Souvenir Notes — Bible Students Convention, Norfolk, Part 2 (1907)

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Souvenir.

(notes from)

Watch Bible and Tract Tower Society's Conventions

BELIEVERS IN THE

ATONING BLOOD OF CHRIST.

THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE

INDIANAPOLIS, IND.

JUNE 14 - 17

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.

AUG. 30 - SEPT. 6

NORFOLK. VA

SEPT.29.-OCT.6

PART II

[Portrait of a man with a full beard and a bald head, wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and a bow tie.]

Souvenir

(Notes from)

Watch Bible and Tract Tower Society's Conventions

To the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

IN THE INTEREST OF HIS CONSECRATED SAINTS, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION.

THIS WORK IS DEDICATED

"To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God." "Wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things, under Christ."

Kph, 3:4, 5, 9; 1:8-10.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. JUNE 14-17

NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. AUG. 30-SEPT.5

NORFOLK, VA. SEPT.29-OCT.6

PART II

Are YOU?

Are you planning, dear friends, to the "Falls" you will go. Where the friends of the "blessed Hope" meet. Where the Lord hath blessings in store for all, there A fellowship joyous and sweet?

What joy will be there at that meeting, with those Who are dressed in white robes like their Lord, When in heavenly places together they'll sit And drink in the bliss through His word.

Will it not be a glad and a joyous fortaste Of that glorious Convention so near, When all the dear Saints, the Lord's worthy Bride, Shall with Him in glory appear?

Yes! friends will be there with glad words of cheer From the North, South, West and the East. All gathered with one blessed object in view: To meet the dear Lord at the feast.

There, next the dear Lord, and in character like "That Servant" we all love to greet. Whom God in His wisdom hath set in the church To dispense in "due season the meat."

We will listen once more to His comforting words, So tender, so faithfully given, As He lovingly urges us on in the race For the crowns that await us in Heaven.

Then next come the Pilgrims, so dear to our hearts, We will listen with pleasure to them, As they tell us once more, the sweet story of old, How Christ Jesus died for all men.

We also shall meet, and the Colporteurs greet, The embassadors for Christ and His crown, Who follow the Master in self-sacrifice And care not for earthly renown.

Prepare, then, dear friends, and don't miss the feast. Be there, let your presence be seen; Improve the due time, the hour draweth nigh To reign with Christ nineteen fifteen.

BELIEVERS IN THE ATONEMENT SACRIFICE OF CHRIST. "A RANSOM FOR ALL."

Dear Friends:

It gives us great pleasure to be able to send you Part II of the report of this year's conventions, containing very full notes of nearly all the discourses and many of the testimonials of both conventions.

On account of the unusually large attendance, especially at Niagara Falls, where there were over 2,000 of "Like precious faith," it was found necessary to hold several overflow meetings, and as the discourses given at these overflow meetings were so grand and so full of such rich meat, we cannot refrain from reporting these also, although when sending out the announcements regarding the proposed reports of this year's conventions, we had no thought of there being extra meetings to report.

The force of Niagara Falls is now being used to generate electricity, which is being carried many miles and used as motive power, and illumination in other places.

All were set vibrating with the thrills of enthusiasm and interest generated at the Great Niagara Falls Convention.

The power generated by that mighty cataract of Truth and associated peoples of the Lord, doubtless will be used for illuminating and energizing purposes that will be far-reaching in effect. We know that of a surety a "great light" shown in that region for a time, with the Home of Shredded Wheat as the subsidiary power house, the main plant of which is Heaven itself.

May these Convention Reports (meat in due season from the Lord's table, dispensed by "that servant" and "the fellow servants") be, as it were, the "feed wires" to convey the current of love and blessings in every direction, to far off regions and all to the praise of our Heavenly Father, in the interest of His Truth and His dear ones.

It is with that hope, we are sending these out to the "household of faith," in the name of Him who is the giver of all good things, and who has promised to serve us at this time.

Yours in fellowship and service,

Geo. M. Huntsinger, Independence, Kans.

Dr. L. W. Jones,

2024 Washington Boul.,

Chicago, Ill.

NOTES ON THE SERMONS, INCIDENTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES CONNECTED WITH THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY'S CONVENTION AT NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y., AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 5, 1907.

Early in the summer, announcement was made that one of the General Conventions of this year would be held again at Niagara Falls. This was the signal for all to begin to make preparations to attend this convention, held in the same city and in the same building where so many met on a similar occasion two years ago. Accordingly friends from other places in the middle and western states joined with the Chicago Class and we were able to arrange for a special train, consisting of engine, baggage-car, four chair-cars and three sleeping-cars. Think of a special train entirely of Dawn readers! This train pulled out of Chicago August 29th with 270 on board. It is hardly necessary to say that we had a grand time en route, visiting one with another, singing hymns and distributing tracts. In due time, we reached Niagara Falls, N. Y., August 30th, and were met at the station by Brother Isaac Hoskins, one of the Committee from the Bible House. We then proceeded to find locations and get ready for the first session of the Convention, which was to open that afternoon.

While waiting for the Convention to open, it will not be amiss for us to describe the Home of Shredded Wheat and to mentally take a trip through their wonderful building and then view the great Niagara River with its rapids, falls, etc., and see what lessons we can draw therefrom.

The Natural Food Conservatory

Buffalo Avenue between Fourth and Sixth Streets, Niagara Falls, New York.

In this wonderful building were the Convention Hall, Reception Parlor and other conveniences 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 Rapids 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 mosales, 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.

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. From 1500 to 2000 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 table, 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. After seeing such a process and realizing what that 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 Co.

Let us go back to the Home of Shredded Wheat: We refer to this building and the 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; also because Shredded Wheat is a food which possibly the Lord is permitting to be brought to our attention at the present time because of its economical as well as healthful qualities. Being of the whole wheat, it is a perfect food, as the whole grain of wheat contains all the constituents necessary to the sustenance of the human organism. Three shredded wheat biscuits will make a substantial meal for a workman, and in view of the approaching experiences of trouble upon all classes such an item of economy in food seems to savor something of the providential for the Lord's people, who are none of them blessed with an abundance of this world's goods, and they may have to endure considerable physical privations before the "great time of trouble" comes as the special testing for the world.

The more you know about the plant and the process, the better you will like the Shredded Wheat products. Why does the Natural Food Co. keep "open house" for the thousands of visitors to Niagara Falls? Because nearly everyone who visits this model plant and notes

Interior Views of Building.

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

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

Foyer, or Reception Hall.

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.

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 feet 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 writing 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.

It was in this splendid reception room that the friends met between services for social greetings, writing letters and postals to the dear ones at home, etc. In this room were located the desk of the Secretary of the convention and the Information Bureau. We also held

some of the overflow meetings in this room.

It will long be remembered by the friends who were permitted to enjoy its comforts and blessings.

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. As no public services were to be held, it was expected this auditorium would be ample. The friends, however, evidently knew where the Pure Food was to be dispensed and they flocked there from all parts of the country, so that soon we numbered over 2,000. The International Opera House was then secured for some of the sessions. That holds about 1,900, but it too was found inadequate, so that while meetings were in session there, overflow meetings were held in the auditorium of the Pure Food Co. There were from four to six hundred at these overflow meetings.

The building is electric lighted throughout, and has all modern conveniences in keeping with the other handsome appointments. There are elaborate lavatorics and bath rooms finished in marble and mosaics at a cost of $100,000.00,these are provided with not only

sewing school, boys' vegetable gardens with cash prizes for the best work and children's playgrounds. 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 and largest convention of Pure Food Bible Students the world has ever known.

A Trip to the Falls.

As the Convention was not to open until afternoon, Saturday, some of the friends went to see the wonderful Niagara Falls.

Walking about a block through the Natural Food Co.'s Park, we arrived at the shore of Niagara River.

The Great Auditorium, Seating over a Thousand.

hot and cold water, but with needle and shower baths These are for the use of all of the employees of the company and they are furnished with soap, towels, etc., free of charge. Also they 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 woodwork 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 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,

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 Co.'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. In this Park is the lagoon, an old mill race, running beside the Niagara River; it was in this lagoon that the friends were immersed. The entire view must be seen again and again to be appreciated.

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 twenty-seven miles an hour. No words can describe the grandeur of this sight 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 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 wooden 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.

Prospect Point.

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. 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 cataract'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 deep, 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 waters of Lakes Superior, Michigan, St. Clair, Huron and Erie go thundering by at the estimated speed of twenty-seven 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

Lower Rapids.

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 problematic; 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, driftwood 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 beautiful country with rich farms and orchards.

Niagara River as Illustrative of God's Great Plan.

THIS whole picture, from beginning to end, presented to the truth people a picture of the Plan of the Ages. First, the mighty Niagara River, so full of wonderful grandeur and beauty, from a natural standpoint, always inspires us with a better conception of God's Almighty power manifested in His vast creative works. The broad, limpid reaches of the upper river, the rushing rapids, the wonderful cataract tumbling in awful splendor over the mighty precipice, the foaming, lashing, leaping, angry waters of the whirlpool rapids, the sinister swirl of the whirlpool itself, and the final exulting dash of the raging waters as they race down the lower gorge to the freedom of the lake beyond, all inspire us with a solemn appreciation of divine power and the comparative insignificance of human capability alongside these marvelous works of nature. They im-

press us, too, with a realization that not blind chance nor things haphazard are responsible for the mighty forces of nature, but omnipotent power and authority designed the whole scheme of creation, and these giant wonders are but evidences of God's glorious handiwork.

PLAN OF THE AGES

"Write down the vision and make it plain upon tables that all may read it fluently HAB 2:2

However, it is as we come to look at Niagara River as illustrative of some of the precious features of our Heavenly Father's Plan of the Ages that we see a more remarkable reason for regarding it as God's design. From this standpoint we see how almost every feature of it presents to our view an element of God's great purpose for the ultimate blessing of mankind. If we take the river as representing the course of the human race since the creation of the first pair in the Garden of Eden, then the head waters in Lake Erie would represent God's infiniteness—without beginning, grand, sublime, incomprehensible. The river shows the course mankind has taken during six thousand years of experience—winding, twisting, deviating here and there, but always confined by its banks, which represent God's permission, allowing the world certain liberties, but not permitting it to violate His own arrangements in any respect. The world has been pursuing its own way thus limited for sixty centuries, and now the Lord intimates that it must suffer an experience of extreme discipline, that it may learn the exceeding sinfulness of sin to the full—that it may have so severe a lesson that it will never again be necessary to repeat it. So divine wisdom will permit a "time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation—no, nor ever shall be." We see the beginnings of it already in the threatenings of capital and labor, in the unrest which pervades the whole social, financial, political, educational and religious world. These "elements," inspired by selfishness, will ultimately "melt with fervent heat" in the friction produced by their own opposition. This is illustrated by the rapids above the Falls. Before the water reaches the mighty precipice it is lashed into frenzy by a series of jagged boulders and rocks over which it flows; then, separated into two streams by Goat Island, the water finally plunges with terrible roar and fury

into the awful chasm below. In the midst of the present stress and trouble which we see manifest among the nations, stubborn selfishness, so fitly represented by "Goat" Island, will cause the great cleavage between Capital and Labor, which stand for the great interests of the world today, and the result will be the great cataclysm, the "time of trouble," the day of the Lord's wrath upon all mankind, when present institutions will be disrupted and disorganized and the kingdoms of this world shall be dashed in pieces as a potter's vessel to give place to the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.

On the American side of the river, one hundred feet from the bank and parallel with the rapids above the Falls, is a series of upright rocks which form a channel, conducting the water of the river to a narrow lagoon further down. This lagoon passes between Willow Island and the mainland and is about thirty feet wide. The water is very placid, quite in contrast with the rapids on the farther side of the island. These features would appropriately represent the opportunities of the Gospel Age—the upper channel illustrating those who are justified and "called;" the narrow lagoon indicating the way of self-sacrifice open to those who are willing to give up self and walk in the footsteps of the Redeemer. These are separated from the world and its turmoil and stress and trouble by divine providence and care (represented by the beautiful little island), though they can hear and appreciate the sounds of trouble which are manifest on every hand. The waters of the lagoon empty into a placid little lake below, which would fitly represent the gathering of the faithful members of the church into the privileges of the Kingdom, whence they will be able to bestow blessing upon all the world during the Millennial Age.

Below the Falls the river surface becomes smooth and gentle, suggesting the opportunities of the Millennial Age, when the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness, and when "nothing shall hurt nor destroy nor offend in all of God's holy kingdom." This condition will last until the close of the Millennial Age, when Satan will be loosed a little season for the testing of the whole human race. This testing is represented in the awful grandeur of the whirlpool rapids. The testing will be exceedingly severe, for upon the result of it will depend the future opportunities of eternal life for the race. Those who fail—who are deceived by the Adversary—will suffer the Second Death, represented in the Whirlpool. The "smoke of their torment will ascend forever and ever"—that is, the lesson of their disobedience and its result will be a reminder to the rest of the world of God's unchangeable attitude toward sin—"The wages of sin is death." This is pictured in the lower rapids, which ultimately give place to the broad sweep of the river as it hastens on to the haven of the lake beyond. After the Millennial Age has accomplished its work for the blessing of mankind there will be opened up new opportunities in the "ages to come," merging into the grand infiniteness of eternity, when blessing and peace and joy shall be without end.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30.

Brother J. E. Anger, of Niagara Falls, N. Y. called the Convention to order at 2:30 P.M., and after the singing of Hymn No. 23, and prayer by Pilgrim Brother John Harrison, made the following opening address.

DEAR Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Interested visitors to this Bible Students' convention in behalf of our little class of truth-seekers and the people of the city of Niagara Falls, it has fallen to my

lot to extend a hearty welcome to each of you to our city, and this convention. You have come from the east, the west, the north and the south, many of you hundreds of miles to this, the greatest of American meccas

—not as a majority of Niagara's pilgrims do, to admire the beauties and stand in awe before the power, grandeur and sublimity of one of the greatest of Nature's handiworks—the great Falls of Niagara, that draws its votaries from the uttermost parts of the earth, but to meet with Him, who, when He was upon the earth, was meek and lowly of spirit, who learned obedience, who completed that part of His work then due, was highly exalted to the divine nature, who is soon to return in great power and glory as the Lord of Lord's and King of Kings, to rule on the earth in order to dethrone the arch enemy of mankind, to liberate the captives of death and to distribute the Abrahamic blessings to all the families that ever lived upon the earth.

We know that this great Personage is present, for He said that "wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." We have several hundreds more than the required number here assembled in His name, as all can see by the happy expression upon the faces of those before and about me; therefore we welcome you to Niagara Falls, and introduce you to one you already love, and serve—the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, our

Redeemer and Elder Brother, who will rule over this convention through His appointed servants, and we invite you all to sit at the Master's feet, as Mary did, and drink in the truths of His wondrous plan and love until your hearts overflow with gratitude and love to God for all His goodness to us, and manifest that love and gratitude in a flow of brotherly kindness throughout this special gathering of God's dear children, that casual or interested visitors will be constrained to say, "Surely this people have been with Jesus and learned of Him."

Now, dear brothers and sisters, having welcomed you to our noted city, we place ourselves at your disposal, as regards reliable local information, introduce you afresh to the great head of the church, we now introduce you to one another and believe that you will prove to be true the saying of our dear Lord, "that one is your master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren."

In conclusion, dear friends, I have great pleasure in introducing to you the representative of the Watch Tower, Bible and Tract Society of Allegheny, Pa., who will be the permanent chairman of this convention; one whom most of you know and love—our beloved brother, F. W. Williamson.

Response by Brother F. W. Williamson.

Dear Friends: I do not think that you are able to realize how much my heart is overflowing this afternoon. I think you have some conception, but it is only a small measure. You recognize the love of God springing up in your own hearts, and I, dear friends, reciprocate and respond to that blessed, that precious feeling.

The words that come to my mind this afternoon as I stand before you are the words that our dear Brother Russell left with us two years ago as we closed the blessed convention that was held on that occasion. You remember how, standing on this platform, as we were wending our way about and saying good bye to the dear ones, he gave to us a convention number. Do you remember it? It has been ringing in my ears, I think, ever since: Number 62426—Numbers the 6th chapter, 24-26 verses. You remember Brother Russell gave it to us in the number form and we were to find out for ourselves what it was, and how we all went home that night and looked up the words he left to us, and they were the words of blessing: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."

This afternoon as we come together again, dear friends, it is with that same message—"The Lord bless thee and keep thee." We want to make that a personal message this afternoon, and make it the message of this whole convention, praying that the Lord's blessing—and how much that means!—may be upon every heart, upon every mind, and upon all of the thoughts that shall be expressed in words, not only upon this platform but in our conversations and associations together in the convention greetings and meetings, and also in our associations with those whom we shall meet in the homes where we are staying. May this be the most blessed convention that we have ever enjoyed. It should be the most blessed convention. If it is not the most blessed convention we have ever had, then it is because we have not been growing in the Lord's wisdom and grace and love as we ought to have been growing. There ought to be more of a blessing, proportionate to the numbers who are here, than ever before. Truly we are a larger number than has ever before gathered at our conventions, but that should not be the only reason why it should be the most blessed convention, but because the Lord's love and His wisdom, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit, should be so accumulating in our hearts, and manifesting themselves in our lives, that we cannot help but have the most blessed, the most joyous, the most upbuilding, convention that we have ever had. So may this be the keynote of our convention—that we shall have the best in our hearts, and the best manifesting itself forth to others.

Now, dear friends, there are a great many things we could talk about in connection with the opening of the convention, but there are just a few points I want to call to your attention, particularly that we may remind ourselves of the responsibilities as well as the privileges which are enjoined upon us in connection with this glorious gathering.

We have come together with the thought of the blessings which we shall get. We have been thinking about it, we have been planning for it, we have been praying for it, we have been looking forward earnestly to the day when this Niagara Falls Convention of 1907 should begin, and we have been thinking of all that we were going to receive and of all the blessed influences that should come to us to stimulate us and strengthen our love and our faith, and to help us to be better servants of the Lord than we have ever been before. But have we been thinking sufficiently about what we are going to give? Now that is what we want to consider. We have been thinking about what we shall get and of the glorious things that we should receive at the convention. While we are thinking of the things we should receive, let us also remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive. So, let us, then, as we are meeting with one another, and as we are going about throughout this city, evidence the fact that we are the children of the Lord; let us see to it that there is a spirit manifest to others which will enable them to rightly recognize that we have been with Jesus, that we have learned of Him, that His Spirit is dwelling in our hearts, so they, taking knowledge of what we are doing, what we are saying, what we are manifesting, shall say to themselves, "That is a child of God." Thus they will be stimulated to come to a closer appreciation of God's love and an earnest desire to follow in His ways, and all of those who have honest hearts and are really seeking for righteousness, seeking for God if haply they may find Him, will receive the blessing that the Lord intends they shall receive from our testimony. So let us see to it that that shall be our attitude of heart throughout these precious days of our association here together. In the homes in which we are located let us remember this particularly, so that those with whom we are associated there shall recognize the Lord's spirit in us. Perhaps we may not find in these homes all that we might have expected; perhaps there have been some difficulties that have come to us in connection with our locations, some things that are not altogether desirable, but let us remember that the earthly things, the temporal things, are not the chief considerations; that these things are but for a moment and they are not worthy of comparison with the precious things we expect to get in our fellowship and association together.

Let us lay these things aside; let us accept some of the little annoyances, and the little inconveniences, for the sake of the development of the characterlikeness of the Lord that it may accomplish in our hearts, because these experiences the Lord permits to us are just for the purpose of developing His Spirit and that we may have more and more of patience, more and more of self-control, and more and more of love, that others may recognize that even under adverse conditions, we are ready to accept whatever the Lord permits for us and to

have us do. We shall use the rest of this service for the purpose of allowing the dear ones gathered here an opportunity of manifesting by the spoken word the joy they have in coming together.

After the singing of Hymn No. 42, there were a number of testimonies given, part of which appear following, but in most instances we are compelled to give only the substance or central thought of the testimony, and as we could not always get the names of the dear friends accurately, it is thought best to omit the names in most instances, and simply say, "A brother" or "A sister," as the case may be.

Pilgrim Brother Harrison gave the first testimony, which was as follows: "My heart is rejoiced in this privilege, in my pilgrim way, to be permitted to stop for a few days at this convention. I have been look-

rejoice in these things as permitted of Him for our blessings and for our upbuilding in Christ Jesus.

Now, dear friends, in opening this Convention, in realizing all of the blessings that the Lord has given to us in the past in connection with these precious associations together, let us continue to consider His precious love to us as His children. May we be enabled to realize more particularly than we ever did before how gloriously we are the recipients of His grace, that nothing we have received is because of any merit of our own, but it is all from the abundant merit of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. May He help us to realize the glorious condescension of our Heavenly Father in giving to us such precious privileges of association together, and, rejoicing in all of this, may the opportunity which is now presented to us stimulate our courage, strengthen our zeal, and help us to be more and more filled with faith in all that the Lord has given to us, so that in His due time, having finished our course with joy, we shall receive an abundant entrance into the grand convention beyond the vale.

for a few days at this convention. I have been looking forward to it with anticipation, and I shall be greatly disappointed if my heart is not greatly refreshed by these services. Indeed, I have been greatly encouraged, and cheered, since coming in this morning, and I know that we are all in sweet and glorious anticipation of a joyous season of refreshment, and waiting before the Lord, and in our greetings one with another in this earthly pilgrim way—for we are all pilgrims, we are all strangers, we are all sojourners; our citizenship is not here, it is in heaven. Let it be true to the end of the race, until it shall be said to each of us, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

A Brother: I do not think anyone is happier than I at this convention, and that is the reason I am going to jump up right away and tell you so. I came this morning and met a lot of friends I had not seen for a long time, and my heart was so filled with love and joy that it was as much as I could do to contain myself, and I dare say that everybody else felt as I did.

A Brother: Sometime ago I had almost given up

These little conventions we now have are but the foretaste of the glorious one that is to come. We know that the spirit which is manifested in these conventions is the same kind of spirit that will be manifest there. It is such a spirit of joy, of blessing, of peace that fills all who come together in these associations that it necessarily brings to our mind the joy, and the peace, and the love, and the favor, that shall be gloriously manifest when we have all come together in the precious privileges which shall be ours in the kingdom.

So let us keep this in mind; let us constantly remember that we are children of the King, and rejoicing in all that the Lord has given to us out of His loving favor; and let us be faithful even unto death.

Our thanks this afternoon are specially due to the Niagara Falls class, who have welcomed us through the words of our dear Brother Anger. We love the class here, and rejoice in the precious fellowship we shall have with these dear friends. It is a small class that is here, but we rejoice to know that they are full of love and zeal. We rejoice in the expressions that have been given to us by our dear Brother Anger.

all hopes of coming to this convention because my means ran down too low; but God in His love and mercy and foresight gave me more than sufficient and now I am thankful, and praise God with all my heart.

A Sister: If anyone had told me a year ago that I would go so far away from home to attend a convention, I would have said, impossible. But what will not Present Truth make one do! I rejoice in Present Truth, and I am growing day by day. Why, I live on it. I am alone in the world, but yet I am not alone; it is Jesus and I.

Brother Williamson: Someone has said that one with the Lord is a majority. So, dear sister, you are not alone when you have the Lord with you.

I find that some of the dear ones here are making a great mistake: they think that it is Brother Wil-

I think this afternoon, we have special reasons to thank the Lord for the special opportunities we have in connection with this building. It is the Lord who provided it for us, even though He is allowing some other people to use it for some other purpose also at this time. We thank the Lord for the privilege we have of gathering together in this beautiful place, and for all the conveniences which are provided for our comfort, and incidentally, too, and with exceeding fervency, we thank the ones who have charge of this building and have allowed us to use it for the purpose for which we are gathered this afternoon and for the coming week.

Now, dear friends, we have opened the convention; it is now ours. It is not my convention. It is not the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society's convention in the sense that it belongs to the society, but it is your convention; it is our convention. So let us enter into the spirit of the convention in the way the Lord would

liamson who is on this platform. I am not Brother Williamson; I am Brother Fred. Brother Williamson

Brother A.

E. Williamson.

Brother Fred.

is not able to be at this convention, dear friends, much to his regret, and much to our regret, but I am glad that I have the privilege of being here. I hope none of you will make the mistake of thinking that it is Brother A.E.Williamson that is here; it is Brother Fred Williamson.

Sister Van Amburgh, of Northfield, Minn.: I want to testify to the glory and love of the Lord, the love which he has given to me., and which I have in my heart, and I want to say one thing: I have been passing along the streets of this city already, and you can always tell the Lord's children, because there is such a heavy smile on their faces, even though you do not see the badge; and such hearty handshakes, and such love beaming in their faces! I praise the Lord that He has given me the privilege of coming to this convention. I have been to quite a number of conventions and each one is better than the last. Praise the Lord for this privilege!

Brother Williamson: Sister Van Amburgh has learned that the badge of the convention people is the convention smile.

A Brother: I am a representative from the penitentiary; they paid my expenses. I had no idea of coming to this convention two weeks ago. I have never been to a convention since the World's Fair, but I have learned that they have been getting better ever since. You can imagine how full my heart is of joy today.

(It will be interesting to the friends generally to know that the inmates of the penitentiary are paid only a very small amount for their services when they work overtime, and these dear brethren in the Ohio penitentiary contributed of their money, earned in this way, to assist another brother to attend the convention; thus giving us a noble example of laying down our lives for the brethren.)

In this connection we might say that there were numerous instances where friends who were not able to pay their expenses to the convention were helped by others to do so. One brother had no money with which to come and had no thought of attending the convention until the day before the time to start, when he received an envelope containing the necessary money for expenses and a note simply reading: "Go to the convention."

What a grand opportunity these conventions give for those who have of this world's goods to assist some of the dear friends who are without financial means to attend, and thus both receive a rich blessing from the Lord. We rejoice to learn that so many of the dear friends have thus appreciated their opportunities and stewardship. Several of those who had been thus assisted, and who had not previously taken a positive stand for the Lord, were so impressed that they consecrated themselves to His service and there and then symbolized their consecration by immersion.

One dear sister said that she wanted to come to the convention but did not see how it could be, but she asked the Lord to open the way, and almost the last moment He did so, and she was rejoicing. In closing her testimony, she said: "I am so happy because I stand on something I know is sure, 'The Word of the Lord standeth sure.'"

A Sister: My heart is overflowing to be gathered here with so many of the Lord's dear people, and it seems to me that you might just as well try to turn back that great cataract with a teaspoon as to try to keep me from saying how thankful to the Lord I am this afternoon for all His blessings. I rejoice that the Lord has given me the privilege of being here. It is my seventh or eighth convention, I do not know just which, and it seems to me that those who have never attended a convention do not realize the great blessing that comes with it. I said to one dear brother who never has attended a convention, "Brother, when you get into the Kingdom, you will feel like a rat in a strange garret; you will not know the people; you do not get acquainted." I am thankful that I do know

so many of the Lord's dear people. I ask the Lord's blessing upon us all.

A Sister: I thought I would not be able to attend this meeting at all because I did not have the money, but a sister in the Truth who could not come says: "I will stay and take care of your mother for you." And now she is at home rejoicing that she has found some way in which she can lay down her life for one of the brethren, while I am here getting the foretaste of the glorious convention to come, and can take back the overflowing part to her.

A sister from Cleveland, Ohio, sent the following message to the convention through another sister: "Having done all stand."

A Brother: The friends on our train very early this morning opened the convention by singing a hymn and I have obtained already a joy that fills my heart.

A Brother: I love to tell the old story, because this is the sixth convention for me, because I am happy, and the Lord has been with me all this time. I am glad to be here the second time. I was here two years ago and I have been rejoicing ever since.

A Brother: I desire to express thankfulness to the Lord for His favor in allowing me to come all the way from Nova Scotia to be with you and to hear your words of cheer and praise unto the Lord. I bring you greetings from the dear friends throughout the Maritime Provinces, and ask your prayers for their blessing that they may be faithful until they receive the crown.

A Brother: For months and weeks I have been desiring to be at this convention with so many of like precious faith, and I have been anticipating a great blessing. I am sure that before I arrived here I received a blessing, for my heart was overflowing on the boat from Cleveland to Buffalo. This is not my first convention. I have been at conventions of those of like precious faith since 1892, in Allegheny, when the number was comparatively small to what it is now; but I see the same smile, I see the same greetings, and I hear the same "blessed be the name of the Lord," and I rejoice. Some of my neighbors said to me, "How can you leave all your things behind you?" I said: "I will leave them all at home and not think of them again until this convention is over." It has always been my privilege to go back home and take care of my temporal affairs, and I have always been abundantly blessed in so doing.

A Brother: Two years ago my wife attended a convention, and she brought back such a load that I thought best for me to come and see what I could do. Already I am filled to overflowing. I thank the Lord I am here.

A Brother: My blessing started the moment we started on our journey to the convention.

A Brother; I want to say that I rejoice in the old, old story that has done so much for me. I came on the special train from Chicago. Just think of it, a special train of Dawn readers! I have heard of remarks made by a minister that he would not offer Millennial Dawn to his worst enemy. Think of the contrast; I would offer it to my best friend.

Sister Friese, of Boston: I wish to tell you of my experience at my first convention. I got a seat in the corner, and sat there and watched the others having such a beautiful time, and wondered why they did not love me as much as they seemed to love one another. While I sat there, very lonely, and wished I had not come, there came in presently one of the dear New York sisters, and she went around to each one and said, "I want to meet each one of you; I want to become acquainted." I said to myself, "I would like to be like that sister, and the Lord helping me, I will try to cultivate that spirit, and I will try to be like her." And so I want to say to those to whom this may be their first convention—just ask the Lord to give you grace and strength to overcome your own nature, and reach right out to the brethren.

You will not find them backward in greeting you. But if you sit back in the corner, we do not know but that you are tired, and resting, and do not want to be disturbed. But just come right out and you will find how much we love you. We all know the Scripture is true, "By this shall all know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

A Sister: I have been at a convention all summer. We drove from Illinois through Ohio to Pittsburg, and there was not a mail-box along the way at which we did not stop and put in a tract. We had a glorious time.

Brother Harrison, of Manchester, England: I have been asked by the Manchester friends that whoever I met of the Lord's people, to give them as our message, Psalms 121:7,8, "The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."

A Brother: I am sorry to say this is my first convention, but as Sister Friese has testified that those who are at their first convention should not be backward about saying things, I feel it a duty incumbent upon me to tell you that I rejoice in present truth and rejoice in the privilege of fellowship with the dear brethren. We have been trying for the last three years to get to a convention, but the dear Lord has seen fit to keep us back until this time. Don't you know, brethren, it is as true in this case as it ever can be, that "absence makes the heart grow fonder." If you could realize the joy in our hearts, I am sure you would rejoice with us. Now I am glad to tell you, dear friends, that about three years ago I went to a funeral and happy I was, strange to say, to bury the old man in consecration, and I rejoice now still more to tell you that next Monday afternoon I am going to do it formally, so as to keep him more dead than ever.

Pilgrim Brother George Draper: It is because of the love of our dear Heavenly Father that we are assembled here. That love has been manifested to me this year in permitting me to attend two general conventions. We realize the Lord is abundantly able to do this, and He has admonished us, to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and so much the more as we see the day approaching. We realize the day is approaching and is very near at hand. And now that the Lord has admonished us thus, we are sure that He is capable of calling in all of His various bank accounts, so to speak, because everyone of us is only just a steward over the dear Lord's possessions. I consecrated all of my possessions to the Lord twelve years ago, and only recently the Lord permitted me to handle them at all. I have been trying to sell them and do something for the Lord, but the Lord did not want me to do anything for Him, He wanted to do it all for me; and in due time, the Lord permitted that sale to take place so quickly that I did not have anything to do with it at all. So, if you have been permitted to come to this convention through the help of our dear Heavenly Father, it is merely because He is calling in some of those bank accounts and using them for the blessing of His dear ones. I thank the Father that I am here. I know the "old man" Draper would not have helped me to come at all, so I am sure, dear friends, that the only one I have to thank for all of the blessings and privileges I have is the dear Heavenly Father, whatever the means used may be.

A Sister: This is my first convention. The question came up in our class, who could go to the convention? And I said I could go if someone would buy me a ticket, and that is all the way that I can go. And so it is in the Lord's providence that I am here.

A Brother: The reason that I am so anxious to get up and testify is, that it was a testimony meeting that brought me in. I got in a testimony meeting, where one of the sister's testimonies just threw me over, and I cannot stay down any longer.

Brother Williamson: I do not want this testimony meeting to close without giving my own testimony. I just want to give it in a few brief words. I am still trusting in the Lord. I remember a dear brother who used to be associated with our congregation at Allegheny, our beloved Brother William M. Wright. Sometimes after he had been away on his long trips that he used to make, he would come in very late in the evening and get into our prayer meeting, and he would be exceedingly tired, hardly able to say very much, but he always wanted to say something, and as he would arise, he would say, "I am not able to say very much tonight, dear friends, but I am still trusting in the Lord." And I always want to say that much whenever I attend a testimony meeting.

One little girl, eight years old, was heard to make the remark: "I don't hear anything here but 'glad.'" That one word certainly expressed the sentiments of all, for all were glad.

At the close of the testimony meeting, various announcements were made by the chairman, including instructions for the Colporteurs to meet at certain places in the hall and receive their badges. Those who were already in the work were to receive white badges, those intending to enter the work were to receive a gold badge, while those desiring a companion in the work were to receive a red badge in addition to their other badge.

Evening Session, 7 o'clock P. M. Praise Meeting led by Brother W.J. Mills of Hamilton, Ont.

Brother W. M. Hersee.

DISCOURSE at 7:30 p. m. by Pilgrim Brother W. M. Hersee of Hamilton, Ont., on the text found in Col. 1:27: "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

will remember that there were one or more overflow meetings each day of the convention, and it would

(We will be able to give only a brief outline of Brother Hersee's discourse, as it is necessary, even if not desirable, to condense some of the proceedings of the convention. The dear friends

require more space than we have at our command to print everything in full.)

Brother Hersee said, in part:

Dear Friends: It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening. It seems to me that every convention is getting a little better; and, judging from your faces, I think you will all say amen to it. We might well ask ourselves, why is this? One reason is, that the light is growing brighter and brighter, and the faces of those who are walking in the light will naturally shine. While meeting so many of the friends today I was considerably surprised to see the number of young people who are coming into Present Truth. Why is this? You all, I trust, realize that the general call ended in 1881, and when we see so many young people coming into Present Truth at this late hour, we cannot help but say, why is this? Would God call any to this glorious High Calling, if there was no hope of their attaining it? Would any earthly parent set before his

Brother W. M. Hersee.

children something that would be impossible of attainment?

Surely not. So, as we look upon the scene and recognize that so many young people are coming into the truth at the present time, after the general call has ceased, and many of whom were not in existence at that time, we recognize clearly that the plan is the Heavenly Father's plan from A to Z, and our dear Lord and Master is working out that plan in harmony with the Father's will.

(Brother Hersee then gave a full outline of the plan in general, showing the fall of man into sin; how God's plan—the mystery—for the recovery of man from

the fall and its effects, was hid all down through the past ages; tracing step by step the various features of the plan, and finally how we, the Church, in this present Gospel Age, are permitted to understand the mystery, as none in the past were permitted to understand. He brought the subject down to the present time, the harvest, showing how our Lord who as the Chief Reaper, is permitting us to have a share in this glorious harvest work and that by and by we will have the glorious privilege of taking to the world the water of life. That having these privileges at the present time, we should use them faithfully, remembering that we are still walking by faith and not by sight.)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31.

Convention opened at 9:30. Praise and Testimony Meeting led by Brother T.E.Barker, of Boston, Mass.

A Brother: I have been enjoying this feast of fat things. We are somewhat surprised when we go out and mingle with the world at large and see the amount of selfishness manifested, and when we come back to the Lord's people and see that selfishness put away, and everybody feeling good, and everybody is looking up and thanking the Lord for the great blessings that have come to us, we rejoice indeed.

A Brother: I desire to submit a question: "From what point can any man start, and by continuing to move forward from this point gain every good thing, including everlasting life, and yet always remain at the point from which he starts?" Answer: "The point is, known duty—the duty that we know.

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