The Watchtower, March 15, 1917
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Vol. XXXVIII
BROOKLYN, N. Y., MARCH 15, 1917
No. 6
VIEWS FROM THE
"THE WORLD ON FIBE"
The Pittsburgh Press is numbered among the great newspapers
that apparently see some things which will follow in
the wake of the great European conflict, which now threatens
to engulf all nations and lead up to the "Battle of Armageddon
" of Scripture.
As God's people observe increasing signs of the presence
of our invisible King, preparatory to the establishment of
his kingdom on earth, they rejoice at each evidence of the
world's recognition that mankind is passing through the "fire"
of purification, which shall burn until the last vestige of
evil and selfishness shall have been consumed and God's will
is wrought on earth as completely as it is done among the
heavenly hosts.
Truly the nations have been entering one after another the
great melting pot of divine displeasure! They are fulfilling
prophecy with amazing rapidity and accuracy: "Behold, they
shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not
deliver themselves from the power of the flame; there shall
not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before." (Isaiah
WATCH TOWER
47:14) "Except those days should be shortened, there should
no flesh be saved." — Matthew 24:22.
We print following the editorial to which we refer:
CLEANSED AS BY WBE
"Fire has from the dawn of human history been regarded
as a purifying agent. There have been great
religions of which fire has been the all-pervading symbol.
When Persia dominated the world her religion was one
known as fire-worship. Fire purifies, molds, supplies
the heat which gives life. And its imagery has never
lost its earliest symbolic force and meaning.
PBRiamyg nr the flames of the worldCONFLAOEATION
"The great war which is raging in Europe today is
consuming more than the mutilated bodies of millions of
strong and brave young men. Along with this precious
sacrifice, there are* perishing in the flames some of the
most ancient and tragic of human errors.
"The diabolic lie that kings rule by divine right is
perishing in the flames of the world-conflagration.
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March 15, 1917
THE WATCH TOWER
(83-84)
'The fantastic and preposterous fiction that war is a
biological necessity involved by the working of the socalled
law of the 'survival of the fittest' — this is another
untruth which will not survive the holocaust. War does
not promote the survival of the fittest biologically. The
brave, the healthy, the strong are destroyed by war. The
weak, the timid and the unfit are preserved by it to
propagate their kind.
"The priority given to material values over moral and
spiritual values — this, too, will not stand after the fire
has done its work. The hideousness of the commercial
greed, the lust for power, which are at the bottom of
exploitation, will have been stripped of all its concealment
and men will know it for what it i&. Mankind will
plainly perceive that war is no more a violation of the
laws of God than is a social and industrial organization
which sacrifices the mass of men for the few at the top.
In fact, the great European statesman who was arguing
for war on a certain occasion twenty years ago attempted
no denial of the analogy. 'Business is war/ said he, and
'war is business/
PLAIN VIOLATION OF THE OHABTEB OP GOD'S
KINGDOM
"When peace has been restored, the purifying fire
through which the nations are passing will have left
little of their former patience with a form of human
society in which war, public and private, has been allowed
such enormous latitude in plain violation of the provisions
of the charter of the kingdom of God which was to be
set up on earth by Jesus.
" 'A new commandment I give unto you/ said the
Christ, 'that ye love one another.' The kings who are
making war, the magnates whose chief business in life
is the accumulation of countless millions, alike have
trampled upon this fundamental law of the new society
even while taking his name upon their lips. And to the
extent that the multitude have by their sympathy and
toleration sanctioned the treachery, mankind as a whole
shares in the guilt which so large a portion of the
civilized world is now expiating.
TBUTH AND JUSTICE SOON TO FLOWER
"That the ordeal will leave mankind spiritually chastened
one can hardly doubt. Its physical consequences
are wholly bad. The tongues of flame have eagerly fed
in amazing quantities on the best blood of the race. But
in so doing they have burned into the race consciousness
so deep a conviction of the wicked vanity of the exploiters
, whether financial potentates or kings, that never
again in our time will any dare to preach the doctrine
that might makes right, and never again will government,
either economic or military, go as far as it has gone
during the last half century in permitting the insane fury
for wealth and power to set at naught the supreme value
of all values — namely, the value of the common man.
"The seeds of protest against the perversion of the
Christian ideal and the non-fulfillment of the great Christian
law of love and brotherhood will now begin to
spring up and bear abundantly. The choking weeds of
selfish and brutal exploitation have prevented the perfect
flowing of the grain and meanwhile the millions have been
ground into the dust. But the weeds have been scorched
and withered away, and truth and justice will flower in
their place. 'There is going to be a more equitable distribution
of the profits of industry in Great Britain when
the war is over/ Baid Lloyd George and Mr. Asquith, in
England, recently, and the working classes will come
into a larger portion of their own in every other country
involved, unquestionably.
"Jesus' 'Love one another/ is the key to all progress.
The science which teaches anything else is not science
but demonstrable error. Even the Tower animals do not
make war on one another, at least within their own
species. Horses run in droves. Cattle herd together.
Even the wolves hunt in packs. Bees, ants, and wasps
have a wonderful social organization, living in highly
co-operative communities.
" 'Whatever men/ says a biologist, 'have accomplished
that was really worth while has oeen done, not by competition
, but by mutual aid. The attempt to justify the
worst side of man's nature from biology fails entirely.
Even nations represent attempts of mutual aid on a large
scale. What we need now is mutual aid on a world scale
and the recognition of the fact that all men are brothers
and that their interests are in common, and not in competition
/
"There is sorrow unspeakable in the path of the purifying
fire that has overtaken us, but the law of love will
stand out commandingly above the ruin."
4 TIG TEEE" BUDS AFTEE CENTURIES
SUMMER IS NEAR
Respecting preparations made in the Holy Land by the
Turkish government to facilitate the rapid movement of
troops and supplies for an invasion of Egypt, a correspondent
of the New^Rotterdam Cowrant writes:
"A veil of secrecy covered the events in this far-off
corner of the world during the last two years, but now
some of the things that have been done may be told. The
war has created new life in the southern section of the
Holy Land and the desert. Districts which formerly were
as desolate as the Sahara in Africa are today covered
with a network of roads. Hundreds of miles of railroads
have been built and the creation of innumerable
workshops and factories has brought prosperity to the
inhabitants of the towns and villages.
"Syria, Palestine and Sinai have progressed more since
the war began than in fifty years of peace. The population
is grateful for this and views the Turkish rule with
different eyes than formerly,
DESEET LOSES SOLITUDE
"The Sinai Desert has lost the solitude which made
it so inhospitable and dangerous. A new railroad line,
which starts at Jerusalem and is 175 miles long, runs to
within twenty-five miles of the Suez canal over Hebron,
Beersheba and El-Awga. Connecting lines have been
built under the direction of German engineers from the
Hedjas railroad to Jerusalem and from Maan to Akaba.
At the same time the Germans have completed the railroad
which runs from Haifa to Nazareth and Jerusalem, and
crosses Palestine from north to south.
"Branch lines have also been built in the Sinai desert,
and where the difficulties proved too great for Tailroad
construction the Germans and Turks built modern
highways for heavy transport automobiles. Over this
network of railroads and highways large masses of troops
and enormous quantities of war material could be transported
from Constantinople to the Suez canal in a week,
if the Turkish and German general staffs should decide
to undertake the invasion of Egypt.
WELLS NOW FLOWING OVEB PATCHED PLAINS
"Aiding the railroad lines and automobile roads are
many artesian wells, furnishing good water in unlimited
quantities. Around these wells villages with all modern
conveniences, cool and airy stone houses, ice plants, etc.,
have sprung up. In some districts the water furnished
by the wells is so plentiful that it can be used for irrigation
purposes. Where no water could be found it is
provided by pipe lines laid from the nearest wells.
"Along the main railroad line there are numerous hospitals
, and around them villages and towns have literally
grown out of the earth. Some of these settlements have
several thousand inhabitants. All of them are lighted
by electricity, and they even have moving picture theaters.
"The economic value of the work done in Palestine
and the Sinai desert since Turkey entered the war cannot
be overestimated. Along the railroad line from Jerusalem
to Beersheba the land values are rising and the
population grows. Hebron, which formerly was hardly
more than a collection of ruins, has been transformed
into a lively manufacturing town.
TOWN COMES TO LIFE AFTEE TEARS OF SLUMBEB
"Still greater is the change in Beersheba. This once
large city, before the war was a heap of ruins and the
whole population consisted of half a dozen Bedouin families
, housed in miserable mud huts. Toda^y the town has
several thousand inhabitants, a railroad repair shop,
three or four large factories, several big storage houses,
auto supply stations and a military hospital.
"El-Awga, the first oasis in the desert, is under cultivation
again for the first time in centuries. When it was
ascertained that the artesian wells would furnish sufficient
water, a number of Turkish farmers flocked to this Bpot
and started to remove the layer of sterile sand which
covers the very fertile soil,
"Thus the murderous war, which destroys the work
and civilization of centuries in Europe, brings new life,
■happiness and prosperity to a forgotten and forsaken
little corner of God's earth."
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(84-8S)
THE WATCH TOWER
Brooklyn, N. V.
"KHO WLEDOE SHALL BE INCREASED"
Readers of The Watch Toweb are deeply interested in
all things confirming the prophecies respecting the presence
of the Son of Man in the end of this age, Not only are
"the signs of his presence" multiplying on every hand, but
they are of such wonderful character as to amaze even the
world. But while the promise is that the wicked shall not
understand; that only the wise in the Lord shall comprehend
the real meaning of these things, the evidences of the
presence of our King — who has "come as a thief" — are such
■that the time cannot now be far distant when "every eye
shall Bee him."
A letter received from one of the pilgrim brethren we regard
of such interest to our readers that we publish it here:
"Knowing your interest in everything that indicates
that we are 'In the day of his preparation/ I am enclosing
a newspaper announcement of a Canadian invention, which
bids fair to become of vast importance, and especially to
the farmer, who is about to come into his own.
"Throughout Canada, the States and all over the world
are immense stacks of straw (many millions of them),
which hitherto have been useless, and were burned to get
them out of the way. Now these are to bo very profitably
utilized. A company has been organized here in Moose
Jaw, capitalized for the purpose of manufacturing this
invention and selling it to farmers.
"Briefly the invention is this: The farmer can build
a plant at a nominal cost which will generate gas from
the straw. This gas will light and heat the home, furnish
power for the threshing machine, or any other machine
needing power, or, compressed in a tank similar to a
Prestolite tank, will run the automobile at less expense
by far than by present methods. Thirty minutes' work
by a man, woman or child will generate 1,000 feet of gas,
which is stored in a tank for future use; and the most
'delicate' instrument necessary is a pitchfork.
"This is not all. After the gas Is driven off (by fire)
the coke-like refuse is utilized, and the products made from
a ton of straw, aside from the gas, are worth $15. These
consist of tar, oils and pitch; and lastly, that which remains
is pressed into briquettes of coal, either hard or
soft, which make the very best of fuel. It costs about
$1.50 a ton to make this coal.
"The installation expense is not high — a couple of
ovens, a gas tank, a compressor for gas, one to compress
the refuse into coal, and receptacles for the tar and oil.
"This looks as though it would help solve the question
of coal famines, strikes, and make a railway strike have
less dangers, to the farmer at least. I visited the demonstration
rooms, and saw all the processes.
"Moose Jaw also has the distinction of having another
boy inventor, who has perfected a wireless transmitter
and receiver, so that nobody can steal the message ; nobody
but the receiver at its proper destination can get it.
"Moose Jaw is a homely name, but the town is not
to be sneezed at. The States will have to 'wake up' or
Canada will be ahead of them.
"We rejoice in all these new evidences of the near
approach of Christ's kingdom.
"Great things we've seen and heard of, in the hundred
years that are gone! But greater things we look for in
the hundred years to come."
THE MEMORIAL SEASON APPROACHING
On Thursday, April 5th next, after 6* P. M., the beginning
of the 14th day of Nisan, according to Jewish calculation,
God's truly consecrated children who are following in the
Master's footsteps and fully desirous of doing his will in
the light of present truth, will celebrate the Memorial Supper.
This season is especially sacred to Christians because it commemorates
the death of the Lord Jesus and forcefully brings
to mind that we are to die with him as a part of his sacrificial
body— the church.— Eph. 1:22, 23.
It was on the 14*h day of Nisan that the Master instituted
the Memorial supper, According to Jewish time each day
began at 6 P. M. It happens that on this year, Thursday,
April 6th, 6 P. M. is the beginning of the day which marks
the anniversary of that important event.
THE WOBLD'S OBBATEST EVENT
The days of the week just preceding the institution of the
Memorial supper recorded events of great importance, culminating
on the 14th day of Nisan with the greatest event of
the world's history — the death of the Son of God, that he
might thereby become the Redeemer of the whole world. The
world knew nothing of the importance of passing events, and
even the apostles comprehended them but vaguely.
Likewise the importance of the present hour is not comprehended
by the world and cannot be fully appreciated by
any of us in our present state. The order of things that has
existed for many centuries is now passing awaj with great
confusion, and the body of Christ, the church, is being completed
and the glorious kingdom is coming in.
As we approach the Memorial of our Lord's death we
should all have in mind the events just preceding that particular
date. As our Lord was crucified on Friday morning
—Nisan the 14th— the 10th of Nisan would begin at 6 P. M,
the preceding Sunday. His triumphal entry into Jerusalem,
therefore, was probably on Monday instead of Sunday, as
generally accepted and observed and for that reason called
Palm Sunday. Under the law the Israelites were required
to take the paschal lamb into their homes on the 10th day of
Nisan, preparatory to the Passover, to be celebrated on
the 14th.
It was the custom, at the inauguration of a king of Israel,
for him to ride upon a white ass. On the 10th day of Nisan,
Jesus, leaving the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, went
as far as Bethphage, whence he sent his disciples to bring a
young ass, on which he might ride into Jerusalem, ( Matthew
21:1, 2.) He proceeded to the city amidst the plaudits of the
people and offered himself as the King of Israel — the long
promised Messiah. The populace scattered their clothing and
palm branches before him, implying that the best of the earth
was none too good for one so £reat. They cried out exultantly,
"Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord!" Thus he was joyfully received^ and
acclaimed by the people as King. The scribes and Pharisees,
however, and those of the priestly order, did not believe in
the Master, and thinking the procedure of the people sacrilegious
, they called upon Jesus to stop the shouting. Jesus
replied, "If they -should hold their peace, the very stones
would cry out."
Jesus was making history that none but Jehovah and himself
understood. The next day, which was Tuesday, he cursed
the fig tree and thereafter it bore no fruit, thus in symbol
signifying that the Jewish people as a nation were fruitless.
On the same day he went into the Temple and turned out
the robbers and money changers, thus picturing how every
mean and selfish thought in the minds of his followers must
be put away. Wednesday was an exceedingly busy day with
our Lord, as appears from the record. He taught the people
in the Temple; he gave them parables of warning relating to
their covenant with God; he gave the parable of the wedding
garment; he taught concerning the resurrection from the dead,
[is authority was challenged and he confounded the wise men
by his questions and argument.
After this Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives, and
seated there he delivered to his disciples that wonderful discourse
recorded in Matthew 24, concerning events that would
transpire, particularly in the end of the age, the fulfillment
of which his followers today have the privilege of witnessing.
On the same day he gave the parable of the Ten Virgins and
referred to the judgment of the Lord during the Millennial
reign, and while he was doing this a conspiracy was being
prosecuted by the Pharisees to have him put to death.
"MY TIME IS AT HAND"
Thursday must have been a day of keen interest to all of
the Jews, because, between that evening and the evening following
(Exod. 12:6, margin), was the time for the slaying of
the lamb and roasting it for the Passover. Six o'clock that
evening would mark the beginning of the 14th day of Nisan
(Friday), during which day the Passover lamb must be killed
and eaten. As the day drew on Jesus said to his disciples,
"My time is at hand/* He then gave directions to his apostles
for the making ready of the Passover supper; "and the disciples
did as Jesus had appointed them, and they made ready
the Passover."
It was incumbent upon the Lord, as a Jew under the law
arrangement, and also upon his disciples, to observe the
Passover supper. At the conclusion of the supper the Lord
instituted a new thing.
INSTITtTTIOX OF THE MEMORIAL
The type of the slaying and eating of the paschal lamb
was now about to be fulfilled. It would never be proper, there-
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M A *cri 15, 1917
THE WATCH TOWER
(86-87)
fore, to have another observance of the Passover, thtt antitype
being the sacrifice of Jesus as "the Lamb of God which taketh
away the sin of the world." Our Lord there instituted the
Memorial of the fulfillment of the type, by the breaking of
bread, which he gave to his disciples, and by the drinking of
the wine, which was to be a commemoration of hi a death.
After they had withdrawn from the upper room, where the
Memorial was instituted, Jesus and his disciples-^aside from
Judas, who had withdrawn previously to betray the Master
^-jourheyed across the city, over the brook Cedron, and to
the Garden of Gethseffiane, where he said to his disciples,
"Sit ye here while 1 go and pray yonder* And he took with
him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful
and very heavy. Then he saith Unto them, My soul
is exceeding sorrowful even unto death; tarry ye here and
watch with me. And he Went a little farther and fell on
his face and prayed, saying, my Father, if it be possible
let this cup pass from met Nevertheless* not as I will, but
as thou wilt."
Then came Judas with the mob. The Master Was apprehended
and led into the city before Caiaphas, the high priest,
where the scribes and elders were assembled to unjustly accuse
him. Subsequently he was taken before Pilate, and. after
passing through the experiences of a trial that was a farce,
he was condemned to death without a cause, and in the morning
he was crucified on Calvary 3 s hill between two thieves.
The importance of that hour will never be known by all until
the world has come to a full knowledge of what Jesus has
done for the redemption of mankind.
WHY JESUS DIED AT TEAT TIME
The disciples expected the Master to set up his kingdom
and that they would be a part of it. They were asking
themselves, "Why should the Master die now?" They were
perplexed; they " could not understand why he -should die.
Jesus knew all about it. At Pentecost the diBciples began
to understand; and today those who have been illuminated
by the holy Spirit understand why it was necessary for him
to die. But why should he die at that time?
The Israelites had been for years in the land of Egypt,
where they were in bondage. Year after year their tasks
were increased and their burdens made grevious to be borne.
God sent Moses to be their deliverer and Aaron to be his
mouthpiece. Under the Lord's direction Moses and Aaron
went before Pharaoh the ruler of Egypt and in the name of
the Lord asked that the Israelites be released and permitted
to leave Egypt. Time and again Pharaoh refused and God
sent punishments upon him for refusing to let them go.
Under the pressure of each plague Pharaoh declared that he
would let the Children of Israel go, but each time he broke
his word. God had overruled that this Pharaoh should come
to the throne of Egypt at this time because of his wicked
self-will and obstinacy. Nine plagues the Lord had sent upon
the Egyptians, and nine times had relieved them of those
plagues at the intercession of Moses, after Pharaoh had promised
to let them go. Now God purposed to send the tenth
plague, which would cause Pharaoh even to hurry the Israelites
out of Egypt.
Pharaoh was devoted to his son, his first-born. God directed
Moses to prepare for the tenth and last plague, informing
him that at midnight, on the 14th day of Nisan the death
messenger of the Lord would pass through Egypt and every
first-born of every family should die. He then told Moses
of his provision to save all the first-born of Israel, should
they be obedient to his arrangement, which was that on the
tenth day of the month each household should take a lamb,
and if any household was .too small his neighbor should join
with Mm; that the lamb should he a male of the first year
without blemish; that it should be kept in the house until
the 14th day of Nisan, when it should be killed and the
blood should be sprinkled upon the side door-posts and on
the upper post; that the lamb should be roasted with fire;
that no bones should be broken — it should be roasted whole;
that it should be eaten with unleavened _ bread and bitter
herbs; that those eating It should do so with their loins
girded, their shoes upon their feet and staves in hand and
that they should aat in haste; that when the messenger of
the Lord should pass through Egypt, upon every house where
the blood of the lamb had -been- sprinkled* according to
directions given by the Lord, the first-borns should be passed
over unharmed.
THE BEGINNING OF THE IAW
This time marked the beginning of the Law with Israel) as
indicated by St. Paul. (Gal. 3:17; Exod. 12:41) Acting
upon the Lord's instructions, Moses called together the elders
of Israel and gave them directions as to what they should do.
Accordingly the lamb was taken into the homes on the 10th
day of Nisan; on the 14th day it was killed: and the blood
sprinkled upon the door-posts and the lintel. The members
of each family went into the house and closed the door and
remained there under the protection of the blood until the
messenger of the Lord should pass through Egypt, and while
so remaining the first-born was immune from the deathpenalty
. The lamb was roasted and while they waited it was
eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
About midnight the first-born of all Egypt died. This included
the first-born of the slave and the first-born of every
Egyptian family and caste, even up to the first-born and beloved
son of Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. Such great consternation
prevailed amongst the Egyptians that Pharaoh
immediately summoned Moses and Aaron to appear before him.
(Exodus 12:30-32) Pharaoh not only promised to let the
Israelites go, but commanded that they be driven out. Moses
then led Israel out of Egypt and across the Red Sea, and
they journeyed on toward Mount Sinai.
ISRAEL USED OF JEHOVAH TO MAKE PICTURES
St. Paul tells us that the things pertaining to the law
were shadows of greater things to come. Looking, then from
the type to the antitype, we find that all the things that
transpired there were pictorial. The first-borns of Israel pictured
the "church of the first-borns, which are written in
heaven." Under the Jewish arrangement the first-born was
the heir to the estate. In God's great plan the first-born, the
church, are the heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus;
and during their journey along the narrow way they are the
heirs of the exceeding great and precious promises. They are,
while thus journeying, subject to the second death. Only the
first-born ones, during the Gospel age, are subject to that
death. But being under the protection of the blood of Jesus,
and remaining there, they are safe from that death. It is
only by losing the protection of the robe of Christ's righteousness
that one becomes the victim of the second death, from
which there is no recovery.
According to God's plan, formed before the foundation of
the world, Jesus was to be the antitypical Lamb to be slain
for the cancellation of the sin of the world. (John 1:29) The
door of the Jewish house being the way of entrance into the
house, pictured the entrance to the house of the Lord. By
sprinkling the blood upon the door-posts, Israelites signified
that they had faith in God's promises. Spiritual Israelites
enter the house of the Lord by faith in the blood of Christ,
who declared, "I am the Door"; and so long as they remain
under the protection of this blood they remain in that house.
The passover night pictured the Gospel age, when sin and
darkness are upon all mankind, and the sufferings and dangers
through which the church of the first-born pass during this
time, while being gathered from the world.
The lamb was a beautiful representation of Jesus. The
lamb is noted for its innocence and its defenseleBtnesa. The
passover lamb was required to be a male without blemish.
Of the Man Jesus the Scriptures declare that he was "holy,
harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.'^ (Hebrews
7:26) Christ Jesus was "a lamb without blemish and without
spot, who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of
the world, but was manifested in these last times for you."
(1 Peter 1:10, 20) "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not
his mouth." — Isaiah 53:7.
Jesus must eat the Passover supper at the appointed time
—the 14th day of Nisan— in order to fulfill the terms of the
law. His disciples, being Jews, must likewise partake. At
no other "time could Jesus have fulfilled the type. On that
day he must die, and he did die on that day, as the 14th of
Nisan began in the evening and lasted until the following
evening. He instituted the Memorial as & remembrance of
his death, on the day of his crucifixion.
The Lord used the moon as a symbol of the Mosaic law
or law dispensation. The Jews calculated their time according
to the moon. On the 14th day of Nisan, at the time of the
crucifixion of the Lord, the moon was full and began to wane
immediately thereafter. This illustrated how the Jewish nation
, at the time of the •crucifixion of Jesus, had reached the
zenith- of its favor. That marked the gteat turning-point in
Israel's- history.
The purpose of the picture made by the slaying of the
paschal lamb was to point the way to life. The purpose of the
reality — the slaying of the antitypical Lamb, Hhe Lamb of
God" — was to open the way to life. Our Lord Jesus "brought
life and immortality to light through the Gospel." By keeping
God's taw perfectly, and by his sacrificial death, Jesus made
knowifc the, way whereby the human race may attain life;
[6059]
(87-88)
THE WATCH TOWER
Brooklyk, N. Y.
and by his resurrection he opened that way — "I am the Way,
the Truth and the Life,"
THE HOUSEHOLD ESTABLISHED
When Christ Jesus arose from the dead a divine being,
he ascended up on high and appeared "in the presence of
God for us" — the church class. The merit of hia sacrifice was
to be used throughout the Gospel age for the benefit of the
antitypical fiist-borns — "the household of faith." Pentecost
marked the acceptance by Jehovah of the antitypical sprinkling
of the blood, and the opening of the way for some to become
members of the household. From then down through the age
those who have exercised faith in the shed blood of Jesus, and
who have presented themselves in full consecration to the Lord
and have been accepted by Jehovah, have entered into this
house, under the protection of the blood, and abiding there
until the great night has passed, they shall be delivered into
the glorious light of the kingdom — in the morning already
dawning. — Heb. 3:6; Psa. 27:4; 46:5, margin.
THE MEMORIAL INSTITUTED
From the time of his death until he should come again it
was the will of the Lord Jesus that his followers should remember
him; that once each year they shoud commemorate
his death — upon its anniversary. It would be manifestly
improper to celebrate the death of the Lord more than once
a year, or at any other time, because only at a certain time
did he die. After partaking at this time of the typical passover
, Jesus instituted the Memorial supper, in order that all
of his followers shoud have in mind the purpose of his death,
their privilege of being broken with him, and his coming again
to receive them unto himself, as he had promised. "And as
they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake
it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is
my body." That is to say, the bread represented his flesh,
hia humanity, which was broken on behalf of the human race.
"And he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them,
saying, Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the New
Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
The cup here represented the pouring out of his life-blood
as a great sacrifice on behalf of humankind.
At the time Jesus spoke the words, the disciples could not
understand the meaning thereof, for the reason that they were
not spirit-begotten; none others than the spirit-begotten can
understand. — 1 Cor. 2:14, 0, 10.
BBEAD, BLOOD— JUSTIFICATION, IMMORTALITY
The great Master said, "I am the living Bread which came
down from heaven; if any men eat of this Bread, he shall
live forever; and the bread that I will give him is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51) This
represents our justification. Bating means to appropriate.
When we appropriate to ourselves the merit of Christ's sacrifice
, by accepting him as our Redeemer in full consecration, we
thereby are received by Jehovah and justified freely from
Adamic condemnation.
We read: "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I
say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and
drink his blood, ye have no life in you; whoso eateth my
flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and I will raise
him up at the last day; for my flesh is meat indeed and my
blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh
my blood dwelleth in me, and I in him." Thus Jesus testifies
that tfnless we pour out our blood with him, becoming jointsacriflcers
, and continue faithful as such until we are entirely
poured out in death, we cannot have life within us; that is.
inherent life — immortality. In corroboration of this St. Paul
said: "If we be dead with him, we shall live with him; if
we suffer (with him), we shall reign with him."
OTTR PABTICIPATION
In the celebration of the Memorial supper — the eating of
the bread and the drinking of the winewwe not only commemorate
the death of the Lord, but we likewise testify that
we have entered into a covenant to be dead with him. The
Apostle Paul gives us this thought when he says, "The cup
of blessing for which we bless God, is i£AB BrETHBEN: —
At our recent business meeting we unanimously passed
the following resolution, which it was voted should be sent
as an expression of our attitude toward the truth and yourselves
at this momentous period in the affairs of the world.
Resolved, (1) That having been immeasurably blessed by
the incomparable message of the truth, which from the time
of its advent among us has proved to be our comfort, our
shield, the source of our spiritual upbuilding and our joy, we
do hereby declare our gratitude for the same — gratitude first
of all to the Father of all mercies and his blessed Son, and
second to those noble exponents of the great Gospel message,
who, operating in, through and from the Headquarters of
the Watch Toweb Bible and Tbaot Society, have so earnestly
and faithfully served our highest interests up to this present
time.
(2) That because of the aforesaid benefits received we
have great confidence and love toward those officiating at the
Headquarters in the general direction of the harvest work,
and our prayers will ascend daily on their behalf, that wisdom
from above may shed upon their minds its benign influence
and power, so that the mighty forces of truth generated by
God himself and received and expressed by his messengers
may sweep onward to the full consummation of the present
regime and the subsequent establishment of the kingdom in
power and great glory.
We furthermore take this opportunity of emphasizing our
consecration, believing the finest thing in life to be heart
and will in full accord with the majestic plan and purpose
of the Most High, who is eventually to bend all things to
his absolute sway. We realize that he graciously and lovingly
accords us the privilege now of rendering to him upon
invitation that allegiance to his government which he shall
ere long demand from every living being in every sphere of
existence. Therefore, we seek above all things to know his
will and to conform ourselves thereto; and we do earnestly
desire to co-operate with you in plans and ways of witnessing
before men of the near approach of Messiah's reign, and thus
to be used as instruments in the harvest, ere cometh "the
night in which no man can work.'*
In the spirit of gratitude and love, we remain,
Yours very earnestly and with much Christian love.
The Halifax Ecolebia. — N. S.
A VOICE FROM JAMAICA
Deab Brethren: —
Until officially confirmed, the report of our beloved Pastors
death was received with a measure of doubt, it being
so unexpected. We bow in submission to the divine pleasure
and unerring decision, and rejoice that our beloved Brother
has entered fully into his rest and reward after a very extended
ministry for Christ and his people.
We grieve for the loss sustained, especially by you, but
believe he is now better qualified to assist in directing the
work which was committed to him. His loving devotion, self'
sacrificing zeal, unflinching effort* and faithfulness, coupled
with the nobility and purity of his Christian character, are
most inspiring and stimulating, and worthy of imitation.
What an example of resignation and endurance under much
suffering, and cruel persecution unabated 1 May the blessed
and precious memory of our beloved Pastor he perpetuated!
With renewed resolutions and endeavors, and by God's
grace, we hope to vie with him in all these respects, and What
time is so appropriate as the present — the opening Of a New
Year! We confidently believe that the Lord has made abundant
provision for the needs of his own.
We invoke daily in our prayers the Lord's blessings and
favors on your behalf, that wisdom to guide, strength and
courage to do, be bestowed from on high, that the work be
prosecuted to its completion by those on whom the responsibility
has devolved, I pledge myself to co-operate heartily
with you; and may we all finish our course with joy and be
counted worthy, so that we shall soon see our beloved one
as he is and share his unspeakable joys and blessings.
The harvest work here was started by myself and others
about eighteen years ago, coming from the Isthmus of Panama,
where I received the truth and labored for awhile. It prospered
and we found many ready, sincere hearts, and the
Truth continued to spread.
With best wishes for the New Year, and prayer for comifort
in your bereavement, I remain,
Your fellow servant, L. A. Facet. — Jama&oa.
THE Veil SEEMS VERY THIN NOW
Greetings in the Master's name to the Bethel family and
the friends of the Brooklyn Tabernacle I We desire very
much to express to you our sympathy in the mutual loss
by death of our beloved Pastor C. T. Russell, which loss, no
doubt, you especially feel.
We convey to you brethren as his close associates our
deep love, and pray our heavenly Father that wisdom a.nd
power may be yours to continue carrying out what remains
to be done in the harvest work. Our Servant" we believe
has passed to his reward; but though dead (according to the
flesh), yet he speaketh. The veil seems very thin between
us now, and the sweet and vivid realization of the presence
of our dear Master grows stronger, while the time, we trust
is not far hence before we too shall see him face to face.
We wish to assure you of our continued faith in the Lord
and of our hearty co-operation with the Society in furthering
the harvest work, in whatever little ways we can. We daily
remember you all at the throne of heavenly grace.
We would appreciate very much to nave a brother come
up to our place as soon as you can arrange for such a visit.
We are very hungry for fellowship and a few words of encouragement
along "the way," as we aTe quite tried by the
opposition we sometimes meet. Our town hag of late been
visited by two evangelists who, bv invitation of the churches,
have conducted evangelistic services. As usual, they both
found occasion to slander Pastor Russell's character and belittle
his teachings.
We tried personally and by letter to defend both Pastor
Russell and the truth, but to no effect, only to cause more
bitterness to be manifested. It is often difficult to stand for
the truth in a small town, where you are known but not permitted
to be given a hearing. We have stood thus for twelve
years or more, and expect to stand until the^ end, by God's
grace, endeavoring also to watch for opportunities to present
the truth to hearing ears. Have at present a little encouragement
in this way. We trust, if it be the Lord's will, that some
fruit may result. Shall be very much pleased to soon see
one of your familiar faces with ns again. The Lord's continued
-favor be with you all.
Yours in the Master's service, Wi£, Hjobth.— N. Y.
ANOTHER VOICE FBOM ABBOAX*
Deab Bbethbew vsr the Lord —
Seeing that so many dear brethren have written expressing
continued loyalty to the truth and the harvest work
one is also prompted to write you a line to say that the dear
friends in Portsmouth, England, are fully in harmony with
the expressions of loyalty that have already been given to
the cause.
How glad we are that our dear Pastor, who like the
[6062]
March 15, 1917
THE WATCH TOWER
(94-95)
Master stood so long and resolutely against the almost continuous
attacks of the great adversary, has now been counted
worthy of experiencing his great change (we are sure it has
been a great one), and is now in the actual presence of his
Master, made like him and seeing him as he is 1
Our loss over here is very small, dear brethren, compared
with that which you must have experienced, because
we still have our dear Pastor's presence with us in his writings
. But at the Bethel, what a vacancy there must be !
Our prayers are that you may continue faithful in the
work of serving as "signs" to the world, and in assisting in
building up in the most holy faith those who shall be accounted
worthy to participate in the first resurrection. With
continued love in the Lord n
Yours in His Service, T. Stracy. — England.
MEMORIAL TOWER LIKE BRIBE OF CHRIST
Dear Friends; —
I want to thank you and to congratulate you upon the
Memorial number of The Watch Tower. It reminds me of
the bride of Christ; for it is not especially beautiful or attractive
on the outside, but it is all glorious within. Its contents
are certainly an incentive to press on with renewed
vigor and to strive to follow the example of our beloved
Pastor, as he followed Christ.
The extra copies I sent for will do good service; for 1
want others to know something of the character of this saint
of God who has just been taken from the earth.
Yours in the Redeemer, Jessie I. Todd. — Ky.
TRUTH MORE PRECIOUS THAN EVER
To all the Precious Family at Bethel: —
Greetings and heartfelt love in our dear Redeemer's name!
Now that I have found my breath again, after the shock of
my life, I just wish to write a line of loving sympathy and
cheer to your dear hearts. You have been so much on my
mind since our beloved one went under the veil, and we are all
praying day and night that your dear hearts may be so
thoroughly established that
<f No storm can shake your inmost calm,
While to that Refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can you keep from singing!"
We praise God more for the blessed truth today than
ever before, and we never were more determined to press on
to the finish, even as our dear Brother Russell did, who was
such a noble example to us all. We have the Lord's graciou3
promise still, that he will never leave us nor forsake us.
No doubt that the rest of the dear "feet of him" will soon
be with dear Brother Russell again in the grand reunion,
where we can serve our glorious heavenly Father in perfection
, "Oh, that I may be one found worthy to reign
with Christ a thousand years!"
We know that we will have an interest in your prayers,
as you have in all of ours. May the richest blessings of
the Lord be with you all, dear friends and brethren. Please
find enclosed $— — for "Good Hopes." By divine favor and
love, Your brother and sister,
C. E. Hbabd and wife. — B. C.
HIS GLORIOUS TRIUMPH AH INCENTIVE TO AXL
Dear Brethren of the Watch Tower: —
We desire to mingle our joy and sorrow with all of the
dear Israel of God everywhere at this time — sorrow because
of the loss of our Beloved Pastor in the flesh; joy because
we realize that his sufferings and trials now are over, and
that having been a faithful overcomer, he has now partaken
of the glorious divine nature. We Hfl up our hearts in
gratitude to our heavenly Father for having spared him
from the violent death so many of us had anticipated would
close his earthly career. Surely God is "too wise to err, too
good to be unkind!"
Our Pastor's glorious triumph is a great incentive to us
all to renew our consecration unto death, and to "strive to
enter in." Having been elected Pastor of the little Ecclesia
here, until his death, we desire to testify of the great help
that we have received through his faithful ministration, although
we have had him here only once in person. We are
determined to go on, as if he was still here, loyally defending
the "Faith once delivered unto the saints." Praying for,
and supporting those who have accepted the great responsibility
of carrying on the glorious work, we are, with much
love in the Lord to all of "like precious faith,"
Your Brethren in Christ. Preston Ecclesia. — England.
A MESSAGE FROM WALES
Dear Brethren in the Lord: —
After reading in the Bee. 1st Watch Tower the wonderful
arrangements for the Harvest work in future, dictated by
our beloved Pastor and Brother C. T. Russell, who we believe
was "that servant," we, as a class of consecrated saints,
resolve that we will be faithful to the Brethren elected to
carry on the work of dispensing the "meat in due season,"
as prepared by our departed brother, the Lord's servant, to
build up the Church in the most holy faith and to gather the
wheat into the garner.
We further resolve, that inasmuch as this man of God
has faithfully followed the Lord's instructions, has completed
his work on this side of the veil, and has received his full
reward, we who have been influenced by his noble life and
Christian character feel constrained, both individually and as
a whole body, to renew our efforts to press on towards the
goal which we believe he has attained. Praying the Lord's
blessing upon your labor of love, we remain,
Your brethren in Chriat,
Ecclesia at Pontardulais. — Wales.
PHOTO-DRAMA IN NEWFOUNDLAND
Dear Brethren: —
Recently we gave the four parts of the Photo-Drama of
Creation in our town. Much interest was manifested. One
man who had been saying very unkind things about us seemed
to be pleased with the pictures. We ourselves enjoyed them
more than ever before; and the townspeople were carried
away with them. To satisfy the public demand the Drama
will have to make quite a lengthy visit here. It is really
pathetic to hear people say, "We missed all this last Spring!"
Although they were not very far from where the Drama
was shown at that time, yet somehow it was not advertised
in their section. Now they are hungry enough to appreciate
the lectures and the music even without the pictures!
One of the sisters operates very skillfully; as a Drama
operator she knows her work thoroughly, and weaves in fine
explanations. When we meet opposition, we tell the opposers
to be careful not to allow their wrong views to cause them
to miss the great prize. When the lectures were finished, a
man said, "That is all truth." He is a very quiet man; but
whatever he says is to the point, and he seems to be accepting
the message thus far, even to "What is the Soul?"
We have been looking for an opening at . Several
there, among them a school teacher, are reading all the literature
they can get.
Somehow I feel that we shall not leave here very soon.
The people seem to be holding on to us very tightly j and we
do not feel that it is right to leave them until they are
thoroughly grounded in the Truth. We think that more can
be accomplished by our staying here for a time.
Your Sister in Christian love, C. B. Parrish.
SO WONDERFUL A CHARACTER I
Beloved Brethren; —
I desire you to know that I have been greatly blessed
by reading the Memorial Number of The Watch Toweb.
The cpnduct of our dearest brother on his last Pilgrim
tour, as related there, shows so wonderful a character that,
while reading, I could not restrain a tear as I thought of how
little I am in comparison and how wonderful is the kindness
of God to permit even me to have a share in the things of
Christ and to be associated with his noble people; the thought
has well nigh overwhelmed me, but I have made it another
stepping-stone to the higher life.
And how beautiful and appropriate is that picture on the
last cover page! What loving compassion in His eyes! What
tenderness in His countenance! How eloquent are the silent
sentiments of the whole, assuring us that the Good Shepherd
still leads the flock! Surely he will deliver thee from the
snare of the fowler; He will cover thee with his feathers,
and under his wings shalt thou find shelter!
Your fellow servant, J. A. Brown. — Canal Zone.
CANADIAN FRIENDS PLEASED
Dear Brethren: —
The little item in The Tower of Feb. 1, in reference to
Canadian Towers being sent as first-class matter henceforth,
in order to avoid delay through Canadian mails, was of
much interest to us. Our Towers have been seriously delayed
, particularly of late.
We have refrained from complaint; because we felt assured
that the Society was doing all it could in the matter. We
believe it is now in order, however, to express appreciation of
the move made to avoid further delay, and we have much
pleasure in informing you that our ecclesia, by unanimous
vote, passed a resolution expressive of appreciation of your
move, to be attested also by a contribution to the funds of the
Society to cover the additional postage expense incurred by
sending the Towers direct. Please find enclosed an express
order for In lieu of the foregoing.
Assuring you of our continued prayers and co-operation
in this glorious service,
Your brethren by His grace, Truro Ecclesia. — Canada*
[6063]
ANGELOPHONE COMPANY CLOSING OUT
The friends who organized the Angelophone Oo. had hoped
to furnish good records dictated by Brother Russell. Some
of the first were not as clear as desired, and Brother Russell
expected to re-record them, but passed away before being able
to do so.
Orders came in so rapidly, the number of records to be
handled was so great, and the requests so urgent, that it was
impossible to test each set before shipping; hence the filling
of many of the orders in the original packages of the manufacturers
. It was later found that these records were not even
as good as those first received, and the manufacturers claim
they cannot do better*
So many complaints have lately been received that the
Angelophone Co. has decided to close out at once. Some of
the records are quite good, and all orders on hand will be filled
as far as possible, unless otherwise ordered. Some may desire
to have even these imperfect records. If so, orders should be
sent at once.
The Watch Tower Bible and Tbact Society possesses two
excellent Columbia records of Brother Russell's voice, consisting
of four introductory and four intermission talks of the PhotoDrama
of Cbeation. Each of these is a double record — two
talks on each side. These records can be used on an Angelophone
by reversing the reproducer. We are obliged not to sell
the Columbia records under $1.00 per record.
NO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
After the passing away of Brother Russell, who was executive
officer of the Society by virtue of being President, the
Board of Directors provided for an Executive Committee to
look after the executive work of the Society. That Committee
ceased to exist upon the election of a President; hence there
is now no Executive Committee. To avoid delay and confusion
, please address no mail to the Executive Committee.
The President of the Society is the executive officer of the
Society and matters of that nature are in his hands.