The Watchtower, February 1, 1918

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Vol. XXXJX

BROOKLYN, N. Y., FEBRUARY 1, 1918

No. 3

VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER

When asked what would be the evidence of the end of the

world ( age ) , the great Master Teacher enumerated many

things that would come to pass at that time, proving that we

had reached the end of the world. He admonished his followers

to watch the development of these evidences, telling

them, "When these things begin to come to pass then look up,

lift up your heads, for your deliverance draweth nigh." It

seems fitting that we here, from time to time, make note of

these events as they transpire, which were foretold by the

Lord Jesus, that we might be strengthened in faith and hold

fast that which Ave have received and be better prepared to

enter into the kingdom.

Through a number of the prophets God long aforetime

called attention to events corroborating the testimony given

by the Lord Jesus, events which are now being fulfilled before

our eyes. The prophet Elijah, in the mountain, saw a great

wind and then an earthquake, that was followed by a fire,

and then heard the still, small voice. (I Kings 19*: 11, 12}

Elijah in the mount, it seems, represented the church of God,

who, on this side the vail, are privileged to see and to understand

events due which are happening at this time. Thus

seeing and understanding and appreciating their privilege,

they are further blessed with the opportunity of binding the

religio-political "kings" with chains of restraining truth; and

the "nobles" with fetters of iron — the beginning of the

restraints of the coming iron rule of the kingdom of God.

As another evidence that the Lord used Pastor Russell ns

liis messenger to the Laodicean period of the church's development

, we note that he wrote twenty years ago foretelling

events now transpiring. He said:

''The four exhibitions of the Lord given to Elijah represent

, we believe, four manifestations in which the Lord is

a>bout to reveal himself to mankind, the first three of which

will prepare men for the final one in which will come the

desired blessing to all the families of the earth. The first was

the blowing of the -winds, which seem to be used in the

Scriptures for wars. Second, an earthquake. Throughout

the Scriptures an earthquake seems always to represent revolution

, and it is not unreasonable to expect that an era of

general warfare would so arouse the lower classes of Europe

and so discontent them with their lot (especially with the

conditions which would follow such a war) that revolution

would be the next thing in order. (Rev. 16:18) But severe

though those revolutionary experiences will be to the world,

they are not sufficient to prepare men to hear the voice of

God. It will require fire from Heaven." The Watch Tower,

July 1st, 1898, Page 208.

Already we witness the nations passing to the second stage

foretold by Elijah's experience, namely, revolution. Already

revolution has its grip upon Russia and threatens all the

other kingdoms. Revolutionists have control in Russia and a

reign of tyranny and crime is the result. Famine adds to the

terror, and many are robbed and maltreated. The press

despatches, on January 7th, state:

"The new masters of the situation are laborers, factory

hands, shop men, waiters and domestic servants, while their

former masters have to sing small and listen to their employes

. All relationships are reversed. Socialist decrees are

rapidly issued for this purpose every day.

"The food situation is critical, owing to the suspension of

railway communication. Many trainloads of food for Petrograd

have been looted by soldiers and peasants while on the

way. Starvation seems to stare us in the face. We receive

a small quantity — three quarters of a pound — of black bread

per head for two days. The black, sometimes dark brown,

bread, doled out by a card system, is sticky, gritty stuff, only

half baked, composed of millers* refuse with mixed straw and

of the consistency of putty. Meat is a rare luxury. Home

flesh is in common use.

"Petrograd is full of dirt, disorder and crime. There has

been no cleaning since the beginning of the war. Burglary,

robbery and murder in audacious forms prevail to an extent

hitherto unknown. There are no police and no authority one

van appeal to. Men and women are stripped of overcoats and

shoes in the streets at night, and armed marauders, in military

uniform, enter houses under a pretext of official searches.

Thieves in stolen motor ears hold up persons driving sledges.

Nobody knows where to put money and valuables safely, since

even private safes and banks are subjected to revision by

government agents."

AFTER THE WIND THE EARTHQUAKE

The Bolshevik i threaten to carry the revolution to every

country on earth. A press despatch from London, dated January

]2th, reads as follows:

'"The call of Ensign Krylenko, the Bolshevik Commanderin

-Chief, for volunteers for a Russian army, was issued in

the form of an appeal to the soldiers and workmen and aB a

reply to the German peace proposals.

[6206]

FEBRUARY 1, 1918

THE WA TCH TOWER

(35-36)

"In the event of a separate peace between Germany and

Russia, the call declares the Russian republic and its councils

will be surrounded on all sides by enemies. Krylenko

contin ues :

" 'American and French financiers are lending money to

provide war material for Kaledin. The German bourgeoisie

are quite prepared to use them as allies for stifling the Russian

revolution.

" 'These are conditions which raise for the Russian

peasants and workmen the whole question of the defense of

the conquest achieved by the revolution and of the holy war

against the bourgeoisie, not only of Russia, but of Germany,

France and Great Britain.

" 'Should the bourgeoisie be victorious they will take

vengeance in the shape of the most cruel terror and torture,

drenching the land with blood, and which would put in the

shade the torments inflicted by the satellites of the Czar.

" 'It may be that a holy war on the fronts as well aa

behind the lines s-t nnds before us as a terrible and unavoidable

fate.'

'The appeal concludes by declaring that there will be no

compulsion in recruiting."

Nicholas Lenine, the Bolshevik Dictator and Prime Minister

of Russia, answers:

"What are the Bolsheviks, and what do they want? The

Bolsheviks are a communistic party representing first the

day laborers; secondly, all such workmen as are, as Russians

say, 'Soznatelniye,' that is, such as have a full class and

political consciousness; and finally, the landless or nearly

landless peasants.

"These classes stand for immediate Socialism. Their

notion of Socialism is a republic ruled by the Councils of

Work men* s, Soldiers' and Peasants* Deputies. They are

against every form of monarchy and every form of political

power except such as reposes in the hands of the Councils of

Deputies. They are against all governments of the type of

the governments of LvofT and Kerensky. They intend to prepare

our two hundred million Russians for government by the

Councils of Deputies."

Others, too, see and dread the wind, earthquake and fire,

not discerning behind it all the wonders of the kingdom of

God. Blinded by the god of this world and by his angels

(messengers — clergymen — 2 Corinthians 11:15) who have for

centuries posed as messengers of light, they see the events but

do not understand their significance. Prominent clergymen,

with ears fairly itching to know what the people want to

hear {2 Timothy 4:3), tell their deluded flocks that there is

no trouble ahead, more than ordinary; tint if the people will

only trust the (blind) guides they will all land in the

Elysian fields of a better age, not realizing that they are on

the very brink of anarchy. When the people wake up to the

truth of the situation, they will have no pity on those

trusted servants who lulled them to sleep on the verge of

the precipice. — 2 Chronicles 36:14-19.

MEK'S HBAETS FAILING THEM TOR TEAB

There are some watchers who are not clericals who warn

drowsy Christendom in vain. Winston Churchill, in the

"New York Times" of December 2nd, 1917, says:

"The more one sees of this war, the more one is inclined

to the belief that its real significance lies behind the battle

lines rather than on them. Like the great war that followed

the French Revolution, it has two aspects, the military and

the social, and of these the social is the more serious of the

two, as far as the future of the world U concerned. A process

of ferment betokening profound social changes had for some

time been going on with more or less intensity in various

countries before the war'ibegan; and, contrary to certain

prophecies , the war tended to hasten rather than retard the

process.

"The keynote of what is likely to happen in other allied

countries in case of a German victory, or of even a pronounced

German success, has been struck in Russia, That

ferment has been seething for a long time. Since 1905 Russia

has been waiting to overthrow a bureaucracy upheld by a

mystical and fanatical Czar; the peasants, the* army, from an

outraged sense of betrayal, supported the revolution, whereupon

the revolt at once took on the true evolutionary colors

of the time. The inner significance of this war has to "do with

the emancipation of labor, just as the inner significance of

that of a hundred years ago had to do with the emancipation

of the shopkeeper — who has since become a plutocrat! We

not only have to reconcile ourselves to that idea, but we

have the immediate task before us of guiding this evolutionary

tendency by using all our intelligence on the problem, otherwise

we shall have portions of the world given over to

anarchy and chaos. [We would have healed Babylon. —

Jeremiah 51:9, Eds.]

"Russia has had her revolution. And it is safe to say that

in all the nations of the Western World something like a

revolution is due: call it if you like, a profound change in

the social fabric that will probably take place peacefully in

all countries save Germany, where* there is no constitutional

outlet for the people's will.

"So far as the Allies are concerned, the probability of a

social turnover that would paralyze a nation for the proper

prosecution of the war is not unlikely to happen in Italy,

France, and even in Britain, provided the w^r continues to

drag on and on and no more reverses are experienced. The

peace propaganda is mostly among the working classes, but

it must be remembered that the working classes have a potential

, an economic power today far beyond the political power

represented by their votes. 'They have a leverage of which

they are becoming more and more aware. A great many of

them are syndicalists. Like the Junkers — and this is not said

detrimentally, ^ but impartially — they deem their first loyalty

to t>e to their class, they are not inclined to reorganize

national boundaries; they argue that the more revolutions

take place outside of Germany the more likelihood of a revolution

inside of Germany; that the way to stop the war is

by revolution — peaceful if possible.

"This may or may not be true. The question for the

responsible Governments of the nations concerned is whether

it is worth while to take such a chance. Wouldn't it be better

by military means to force Germany to have her revolution

first? That is exactly what, with her cleverness, Junker

Germany is trying to do Avith the allies; she is sowing peace

propaganda among their armies and their populations — now

that Russia can no longer be kept an absolute monarchy,

■which would have suited her better. She has done a great

deal of that sowing in Italy.

"The -situation, then, regarded as judicially as possible,

appears to be this: Can we of the Entente, including

America, 'beat' Germany to the social upheaval? — to use a

slang expression. Can we force her, by properly co-ordinated

military operations and the realization of a common purpose,

to have her revolution first? If we can do this, we shall be

in a position to guide witn more wisdom and less haste the

evolutionary changes that are coming in our own nations."

RESTLESS LABOR

Pastor Russell long ago foretold the failure of the trade

union as a bulwark for labor and the breakdown of Socialism

as a national cure for the ills of discontent. How it is

working out is described editorially in a recent issue of the

"Saturday Evening Post":

"All observers bear witness to a deep undercurrent of dissatisfaction

among industrial wage-earners in England. We

get glimpses of the same thing in France, Italy and Germany.

Conservative organs like the London Times talk darkly about

'the ferment of revolution.'

"Workers are experiencing an extensive application of

state socialism. The plant is controlled by the state now,

and operated not primarily for the profit of its private

owners, but for state service.

"And workers find this state control something much

more formidable and intractable than the old private control

was. Being the -state, it changes laws at will, and a vast

body of public opinion is unquestionably at its command.

"Formerly the worker depended upon his trade-union; but

that reliance is pretty largely broken down. The overwhelming

state demands an extensive dilution of skilled labor —

meaning that a great number of unskilled workers shall be

admitted to the shop and taught the trade, though they have

little or no attachment to the union and are but slightly amenable

to its discipline.

"The right to strike is rather effectually suspended; for

striking against the state comes close to treason. Even the

worker's ancient right to better his condition by leaving one

employer and going to another is restricted. In some cases

he is the state's industrial conscript and must have the state's

permission before he can leave.

"Wages have advanced greatly; but so has the cost of

living. The worker has less effectual voice in the industry

than ever. The new their regular subscription, but to

other than subscribers this extra edition each month is sold

for ten cents, singly, or five cents in lots of fifty or more.

We are printing an extra supply for such orders.

There are many elderly people of German extraction in

this country who read little or no English and who might be

reached in "this way with the message of the Seventh Volume.

It is expected that' not less than 32 Watch Toweb pages will

appear with each issue — over and above the regular 16 pages.

VOLUME VII IN GREEK AND POLISH

Greek and Polish-reading brethren are receiving the

Seventh Volume piecemeal in their respective Watch Towers.

If you have acquaintances or neighbors who read either of

[6209]

these languages in preference to English, we suggest such as

a favorable means for conveying to them the message of

"The Finished Mystery."

(38-45)

LETTERS FROM THE INTERESTED

SPECIAL CLASSES FOB CHILDREN

Dear Brethren; —

One of the perplexing problems confronting many of the

larger classes, for which a solution seems generally difficult,

is what disposition to make of the children during certain

periods of the Sunday services.

Frequently the themes treated are too abstruse for the

children to grasp, and they are seldom if ever permitted to

ask even a question in the Berean studies. To my personal

knowledge many children are anxious to inform themselves

along the lines of the truth but are hindered and discouraged

by arbitrary opposition by some of the elders.

On my own part I cannot see any grounds for objecting

to a special Berean First Volume study for children from

eight to fifteen years of age, if properly eond noted by a qualified

elder. Such an arrangement in my judgment would he

muoh better and far more helpful than" the present practice

by many classes of allowing the children to run loose or have

a season of play during services.

What helpful course of action could best be suggested

under such conditions? Your servant in him,

Wm. A. Baker, — Ore.

OTJB REPLY

Having in mind the period in which Ave are living, it would

seem that to neglect the children of the consecrated at this

time would not be wholly pleasing to the Lord. The prophet

of the Lord says concerning this time: "Seek righteousness,

seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the

Lord's anger." (Zephaniah 2:3) Our thought is that it would

be well for the classes to arrange for one meeting for the children

from eight to fifteen years of age, and have this meeting

led by a competent elder, or other brother who possesses the

qualifications to teach, and that the children be taught concerning

the present-day events and the cause, and particularly

concerning the kingdom of the Lord that shall soon be established

; and generally an outline of the divine plan in so far

as they can understand it.

They should be specially instructed to lead a meek and

quiet life and walk humbly before the Lord, avoiding all troubles

and difficulties and seeking to deal justly with every one

and to be obedient to those to whom they are subject. Nothing

, however, in these suggestions should be understood to minimize

the responsibility of the parents.

CLASS SINGING, PKAYING CUSTOMS, ETC.

Dear Brethren; —

I find various customs prevailing amongst the brethren in

respect to worship. Some sit when they sing and stand when

they pray; others seem to have no regular custom. Have you

any suggestion ?

Another matter: What i-i your thought respecting class

meetings — how should the different members of the class be

called upon by the leader?

Very truly yours, J. A. B.

OUB REPLY

Kvery class has, of course, the right to regulate its own

methods of worship, since the Bible does not give any particular

direction on the subject. Unless the class votes to the contrary

, the Society recommends that all classes rise to sing, because

thus the lungs can have better exercise and the singing is

apt to be the better, and it would be a restful change from the

sitting posture. We advise that at prayer all sit with bowed

heads, this being a reverential attitude and one conducive to

thought on the prayer. Where the meetings are very small

and held in a private room, kneeling would be appropriate, or

whore the prayer is the closing one in the nature of a benediction

and after the friends have been sitting for a good while,

it would be desirable to stand.

In respect to the lending of classes: We feel that we cannot

do better than to direct attention afresh to the very particular

suggestion along this line provided for all in Volume

Vf. of Studies ix the Scriptures. The class leader should

not ask each question of each one present, but merely of one

or two or three, if necessary, until a full, proper answer has

been heard; and then throw the question open, paying: Does

any one have a different thought on this question? Then

briefly, the leader might give his own expression, buttressed

with Scripture, if possible, and read a confirmation from the

Volume of Studies.

GLORIOUS VOLUNTEER WORK

My I)k-\r Brethren" ix Christ: —

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

to all the dear ones at the Bethel Home, whom, though we

do not know all personally, yet we love for their work's sake

and because they are our brethren in Christ.

T know that you are all busy; but allow me, please, to

(46-47) [6210]

take just a few minutes of your valuable time to assure you

that Sr. M and myself aire still loyal to the \V. T. B. & T.

Society — which we have every reason to believe is the Lord's

instrument in the harvest work — and to the officers who by

the Lord's providence have been elected to serve in the various

capacities.

We thank the Lord daily for >c t(hat servant," our dear

Brother Russell, and for his faithful ministry and for the

example he set before us, that he has been called to his reward

, and for the further provision of meat in due season he

has made for us. We are rejoicing in the glorious truth. We

also thank our heavenly Father for the many little privileges

of spreading this glorious truth. Our part in the volunteer

work is indeed a pleasure. We wish to relate a little experience

we had this evening while putting out B. S. M., Vol 9,

No. 5— "Why Do the Nations War?"

A man to whom I had handed a paper while he was

leisurely sitting on his porch stopped me on my way back, on

the other side of the street. He said, "Where are you getting

all these? Who is doing this?" I told him. He seemed to

be very much worked up and angry about something.

He then said, "You do not mean to tell me that God is responsible

for this awful war and all these awful things that

are going on now!" I told him he would have to admit that

if God was all-powerful — as we all believe — he was in a way

responsible in that he was permitting it to go on, and that he

could stop it whenever he pleased. But the fact that he was

permitting it showed that it must be for a wise and good purpose

. He replied, "Well, yes; I guess that is so. But what is

your object in putting these out now?" I said, "Why not?

We are trying to enlighten the people along these lines. No

better time! These are Bible truths now due to be understood

." He said, "Well, T do not want to argue along this

line. I will investigate the thing further." I told him that

was what we wanted him to do.

I think we are going to have some grand opportunities to

witness for the truth. People are beginning to want to know

just what we have to tell them, and some are very glad to

have these little papers. One lady met me half way when 1

was walking toward her house, and said, smiling, "It has been

quite a while since we received one of these." Another lady

told a brother that she was glad to get them, and that she wu*s

saving all of them she could get, besides reading them. I

want to do my part in putting the Seventh Volume into the

hands of the people.

Your brother in Christ, J. F. M. — Ind.

HOW CAM THEY KEEP FROM SINGING!

Dear Brother Rutherford: —

Greetings in the name of him we love! Thanks for your

loving letter. Have recently returned from another pilgrim

tour. This time I visited one of the largest work-centres

where about 110 of our brethren who are conscientious objectors

to military service are confined. Though they are

subjected to many indignities, experience much physical discomfort

, and their liberty is restrained, you will be glad to

know that they, one and all, glory in the privilege of suffering

for righteousness' sake. Their joy in the Lord is grand to see.

They spend much of their leisure time in united study, and

embrace every opportunity to present the truth to their companions

in affliction who belong to other religious bodies. The

Lord has blessed their efforts, and some have been brought to

a knowledge of the truth there, while several are now reading

the volumes. Their favorite hymn is 179 — "My life flows

on in endless song," and it is indeed a great treat to hear

their hearty singing.

I wish specially to thank you for Harvest Siftings No.

II. It clears up some matters which were difficult to understand

, and the spirit in which it is written should do much

to comfort the brethren. The Glasgow church is loyal to you

as their counsellor, and surely you have my own personal

love. I greatly admire your devotion and self-sacrifice, as

well as the gentleness, yet firmness, with whieh you set forth

your position. It is my strong conviction that you have acted

as the Lord would have you do.

Your brother by his grace, Alex Tait, — Scotland.

PRESIDENT'S REPLY

My Dear Brother Tait: —

Your very kind letter to hand. I am glad to hear also

that you have visited our brethren who are incarcerated in

prison. Surely these dear brethren are real martyrs. I am

reminded of the experiences through which the dear ancient

worthies passed, mentioned in the 11th chapter of Hebrews.

They suffered all these indignities in order that they might

have a better resurrection. Let us try to encourage the dear

brethren, that, while they are suffering now, the Lord is

permitting it, giving them a chance to witness by their lives

February 1, 1918

THE WATCH TOWER

(47-51)

to his great plan, and of their privilege to fill up that which

is hehind of the sufferings of Christ. And soon, by his grace,

they shall enter into their everlasting reward, far beyond

any other creatures of the world or in heaven. Please continue

to encourage the dear brethren all you can. If there

is anything that we can do for them here, kindly let me

know.

With miucth love to yo7i and all the- dear ones in Glasgow,

1 beg to remain,

Your brother and servant by his grace,

J. F. RUTHLRFOKl).

AWAKENED BY VOLUME SEVEN

Dkar Sirs: —

Last week I purchased one of your books entitled "The

Finished Mystery" — Series Vll of Studies in the Scriptures.

I did 'not know what it was when I bought it, but I now

thank God that it came into my possession. It is as a drink

to one dying of thirst in a desert.

For the past four years my heart has been full of unrest.

I could not tell why, but I simply could not enjoy going to

church. Try as I might, I could find no satisfaction and

peace when I did go; finally I gave myself up as hopelessly

lost and wondered why I had ever lived.

But now I am awakened! I beg of you to tell me if there

is time enough left for me to do anything in the service

of our King whom I have always loved and longed to serve.

I am sending for the other volumes of Studies in the Scriptures

and for the booklet "About Hell" which you announce.

I can distribute tracts if you have any and will send me some.

I want to become one of you and work in the blaster's vineyard

Yours in need of Christian counsel,

Mes. T. C. Clark,— Okla.

CHURCHES LIKE OPEEA HOUSES

Dear Sirs: —

Some friend has sent me a copy of Volume Seven of your

series of Studies in tjie Scriptures. I don't know who did

it; but I have been praying God to give me more light on

the Bible, and when I received this book it was surely a godsend

. Our churches are getting like opera houses where

people go just to have a good time. Six weeks ago I ceased

going to church. I have quit ehurchianity. I told our minister

that no church institution could serve two masters and

spiritually prosper.

Enclosed find Money Order for $4.60 for which please send

me tlhe entire seven books by Pastor Russell and The Watch

Tower for one year, as announced on the last page of this

Seventh Volume.

Respectfully, 1,. IT. Schulte, County Treas. — Iowa.

WORDS INADEQUATE FOE EXPRESSION

Dear Brethren in tiik Lord: —

Words are totally inadequate to describe the feelings ol

the brethren with regard to the Seventh Volume. We are

unanimous in proclaiming it to be the work of those guided

by God. It is really a wonderful book and, Like the Bible

itself, there is nothing to be eliminated, nor can there be

anything added; it is complete in itself. We join in praising

the great Jehovah in giving us such a help through hie

honored servants.

Our prayer is that the heart of each one may be filled

with a determination to continue faithful unto death.

Your brother in Christ, A. Hunt, — Eng.

VOLUME SEVEN JJJD HER TO CONSECRATION

Dbar Brethren-: —

I am truly grateful that our heavenly Father has placed

the Seventh Volume in my hand. It has brought me out of

darkness into the light. It has opened my eyes of understanding

that 1 have been able to see more clearly God's wonderful

plan. The first word of truth I received was in Octol

>or when one of our dear sisters in the colporteur work askt'd

me to buy Volume Vll. Since then I have bought the other

six volumes and I study every spare moment. I am now one

of the fully consecrated children of God and I pray and trust

that 1 may continue to be until death. I ask you to pray

for me. Your sister by his grace,

Caroline Sciilichenmaier, — Pa.

WHAT THE "PENNY" SIGNIFIES

Dbar Brethren: —

Greetings! Please permit me to draw your attention to

an article from our dear Brother Russell's pen, found in The

Watch Tower of Aug. 15, 1910, page 264, entitled "Go Ye

Also into the Vineyard" — especially that portion under the

subhead, /'Agreed for a Penny a Day." This seems to be

very timely just now in settling the question of the "Penny";

and will you not, dear brethren, prayerfully take the matter

to the Lord, for it seems to me it is indeed "meat in due season

," and would be his will that the article be republished in

The Tower at the present time?

How we rejoice in our privileges of service! "The Lord

bless thee and keep thee" is my prayer continually. With love

and best wishes, as ever,

Your brother in the Lord, W. M. Hersee, — Pilgrim.

[The artiole above referred to is reprinted in this issue. |

"The Lord has indeed multiplied my blessings this day

by the safe and unexpected arrival of the Seventh Volume,

My joy was so evident when the post woman delivered it

that she had to know about it and was glad to get Volume

One for herself. *My cup runneth over.'

"At our Praise meeting tonight the testimonies were full

of thanksgiving for this very precious completing volume.

The immediate effect of the short time already given to Volume

Seven is a heart full of gratitude to God and a reiteration

of my consecration to hdm; also deep thankfulness to our

Lord Jesus, who has girded himself during this harvest period

and is serving us with so rich a feast culminating in

Volume Seven, through that 'faithful servant,' our beloved

Brother Russell (who seems very near to us though parted

from us for a brief while). The preceding six volumes are

made still more precious by the possession of the Seventh.

Truly we are thoroughly furnished." F. H- W., — Scotland.