The Watchtower, January 15, 1917
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Vol. XXXVIII
BROOKLYN, N. Y., JANUARY 15, 1917
No. 2
GOD'S SPECIAL GIFT TO HIS CHILDREN
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the
holy Spirit to them that ask him?" — Luke 11:13.
Comparatively few have realized the value of this heavenly
gift of the holy Spirit, and few have possessed it.
The begetting
of the "holy Spirit, which first came on Pentecost to
those who were to constitute the church, is necessary in order
that we may become children of God. One cannot become
a Christian by the mere study of the Bible. Indeed, we must
be begotten of the holy Spirit before we shall be able to understand
the Bible, to apprehend the deep things of God. The
begetting of the holy Spirit is something that we cannot
explain, something that nobody can explain. If God had
wished us to understand this miracle of grace, doubtless he
would have made it sufficiently plain in the Bible.
But we know from the testimony of the Word, corroborated
by our own experience, that there is a begetting of the Spirit,
a supernatural start of a new life in those who consecrate
themselves to God. In referring to this beginning of the new
nature, the Lord uses a figure of speech, illustrating the matter
by something that is well known to the human family.
We know that it is not a mental power in man that begets
a human life, but that it requires a direct importation of the
spirit of life originally received from the Creator, before an
individual life can begin. And so it is with the spiritual
child of God. There must be a direct importation of the
holy Spirit to start the new heavenly life.
We are not to think of this start as being something great
or large in amount; for as a matter of fact, the beginning
of the new life is small. But it must be there. The Christian
mar not be able to point back to anything like an electric
charge as the beginning of his Christian life. A few people
have tnade such claims, but we think this is a mere hallucination
of the mind. God used a special outward manifestation
at the begetting of the Lord Jesus with the holy Spirit, in
order that Jolin the Baptist might make* a declaration of what
he saw in the case of the first member of the church, and
that we might know. There was also an outward demonstration
at Pentecost, and in the case of Cornelius and his
family, the first Gentiles to be received into the church. But
these were for a very special purpose, as heretofore shown.
As" TespectB all the ot&ers . of God's f amjjy; we are inducted
into the body of Christ, which is the church, without any
outward manifestation. But when we have met the conditions,
we do not doubt our acceptance. We receive it all by faith
in the Lord's Word.
NECESSITY OF FEEDING UPON THE WORD
This begetting of the holy Spirit, then, which iias a small
beginning, shortly after manifests itself as the new creature
feeds * r jfist as the germ of life in the human being must be
fed, must gradually grow, develop and become stronger, and
thus manifest its individual life. It the new creature does
not feed upon the Word of the Lord, it will grow weak and
sickly, and eventually will die. We have known some who
have been for twenty years consecrated to the Lord, and who
are still babes in Christ* because they have been stunted in
their development through insufficient or improper feeding and
exercise.
God did not wait for us to come voluntarily into his
family. Indeed, no man can come unless he Jias been invited
by the Lord. Whoever has received the Word of truth intelligently
, and is 1 drawn by it, has an invitation. If he responds
during his "acceptable time," if he accepts Jesus as his ransom
and presents himself fully to God, he is begotten of the
holy Spirit. Then he is to grow through "eating" the truth,
through studying the truth, through applying it to his own
life. We should store our minds with the Scriptures, so that
in each of our experiences these Words of Life will be there
to give U3 in increased measure the Spirit of the truth, that
we may grow strong in the Lord as the various trials of life
come to us, and thus we may be sustained by the Spirit of
the truth.
WHO MAT PRAY FOE THE HOLY fiPXBXT
W T ith the thought of the primary work of the holy Spirit
in mind — namely, the work of spirit-begetting — let us now
consider our text. Our Lord had been suggesting to his disciples
the thought that a good parent, if asked for a fish, would
not give his child a serpent, or if asked for bread, would not
give a stone. Jesus would have his disciples consider how
they would act as parents, so that they might the better
realize what God's attitude would be toward any whom he received
into his family as his children. Then the words of
our text followed: 'If ye, then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your
heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him!"
That is to say, if you who are imperfect, who have largely
lost the likeness of God as a race, still so realize the responsibility
of parents to their children that you would not
do your children harm when they come to you for something
good, much more would the heavenly Father not do harm to
his children, but good, when they come to him for a blessing.
Then our Lord Jesus specifies the particular blessing for
which we should ask — God's holy Spirit—not using vain repetition
, as do the Gentiles, those who are not the Lord's true
children, and who are not instructed to pray to Jehovah. With
many, ihe prayers go up in a merely mechanical way, as by
machinery — in some nations by literal machinery. The Chinese
have a praying-wheel which they turn around and around,
and thus repeat the prayers. They are shrewd enough to
know that thus they can say the prayer more often than with
the lips. Such is not the kind of prayer that the Lord will
receive.
God's children have instructions from his Word on this
subject of prayer. They are to come'to the Father according to
these instructions, not doubting his love, his wisdom, and his
power. They are to come with full confidence in him as their
Father, asking for the things for which he has bidden them to
pray. Their the Apostle Peter, showing the coats and garments which
Dorcas had made while she was with them. All felt more
deeply than they could express how much they owed to Brother
Russell as the channel of God's grace for the spiritual clothing,
in the possession of which they were rejoicing that day.
Some had but recently come into the light of present truth,
never having seen the Pastor's face in the flesh. Others could
look back to the time when he first addressed a meeting in
Glasgow thirteen years ago. Grief and joy mingled together
as we thought, on the one hand, that we should never see him
again on this side of the veil, and on the other hand, of the
abundant entrance into the kingdom which we believed he had
obtained, and a participation in which we all hope to experience
very soon.
We all desire to express to you our heart-felt sympathy
in our common loss, and to send you as a message the following
Scriptures: "Grace be to you, and peace, from God
our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be
God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
Mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in
all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which
are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves
are comforted of God." "For the Father himself loveth
you." The latter text was one that Brother Russell used in the
last meeting for the brethren that he addressed in Glasgow.
Although our dear brother has been removed from us
and we shall miss very much the influence of his noble example
and the power of his effective ministry, we have no
reason to think otherwise than that the work will go on. We
would, therefore, at this time, assure you of our prayers on
your behalf and of our hearty co-operation in connection with
the arrangements which those left in charge might make from
time to time, so that the grand work so nobly begun and
carried on by our dear Pastor, under the guidance of our
Lord and Head, might be continued, and in his own good
time and way completed.
Your brethren and fellow-servants,
Glasgow Church. — Scotland.
AS EXPRESSION OF CONTCDEHCE
Beloved Brethren: —
We at Cleveland desire to convey to you our Christian
love and sympathy in this dark hour of bereavement at the
loss of our beloved Pastor. Surely the death of such a noble
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(30-31)
THE WATCH TOWER
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Christian character as our Brother was, one so faithful in
laying down his life in the service of the Lord and the
brethren, must cause us some -sorrow and pain; and yet a
sense of joy comes to us as we picture him now in glory,
clothed upon with immortality, in the presence of our heavenly
Father and our Lord Jesus.
We assure you, brethren, that the death of our dear
Brother has not caused us to slacken our zeal in the least in
the service of the Lord; but that, on the contrary, we have
determined to be more faithful than ever before, so that we
too may finish our course with joy and enter upon broader
fields of service in ministering to the world the kingdom
blessings and joys.
We are pleased to note that Brother Russell had so arranged
matters that in case of his death the work would be
carried on without interruption. We assure vou of our confidence
and trust in whatever arrangements brother Russell
has made for furthering the harvest work, believing that our
Lord Jesus, the Chief Reaper, had especially chosen our Pastor
as his mouth-piece and servant. We will continue as in
the past to look to the Lord for his guidance and direction in
all our affairs.
Wo hereby pledge the co-operation and support of the
Cleveland brethren to whatever further arrangements for promulgating
the glad tidings of the kingdom the Watch Tower
Bible and Tract Society may deem to be the Lord's will. We
who are of the Cleveland Ecclesia desire to assure you of
our resolution to continue faithfully in the service of the Lord
by his grace, even unto death, and of our resolution to be
ready and willing to assist in any work which has been outlined
by our dear Pastor, in which we have the privilege of
assisting.
Assuring you of our continued prayers that the Lord will
grant you wisdom in connection with the harvest work, we are
Yours in Christian love, Cleveland Ecclesia. — Ohio.
LOVING SYMPATHY FROM SWXTZEBLAJTD
Dear Brethren in Christ: —
The news of the going home of our tenderly beloved
Brother and Pastor C. T. Russell, reached us unexpectedly
on the 14th of November. He had once advised us not to
be surprised if one day we should hear of his having left
this life. How we do sympathize with all the dear friends
everywhere — and especially with the dear Bethel family nt
Brooklyn! The French brethren especially the dear ones of
La Chaux-de-Fonds and the Jura, send you their deep condolence
, praying that our Lord will give the spirit of love
and wisdom to those upon whom the responsibility rests, that
the harvest work may continue uninterruptedly, and the "meat
in due season" never fail to come through the chosen channel
of our Lord — The Watch Toweb.
It is a deep loss to us who remain : yet as it was good for
the early disciples that the Lord left them, so our Master
found it for our good that dear Brother Russell pass before
us beyond the veil. We may well believe Revelation 14:13
fulfilled in him!
The writer first knew him in 1890, being then immersed
in Bible House Chapel, Allegheny. I wae also one of the
first to read the Studies in the Scriptures ( then Millennial
Dawn) in German, and to canvass for the same in Pennsylvania
and adjoining states.
Next to the Lord it was dear Brother Russell who made
it possible for me to become the translator of the Studies
and most of the other publications into the French, until 1913.
He also permitted me to be one of the first to introduce
present truth on this continent, especially into Switzerland
and France, and to act as his interpreter on several occasions.
May the Lord forever bless his memory!
Adolphe Weber. — Stoitzerland.
PLEDGE OF LOYALTY
Whereas, it has pleased our heavenly Father to call home
our dearly beloved Brother and Pastor, Charles T. Russell,
from the scene of his earthly toil and labor to that of greater
service in the great harvest work in which he was manifestly
bo faithful; and
Whereas, we believe that the Lord will not scatter, but
will "turn his hand [power] upon the little ones," in this
dark hour of trial (Zech. 13:7) ; and
Whereas, it would seem fitting at this time to express our
words of encouragement to the brethren of the Bethel family
and Brooklyn Tabernacle; therefore, be it
Resolved, that we pledge our continued loyalty to and
hearty co-operation with the dear co-laborers at Brooklyn, and
also that we extend our deep Christian love to the brothers
and sisters of the Bethel family and to all "the sanctified in
Christ Jesus" everywhere. Be it further
Resolved, that we wish to assure the dear brethren of our
full confidence in them, and that we feel assured that the arrangements
left by our beloved Pastor for the carrying on
of the work, will be continued in perfect accord with his
wishes, which, we believe, were directed by the "Chief Reaper,"
our Lord and Head. Be it further
Resolved, that these resolutions be spread upon the minutes
of our Ecclesia and that a copy be sent to the Watch
Tower Bible and Tract Society.
Quincy A. B. S. — Mass.
A VOICE FROM COSTA EICA
My Dear Brethren: —
While on a trip visiting the classes in this country, news
reached me of the passing away of dear Brother Russell; and
you know what a mixed experience it is — sorrow and joy —
joy that he has entered into his reward, and sorrow that we
must do without him for awhile. Yet with tears I sing,
"Blessed Lord, thy will be done!"
I know what an experience it is for you; yet I only hope
the sweet Spirit of the Lord, which our brother alway3 manifested
among you may continue and that wisdom from above
may be yours in the selection of a president for the W. T.
B. A T. Society.
I am making mention of you in my prayers, and have
called upon the classes to this end, to join me in prayer for
you, that you may continue in the same until we are called
to join the church in glory and meet our dear Pastor again.
Brother Browne, of the office at Kingston, Jamaica, was
with us. W T e had a blessed time. He is now at Panama.
Your Brother in the Lord's service,
V. E. Samuels. — Costa Rica*
A MESSAGE FBOM EDINBURGH
Dear Brethren: —
Greetings on behalf of the Edinburgh church! We desire
to express to you our deepest sympathy in the great loss
we have sustained through the passing beyond the veil of
our beloved Pastor. We, however, rejoice in the confident
assurance that his work here on earth has been completed,
and that now he has gone to his eternal reward. He has,
we believe, gone to be with and like our dear Redeemer, and
is now in possession of the crown of life, the promised
blessing of our heavenly Father.
Our heart-felt praise and gratitude ascend to him from
whom all blessings flow for our dear Brother's long life of
self-sacrificing labors in the service of the truth, for the
glory of God, and for the spiritual interests of his people.
We will ever cherish the charm of his great spiritual personality
. His wonderful example of life and work will also
continue to inspire us all onward toward *the goal he has
reached, that we also may make our calling and election sure.
Our united prayer, dear Brethren, ascends on your behalf
to our loving heavenly Father, that his holy Spirit will
guide and support you in carrying on the work of the Society,
for the comfort and upbuilding of the Lord's people in their
most holy faith.
With love in the Lord as always,
Edinburgh Ecclesia. — Scotland.
WEARINESS ENDED AND Glory BEGUN
My Dear Brethren: —
Through the newspapers we have learned that our dear
Brother Russell hae entered into the 'Courts of Glory, having
finished his earthly career while traveling from San Diego,
Cal., to Kansas City. The news could not be otherwise than
& shock to us, but, as we contemplated upon the honor and
glory into which our dear Brother has entered, our sorrow
was turned into joy. Our Lord, the great Chief Reaper in
the harvest work, could have kept our dear Brother with us
longer had it been necessary; but the time had come for his
weariness to end and his glory to begin. And what rejoicing
there must be in heaven now at the passing over of one who
has been truly great in serving all! There can be no doubt
in the minds of the faithful left behind that our dear Brother
Russell is now a "gem of purest ray serene," in the Lord's
Royal Diadem.
May grace sufficient be your portion, and in the wisdom
that cometh from above guide you in the further work which
remains to be done. With much Christian love, I am
Yours in the Redeemer, E. J. Coward. — Barbados, B. W. 1.
"A WOBD TO THE WISE"
Dear Friends: —
In a recent trip through the Southwest, covering about
seven thousand miles and making twenty stops, we observed
that in many of the stations there were neatly framed notices
of religious meetings of the various denominations, also?
Christian Science notices with boxes underneath containing
literature. Only at one station did we see any of the I.B.S.A.
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January IS, 1917
THE WATCH TOWER
(31-35)
literature, and then it was on a rack mixed up in a disorderlyway
with Christian Science literature. At one station we
saw an I. B. S. A. box with no literature.
We know from The Watch Tower that many of the
towns have I. B. S. A. classes, and we could not help thinking
an opportunity for spreading the truth was being missed
by not providing notices of meetings and literature with
boxes to keep it, at every available station. If this suggestion
were followed it would provide not only reading matter for
the public, but also information regarding places of meeting
for the benefit of traveling friends.
Yours in the Lord's service, Mrs. Ellen Hunter. — III.
CRT FOB LIGHT ANSWERED
Dear Brethren: —
We regret to hear of our beloved Pastor's passing away;
for it was one of his sermons in the Winnipeg Free Press
that started us in the truth. We were sick and tired of what
the churches were giving us; so we left them. But we did
not leave the Lord. We cried aloud unto him and he heard
us by sending a little light in that sermon. Then a few
months later, we got the Studifb in the Scriptures; and
now we know that we read and understand the Scriptures:
not through the wisdom of man, but through the wisdom
which cometh down from above.
We are glad to see that our dear Pastor, whom having
not seen yet we loved, has left his house in order, that all
things may continue the same. My wife and I are alone here
in the truth, yet not alone, as he that is for us is more
than all that are against us, We pray that God's richest
blessing may continue to rest upon the Bethel home.
Yours in his service, J. H. and A. M. Hoskin, — B. C.
A VOICE FROM THE COLPOETEUB BANKS
Dearly Beloved Brethren: —
Would like to thank you for your good letter of encouragement
in regard to the colporteur work and the advanced
price of the books. Thank you for the trial credit
also. I go on rejoicing, thankful for this further opportunity
of telling out the glad tidings.
In about four hours recently I took orders for three full
sets at the new prices; also orders for three first volumes.
(This, by the w T ay, was in the follow-up work and quite a
little of the time was spent in explaining the chart to interested
ones.)
Thanking you so much for your labor of love to the
Lord, and for the encouragement and help you extend to
all the co-laborers in the vineyard, I am, "Strong in faith,"
Your sister by His grace, Adelaide Woolgab. — Oolp.
Dear Brethren: —
As announced in The Toweb regarding extra copies of
the Memorial Number, I wish to advise that the Wneeling
class desire one hundred and fifty. Enclosed please find
$7.50 to cover price.
Yours in the service, W. H. Scattebday.
ONE WHO OAK CHASE A THOUSAND
Dear Brethren: —
Enclosed find Report ending Sept. 30, I am glad to say
that of late I fiad more interest manifested in the truth than
ever before. Another thing very noticeable is that some
people are becoming less prejudiced and are investigating,
and others are becoming so prejudiced that they will not
investigate. One class is talking more favorably of the truth;
the other is denouncing it more vehemently.
I have met several of the latter class who would make
things pretty lively for the I. B. S. A. if it were in their
power. I was recently told that I was doing more harm
putting out those books and explaining such "devil's doctrines
" than all the preachers put together could rectify; and
that something ought to be done to stop those people calling
themselves Bible Students going around and deceiving people!
It occurred to me that if I, one of the least in the work,
am doing so much damage to the devil's cause that all the
preachers can't rectify it, what will the end be — soon !
Your fellow-servant in the Master's cause,
Wm. R. Ernst.-— Colp.
A PEXVlIiEOE TO UPHOLD THE WORK
Dear Brethren in Christ: —
We desire you to know that we have been greatly blessed
through our late Pastor's faithfulness. We sympathize with
you in our mutual loss; and yet we feel thankful that our
Pastor's trials are over, and that he has entered into his
reward.
We wish to assure you that we will consider it our duty
and privilege to uphold those who endeavor to carry on the
work of serving the household of faith, which our Beloved
Pastor strove so faithfully to do. We are praying for those
upon whom thi3 responsibility will fall.
Your fellow-servants, The Montreal Church. — Quebec.
TRUSTING IN HIS BRACE AND WISDOM
Dear Brethren: —
The secretary is instructed to convey to you the assurance
of our continued co-operation in the service of our Lord and
Master, even unto death.
While our hearts are torn with grief at the loss of our
friend and Pastor, we nevertheless bow in humble submission
to the will of the Lord, patiently waiting for whatever experience
he may have in store for us in the future. Trusting
in his grace and wisdom to accomplish in all of us his good
pleasure even unto the end, we are praying ever to remain
in the favor of our 'Lord and the light of his Word.
Riverside Ecclesia. — Cal.
WORE WILL PROCEED WHILE YET DAT
Dear Brethren: —
While we deeply feel the loss of our dear Pastor, we are
glad to know he has made ample arrangements for the continuation
of the work. Our faith and confidence is in the
Lord, who has directed the harvest work thus far, that he
will continue to direct it until finished.
We are both glad and willing to continue to co-operate with
the Society as the Lord sees best. We pray the Lord's blessing
on the Bethel family and on our further efforts in his
work, and assure you of out continued love and confidence.
Auburn Church, — Ind.
LONO-FELT REPUGNANCE TO DOCTRINE OF ENDLESS WOE
Dear Friends:-—
I thank you for your letter of Nov, 13 and have read The
Tower of Dec. 1. I am glad to see the tributes to my old
friend, and, wish to send them to some who did not know
him so well as I. Please send me such number of copies of
the issue as convenient for enclosure. Long before I first
met Brother Russell I felt the same repugnance to the doetrine
of endless human woe that formed the main spring of
his study and work, so well outlined in your obituary of him.
Cordially your friend, J. A. Stowe, — tf« J.
Dear Friends: —
Please find check enclosed for $5, for which send 100 of
Memorial Number of The Watch Tower.
Walter Kitchen. — Pa.
Dear Brethren: —
Please send 300 Memorial Numbers of The Tower to
Your brother in the Lord, E. 0. Miller. — Ore.