The Watchtower, December 1, 1909

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SEMI-MONTHLY

VOL. XXX DECEMBER 1 No. 23

A.D. 1909--A.M. 6038

CONTENTS

Views from The Watch Tower........................355

Bishop Fallows Not a Spiritualist.............355

To Give Life to the Image.....................357

The Land of Abraham...........................358

Longing for Home..............................358

Evil Speaking and Hatred..........................359

Our Wedding Garments..............................360

Communion With Our Father (Poem)..................361

St. Paul on the Grace of Giving...................361

St. Paul's Last Words.............................362

Concerning Messiah's Mediatorship.................363

Pilgrim Bro. Harrison Gone Home...................365

Some Interesting Letters..........................365

Schedule of Bro. Russell's Dec. Tour..............367

Berean Studies on the Atonement...................367

PUBLISHED BY

WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY

CHARLES T. RUSSELL, PRESIDENT

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MOTTO CARDS FOR HOME EMBELLISHMENT

We have these in elegant designs--new and old. For convenience we assort them in $1.00 packages, postpaid. These prices are about one-half the usual rates. We put up five different dollar assortments and one 55c. packet-- the latter smaller and cheaper, but all nice. Order before the Christmas rush and delay.

Remember also the 1910 Motto Card, and the Sweet Brier Rose booklet mentioned in our last issue.

"DAILY HEAVENLY MANNA," ETC.

Do not forget that Christmas is the most favorable time for giving to your friends something expressive of your faith. The DAILY HEAVENLY MANNA and THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES, with many of our readers, head the list. For a children's booklet remember the "Wonderful Story of God's Love." See prices, etc., in our November 1 issue.

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VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER

BISHOP FALLOWS NOT A SPIRITUALIST

THE New York World publishes an interview with Bishop Fallows, of the Reformed Episcopal Church, as follows:--

"Telepathy is an established fact. In recent years great strides have been made in the explanation of psychic phenomena and in the years to come the science of communication with the dead will be made a part of the curriculum of great educational institutions. As its study becomes systematized and more widely spread greater advances will be made and some day we will talk with the spirits as we now talk with material persons.

"The Bishop made some startling statements in discussing the matter. He frankly states that he formerly fought shy of Spiritualism, and that he is just beginning to learn.

"'In the enlightened days to come,' said Dr. Fallows, 'we shall be able to converse with spirits of departed friends and relatives. Their state will be made known to us through these communications. They will be able to advise us on knotty problems.

"'There are great truths in Spiritualism. Many Spiritualistic phenomena we cannot understand, but we have to admit them. I have called the new science "Immortalism" because it depends for its existence upon the immortality of the soul, in which we all believe, and the preservation of identity beyond the grave. Immortalism is simply Spiritualism with all the fraud and trickery eliminated. On account of these frauds Spiritualism has been shunned by many right thinking people, but immortalism will claim their most earnest attention.'

"In support of his belief Bishop Fallows quoted from many eminent men who have expressed similar views."

Bishop Fallows will be recognized by many as one of the ministers who have recently been taking a great interest in Faith Healing clinics. We have already pointed out that to our understanding these cures are effected by hypnotic influences and that hypnotism is but another form of Spiritism. We believe that through this channel the fallen angels ("wicked spirits," `Eph. 6:12`) are seeking to break down the human will, and that the results, shortly, will be direful in the extreme, leading to spirit control and every evil work. It was only to be expected that sooner or later Bishop Fallows and his associates in "faith healing" would be drawn into co-operation with Spiritism and more or less outwardly acknowledge it. But it is with pity that we note Dr. Fallows' endorsement of the power and his denial of the name, as though the change of a name, the calling of it Immortalism instead of Spiritism, would effect any real change in its character.

Immortalism is really a more deceptive name than Spiritism, because it seems to imply the deathlessness of those who have died and to give the inference that it is the dead who do the communicating. Spiritism is the more correct name for the cult because, as the Scriptures show, these various manifestations come not from dead men, who "know not anything" (`Eccl. 9:5`), but from spirits--wicked spirits-- fallen spirits--"the angels which kept not their first estate" and who were restrained at the time of the flood.--`I Pet. 3:19`; `Jude 6`.

Poor Christendom! Boasting of its scientific attainments and learning and wisdom it is being led by its professors of colleges, its ministers and bishops, straight into the enemy's camp--into Spiritism--demonism. Within the next few years we expect wonderful developments along this line, for is not the entire nominal Church of Christ blindfold on this subject, and worse, mistaught, deceived into thinking that their friends are alive, whereas the Bible distinctly assures us that it is because the dead are not alive that they need "a resurrection of the dead" and that the Lord has provided therefor?

Meantime while expecting these traps and snares to stumble many who are not Bible students and taught of God, let us who do recognize them beware for ourselves lest we be entrapped in another way--through the subtle influences of the same great Adversary--inciting to anger, malice, envy, hatred, strife, evil-speaking, slander, etc. We believe special testings along these lines are now being permitted that those who have not faithfully used God's blessings for their establishment in faith and righteousness may stumble, may fall, may be tested by fiery trials along both these lines--faith and practice.

ENCOURAGING IMMIGRATION INTO PALESTINE

A bill has been introduced in the Turkish Parliament with a view of encouraging Jewish immigration into Palestine. It is proposed to do away with the so-called "red passports," which had hitherto been given to every Jew landing in Palestine as an assurance that he would not stay there more than three months. It is believed that such a bill will greatly facilitate Jewish settlement in Palestine and remove the restrictions which deterred many Jews from taking up their abode there.

SOCIALISM GREATLY TO BE FEARED

The public prints still continue to make mention of the great strike and threatened revolt in the Swedish Metropolis, Stockholm. Various lessons are sought to be impressed by it--amongst others the prevalence of Socialism and what it portends. The following from the Moline Dispatch is a sample. The general comment is that when the patient and order-loving Swedes become riotous it marks a new epoch, and more or less justifies the expectation of lawlessness anywhere, everywhere. The below article gives, we think, a fair reflex of European conditions and the influence of Socialism in the affairs of life to-day:--

"The Socialists, of course, fail this time, but we should indeed be blind if we do not see in the incident a further warning of a tendency visible all over Europe. Within the last few months we have seen three important disturbances

--in France, in Spain and now in Sweden. In each case there has been instant talk of revolution, while the actual and immediate causes of the outbreaks have been submerged by the other and greater forces in the background. No one wanted to know the immediate excuse for the strikes in France. The only interesting question was whether the shock might be enough to bring down the avalanche. In Spain the only pertinent question was whether the grievances of the people were at last heavy enough to break that patient camel's back, and now in Sweden we are hastily assured that the strike would be quite unimportant but for the stimulus of Socialism.

"Two things are evident throughout nearly the whole of Europe. The first is that the labor organizations are gradually uniting under one control and that any man of magnetic genius can snatch at their dictatorship. Pautaud nearly did this in France, and may do it yet. The second symptom is the growing affinity between European labor Unionism and Socialism, and it is to be remembered that over the larger part of Europe an avowal of Socialism creates no comment or surprise either among rich or poor. A Socialist has been made Prime Minister of France without a word of protest from any one. Socialism in Germany is the one supreme fact that keeps her statesmen awake at nights, while in the English House of Commons we find that the powerful Labor party is practically synonymous with the Socialist party. There are no Socialists in the House of Lords, but it would be easy to find a great many among the titled aristocracy. And now comes the strike in Sweden, and we find the whole standing army of the country placed on the alert, not so much to suppress the ordinary turmoils of such an occasion, but rather to discourage a possible attempt to begin the organized civilization of the country all over again.

"It must, of course, be remembered that there is no cut-and-dried definition of European Socialism. Over very wide areas it is little more than another term for social discontent and for constitutional attempts at reasonable reform. The German Socialist, for example, is by no means the long-haired firebrand with whom we are unpleasantly familiar. He may be simply an orderly advocate of measures that are matters of commonplace here, while any man who opposes the semi-clerical tyranny of Spain is apt to be dubbed a Socialist. Socialism in Europe may sometimes have a definitely constructive meaning with the educated, but with the great masses of the people it means no more than an effort toward Democratic expression. None the less it is significant that widespread discontent should thus be forced under a leadership that may become one of a mischievous intelligence."

BRITISH INTERESTS IN INDIA

The world's discontent has long been felt in India, where a rebellion against British rule has recently been nipped in the bud by prompt measures on the part of the Government. Now the Hindoos have adopted another method of procedure. They propose to boycott all British goods and thus to damage British interests heavily. Anyone patronizing British goods is to be treated as an outcast by his fellow-countrymen. Unrest prevails the world over. How we long to give the poor, groaning creation a proper view of that blessed hope which so inspires our hearts--the Second Presence of our Lord and the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom--his rule of righteousness for the blessing of all the families of the earth. "Be patient, brethren," while diligent and fervent in spirit.

WELCOMING THE SCALPEL

"When a man is attacked for his loyalty to the Bible and Bible truth, he has a right to feel encouraged. The Bible begins to mean something to him then; and he begins to mean something to the Kingdom. Such an attack is evidence that he is really alive. For, as a well-known defender and expounder of the Bible as God's Word has keenly said: 'The Bible is a living thing; and when it gets into you and

your life, you'll be under the scalpel of every little critic.' Criticism is not a thing to be sought; but when it comes as a result of getting the Bible into your blood, it is not to be feared. Are you intimate enough with the Bible to invite such criticism?"

The above from The Sunday-School Times is well stated and applicable not only to those who resist Higher Criticism and Evolution, but also to those who stand in the light of the Divine Plan of the Ages revealed in the Lord's Word and opposed by the darkness of this present age and the Prince of Darkness and his poor, deluded servants.

TORPEDOES IN THE AIR

The mind of man is fertile. Recent wonderful developments of aeroplane and dirigible balloons are leading the national thought to a new line of warfare. Aerial battles are anticipated. The dropping of explosives upon battleships and cities, arsenals and armies, is being studied. All the governments are seeking to prepare for this new form of warfare, while still the building of battleships continues.

It will be remembered that some years ago the use of torpedoes at sea was brought to considerable perfection, mechanism being finally devised to guide the torpedo by electric currents to the ship intended to be destroyed. The latest suggestion is an aerial torpedo guided through the air, instead of through the water, and so swiftly that the enemy would not be able to ward off its blow and the explosion and destruction which would follow.

Oh, that the world had less of the spirit of the Adversary and more of the spirit of the Lord. Oh, that these bright minds now exercised in devising death-dealing devices were equally diligent in seeking a system of healing and helping and uplifting humanity out of sin and death conditions to restitution blessings!

Well, a little while and the present order of affairs will be ended! A little while and the last member of the "elect" Church shall have been called, chosen, tested, found worthy and glorified. And then the long-promised dominion of the Lord will be established--his Kingdom for which we pray, "Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven." A little while and, in the awful trouble of the "day of wrath," the world will have an illustration of its own money-mad condition and be ready for the peace which God purposes shall then be established! A little while and the world's blind eyes shall be opened to see wonderful things in the opposite direction from that in which it is now looking. Thank God that our eyes are already opening and our ears already being unstopped and that the blessed sights and sounds of the Divine programme are coming to us in comforting and sustaining measure!

THE RISING GENERATION

The Apostle pointed out as among the conditions prevalent in the end of this age the following:--Disobedience to parents; lawlessness; pleasure-loving; ferocity of temper, etc. We need not on this occasion go deeply into the why, but recognize the fact that many of these predictions are now fulfilled before our eyes. Lack of reverence for parents leads on to that careless condition which fears not God, neither regards man, in its selfish, wayward course.

The Philadelphia Public Ledger calls attention to the fact that photographs of those who recently participated in the street-car riots in that city were chiefly those of boys from fifteen to twenty-one years. The same has been remarked of the Springfield, Ill., riots and others in this country, and also respecting riots in Russia about two years ago, and others more recently in Spain.

The lesson is that these boys have been either mistaught or not taught at all respecting justice, the rights of others, etc. We fear that the world is gaining too slack a conception of liberty. Too much time apparently is given to teaching something about man's evolution from a monkey or from protoplasm, and not sufficient time to instructing the youth respecting his own rights and the rights of others and the necessity for law and order.

In Divine Providence the care of the school does not devolve specially upon us nor our readers, except it be those of us who are school-teachers. Wherever our influence can be felt, it should be used in favor of righteousness, equity, justice, mercy. But in our own homes and families we surely, each and all, have important duties toward the young of both sexes. The care of his children is a paramount obligation and responsibility resting upon every parent. Right exercise of this great responsibility should be sought carefully and prayerfully and exercised with the greatest wisdom at command. A parent assumes a great responsibility in bringing a child into the world. And how could he hope to be classed as an "overcomer" if he should neglect this responsibility? If, after we have done our very best, a child shall go astray into wrong paths it is a cause for regret and prayer. But if a child go astray because of a lack of proper parental instruction, it is a calamity which should properly call for tears and groans, as well as prayers for Divine forgiveness.

Again we urge upon all WATCH TOWER readers the daily use of the HEAVENLY MANNA at the breakfast table and the reading of the Vow and that surely every day begin with praise and prayer. Also that the children be Scripturally instructed every Sunday by the parents.

THE FERRER PROTEST UNIVERSAL

The wave of protest which quickly spread over the civilized world upon the announcement of the execution of Prof. Ferrer in Barcelona, Spain, has astonished the world. The professor's teachings were anti-Catholic, socialistic, perhaps almost anarchistic. "He was hounded for a time, then imprisoned and finally executed"--most unjustly, it is claimed.

Great commotion of protest which followed, as if by magic, in all parts of the world showed a cord of interest and sympathy and an organization which astonished rulers. New York's "demonstrations of protest" with flags, banners, etc., was followed by speeches in which both Catholics and Protestants were derided and liberty, Socialism, etc., were lauded. En route to the large auditorium the marchers hooted and jeered both Catholic and Protestant Church buildings as they passed them.

Only recently have we seen the reports of the London "protest." We append an account of it. The indications are that respect for both political and ecclesiastical rulers is decidedly waning. The condition of things in Rome was extreme --the Catholic Church being held responsible for the action of the Spanish officials in executing Prof. Ferrer. The London report says:--

"Spanish anarchists in London are openly threatening the life of King Alfonso, and are boasting that he will not be permitted to live the year out. Malatesta and others of the more rabid anarchists are actually inviting reporters to accompany them to secret meetings to listen to firebrand speeches. Some of them have shown reporters laboratories with newly devised bombs, wherewith they hope to be able to take the lives of European monarchs.

"The outbreak of Ferrerism, which is convulsing the continent, reached England this afternoon and evening and London witnessed scenes duplicating those enacted in Paris and other European capitals. Following a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, 10,000 malcontents rushed to the Spanish embassy in Grosvenor Gardens, by way of Whitehall and Victoria streets, and succeeded in reaching it in spite of frequent charges by the police. The embassy, which was guarded by a strong force of police, escaped any damage. Hand to hand fights occurred, missiles were thrown and sticks and umbrellas were used.

"Victor Grayson, the stormy petrel of Parliament, made a violent speech in Trafalgar Square this afternoon, in which he announced that the expulsion of the Spanish ambassador would be moved in the House of Commons Monday. His speech is the strongest thing delivered from any rostrum in England. He said the murder of Ferrer was a local outrage on cosmopolitan feeling. 'It means not only the death of one great worthy man but an insult to the intelligence of Europe,' he said. 'I believe the price of Ferrer's life will be paid long hence. If the heads of all the kings of Europe were torn from their trunks to-morrow it would not pay the price of Ferrer's life. Let us make no mistake. If all these heads were rolled in the dust to-morrow we should not have one like Ferrer's, who, by his acts as a royal son, lost his life for the people of the world.'

"In the Spanish Parliament one speaker criticized the Government's course, saying, 'This execution was an egregious political blunder. The innocence or guilt of the man has nothing to do with the case. The object of his removal was to help restore internal peace in Spain, but today Ferrer's influence is much stronger in Spain and throughout Europe than it ever was while he lived.'"

CONDITIONS IN PARIS

A correspondent of the State Gazette writes:--

"One must know the restless, red-thinking class of Paris to understand what will most likely happen to old Europe, with its feudalism, its armies, its priests, its czars, autocrats, bureaucrats, and underneath the whole inflammable mass oppressed workingmen full of anarchy and revolutionary ideas.

"Barcelona is only a symptom of what I positively know exists throughout all Europe. Let them try a modern war and then you see what happens."

HOME CONDITIONS AS SEEN BY MR. WATSON

Mr. Thomas E. Watson, several times nominee for President of these United States on the Populist ticket, is reported to have described present conditions here in the following extract from a letter:--

"President Taft knows as well as I do that Socialism is

sweeping this country like a prairie fire, and that there is an army of nearly 400,000 banded together, true to the organization which their leaders have made, and that those men are thirsting for an opportunity to come into collision with the Federal army. That is one reason why Taft and Roosevelt are so eager to increase the number of Federal troops."

EVOLUTION GOSPEL FOR THE "GROANING

CREATION"

"Life has become so meaningless and so useless to some that I advocate the setting up of a suicide slot-machine, where one can deposit a cent and be killed easily and respectably."

The Press is crediting the above to Rev. D. Guthrie, D.D., of Baltimore, Md. Alas! poor, groaning creation! After being deceived for centuries by bad tidings of great misery for all people except a few "elect," they are now treated to the information that they sprang from a monkey, but did not spring high enough. Now they are told that their case is hopeless and that it would be a benevolence to help them get off the face of the earth and into her bosom "respectably" by suicide. Would that their ears were open to hear and that we had a thousand tongues to tell them of the "Good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people"-- the result of our Redeemer's sacrifice! Thank God for the testimony of his Word that soon every ear shall be unstopped and the due time shall come for the testimony of God's grace to every member of our race.

TO GIVE LIFE TO THE IMAGE

Our readers well know that in 1880 we pointed out in the columns of this journal the now much discussed Federation of Protestant Churches. We showed that it was foreshadowed in Scripture prophecy: that the beginning of it was in 1846 in the organization of the Evangelical Alliance and that the full development waited for the closing hours of this age. This was at a time when the thought of Federation was generally flouted and many boasted that sectarian divisions were advantageous everyway.

We showed that the coming Protestant organization would, according to Scripture, become the friend and associate

of Papacy and not its antagonist. We pointed out the prophesy that the life of the new organization or federation would come from the Episcopal Church, which amongst Protestants has long stood as the "oldest" and as possessed of "Apostolic succession" and supposed consequent "authority." We have for years looked earnestly for such a Protestant Federation as would include the Episcopal Church and give its sanction to the Protestant system.

Finally the way seems to be clearing for this--the pressure of "higher criticism" on the one hand, and the Truth on the other hand forcing religious institutions to band together for mutual protection. But woe will betide all the "little independents" when the great system shall throb with life and become a living image of Papacy and cooperate with it.

The following from the Hartford Post tells of an important proposition now under consideration, looking to the federation of Episcopal and Congregational Churches. We quote:--

"Bishop Hall called attention to the very evident fact that the church needed to stand for definite truth in a community more now than ever before; that religion must have an actual meaning to the people, who are fast falling away from it, if it would bring them back and continue to grow, and that to do this it must unite, come together under one creed, and do its best to bring in other new denominations, rather than lose their valuable contribution by allowing them to maintain separate sects of their own.

"Most of the speakers agreed that it is all a matter of contribution--of how much a church might contribute towards a new Catholic faith, and not how much it might keep of its old faith. That in most cases there was no definite faith at all, is what Bishop Hall called attention to, and thus it might come about that a revival of endeavor might bring Christians to unite on just the one thing set up by the apostles of Christ as his Creed. The Episcopal Church, he said, stood ready to give up its 39 articles of religion, and it was ready to give up its name 'Episcopal' and to sink its identity to accomplish this purpose of unity. In return it offered its creed, definite, simple, true.

"From the Episcopalian standpoint it could be seen today that the movement is no dream and that every clergyman of the church in this section goes out with the one idea that before the next meeting of the body the problem will be much nearer settlement than to-day."

THE LAND OF ABRAHAM--MESOPOTAMIA

"As is reported in the Jewish Chronicle, the Jewish Colonization Association, which controls the de Hirsch millions, is making now all necessary preparations for the colonization of Mesopotamia by Jews. A petition has been presented to the Turkish Government to legalize the establishment of a company which will have this object in view and which should begin work at once. The Government is favorably disposed toward the movement, and there is very little doubt that the desired permission will be soon granted. It will be remembered that it was the Government itself which first issued the invitation to Jewish organizations to settle in Mesopotamia and later even promised to defray part of the expense of irrigating the land.

"Major General W. Wilcocks, who was commissioned by the Turkish Government to investigate the existing irrigation in Mesopotamia, has presented his report to the Minister of Public Works. He states that the construction of a new dam for the Hindieh River and the repair of the old dam would create a prosperity five times as great as that which existed thirty years ago."--Jewish Exponent.

INQUIRING FOR THE OLD PATHS

The Editor of this journal was surprised recently to receive a request from a Society of Jewesses to address them on the prophecies of the Hebrew Bible. Some of their husbands learned of the matter and desired to attend, so that their hall was deemed too small and they propose getting a larger one. Even should the matter abort entirely, it shows just such a looking to the Lord as we should expect at this time. We are not to expect the Spiritual message to appeal to the Jews, but we surely have a very joyful restitution message for them--to be attained under their New Covenant of `Romans 11:27` and `Jeremiah 31:31`.

GREAT BRITAIN AND GERMANY TO CLASH WITHIN

THREE YEARS

"Lord Northcliffe, owner of the London Times, in an interview at Winnipeg, Manitoba, predicted war between Germany and Great Britain. He said in the Krupp works alone 100,000 men are working night and day and on Sundays, preparing for war.

"'I will make the suggestion with all respect to the Canadians who are investing the money and labor in constructing railroads and building grain elevators, that they keep an eye on European affairs and begin to figure out why it is all the ship yards in Germany are busy constructing rapid cruisers and first-class battleships, and why it is that the Krupp works have increased their hands to over one hundred thousand men--more than the population of Winnipeg.'

"He said that some Canadians have Utopian views and consider such a war a crime.

"'The Germans don't think so,' he continued; 'they have a magnificent army and the strongest navy in the world, and they ask what these things are for.

"'They are a thrifty people. They made an immense sum of money out of their last great war. And they will fight again when they think it will pay.' He said some observers think such a war might begin by 1912."

COTTON FOR THE MILLENNIUM

A new variety of cotton called Caravonica Cotton has been found or developed in East Africa, which produces fibre of extra fine quality and length, so that it is difficult to distinguish it from wool. But the further remarkable feature about it is that the life of the plant is about eight years, thus saving a great deal of the labor and expense connected with the common cotton. A company has been formed with a capital of one million marks and headquarters at Berlin for the cultivation of this new and wonderful cotton. It is said to have already been cultivated with success in East and West Africa and Egypt and Mexico.

LONGING FOR HOME

"Zionism is increasing amongst the Jews. There is an awakening desire for national reunion, also in a geographical sense. The old paschal wish, 'next year in Jerusalem?' a mere sentiment so long, is at last showing faint bodings of a dawn of realization. A couple of years ago the first national Jewish banner was unfurled at a Zionist world congress. Russian pogroms and Austrian antisemitism are driving the Jews in scores back to the old country.

"In Palestine Jewish agricultural colonies are increasing and thriving. One of these, the colony of Petach-Tikwah (the Door of Hope) has at present actually issued the first Hebrew stamp. The Austrian postal officials have arranged to carry letters free from charge to and from Jaffa and the Jewish colonies. In return these latter have undertaken to provide themselves with a fixed number of foreign postage stamps at the Austrian office. Seeing that thus they indirectly are made to pay for their postal service, the Government of Petach-Tikwah colony have decided to indemnify themselves by issuing stamps of their own.

"Every letter that the Austrian mail carries from the colony must now be provided with one of these stamps, the value whereof is about three-fifths of a penny. In the same way all letters posted at Jaffa for the colony are to bear this stamp. The stamp has an orange tree and a plowshare on a greenish yellow background. It is enclosed in a black and yellow border, and on top it bears in Hebrew characters the name of the colony, Petach-Tikwah."--Exchange.

EVIL SPEAKING AND HATRED

MANY who speak evil of others say, "The Lord be glorified": sometimes they even profess love for those whom they defame, and manifest that they know not what spirit they are of. The Scriptures declare, "Love worketh no ill to the neighbor." If we injure our neighbor in either word or act or thought there must have been a motive or cause behind and it must have been a bad motive or cause, unless we did it ignorantly. And surely we are responsible for the avoidance of ignorance, by the exercise of alertness in the knowledge and practice of the Divine regulations.

In a general sense, therefore, we may conclude that evil words and evil deeds represent some wrong condition, either of head or heart. Hatred is classified as a part of the spirit of the Adversary of God, and properly enough every child of God should flee from anything akin to it and should feel horrified at the bare suggestion that he possessed anything of this un-Christlike character. However, it behooves all to remember the Scriptural declaration that the human mind is deceitful--not necessarily hypocritical, but, as the Apostle suggests, it often deceives itself. All who are seeking to put off all the works of the flesh and the devil should pray the Lord in the language of the Psalmist, "Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from sins of presumption." (`Psa. 19:12,13`.) Each one of the Lord's footstep followers should daily, yea, hourly, keep watch over his thoughts and words and deeds and the underlying motives connected therewith. This the Apostle terms judging ourselves. He assures us that those who so scrutinize, criticize, themselves should seek to bring the very thoughts of their minds into captivity to the will of God in Christ. These are the very ones who will not need to pass through the trying experiences which will come upon others more careless --less zealous to know and to do the will of the Father.

We have already considered the Apostle's declaration that there is a two-fold work for us to do--certain characteristics we are to put off, because they belong to the Old Man and his depraved affections and desires. And we are to put on the fruits and graces of the holy Spirit. To whatever extent we put off the one we are prepared or privileged to put on the other. Only as we put off anger, malice, envy, strife, etc., may we put on meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, brotherly kindness, love.

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD

While emphasizing the foregoing thoughts to the fullest extent we wish to guard some against the misunderstanding of what constitutes evil-speaking. Our cue or guide on the subject must be measured by the Scriptural injunctions and examples. Some fail to get the proper thought on the subject of evil-speaking and appear to get the impression that any kind of criticism and any kind of objection to the belief of another is evil-speaking. This is not the right thought. According to this thought our Lord and the apostles did evil-speaking. Whoever has this conception should re-adjust his ideas so that they may conform to the Scriptural lines.

To tell that a certain brother now disbelieves what he formerly believed is not evil-speaking, if it be true. St. Paul spoke quite freely of false doctrines and mentioned particularly the names of some of those whose perverse teachings had been injurious to the Cause, "overthrowing the faith of some." Our Lord Jesus criticized the misconduct of some in his day. He called attention to some as being hypocritical in that they did not practice their own teaching. But neither the Lord nor the Apostles made personal attacks, slandering others. To tell fairly what another believes and to show that it is wrong is far from evil-speaking. It is speaking the Truth, which should always be spoken in love. In many instances it is a duty so to speak.

In a recent issue we published Brother Wilcox's letter to Brother McPhail, because it seemed to us that in a kind way, without attempting in any degree to slander Brother McPhail's character or to say an evil word against him personally, Brother Wilcox criticized some of Brother McPhail's doctrines and endeavored to show their fallacy and that some of them were sophistry and not logic. This is what we frequently do with the presentations of our Presbyterian and Methodist brethren and with only the kindest intentions--to assist in opening the eyes of their understanding. A few dear friends were inclined to criticize Brother Wilcox, but we think without just cause.

On the other hand, let us say that we could have no sympathy with any harsh or unkind expression, either towards brethren or the world. If some who once rejoiced in the light have become more or less blinded to it, that is a cause why we should have sympathy for them--not a sympathy which would lead us to give them encouragement in their wrong course, but a sympathy which would incline us to pity them and to be ready in any possible manner to assist them back to the right way. Even when they misrepresent us we should, so far as possible, attribute this to their blindness and pray for them, rather than smite them in return. "Let no man render evil for evil to any man, but contrariwise--do good to those who evilly entreat you."

Let us remember that the final test of character is love for God and the brethren, yea, and for our enemies--not in word merely, but in deed and in Truth--out of a pure heart. If, as we have endeavored to set forth, we are now going deeper and deeper into the testing time, "The hour of temptation that shall try all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth," and if we see many falling from their steadfastness, let us not rail at them, nor even feel unkindly, but contrariwise, let us think of ourselves and take heed to our own steps, that they shall be in the footprints of Jesus. Let us remember that the Adversary is trying some in one direction and others in another. Let us remember that we ourselves must be tested by the "fire that shall try every man's work of what sort it is."--`I Cor. 3:13`.

If the Adversary could stir us up to anger, malice, hatred and strife, even in a good cause--even against Satan or those whom he is using to some extent as his servants (`Rom. 6:16`) --he would thus be poisoning our hearts and separating us proportionately from the Lord and his Spirit. We cannot be too careful along these lines!

It is our conviction that God brought to our attention at the proper time the advisability of the Vow which we suggested and which we believe is helping so many of the saints in many ways. Constantly we hear from those who have taken the Vow that they are blessed. Some tell us that the daily repetition of the Vow is assistful--reminding them of the necessity of guarding their every word and act; others, that their own interest in the harvest work and in all the dear co-laborers has been greatly blessed as a result of their taking the Vow; others assure us that they have been specially blessed by being reminded of and guarded against Spiritism and Occultism; still others write us freely that they needed and were greatly blessed by the precautions suggested by the Vow in respect to conduct toward the opposite sex.

We have not set forth the Vow as a test of Christian brotherhood! God forbid! We would have no right so to do! If it were a Divine command it would not be a vow at all; for a vow is a voluntary agreement or restriction or sacrifice made for our own assistance, or for what we believe would be to the Lord's glory. At very most the suggested Vow set forth with emphasis for our daily consideration and practice some of those features of our Consecration Vow (our Baptismal Vow) which previously had been less perspicuous to many--features nevertheless which are everyone of them included in our Consecration Vow of faithfulness to the Lord and the interests of his Cause and to the avoidance of sin, even unto death.

Assuredly that Vow was brought to the attention of the Church by the Lord's providence at this very time; in order to awaken his people and draw them very near to himself and make them very careful, very circumspect as respects every word, deed and thought. Surely the drawing very close to the Lord, which has already been effected in many hearts by the Vow, and the staying very close to the Lord, which is assisted by the daily repetition of the Vow, is having a grand effect in many hearts. We believe that many others of the Lord's consecrated ones will yet see

that they are missing a blessing by delaying thus to bind their sacrifice with cords to the altar.

But let no one think of the Vow as a charm or fetish. Its blessing comes through its keeping us close, "under the shadow of the Almighty," where the Wicked One cannot touch us. And let us add a word of warning here by suggesting that those who have taken the Vow, if they become careless of its provisions, would really thereby become more reprehensible in the Lord's sight than if they had never taken it. "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord (for aid). I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people." --`Psa. 116:13,14`.

Another word of caution: While cautioning those who have not taken the Vow to beware not to oppose it--not to interfere with this step of consecration on the part of others --we would also caution those who have taken the Vow that they be not boastful and that they allow no feeling of self-righteousness to spring up in their hearts as a result. We can readily see how the Adversary might tempt some along this very line. "Be not high-minded, but fear." (`Rom. 11:20`.) Let none attempt to force the Vow upon others, but accord all the full right of his own conscience. Let us commend the Vow by our loving moderation. Let us remember that humility is the first of the graces and will have much to do with our standing the tests now multiplying in so many ways upon all who have named the name of Christ. As the testing begins with the Church and proceeds to the world, so apparently in the Church the testing comes first upon those in prominent positions. And these need to be the more watchful, the more prayerful, the more earnest, that they may be able to stand.

The Adversary's attempts are various. Some he beguiles with flattery, pride and ambition; others he would vanquish with despondency mingled with humility; others he attracts with the pleasures of the present life; others with ease and popularity; others with misdirected energy, which gradually leads them away from the narrow way. Some are seduced through too great a reverence of human teachings, human authority, subserviency to creeds and theories; while temptation comes to others along the line of disloyalty to God and to the leadings of his providence. Let us each remember that love for God means loyalty to him and to his Word, and to every leading of his providence and grace, and loyalty to the brethren. A little while and our trials will be ended. A little while and we shall see His face, if we are faithful.

OUR WEDDING GARMENTS

APPARENTLY many of the Jewish customs connected with marriage were so ordered by the Lord as to be typical of matters connected with the marriage of the Church to Christ. The Jewish maiden was betrothed to her intended husband by her father, or some substitute for him. Her father stipulated the conditions as between her and the bridegroom. When these were signed she was considered "espoused." The bridegroom came about a year later to receive his betrothed one and thereby to make her his bride, and to install her in the home as his joint-heir. St. Paul applies this matter to the Church, telling us that we have been "espoused" to one husband, which is Christ, our Beloved, our Lord. He has gone to prepare a place for us and will come again and receive us unto himself, and make us his joint-heirs in his Kingdom. Then "the Spirit and the Bride will say, Come...and take of the Water of Life freely." For all the families of the earth, the river of the Water of Life will then flow.

One of our Lord's parables took note of the fact that when a kingly bridegroom brought home his bride, he expected that all of his servants would be more than ever on the alert to welcome him and to honor him--intent to note the first sound of his approach and to open immediately when he should knock. Our Lord used this to illustrate how awake all of his true disciples should be that, at his Second Coming, they might not be asleep and overcharged with the cares of this life, but hear the knock--the testimony of the Scriptures respecting the times and seasons and manner of his Second Presence in the harvest of this age. We remember the precious promise given to all of the Lord's followers who would be found thus awake and alert: their Lord would become their servant. He would cause them to sit down to meat--to enjoy a spiritual feast. He would gird himself as a servant and serve them with rich dainties. How we have seen this parable in process of fulfilment during the past thirty years. The knocking has been heard by one and another of the Lord's true servants. Those awake have heard, have discerned his presence, his parousia. And all such have experienced the blessing promised--the Master has become the servant. The servants are seated at his table and are being bountifully fed with rich spiritual food, such as never before was tasted, and such as they were not aware he had provided.

The parable of the wedding garment illustrates another feature of Truth from another standpoint. It was the custom at weddings that all the guests, as they entered the house, should be handed a wedding garment. The acceptance of this implied that they would put it on and wear it. (`Matt. 22:1-13`.) The parable shows how one, representing probably a class, rejecting the wedding garment furnished him, was expelled.

Interpreting the parable: Coming to the door, desiring to enter in, would imply faith in respect to the marriage. The robe would represent justification; the imputation of Christ's righteousness shows that all who would be acceptable at the wedding must appear in the imputed righteousness of Christ, and not in their own more or less filthy garments of imperfection and unrighteousness. But surely this garment represented something more than mere justification, else why should it be called a "wedding garment"? These garments were not provided for the public in general, but merely for those who had been invited to the wedding and who had accepted the invitation and were desirous of entering in on the terms and conditions of the host. Applying this we see that God is not supplying justification to the world in general, nor to believers in general, but merely to such believers as accept the terms and conditions attaching to the marriage supper arrangements.

We might assume that all believers were invited to this feast and that all the invited ones were informed that wedding garments were provided for them, but that only those who accepted the invitation and actually came to the wedding and entered in through the door were actually given the wedding robes. Applied, this would mean that all believers were informed respecting the merit of Christ's sacrifice and its sufficiency for them as a covering for all their blemishes and as making them acceptable at the wedding feast if, leaving sin and worldly business and pleasure, they would come as guests to the wedding. The promise and tender of the wedding garment was a promise of full justification from sin and a full imputation of restitution rights, but with the understanding that in order to be sharers of the heavenly blessings all earthly rights, earthly honors and talents, must be surrendered, must be buried, that the individual might be reckoned as a New Creature in the provided robe.

The coming of the guests to the door desiring to enter in to the festival, pictures our compliance with the Lord's call and willingness to sacrifice self and to have ourselves buried as old creatures that we might appear as New Creatures in the wedding garments. The acceptance of the garment and the putting of it on, therefore symbolized that the individual had not only consecrated himself unto death, but that his consecration had been accepted and that thenceforth he was a New Creature privileged to enter in and to participate in all the privileges and joys of the occasion. The point we

wish specially to emphasize here is that the wedding garment in the parable represents more than merely justification--it represents additionally sanctification or consecration, to be dead with Christ; to suffer with him; to be baptized into his death; to drink of his cup. Only by such a consecration could anyone possibly have right to be at the great banquet, either as a member of the Bride class or as a member of the "great company," her companion.

If now we have clearly in mind the meaning of the wedding garment, what would be suggested by the taking of it off--its repudiation? Would not the rejection of the robe signify a rejection of the consecration unto death--the consecration to share in his cup of sufferings--the consecration to suffer with him and to be dead with him? Is it not a fact that all this must be included in the wedding garment symbol? Must it not represent all the sacrifice we covenanted when we accepted justification on condition that we would sacrifice our justified rights? Is not this our robe as New Creatures and not our robe as human beings?

Surely the "wedding garment" can be worn only by those who, as New Creatures, still have fleshly bodies, whose imperfections are covered by the robe. Surely none but New Creatures ever had on this wedding robe and surely no one ever became a New Creature, except by the full consecration of his earthly restitution rights, sacrificial, after the manner showed us by the Lord. So then, to take off the wedding garment would not signify merely the rejection of our Lord's merit as our Redeemer, our Ransomer, but it also would include specially the practical renouncing of the terms and conditions of sacrifice, on account of which we obtained the robe. Would it not seem, therefore, that a repudiation of membership in the Body of Christ, a repudiation of our share in his cup and repudiation of our baptism into his death, might symbolically be represented as a taking off of the wedding garment?

Why anyone should wish to draw back from fellowship in the sufferings of Christ seems difficult to understand. Indeed, happy are we if our own loyalty and appreciation of the privilege is so great that we cannot understand the attitude of those who repudiate their Vow to suffer with him, to be dead with him, that they may also share in his resurrection and live with him, that they may also reign with him.

COMMUNION WITH OUR FATHER

Oft when alone in prayer I kneel

Before my Father's throne;

I cannot tell him all I feel,

Nor make my wishes known.

With heart subdued, and head bowed low,

I lean upon his breast,

And while the tears unbidden flow,

My love for him confess.

I have no boon to ask of him,

Save that his will be done,

To make me holy, pure within--

An image of His Son.

But as he smiles and draws me near--

His Spirit from above

Floods all my soul with peace so dear,

And fills my heart with love.

Though from my gaze he hides his face,

My soul, from self apart,

Has found its happy resting place

Close to his loving heart.

L. C. RAMSDELL.

ST. PAUL ON THE GRACE OF GIVING

--`II COR. 8:1-15`--DECEMBER 5.--

Golden Text:--"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus... It is more blessed to give than to receive."--`Acts 20:35`.

THE Bible is singularly free from monetary solicitations from first to last. The prophets were poor. The Savior himself had not where to lay his head and his followers were noted as being "of the common people who heard him gladly," and "chiefly the poor of this world." And yet we know of no solicitations for money, either for personal use or for building churches. The Scripture we consider today may be said to be the only appeal for money recorded in the Bible, and it was for the poor at Jerusalem, sorely pressed by the famine in the time of the Roman Emperor Claudius. (`Acts 11:28`.) If the pages of the Bible abounded with accounts of our Lord's and the Apostles' begging and "sponging," their lives and their words would have far less influence with us.

The fact that their faith and their preaching did not bring them wealth, but cost them much in self-sacrifice, is a convincing proof to us of their sincerity, their honesty--that they believed what they proclaimed. Not to mention the great Redeemer's self-denials, but merely looking at his followers, we perceive that in espousing an unpopular cause they became objects of hatred and derision and were boycotted socially and everyway. Instead of profiting by the Gospel, it was of Divine Providence that the acceptance of it cost them "the loss of all things." What noble characters they were, in that they needed not to be bought with money, but gladly paid the price of the Truth. They esteemed their earthly possessions and hopes as loss and dross, that they might share in the sufferings of Christ and thereby attain joint-heirship with him in his Millennial Kingdom by the First Resurrection.--`Phil. 3:8`; `Rev. 20:4`.

"MORE BLESSED TO GIVE"

Our text furnishes the key-note to this Study. St. Paul had proven the Truth of Jesus' words, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." He was happy, "joyful in tribulation," giving constantly for the good of others from his store of grace and Truth. He was more blessed in the giving than any of his hearers in the receiving of the message. In the words of this Study, he sought to extend to the Church at Corinth the blessing and joy of giving. They already knew of the necessities of the principal congregation of Christians--at Jerusalem. They already knew that St. Paul intended going thither and that others of the Gentiles purposed sending at his hands a present--an acknowledgment, as it were, that the spiritual blessings of the Gospel message had come to them through representatives of the Jewish people.

St. Paul knew that giving would cheer and warm their hearts and bring them a great blessing--therefore, not selfishly, but as their true friend, he would stir them up to the exercise of generosity that he might increase their spiritual vitality and joy. He asked nothing for himself, however. It was by way of inspiring them to emulation that he related how the churches of Macedonia had contributed, even while in affliction. The abundance of their joy led them to great liberality, notwithstanding their own deep poverty. Evidently there, as elsewhere, "not many rich" were among the "called." To the measure of their power and beyond it and without urging they gave. Indeed they had entreated the Apostle to act as their representative in this service to the Jerusalem saints. Their course in the matter was more noble than the Apostle had dared hope. They had said in effect, "We are Christ's in this matter, and yours after him; for this we realize to be the will of God."

PRESENT YOUR BODIES SACRIFICIALLY

It was this giving from the heart which the Apostle wished to inculcate. If the Corinthians learned the blessedness of giving a little money to help the poor, if they found that much blessing resulted therefrom, they, like the Macedonians, would be impelled to give themselves more completely than ever to the Lord. And this latter was the Apostle's aim in respect to all Christians, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."--`Rom. 12:1`.

He complimented them on their faith, utterance, knowledge,

earnestness and love, and urged for their own good that they should not neglect the grace of giving. It would constitute a proof of the sincerity of their love for the Lord and for the brethren. Emphasizing the necessity for a development of a spirit of benevolence, he reminded them of the Lord Jesus, who for our sakes left riches of glory and honor, when he humbled himself to become the "man Christ Jesus"--that he might redeem our race from its death sentence. If our exemplar became poor that we might attain the riches of eternal life and fellowship Divine, his Spirit in us would surely lead us "to lay down our lives for the brethren." (`I John 3:16`.) And whoever would lay down his life for a brother would surely be yet more willing to lay down time or influence of money for his assistance.

But, the Apostle urged, that was not suggesting that they should burden themselves by too generous giving-- nor that others should be left without a burden entirely at their expense. Amongst men, and especially amongst those who constitute the family of God, there should prevail a spirit of sympathy and equalization. He reminded them also that God looked not at the amount, but at the heart condition prompting the gift. And surely all will agree that in the dark pathway of sorrow and the shadow of death, in which we daily walk, there are abundant opportunities to be generous, even for those who have no money to give. A kind word of sympathy or advice, yea, even a kind look, has sometimes been worth more to a discouraged brother than a handful of gold:

"It is not the deed we do,

Though the deed be ever so fair,

But the love that the dear Lord looketh for,

Hidden with holy care

In the heart of the deed so fair.

"The love is the priceless thing,

The treasure our treasure must hold;

Or ever the Lord will take the gift,

Or tell the worth of the gold

By the love that cannot be told."

ST. PAUL'S LAST WORDS

--DECEMBER 12.--`II TIMOTHY 4:1-18`.--

Golden Text:--"For me to live is Christ,

and to die is gain."--`Phil. 1:21`.

SURELY saintly was the heart which wrote, For me to live in the world is for a member of The Christ to be living here, serving by self-sacrifice the cause of righteousness--Truth. Equally true was it that for him to have died and rested from his labors, to await the resurrection morning, would have been gain. So far as his own character development was concerned, it was evidently finished. He remained by God's grace, that he might further serve the Lord's flock--including us who have since lived. He thus wrote to the Philippians about A.D. 62, when circumstances intimated that his death was imminent.

Four years later, A.D. 66, St. Paul wrote his last Epistle to Timothy, who was then Pastor of the Ephesus Church. The Emperor Nero was showing greater hostility than ever against Christians, and circumstances indicated that St. Paul was to be a martyr very soon. Sometimes he addressed Timothy as "his son" in the Gospel. He evidently felt great confidence in him as a sort of successor in a general "care of all the Churches." Hence to him he now wrote special warnings and commendations and prophecies respecting the Church's future.

The Gospel should be preached, and nothing else--when convenient and when inconvenient, to the preacher--whenever opportunity offers. The importance of having the Church well indoctrinated was emphasized by the fact that with prophetic vision St. Paul perceived that the "great falling away" mentioned in his other Epistles and by the Lord might be expected to come in speedily after his death. The mission of the Gospel was not the conversion of the world, but to call out from the world the Church to be glorified with the Redeemer at his appearing and Kingdom. It might be necessary for Timothy to reprove, rebuke and exhort, but if so, all should be done patiently and with instruction, explanation, doctrine. Faithfulness was enjoined in view of the fact that the time was nearing when "sound doctrine" would not be appreciated, nor even be endured by the Church.

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