Souvenir Notes — Bible Students Conventions (1912)

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SOUVENIR

NOTES

BIBLE STUDENTS' CONVENTIONS

Jesus as Shepherd

PASTOR RUSSELL Brooklyn and London Tabernacles President International Bible Students' Association

INTERNATIONAL

BIBLE STUDENTS

SOUVENIR

CONVENTION

REPORT Introduction

DEAR FRIENDS: We are pleased that it is the Lord's will we should send out this, the TWELFTH SOUVENIR CONVENTION REPORT of notes from the International Bible Students' General Conventions for 1912, and we do so with a prayer that it may be a real blessing, as we have abundant evidence that the others have been. We have received many letters from those who, for various reasons, are unable to attend these grand convention feasts—some because they are too poor financially, others who are too aged, others who are invalids some who are too deaf, and others because of inharmony in their homes

tions from the Lord that we who are permitted to attend these conventions, which we he the Lord himself is arranging, through his servant and channel, should gather as many cru as possible and take or send to the dear "stay-at-homes."

We wish urge, however, that none remain at home, thinking they will get it all Convention Report. While we do all we can to gather the crumbs upon which to feast out it is impossible to bring to you the blessings of fellowship, which come only to those who can in person. These are real experiences and all we can do is to tell you about them, but experience them for you. You must "taste and see."

We are unable to visit you in person to tell you individually of all the good things we heard, the bright eyes and glad faces we saw, and the hearty hand-shakes we experienced, but we are glad to use the printing press, the railway trains, mail and express systems, etc., which the Lord has provided for the harvest period in which we are now living. This we are endeavoring to do to his glory and to the edification and blessing of his people.

"I will trust then, dear friends, that you have made progress, and as you go from here to your homes, that you will carry blessings with you to the other dear friends there, many of them just as sincere as ourselves, and their hearts' sympathies and prayers have been with us I know, and many letters tell us so. As you go back to your homes I wish you would carry, among other things, my love to the dear ones at home. Tell them they were remembered here every day; that we were of those who were favored with the opportunity and means to come, and we thought of the others who were not thus highly favored, not thus highly privileged; and that while we were drinking at the fountain of grace and truth we were hoping and praying that some blessing would extend out to them; and then, in harmony with those prayers and those desires, that you go to your homes and try to unfold to others some of the blessings that you have received. As your cup has been filled, may it continue to overflow, like the widow's cruse of oil, you remember. They brought vessels and poured the oil into them until they were filled, and then more were filled, and they kept bringing more vessels and they were filled; and so it is with God's holy Spirit: If we shall as vessels of the Lord go from here full of the Spirit of the Lord, may his blessings be with us so that these shall overflow upon all the dear ones with whom we come in contact, that they may have a share of these blessings. God, who is rich in grace, is able thus to provide for those afar off as well as for those who are near."

This Report is in no sense of the word a publication or write-up of our own sayings, but it is a report of the utterances of "that servant," and his "fellow servants" to the "household of faith." Therefore, as this Report goes forth, it is with the prayer that it may be blessed of the Lord, without whom no work shall progress.

Other conventions have been held this year than those reported herein, but we were unable to be present at them all. We had some hopes of securing notes through others, of those conventions, but our hopes were not realized. While we realize that this work is far from perfect, yet we trust it is sufficiently full to enable us to keep these things before our minds.

We wish to express our thanks and appreciation of the services of any who have assisted in making this report possible.

Finally, we trust it may be used of the Lord to stimulate its readers to a more careful and faithful reading of the Bible, Dawns and Towers, more frequent attendance at class meetings, and conventions, "assembling together;" and that all may be encouraged to greater activity and zeal in this glorious "harvest work." Yours in HIS service,

Dr. L. W. JONES, 3003 Walnut Street, Chicago, Bl., U. S. A.

I. B. S. A. MISSIONS INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE

Sell Sitting. Left to Right, Standing: E. V. W. Kuehn, Dr. Jones, Gen. W. P. Hall, Prof. F. H. Robison, R. B. Maxwell, J. T. D. Pyles

IN CONNECTION WITH THE I. B. S. A. MISSIONARY INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE THEIR TOUR OF THE WORLD.

This section of the Report is more in the nature of a letter, or series of letters, to the home folks—THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS—rather than to the public in general. (The public report of the Committee, as to its findings along the lines of missionary activity can be had upon application to the International Bible Students' Association, 13-17 Hicks Street Brooklyn, N.Y.)

These letters have been revised, and discourses, descriptive matter and interesting incidents inserted from place to place.

As a basis for this report of their ORIENTAL EXPERIENCES, letters will be used, which the compiler of these "SOUVENIR NOTES" sent home from time to time, to the Chicago Class of International Bible Students.

Thus all the International Bible Students reading these notes may mentally go over the route of some thirty-five thousand miles traversed by the Committee.

LETTER NO. 1.

December 28, 1911.

To the Ecclesia of I. B. S. A., at Chicago, Ill., U. S. A. Dearly Beloved in the Lord:—

Grace, Mercy and Peace be unto you.

N accordance with my promise to send you word from time to time of our movements, I am writing this first general letter. I can, of course, give you but a brief outline, trusting that if it is the Lord's will to give further details in the next Souvenir Report.

After leaving Chicago the night of Monday, December 4th, and saying good-bye to the twenty or more friends who sang me off with

"God be with you till we meet again," also over the phone to many others, whose loving words were much appreciated, I arrived in St. Louis the next morning. I was met at the station by Bro. Hoeveler, and, after breakfast, looked around for some of the rest of the committee, who were to come by different routes. Soon I saw Bro. Ernest Kuehn of Toledo, and a little later Bro. Maxwell of Mansfield, and still later the rest of the committee, Bro. Russell, Bro. Robison, General Hall and Bro. Pyles; also Bro. Margeson of Boston, who though not a member of the committee officially, is making the tour with us, and incidentally acting as conductor of the party, thus making himself very useful in looking after many little details.

After exchanging greetings with a large number of friends from the St. Louis class, and nearby places, we went to the parlor of a hotel in connection with the station, and here Brother Russell talked to the friends for about three- quarters of an hour.

He called attention to the fact that many people were in bondage to the various sects, denominations, organizations, etc., and stated that as soon as we discover that we are in bondage to anything that limits our serving the Lord with our whole heart, then is the time to step aside. He then asked the question. Are we, then, in bondage to Christ? Yes, he said, bondage of the most absolute kind—for then we have no will of our own. This he illustrated by calling attention to the various members of our natural body, how they were all in dage to the head, and this is the way we should be, as

head. He stated that our finger, for instance, might wish to become independent. Very well, call in a surgeon, cut off the finger and lay it on the table. There it is, it is independent, is it not? But what good is it? it can do nothing, because it is severed from all connection with the head, the directing power. The only way we can be of use is to be bound to one another in the body of Christ, and then to keep our wills fully submissive to that of our great Head. We are like sheep, not like dogs which bite and devour one another.

He then called attention to the friction that is bound to occur among the members of this wonderful body, because they are all characters of much firmness, characters which will not be afraid if someone says "boo" to us. Otherwise the Lord would not be able to use them as jewels in His temple or crown. Each one as he rubs against another does two things—knocks off corners and polishes. He said we should not try to see how many corners we can knock off of others, but rather watch to see how much polishing we are receiving from our contact with each other. Then he called attention to gelatine, which can be made into as beautiful colors as real jewels, but there is no firmness to it—no hardness, and if it rubs against other masses of gelatine, it does not affect it at all. He then spoke about the holy Spirit, which, like oil, will do away with all fraction and make matters go smoothly in the classes.

He then had considerable to say about the election of elders, stating that in our elections, while having in mind the perfect elder, yet we must realize that none of us are perfect, and none will measure up to the full requirements. Some will seem to possess certain qualities to some of the friends, while others do not see those qualities. He suggested that if the majority agreed that a certain brother had the qualities of an elder, then the others should consider the matter and note if they were mistaken, and if possible try to make it unanimous. He said we should not be like the juryman who claimed the other eleven were stubborn because they did not see the matter just as he did.

Brother Russell then told a story on himself, how that, on one occasion he explained a certain matter in a way that he thought would be very simple and plain to all, but that somehow the friends could not see it. Then one sister got up and said something which he thought would surely mix up the friends completely. But just then one of the party arose and said, O, now I see. Thus he said one broth be apt to teach some, even though many thought he have the qualifications. He stated there was too

ting of hairs, rather that we should look at the matter from a more general standpoint.

At 10 o'clock we were obliged to say good-by and started for Dallas, Texas. As there are just eight in our party, we occupy two tables in the dining car, and eat at the same time which gives special opportunity for fellowship. It was a ride of a day and night to our next stop.

DALLAS, TEXAS.

E arrived here about 9 o'clock in the morning, with the rain coming down plentifully. A number of the Dallas friends were at the station to meet the party, and gave us the usual Southern hearty welcome and all had the "Millennial Dawn Smile," notwithstanding the rain.

Here we were met by Brother and Sister George F. Wilson, of Oklahoma City, Okla.,

who will make the tour with us. Others also had expected to be in the party, but at the very last were prevented from so doing because of sickness.

Pastor Russell twice addressed the Dallas Bible Students, much to their pleasure and profit.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

I was thought best that I should go on ahead of the rest of the party to Los Angeles, California, so I did not remain with the friends at Dallas, but started on with the intention of gaining twenty-four hours. I was due in San Antonio at 7:45 that night, and expected to leave at 8:30, but as my train was late, not arriving until after midnight, I went to a hotel for the night.

Early the next morning I went over to the railway station to see if any friends were there waiting for the train with the rest of the party, which was due at 7:30. The first person I saw that I knew was Sister Ida Zalmanzig, a sister who has helped to translate the 1st volume of "Scripture Studies" into the Spanish language, and who is doing colporteur work amongst the Mexicans who live in San Antonio, of which there are a great many. When I saw her she was handing out Spanish tracts to the Mexicans sitting in the station, and conversing a little with them.

Soon a number of others came to the station, some from nearby cities. Among them was Brother Seth Moore, of Crystal City, Texas. He is a blind brother, but he said he was glad to see me, notwithstanding his natural sight is gone.

The train with the rest of the party was also late and did not arrive for several hours, so I could not wait, but took the morning train for Los Angeles.

SAN ANTONIO TO LOS ANGELES.

TRAVELED two days and nights, arriving at Los Angeles about noon. Brother Mitchell met me and took me in his auto to the Alexandria Hotel, and after registering I went with him to Boos Bros. Cafeteria, where a number of friends meet every noon for lunch both spiritual and natural. (Such an arrangement obtains among friends in other large cities-those who work down in the

cities—and it affords a splendid opportunity for discussing matters of interest.) There I met about a dozen of the friends.

That evening we all went to the station to meet the rest of the committee, having received word that they would be in about nine o'clock. It seems that their train out of San Antonio was very late, but, providentially the Lord had just put into service a few days before a brand new, handsome de luxe train, very rapid and extra price—I do not know that there was anything providential as to the price, but the speed was at any rate, for without it Pastor Russell could not have kept his appointment at Los Angeles the next day. The committee saw that this was the only chance to reach Los Angeles in time, so paid the extra fare and boarded the train.

On account of the high speed of that train the other members of the committee thought that they had passed Jones' slow train somewhere out in the deserts of a or New Mexico, and that he would be coming along

ne after midnight; so they had a laugh to themselves,

t though I had started from Dallas twenty-four

hours ahead of them that they would beat me into Los Angeles. However, they had the laugh to themselves, for when they stepped off the train at Los Angeles, I was there to meet thm, having arrived that noon.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

LARGE delegation of the Los Angeles Class of International Bible Students escorted the committee to the Alexandria Hotel, and, after registering, we all went to the parlor of the hotel, and Pastor Russell told the friends about the meetings at Dallas and San Antonio.

SUNDAY.

The next morning, Sunday, was the day to which the friends had looked forward, and for which they had made preparation for a long time. The hall in which the morning services were held—the capacity of which was several hundred—was packed to its limit with Bible students. After an enjoyable Praise and Testimony Service, Pastor Russell was introduced, and spoke from the texts found in Romans 18:18, and 1st John 5:17, on the topic:

"THE WRATH OF GOD REVEALED AGAINST ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS."

E showed "how" and "why" it was revealed, and made very clear that ALL unrighteousness is sin, and not, as the old adage puts it, "To steal a pin is a sin, but to steal a tatter is a greater." It was sin in God's sight, whether Adam ate an apple or killed a man—"All unrighteousness is sin, and the wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness." The following is a brief synopsis of his remarks :

The wrath of God is revealed, the pastor emphasized, and we see it all about us. Every cemetery witnesses to it, so does every coffin, every hearse, every piece of crape, every doctor's sign. Pain, suffering, speaks of disease; disease of decay; decay of death working in the human family and bringing all, rich and poor, bond and free, to the grave, the great prison house, from which none can escape until the resurrection, at the coming of Messiah.

Death, the penalty of sin, the manifestation of God's wrath against sin, began to be revealed six thousand years ago when our first parents disobeyed the Divine command. Every day and every hour since, the world has been witnessing that God's wrath is against it, that the death penalty is being inflicted. As the scriptures declare, the world has been under a Reign of Sin and Death. However sympathetic and loving the Heavenly Father has been, he has allowed stern justice to mete out this penalty against every member of our race. He is thus giving us a great lesson on the exceeding sinfulness of sin—its pernicious, injurious influence and results under Divine law. He wishes this lesson to be so thoroughly impressed upon our race that when in due time, He shall bring in relief we will never forget the lesson, to all eternity, but will hate sin and dread it as our worst foe.

We may understand the Apostle to lay special emphasis upon the word "all" in our text—"The wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness"-not merely against great

sins and gross violence, but against every form of sin-even the slightest.

Thus the scriptures declare that God's law is one, and that a violation of it in one point means the violation of the entire law. To break one commandment would be sin and merit the death penalty; and to break all the commandments would be sin and merit the death penalty. Eternal life is provided only for those who are perfect and who maintain that perfection and harmony with God by full obedience to the Divine law in every particular.

Do not misunderstand me to teach that it makes no matter whether one be a gross sinner or only a minor offender. In one way it will matter, and in another way it will not Adam's transgression was, in some respects, a minor one, as compared to that of his son, Cain. Adam stole and ate a forbidden apple, and the penalty was death—the very strongest penalty of God's law. If he had murdered his wife the penalty would have been the same—death—not eternal torment.

Whatever Adam's transgression, divine law would have hindered him from ever again coming back to God. It would have cut him off from everlasting life, and he would have need of a Savior, just the same for one sin as for another. Murder would have been sin, and the disobedient eating of the apple was sin, and sin cannot be condoned by the diviné law. It requires a Redeemer, and to be the Redeemer He must suffer death, the penalty that was against Father Adam.

Now notice the case of Cain. He was shapen in iniquity; in sin did his mother conceive him; the condemnation upon our first parents extended to him; he was born with a fallen nature, he was born under the death sentence. The killing of his brother Abel did not increase the penalty, which stood the same—death—cutting off from life. "The wages of sin is death"; "The soul that sinneth it shall die."

RETRIBUTION----SOWING AND REAPING.

There would have been no message sent to mankind exhorting to righteousness and to turn from sin had God not intended to redeem man by the death of His Son; and redeeming them means to give each and all of the human family another opportunity, another trial, another judgment—to test their worthiness or unworthiness of everlasting life—to prove to what extent their acquaintance with sin and its penalty has taught them the great lesson respecting the sinfulness and undesirability of sin and the sureness of its penalty—death.

Acordingly, for 4,000 years God sent no message to the world in general—until Jesus came and died, the Just for the unjust, and thus made possible the release of mankind from the death sentence—a resurrection from the dead. The only exception to this rule was God's Covenant with Israel, under which they tried to gain eternal life by keeping the law, and became a great example of the fallen man's inability and of the need of the Savior.

LIGHT SHINED IN DARKNESS.

For more than eighteen centuries this message has been going forth-namely, that God has provided for the race a redemption from the original death sentence, and that there is to be a "resurrection of the dead, both of the Just and the unjust." All mankind who hear this Message are thereby warned that every art of the present life will have its weight, either in the uplifting or in the degrading of his own character, and thus have a bearing upon his future interests. It is in view of this future opportunity for life or death everlasting that our conduct in the present time has a bearing.

Those who have the hearing ear and the eyes of understanding opened, discern, as the Apostle says, that in God's estimation all unrighteousness is sin-however great or small. Those who now accept God's invitation are informed that if they make a consecration of their lives to follow in Jesus' footsteps, God will deal with them as with new creatures, and no longer impute to them their share of Adam's condemnation, but treat them as having passed from death condemnation to life justification.

Moreover, their flesh will be reckoned as dead; full arrangements will be made for the covering over of all their unintentional weaknesses, and their judgment in God's sight will be according to their will or intention. If their intentions are perfect they will be counted as perfect through the merit of their Redeemer and Advocate. But St. Paul admonishes the church, saying: "If we sin wilfully, after that we have received a knowledge of the truth," "and have tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the age to come

and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, it is in sible to renew us again to repentance"—wilfulness in the matter would seal our case, however small the transgression just as it it sealed Adam's fate with his minor transgression.

But let us not forget that the Apostle limits this possibility of sin—the sin unto death—to the church—to the Spirit begotten ones. These, receiving their share of the great Atonement sacrifice of Jesus, and failing to conform to the divine requirement, come under the divine penalty a second time, and theirs will be the second death, from which there will be no resurrection, no recovery. Compare Hebrews 6:4-6 and 10:26-31.

COMING EVENTS CAST SHADOWS BEFORE.

It should be clear to us then, that, in harmony with our text, the whole world is now under the wrath of God, which came upon the race through the disobedience of our first parents; and the only ones who have escaped from that wrath and gotten back into harmony with God are the saintly few, begotten of the Holy Spirit. The escape of these from Divine wrath or the death sentence is not actual, but by faith. They reckon themselves as having passed "from death unto life."

As for the remainder of the world, they are not thus reckoned, for they are yet in their sins, still children of wrath and experiencing the penalty of sin. The world will continue under these conditions until the completion of the election of the church, and then the Redeemer, who now occupies the position of Advocate toward the church, will assume a new office; He, with His church associated with Him, will become the great Mediator between God and men. He will mediate for Israel and for all the families of the earth-appropriating the merit of His sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, even as in the beginning of this age He imputed this merit to the church for the covering of her sins.

Thenceforth, as soon as the great High Priest shall have sealed that New Covenant for the world, and the Father shall have accepted it, the sins of the world will be cancelled. That is to say, death, the wrath of God revealed against all unrighteousness for six thousand years, will immediately be cancelled as respects all who will then avail themselves of the privilege and enter into the New Covenant relationship. The glorious mediator of that New Covenant will bind Satan for 1,000 years and scatter all the ignorance and superstition which now darken the human mind and cause misapprehensions of the Divine Word and character. Simultaneously He will get loose the blessed influences of truth and enlightenment and the "whole earth shall be filled with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God."

Thenceforth the wrath of God will no longer be revealed against any on account of Adam's transgression. It will no longer be necessary to be sick or in pain, or dying. On the contrary, all may be making good, rapid progress up, up, up, out of weakness and dying conditions, back toward the full perfection of human nature which Adam had before he sinned, when he was in the image of his Creator. There will still be the marks of the wrath upon mankind, the weakness and imperfections of the human flesh. These marks will not be fully blotted out until toward the close of the 1,000 years of Messiah's reign. This agrees fully with St. Peter's words, "That your sins may be blotted out when times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 111, 19.) It is therfore one thing to have our sins forgiven and to realize that God is no longer angry with us but reconciled, and it is quite another thing to know our sins are blotted out.

The sins of the church are forgiven the moment we are accepted of God through Christ and made partakers of the Holy Spirit and are styled children of God and heirs. But the marks, the blemishes of sin, continue with us as long as we have our present, imperfect bodies. This to the church will mean that the blotting out of their sins will be in death, because the church will be awakened in the resurrection perfect, "spotless," "without blame," "irreprovable." The Apostle describes this resurrection as the Chief Resurrection, saying, "It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown an animal body, it is raised a spiritual body."—I Corinthians xv, 44; Rev. xx, 6.

"THE WRATH TO COME."

If we have seen what has constituted the divine as it has been revealed for 6,000 years, we will be the prepared to understand what to look for in respect future manifestations of Divine wrath—"wrath to come."

We are to clearly distinguish between the wrath of a good man and the wrath of a bad man, and how these would manifest themselves; and, similarly, we should be able to discern between the wrath of God and the wrath of the devil. The wrath of God, as exhibited to us for 6,000 years on the pages of history, has been a just dealing—the abandonment to destruction of those who are not worthy of everlasting life, by reason of disobedience to divine law.

The redemption accomplished for these through the death of Jesus will eventually be gloriously worked out, and give to every man a full opportunity of recovery, harmony with God and everlasting life. The reason why God makes this provision for redemption is because only one man sinned wilfully and intelligently. All the remainder of his children were "born in sin" and under the death sentence. The redemption, therefore, is in order that every individual may have an opportunity for reaching a decision as to obedience or disobedience.

It had been arranged to hold the public service at 3 o'clock in a large auditorium, but at the last moment it was found that the hall could not be put in readiness, and the next best thing was a large tent. This proved to be just the thing, as it held a large number of people who filled every seat and listened with very great attention for about an hour and a half while Bro. Russell spoke on "Which Is the True Gospel?" At the close of the service hundreds of people took the "Hell Tower" as copies of it were handed out.

PUBLIC SERVICE.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

HE San Francisco and Oakland Classes consolidated for the day and all meetings were therefore held in Oakland. The morning service was a Testimony Meeting, participated in by the audience in general, and the members of the committee.

The afternoon service consisted of a discourse by Pastor Russell, then a Symposium by members of the touring party. Brother

Russell called attention to the wonderful things which the Church has been called to, and how we should bend every effort to attain to that for which we have been called. He spoke especially about the future work of the Church, after the Millennial Age, and stated that, while there is no positive statement from the Scriptures, yet there is much that points to the fact that inasmuch as "God created not the earth in vain, but formed it to be inhabited," so with all the other planets around our sun. Then would that be all? he asked. No, he said that astronomers tell us that there are planets around all the other stars, which are themselves suns, and that beyond the millions of stars or suns that we can see, each having their own set of planets revolving around them, are millions upon millions of other stars. And, that doubtless the work of the Church throughout eternity to come would be to people, govern and direct the affairs in connection with those billions of planets. In support of this he called attention to the text in Ephesians 2:7, "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in His kindness toward us through Jesus Christ."

The knowledge of the glory of rd shall fill the whole earth, as "s cover the great deep."

We soon passed out through the "Golden Gate" and were then on the great Pacific Ocean, with an average depth of two miles, and six thousand miles across. This reminded us of the hymn, "There is a wideness in God's mercy like the wideness of the sea"; also of the one, "His love is deeper than the deepest sea"; also of the Scripand esteem, for his work's sake. Just before leaving the ship they assembled before the stateroom door and sang, "God be with you till me meet again." In response he offered a brief prayer and a parting blessing upon them all.

We lifted anchor at one o'clock, the immense crowd of people on the wharf waving their handkerchiefs to their friends on board. It was a very impressive sight.

GOOD-BYE TO AMERICA.

UESDAY, Dec. 31, 1911. The great day came when we were to leave America for the far East, and hurry home, by way of India, Egypt etc. Arrangements were made to sail on the Japanese boat, "Shinyo Maru," which signifies "Springtime on the Ocean." The weather was almost like July, the air brisk and the skies as blue as indigo. There were about

fifty friends at the wharf to see the party off. Besides these, there were many others, friends of the other passengers. Our friends came on board and inspected our new home for the next few weeks. Incidentally, they left Brother Russell many bouquets, decorated his berth with flowers, gave him several boxes of candy, etc., all tokens of their Christian love

SJUNYO MARU.

LL then went to our state rooms and began to arrange our things for about a four weeks' stay on the boat. She is comparatively a new boat, 550 feet long, 63 feet wide, and 38 1⁄2 feet deep. This is her third voyage.

On board such a ship as this one is surrounded by all the comforts and requirements that can be desired. The spacious dining- saloon, social hall and library, and what is

so essential to comfort on a steamship—the large, well ventilated cabins and bath rooms, make the traveler feel that he has left none of the luxuries of modern life behind him.

The captain is an Englishman, the purser, first mate, steward and doctor are Americans, but the rest of the officers are

Japanese.

The rest of the screw are mostly Japanese, and some Chinese. It seemed queer at first to have so many Japs and Chinamen about us, but we have gotten so used to it now that we think nothing of it. The dining room is very nice and the bills of fare elaborate and wholesome.

Brother Russell was soon ready to begin work and began dictating. Very little time goes to waste if he can help it, and he is a wonderful example for all. The rest of the party put in the time in various ways, some walking the decks, the others reading, and some taking it rather easy, for they began to have queer feelings, even though the sea

Pastor Russell's State Room Decorated.

was quite smooth. All were at dinner, however, some appreciating it more than others. Everything is very nice on board the ship, meals good, and the state rooms quite large, and, in fact, the appointments of the entire ship are first-class. While not as large as the great Atlantic liners, it is equal to them in many respects.

It is said that a trip around the world in this day of rapid, inexpensive and luxurious travel—the very contemplation of which would have awed our grandparents, is looked upon now almost as an essential part of the education of a scholar, the politician, and the man of business.

The days on the water are much alike, nothing but water in sight. We have not passed a ship. During the day Brother Russell is busy dictating, part of the time to me and part of the time to Brother Robison. The rest of the committee meet each morning for a Dawn Study, which Brother Kuehn conducts. Occasionally some of the passengers come in also, but the hearing ears are few and far between. Occasionally the wind gets boisterous and kicks up quite a sea, and the presence of a number of the passengers is conspicuous by their absence. I have been feeling fine and have not lost a meal, either by not eating it or after eating it.

The dining-saloon is an oft-recurring attraction. The sea air, the sea breezes, the exercise on deck (on board this ship a walk eight times around the deck equals a mile), the

joys of good company, all tend to put the traveler on the best of terms with his appetite. The well equipped tables, the snowy damask, the silver and the other accompaniments, joined with the triumphs of kitchen art placed before one by Oriental waiters, in spotless white, all tend to bring joy and content.

December 14, 1911. This is Wednesday, and a very clear day, though somewhat chilly. They tell us that we will strike warmer weather in a day or two. As it is, an overcoat is quite welcome even inside, but especially out on the deck. All seemed to have had a good night's rest. A number got up at what they thought was reasonable time for breakfast, but after waiting quite a while, they learned that the time drops back about thirty minutes every half day, so that it was really thirty minutes earlier. It is now three hours and a half earlier here than in New York, or two hours and a half earlier here than in

Chicago, because we are running away from the sun all the time. Soon we will come to a place, they tell us, where we cross a certain line and will have lost an entire day. In other words, at that time, today will be yesterday.

Brother Russell and his two stenographers have been busy all the morning, while the rest of the party have begun the reading of the Scripture Studies, hoping to read them all during the trip. It is now afternoon. All the party except two were at the tables for lunch, which was nicely prepared and served by Japanese and Chinese waiters. The Japs wear white jackets, while the Chinese wear long blue aprons, reaching nearly to the floor. Some have queues and some have cut them off. They seem to understand us pretty well, but we cannot understand much they say, and, of course, absolutely nothing when they talk in their native tongues.

SUNDAY ON THE PACIFIC.

NEARING HONOLULU

Jesus' Name."

Y special request from Captain Smith, of the Shinyo Maru, Pastor Russell conducted a service for Divine worship from eleven to twelve o'clock. A number of the passengers were present, besides the committee and those traveling with them. Bro. Ernest Kuehn presided at the piano, and the entire congregation joined in the singing. The service opened with the singing of "All Hail the Power of

Praver by Pastor Russell.

Hymn, "The Church's One Foundation."

Reading of 27th Psalm by Pastor Russell.

Hymn, "How Firm a Foundation."

Text: "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou are mindful of him? and the Son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the work of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and all oxen, yea, and the beast of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth."—Psalm 8:39.

HE suggestion of the prophet respecting man is one which we believe has occurred to every intelligent being. As we look out upon the vast expanse of water and the riding of our vessel upon it, we think, How little is man; how small a speck in the universe. When we look up into the heavens and realize that they represent so much more of divine power, we are still more surprised. When we consider

the heavens and realize that all these stars, except the planets which belong to our own system, are really suns and that around each of these suns revolve planets as our earth revolves around our sun, and when we think of the number of those suns and their planets, we are amazed, and we feel

our own littleness all the more.

We ask astronomers as to the number of those suns, and they tell us that there are a hundred million of them in sight, and if we would average the planets around those hundred million suns at ten, it would be ten hundred millions of planets. And then they tell us further that if we could take our stand upon the very farthermost one of these we would see still beyond us as many more, and as many more. Our minds are appalled as we begin to think of the heavens, the work of God's fingers, and then to consider man, how small a work in God's sight. We have an appreciation then of what the Scriptures say man is like in God's sight, as "the dust in the balance," that is not worthy to be taken into account. We have all been in the grocer's shop and noticed that he pays no attention to the dust in the scoop of his scale. So man is so small in the sight of the great Divine Creator that we wonder that God should have any interest at all in humanity.

drought and pestilence-why all these things if God is so careful of us as his creatures? We would have no answer for all these questions were it not provided in the Bible. In this wonderful book of all books, we have the key to the answer, the explanation, and that is: Originally God provided that man should be subject to none of these difficulties and disasters. Man was made perfect and placed under favorable and perfect surroundings in a perfect garden, Eastward in Eden with everything necessary for his welfare. No storms, no sickness, no tempests, no difficulties, and man himself might have lived forever. Such was the wonderful dominion of this human Son of God.

Why then the change? This wonderful book answers that the change all came about because of sin, and so we read, St. Paul says, "By one man's disobedience sin entered into the world." (There was no sin in the world before) "and death came as a result of sin." There was no dying on the

Sunday Morning Inspection

Only for the Bible, dear friends, we should have no knowledge of God's interest in us, and we might think that God is so great that he would have no heed for us. But, when God reveals himself to us in the Bible, we begin to see that there is not only divine power exercised and manifested in the creation of all these worlds, we also have this divine power manifested in God's dealings with us, and also the love of God which the Scriptures state, "Passeth all understanding." What wonderful condescension on the part of the Creator that he should have heed to us.

But our text goes on to give us further information on this subject. "What is man that Thou are mindful of him, and the Son of man that Thou visiteth him, for Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels." Only a little lower is the thought. Of the angels the Scriptures give us to understand there are various ranks, some higher and some lower, but all perfect. Then in the world we have various orders of animal life, the beast of the field, the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, and man as the highest of these earthly beings, and he stands related to all these lower creatures as God does to the entire universe, and this is the honor with which our great Creator endowed his human creatures. So we are told in this Psalm, "Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet." What a wonderful creature man is, then, from this standpoint! While he is a little lower than the angels so far as his nature in connection with the earth is concerned, whereas the angels are more excellent so far as their natures are concerned, but in this psalm it speaks of man as being superior in this respect, that he has a dominion. The angels do not have dominion over other angels, but all are subject to the great Creator, God. But man, in the likeness of his Creator, has been given a dominion over the lower creatures, and in this respect it is a wonderful honor with which he has been crowned—"Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and hast set him over the work of Thy hands."

there sorrow, pain, sighing, crying and dying? Why tempests, storms, cyclones and tornadoes, famine,

It might be said with great propriety that if God is thus careful of humanity and has so highly honored his human creatures, why should He not have made a still better preparation for us in the world? Why is it that they are subject such unfavorable conditions under which we now exist?

part of man until sin came. So, all the aches, pains, sorrows and sicknesses which we experience are all part of this dying process. And so the difficulty with us all, then, my dear friends, is that by nature we are children of wrath. Is divine wrath torture? No, indeed. That was handed down to us, perhaps, by our well-meaning forefathers. Oh no, Oh no. The wrath of God we see on every hand, as the Apostle Paul declares. "The wrath of God is revealed"

in our own bodies, our aches and pains, mental imperfections, physical imperfections and moral imperfections, all of which are parts of this great penalty for sin, because we read that when man became a transgressor God sent the holy angel to drive our first parents out from the Garden of Eden, away from the trees of life that were to sustain them in perfection, out into the unfinished

earth. While the whole earth could have just as easily been made perfect, God left it unfinished, unprepared for man, and merely prepared a garden Eastward in Eden for the trial of our first parents; because divine wisdom foresaw that man would sin, and instead of making the whole earth perfect, God left it in an imperfect condition, except the Garden of Eden. So we read that when God thrust our first parents out of the Garden of Eden, he said, "Cursed is the earth" (not that I will make it unfit, but it is already) for thy sake. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth, and in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, until thou return to the ground, for out of it wast thou taken. Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return."

In other words, dear friends, the great penalty against our race is a DEATH PENALTY, "Dying thou shalt die." Gen. 2:17. This has been upon our race for six thousand years, from the time that sin entered into the world. So all the pages of history from Adam's day to this are marked with sin and sorrow, pain and sighing; because we are all sinners, and because we are sinners God is treating us according to His own purpose, "Dying thou shalt die."

But this is the sad side of the matter. Is there no other side to the matter, is there no hope for us? The same blessed book—the Bible—tells us. The Gospel message, which signified "good tidings," tells us that God has some good tidings for those whom he condemned to death. We inquire, What is this good message? The Scriptures answer, the good message is that he who condemned us as unfit for eternal life has provided for our redemption, that his Son became our Redeemer, that Christ died, the "just for the unjust," that he might bring all back into harmony with God. Oh, we say, but did not Jesus die eighteen hundred or more years ago? Yes, truly. And have we not the same reign of sin and death as then? Yes. Where, then, is the blessing which has come through Jesus. Well, we answer, a two-fold blessing has been provided. First of all, a blessing of hope which some of God's people enjoy, a blessing of knowledge that in God's due time He will bring in the great blessing that this gospel message tells of.

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL MESSAGE?

Oh, it is that God provided a Redeemer and that, therefore, there shall be a resurrection of the dead; they shall

VISIT TO HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

not remain dead, but come forth. There shall be a new dispensation, a glorious morning in which all sin and sorrow will be done away. So, the Scriptures assure us of that time that there shall be no more sighing, no more crying, no more dying, because all the former things, all the things of sin, the things of death will all have passed away. And we inquire, who is so powerful as to overthrow sin and death, and lift up humanity from death out of sin and weakness and imperfection and bring him back? The bible answers this question that the One who will do this is the great One who sits upon the throne of God, as we read, "He that sitteth upon His throne said, Behold, I make all things new." But who is this? Oh, the very same One, who, by the grace of God became our Redeemer, Jesus; He is to be the great King of Kings and Lord of lords, and is to reign from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth, and under the blessed influence of that kingdom the full blessing of God shall come to the earth again. "All the blind eyes shall be

And yet there is another side, for the same Scriptures which tell us of the exaltation of the Church to glory and the blessings of the world through the Kingdom of Messiah, which tell that the earth will be the Paradise of God, they also tell us of a class of incorrigibles which will be punished. After this class have been brought to a full knowledge of God and then wilfully sin against divine light and blessings, the punishment against these will not be eternal torment, but destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power, as said St. Paul.

The service closed with the use of "Nearer my God to Thee."

Prayer by Pastor Russell.

THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.

ROM San Francisco a voyage of six days, with gradually increasing temperature, brought us

opened and all the deaf ears shall be unstopped, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. These are words of the prophet given to us for our hope and strengthening of our hearts that we might turn from sin and become more and more the children of God.

We have spoken about the world and how it is to be blessed by the Messianic Kingdom, the Kingdom of God's dear Son, the Kingdom Jesus taught us to pray for, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven," but we see not all these things accomplished yet. We see not mankind brought back to perfection, nor the great work of good tidings accomplished amongst men. But we have a word from the Apostle upon this subject. He said, But we see not all things put under man, but out of harmony. But, says the Apostle, we see a beginning of God's work; we see Jesus, who by the grace of God has tasted death for every man. We see more than that, my friends. More than eighteen hundred years have passed. Not only Jesus has tasted death, but a great many have been going into death, in answer to the call to be of the Bride of Christ, the Church of the First Born, to be associated with our Lord—this is the church we sang about in our second hymn:

in sight of Diamond Head, the landmark of Honolulu. The Hawaiian Islands, our beautiful territory in the Pacific, have been aptly called the "Paradise of the Pacific." The sensuous beauty of the tropics is there mingled with the inspiring grandeur of high and rugged mountains and volcanic forma-

tions; the warmth of the torrid zone is tempered by the ever present ocean or mountain breezes. Honolulu, the capital is a handsome city and with embowered streets, electric cars, electric lights and modern hotels. The houses are surrounded by gardens ablaze with blossoms, palms and all the wonderful foliage of the tropics. The population is most cosmopolitan and picturesque, including the "dark-eyed Kanakas," Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, East Indians and many other nationalities.

We arrived there early in the morning, and soon the government doctors came aboard and inspected the ship and passengers. Then the pilot came aboard and steered the ship through the narrow channel in to the beautiful harbor. In it were all kinds of ships, a number of them being United States war ships. From the harbor we had a beautiful view

"The Church's one foundation, Is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is His new new creation By water and the Word. From heaven He came and sought her To be His holy Bride; With His own blood He bought her, And for her life He died."

This is the first work, then, of God in the redemption of mankind—the gathering of the Bride of Christ, the Church, to be associated with Christ, and to share in His glory, honor and immortality. We hope to be of this class, and to this class belong all the great promises that they with Him shall share with Him in the first resurrection, and then bless all the families of the earth with restitution. The world of mankind is to be restored to all that Adam had and lost, all of which Jesus redeemed at Calvary, and associated with Him will be the Church, called out of the world, a saintly class who have been walking in the footsteps of Jesus, as we read again in the words of Jesus. "Blessed and holy are those who have a

of the mountains and could see some craters of extinct volcanoes.

Our visit here was one of great interest and profit. Providently a gentleman came to the ship to meet a party of missionaries whom he had been expecting, but they failed to arrive on our ship. He made the acquaintance of our party and kindly volunteered to act as our guide, whose kind services we gladly accepted. If we had looked the islands over for weeks and made arrangements in advance for a guide, we could not have secured one better known or better posted than this gentleman. He had lived there nearly thirty years; he had been a sugar planter, but now retired from active business. The population held him in high esteem; he seemed to know everyone, and every turn in the road. He is a hard worker in the churches and in missionary work, and connected with several of the mission schools. We, therefore, considered his presence providential. Therefore, with trolley cars, automobiles and his assistance, we

part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power; they shall be priests unto God and Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years." The thousand years of Messiah's reign, the thousand years of the world's uplift, the thousand in which Satan will be bound, the thousand years in which knowledge shall fill the whole earth, the thousand years in which the world shall be brought to the paradisaic condition, which was symbolically represented in the Garden of Eden, and when every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth shall be brought to that glorious condition where they will sing praises to God and to Him that sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever.

Honolulu Harbor

U. S. Battleships at Honolulu

secured information which otherwise would have consumed considerable time.

THE next afternoon on board ship we all got together in the parlor and this time had with us a lady passenger who was becoming interested. Brother Russell talked to her, and we all occasionally put in a question. He talked truth to her and we all asked questions as to the missionary work in Japan. She is or has been an Episcopalian, but is disguised with the church.

fine lady and I believe is a real grain of wheat. Sister Wilson got her started, so you see the Lord has a reason for sending Sister Wilson along, the only lady in the party. This lady married a Japanese some twenty-five years ago, and he is connected with a large factory for the manufacture of Japanese pottery, which is shipped all over the world; they employ about three thousand people. The Missionaries have often tried to get her to co-operate with them because of her great influence on the Island, but she said she could not believe what they taught.

The next night a heavy wind came up and as a result many of the people the next morning had that peculiar expression that goes with sea-sickness. It must be experienced in order to be appreciated. It is a good deal like the little girl described her feelings when "looping the loop" on one of the figure of eight coasters. She said, "Mama, it felt like I had freckles on my stomach."

The next day the wind had subsided somewhat and the friends gradually came forth from their places of refuge. Your humble servant, however, has not been troubled so far, but we are not out of the woods yet, so I will not crow.

When I had opportunity I conveyed to Brother Russell the greetings sent by me, some in particular and others in general. To all of which he said, When you write back, kindly express to the friends my appreciation of their kind words.

It is a great comfort to know that you are all remembering us in your prayers to the throne of grace, and we feel that much of the success of this tour will be due to your prayers. Keep them up.

As we are running away from the sun, the time here is about a half day earlier with us than with you. I am now writing this two days out from Honolulu, and so far I have lost over seven hours since leaving Chicago. Therefore, when it is one o'clock in the morning with me, it is eight with you. When

et to Yokohama it will be a great

re. Saturday night we will pass eridian, and here we drop a

whole day, namely, December the 24th which with you will be Sunday, but we will not have any Sunday this week. As Monday, the 25th, is Christmas, and all the stores out here on the ocean will be closed, it will be a holiday, and there is to be on board ship a combined Sunday and Christmas. Brother Russell has been invited by the captain to give an address appropriate to the occasion, and they will have the ship decorated and we will have a high time. Don't you wish you could celebrate with us? Last Sunday Brother Russell, by request, had charge of the Divine Worship, and gave a splendid address for three-quarters of an hour, covering the entire plan.

The rest of the passengers on board amuse themselves in various ways. There are a number of ship games that can be played on the deck. Evenings they have moving picture shows, dances, sleight of hand performances, etc., etc.

Friday, Dec. 22. The days have been much alike and nothing of special interest has occured. Today, however, we pass the 180th meridian, which we pass about midnight. Our time now is called West Longitude, but as soon as we pass that meridian it will be called East Longitude, and in order to have the same time as the folks at home when we arrive at home, it will be necessary for us to skip an entire day. Therefore, we will drop tomorrow, Saturday, the 23d, entirely out of our calendar, so that after midnight tonight, Friday night, it will be Sunday morning. Since we left Chicago, for instance, we have been going away from the sun, or, in other words, the sun would rise at Chicago about half an hour earlier every day than it does with us on the ship. By the time we get to this meridian, while it is only Friday night at midnight on the ship, it will be 9 o'clock Saturday morning in Chicago, that is, the sun will rise there nine hours earlier than with us. However, we will just skip right over Saturday and instead of calling it Saturday the next minute after midnight Friday, we will call it Sunday morning. So that, while it is still 9 o'clock Saturday morning in Chicago, we will have jumped over Saturday and it will be Sunday morning with us on the ship. In other words, instead of being nine hours behind Chicago, we will be fifteen hours ahead. We will, however, keep losing half an hour per day while traveling West, so that by the time we get to Chicago again we will have exactly the same time.

SUNDAY, DEC. 24, 1911.

SERMON BY PASTOR RUSSELL ON BOARD S. S. SHINYO MARU. (By request of Captain Smith.)

Our text is chosen from the chapter read, Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

SERMON BY PASTOR RUSSELL ON THE PACIFIC

HERE are many religions and it is a mistake that we have, perhaps, said in the past that there is no religion but one. A religion would properly be considered: "Any system of worship by which any people recognize the Almighty and seek to do Him honor." We are, therefore, to recognize the various great religions that are in the world, in the sense that we would not properly ignore them. We have,

for instance, the Confucian teaching, the Brahmin teaching, the Buddhist teaching, the Mohammedan teaching, the Jewish

teaching and the Christian teaching. These all present themselves to us as religious teachings. They all believe themselves more or less rational; they all believe themselves more or less reasonable. Every man tries to think that his own theory on any matter is a sea-

satisfactory. There seems to be in every man naturally, without any education on the subject, something which tells him that he is not perfect, not in full accord with his own conscience, not in accord with his own highest ideals of the divine mind. All religions, therefore, recognize this principle of sin and propose remedies therefor. We see the evidence of these as manifested in their disciples everywhere. Some seek to crucify the flesh in one form or another-some by flagellations, some by restraints upon the various liberties of life, some by holding their hands in the air for days, seeking to become holy and thus appease their god. None of these

sonable theory, and he is proper in so doing.

This morning, in harmony with our text, we propose to compare the religion of Jesus to all other religions. In the beginning, we state with the Apostle, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." Whatever may be said of other gospels, we believe, as Christians, that in the Christian religion we have that of which no man need be ashamed. There may, perhaps, be certain features and forms of certain creeds of which we might be ashamed—they do not come up to our highest ideals. But the Christian religion, as presented in the Word of God, should be the standard of Chris-

tianity, and of that we are not ashamed. It will compare with all other religions in the world, and come off victorious in every sense of the word. All of these various religions seem to recognize that man is in an imperfect, unsatisfactory, sinful condition; therefore each of these religions seek to present

Eighth Grade Scholars, Honolulu

things seem, to our minds, in the light of the gospel of Christ, to be the highest and noblest ideals. Doubtless all have done some good and uplifted some men out of the degradation in which they were. Mankind might have been worse off if it had not been for these religions.

certain tenets, or teachings, that will help him up out of his imperfect condition, back into harmony with his God.

If we consider the teachings of the Mohammedans, they have certain qualities which are very advantageous, and other qualities that we could not so highly recommend. Their endeavor is not to do injury, but to make man better. Their theory is that mankind are fallen and need lifting up out of their fallen condition. The same may be said of the Brahmin, the Confucian and the Buddhist. They are all more or less presentations of what are supposed to be cures

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