The Watchtower, October 1, 1917

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Vol. XXXVIII

BROOKLYN, N. Y., OCTOBER 1, 1917

No. 19

THE CONCLUDING WORK OF THE HARVEST

And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire, and cried with a loud voice to him that had a

sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes

are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle upon the earth and gathered the vine of

the earth and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God." — Rev. 14:18, 19.

It is the new creation that is gathered into the garner of Isaac, she became his wife, thus foreshadowing how Jehovah

the Lord. It is the vine of the earth, composed of the tare

systems of the earth, that must be gathered for destruction.

Such were the words of the Master.

For nineteen centuries God has been preparing the new

creation. That work is now reaching a climax. Jehovah is

a strict economist. He wastes neither time nor effort. The

length of time and the expenditure of treasure is evidence

all-sufficient of the great importance of the work of completing

the new creation. This work has consisted of the

purchasing, calling, begetting and transformation of poor, sad,

dying human beings into perfect, joyful, spirit beings of

superlative beauty and glory, possessing life immortal and

powers for usefulness without limitation.

Long ago, at great cost to himself — yea, at the cost of the

dearest treasure to his own heart — Jehovah provided for the

purchase of the entire human race. The purchase-price has

been used for those who will compose the new creation, and

they have been brought to a knowledge of that fact and joyfully

accepted the benefits thereof.

PICTURES FORESHADOWING DEVELOPMENT

Long, long before the beginning of the actual development

of the new creation, God caused many wonderful pictures to

be made, foreshadowing the preparation for and the process

of bringing to completion the great work in behalf of the

new creation. To Abraham he made a promise concerning

the same, designating that class as "the seed" from which shall

go forth the blessings to all humankind. Abraham offered

up his son in the mountain and received him as from the

dead, picturing the death and resurrection of the antitypical

Isaac, the Lord Jesus. (Hebrews 11:17-19} For many centuries

God's typical people offered yearly sacrifices foreshadowing

the great sin-offering on behalf of the church and the

world. David in his experiences typified the church at war,

while Solomon pictured the new creation in glory.

The sin-offering on behalf of the church being finished,

God issued a call for the election of the new creation. Mark,

that this call began at Pentecost and not before; there the

heavenly way was opened.

God designates this class as his elect, as distinguished from

the non-elect. Selected from amongst men, favored with a

knowledge of his great plan and furnished with the rules

governing the election, the catted ones have the assurance that

if they conform themselves to these rules they will be elected

judges and blessers of mankind, and thereafter forever be the

recipients of Jehovah's favor.

Again, Jehovah likens this class unto a glorious temple,

of which Solomon's Temple was a type or picture. The material

for Solomon's Temple was prepared in advance, and

when the time came it was put together without noise or

confusion. (1 ICings 6:7) So the new creation has been long

in the course of preparation. Now it is being put in order

and the glorious temple is being erected, without noise or

confusion, and without the knowledge of the world.

Long centuries ago God caused to be erected in Egypt a

mighty pillar of stone, composed of many stones, all dressed

and nicely shaped and fitted to the one chief corner stone.

The entire structure constituted a grand building in the form

of a pyramid, picturing the new creation in the likeness of

God.

St. Peter speaks of the new creation as living stones

built up into a spiritual house. {1 Peter 2:4-9) The Lord's

Prophet refers to the same as the ''jewel class," constituting

the precious jewels of Jehovah. He divides the new creation

into twelve tribes or companies, and then selects twelve of

the most precious or rare jewels of all material creation to

picture the respective tribes. (Rev, 21:19, 20) Another of his

prophets speaks of this class as a crown of glory in the hand

of Jehovah, a royal diadem in the hand of God. (Isaiah 62:3)

Again, this class is pictured as a royal priesthood, meaning

that they shall both reign with Christ and minister blessings

unto the world. They were pictured by Melchisedec, whose

priesthood had neither predecessor nor successor, signifying

that the new creation will be in a class distinctive and alone

in Jehovah's great realm.

Many centuries ago Jehovah made another picture by

causing Abraham to send his servant into a distant country

to select a wife for Isaac, When Rebecca was brought to

sent his Spirit into the earth to select from amongst men the

antitypical Rebecca as the bride for the antitypical Isaac.

The Lord has made the relationship of husband and wife

picture the relationship between Jesus and his bride, — Ephesians

5:25-32.

It is a recognized rule that the antitype is greater than

the sum total of all the types. The marriage of Jesu3 and

his bride, which soon will be completed, will therefore, as the

antitype, be far greater than all the marriages of earth. Call

to mind all the happiness and joy manifested at all the weddings

of all the ages that have occurred on earth, an,d then

know that the sum total of these marriages is nothing as compared

to the unspeakable joy that will pervade the universe

on the festal day when Jesus and his bride shall be made one.

WHO WIZiI. SHARE IN THIS FAVOR

The elaborate program arranged by Jehovah, and the time

and the treasure consumed in carrying it out, enable us to

grasp in a measure the great importance of this work and

the marvelous blessings that shall follow its completion. With

his heart fired with a burning desire to attain unto the position

offered, the Apostle said, "That I may know him, and

the power of hi& resurrection, and the fellowship of his

sufferings, and -be made conformable to his death: if by any

means I might attain unto the .resurrection of the dead

This one thing I do, forgetting the things that are behind

and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press

forward along the mark for the prize." (Philippians 3:10-14)

Those who attain to this exalted position will be they who love

the Lord supremely, who keep his commandments with a joyful

heart and with delight submit to his holy will. The

special commandments to the new creation are, That ye love

one another, even as I have loved you"; "Thrust in the sickle

and reap"; "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee

the crown of life." To the faithful he says, "He that reapeth

receiveth wages." — John 13:34, 35; Revelation 14:15; 2:10;

John 4:36.

It follows that the harvest work is of the greatest importance

. It may properly be divided into three parts: (1) the

bride making herself ready for the marriage; (2) the bride

class declaring the message of the kingdom to others, that

they might be invited to the marriage feast; (3) the gathering

of the grapes of "the vine of the earth." It is difficult to see

how the bride could make herself ready if she failed or refused

to declare the message to others; and particularly is

this true if the opportunity to do the work of the harvest

is granted and she fails to avail herself of such opportunity.

Those who reap receive the wages. It follows that those who

fail to reap in the manner prescribed could not expect to

receive the wage.

PERIOD OF THE HARVEST

It is important for us to know when the harvest began

and when it will end. We feel sure it is pleasing to the Lord

that we make an effort to know. The Jewish and Gospel

ages parallel each other, both in time and in events. Our

thought once was that the Jewish harvest began with the

eonsecration of our Lord, in A. D, 30, and ended with the

destruction of Jerusalem, in A. D, 70 — a period of forty years.

But, as pointed out by Brother Russell in The Watoh Tower

last year (page 264), this view does not seem to be supported

by the Scriptures. Jesus was not one who was harvested ; for

he was always in harmony with Jehovah. During the three

and a- half years of his ministry he recognized the law arrangement

in force (Matt 23: 1-3) —that three and a half years

was the period of preparation, the gathering of the loyal

Jews together, and especially of preparing the apostles a3

his instruments for the work of harvest that was to follow.

The heavenly garner could not possibly be opened until Jesus

had provided the ransom-price, and had ascended on high

and presented it to the Father. — 2 Thn. 1:10.

It was at Pentecost that the apostles received the holy

•Spirit. Then it was that St. Peter stood up and spoke with

authority to the Jews, and told them how that Jesus was the

great Redeemer whom they had wickedly slain, but whom God

raised up. "Now when they heard this, they were pricked

in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the

Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter

said unto them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you,

(291-292)

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Octobse 1, 1917

T H E WA TCH TOWER

(292-293)

in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins; and

ye shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise

is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar

off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." — Acts

2:37-39.

Here, for the first time, the call went forth to enter the

race for the prize of heavenly glory, and on that same day

about three thousand responded to the call. Prior thereto

there was no garner. Not even the Apostles could receive the

holy Spirit until that day. This would seem to establish

beyond question of doubt that the Jewish harvest began at

Pentecost.

This conclusion in no wise interferes with our chronology,

but instead confirms it. The year 1914 marked the end of the

Gentile times, but did not mark the end of the harvest of

the Gospel age. Many have consecrated and given evidence

of spirit-begetting since 1914, which is the best evidence that

the harvest is not yet closed.

END OF JEWISH HAEVEST

Just before his crucifixion Jesus was asked by his disciples

three questions in one, namely: (1) When shall the temple

be destroyed? (2) What would be the proof of his presence

and (3) of the end of the age? These questions he answered.

(Matthew 24 : 3-35) The historical facts show: ( 1 ) the

destruction of Jerusalem, A. D. 70; (2) the complete subjugation

of Judea, A. D. 73, and (3) the depopulation of Palestine,

A. D. 135. Thus it follows that there were three different

endings relative to the Jewish polity. Which one of these did

the Lord intend should be our guide in the' harvest parallels?

Jesus declared, "The harvest is the end of the age."

(Matthew 13:39) Therefore we must find that when the

harvest ended, the age is ended. He could not have meant

A. D. 70 and its parallel date, 1915, as marking the end of

the harvest, because the harvest did not end there. It is still

going on. He could not have meant A. D. 135 and the parallel

date, 1980, for the reason that such a conclusion would entirely

destroy the parallel with reference to the harvest.

In giving his answer with reference to the end of the

age, Jesus said, "Let them which are in Judea flee to the

mountains." Judea more particularly types Babylon. The

date of the fall of Judea, therefore, is of great importance.

In Volume 7, Studies in the Sckiptures, pages 23 and 24,

we have collected seven historical authorities definitely establishing

the fact that Judea's fall occurred on the first

day of the Feast of the Passover (April 15) A. D. 73, which

was exactly forty years after Pentecost, the beginning of the

Jewish harvest, therefore marking the close of the Jewish

harvest in A. D. 73.

GOSPEL AGE HAEVEST

The proof heretofore published in Studies in the Scriptures

definitely establishes the second presence of our Lord

since 1874. Correspondingly, the three and a half years

following would be a period of preparation for the harvest

of the Gospel age, exactly as such preparation was made for

the harvest of the Jewish age, and would consequently mark

the beginning of the harvest of the Gospel age in 1878.

Likewise, the proof heretofore published definitely establishes

the resurrection of the sleeping saints in A, D. 1878.

(See Rev. 14:13 comments in Vol, 7) St. Paul clearly establishes

the fact that none could be gathered into the

heavenly garner of the Lord in the harvest of the Gospel age

until after the awakening of the saints, saying, "For this we

say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are

alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede

them which are asleep ; for the Lord himself shall descend

from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel

and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise

first."—l Thessalonians 4:16, 16.

Immediately following the announcement in Rev. 14:13,

''Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth,"

we read (Verse 14) "and behold a white cloud, and upon

the cloud I saw one sitting like unto the Son of Man, having

on his head a golden crown and in his hand a sharp sickle."

Thus is described the second presence of our Lord as the

great Chief Reaper, at the beginning of the harvest in 1878.

The 15th verse of that same chapter refers to the Great Pyramid

, the measurements of which confirm the Bible teaching

that 1878 marked the beginning of the harvest of the Gospel

age. The parallel, therefore, would establish definitely that

the harvest would close forty years thereafter; to wit, in the

spring of A. D. 1918. If this be true, and the evidence is

very conclusive that it is true, then we have only a few months

in which to labor before the great night settles down when no

man can work.

Now we have come to another step in* the pathway of

present truth j and the question that confronts the people

of God is, Are we ready for it? In 1875, when Brother Russell

learned of the presence of our Lord, he immediately saw from

Revelation 14:14, 16 that the work which the Lord would have

his people to do is to reap the harvest of ripened wheat.

(Matt. 13:39) The Lord has been pleased to remove Brother

Russell from the earthly stage of action; and now the great

Shepherd of the sheep" has called our attention in unmistakable

terms to the fact that he has a work for the church

yet in the flesh, following the harvesting of the wheat, a work

which is described in detail in Rev. 14:17, 19, as the harvesting

of the vine of the earth. This work is doubtless the same

as that described in Matt. 13:40, 43. It is a work of exposing

to all the world the unrighteousness of the ecclesiastical systems

, their acts and their unholy alliances with the beastly

governments of the present evil order of things. It also seems

to relate to the gathering out from amongst God's professed

consecrated people of all offending ones. — Matthew 13:41.

THE LAST WOBK OF THE CHTJBOH

If any of us have come to this hour expecting that the

last work of the church in the flesh would be one of quiet,

pleasing, easy triumph, void of severe and fiery trials, then

surely we have misread our Bibles and Studies in the Scriptures

and the pages of history. Never before were there so

many indications as now that the church is in the great

enemy's territory undergoing final and crucial testing, with

still more in front of her. She must continue her fight to

the end, amidst graver perils than any she has encountered

for a long time.

To accomplish the work now at hand the Lord will use such

instruments as he has provided. He has placed an instrument

within the reach of every one of the Elijah class who desires

to have a part in setting the nominal heavens on fire. The

instrument is the Seventh Volume of Scripture Studies, and

other kindred truths which the Lord has been providing for

the church. In Revelation 22:10 he tells us, "Make no secret

of the predictions contained in this book; for the time for their

fulfilment is now close at hand."

The church is now in a time of severe trial and testing.

Many things are arising that have a tendency to cause doubt.

The church needs comfort and encouragement. There is

nothing that will give her so much encouragement and comfort

as to engage intelligently and enthusiastically in the harvest

work, with the instruments which the Lord has provided for

that work at .this time. Concerning the Seventh Volume,

Brother Russell said: "It will probably be given to the church

in a time of direst need, for her comfort and encouragement,"

Again he said, "It will be for the purpose of enabling the

church to stand after first having been developed." He

pointed out that the book would be an explanation of Revelation

and Ezekiel. Can we ever look for another explanation

of Revelation such as we now possess, with 743 extracts from

Brother Russell's pen and thousands of Scripture references

confirming the same? Brother Russell replied to a question

concerning the Seventh Volume, "If the Lord shows me the

key, I will Write the Seventh Volume; if he shows the key

to someone else, he can write it." Brother Russell himself is

the key, and his modesty and humility prevented him from

seeing it. He is the prominent figure foreshadowed both in

Revelation and Ezekiel.

THE PEHHT

Explaining the parable of the Penny (Matthew 20:1-16),

Brother Russell set forth in Scbiptube Studies, Vol. Ill, page

223, that the penny is "Kingdom honors." In Psalm 149:5-9

we read, "Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing

aloud upon their beds; let the high praises of God be in their

mouths and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute

vengeance upon the heathen and punishment upon the people;

to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters

of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written; this

honor have all the saints." Commenting upon this Psalm,

Brother Russell stated that the "honor" here referred to would

be conferred upon the saints on this side of the veil; that the

sword, likewise, would be used by the saints on this side the

veil. It is a great and wonderful honor to have part in wielding

the sword now (the message of truth) that is binding

the kings, rulers, nobles and systems of this world. Everyone

who joyfully receives and uses the "point" of the sword, to

wit, the Seventh Volume (Ezek. 21:14, 15), thus receives

"Kingdom Honors" — The Penny.

For many years we have been promised the Seventh Volume.

All have looked for it, expecting the last coming into the

truth would be classed equally with the first in receiving it.

[6149]

(294-295)

THE WATCH TOWER

Brooki,yw» N. Y.

The parable shows that some would murmur and complain.

In harmony with this parable we see some murmuring and rejecting

Volume Seven. Hence they are not satisfied with the

penny — the honor that the Lord has offered them of having

part in this wonderful closing work of the harvest. Such are

not engaged now in the harvest, but are more particularly

engaged in murmuring, in finding fault and in trying to hinder

the work.

THE ANGEL WITH THE SICKLE

"And another angel came out from the altar, which had

power over fire, and cried with a loud voice to him that had

the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sickle and gather the

cluster of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully rrpe."

(Rev. 14:17, 18) Clearly, the angel here mentioned is the

Watch Tower Biblb: a^d Tract Society, The altar represents

the place of sacrifice, and the Society is maintained by

the sacrifices of saints. The Lord has used the Society since

its organization, and is still using it. There would be no

reason why he would change his channel, or chariot, or method

of hearing the message to his people until the work is finished.

The sacrifice of the saints has wonderfully increased the

work during the present year. The contributions for the year

1917 are already far in excess of the entire year 1916, and

there are yet two months more of this year. The volunteer

work for this year is much greater than in 1916. There has

been a great increase in the pastoral work. It has been frequently

remarked at the conventions J,his year that never has

there been such a spirit of loving devotion to the Lord and

his cause and to each other as is shown by the friends in

general, with the firm determination to finish their course

with joy by now grasping the sword and using the "point"

of it--the Seventh Volume — to the glory and praise of the

Master. Interest at public meetings is also wonderfully increasing

"Which had power over fire," means the authority to publish

and send out an explanation of the prophecies of Ezekiel

and Revelation, which are destructive to the present erroneous

systems by turning the flood of light upon them. This is

exactly the work now being done by the Society. "And the

angel [Society] thrust in his sickle [message of truth] into

the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into

the great winepress of the wrath of God" — by distributing

far and wide amongst order-loving people the good news that

the Babylonish systems of error are doomed, and a better

time is near at hand. Will you have a part in this good

work? Are you doing your part, and receiving the blessing?

THE GREAT DEIVE BEGINWIKG

Many are signifying their keen interest in this work by

entering the colporteur service. The demand for colporteurterritory

is every day increasing. Several new pilgrims are

entering the service. The extension work is reviving; the

pastoral work is increasing; volunteers are doing much more

than heretofore; others are doing sharp-shooting; while still

others are giving chart talks, and thus the army of the Lord,

the little band of Gideon throughout the world, is now holding

forth the light, proclaiming the message that the work may be

finished in the Lord's appointed time, Babylon put to complete

rout, and the Lord's little ones gathered home.

Many classes are adopting the following method for a

quick accomplishment of colporteuring of their respective districts

, namely : the territory of a city or a county is assigned

by the Society upon request, to a district committee, consisting

of two or three energetic members ( who may be regular colporteurs

or otherwise) appointed by the class. This district

committee deals exclusively with the home office in the way of

ordering books, making reports, etc. This committee, whose

assignment supercedes all others, will co-operate with any

regular colporteurs who may be in the county, but the understanding

being that the territory will be divided by the committee

into small districts, and that every member in the local

class who has the desire, time and ability will participate

in the rapid colporteuring of that territory, by taking a small

district and working it quickly. Many of the classes are ordering

books in large quantities for this work, the Society granting

them special colporteur rates. Our thought is that the

canvassing of the colporteurs should be done for the entire

seven volumes, but the colporteur should specialize on the

Seventh Volume, To this end we suggest the following as

a method, or canvass:

"Good morning! I have here something that you will want,

and I will take only a moment to call it to your attention.

As we know, for more than three years the world has been

involved in the greatest war of all times. The people everywhere

are asking 'Why should We have such a war? What

win be the result?' Those who read the Bible have wondered

if this is the great war therein foretold. For a long time

order-loving people, Bible readers and Christians have desired

to understand the prophecies of Revelation and Ezekiel.

"I have here a work recently published by the Bible Society

of Brooklyn, New York, which is the first and only

book that makes clear every part of Revelation and Ezekiel.

It takes up these prophecies verse by verse, and explains them.

It throws more light on the present war, the real causes, and

what will be the result, than does anything yet written. It

shows what part the Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians

and other church denominations have played in the

world's history, and what part they are yet to perform. It

treats the subject from the political, scientific, historical and

prophetic viewpoints. Of course you will want it. You can't

afford to be without it. The publishers have placed it at such

a low figure that it is now within the reach of every one.

[Pause a moment for them to ask price of book.]

"The price is only 60 cents, less than half the usual price

of a hook that size. While this book is complete within itself,

yet r it is the last in a series of seven volumes. When you have

these volumes you have a complete library, making clear every

difficult Bible and prophetic question which you have heretofore

been unable to understand. The house also publishes twice

each month a journal which keeps abreast with current events

in the light of the Scriptures. No matter what church you

belong to, you need these books, and particularly the Seventh

Volume. The entire set together with the journal is only

$4.50. Shall I bring them to you?"

Do the colporteur work first, then let pastoral workers

follow, loaning books to those who do not purchase.

The Society has been compelled to order another large

edition of the Seventh Volume, that the demand may be supplied

. The friends are greatly encouraged at the outlook;

and those who love the Lord' supremely are forgetting all

differences and have in mind but one thought, as did St.

Paul: "This one thing I do" — T am determined to win the

prize.

NEW VOLUNTEER MATTEB

The Society is preparing and will shortly issue another

number of volunteer matter for this year. In 1916 we had

only one main issue. This year we have already published

two, and the distribution has far exceeded that of 1916. The

third number is now being prepared and will contain strong,

pointed, compact truths in line with the message set forth

in the Seventh Volume, the leading article being entitled The

Fall of Babylon. We suggest that the friends order immediately

the quantity they will be able to use. Specify B.

S. M. No. 99.

"And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with

a loud voice* saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of

heaven, Come, gather yourselves together unto the supper of

the great God." (Revelation 19:17) The angel standing in

the sun clearly represents the the Elijah class yet on earth

— those, we believe, who have joyfully accepted the Seventh

Volume of Scripture Studies. Greater light has come to

such and they are serene and happy in divine favor. Resplendent

in the light that they have received in the closing

hours of the age, these are eagerly spreading far and near

to order-loving people the enlightening prophecies of Revelation

and Ezekiel, They are not fearful; they are not complainers

; they are not shrinking from duty, hut are fearlessly

and plainly declaring the message of truth, calling to the

eagles (God's consecrated people) to oevenin voiume testimony, n any one present tlien

shall truly be very sorry and ashamed if" I miss the chariot could not see it is the Seventh Volume, he was dumb as well

when it ascends."— Sr. S., N. J. as blind."— E. H. T., D. C ,

"The testimony meeting last Sunday afternoon was about

75% Seventh Volume testimony. If any one present then

INTERESTING LETTERS

CONVINCED THE LOEB MADE NO MISTAKE

Sept. 9th, 1917.

Deab Brethben: —

Greetings in our dear Lord! Just a few lines to tell you

of my full heart sympathy and loyal support in these times

of stress upon the church in general, and particularly upon

our dear President, who is so nobly and faithfully standing

for truth and right. The kindly way in which he has spoken

of the opposing brethren during each and all of the series of

conventions this year has been a grand inspiration to me and

a wonderful lesson in brotherly love. Of him I can now truthfully

say in the words of St. Paul to the Philippian church,

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."

I was so glad to receive Harvest Siftings and to know

exactly how conditions are. One little thing was cleared up

which has been rather a mystery to me for over a year. T

wondered why, when one of the now opposing brethren was in

Vancouver on a pilgrim visit in 1916, he should have spoken

so strangely about Brother Rutherford and Brother Van Amburgh

. He stated at my table that whenever Brother Russell

was away for any length of time, he invariably, upon his return

, would be called upon to straighten out tangles at Bethel,

doctrinally or otherwise, caused by Brothers Rutherford and

Van Amburgh. I believed it then, coming as it did from one

of the Society's officers. How could I reasonably doubt it?

But now, with Harvest Sittings in my hand, I see plainly the

motive behind these remarks. It appears the brother was

here doing what he had been engaged in doing all through

Canada — commonly known by the world as "knocking." Of

course when the election took place last January I was greatly

surprised that without any effort on Brother Rutherford's

part he was placed in the position of honor and trust which

he now holds under the Lord — that of President of the Watch

Towkb Bible and Tract Society, which the Lord loves as

the apple of his eye, I now see the wisdom of the Lord in

the whole matter, and am convinced that He made no mistake.

I notice in the new pamphlet gotten out by the opposition

they charge that the Bethel Family and Pilgrims are staying

by our President because they have been bribed. What an

insult to the dear faithful friends at Bethel whom these

brethren pretended to love! As one of the traveling brethren

I positively deny being bought or bribed. I should think it a

very dangerous position to take — to freely charge any of God's

elect with such a crime:

Dear Brother Rutherford is personally the target for

Satan's darts at this time, but he has the prayers of all true

saints that he may "be strong and very courageous." By

divine favor, I am,

Your brother in the truth, C. E. Heard, Pilgrim.

SOME WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Deab Brethren in Christ: —

The Towers continue to be beautiful and inspiring; they

seem just as stimulating and helpful as when our beloved

Brother Russell was with us. There is one thing which has

impressed me, one thing which marks this periodical as being

of the Lord, namely, the absence of the ego, that personal

element which is likely to engender sectarianism and pride.

The dear Lord will surely continue this "meat in due season

" till the spiritual Israel are sealed and made meet for the

glorious inheritance. Much love and best wishes.

Yours in our dear Redeemer's name,

Frederick Lardent. — England.