Souvenir Notes — Bible Students Conventions (1915)

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SOUVENIR

NOTES

BIBLE STUDENTS' CONVENTIONS

"THROUGH honor and dishonor, through evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; .giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed."

MY life is hid with Christ in God. Nothing can by any means stop my work until it shall have accomplished the Divine intention. Until then I am immortal as respects my life. When, from the Divine viewpoint, my work shall have been accomplished, the Adversary, no doubt, will have full power, not only against my reputation, but also against my life.

"When God's time shall come, I am ready to be offered. Only if, in God's providence, I should perish as an evil-doer, let not my friends forget that so others have perished, martyrs to their convictions and their faithfulness to the Word of God. Of these was St. Paul, St. Stephen, John the Baptist and our Lord himself."

ROCK OF AGES

Other foundation can no man lift

A RANSOM FOR ALL

UNBELIEF

THE SHIP IS SAFE

INTERNATIONAL

BIBLE STUDENTS

SOUVENIR

CONVENTION

REPORT Jesus said unto him.

If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possession.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of Leaven.

4 m o l C l- + 8 A l

And again I say unto you. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. MATT. 19:21-24.

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

MATT. 16:24.

(Independence, Mo., Reporter, March 25, 1915.)

GEORGE M. HUNTSINGER DIED THIS MORNING

He Passed Away at San Antonio, Texas COURT STENOGRAPHER

He Had Been Official Court Stenographer for a Number of Years

George M. Huntsinger, official stenographer for the district court of Montgomery county, died at 6 o'clock this morning at San Antonio, Texas, after an illness of three years from tuberculosis. The news came in a telegram from Mrs. Huntsinger to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Norton. The funeral will be held at San Antonio and burial will be at that city.

Mr. Huntsinger is survived by his wife, son and daughter, who are at San Antonio, his parents and two brothers, residing at West Mineral in Cherokee county, one sister living at Columbus, Kansas, and one sister living on the Hudson in New York.

He was about 43 years of age and came to this city as court stenographer when Judge Flannelly was elected to the bench and the judicial district was composed of Labette and Montgomery counties, and removed to this city and permanently located when the district was changed. He had served in the same capacity under Judge Skidmore part of the time. Mr. Huntsinger had about seventeen years' experience as court stenographer

in this judicial district. In referring to him this morning Judge Flannelly said: "Mr. Huntsinger was a very fine man, bright, capable and genial and was universally respected and highly esteemed by all the members of the Montgomery county bar and all men who were brought in contact with him." Although for the past three years Mr. Huntsinger has been compelled to travel a large portion of the time for the benefit of his health. Judge Flannelly has reserved his position for him and when he passed away he was the official court stenographer of our district court.

Mr. Huntsinger's daughter, Martha, who has been visiting with friends in this city, went to her father's side about a week ago, his friends feeling that he could never recover.

Mr. and Mrs. Huntsinger have been living at San Antonio for a number of months, but his health has gradually declined and his family several weeks ago gave up all hope of his recovery.

If our hopes and expectations are correct, one who has helped greatly on the reports in the years past, has this year been helping us beyond the vail, for our dear Brother George M. Huntsinger passed beyond on March 25th, 1915, and we believe he has entered into his reward. Note the above splendid tribute of esteem and respect in which Brother Huntsinger was held, in that his position as Official Court Reporter was kept open for him up until his death. We believe he has heard

the "Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many."

"Enter thou into the joy of the Lord."

His faithful work for many years in connection with these Souvenir Convention Reports fulfills in his case at least, the Scripture which reads: "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth, for they shall rest from their labors but their works do follow them."

Foreword

N the spring of this year, 1915, it was thought that there would be but one General Convention, that at Oakland-San Francisco, and not knowing but that it might be the last one, and therefore the last one to report, it was suggested that we make it a General Convention, by means of the Souvenir Report, in a much larger sense than would otherwise be

thought; namely, to include in the Report messages from representative brethren from various parts of the world thinking of them as being with us at the convention, in spirit if not in person.

MESSAGES FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD.

Word was therefore sent to various parts of the world, and the Pilgrim brethren not at the Convention to send in such a message as they would liked to have delivered to the friends could they have been at the Convention in person; also to send some photographs, and make mention of interesting items in connection with the harvest work in the countries where they resided.

Many responses have come in, and these will be in-

ford, and Mr. John H. Troy, a Baptist minister. As these debates took place in the West, so near to the time and place of the General Convention, they almost seemed a part of the Convention. Furthermore, as the newspaper reports which were in several sections, would soon become scattered and worn out, we decided to include a reprint in this Souvenir, which will be found as a supplement at the back of the report.

EXTRA COPIES DEBATE SUPPLEMENT.

Anticipating that many of the friends would like additional copies of this debate supplement, we are having extra copies struck off, bound in pamphlet form, which can be had at such low prices as to enable the friends to give them away to others who perhaps would read the debates where they would not read a volume of Scripture Studies, but who, after reading the debates, would have their prejudice removed and be ready for the volumes. The prices of the Debate Supplement will be found at the back of this volume.

cluded in this Souvenir Report, along with the report of the proceedings of the Oakland-San Francisco Convention.

WHY THE CONVENTION REPORTS ARE PUBLISHED.

(1) BECAUSE: The Lord has manifested His approval.

(2) BECAUSE: Many have come fully into the truth through the instrumentality of the convention reports.

(3) BECAUSE: They stimulate to activity in the truth reading Bible, Towers, Scripture studies, colporteuring, volunteer work, attending conventions, etc.

(4) BECAUSE: The poor have the conventions brought them at a very small cost.

(5) BECAUSE: The isolated thus enjoy fellowship with those who attend the conventions in person.

(6) BECAUSE: Those opposed by other members of their families, and not permitted to attend the conventions, are partially compensated, through the reports, for their loss.

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, GENERAL CONVENTION.

Since making all arrangements for this Report, and getting matters well under way, the International Bible Students Association has decided to hold another General Convention this year, this time at Springfield. Mass., in the extreme East of the United States. We have been requested to report that Convention also, and arrangements have been made for doing so.

REPORT OF SPRINGFIELD CONVENTION.

The report of the Springfield Convention will not be included in this volume for two reasons: First, we have promised to issue this volume as soon as possible, and it is now our hope to have it in the hands of the friends about the time the Springfield Convention will be in session. Secondly, in stating the price of this volume, we did not include the expense which the reporting of the Springfield report will necessitate. Therefore, the report of the Springfield Convention will be issued in a separate volume, as a Supplement so to speak, of this 1915 Souvenir. The price of the Springfield Supplement will be found at the back of this volume.

(7) BECAUSE: Friends in other countries learn about and keep in touch with the work as carried on in the United States and other places.

(8) BECAUSE: The deaf and blind are brought in contact with features of the "harvest" work which they would otherwise miss.

(9) BECAUSE: Those attending conventions have put before them, in concrete form, the proceedings of the conventions, and thus refresh their minds.

RUTHERFORD-TROY DEBATES.

Just before the Convention took place at Oakland-San Francisco, a series of very interesting debates was held at Los Angeles, California, between our Dear Brother Rutherheld supplement will be found at the back of this volume.

ASSISTANTS ON REPORT.

We wish to thank the various ones who have had part in the preparation of this Report, whether by offering suggestions or in the doing of some of the actual work, and among these we would especially mention Bro. E. F. Crist. of Buffalo, who took shorthand notes of most of the discourses; and Bro. M. C. Bradley, of Chicago, who has done most of the proof-reading. We do not attempt to change the personnel of the discourses, but endeavor to keep as many typographic errors out as possible. Even with all our care there will doubtless be many mistakes found, but with it all. we believe this Souvenir will be the "best yet," because of the meat it contains.

Some of the helpers

By the wayside in Arizona

In front of Convention at Riverside

When the train stopped

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION 1915

N view of the Panama-Pacific World's Fairs being held in 1915 at San Francisco and San Diego, excellent opportunities were presented for holding the Bible Students Convention at those places during the sessions of the fairs, when special railroad rates would be in effect.

Consequently Pastor Russell consented

to such arrangements, and the classes along the route, learning that he expected to attend the coast conventions arranged for other conventions of from one to three days, and invited him to be the principal speaker. He accepted many of these invitations.

For the past eight years, Pastor Russell has taken similar trans-continental tours, and it has been our privilege to organize special train parties to accompany him. On account of the great distance between stops on these transcontinental tours, sometimes two days apart, it is very convenient to have your own special train or special cars, arrange your own schedules, etc. Such special trains enable us to place at Pastor Russell's disposal such accommodations, free from annoyance, as enable him to attend to his literary work, correspondence, etc., which occupies a great deal of his time on these trips.

Furthermore, these special trains make it possible for a number of the friends to accompany Pastor Russell on these tours, hold up his hands, encourage and assist the friends along the way, and incidentally receive a rich blessing themselves.

Having experienced these blessings in the past, we immediately began making arrangements for a special train this year. However, the tour laid out this year was too long for many to get leave of absence from their work, so that only a small number started out with Pastor Russell. A week later, however, the main party, this year numbering eighty-five, traveled direct from Chicago and met him at Riverside, California. In the meantime, he had visited St. Louis, Kansas City. Oklahoma City, Waco, San Antonio, Houston and El Paso.

KANSAS CITY, MO.

Upon arrival of our special party at Kansas City, Sunday evening, we found a committee of the Kansas City Ecclesia waiting with open arms, and learning that our train would not leave for two or three hours, nothing would do but that we must go to their evening meeting. This we did, forgetting about supper, which it was necessary for us to omit if we would attend their meeting.

Soon after reaching the hall, our dear Brother Riggs took the chair and after his opening remarks, which were full of love and greetings to us all, we were asked to make an address. We made our address in the nature of a testimony and then suggested that inasmuch as there were representatives present from many states and from Canada, that a general testimony service would be much more appreciated. This was agreed upon and soon we began to hear from the friends from various parts.

During a lull in the testimonies, Sister Riggs, in her high, sweet soprano voice, sang for us that beautiful hymn, the words of which are as follows:

SATISFIED WITH JESUS.

I am satisfied with Jesus. But the question comes to me. As I ponder on His goodness. Is He satisfied with me?

Chorus

Is my Master satisfied with me?

Is He satisfied with me?

I am satisfied with Jesus,

Is He satisfied with me?

Am I kind in word and action?

Am I all I ought to be?

Am I always His defender;

Is He satisfied with me?

Do I tell the blessed story Of the Christ on Calvary; How He left His home in glory; Is He satisfied with me?

Grant me, Lord, Thy rich favor To be more and more like Thee. Till I shall reflect Thy likeness And Thou art satisfied with me.

Chorus

Till my Master's satisfied with me; Till He's satisfied with me; Till I shall reflect His likeness. And He's satisfied with me.

The meeting was surely one of great blessing and refreshment spiritually and all felt that we had already been well repaid for all the expense and work connected with the tour, and therefore counted everything else to come as just so much thrown in. Later in the evening we were favored with another beautiful solo, this being rendered by Brother Zimmerman of the Kansas City class.

The testimonies from all, both the local class and the visiting brethren, were up-to-date and told how each was striving for a place in the Kingdom and had a sympathetic interest in all the others who were trying.

After the meeting, a large company of the Kansas City class accompanied the touring party to the railway station. Realizing that in all probability many standing there would never meet again in this life, therefore, as we were waiting for the train to start, all joined in singing the beautiful hymn:

"WELL NEVER SAY GOOD-BYE IN HEAVEN."

Our friends on earth we meet with pleasure While swift the moments fly. Yet ever comes the thought of sadness That we must say good-bye.

Chorus

We'll never say good-bye in Heaven, We'll never say good-bye, For in that land of joy and song We'll never say good-bye.

EN ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA.

After leaving Kansas City, our party of eighty-five enjoyed fellowship on the train for three nights and two days. We had all the comforts necessary, as we had chartered three Pullman cars, had our own dining-car service,

How joyful is the thought that lingers, When loved ones cross death's sea, That when our labors here are ended, With them we'll ever be.

No parting words shall e'er be spoken In that bright land of flowers, But songs of joy and peace, and gladness Shall evermore be ours.

having taken along with us two first-class experienced cooks, and carrying with us our own stock of provisions, replenishing from time to time as necessary. The friends wandered from one car to the other, stopping to join with others in the singing of some hymns, and again to take part in a question meeting, or again listening to some brother explaining some passage of Scripture—it was one round of fellowship, study and good time. As the train stopped along the way, we had many opportunities to get off and

distribute tracts and papers to the people standing around.

Then as the train would pull out, we often sang, "Take the Name of Jesus with You," which invariably made a deep impression upon the people.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Early Thursday morning we crossed the border-line into Southern California, which has become almost a paradise. It has been our privilege to visit California several times, but always with so little time at our disposal that we saw little else than the large cities, which are much like all other cities. This time, however, we had more time, and facilities, in the way of automobiles, were placed at our service and all had an opportunity to see and learn much of that wonderful country.

In the days of old California, one might ride over the plains of the interior, seeing an established community here and there, a fringe of farm houses in the distance and miles of clean, level lands without homes, without farmhouses, without fences or fields, trees, orchards or gardens, and it gave one the impression of the nakedness of the land. Its settlement had been retarded by the conservatism of large land owners. Great tracts of the best land in the state had been held under one ownership and farmed to one crop, no portion of the land being for sale. That the owners of the big ranches felt proud goes without saying. There was something in managing 20,000 or more acres that gratified a man's ambition; it stirred his imagination to do big things, even to seeing a procession of mule teams turning furrows that required a day's journey to make a "round."

Here was the weakness of old California; her farms were few, her great agricultural wealth remained undeveloped while a few men owned the land. Today, the best estates are open to the settler. Land held by the few is becoming the possession of the many, the whole tendency is to get down to the general farm of modest size and to multiply the number of land owners. This seems to be in fulfilment of the prophecy, "Every man shall sit under his own vine and fig-tree"; where "one shall not build and another inhabit," and where "one shall not plant and another eat the fruit thereof." There is a new spirit and purpose, a new direction of energies, new plans and ambitions.

which we were told was fifteen miles long, and on either side were rose bushes in full bloom, together with a great many palm trees.

In the past, as we rode along on the swiftly-moving trains, the most we would see would be the great, rugged mountains, which looked like piles of dirt and rubbish, and we often wondered what good the country was. Now, since having time to investigate the condition of things, we find between the great mountains, which themselves are full of rich minerals, etc., fertile valleys, in which are great orchards of orange, lemon and other fruit trees, walnut groves, beet, celery, cotton, alfalfa fields, with hundreds of miles of asphalt boulevards, which makes automobile riding as easy as on the best boulevards of our large cities. Everywhere you see flowers, flowers, flowers. We remember riding along one of these country boulevards for nine miles,

As we would be riding along, we would be told something like this: "The land you see here, now rich, bearing orchards or fields, only six, eight, ten or twelve years ago was nothing but an arid desert bearing nothing but sagebrush or cactus plants.

It was hard to realize that such a change could have taken place in so short a time. But this very fact helped to impress the fact upon our minds that we are indeed living in the "Day of Jehovah's preparation," and the things we saw in California were but a few of the things He is doing all over the world, but especially in America, with a view of making ready this earth for mankind, after they get over their present insanity and war-craze.

We heard a report recently, that the people who own and make the Ford automobiles, have procured from one to two thousand acres of land, on which great factories will be built, in which will be employed 20,000 men, for the purpose of making traction engines. If this be true, and we do not doubt it, it means that the Lord is permitting these things and letting the light of truth, invention, etc., shine into men's minds so that these things will be produced just now, in the "due time," so that the millions of acres of uncultivated land may be made productive and supply to returning mankind from the tomb, the necessities of life.

In further fulfilment of the prophecies, we see that one being fulfilled in regard to "springs breaking forth in the desert." Great subterranean bodies of water, hitherto unknown, have been discovered, which together with the snow waters captured from the mountains in great reservoirs, are being used to irrigate the land. The land already rich with all kinds of deposits needful for producing crops has been waiting the Lord's due time, for the supply of water which He promised should come at this time. It is being supplied to the thirsty land, with the result that the desert is indeed being made to blossom as the rose, and the earth is yielding her increase, in some instances several crops a year.

This is another illustration of the condition of the world of mankind. As a race, they are barren of the fruitage the Lord wants, and what they need is the "water of life," the Truth. And so, when the hail (crystallized water) melts, that is, when the truth now hidden, like the California subterranean bodies of water, comes to the surface, then they will walk up the highway of holiness with everlasting songs of joy and gladness.

Many books have been written upon the possibilities of our Western states, and much could be included in this report, but we merely touch upon them that you, with us, might see the beginning of the fulfilment of prophecy, which encouraged our hearts, and strengthened our faith in the great plan of the ages.

RIVERSIDE, CAL.

Riverside was where we were to meet Pastor Russell enjoy a convention with the Bible students of that place and then travel together for a week or ten days.

We arrived at Riverside about nine o'clock Thursday morning, and at once went to their meeting place, several blocks from the station. We had heard much about Riverside and had looked forward to our arrival. As we walked along their beautiful streets to the meeting place, noted their homes, lawns, buildings, flowers, etc., we were not disappointed—it is surely one of the finest cities in California.

Arriving at the hall, we were made welcome by a large number of friends, which was further manifested by the tribute of flowers with which the stage was decorated.

Back in the East, such a mass of flowers would have cost a fortune. The forenoon and afternoon were spent as a local convention of Bible Students. Pastor Russell arrived in the evening and addressed the public upon the subject of "Armageddon," which was also his general topic for his address to the public along his route.

The morning meeting began about 10 o'clock, with an address of welcome and response, testimonies and two short addresses. At three o'clock, Brother Barton delivered a very helpful discourse upon the subject of "Consecrated Thinking." Following is a partial report of the day's proceedings:

Address of Welcome at Riverside, Cal., 10:00 A.M., by Brother T. J. Hendrickson.

EAR Friends: In behalf of the Riverside Ecclesia we are glad to welcome you here in our midst, both the dear friends who came on the special train, and those who came here from surrounding towns. We realize that you are here to get a feast of good things, which we hope we will have for you, a spiritual feast. We welcome you because we have one common Father. We welcome you because we

can call each one of you a brother or a sister. People are always

glad to welcome their kinfolks to their home. We regard you as our kinfolks.

We think we have here a very beautiful town, and the surroundings are very beautiful. We think we have here what will remind you of what the earth will be when restored. We think we have here a little glimpse of Paradise, but we know that Paradise, when restored, will be much nicer that Riverside and vicinity. We wish we could take you around and show you these things. If we had time we would be glad to do it. We would be glad to get your mind fixed on the Paradise of God

We welcome you because we are to be permitted to pray with you, and for you, and to sing these beautiful songs together with you.

We welcome you because we are going to be permitted to hear your testimonies. We know you all have a word of testimony something cheering and helpful to us, and we hope our class will have something that will cheer you and help you. These blessings should be mutual. We welcome you also, because you will share with us the addresses from some of the dear brethren, and our dear Pastor; also because we hope to hear our dear Pastor here before the day is ended.

I know it is customary, upon an occasion of this kind, to present the key to the town in a formal way. We do not claim to have the key to Riverside. We are only a small people here,

and we may not ask for the keys of Riverside, and we do not think you need them. We have the keys to the Bible, and if any one likes them we can give you one of them. We cannot offer you very many earthly blessings. We want you to center your minds on the heavenly blessings, which are beyond all of these things of earth. In the name of the class I welcome you most heartily to our town, to our class, to our fellowship. We want to get better acquainted with you, and that is another reason why we welcome you. We want you to get better acquainted with us. We hope to live with many of you through the countless ages of eternity, where we may see our Lord, be like Him, and share with Him. So we welcome you.

Response by Dr. L. W. Jones, of the Special Train Party.

EAR Friends: I am sure, as a representative of the outside party, I express the sentiments of each one when I say that we thank you for your words of welcome from the dear brother. He said that you welcome us here, and we are glad to hear that, but we knew we were welcome when we saw the crowd down at the train when we pulled in this morning. We are glad that we know you want us here. This is manifest

in the beautiful decoration of flowers. We understand that you had much labor in fixing things up so nicely for us. We accept these words and evidences of welcome, and thank you for them.

For weeks we have been planning and arranging for this tour, having Riverside in mind for the first stop. We have often heard of Riverside, but while I have been in this part of the country several times I have never visited Riverside. I have not seen the river here, but possibly there is one. At any rate, the Bible tells us of another River, with trees planted on each side, bringing forth fruits each month. That is a river which will run during the coming age. We are one of the sources of it. We have the key of which our brother spoke.

I am sure I express the sentiments of all when I say that we are glad to be among our kinfolks. I am reminded of the world coming back from the tomb, to see their kinfolks. How glad they will be. Some have never seen their ancestors. (Not their monkey ancestors, but their real ancestors.) Many of your faces we have not seen, but we love you, and we will love you more. As the world come back they will learn to love their ancestors. As we go to the depots where people are coming in,

especially from the old country, we see some waiting on the platform for their people. When they meet they hug, and kiss, and cry, and are so glad to see one another. That is an illustration of the way they all come back from the tomb, and some will be waiving to see them. In the past few years I have been impressed with the magnificent stations that are being built, and the substantial manner in which the railroads and switches are being built. They are preparing these on a substantial basis, not to be blown to pieces, but to meet the kinfolks when they come back. They may have to travel a little while before they meet their friends. Of course we realize that the bad things, in connection with the erroneous systems, will be overthrown, but the good things will be improved until the earth becomes a Paradise for the children of men. Then we will have the privilege of bringing them back to their kinfolks. This gathering here this morning is a sample. As we see the beautiful flowers, and as we have tasted some of the delicious fruits of your country, it is an illustration of the blessings God has in store for mankind. These friends have showered these blessings upon us in the form of these beautiful flowers. As we feast upon these beautiful things we will also feast upon God's Holy Word. How glad we are to have this Word, and to have the key, or the combination that opens it. We see beauty and harmony. We can turn it over the right number of times so that it unlocks, and we can get clear inside of it.

At this time we again thank you for the words of welcome. We feel sure we will have a blessed time, getting blessings and giving blessings.

Synopsis of Discourse by Bro. E. F. Crist. Subject: "OUR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT."

HAT we will say this afternoon is suggested by the words of Psalm 24:7-9, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, even lift them up ye everlasting doors and the King of Glory shall come in."

It is evident from the opening verses of this Psalm that two lessons may be drawn from our text. The prophet speaks of the Lord's authority being established upon the seas, indicating that he refers to the time just ahead of us, when the kingdom of the Lord will be set up, as it were upon the subsiding waves of the great flood of trouble that is to be caused by the uprising of the discontented elements in society. A gate suggests a way of entrance into some thing, or condition, therefore we reason that at present there are certain obstacles standing in the way of the establishment of the kingdom, and these are referred to as gates. The Lord says, "Lift up your heads, ye gates, and the King of Glory shall come in." God has commanded, the obstacles will be removed, and the glorious King will assume full control.

However, our interest centers specially upon the application which has to do with our spiritual development at this time. We might understand that the Lord here declares His willingness to take full control in our hearts and lives if we will lift certain gates which may have debarred His entrance in the comprehensive sense in which He would occupy. We might think of these gates as representing the various phases of the self-life, such as self-esteem, self-confidence and self-gratification. All of these would constitute a strong gate or door, preventing the Lord from taking the place that He would in our heart. The bolt that holds this gate, made up of these evil qualities, is unbelief. Perhaps the gate seems heavy, and we have sought to open it in vain because the bolt of unbelief

has held it so firmly. It has scarcely seemed possible to us that this gate could be swung aside to give our great King free access, and unlimited control.

The Lord desires not a partial control in our hearts. We might illustrate in this way. Suppose a man is confined to his bed with rheumatism, in which condition he secures the services of a physician. The doctor prescribes, and after giving some instructions relative to the case he departs, saying that he will call again in two or three days. When he calls the second time he finds his patient suffering greatly, and in surprise he asks, "Did you take the medicine which I prescribed?" The patient replies; "You see, Doctor, after you left Mrs. Smith called, and she said to my wife that her husband was also afflicted with rheumatism, and he was greatly helped by using Ayer's Sarsaparilla: later Mrs. Jones came in, and she said her husband had a spell of rheumatism, and Burdock Blood Bitters just straightened him out: Mrs. Brown called too, and she said Doane's Kidney Pills had proven a sure cure in their family: later Mrs. Fake told us how her husband was relieved by taking a hot bath every night before retiring, while Mrs. Notion said her husband had been entirely cured of rheumatism by simply taking a cold bath in the morning. So I have been taking Ayer's Sarsaparilla, and Burdock Blood Bitters, and Doane's Kidney Pills, with a hot bath at night and a cold bath in the morning, and O Doctor, I am suffering dreadfully." Don't you think the Doctor would say, "Well, if you wish to follow the advice of all the quacks in town you do not need me. When you are ready to give your case into my hands entirely, and follow my advice without deviation, I will try to do something for you. Until then, good day." You could not blame him. Similarly the Lord desires unconditional sway in our heart.

Not only is God willing to come into our heart in this comprehensive way, but the Scriptures tell us that he desires to come in. In Rev. 3:20, the Lord is represented as standing and knocking. If you hear someone knocking at your door you surely would not ignore it saying, "O, he is only knocking;

he does not want to come in."

The Lord is really anxious to have us lift the gates and permit Him to come in. The same thought is contained in the 81st Psalm, verses 13-16. The Lord there says "OH!" as if expressing pain or disappointment, and then the reason is shown. "OH, that my people had hearkened unto me—and had walked in my ways. I should soon have subdued their enemies." Primarily this applies to His typical people, Israel, but the lesson is intended for us doubtless. Israel left Egypt and after a little more than a year they reached the borders of Canaan at Kadesh-Barnea. God had promised to fight the battles against their enemies, and they might have taken possession of the land quickly, had they hearkened unto the Lord. You remember how their unbelief entailed upon them the forty years of wandering, during which time they were still God's people, but came no nearer to possessing the blessings promised. When finally, at the end of forty years, they did

cross Jordan and engage themselves in battling against the inhabitants of the promised land, God gave them possession in about five years, or less. What a lesson to us. They could have had the land of milk and honey in less than one-eighth of the time that was actually consumed. Perhaps some of us, including myself, might have gained the rest, and peace and victory which we now have in one-eighth of the time that we have used. O, if we had hearkened unto the Lord. Let us hearken now and open the gates wide, and keep them open to the Lord. I am reminded of the incident in the Saviour's life recorded in Mark 11:12-24, where he cursed a fig tree, and when He passed the next day the disciples marvelled that the fig tree had withered, FROM THE ROOTS UPWARD. Only one night in dying. To us it seems significant that the dying was from the roots upward. The tree was unfruitful. We, from the human standpoint are unfruitful. When Jesus talked with the disciples about it when they expressed their surprise, He said, "Have faith in God—whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith." Would not this suggest to us that with faith in God the unfruitful condition which we so lament, and which looms up as a great mountain seemingly impossible for us to remove, could be quickly taken away; that the unfruitfulness could be caused to wither quickly. How inspiring. It need not be a long drawn out process. But this should start from the roots, as it were, which in our case would be right in the heart. If we will open the gates and let this King of Glory come in, who is mighty in battle, he will quickly subdue the enemies under our feet.

The sixteenth verse of this 81st Psalm, tells us further what the Lord would do if we would hearken unto Him. "He should have fed them, also, with the finest of the wheat." God's Word is His wheat, in this sense. If we will hearken, the very best, the very sweetest and most strengthening of His wheat will He lead us to. Our ability to get real good from God's Word depends largely upon the degree to which we hearken. Our Father wishes to give us the very finest.

He further adds in the same verse, "With honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee." Let us suggest the thought

here by using an illustration. Suppose I am walking along the roadside in a little path in the country, having a pail in my hand to fetch some milk from a neighbor's home. As I walk along I see a large rock lying in my pathway. I begin to think it is unfortunate to have a great stone like that right in my path. I wonder that the people who have lived about there so long have not taken out that stone. But while I am thus somewhat rebellious at having to walk aside to pass the stone I notice something running down the edge of the stone that looks like honey. I dip my finger in it and taste, and sure enough it is fine honey. I catch a considerable quantity in my pail and start on. What a surprise. Who would have expected such a thing. Soon I see another stone in the way. The thought comes, "suppose that should have honey running out of it too." When I reach the spot, to my amazement this stone also has honey trickling down its side. I catch some more. And now I stretch my neck to see if there are more stones in the way, for I want to get more of the honey. So I understand it is with our trials, which often seem hard and as improbable of yielding results to our liking as a stone to yield honey. But if we will "hearken unto the Lord" we will find such sweetness, such joy, such peace, such blessing in these hard experiences, that we will really find ourselves looking for more of them. O, let us hearken to the Lord.

The presence of another person in a home may make a great change in the conditions there. Picture a dilapidated shanty in which lives Mrs. Easy. The little hut is about as uninviting in appearance as could well be imagined, both inside and outside. The steps are tumbling down, window lights have been broken out and old hats and pieces of clothing have been stuffed into the openings; some have boards nailed over them to cover the hole; there is no sign that paint has ever graced the house; shingles are missing in spots on the roof. Inside conditions are equally as bad. Several dirty children are seeking to amuse themselves with several cats and a dog, while Mrs. Easy graces a chair which was once a rocker, unconcernedly reading a novel while the baby cries loudly. Everything is untidiness and filth. Suppose you have tried to teach Mrs. Easy better ways, but while she improved for a day or two at a time there has been no permanent change. Mr. Able, who is a noble, cultured gentlemen, decides to move into the home with Mrs. Easy's consent. At once a marvelous transformation begins. The front door is opened and piles of rubbish, broken chairs, worthless clothing and the like appear in the yard. The clothing and boards are removed from the windows, and as the light comes in the poor woman is almost overcome herself to see the awful condition of her home. Quickly the renovating is accomplished on the inside, and operations extend to the outside. The yard is cleaned up, chimney pointed, shingles replaced, the steps put in good condition, the windows are glazed, the house is painted, and it does not take the neighbors long to discover that some new presence, some new control is under that roof.

So if we open the gates and give the Lord unlimited sway in our hearts we are made to feel very keenly the truth of Jeremiah's words when he says, "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it." Like Job we feel, "I have heard of the Lord by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Him, and I abhor myself." As we permit the presence of the Lord to penetrate all of the recesses of our hearts we do indeed feel our utter helplessness, and we are led to cry out, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." While our picture may seem strong, each is at liberty to modify it as he or she sees it will best fit their individual experience. What we wish to impress is the principle that the presence of the Lord filling our heart is the absolutely essential thing if the victory is to be ours.

The principle is well illustrated in the matter of light and darkness. We might spend a great deal of energy endeavoring to chase the darkness from a room, and finally find all of our efforts had proved futile. The pressing of the electric button lets the light in, and the darkness makes its exit without any trouble on our part. This seems to be the apostle's thought when in Eph. 3:14 he prays, "I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." He bows, in intense earnestness, for he is going to ask for something important. He proceeds, "that He would grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with MIGHT, BY HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN." He recognizes God as being vastly wealthy in ability to bless, and he is going to ask, not for small blessings, but for such great blessings as such a glorious God would be abundantly able to bestow; such blessings as would be appropriate for one so great to give. The special desire, is however, that God would strengthen with MIGHT. That means real power to perform. He continues by asking that these Ephesians

might be "filled with all the fulness of God."

This seems to be freighted with a deep significance. If we are filled with the FULNESS OF GOD, is not that presence sufficient to enable us to be victors. Do we really believe this is possible to us? Again let us cry out, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief." The apostle recognized that it would be hard for any of us to believe that God could be willing to give us as much as He has said, and in this vein he continues in the 20th verse. "Now, unto Him who is able to do a little bit for you, but not quite so much as you would think." I suppose you are all familiar with that, are you not? You seem perplexed; perhaps I read it wrong. I will read again. "Now unto Him that is able to do abundantly for you, but NOT QUITE SO MUCH AS YOU WOULD THINK." Is that right? No, that is far from being strong enough. Now notice carefully while I read it right. "Now unto Him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY—ABOVE all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." O, how slow we are to believe. When we think we have asked for large blessings the Father will be still saying, "How much more I would like to give them, if only they could understand my willingness and exercise the faith. But as the closing thought of the verse suggests, the degree of the blessing will be proportionate to the "power that worketh in us." To the extent that we let this King of Glory, strong and mighty in battle, have sway in our hearts, will be our power to gain the victory.

Oh, that we might all more fully comprehend how this power of God may be enlisted for our assistance. Jesus said, "Consider the lilies." We are to think of how God's power is manifest in the inanimate things, and this will strengthen our faith to believe that He can do far more in animate, intelligent beings, if they will but yield to His control. We do well to consider the marvelous beauty of the flowers which we see here in such profusion. Surely, then, God can make us beautiful too, if we will but permit Him to transform us. Think of how the millions of flakes of snow descend from the skies (perhaps not here but in sections where snow falls) and some of us have, perhaps, examined these flakes under a glass. There are more than one hundred different kinds of flakes, and their formation is surely wonderfully intricate and beautiful. Yet God is making these by the millions as they come down through space, by simply causing some law that is known to Him to operate upon the falling water. Does it not make us feel like casting ourselves before the Lord in great humility, yet with an unwavering faith in His ability and willingness, and asking Him to use some of this beautifying power upon us? Does it not make us feel like earnestly entreating the Lord that He may disclose to us any last suggestions of a remaining gate preventing Him from fully making our heart a laboratory in which He may design and work out the beauties which He only could create in us?

As an example of how God can work on human minds we remind ourselves of how He put into the mind of Daniel the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, together with the interpretation. At the time of the confusion of tongues, in connection with the building of the Tower of Babel, God caused many individuals to receive into their minds an entire language at once. These were not even God's servants. The same principle was exemplified when the apostles were made to speak with other tongues on the day of Pentecost. Should we still think our minds to be incapable of receiving such stimulus from the power of God we cite the instance when Baalam's ass was made to speak.

Surely this should give us faith, if we have doubted hitherto. The kind of beauty which we desire is that which we see exhibited so grandly by Paul and Silas when, as recorded in Acts 16, they sung praises to God in the night, with their backs dripping with blood from the lashes received. Truly they had opened the gates, and it was the King of Glory dwelling in them that made this glorious demonstration possible. They were strong in the power of HIS MIGHT. God is no respecter of persons. Why may we not enjoy the assistance of His power in the same degree?

The Saviour said, "Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." Is your joy full? Ye have not because ye ask not, James tells us. "If we ask anything according to His will He heareth us; and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." He would delight to impart to us more richly, I feel sure. His Father heart would take deep pleasure in bestowing upon His own children more richly of His grace. To be sure we must ask according to His will, and only with the desire of becoming more like Him, that we may the better glorify one who is so adorable. We must not, in our petitions, be like the little four year old girl who was saying her prayer at night, and her older brother tickled the little feet which showed beneath the night-robe. She wiggled and squirmed, but brother was persistent. Then she said, "Please 'scuse me Lord, while I swat Jimmic." Perhaps some people pray in that way. They would like the Lord to work out a grand character in them, but first they want to "swat" somebody, in a figurative sense. I am sure we can readily see that such prayers would not avail. Rather our attitude should be that of the Psalmist, "Search me O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts, and lead me in the way everlasting." If thus we open wide the gates, and keep them open, the king of glory will work wonders in us.

In conclusion let us impress that it is important to take time upon these matters if we would reap the maximum of blessing. If one who is seeking to become master of the piano were to hurry from his room in the morning and say, "Well I am late this morning, "and standing at the piano would hurriedly brush over the keys a little; If at night he spent the evening at the band concert and came home too late to take more than five minutes at the piano, and the same program with slight variations was repeated day after day, he could scarecly be expected to develop the ability that would enable him to have the sweet music ripple from his finger tips, to the enthrallment of his hearers. Even so, if we would learn how to execute the delightful harmony of God's law in our lives; if we would learn how to blend and render sweetly the characteristics of our Father, to the soothing and blessing of our fellows; if we would learn to express the divine glory upon these feeble instruments, even in a limited degree, we must spend much time with our Great Instructor. This skill is not a thing that can be attained at odd moments when there is nothing to do. It must be of such value in our estimation that it will have first place in our consideration, and in our plans. When Israel of old had carried out God's instructions with respect to the Tabernacle, God's glory filled it. Let us carry out our Father's instructions; let us "hearken unto His words; let us fling wide the gates of our hearts to Him, and the King of Glory, the one who can make our hearts a glorious place, will come in and more fully occupy.

Discourse by Bro. Benjamin H. Barton. Subject: "CONSECRATED THINKING."

S we expect to hear a message tonight from Brother Russell that will have to do with the great plan of salvation, we felt this afternoon it would be appropriate to take as our subject something real practical, so we have chosen our text, Phil. 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things

are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things." We have chosen as our topic, "Consecrated Thinking."

Very often you will hear people remark, "O, a thought isn't very much. It would be a terrible thing if we did anything real bad, but just a little thought—what does that amount to?" But this afternoon we will try to magnify, or exalt, the power of a little thought. We are going to show that the little thought is more important than the word you

speak, or the act you perform, so much so that the place you will have in the kingdom will depend on the thoughts you think. We want you to recognize that the ease with which you will gain the victory will depend upon the thoughts you think. Whether you have a place in the little flock or the great company is merely a matter of the thoughts you think. The possibility of your being ultimately lost will depend on the thoughts you think.

We find this matter of thought so important, because thoughts are the beginning of all things. This whole universe began with a thought. Some time, away back in the distant ages of the past, we know not whether a million years ago, or many times a million years ago, our God had a thought of creating a universe. That thought led to the out-working of His great plan; that thought led to the bringing of the sun, and moon and stars into existence; that thought finally resulted in the creation of this earth, and the whole universe. It all grew out of that little thought.

This building started with a thought; somebody, some time, thought of putting a building here.

That thought led to further consideration of the matter; it led to the making of plans and specifications; it led to the making of contracts, and finally this building stood here; it grew out of a thought someone had in the past. So we see that thoughts are very important, because everything starts with a thought.

We might say that thoughts are seeds which are planted to make things grow. In a sense each person is like a farm; you are a little farm and I am a little farm. We are growing a crop on our farm, and that crop we call character. That is the reason Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, "Ye are God's husbandry." The real thought is,

"you are God's farm." We are all farms, and we have a crop growing on our farm. As with natural farms, there is great diversity. You sometimes come to a farm where everything looks very nice. The rows of corn look so prosperous, everything is green and thriving, everything indicates thorough cultivation--it is real refreshing to see a farm like that. Then we may see another farm where the rows are crooked, the crops do not look well, but are overgrown with weeds, there is a general lack of cultivation, the fences are down, everywhere there is evidence of neglect, and it is all in striking contrast to the other farm. It is so with the individual. One has a character like a nicely cultivated farm. You can see patience, and love, and zeal, and godliness, and earnestness, and other grand qualities growing in his character. You meet another man whose character is like the farm overgrown with weeds. In such character we see growing the envy, the jealousy, the malice, strife, and all kinds of evil fruitage.

We understand that just as seed had to be planted to raise a crop on that farm, so thought is required to develop the character we desire. We must be very careful of one thing. While we are going to show the importance of a little thought this afternoon, yet at the same time we want to be careful not to go to the extreme that our Christian Science friends do, and make thought everything. We are not going to put thought on the throne and worship it. Rather, we will continue to worship God, the great Being who reigns above us.

We understand that just as a farmer plants seed to raise crops, so something was needed to raise or grow a character. We believe that the little seed which the farmer plants corresponds with the little thought which we plant.

The seed is a very little thing, yet it produces a large plant. So a thought is a very little thing, yet how much will grow from it. We find the idea expressed in the Bible that the seeds we plant are the thoughts we think. The Apostle Paul refers to this when he says, in Galatians 6:7, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting." When the apostle referred to sowing, he referred to thoughts. The same apostle says again, "I have sown, Apollos watered, and God gave the increase." Here again he referred to thoughts.

We find the same thing brought to our attention in the parable of our Redeemer. He told of a sower who went forth to sow. Thoughts were the seed. Some fell by the wayside, some fell upon stony ground, some fell among thorns, and some fell on good ground. Then He explained what the seed was. He said the good seed was the Word of God. In another parable He put it somewhat differently, saying that the "good seed are the children of the kingdom." You may say this contradicts what you told us; Jesus said the seed was the Word of God. Yes, and what is the Word of God? It is simply a collection of thoughts which God has put in book form for our advantage and help. A man writes a book. He has certain thoughts, and he wants to get them planted in the minds of other people, and he publishes them in a book. The Word of God is simply a statement of God's thoughts. We read there what God thought respecting sin; what He thought about the angels; what He thought about Jesus; what He thought about the resurrection; what He thought about the wicked. As we go to the Bible, we find it full of divine, inspired thoughts. Thus our Bible is different from other books—others record the thoughts of men, whereas the Bible gives us God's thoughts. This is shown in Isaiah 55, where' the prophet says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my * thoughts higher than your thoughts." We need to plant more of these thoughts in our hearts and minds, that they may spring up and bear fruit to the glory of God.

This is what Paul meant in the passage we read awhile ago, "I have sown, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." He meant, I came among you and planted certain thoughts in your minds which you never had before. Apollos watered those thoughts, and God finally will bring these to fruition. It is the same as expressed by Paul when he says, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." He meant, whatsoever he thinketh, that shall he reap. You may say, "I never thought of it that way. We thought 'whatever a man soweth' meant whatever he does he will reap accordingly; it will depend on how he lived, how he spent his money, how he spent his time—this will determine what he will reap." Think of this a moment. Why do you spend your money as you do? You begin by thinking, and your thoughts lead you to act that way. Why do you go where you do go? Because you think of it, and your thoughts lead you to go that way. Why do you live as you do? You think about it, and you prefer to live that way. Why did you say those bitter words about that man? Because you had been thinking bitter thoughts. Everything starts with a thought. Sowing the seed is not spending the money, but thinking the thoughts that result in the spending of it. Sowing the seed is not the saying of the bitter word, but thinking the thought that led to saying the bitter word. So we recognize that sowing has reference to thinking the thoughts—the seeds are the thoughts.

We know there are two kinds of seeds. There are good seeds and bad seeds. There are seeds that produce things helpful, like the grain and flowers, and there are other seeds that produce injurious, hurtful plants, such as thistles and weeds. As there are two kinds of seeds, so there are two kinds of thoughts. There are good thoughts and bad thoughts, helpful thoughts and evil thoughts. As the good seeds produce grain and flowers, correspondingly good thoughts produce patience, godliness, humility, gentleness, meekness and faith. The bad seeds which produce weeds correspond to bad thoughts which produce jealousy, malice, hatred, envy, strife, ungodliness, and all sorts of evil things.

There is another thing about the two kinds of seed. When you plant a good seed, it requires so much attention. You cannot plant a good seed and just let it go. After you

have planted a good seed, it requires cultivation, and fertilizing, and careful attention or it will not amount to anything.

That is the way with good thoughts. It will not do to stick some good thought into a corner of your mind, and expect that it will grow. We must work over it, we must cultivate it, and water it, and give it attention if we expect it to grow. Just as it was so easy to plant that flower seed, and then let it die, so it is easy to think a good thought, and then let it die. It is different with bad seed that produce weeds. You do not have to work over them; you need not labor to make them grow. You can stick them in any corner of the garden and they will be pretty sure to grow. So with bad thoughts. You do not have to struggle with bad thoughts to have them grow. Stick them in any corner of your mind and they will be pretty sure to grow. The great trouble will be to keep them from growing. The work of the successful farmer or gardener is to make the good seed grow, and to discourage the bad seed from growing. So the work of the Christian is to encourage the good thoughts to grow, and to discourage the bad thoughts so they will not grow.

There is another important thought here. Seeds produce more seeds like themselves. The plant grows, and if you allow it to continue far enough, by and by that plant will go to seed, and you will have more seed of like kind to the first. If in the corner of your lawn there is a little dandelion plant, and you do not pluck it up, by and by that dandelion plant will go to seed. What kind of seed will it produce—grass seed, and thus make your lawn look nicer than ever? No, if you do not look out, you will soon not have a lawn, but only a dandelion patch. So if you plant a good thought, and you encourage, water, and cultivate that good thought, it will grow and produce a prolific harvest of good thoughts. On the other hand, if you plant a bad thought, that will by and by go to seed and you will have an abundant reaping of bad thoughts. So we can see how necessary it is that the Christian start with right thoughts, for so much will grow out of his thoughts.

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