convention was called to order promptly at 10 o'clock by our dear Bro. W. Hope Hay by announcing from the slip, Hymn No. 1, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." Bro. Seeley of Chicago played the piano and Bro. J. H. Cole of Jersey City played the cornet.
Bro. E. D. Sexton then offered prayer, thanking God for the privilege of being present, for the fellowship, and asking a blessing upon the whole convention; also for those at home who could not be present in person; also for a blessing upon the sick and afflicted.
BRO. W. HOPE HAY
BRO. W. HOPE HAY then gave the address of welcome on behalf of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and at the close of his remarks he introduced Bro. A. E. Williamson, the permanent chairman. A partial report of Bro. Hay's remarks follow:
Brethren of like precious faith, it is my privilege this morning to welcome this convention. I do not know why I should have been chosen to do so, except that I live so near this place and am the only pilgrim living in Canada, so perhaps that is the reason. Our subject is, "Welcoming You to This Convention."
This word "Welcome"—what a wonderfully sweet sound it has, how many good associations are connected with it. There is no other word so good, unless it is the word "Gospel." How sweet they sound together. So, I welcome you today, as mutual believers, mutual sharers in the Gospel. Did you ever stop to think just what the word "Welcome" means? It is an old English word, meaning "will come." So it has the thought of God's will that you are here. So, also, you had the will to come here. It must have cost you
considerable sacrifice to come, you exercised considerable will to come. Five years ago was the first large or general convention, held in Chicago. It was my privilege about that time to be traveling through Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the friends began to collect their nickels and coppers, so as to have enough to go to the convention with. So, you must have had a good deal of will to come here.
Next, we think of those who are unable to be with us today. They have had the will to come, but could not carry the will out. They would have been equally welcome.
Second,—again the old English word, it has the thought of the one coming with the will of the one sending him there. Whose will is it that we are here? It is God's will that we should be here, and it was equally God's will that the others should be at home. Because we are members of the Body of Christ, we have no will of our own, and it is his good will and good pleasure that some of us are here. We see that others are not amongst us; both according to his will, the one Head who rules and governs us all.
Is there any authority in the Scriptures for such meetings as we are having here? Yes, we are told not to neglect the assembling of ourselves together. The Apostle was not referring merely to the early Church, for he says, "As you see the day of judgment draw near,' so we realize that especially in regard to ourselves that he is urging us to assemble ourselves. What for? Exhorting one another. Exhorting means the same as comforting, helping, assisting one another.
We read in Malachi the 3d chapter, beginning with the 13th verse: "Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet we say, what have we spoken against thee? Ye have said that it is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud
happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yet, they that tempt God are even delivered.
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.'
Surely this is the condition to-day, a falling away from the Word of God. They are saying that those who have served God are fogotten by him.
Here we have from both the Old and New Testament the direct command from God, through the Prophet and Paul for such meetings as these. So, as we think again of this word "welcome," we are met together according to the will of God, and therefore, we have welcome from him. According to the second meaning, I welcome you myself. We are met to comfort, assist one another. You are welcome to all whom you have come to comfort and assist, etc. You are not only welcome to myself, but also to one another, because this message is to be carried forward from one to another. You are welcome to all the liberties and privileges of the Lord's people. What are those liberties which God gives to his people? Complete freedom from every kind of a command. The assembly in the wilderness met by God's command. They had many hopes and prospects to talk about. As they wandered from day to day, they could comfort and encourage one another, and they were merely a class of servants, who knew not their Lord's will. We meet with complete freedom, to use time and talents, all that we have, in the service of God. How can we serve our Lord and Master? When we have done all things, we are unprofitable servants but inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me. You are welcome to use all you have for another.
At the opening of this service we sang "All hail the power of Jesus' name." All should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father, so in doing so we are pleasing and honoring the Father, because the Son was the Father's representative.
"They that feared the Lord spake often to one another." What did they speak of? As believers in the atonement, they spoke of our King and Conqueror. What a difference between the thought of our celebration and that of the celebrations of the world. Others celebrate great victories that cost the lives of many others. We celebrate the death of the great King of the Universe, which brought victory for not only those on earth, but for all that are in their graves, for all who are under the sentence of Adam.
He referred to Psalms 33, beginning with the 13th verse, "He fashioneth their hearts alike." He sees that the hearts of all mankind are in need of the great time of trouble, and because of it they will be saved.' But the eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.' "'To deliver their souls from death.' He is watching a certain class. All our words are simply for the building up of one another. Do not be telling one another all about your troubles. Leave your sorrows behind you, and tell of the good things that the Lord has done and is doing for us at the present time, and what we expect him to do in the future.
Bro. Hay laid special stress upon our words and actions while at the convention, and gave as an illustration the experience of a number while at the St. Louis convention, last year. He said about forty were in the habit of going to a certain restaurant for their meals. Finally some one of them said to one of the waitresses, "Well, this is our last meal with you." She replied that they were all sorry, for they had never seen such wonderful people before, that they seemed to be just like one family and had treated the waiters so nicely. As a result, they were able to give out considerable literature.
And now, dear friends, it is my privilege as temporary chairman to hand over the affairs of this convention to the permanent chairman. He is one whom I know you are all familiar with through the Tower, and so I have the pleasure of introducing to you Bro. A. E. Williamson.
BRO. WILLIAMSON'S RESPONSE.
BROTHERS and Sisters, it gives me a great deal of pleasure and I am sure it gives you a great deal of pleasure to be encouraged by the words of our Brother Hay. I am sure that since we have been thinking of this convention, we have been thinking of the way the Lord would bless everyone that would be associated with this gathering.
My thoughts were running along the great privilege of identifying the members of the Lord's Body. There will be that bond of love and spirit of union, whether you had seen one another or not. I remarked to one of the boys connected with this institution that he had never seen such a company of people as would meet here.
Bro. Williamson said he remembered a remark that Bro. Russell once made, referring to the song, "I love to tell the story, it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do." Bro. Russell said that if any one gets this precious truth and then fails to appreciate the satisfying, sanctifying effect, there is something wrong with his longings. Bro. Williamson said that it does satisfy our longings. Each one of us are going to meet about a thousand people, but we will find there will be the one bond of love and spirit of union. What a great difference in the Great Convention of the Kingdom. They will all have names that we will all recognize at once.
We will know them in the perfect sense. I hope we will have the best side out and be that happy family that the restaurant people and landlady will find we are a different people than they are accustomed to see.
At the close of his remarks he announced Hymn No. 8, "The Old, Old Story."
11 A. M.
PRAISE AND TESTIMONY SERVICE.
Conducted by Bro. J. A. Bohnet, of the Bible House.
THIS service was opened by singing No. 25 in "Zion's Glad Songs," entitled "Sunshine." He then called Bro. Russell to the front, who spoke to us for a short time. He said that he had not intended to come until Sunday, but as he told us in the reception room, he got to thinking of how many friends there would be there, and that possibly many would like to consult him, telling him their troubles and asking his advice, etc., so he came Saturday, instead of Sunday. He said that he agreed with Bro. Hay that it was best not to tell each other's troubles to one another, but that if he could be of any help to any, he would be pleased to assist them, and to that end a room in the corner had been assigned to him for an office, which he called the trouble corner. When he returned to his seat, Bro. Bohnet remarked that Bro. Russell had practically admitted that he came to the convention looking for trouble, but that he thought it was because he had so much love for the brethren. We do not know whether Bro. Russell found all the trouble he was looking for or not. If he did, he did not show it, for at the close of the convention he was as smiling as at the beginning, and pronounced it the best convention that had yet been held. He remarked after the convention that his thought now was to have these three day conventions in the future more for the truth friends, and not advertise them for the public, but rather have the one day conventions for the public.
After Bro. Russell finished his remarks, 39 others testified, and many others would have been glad to have done so, had the time been longer. One brother said, "Do you know what I compare the truth people to? Well, I compare them to Chinamen. To Chinamen! Why, what do you compare us to them for? Well, because Chinamen look pretty much alike and if you see a Chinaman, you think you have always known him, for he looks so much like one that you have seen before." So, he said, it seemed to him when the Lord's people meet, it seems as though they had known each other all their lives.
Bro. Sexton arose and said that it was the first time he had ever testified in a large convention, and said he was ten years old (in the truth). That started a number to telling how old they were in the truth, and the ages ranged from a few months to 18 or 20 years. The request was made for those who were then attending their first large convention to raise their hands, and a large number showed by that sign that it was their first convention. Many were the expressions from those who had attended a number of conventions that the Niagara convention was the best yet held.
Bro. McMillan, now at the Bible House, said that he had not intended to go to the convention, but when he saw the train pull out from Allegheny with the friends, he said he took the convention fever, and the only way he could get cured was to come to the convention, which he did the next day. He told me he could stay only a few hours, but I noticed he stayed at least another day. He said that this was the tenth large convention that he had attended and that it was the best.
Another brother rose and said that he had the convention fever, too, but that instead of getting cured, his fever got worse and nothing will help him but to attend more conventions in the future. I expect Bro. McMillan will have a relapse each convention time.
Another brother spoke about the Canadian flag and the United States flag that different people are under, but that we are all under the one banner of Christ.
SATURDAY P. M.
AT2 o'clock the afternoon session was opened with a praise service, led by Bro. L. W. Jones, of Chicago, Ill. "Zion's Glad Songs" were used, as in all the Praise Services, the leaflets being used at other times. (At the close of the convention the friends were allowed to take away the copies of Zion's Glad Songs, as souvenirs of the convention.) After singing a number of songs, Bro. John T. Read of Chicago favored us by singing a song entitled "A Thousand Years," the congregation joining in the chorus.
At 2:30, Bro. Williamson, chairman, took charge and announced Hymn No.6, "Jesus Reigns." He then offered prayer and introduced the next speaker, Pilgrim Bro.R.E. Streeter, whose subject was "The Transfer of Earth's Sovereignty,' and he spoke in part as follows:
BRO. R. E. STREETER
He used the following verses as his text: Dan. 2:44, 7:13, 27, in regard to the Image, etc., and Ezek. 21:24-27, in regard to Zedekiah and the removal of the typical kingdom from Israel.
You will notice that the theme suggested by these texts is "The transfer of earth's sovereignty." As we look about us today and see the condition of our world, we will be led to realize that the great need of this world is a righteous government; a government that will have for its foundation principle, justice and righteousness of God. A government that will have wise laws and be able to enforce those laws, that will have power to distribute the blessings of the earth to the worthy. This is the great need of our world today. In fact, the whole human history, as it has to do with mankind, has been towards this end, has been to establish a government of this kind.
As we look over the world today, we find that certainly everything indicates that we are at a crisis in history. Those who do not think are unable to see this, but the thinking
people realize that we are at a crisis. As to what it is and as to what the outcome of it will be, only those that are acquainted with God's purpose as revealed in His blessed book have any knowledge concerning it. Problems are being discussed today, the solution of which, if they were solved, would necessitate a complete revolution of all the governmental institutions in the world. They are problems which are agitating the minds of men as never before. The politicians and statesmen think all will come out all right, as it has in the past. There have been periods in which similar conditions have prevailed, but not to the same extent as today.
Human governments have been trying to establish their dominion and institute laws for the distribution of earth's blessings equally. We will consider what success they have made: We have different forms of government in the word. The despotic government has all power to do as it pleases, as illustrated in Russia. Have these powers been able to distribute earth's blessings equally among the human family? There is a general dissatisfaction in Russia, and that does not fully express the condition there. Undoubtedly that power is at a crisis, and before many years it will be completely destroyed by the rise of the masses against it.
Again, we are living in a land where we doubtless have the best form of government on the face of the earth. We have those in the position of statesmen who are honest and desirous of carrying out the purpose, as far as they understand what the blessings are. We see in the United States a republic that is supposed to be ruled by the people. What do we find? We find a power that has come up during the past century that bids fair to make this country become greater than any country—that power is money. We see how that large masses of wealth can be accumulated in a few years in the hands of a few.
We have to mark "failure" upon the governments of this world. We see organized labor on the one hand, and emperors and kings of earth, as represented in the money power the aristocracy-on the other hand.
So, as we trace the history of the world, we begin with Adam in the Garden of Eden, with power, dominion, etc., but we see how he lost his throne and dominion. We see that none have had dominion, in the perfect sense, since that time. Israel, as a nation, had a typical dominion for a short time, but they too finally became so wicked that their last king, Zedekiah, was dethroned from his typical kingship as God's representative. Then the "Times of the Gentiles" began to count, in which the Lord permitted them to have universal dominion, but not as his authorized people. The universal empires of the Gentiles were represented in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, interpreted by Daniel, in which dream was seen the great image, the various parts representing the different universal kingdoms, and that finally a stone cut out without hands, and falling upon the toes of the image, the whole thing was ground to powder, blown away and no place found for it. The stone represented the Church of Christ, being cut out during this Gospel Age. The record of this dream, etc., is found in the second chapter of Daniel. We are now living in the time of the toes of the image, and soon the stone will fall upon the toes, representing the governments of the world, and as a result, the Kingdom of Christ will be established in the earth, and then will earth's blessings be equally distributed among the families of the world. It is that for which we watch and pray, saying, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done."
W.
H. BUNDY'S ADDRESS.
AFTER a song or two, Pilgrim Brother Walter H. Bundy was introduced and spoke on the subject of "Our Talents and Pounds." He spoke in part as follows:
Dear Friends, we meet together with two thoughts in mind,' "thankfulness"' and 'gratitude.'
We meet together as Bible students, to know God's plan, to understand the message of salvation. It is one thing to know God's plan and purpose, and quite another thing to retain the truth, to be so exercised rightly by our experiences, and day by day to be so watchful and careful that we may attain and retain God's truth now and throughout eternity. It is along this line of retaining the truth, our privileges and opportunities by which we may retain the truth that we will speak this afternoon. It is one thing to be in the truth and another thing to have the truth in us. Our subject is:
BRO. W. H. BUNDY
OUR TALENTS AND POUNDS.
One thought that we should retain in our minds after a convention like this is, as to just what our responsibilities are and how to live up to our privileges. One of the objects of these conventions is that we may the better be built up in the most holy faith.
THE PARABLE OF THE POUNDS—Luke 19:11.
One pound to each servant. In the parable of the Talents, he distributed different amounts, illustrating all classes. The object of these parables was to prepare the minds of his disciples that he was going away and would return, and of his intervening work between the two advents. Then the parable also teaches us that Christ was to remain in a far country until the time of the setting up of the Kingdom, Luke 17:21; John 18:36; Luke 11:17. A divided kingdom cannot stand. In Dan. 2:44, we read that God's kingdom shall stand forever, so the only logical deduction is that God's kingdom is undivided, and therefore will stand forever. The nominal kingdom is split up into thousands of factions and sects, therefore, being divided, it cannot stand and is not God's kingdom.
God is now judging the Saints and not the world—Acts 17:31, the judgment of the world. Romans 5:12 shows that all the world are criminals; therefore, if God has any favor for them, the condemnation must first be lifted, for if a person is under sentence of death, you cannot pronounce another sentence against him or try him for life, until first the original sentence is removed. So, the term "judgment" applied to any now shows God's favor. In the parable we see four classes, servants, special servants, citizens and citizens who are enemies. Today the four classes exist:First, the king's servants, all who have been justified; second, only a few servants entrusted with the pounds, representing the consecrated of Romans 12:1; third, citizens, the world in general, which lieth in wickedness; fourth, the enemies, those who in their own hearts are enemies of the Lord.
The world is condemned to death, and therefore under the sentence of death. There are others who have rejected the precious blood of Christ. The nobleman went to a far country. This would seem to show a considerable lapse of time and also to show that one would not receive his reward at death. The thief on the cross did not ask for a reward at death, but when Christ came into his kingdom. 2 Tim. 4:8 also teaches that our reward does not come at death. Why did Christ die, and what are to be the results?
Adam was perfect—Christ was perfect; Adam was human—Christ was human; Adam tried under God's perfect law—Christ also; Adam failed—Christ succeeded.
Christ earned by his faithfulness and obedience the right to eternal life, but he came for a different purpose. Christ gave his unforfeited life for Adam's forfeited life.
The pound in each case is representative of the measure of the Spirit in 1 Cor. 12:7, a favor through the adoption as sons. Adam was a son by creation; angels also were created and not born in sin. When begotten, we become sons and receive the pound.
THE TALENTS—ABILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
Instead of its being an injustice to the world to select the church now, it will be a great favor to the world, because the church will be able to sympathize with them in conditions which Christ did not experience. These talents are opportunities along the line of our abilities and privileges. Judging ourselves—each one is the best subject to spend his time on, not on others. In using our talents, we are to study the Bible, study God's Word and heed the instructions.
A third way to neglect to use our talents is failure to follow the leadings of the spirit. A fourth way is to neglect prayer. Self is the only thing that can keep us from the love of God. Humility is not thinking highly of one's self; humility is not thinking lowly of one's self; humility is not thinking of one's self at all.
A fifth way is to neglect to assemble with God's people.
Why the one talent to illustrate the unfaithful, instead of the five?
The Lord wanted to show that those having even one talent are as responsible as those having five. So we read in Romans 14:12, "Every one of us shall give an account of himself to God."
In this connection, he gave the illustration of two brothers, and then of the two sisters.
A and B represented two brothers, A very blunt and B very sensitive. A said something that hurt B's feelings and so B said he was going to A and tell him he hurt his feelings and that he wanted him to apologize to him. Bro. Bundy said B had better go to the Lord in prayer and humbly ask the Lord to take away his sensitiveness. He then referred to the two sisters, A and B. They met together and agreed that they had been close friends for a long time and of course could talk over things confidentially, so A said to B,—what do you think of sister C? Let us give an account of ourselves and not be judging one another.
THREE THINGS WHEN WE CONSECRATE.
We present two things to God and he presents two things to us, but they make only three altogether. What does God give to us? A new will, the gift of God. Something we give to him—we present all we have and he gives it back to us, but appoints us stewards of it, for we must give an account. We give something to him, which he does not give back to us; namely—our justified life and privileges. We sacrifice those altogether. We are told to "forget thine own self and people"—Adam's house. Also our relatives. Our justified relatives say: You can be a Christian, you should be, but oh dear! there is no need of living such a narrow life. Forget all such things, and so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty.
Four steps in the consecrated experience: Learn the Master's will; study the Master's example; seek the Master's help; do the Master's will.
He spoke of the robe of righteousness, which reaches from the neck down to the ground, it being that way so that we might have our heads cut off.
The evening session opened at 7:30, with a Praise Service, using the songs from "Zion's Glad Songs," Bro. S. Kuesthardt, of Port Clinton, Ohio, in charge.
BRO. HAYDEN SAMSON
AT 8 o'clock, Pilgrim Brother Hayden Samson was introduced to give a discourse from the "Chart of the Ages." He spoke principally about the worlds and ages, as represented by the upper part of the Chart. His remarks in part were as follows:
His text was Eph. 3:11—'According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.' He also read the text from the Diaglott—'According to a plan of the Ages, which he formed for the Anointed Jesus, our Lord.'
He said that as a young man he had heard of a plan of salvation, but never knew what it was, but often wondered about it, and had made use of a great many hindrances in trying to find out what the truth was.
He said the Lord created man in perfection, placed him in Eden on trial, that man sinned, and the penalty was death, but somehow there was a change in his plan, sending a few to heaven, and the rest to eternal torment. He said it seemed to him more like a plan of damnation.
We find, however, that God has a beautiful, systematic plan of salvation, and we find it reaches across three great worlds or ages. The earth, represented by the top horizontal line of the Chart, is the base of them all, and so the earth is the same earth in all three ages. In Eccl. 1:4, we read "the earth abideth forever." The original word from which this word "forever" is translated has fifteen meanings, and two of the meanings are "perpetual" and "eternal." The fire that Peter spoke about will no more burn up the literal earth than did the flood destroy the literal earth. He said that when the time came that Peter spoke about, there would be a great coal strike.
He spoke of the first world being under the control of the angels, and that they made poor success of the work, but when the angel flies through the heaven with the "everlasting gospel," the people will believe it, because it will be the one true version, and not
a thousand and one different versions that we have to contend with.
Referring to Genesis, to the call of Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob, he showed how God used only one man at a time then for his purpose, because one was all he wanted. It was a matter of election then, as it has been all through the Gospel Age. If God had wanted more than one man during the Patriarchal Age, he would have had them. He asked the question as to why we do not have more than one President of the United States, why do we not have 16? He replied that one was enough. He said he remembered when we did have two, one in the North and one in the South, and that as a result it cost the country thousands of lives and millions of dollars, and if we were to have sixteen Presidents, he did not know what would happen, or what they would do with the other fifteen. According to the theological standpoint of the various creeds, the other fifteen would have to be eternally tormented.
He said that the common idea regarding those not elected was that God would collect together all the coal, charcoal and wood and eternally torment them. He then gave an illustration showing that the selection, or election, now going on, is for the purpose of blessing those not elected, the same as the President of the United States is for the blessing of those not elected as President. The illustration was that of a wealthy gentleman meeting a number of poor boys who had never had any education, so he picked out two of them and asked them if they would like to have a good education and if they would study hard and try to learn, if he would send them to a good school, pay all the expenses, etc.? They replied that they would, so he sent them away to school and kept track of their progress, and when they graduated with honors, he told them that he was very well pleased and said he had been watching them and that he had still further plans, that he had a large building all fitted up for school purposes and now he wished to educate the rest of their companions, and that he proposed to use these two to teach and give out the blessing to others. He was under no obligations to select these two and send them to school, neither was it any injustice to the others to select two and give them a blessing, so also it was all of his own free will to bless the others after the two were educated.
He also referred to the parable of the "Rich Man and Lazarus," showing that it was applicable to the Jews only, for it reads—"And if they will not hear Moses and the Prophets, etc." He said that the word "they" meant the Jews only, for none else had Moses and the Prophets but the Jews. He also said that Lazarus represented the world, and referred to Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, a type of what the Christ, Head and Body will do for the world during the Millennial Age.
SUNDAY, JULY 9.
AT 9 o'clock in the morning, the session opened with a Praise, Prayer and Testimony Service, led by Bro. M. L. Herr, during which Bro. Read favored us with another song. There were many splendid testimonies given and many others desired to testify, but the time would not permit.
BRO. FRANK DRAPER
THE NEW CREATION.
PROMPTLY at 10 o'clock Pilgrim Bro. Frank Draper was introduced and spoke on the subject of "The New Creation." The following is a partial report of his remarks:
Text 2 Cor. 5:17—'If anyone be in Christ, he is a New Creation."
The New Creation is brought to our attention in contradistinction to a former or older creation, when Jehovah created Adam a perfect man and made it possible for him to keep Jehovah's perfect law. This Adam did not do, Genesis 2:17. For a full description of the New Creation, he advised us to all read a volume of 740 pages, published by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society.
You remember that before transgressing Jehovah's law God said to him: "Have dominion over the earth, etc." Not in heaven, but have dominion on earth. Not multiply and fill heaven. One of Jehovah's purposes is to fill the earth
with perfect beings. This will be accomplished at the end of the Times of Restitution, at the end of the Millennial Age. This will be accomplished by a certain number of persons, known as the New Creation, with the Lord Jesus as the Head and the Church as His Body—
the Christ, Head and Body.
As many as have been baptized into Jesus Christ have put on Christ.
At his resurrection, he came into possession of all power in heaven and earth. Has he since been undoing all the work of Satan? No. First Jehovah authorized the Gentiles to have power; this began 25 centuries ago, and we have good Bible authority that it will end soon. Second, it was Jehovah's plan to prepare a Bride for the heavenly Bridegroom.
If you are of the class whose names are cast out as evil, rejoice. Do not go around with a long face. No, we are to count it all joy when we fall into diverse trials, etc. All who are joint-heirs must take the steps he took, but we must take one step which he never took. Bro. Draper then showed from the Chart Adam's perfection and fall, how the world fell with him, and how it required the perfect Man Christ Jesus to take Adam's place in death, in order to thus lift mankind from the plane of condemnation and death, up to the plane of justification and life. This last step from condemnation our Lord did not have to take. All the other steps that the Lord did take, consecration, sacrifice, baptism into death, etc., we also take with him.
When our Lord Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan by John, he became the Head of the New Creation, and for us to become members of the Body, we must believe with head and heart. If one is justified, is he not a member of the New Creation? No. He must offer himself a living sacrifice.
He gave considerable attention to the word "repent." The world is not called to repent, but to reform. Sodomites and those of Gomorrah would not have been Christians if they had reformed. In Titus 3:5, we read that we are saved by the "washing of regeneration." As a New Creature, your human nature has gone out of existence. It is this New Creature that is now running the race and which God is judging. The old man Draper could sin, and get much out of harmony with God. It is the New Creature that cannot sin. We have the mind of Christ. He did not say that we had the body of Christ. The natural man is not subject to the law of God. A wrong disposition of the flesh is not the new will, but we should get control. Brow-beat the old man. Not someone else, but I am to browbeat the old man Draper, and you are to browbeat your old nature. Don't listen to him at all. Tell him you have no time to give to him. He will want to explain this and that and to compromise with the new mind, if possible, but it is for you to browbeat him. Keep him down. The old nature dies hard. Do not let sin reign in your mortal bodies. Do not say there is no sin there, for there is, but do not let it reign there.
Sometimes our best friends on earth are adversaries to us in wishing us not to be so strict in our walk in the narrow way. He gave the illustration of our Lord and Peter, showing how Peter was both favored and rebuked by the Lord. First, when our Lord asked whom the world said he was; some replied that he was one thing and another something else. Then Peter was asked and he replied: "Thou are the Son of the Living God." The Lord replied that flesh and blood had not revealed it to him, but God had. This might have made Peter a little puffed up to think the Lord would reveal something to him, etc. Later when the Lord spoke about his intention to go to Jerusalem, and that he would be persecuted and crucified, Peter spoke up and said, "Not so, Lord! be it far from thee." Here the Lord rebuked him and said, "Get thee behind me, adversary." Here, Peter, one of the Lord's best friends, was an adversary, trying, though unintentionally, to get the Lord to do contrary to what he knew was the Father's will concerning him. The ways in which our Lord was tempted were the same as his brethren must be. You remember how he created bread and fed many, and then they said, "We will make him our King." The Master saw that it was not the Father's time for him to be made King, thus they were adversaries to him, so he went into a mountain to pray. He was tempted to do something not in keeping with his consecration vows.
Second, We are tempted to get discouraged. God permits Satan to thus tempt us, so that by resisting we may become strong, but He will not permit us to be tempted above that we are able, but will, if we make use of the means he gives us, make a way of escape for us. Sometimes we are tempted to get discouraged when planning a meeting and expect about a hundred to come and find only five or six present, or we may have thought we could sell a good many Dawns, but can put out only a few. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you, and after awhile, we will hear the "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord."
After singing one song, Bro. Draper was immediately followed by Bro. J. D. Wright of the Bible House staff, who spoke in part as follows:
MY SUBJECT being so much like that of Brother Draper, I can only follow in his track, and as it is getting late and you have been sitting quite a while now, I will be as easy with you as possible.
BRO. J. D. WRIGHT
Our subject is found in 1 Tim. 6:12—'The Good Fight.' This world has had to do a great deal of fighting and those who have fought faithfully have been crowned with the greatest laurels the world could give, and those were none too good for the fighters of this present world. But, the good soldiers of Jesus Christ are in a better fight. Paul said: "I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith, i have finished my course."
I want to call your attention to several things in this text: First, Thou art called unto eternal life. Second, Lay hold on eternal life. Third, Witness the good confession. Fourth, Fight the good fight.
First—We see clearly that the call of this present dispensation is to Glory, Honor and Immortality, joint-heirship. Nevertheless there is another call: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art called." Death is in the world and we all know how it came to be here, as recorded in Romans 5:12. Death is upon all, and for any to have life, they must be called out of this death condition. Darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people, and we are witnesses to this fact. Death and darkness are here, and even those who are said to be alive in the world are yet under the sentence of death, even these are in darkness. The Apostle Peter mentions this when he says we are called out of darkness into this marvelous light. In other words, we are called out of death. Our Lord also referred to the same thing when he said: "The hour is coming in which all in their graves will hear the voice of the Son of man and come forth." They will hear his voice and live. It is necessary that we are called out of darkness into his marvelous light if we wish to have any standing with God. Whosoever believes on the name of the only begotten Son has life.
Second—The Apostle says to "lay hold on eternal life." Those who believe in their hearts have life, but they have not a very tight grasp upon it. The life which we have by faith is a very temporary matter, if we go no farther than that. It will last a little while, but will vanish if we do not make the best use of it. The only way we can do to get a fast hold on eternal life is to obey the Word of God, as recorded in Romans 12:1. We must present ourselves a living sacrifice because it is in our reasonable service. If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me, said the Lord in another place.
There is a place in the kingdom for all those whose hearts are longing for the kingdom, and who want to see Jesus as he is, and be one of those who finally overcome, and be with him who overcame and sat down with the Father on his throne. It is a reasonable service for any who are justified. The majority of people do not want to go to heaven anyway. The Lord is not going to disappoint any by taking them where they do not want to go. They will have so much more anyway than they are entitled to that they will be satisfied. Whatever be the reward, to be found faithful at last, it is necessary to lay hold on eternal life. I want to suggest another thing, and it seems to me that possibly many have overlooked this matter of laying hold on eternal life—a living sacrifice, and proving what is that perfect will of God. It is not a matter merely of making a consecration. Many do that and are nominally consecrated. It is one thing to say I count all things to be loss and dross, but quite another thing to say I have suffered the loss of all things. If we do not go farther than the name it will not amount to anything. The true consecration takes in not only the thought of suffering the loss of all things, but of receiving the Holy Spirit to uphold us. We should have this thought in our minds when we consider ourselves under the Lord; it is not ours alone. We are to sanctify ourselves and the Lord is also to sanctify us through the truth. The Lord sends the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, to bring to our attention that which had been spoken, that we might be guided into all truth, also in order to strengthen.
Third—We might be justified and lay hold on eternal life, but there is something more—witnessing a good profession or confession, which is important. One of the important purposes is that we might be ministers or messengers of the truth—'Ye are my witnesses.'
Fourth—'Gird up the loins of your mind.' Or in other words, 'fight the good fight.' One way is, study the Bible and the Dawns. Put on the shield of Faith, which is able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Brother Wright gave the illustration of how, in olden times, they had shields made of different materials, some of skin and others of silver, etc. The people then fought with arrows and darts, and would sometimes set the
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