The Watchtower, September 15, 1908

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SEMI-MONTHLY.

VOL. XXIX. SEPTEMBER 15 No. 18

A.D. 1908--A.M. 6036

CONTENTS.

Halifax Convention Excursion......................274

"Pay Thy Vows Unto the Lord"......................274

The Put-in-Bay Convention.........................275

Brief Reports of Twenty-Six Discourses by

Various Pilgrim Brethren....................276

Group Portrait of About 2500..................280

HALIFAX CONVENTION EXCURSION

OCTOBER 15-18

Arrangements are being made with the Dominion Atlantic Steamship Line for a special return rate from Boston on account of the Halifax Convention. The boat will leave Long Wharf, Boston, at 1 p.m., Tuesday, October 13th. The round-trip rate will be about $10. For friends going by rail the Certificate Excursion has been arranged. Ask for "Certificate" for Watch Tower Convention.

PAY THY VOWS UNTO THE LORD

A vow is a solemn promise, either to God or men. See any dictionary. It should not be followed by an oath, for the Christian's Yea should be Yea and his Nay should be Nay--as binding as though sworn to. Our Lord's words might be otherwise rendered, Let your avowal be a sufficient avowal and your disavowal a sufficient disavowal.

Our "Consecration Vow"--our "Baptismal Vow"--if a proper one--was all-comprehensive. It included the sacrifice of all that we possessed or ever would acquire. That all has continued to increase as the eyes of our understanding opened, and those who would "draw back" from the obligations of further light would thereby prove themselves not "more than conquerors." Those of us whose eyes of understanding discern the expediency of the Vow lately proposed in the TOWER, in taking it have certainly acted up to our original Consecration Vow. In it we promised that our human wills would be dead and that we would do everything in our power to assist ourselves and others in the "narrow way."

The few brethren who have expressed to us opposition to the Vow have all been married men, one of whom opposed merely the last clause, and intimated his pleasure in giving the "holy kiss" to sisters. We remind such as are living in wedlock that this matter is already covered by their "Marriage Vow," and besides that the Apostle referred to the "holy kiss" as being the Eastern custom of males kissing males. However, we do not claim that a kiss is sinful, but merely one of the things "not expedient" for us now.

In the past we have opposed "Clerical Vows" and "Church Vows." And these we still oppose: they are vows to men and constitute a bondage, a slavery very injurious. We have never opposed vows to the Lord; on the contrary, these we have urged and still urge. Our "Consecration Vow," all comprehensive from the first, should be kept alive daily and should be enlarged daily, to cover new features of duty or privilege, as we come to see them.

The Scriptures declare that it would be better that we should make no vow at all than that we should vow to the Lord and then break the Vow. (`Eccl. 5:5`.) Our Lord emphasized the same lesson. (`Luke 14:28-34`.) It is in harmony with this that we oppose so-called "Revival" methods and urge all to first "sit down and count the cost" before making the Consecration Vow--the Baptismal Vow. So now we are urging this further perception of the meaning of our Consecration Vow and the strength that will come to us all and to the cause by fully accepting it; and thus binding our sacrifices the more firmly to the altar on which they already are. To those who do see the Vow it is but a part of the original vow which MUST BE PAID. To those who do not so see we offer no condemnation. Each one is responsible to his own Master.

Nevertheless we have a warning to give: Do not oppose the Vow. Use your own liberty in the matter and let others use theirs. If it is of the Lord, as we believe, none can overthrow it and whosoever opposes it will do himself injury. If in your judgment no "evil day," no "hour of temptation," no "strange work," no "strong delusion" is impending, you should be wise enough and kind enough not to oppose those who do so believe and who are getting ready for the same. Remember the Lord's words on this subject, "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." (`Acts 13:41`.) "Now, therefore, be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong." (`Isa. 28:22`.) Those who once take a stand of opposition will have all the more to overcome; pride not fully dead will assert itself and blind them. Hence our urgent appeal: If you do not take the Vow at least do not set either your heart or your tongue against it or against those who have taken it. And, contrariwise, we admonish those who take the Vow to do so in humility, not boastfully; and that they refrain from casting any reflection upon those who do not take the Vow. Time will tell whether or not we are foolishly careful about our words, our thoughts, our avoidance of Occultism, Spiritism, etc., and in our particularity of conduct toward the opposite sex. Already many report rich added blessing through the making and keeping of the Vow. Have patience with those who make slower progress and let your advantage be manifested.

1909--MOTTO CARDS--1909

We have placed an order for 1909 Motto Cards. Some will have a calendar attached, others instead will have attached "the Vow" and an alphabetical list of names of those who have reported to us that they have taken the Vow. If your name is to appear it must reach us soon. We have ordered about twice as many with the Vow as without it, believing that your orders will be in such proportion.

Should any write us that they are still faithful to their "Baptismal Vow" to be "dead with Him," but that they are opposed to this Vow as not being a part of it, we will be pleased to add a separate list of all such opponents.

PUT-IN-BAY CONVENTION REPORT

OUR Put-in-Bay Convention is a thing of the past, though its sweet memories, we doubt not, will be with us to eternity. It was not only the greatest convention ever held under the auspices of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, but in some respects it was one of the most remarkable gatherings of Christian people in modern times. The attendance was variously estimated at from 3,000 to 4,800, probably 3,500 would be a safe estimate. With so many meetings on the programme and some of the visitors very weary from travel and under mental strain, it is safe to suppose that one-seventh of the whole might have been missing from any one service; and it is estimated that 2,500 were present on several occasions.

It was a grandly inspiring congregation, because the faces were not only intelligent, but lighted up with a spirit of Christian love. It was a peculiar gathering in that it represented no sect or party, but professed the Bible creed alone. It was a peculiar audience further in that nearly all were consecrated people in the fullest sense of that term; it was peculiar in that so vast a company of Christian people were thorough believers in redemption through the precious blood of Christ, and disbelievers in the now popular but unscriptural Evolution Doctrine. The Pacific Coast from Washington to California, the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida, and all the States intermediate were well represented. The convention cost to those who attended it approximately $100,000. Each paid his own way, except in some noble instances, where the poorer friends were assisted. For instance, the Chicago Church voluntarily donated $1,500, and in so doing permitted the blessing of this convention to reach some of the dear friends who would not otherwise have enjoyed it.

It can surely be said that this was the best of all the Society's conventions thus far held, and not merely the largest. The spirit of the convention was the spirit of brotherly love, which found abundant expression, not only in the meetings, but also in the social gatherings and dining halls. The dear friends had come for a blessing, and it was only what we expected--that the Lord fulfilled his gracious promises in granting us refreshment. Our cups of joy ran over, time and again. Our hearts were enlarged. Our capacity for spiritual joy was increased, and we came time and again to the Father's table and partook of the refreshments, giving thanks in Jesus' name.

The place was in many respects ideal for such a convention --spacious, beautiful, quiet. The great hotel at which we made our headquarters accommodated about 2,400, while smaller hotels and cottages housed and fed the remainder. Naturally the crowd overtaxed the preparations and some of the dear friends were crowded more than we would have preferred. Nevertheless even the hotel people were astonished at the patience and kindly forbearance exhibited. In the congested condition, instead of murmuring, some of the dear friends assisted in waiting at the tables. Others helped by making up their own beds. Altogether the determination seemed to be a fixed one--that we had come together for a spiritual rest, a spiritual feast, and that nothing should hinder us from obtaining; and we got it according to the Lord's promises. Lessons learned in the matter of providing hotel accommodations will doubtless prove helpful to us, should

we ever again attempt so large a convention, either at the same place or elsewhere.

So important an event seemed to us to justify the devoting of one entire issue of our journal to a report of it. This we have done in a manner which, we trust, will be acceptable to all of our readers. We have not attempted to give a full report of any of the discourses, but divided equally the space at our disposal, giving a synopsis of each discourse.

OPENING THE CONVENTION

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH

Brother J. F. Rutherford, chairman of the convention, presided. After the opening hymn and prayer he made the address of welcome, which we report as follows:

"Dear Brethren in the Lord--We are glad to welcome you in the name of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society to this the greatest convention of the Lord's people that has yet been held, or that may be held, this side of the vail. We rejoice to come here, for some of the Lord's people have been looking forward to this day, believing that a great blessing is to flow out to his dear ones during the next ten days. We come here, dear friends, with the purpose of building one another up in the most holy Faith, and of giving thanks for what the Lord has done for all of us."

The chairman made apt application of the statement of the Prophet that the Lord's praises should be declared in the "island." It was suggested that this convention, being held on an island, in the midst of the turbulent sea, symbolized the condition of heart of those who amid the distressed condition of society still had their confidence resting in the Lord; that the Lord's people are the stable ones in society now. It was also considered suggestive that so many of the dear friends were gathered together from various quarters, practically under one roof, and the name of the building "Victory." This was declared to be expressive of the common sentiment entertained by all of the Lord's people--Victory! The brother further said:

"Dear friends, we all desire the victory; we all desire to be victors, yea, more than conquerors." It was suggested further that this island in the midst of the beautiful seas was named "Put-in-Bay," which presented a further picture to the mind. A bay is a haven of rest from the storms that beat upon the sea. The brother very fervently urged that all of the dear friends have their hearts overflowing with the spirit of love; love for God supreme, love for the brethren, love for truth and righteousness and sympathetic love for the poor, groaning creation, now in darkness, waiting for the manifestation of the glorified sons of God.

The chairman made it plain that every one who is a believer in the atoning blood of Christ would be made heartily welcome. Especially did he welcome the Colporteurs, likening them to the brave warriors of Balaklava, as they

pass onward in their campaign against the stronghold of error, heeding not the undesirable circumstances and conditions with which they continually come in contact; heeding only the command of their King to be faithful unto death.

Also the others specially engaged in the harvest work were very cordially welcomed--the volunteers and the pilgrims. The brother further stated that he felt sure that the hearts of all were united in love and appreciation for him whom God had so highly honored as to place in a position where he would be privileged to bring the precious truths of the harvest period to the attention of so many who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness.

Each one of the dear friends was exhorted to bear in mind the nobility of his calling, and to conduct himself with appropriate dignity. The friends were given the comforting thought that even though the Adversary was in close proximity on the island they were absolutely invulnerable as long as they kept close to the Master and had his Spirit, banishing thoughts of hatred or fault-finding.

BROTHER RUSSELL'S SALUTATION

After Brother Rutherford's address a hymn was sung, "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love," in the midst of which Brother Russell ascended the platform. He was greeted with the Chautauqua salute, the waving of handkerchiefs, and he returned the same, waving his own to the enthusiastic gathering. On being introduced by the chairman he said:

"I am here on this occasion to offer you salutation. I salute you in the name of our great heavenly Father, in the name of our great Redeemer and Lord, and in the name of all the dear brethren and sisters who are interested in ZION'S WATCH TOWER and the truths which it continues to present to the best of its ability."

The brother continued to state that he considered it a blessing indeed to have the privilege of greeting so many, of whom he supposed a large proportion were fully consecrated to the Lord. He expressed himself as thinking it a most wonderful thing indeed that so many had laid their all upon the altar for sacrifice, for most of the Lord's people, no doubt, had found by experience, by actual inquiry among their acquaintances and friends, that very few would be willing to say that they had made a full, complete consecration to the Lord, and while this was saddening to the heart, yet it demonstrated the truth of the Lord's own statement, that the "elect" class would constitute only a "little flock."

He stated that it was not an uncommon thing for audiences of that size to be convened, but that it was a very uncommon thing to see an audience of that size composed of individuals, most of them not wealthy in this world's goods, who were attending for their own personal edification and not as paid delegates from large and wealthy congregations.

He expressed gratification that the dear friends had come together for personal benefit, and felt sure that they could not have come with a desire to shine before the world, for nothing connected with the truth had that tendency. Rather, as the Apostle says, "We are counted fools." But this is merely the estimation of the world, which estimation is foolishness in God's sight. We have taken God's side and this is the foundation of our confidence and of our rejoicing.

The brother stated that this was the only meeting in the whole world, so far as he knew, composed of so many whose hearts, as well as heads, were so thoroughly convinced in harmony with the Bible. While they were free from error and superstition, nevertheless they had come into a most abject bondage, bond-slaves of the Lord. On the one hand free, on the other hand bound; bounden by their minds and by their hearts; bound by love--"Blest be the tie that binds"--bound in that after their acceptance they are not permitted to do a single thing out of harmony with his will; that only upon these conditions is a man permitted to be the servant of the Lord. The speaker urged that they let nothing come between them and this spirit of service--

"Oh, let no earth-born cloud arise

To hide thee from thy servant's eyes."

We are not bound for a day or a week or a month, but to the end of our journey, until we die. "Be thou faithful unto death," is the divine condition imposed for the obtaining of the crown of life. It is a full surrender to all eternity. He made the statement that it was no doubt true that those who had been in this condition of bondage for ten years had more joy, more rest in the Lord, than those who had been in that condition for only one year; that as our experiences increased, our blessings increased, from grace to grace, from glory to glory, in our hearts now, in our whole being now; and that by and by there would be the attainment of the glory that God hath in reservation for those that love him.

The brother closed by exhorting the dear friends to be faithful, to keep their eyes on the final and glorious hopes and promises, on the grand consummation of our hopes, that we might be permitted to share in "the resurrection of the dead," and that each is assured of a share in the glory upon condition that he continue to share in the sufferings of this present time.

The remainder of the afternoon was spent in prayer, praise and testimony and proved to be a very interesting and profitable service.

After supper the friends mingled in sweet Christian fellowship in the spacious halls and parlors of Hotel Victory. In the immense parlors, offices, corridors and verandas the friends had full possession, and if any went away unblessed, unrefreshed, uncomforted, unstrengthened, we surely believe that it must have been for some cause of his own.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30TH

For more than an hour in advance of the programme announcement the friends gathered in the vast auditorium. A praise and prayer service prepared for a discourse from Brother John Harrison, which we briefly report below:

DISCOURSE BY BROTHER JOHN HARRISON

"My dear friends, I esteem it a great honor as well as privilege to be permitted to greet you in the first service this morning. We come to you this morning with a message recorded in `2 Tim. 4:6-8`, 'I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give

me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.' These words form a part of the last charge of the great Apostle to the Gentiles to his son Timothy. They form a climax to one of the greatest lives recorded in the annals of men. The Apostle Paul had but one superior, and that was our Lord Jesus Christ. 'Seeing the time is at hand, I am ready to depart.' We look at this character and are amazed that he ever could attain thereto. Paul had his fight. He had his hour of trial, moments of despair. His was a rough pathway. And the Apostle was almost overcome in the conflict. We are not surprised that the Lord let Christ set his heart upon him. He told Paul that he should suffer much for him. Paul was a man of no mean parts. He could boast of Roman citizenship and that he had been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel. He was a man full of wisdom, of zeal, of understanding, and he was zealous in persecuting the Christians, thinking that he did God service. The name of Saul of Tarsus is the only name recorded in the description of the death of Stephen. He it was who held the garments of those who crushed out the life of the martyr. Thus was Paul when he was taken captive by our Lord Jesus Christ. Blindness was his portion until mercy spoke and the scales dropped from his eyes. The foes were indeed mighty that confronted this man (a defender of the cross of Calvary) when he entered the narrow way. His conquest of himself was a mighty one. He made a complete sweep of the things of the earth when he entered this race. He eliminated all the ambitions of this life, recognizing the fact that it was for Christ's sake. Not many men can measure to that altitude of character.

"Paul said, 'I am dead with Christ.' But then, just then, began the greatest conflict--to bring everything into subjection to the will of God. 'The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.' Such a change in Paul's condition of mind must have been attended by a marvelous grasp of faith in the man whom he had persecuted in his previous life. I speak the experiences of many when I say that we did not fall into this way easily. What a wonderful conflict of soul there must have been when Paul turned about and recognized the Christ, the Truth.

"I meet with different ones who say, 'I don't see how I can ever be an overcomer; how I can win the prize.' Let me ask you, who put you into the race? God did. Our

heavenly Father knows all about you. And the Lord understands the whole situation, just as he did for Paul. Let no one take your crown. It has been assigned to you.

"Paul was permitted to look into the future as well as retrospectively over the past. He was ready to say, no more conflicts, no more besetments, no more doubts. I am ready. We are in the last end of the age, whereas Paul stood in the first end of it. We stand in the last end of the Gospel Age and the first end of the Millennial Age. Paul said that there was a crown laid up for him, which the righteous Judge should give him in that day. We will receive it in this day. May our confidence become firmer, our rest in him become sweeter as the days go by."

DISCOURSE BY BROTHER M. L. McPHAIL

After another season of praise and prayer we heard from Brother M. L. McPhail on the subject of "Evil-Speaking and Judging." His text was:--

"'Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one law-giver, who is able to save and to destroy; who art thou that judgest another?'--`James 4:11,12`.

"He that speaketh evil of another speaketh evil of the law. What law? The law of honor, the royal law, the law of Love. The law of love says, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If a man love another as himself he will cover the faults of that one just as he would his own. If a man with the law of love, the love of God, in his heart hears something about others, is he to keep it to himself or to tell it to others? The Apostle Peter says that above all things we should have fervent love amongst ourselves. A man never makes himself great in making another less. We have a rule for everything in `Matt. 18:15-17`, 'If thy brother trespass against thee, go to him alone' about it. And if he hear thee, what then? Ah! then thou hast gained thy brother.

"Paul going to Damascus to persecute the Christians heard our Lord's voice saying, 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' If it was hard for Paul, so it is hard with every fault-finder. If thy brother trespass against thee go and tell him alone, and if he will not hear, take one or two others. If he will not hear them, take it to the congregation that they may restore him. The Bible tells me not to speak evil of anyone. The Lord will judge righteously. The judges of the earthly courts cannot judge righteously. Many a man has been hung for the crime of another. And many a man has gone free who would not have done so with righteous judgment. Our Lord will know who is to blame and who is not. Judge nothing before the time. If you want to get on that judgment-seat in the Millennial Age, my friends, you must keep down now, 'Who art thou that judgest another?' Before you judge, find the book and chapter and verse in the Bible which gives you the authority to judge. We should consider it well to look into ourselves and to attend to our own business, to our own consecration. If we do this, we shall not have time to see the faults of others. The Apostle Paul said, 'I keep my body under, lest after having preached to others, I myself become a castaway.'

"He who judges others lays the foundation for his own judgment. God will be just as loving and kind--and just as severe also--as we are to others. The Apostle James says that he who gives no mercy shall have judgment without mercy. God has no mercy for you if you have no mercy for others. 'With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.'

"Think for a moment of the words in the `15th Psalm`: 'Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle or who shall dwell in thy holy hill?' It is one thing getting in and another staying in. What is meant by taking up a reproach against a man's neighbor? To take up a reproach against a man's neighbor is to violate the law of love. So that if I hear anyone speaking against my sister or brother and do not oppose this I take up a reproach against him. We see then, dear friends, that a person is guilty if he listens to evil things. If we have the love of God in our hearts we will not believe anything against our brother until it is proved against him. But suppose a man tells us something about a brother high in the Truth. Should we not believe it? No! If an angel from heaven should tell it, do not believe it. If we have the love of God in our hearts we will not be against our brother unless he acknowledges the wrong. Love will cover a multitude of sins. When one is honored, all should rejoice. There is no envy in the true Body of Christ. Neither a back-biter nor one who listens to a back-biter will get into the Kingdom. In `I Peter 3:10` the Apostle says, 'For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.' Well, who does not love life and love the good days promised? If we want to get into the Kingdom, let us refrain from evil and speak no guile."

DISCOURSE BY BROTHER B. H. BARTON

The afternoon session opened at 2 o'clock with praise and prayer, after which Brother B. H. Barton was introduced. His subject was:--"Our Highest Motives."

Brother Barton stated that it was customary to take a text and then to preach from that text, but that this time he intended to reverse the usual order, to preach the sermon and then have the text at the end. He had a special reason for this--to avoid the prejudice of the minds of those in the audience; that oftentimes when the text was announced it sounded so familiar that the opportunity for drawing specially helpful thoughts from that text was almost gone.

The brother proceeding said that every individual member of the human race would spend eternity in one of four conditions. He cited `Gen. 2:10-14` as containing a suggestion of what these four classes would be. The river that went forth out of Eden, he said, might represent the human race, which also originated in Eden and which was brought forth to be the crowning blessing to the earth. From thence the river was divided into four heads, so the human race has gone out of Eden because of sin, and since it has left the garden it has been divided into four classes. The first river was named Pison, which compassed the land of Havilah, where there was much gold, and the gold of that land was good. How often in the Scriptures gold is used to symbolize the divine nature, the condition of the "little flock." The second division was Gihon, corresponding to the servants before the throne, the palm-bearers of Revelation, touching a symbolical Ethiopia, for that country was used to represent servitude. The third division was Hiddekel, flowing toward Assyria, the world, the restitution class. And the fourth was Euphrates, the river which was made dry by Cyrus, and concerning which we read that it shall be dried up, like those who go into the Second Death, as unworthy of a continuation of the moisture of hope.

The statement was emphasized that all must come under one of these divisions, and the query was given as to which of them would contain us. Some were represented as saying, "Oh, I would like to be of the company typified by the

river Pison, flowing where there is much gold; I would like to be of that special class which shall have the divine nature rather than be of the restitution class." "But why this desire? What would be the reason; what the motive?" It was suggested that the individual might even be deceived for a time and not understand his own mind in this matter, as to what the real foundation motive was. Some of the motives that have been entertained are these: "I want to be of that class because I want the very best there is; others can have the second best." Such, however, will not be of that company, for their motive is selfish, the same spirit which actuated them before meeting with the truth. These feel that they could not be satisfied with any other position, not knowing the glories in store for the restitution class, when even the words which compose our language will be materially changed. Others state their motive as being a desire to see the Lord, to see him face to face, to enjoy his communion and fellowship. Others desire to be of that class because they want to help the world, they say. But so carefully is the foe entrenched in us that this even may be a snare. It was suggested that our desire may be that we may do this work; not so much that the work might be done, but that we might do it. No! we must "glorify the Son."

BROTHER RUSSELL'S DISCOURSE

Another praise and prayer service rested and prepared the congregation for Brother Russell's discourse. Jesus said to his disciples, "Come ye yourselves aside into a desert place and rest for a while."

We do not report this discourse because so many of you as desire it already have a fuller report in various newspapers publishing these sermons every week. Clubbing rates can be secured by addressing the WATCH TOWER office.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31ST

In the two hours devoted to a praise, prayer and testimony meeting, the great congregation had an excellent opportunity

for communicating the one to the other respecting the Lord's providences in their behalf and in praise and petitions. The time was well improved and many hearts were made glad.

DISCOURSE BY BROTHER O. L. SULLIVAN

"'Be ye not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.' (`Rom. 12:21`.) This question confronts all of us. The Church must overcome evil now; the entire world must overcome evil in the next age. The Apostle tells us that the 'Adversary as a roaring lion seeks whom he may devour.' The experiences of these times are going to be terrible. So were the closing scenes of Christ's life terrible. Do you esteem it a privilege to so suffer?" The speaker quoted repeatedly many forceful texts of Scripture throughout the entire discourse, going to the "Law and to the testimony" to prove all statements made by him.

"The whole question with us," he said, "as we think of our text, is one of faith. It is already real in God's sight. Everything depends upon ourselves. There must be no schism in the Body of Christ. The Apostle says in `Rom. 12:4,5`, 'For as we have many members in one Body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one Body in Christ, and everyone members one of another.' We are now the family of God." At this point the speaker quoted the following Scriptures:--`Eph. 2:19-22`; `Rom. 8:29`; `Psa. 21:9`; `Eph. 5:15`.

"In the rules of consecration presented by the Apostle, we see that Love is the principal thing. The command of our Master is that we love one another. He shows us that we must hate evil and seek good. 'Be fervent in spirit.' Do not render railing for railing. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Love would not avenge itself. Instead of judging in an avenging spirit, this new mind will try to cover the fault. Again we say that everything rests upon faith. We see that Satan is now ruling; that Satan has caused all the sin and trouble; that God will destroy both sin and Satan; that God hath reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ. It requires faith to abide in this world and not be of it. We must have faith. A want of it is fatal. Evil can be rooted out, overcome, destroyed by good. God's methods are exact and simple and true. We are laboring together with God. His Word instructs us. Just restraints are placed upon the souls hoping to become joint-heirs in the Kingdom with our Lord." Again the speaker drew from the numerous Scriptures which he cited many helpful illustrations for the child of God.

"It is by prayer and fasting and supplication that we keep out of sympathy with the evil and in close touch with our Lord, until he turns loose upon us the holy Spirit. We cannot have the heart filled with two things at the same time. If we are filled with love there is no room left in our hearts for evil. (`2 Cor. 10:5`.) 'Casting down imaginations and bringing into captivity every thought to Christ Jesus.' There are two indispensable things for the Christian to do. He must study, study, study; and he must read, read, read. It does not require much to decide your chance. Love and trust the brethren if the heavens fall. You will be misunderstood, but God is for us. Keep with those who have the same mind that you have, the same hope, the same desires. What concord the Apostle advises! How can two walk together unless they are agreed? 'If ye do these things, ye shall never fail,' says the Apostle. By willingness to endure hardness the new mind must be polished and purified. Character must be established so that throughout all eternity there will be no deflection from the will of God.

"Three things are necessary for us--God's power and help, our own co-operation, and our consecration. God is for us, if we can only grasp it. The world calls us fools, but God's Word calls us wise virgins. God will energize these new minds and we must press forward until we shall achieve and accomplish the victory. Satan is directing all his forces against us, but our Lord overrules all these things to our good. They have a contrary effect. Satan means evil against us, and the flesh rebels and cries out for ease and pleasure."

DISCOURSE BY BROTHER GEORGE DRAPER

"Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid." Brother Draper's subject was, "The Ransom and the Philosophy of It." He took it for granted that most of those present recognized the necessity of comprehending the wonderful doctrine of the ransom. He realized with the rest that there are very few that believe in the doctrine of the ransom at the present time, simply because they have not comprehended that which is the foundation for all Christian faith. If it be not understood we lay ourselves open to all the wiles of the Adversary. He expressed his finding that a majority of the D.D.s seemed quite ready to lay it aside, without feeling very much concerned about the matter, declaring that there was no fall; that if man fell at all he fell upward. The speaker related having inquired of a learned doctor if he believed that "Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man." The answer was: "No, I do not believe any such foolishness as that. No one but backwoodsmen believe that any more." Brother Draper was grateful that he was still a backwoodsman; that he recognized that had Christ not died there could no real blessing come to the human race; if Christ did not die, then the Scriptures are a farce from beginning to end.

The speaker stated that in this time it is especially necessary to have a more clear understanding of the ransom from the standpoint of philosophy than it ever was at other times and ages because of the trying circumstances in which the Church finds herself. We understand that God had created man perfect, in his own image, that he fell into sin, into degradation, into shame, when he veered aside from the course of perfect obedience, and that the only hope for any restoration lies in the fact that a great price has been paid, even the death of our Redeemer.

The love of the heavenly Father was pointed out in having caused the earth to be cursed and in arranging all of the circumstances in the most helpful way possible. How kind of him to make the sentence a death sentence lest wickedness abound even more than it has! When man was driven from the Garden of Eden it was necessary for him to begin to battle with the world in its imperfection, and hence he went down gradually into oblivion. The brother stated that according to the Scriptures there was just one little ray of hope found in the promise, "The Seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." On went the years, sixteen centuries, and yet no further revelation, wickedness becoming so rife that it was necessary to cleanse the face of the earth by the flood. Four hundred years more; then came the promise of a blessing through the Seed of Abraham, yet no intimation as to what that Seed should be. Then "the Law was added because of transgression."

It was clearly shown that the angels had failed in their attempt to lift the race to a righteous plane. The law had made nothing perfect, because an imperfect man could not keep a perfect law. Then in the fulness of time God manifested his love in that he sent forth his son to die as a ransom for all, the just for the unjust. He actually died, actually took the sinner's place. Wherever the sinner was, there the Lord went. He was as dead as the vilest sinner.

It was impressed upon the hearers that it was this fact that made possible the promised blessing to all the families of the earth, as his death was the means which would be

used to relieve the death sentence, and usher in the glorious work of the Gospel and Millennial ages.

DISCOURSE BY BROTHER ISAAC HOSKINS

Brother Hoskins sought to impress upon the minds of the dear friends the foundations of the things that had caused their gathering together. The brother remarked that our faith in God is not only that God intends to be good, but that he is good; that our faith not only affects our hope for the future, but gives us a foretaste of it in the present time; that it takes hold of matters pertaining to the present, not only the hope that now is, but also that which is to come. He impressed all with the thought of the dignity of their calling and with the necessity for walking in accordance therewith, remembering that we are being prepared to have a share in all the glories and wealth of the heavenly condition.

The text was `Matt. 25:21`, "Well done, good and faithful servant." The special effort was to show what the divine approval signifies, and the value of it. Approval, he said, suggests the thought of having measured up to some standard, and that the standard with which the Lord's people are to measure is the standard of his Word, the standard of his own character, which is right and true and good. "Think of what the divine approval means," he said; "the approval of the mighty Maker of the Universe, the Self-Existing One." "The Lord, our God, is gracious in all his works. What does God want of you and me?" he queried. "We were able to judge of our present approval by the amount of joy which his promises inspire in us. Eternal life is God's favor, condemnation his disapproval, his disfavor. He endorses them because they are fully and completely in harmony with his

arrangement." Brother Hoskins produced the Scripture proof that the human race as a whole had been in God's disfavor for now six thousand years, caused by the transgression of and nonconformity to the perfect law of God, and that the Lord could not endorse them in this condition. Yet it was shown that the Word of God was full of loving arrangements which the Lord had in store for the race and that it was a source of joy to all rightminded people to realize that the Lord, because of the ransom sacrifice offered in the person of his only begotten Son, could eventually establish favor to all the people.

But how, it was asked, can we gain the divine approval now and prove ourselves worthy of God's eternal favor, eternal life? In the past God's favor was with Abraham, then with Isaac, then with Jacob, then with the whole Jewish nation in a special sense; but now the covenant entered into for the obtaining of favor is a special covenant, a covenant with God by sacrifice, first made acceptable by having received the merits of the ransom sacrifice, being justified by faith, legally at peace with God, meeting his approval thus far. But a fuller favor was granted by responding to the invitation extended to those thus justified to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to the Lord. But even after having done these things, what then? he asked. Can we win God's final approval, the "well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord"? As an answer this text was read, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." The dear friends were exhorted to continue to study to know the Lord and his will that they might conform themselves to his requirements, and their success depended upon the attitude with which they went about the matter; that "with God a meek and quiet spirit is of great price." He further urged that under the influence of the holy Spirit we should gradually attain a degree of actual righteousness, above that which we had when we entered into the justified state, and that thus cleansing ourselves of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit we would have the Lord's final approval, which is of inestimable value.

This closed the third day of our blessed convention so far as discourses on the Truth were concerned. In the evening the Pilgrim brethren had a spiritual fellowship meeting amongst themselves, while the concourse of people walked and talked and sang in nearly every part of the spacious building and on its lawns. We are well satisfied that the feature of social fellowship is an added blessing when rightly exercised. True, it can be made a fruitful source for evil amongst those under the domination of the world, the flesh and the Adversary--as an opportunity for scandal-mongering, evil-speaking, slander, etc. We praise the Lord, however, for the evidences we have that the spirit of a sound mind is coming more and more unto the Lord's people, and the conversations seemed to be confined to the glorious hopes by the way. On other occasions where these meetings have been held the special opportunity for fellowship was lost. It is this particular feature that has become helpful and comforting upon this occasion.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST

In harmony with the programme the day opened with a five-o'clock meeting. The original idea of having general testimony, praise and worship was not carried out, Brother Russell considering it an opportune time to deliver a little address, which is briefly given below. It was respecting the suggestive thought in the words of the Prophet, "Unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his beams."

The sun-rise service was an impressive one. At that early hour about 2,000 joined in praise and prayer most reverently, then listened with rapt attention to Brother Russell's address.

DISCOURSE BY BROTHER W. M. HERSEE

"This morning for a little while let us consider Paul's epistle to `Timothy, first chapter, fifth verse`: 'Now the End of the Commandment is Charity, Out of a Pure Heart, and of a Good Conscience, and of Faith Unfeigned.' Now the end of the command is love or charity which proceeds from a pure heart and from true faith and a good conscience. We find Paul, in addressing Titus, says also, 'Speak the things which mean sound doctrine.' 'My word, which goeth forth out of my mouth shall not return to me void.' The thought here is to show the incorruptness of the Word of Truth. Many Christians fail to rightly divide the Word.

"God is gathering from the Gentiles a people to bear the name of Christ; but the seed of the flesh is not the Seed of promise. The Church will be part of that Seed by resurrection from the dead. So it is along this line that the Apostle Paul is addressing Timothy. He admonishes him to rightly divide the Word of Truth, which was given by inspiration. Rightly dividing the Word of Truth we see that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. We read that 'By one man's disobedience' all were made sinners. By one man, Adam, death is reigning. And before God's justice could be appeased the price must be paid.

"The members of the Body of Christ should have the same care for each other that the Lord has for them. 'If one member suffer, all suffer with it; or, if one member be honored, all rejoice with it.' We also find the Apostle Paul instructing Timothy not to rebuke an Elder and to endure hardness; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. Finally, in his closing epistle, Paul tells Timothy that much of his work would go to him. Paul says that we must have true faith, and that we must have our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.

"'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.' God not only loves the Church, but the world. He showed his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Our Lord was at the mark of love at his consecration. He remained at this mark all through until he gave up his life. Remember Paul's words, 'Follow me, as I follow Christ.' He draws to our attention that those who are strong should bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves. It was for this reason that God placed in the midst of us some Apostles, some pastors. We need to have our minds girded about with the Word of Truth. The Lord's people who are in the narrow way must expect not only to appreciate justice, but also they must not look for justice from the world, who know it not. But they must be just and express love and compassion not only towards the brethren, but also to the world in general. There is only a little light shining here and there. And the light is with the Lord's people. Rejoice in your tribulations. It will increase your faith in the Lord. All will be made perfect through sufferings. These sufferings we ourselves are made partakers of. Let us more and more appreciate our privilege of suffering with Christ, that we get not discouraged. We realize that God is for us; and if God be for us, who can be against us? He that endures to the end shall be saved. He shall receive an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

DISCOURSE BY BROTHER A. E. WILLIAMSON

"He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me because he delighted in me."--`Ps. 19:19`.

This Psalm, it was declared, was written under very peculiar circumstances by the prophet David, after his deliverance from Saul. The conclusion was drawn that this utterance applied not only to David but to the David class, that class of persons which God has been selecting to be heirs of the Kingdom, even as David had been anointed to the position of king. The context was brought in to show that some of the experiences could not have referred to David as an individual and must therefore be understood to apply in a prophetic way to the great antitypical David.

The significance of the expressions that the Lord had used were brought forth. The bringing forth into a large place

was the first experience and the deliverance because of the Lord's delight, the second. The term, "large place," was represented as specially emphasizing the thought of freedom, release from the condition of bondage--the place of freedom, of rest, to which the Master referred in his gracious invitation: "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"; that condition of freedom was described as being a large, gracious, refreshing place. But the large place of the text evidently referred to more than merely justification by faith and the accompanying peace with God, the blessing described evidently included the advance grace of `Rom. 5:2`, "by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." That, he said, was the large place in which those who properly appreciate the opportunities of the present time were privileged to be, the place of God's peculiar favor. They had taken a step beyond mere justification. Yet it was by reason of the step of justification that they might take the step of consecration. When these gave themselves to the Lord the Lord gave them something--the hope of the glory of God. This, it was claimed, was not true of those who had been merely justified, for even perfect human beings could

not rejoice in the hope of divine glory, all they could hope for would be a restitution to the place once occupied by Father Adam in the Garden of Eden. But those who have presented themselves as living sacrifices have the hope of a heavenly inheritance because they have been begotten again to a hope of another life; seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Special stress was laid upon the deliverance feature of the text. This could not apply to us as individuals, could not apply to any only as they were members of the Body of Christ, that great class in which he could delight. The deliverance was accomplished in two ways; deliverance out of the vexations and deliverance in the distresses. Sometimes the troubles, the trials, and difficulties were removed. Sometimes the Lord increased his grace and gave the ability to stand the trials, deliverance out of which would mean the depriving of the refining fire. Deliverance from worry was one of the chief blessings of the present experiences, according to the Apostle's exhortation, "Be care-full for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God."

Our trials need to be analyzed, he said, in order to determine their cause and in order that we might pray for and expect deliverance accordingly. The trial may have been caused by transgression of the covenant and would of course bring chastisement. Then we may have transgressed some natural law and we should not expect the Lord to work unnecessary miracles for us. It may be suffering for righteousness sake. But if it is none of these three then we may conclude that it is specially permitted for our development of character, like Paul's thorn in the flesh.

DISCOURSE BY BROTHER A. E. BURGESS

"The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night."

"The Scriptures abound in symbols, making use of many articles and objects in every-day life to represent certain spiritual truths for those who are taught of God. Our heavenly Father is represented in the Scriptures as a 'sun'; as the Psalmist says, 'The Lord God is a Sun,' whose glorious perfection is beyond all power of description. Inasmuch as he is beyond all comparison of Wisdom, Justice, Love and Power, he is well represented in that glorious orb of day-- the Sun. The difference between the glory, power and majesty of Jehovah, as compared with that of the human race, is far greater than the difference between the glorious Sun and the grass under our feet.

"Jehovah, in his infinite love and wisdom, foreseeing the blighting effect his glorious perfection would have upon our race, has provided a shield in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, under whose protection those who desire may seek shelter. The length of God's wisdom provided everlasting life for all of his creatures who demonstrate their obedience to him. The breadth of God's justice, as represented in his divine law, is the full measure of a perfect man's ability. The depth of God's love was in providing Christ as a shield. The height of God's power was manifested in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, oblivion, to immortality.

"The light or knowledge received by the justified individual, if not used by him for the purpose intended, consecration, does not continue. He has failed to render his 'reasonable service.' Who were those of whom it was said that they should not be smitten? It was the class spoken of by the Prophet as having 'obtained a good report through faith.'

"How wise are God's provisions. The spiritual phase of the Kingdom, composed of Christ and the Church, possess the characteristic of the Sun with its light and heating power, quickening into life the dead race, while the earthly phase of the Kingdom, being in the midst of the people, as dew from the Lord, will modify and temper the glorious rays to the proper degree, so that they will not wither and blight those who are designed to receive the blessing. That this is necessary is manifest by the words of the Apostle saying concerning Jesus Christ that he will 'in his own times show who is that blessed and only potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see.'-- `I Tim. 6:15,16`.

"Thus with these two phases of the Kingdom of God, Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem, in operation the words of the Psalmist will be fulfilled, 'Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the North, the City of the Great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge.' (`Psalm 48:1-4`.) And then indeed will mankind be filled with joy and gladness and life and happiness and be enabled to sing the praises of the Lord, 'Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O, ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore, from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto our God who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dung-hill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.'"--`Psa. 113`.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND

This in the program was designated "Colporteur Day." It opened with prayer and praise service, and by 9:30 the spacious tent was filled to overflowing by the dear friends to hear Brother Russell's address to the

"HARVEST CO-LABORERS"

He said, "I address you as Harvest Co-Laborers because that will include nearly all of you--Pilgrims, Colporteurs, Sharpshooters, Volunteers. How wonderful it seems that the Lord has been pleased to associate us imperfect beings with his dear Son, the Chief Reaper, in this harvest time! How glad we all are that a place for each of us has been found in the work! The Lord and not man surely opened up the various avenues of harvest service--one and all so different from anything else in vogue to-day or at any time during the past. How wonderfully, too, the Lord has been blessing and prospering these various agencies is indicated by this immense gathering of Bible Students--not to mention the thousands whom we have left at home!

"We do not boast, however, dear friends. All they of 'this way' are few, and amongst them are not many great, wise or learned, as the Apostle implies. God has been pleased to pass by the innumerable company of angels who would have been glad to be associated in this work, and has given the opportunities to us. Let us appreciate them and let us show our appreciation by using them solemnly, cheerfully, joyfully, with all our mind and all our strength.

"I congratulate you also, dear friends, that although the quantity of tracts and booklets going forth from our office seems to be far exceeding those of our competitors, who are much better supplied with financial strength than we, our work, as you know, is carried on without appeals for money, while nearly all religious works make the money-getting feature extremely prominent. Thank the Lord for all of his blessings, mercies and privileges! Let us recognize his hand in the entire harvest work. Thus our faith, our love, our hope, will greatly increase.

"ZION'S WATCH TOWER is still joyfully a servant of the Church, visiting its members in all parts of the world twice a month. I congratulate you that in the Lord's providence, and with your co-operation, the subscription list is increasing, tho not so rapidly as we could wish. We have reluctantly dropped recently quite a good many because neither request nor subscription price came to hand, as required by the new postal rules.

"I remind you of the Pilgrim service, and the comfort and joy and blessing which it has brought to many of you, watering the seed of Truth and harrowing it. I remind you that there are certain recognized qualifications for this service --three in particular. (1) We inquire, Is the man consecrated? (2) Is he humble? (3) Has he ability? We look

for these three qualifications in the order stated. Consider the Lord's providence in respect to the selection of these Pilgrims, that while they are widely different in their general characteristics, they are all men of more than average ability. Their training has chiefly been in the school of Christ, and it still continues, we trust, and will do so. We have no theological mill from which to grind them out. We prefer that their individuality be preserved, and that thus the Church, by the Lord's providence, should have the larger variety of talent in this service. Evidently the Lord has had to do with their preparation for the work. While urging that these Pilgrims receive encouraging words from you, we counsel you to be wise in the matter--not to spoil them through flattery and laudations. Remember that the ability manifested in these is not so much their natural talent, but rather the ability of the Truth, which has a refreshing taste and strengthening power however humbly and brokenly presented.

"I remind you of the Colporteur work and its blessed opportunities. I suggest that each Colporteur, however humble

his talents, has greater opportunities in this quarter of the Harvest field than he would have if chosen to be the pastor of the leading congregation of the land. In the latter position he would reach but a part of one congregation; while going from door to door he leaves a number of sermons wherever he makes a sale--discourses which may preach to many for many years. For your encouragement, I note the fact that although this is known as the panic year, nevertheless, the sale of DAWN-STUDIES is thus far in excess of last year's work, and we doubt not will maintain the ascendency until the close of the year. We find indeed that the peculiar financial conditions of the country have had a sobering effect upon many and that in consequence proportionately larger numbers are willing to examine the Truth. Doubtless, too, many of the books that are now being placed in libraries throughout Christendom will be diligently sought for by the Great Company during the Time of Trouble. I remark also that we find that territory is good for reworking within two years after it has been finished, and that generally the latter canvass yields the better results. We urge that all who can, employ the glorious opportunities of this department of the harvest work.

"The Volunteer work seems to have been specially provided of the Lord for the help and development in courage of his dear flock. The numbers who engage annually in the distribution of this volunteer matter increases, and so far as our judgment goes, those most active in thus endeavoring to serve the Truth to others are amongst the most blessed. 'He that watereth shall himself be watered.'"--`Prov. 11:25`.

BROTHER A. P. STEWART'S FUNERAL

Brother Russell, in closing this address, informed the audience that he was called to St. Louis, Mo., to preach the funeral sermon of our beloved brother, Gen. A. P. Stewart, once of the Confederate army, and ranking Lieutenant-General in the same. The funeral address on that occasion, we believe, was published by several of the prominent newspapers. Brother Russell returned to the convention after an absence of two days.

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