The Watchtower, July 1, 1922
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Upon the ei’tb disi.ob of nations with perplexity, the sea and the waves (the restless, discontented) roaring, men's neatu failing them for fear and for looking to the things coming upon the earth (society), for the powers of the heavens (ecclesiasticism man be shaken When ye see these things begin to come to pass, then know that the Kinglom of God is at baud Look up, lift up your heads, rejoice, for your redemption drawetb mail—Matt 24 33, Maik 13 29, Luke 21
Vol. XLIII
waft ©f W®
Semi-Mom hly
No r
Anno Mundi 6050 July 1, 1922
CONTENTS
“I VOW TO ... BE ON THE ALERT TO RESIST”
Contending with Satan’s Empire .........
Camouflaged Demonism .. .. .......
Across the Sea ... . ................
The Divine Family (poem) .................
Cedar Point Contention..............
Memorial Reports for 1922 ...............
Daniel Cast to the Lions ..............
“Framing” an Innocent Man End of the Seventy Years’ Desolation
Cyrus a Remarkable Character .....
The Tempi e Rebuilt ..........
Maintaining the Highest Standard . .. The Chui ch a Temple even Now ......
Questions for Tower Berean Study ....
........195
.......197
......197 . .. .199 ......200
*•/ trill ftand upon iny watch and will set iny foot upon the 'Poteet, and nill natch to see what^He will bay unto me, and a hat answer J shall make to them
THIS JOURNAL AND ITS SACRED MISSION
THIS journal Is one of the prime factors or instruments in the system of Bible instruction, or “Seminary Extension”, now being presented in all parts of the civilized world by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, chartered A. D. 1884, “For the Promotion of Christian Knowledge” It not only serves as a class room where Bible students may meet in the study of the divine Word but also as a channel ot communication through which they may be reached with announcements of the Society’s conventions and of the coming of its tiaveling representatives, styled “Pilgrims”, and refreshed with reports of its conventions.
Our “Berean Lessons” are topic.il rehearsals or reviews of our Society’s published Studies most entertainingly arranged, and very helpful to all w*ho would merit the only honorary degree which the Society accords, viz., Verbi Dei Minister (V. D. M ), which translated into English is Minister of God's Void Our treatment of the International Sunday School Lessons is specially for the older Bible students* and teachers. By some this feature is consideied indispensable.
This journal stands firmly for the defense of the only true foundation of the Christian’s hope now being so generally repudiated —iedemption through the precious blood of “the man Chust Jesus, who gave himself a ransom ,[a corresponding price, a substitute] for all”. (1 Peter 1 • 10 ; 1 Timothy 2 G) Building up on this sure foundation the gold, silver and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3: 1115; 2 Peter 1:5-11) of the Word of God, its further mission is to “make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which. . .has been hid in God, ... to the intent that now might be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”—“which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed”.—Ephesians 3:5-9,10.
It stands free from all paities, sects and creeds of men, while it seeks more and more to bring its every utterance into fullest subjection to the will of God in Chust, as expressed in the holy Scriptures. It is thus free to declare boldly whatsoever the Lord hath spoken—according to the divine wisdom granted unto us to undeist.md his utterances. Its attitude is not dogmatic, but confident; for w’e know whereof we'afhim, treading with implicit faith upon the sure promises of God. It is held as a trust, to be used only in big service; hence our deci^ion^ idative to wdiat may and what may not appear m its columns must be according to our judgment of hig good pleasuie, the teaching of his Word, for the upbuilding of his people in grace and knowledge. And we not only invite but urge oui; readers to prove all its utterances by the infallible Word to which referent e is constantly made to facilitate such testing.
TO US THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH
That the church is “the temple of the living God”, peculiarly “his workmanship’ , that its construction has been in progress throughout the gospel age—ever since Christ became the woikl’s Redeemer and the Chief Corner Stone of his temple, through which, when finished. Gods blessing shall come “to all people”, and they find access to him.—1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; Ephesians 2:20-22; Genesis 2S 14 , Galatians 3 29.
That meantime the chiseling, shaping, and polishing of consecrated believers in Christ’s atonement for sin, progresses; and when the last of these “living stones”, “elect and piouuus,” shall have been made joady, wo great Master Workman will bring all together in the first i esiinoi lion and the temple shall be filled with his glory, and be the meeting place between God and men throughout the Millennium—Revelation 15 5-8.
That the basis of hope,-for the church and the world, lies in the fact that “Jesus Chnst, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man,” “a ransom for all,” and will be “the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”, “in due time”.—— Hebrews 2 9 ; John 1*9,1 Timothy 2 5, 6.
That the hope of the church is that she mav be like her Lord, “see him as he is,” be “partakers of the divine nature’,’ and share his glory as his jomt-heir—1 John 3.2; John 17.24; Romans 8:17, 2 Peter 1:4,
That the present‘mission of the church is the perfecting of the saints for the future work of service; to develop in herself every grace, to be God’s witness to the world, and to prepare to be kings and puesu in the next age.—Ephesians 4:12; Matthew 24: 14; Revelation 1.6; 20:6.
That the hope for the world lies in the blessings of knowledge and opportunity to be brought to all by Christ’s Millennial kingdom, tha restitution of all that was lost in Adam, to all the willing and obedient, at the bands of their Redeemer and his glorified church* when all the wilfully wicked will be destroyed.—Acts 3:19-23; Isaiah 35.
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WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY/
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(Foreian translations of this journal appear in several languages)
Editorial Committee: This journal is published under the supervision of an editoual committee, at least three of whom have read and appioved as tiuth each and every article appearing in these columns. The names of the editorial committee are: J. F. Rutherford, W. E. Van AmDurgh, J Hem cry, G. H. fisher, E. W. BrenisbH. Terms to the Lord’s Poor: All Bible students who, by reason of old age or other Infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for this journal, will be supplied free if they send a postal card each May stating their case and requesting such provision. Weare not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually and in touch with the Berean etudes.
Nntic.n tn Sfuhttm.hffm • We do not. as a role, send a card of acknowladniant for a renew*] or notice TO BUD8cnoen. for B new subscription. Receipt and entry ofrenewal are indicated within a month by change in expiration data, as shown on wrapper Label.____ __
Entered a* Second Class Matter al Brooklyn, N. Y.r Postoffioo under the Xet of March 8rd, 1879.
SEVENTH VOLUME WATCH TOWER REPRINTS
We have foi warded copies of the seventh volume of The Watch Townt Reprints to those who ordered and paid for them, with the exception of some whose addresses we are now unable to locate. A number have moved and not sent us their new address, and we simply have notice from the Postmaster to discontinue The Watch Tower. If any who ordered and paid for this volume and who have not received it through change of address, will send us their addresses at once, we will be pleased to forward the book.
STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES
These Studies are i ecommonded 1o students as von table Bible keys, discussing topically every vital doctnne of the Bible. More than eleven million copies are in circulation, in nineteen languages. Two sizes :ue issued (in English oniv) . the legulnr maroon cloth, gold stamped edition on dull finish paper (size 5"\7?''). and the maroon cloth pocket edition on thin paper (size 4"xG8"); both sizes aie printed from the same plates, the dilTeicnce being in the margins; both sizes are pi ended with an appendix of catechistic questions for convenient class use. Both editions uniform in price.
Series I. The Divine JMiui. of the Arps, giving outline of the divine plan revealed in the Bible, lelating to mans icdeinption and restitution : 350 pages, plus indexes and appendixes 50c Magazine edition 20c Also procurable in Arabic, Armenian, Dano-N'of w egian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hollandish. Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Roumanian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukiaiman; regular cloth style, price 75c
Series II, The Time is nt Hand, treats of the mannci and time of the Lord’s becond coming, consideung the Bible testimony on this subject 333 pages, 50c Obtainable in Arabic, Dano Norwegian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Polish, and Swedish 75c a copy.
Series III, Thy KhiRdom Come, considers prophecies which mark events connected with “the time of the end” the glorification of the church and the establishment of the Millennial kingdom it also contains a chapter on the Great Pjranud ot Eg}pt. showing its corroboration of certain Bible teachings: 380 pages, 50c Furnished also in Dano-Norwegian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Polish, and Swedish, 75c.
Series IV, The Battle of Armageddon, shows that the dissolution of the present order of things is m piogre.ss and that all of the human panaceas offered are valueless to avert the end predicted in the Bible. It contains a special and extended treatise, on. our Lord’s great prophecy of Matthew 24 and also that of Zechariah 14:1-9: 656 pages, 55c. Also in Dano-Norwegian, Finnish, Fiencb, Greek, German. Polish, and Swedish, 85c
Series V, The Atonement Between God and Man, tieats an all important subject, the center-around*which ail features of divine grace resolve This topic deserves the most careful consideia-tion on the part of all true Christians: 618 pages, 55c. Piocmable likewise in Dano-Norwegian, Finnish, French, German, Gieek, Polish, and Swedish, 85c.
Series VI, The New Creation, deals with the creative w’eek (Genesis 1, 2), and with the chuich, God’s new cieation It examines the personnel, organization, ntes, ceiemomes, obligations, and hopes appertaining to those called and accepted as members of the body of Christ: 730 pages, 55c. Supplied also in Dano-Norwegian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Polish, and Swedish, 85c
Series VII, The Finished Mystery, consists of a verse-bv-verse explanation of the Bible books of Revelation Sons of Solomon, and Ezekiel: 60S pages, illustrated, 55c in cloth, 25c in magazine edition—latter treats Revelation gnd Ezekiel only Dano-Norwegian. Finnish, French, Greek, Polish, and Swedish, 85c.
AND HERALD OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE
Vol. XLIII
July 1, 1922
No 13
"I VOW TO ... BE ON THE ALERT TO RESIST” (PART I)
“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may he able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness [margin, wicked spirits] in high [margin, heavenly] places. Wherelore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and. having done [margin, overcome] all, to stand."
—Ephesians 6. 11-13.
THE Vow unto the Lord is a part of the armor and armament which the Lord has given the Christian soldier to equip him thoroughly for offensive and defensive warfare for the battle in the end of the age. Few even of the Lord’s people have any adequate conception of the vast extent of Satan’s empire, or of its comprehensiveness. When the eyes of our understanding are opened wider we shall appreciate better the systematic organization of the dominion of the devil. In every direction the devil and his demons rule, and every activity of this present evil order of things is dominated by them. Everything is closely organized, in order to keep the control of the people in the hands of Satan, that he may continue a little longer to be a god and to have a kingdom of his own to rule over, so that “the whole world lieth in wickedness”.'—1 John 5:19; Isaiah 14: 13, 14.
Straight thiough the midst of this empire of evil lies the pathway of the Christian toward the city of light, but here and there arc aitfully prepared byways and bypaths that may easily be taken for the narrow way and that would lead us into the kingdom of darkness. (John 15:19; Matthew 10: 1G) Only by keeping our eyes ever on the pathway of truth can wc avoid being turned aside out of the way that leads to life everlasting, to glory, honor, and immortality.
There is constantly a danger of worldly enticements, and against these our Vow safeguards us in that portion concerning ‘scrutiny’; but even more than these is the direct and immediate peril to the new creature from some of the phases of demonism, and against these, too, the Vow unto the Lord furnishes protection.
It seems passing strange that any consecrated child of God should ever permit himself (or herself) to become ensnared with the devil-religions or anything akin to them, but such has been the case from the days of the apostles to the present, and is specially the case
now. And here the Vow unto the Lord senes an indispensable purpose where we say: “I ion to thee that 1 v ill be on the aleit to icsist everything akin to spiritism and occultism, and that, remembering that there are but the two masters, I shall resist these snares m all reasonable ways as being of the adversary”.
CONTENDING WITH SATAN’S EMPIRE
A consecrated person will seldom turn dnecth aside into an obvious form of demonism, spiritism, or occultism, because Present Truth quite fully instincts concerning spiritualism, talking with the dead, and the various form of direct worship of and communication with demons. The Lord’s little ones, however, may be caught by guile, because there is a striking similarity between coming into the truth and going into error.
The Lord has his own ways of preparing a person to receive the truth; he permits crushing experiences or arranges circumstances so that a person discerns the uselessness of the things of the world; or at intervals he causes a variety of ideas to be presented which form natural stepping-stones for the inquiring, logical, and honest mind to pass on into the truth itself. Often these steps are imperceptible, or of such a character that the person is not aware until afterward of the guiding hand of the Lord in all his affairs. (Psalm 23: 1-3) In like manner do the demons prepare the way for their victims to receive the errors of demonism. An inquiring person may find certain questions raised in his mind which he feels somehow he ought to settle, but which he afterwards sees have merely excited a curiosity for some form of demonism.
One of the first stepping-stones may be something published in a book, or a newspaper or magazine article, presented in such a manner as to seem to be true and to furnish an apparent basis of fact for something that is not really true. It becomes easy for the mind 195
to be so taken up with such “facts” as to be blind to opposing considerations of truth. The alleged “facts” are often stepping-stones to demonism or spiritism.
There are indeed facts about demonism, but they should be resisted as wrong in some way, not acquiesced in nor made a basis for thought and action.
In the early nineties, for example, a British society of scientists was formed to investigate alleged supernatural phenomena, silt out the untrue, and publish facts on the actual doings of spirits. From this literature thousands ol bright minds became satisfied that there is a basis of fact ui spiritism, but accepted the error that the spirits are those of dead human beings, dead dogs, or dead cats, and rejected the truth that they are demons. If there should be any basis of fact in some form of the occult, that is no justification for the new creature making it a basis for his own thought and action. This is not resisting, which is the only safe course for the new cieatuie, but is the taking of the very position desired by the demons to lead into luither error and finally into captivity.
Beheveis, for instance, m mental telepathy pimndi what they assert to be a series of authentic instances ol mental communication of thought. They ascnbe these phenomena to powers of the natuial mind so extraordinary as to be wholly improbable, and reject the simple explanation that the communication from mind to mmd is effected by demons who are in touch with both minds.
Devotees of astrology also claim to have a mass of testimony supporting their contention that the period of the year in which birth occurs governs character, conduct, and destiny. However, it has been repeatedly proven from the time of Dean Swift, two hundred year s ago, to the present that the time of birth has no effect whatever on the occurrences of life; and there is no more truth in the notion that it affects the character, whatever may seem to be the evidence which lying and scheming demons have worked about in such a way as to lie calculated to mislead the mind. It was the univ ei sal teaching of the early church for three centuries that astrology was invented by the demons and that the demons so worked things that the teachings seemed to be true.
The proof of the untruth of the effect of the signs of the zodiac upon the events of life carries with it equal proof of the untruth of the effect of the signs of the zodiac on character. The astrologers have been obliged to abandon one position after another. At one ancient period astrology taught, for example, that one born “in Virgo” “will have long straight hair, be of a fair complexion, childless, modest.” Commenting on this gem of astrological profundity about the year 300 A. D. Hippolytus, a Christian writer, in a work on “The Refutation of all Heresies”, laughed astrology out of court as follow s: “These statements and others similar to them are lather worthy of laughter than serious consideration. For, according to them, it is possible for no /Ethiopian to be born in Virgo [roughly speaking, in June] ; otherwise he would allow that such a one is white, with long straight hair, and the rest.”
The notion of bnth-stones is another part of astrology, but for some deluded people a door to demonism. In the Seventh Volume of Studies in the Scriptures, page 326, the words should be omitted reading, “Amethyst was Pastor Russell’s birth-stone; and behold how perfect its application! He,” and the words substituted, “Pastor Russell,” before the words, “was true blue”. This line was inserted m th'' manuscript of the Seventh Volume at the suggestion of a well-meaning person, and its connection with astrology was not noticed until some time afterward. We wish to dcJinih-ly drown it, in order that the book may be entirely fiee from anything even bordering on the occult.
Another of the inventions of the demons is the idea of fate or destiny; but it also is false. The diabolic purpose of the invention of the ideas of fate, destiny, and “the month you were born m” and their effect on character and life, was to destroy reliance upon divine providence and to impair the will of man and lessen his ability to put forth the proper effort against his environment in Satan’s empire. Dearly every child hears more or less about fate and destiny, and most of them something about “the month von were born m”, and they rarely get the errors ent iely out of their minds. The error of the idea of fate appears distinctly in the false teaching of astrology that the time of biith, by fate or destiny, deteimmes the future through a fixed type of character or a predetermined and inescapable series of events throughout life. If the idea of fate or destiny were a truth, then angels would be subject to a fate or destiny, our Lord Jesus Christ could do nothing contrary to it, and Jehovah himself would find his acts and purposes at times thwarted by a fate ot destiny superior to Omnipotence. Fate expressed ot acting through the period of bn th is thus seen to depend upon the monstrous doctimo of devils that there is a power greater than Jehovah himself.
Astrology is one of the most subtle and insidious of the open doors into demonism. It looks harmless enough but it actually impairs and devitalizes living faith in the power of God as thoroughly as a corrosive acid oats away metal or a cancer consumes the flesh. Astrology is widespread, and because of its seeming innocuousness is hard to resist, as is required by the Vow unto the Lord. Every book store has its booklets, “Were You Born in January?” etc. Many newspapers publish a forecast or horoscope of the day, week, or month. These things seem as free from danger as the smooth surface of quicksand; but to take the first step may engulf the curious. To read astrological literature and to believe the one-sided and false evidence prepared under demoniacal influence, is to have the mind tilled like the soil of a garden for more seeds of the docti incs of devils. The pci.son who does not resist the seemingly harmless wiituigs possesses a mind ready for further use In the demons.
CAMOUFLAGED DEMONISM
Iii 1 882, the Lord being present, the harvest of the gospel age vias getting well under way. Satan always attempts to neutralize the work of the Lord by bringing forth either a counterfeit or something to turn the minds away from the cause of righteousness. One of his names, “devil,” meaning deceiver, suggests that he will use deceptive methods, as in fact he always does. In that same year there came forth a book entitled “The Gospel in the Stars” by Rev. Joseph A. Seiss, D. D. That Dr. Seiss was honest and sincere we have not the slightest reason to doubt. That the devil and his allies, the demons, influenced the writing of that book we have not the slightest doubt. To inveigle a minister of the gospel into his net and get him to write something m a reverential strain concerning the stars would be and is deceptive and misleading to the unsuspecting ones.
Some of the Lord’s dear saints who have been a long while in present truth have taken up the study of this book, “The Gospel in the Stars,” without doubt believing it was harmless and might be helpful to them to understand. From the preface of the book in question we quote:
“A more valuable aid to the study of the subject as treated in this volume is Frances Rolleston's Mazzaroth: or, The Constellations—a book from an authoress of great linguistic and general literary attainments, whom Providence rarely favored for the collection of important facts and materials, particularly as lespects the ancient stellar nomenclature. The tables drawn up by Ulugh Beigh, the Tartar prince and astronomer, about A. D. 1420, give the Arabian astronomy as it had come down to his time, with the ancient Coptic and Egyptian names, likewise the much earlier presentations, made about A. D. 850 by Albumazer the great astronomer of the Caliphs of Grenada and Abeii Ezra’s commentailes on the same, are, to a considerable extent, reproduced in her book. Facsimiles of the Dendera and Esne Zodiacs are also given in the last edition (1875) of her work And from her tables and references the writer of these Lectures was helped to some of his best information, without which this book could hardly have become what it is.”
This paragraph of the preface indicates the source of information as coming from the class of men who were employed by Satan to deceive others and to destroy our Lord shortly after his birth. This particularly recommended edition of Miss Rolleston’s book is the one issued in 1875, at the beginning of the Lord’s presence. Greater light was then beginning to shine upon the gospel and Satan attempted to deceive by appearing as an angel of light.
The consecrated child of God ought to realize that the only safety is to oppose resolutely everything of this sort. A person that consents to these things has weakened the mental defenses of his will and is in danger. Sooner or later something else may be presented to a mind that ought to be firmly set against such things, and the person takes another imperceptible step of belief in something else akin to spiritism or occultism.
The demons, too, are the originators of heresies which they instil into the minds of the bright but unstable, and the next step may be the acceptance of the religious teachings of some learned clergyman, doctor of divinity, higher critic, or evangelist, whose mind has become the instrument of a demon, which causes the “doctor” to put untrue things in such a way as to seem to be true.
A mind once committed to something akin to occultism believes first one error to be true and then another, and ultimately imagines that his new “truth” is of God, even though it flatly contradicts proved present truth. Then he is m imminent danger of discarding present truth for the doctrines of devils that he has been subtly led to believe in. After a few more steps he is fortunate if he awakens to the fact that he has been ensnared by demons and that he is destined to go through a terrific life-and-dcath struggle to get back to God—a contest in which God alone can help out of a peril which may be even of the second death. The matter began so easily with the seemingly harmless belief m “the month you were born in”. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.” •—Proverbs 16 : 25.
The attitude of the primitive church was for three hundred years fixed and unbending on the matter of astrology. It was strenuously contended by its members that belief in “the month you were born in” is a heresy, and a person so believing was refused admission to the church; a Christian who was found to believe this was given his choice of either leaving off or being disfel-lowshiped. If this was a heresy then, it is a heresy today.
ACROSS THE SEA
THERE is happiness in the thought that all of God’s people are one in Christ. There is neither American, English, German, nor Greek, bond nor free; but all are one in the Lord. For this reason there is a desire for personal fellowship with those of like precious faith in whatever part of the earth they may be located. Across the sea are the lands of Great Britain, Scandinavia, Holland, Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland. France, and other countries where there are some of the Lord’s faithful ones who are earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints and zealously proclaiming the message of Messiah’s kingdom now at hand. These desire a visit ever and anon from brethren of the Society in America, and it seemed a fit thing that the President of the Society should go again to these lands this year.
WORK GREATLY INCREASED
During the past two years the work in the British Isles and m continental Europe has been greatly increased. and new problems have arisen that need consideration. These things were also an inducement for the visit at this time. On Saturday, April 22, 1922, Brother Rutherford, accompanied by Brothers Goux and Martin, embarked on the White Star liner “Olympic”, eastward bound. A large number of the Bethel Family and many others of the New York and Brooklyn congregations were at the pier to bid the travelers Godspeed on the journey. A brief season was spent by them in visiting the great vessel and m making photographs of parts of it, and incidentally of some who were thereabout. Lading the travelers with many messages of love to the brethren in the foreign lands, these friends withdrew to the pier to await the departure. As we stood on the deck and gazed into their happy upturned faces, we appreciated the words: “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.” There is no earthly love like unto the relationship between the Lord’s consecrated. Amidst the sounding of whistles and the many shouts of “Good-bye” and “God bless you,” the ship backed into the river and turned her nose toward the open sea. As we glided down the New York harbor, the persons on the Bethel roof could be dimly seen waxing messages of good cheer.
For seven days the “Olympic” battled with the waves while the passengers enjoyed the sea breeze and recreation on the ship; yet some found the cabin bed a desirable place when the sea became somewhat angry. The voyage was uneventful; and while pleasant in a measure, yet terra firma is much more to be desired. On Saturday, April 29, we docked at Southampton, England, and on the pier were a number of the dear friends of that land to greet us. With them we spent a brief but happy hour, and then took train for London, arriving at the Waterloo Station late in the afternoon. On the platform we were greeted by Brother Hemery, the Society’s representative in England, and a number of others who had come to bid us welcome. In a short time we were at the London Bethel, enjoying the fellowship of that happy family.
AT THE TABERNACLE
On Sunday, April 30, a one-day convention was held at the London Tabernacle. Friends had come from different paits nearby, approximately 1,100 making up the company of happy souls who spent the day there in praise to our God and our Savior Jesus Christ. In the morning Brother Goux addressed the congregation on the subject of “Our Privileges” (Philippians 1:29), much to the pleasure and edification of those present. At three o’clock in the afternoon Brother Rutherford was scheduled to speak. On his entrance the congregation stood and feelingly sang together:
"Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love.”
Each heart seemed to be fully in accord with the sentiment expressed by the hymn. His address was on “Incentive for Righteousness,” using for a text 1 John 2:1. We believe the brethren were much encouraged by what they heard and were resolved to put forth still greater efforts to win the prize of the high calling. In the evening Brother Martin addressed the congregation on the subject of “Cross-bearing” (Matthew 16:24), and again the congregation was much refreshed. A testimony meeting u as held during the day also; and at the close all went away happy, realizing that it was a blessed season spent in refreshing each other in the narrow way. It was a day well spent.
The London Congregation has largely increased during the past few years, and this is evidence of faithfulness there in proclaiming the message of the Lord. Several are now members of that congregation who heard the truth for the first time at the Royal Albert Hall me< ting in 1920, and who give evidence of spiritual discernment and of growth m knowledge and in the fruits and graces of the spirit. It was good to see them and mark their joy.
Hie work at London, the British headquarters of the Society, is in a good and healthy condition. Each one of the Family seems to delight in the performance of duties laid upon them respectively. The congregation at the T. bernacle is likewise m a good healthy spiritual condition, and the servants of the church seem to be following the admonition of the Apostle to “feed the flock of God,” serving with love and humbleness of mind. Where love is the motive and the glory of the Lord the desire, spiritual growth, peace and happiness always result. It is gratifying to see these conditions now at the London headquarters.
MANCHESTER CONVENTION
A convention of the Bible Students, beginning Thursday, May 4, and lasting for four days, was held at Manchester, England. Brother Walder, of the London Bethel, was chairman. The convention was addressed by Brothers Scott, Senior, Robinson, J. C. Lardent, Lloyd, Tait, Goux, Hemery, Martin, and Rutherford. The most convenient time for friends of the British Isles to attend a convention is during the holiday season. Although this convention was not held at holiday season, yet it was the most representative ever held m England. The friends gathered from all parts of Britain. Quite a number came from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle on the north; and from London, Gloucester, and Cornwall on the south. The convention opened Thursday with about 600 present. By Friday evening, the first time the convention was addressed by the President of the Society, sonic 800 were m attendance; and before the convention concluded the attendance exceeded 1500. The address of Brother Rutherford to the coin mtion Friday eienmg on ‘•'Faithfulness m Service’’ was a stimulus to those present. Every one there was happy . and practically eiery one in the convention expressed the purpose to engage more actively in the service
On Saturday afternoon a discourse on “Bapti'-m” was delivered by Brother Rutherford, who went somewhat fully into the deeper things of the subject, and at the conclusion 101 candidates presented themselves for water immersion, to whom the right hand of fellowship was extended. Thirty-seven brothers and sixty-four sisters were immersed the same evening
A meeting for the public Sunday evening had been well advertised. It was addressed by the President of the Society at the Free Trade Hall, which has a capacity of 3.000. The meeting was announced to begin at 6: 30. At 5 o’clock in the afternoon queues, or long lines of people, began to form on the streets, waiting for the opening of the doors to enter the hall. The doors were opened shortly after 6 o’clock and Free Trade Hall was quickly filled and the doors closed. Another hall, with a capacity of 1,000, more than a mile away from the mam hall, had been procured. It was announced to the people standing on the street that Brother Martin would address the meeting there. Some took the cars, while others walked: and before 6:30 that hall was packed out, and additional!) more than 1500 were turned away from the Free Trade Hall.
ENEMIES CONFOUNDED BY TRUTH
Enemies of the truth had evidently deliberate!) planned to minimize the good effect of the message on the people insofar as possible. A few minutes before the time for the lecture Mr. Paul Trench, special commissioner for the /iw/are News, called at the Midland Hotel to see Brother Rutherford He stated that a communication had been delivered to him. which he produced, and on being requested to know from whence it came, he said “From a member of the British Empire Association.” This writing contained a false statement with reference to what occurred m America during the war, and rehashed the libelous statement concerning the wireless outfit being found in the Bethel, misrepresented the arrest and trial of the officers of the Society, and stated that the International Bible Students Association is a means used by the German government and the Jews in trying to overthrow other governments of earth; and other false accusations
Mr. Trench was advised by the speaker that these accusations would be answered in the course of the lecture from the platform; and they were answered, and the preachers and their unholy allies were pictured before the audience in no uncertain terms, much to the delight, apparently, of the audience; for the address was punctuated time and again by hearty applause. The incident proved rather a boomerang to the devil and his agents, and served to increase the interest of those who were present. The meeting was a decided success. About 100 books were sold during the evening, among them, of course, being “The Finished Mystery,” which the speaker had good opportunity to advertise after the unwarranted attack had been attempted upon him by those who misicpresent the truth. Again the Lord overruled the incident and caused even the wrath of others to redound to his piaise
During the comer,lion a question meeting was conducted by Brothei Rutherford, a large number of interesting questions being among those propounded, which questions and the answers thereto we may publish from time to time in The Watch Tower.
GREAT JOY OF THE BRETHREN
The convention concluded Sunday night. It was the general expression of those who attended that the convention had been the happiest time of fellowship they had experienced. It wras indeed good to be there. Every one seemed enthused with the spirit of service and expressed the determination to go home and engage in the work with greater zeal for the Lord and his cause. The spirit of those who attended the convention attracted the strangers. On one occasion when the friends were filing out from the hall and greeting each other, there was so much genuine joy manifest that a crowd stood on the opposite side of the street commenting on it. Not knowing what it was that was being held, one was ovei heard to say to another: “It is a wedding; otherwise they would not be so happy”-—another evidence that the Lord’s people have opportunity to preach the gospel b\ their course and demeanor, even as St. Paul so truthfully said: “Ye are my epistles, known and read of men.”
At the afternoon session on Sunday, the convention by a unanimous rising vote expressed their love for Brother Rutherford and the others of the Society, and desired that a message of love be conveyed to the brethren in America and to the continental brethren to be visited by our party. The Manchester Convention will hereafter be known as one of the happy, refreshing spots along the way journeyed by his people to the Lord’s kingdom.
THE DIVINE FAMILY
There is a family on earth Whose Father fills a throne, But, though a seed of heavenly birth, To men they’re little known.
And when their Lord again appears, He’ll vindicate their claim ;
Eternal honors shall be theirs; Their foes be filled with shame.
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OP CEDAR POINT CONVENTION GROUNDS
CEDAR POINT
FROM indications already in evidence the Cedar Point Convention this year will be a wonderful gathering of the Lord's people. We are pleased to note that the friends m several communities who were planning tor local conventions during the summer have given up their plans in order that they may attend the Cedar Point Convention. We already have inquiries for looms and for opportunities of service on the hotel staif dining the convention. These details will be attended to i.itoT. However, we are glad to note that the friends arc already making their plans. In this issue we particularly wish to explain the plan for securing tickets at excursion rates.
Many of the friends will recall the trouble and delay we had at Sandusky in 1919 in getting certificates validated and m purchasing tickets for the return trip. All this will be avoided this year. Each delegate will purchase a ticket from staitmg point to Sandusky and return at the rate of one and one-half fares for the round trip. In order to secure this rate from your local ticket agent it will be necessary to have the certificate identifying you. These certificates will be supplied by
CONVENTION
the Society free of charge. Everyone planning to attend the convention should write in to the office at 18 Concord Street for a certificate. If two or more members of the same family travel together, one certificate will be sufficient for the party.
We understand that it will be necessary for the agent to route your ticket over the same road returning as going. However certain railroads grant optional routes, but this is not the general practice. Later on we hope to make arrangements with brethren at central points to secure special trains to Sandusky. Details will appear in a later issue of The Watch Tower.
The company owning the hotel and auditorium at Cedar Point will do everything in its power to make the friends comfortable. They are acquainted with us now and will know better how to provide for us. Many of the' unpleasant experiences of 1919 will be avoided this year, and we have every reason to believe that the gathering will be a most refreshing and blessed one in every respect. Don’t neglect to ask the Lord’s bles-mg upon the convention and conic with the desire to be a blessing as well as to receive one.
MEMORIAL REPORTS FOR 1922
GROUPS of Bible students meeting to celebrate the Memorial of the Lord’s death on April 11,1923, have reported the number present as follows. Hundreds of other groups reported less than twenty each. Reports from many foreign countries have not been received at the time of this writing, the countries having been heard from including Canada, Africa, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, British West Indies, Canal Zone, Central America, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, Italy, Mexico, Poland. Spam and Sweden.
New A oik NY
London, Englind
Glasgow Scotland
I «>s \ngcks, Cal
Chicago, LI (Polish)
Boston, Mas*
Chi< ago, III
Pittsburgh, Pa
Cleveland 0
Detroit, Mich' .(Polish)
Helsingfors, Finland
Vancouver, B. C
Philadelphia, Pa. ~
Toronto, Ont. .
Detroit, IXTicli
St Louis, Mo
Winnipeg Man
Hambuig Germany
Ln ei pool England
WniMiw 1'ol.ind
Columbus. Ohio
Manchester England
Bnmniuhiim. Englan 1 .
S.title Mash . .. ... 233
Washington. DC
Copenhagen, Denmark
San Fiancibco, Cal .. . . 205
Cincinnati Ohio
Minneapolis, Minn. . .
Buffalo. N. Y ....
New York. N. Y (Colored)" 185
Indianapolis, Ind .. .
Oakland, Cal
Manor Patl London. Eng.
Cleveland, O (Polish) ... 174
Portia Ote
Oldham, England
Toledo. O
Denver Colo
Leeds, England
Stockholm, Sweden . . .151
Milwaukee, Wis. (polish) 151
Milwaukee, Wis
Edinbuigh Scotland ... 147
Tatom.i Wash
Roseland, Ill
San Antonio, Tex
Kansas City, Mo
Erie, Pa
Obo. Finland
Spokane. Wash
Victoria, Wash
Gothenburg, Sweden «.„__...117
Peru, Hl (Polish)
. 117
...114
Ho us ton > Texas Allentown, l’a ...........
Kingston, Jamaica, B. VP. I. 110 Leicester, England
Georgetown, Dem , B. G., S
America
Everett, Wash
Louisville, Ky
Buffalo, N. Y. (Italian)
San Diego, Cal.....................104
Opelika* Ala
Bristol, England
Oklahoma City, Okla
Chicago, Ill, (Lithuanian) 09
St Paul, Minn
Sheffield, England
Wilkes-Barre, Pa, (Polish) 94 Worcester, Mass
Ginnd Rapids, Mich
Reading, Pa
Hull, England ........... .
Rochester, N. Y. (Italian) .-89 Lancaster, Pa
Aki on, Ohio
Bmglv.uupton, N. Y
Edmonton, Alta
Hamilton. Ont
I’.is.vlcn.i. Cal
- ....85
.. .84 . - 83 ...83 . . SI . .81
Neu < <1^tle-eii-ue, Lng.
I’ol.iiKl .
IOS
Pittsburgh, Pa (Polish) East Liverpool, O Htiidey, England ... _ Haitioid, Conn ... Miami, Florida .
.51
. 50 50 . 50
l 50
. . 50
. 19
___49
.... 48
.. .48
.....48
....48
.. 48
.... 47 ....47
.....47
.....47
.. .46
.... 46
.. .46
.. 45
Richmond, Li ............
Biidgetoun. Baibados. B W I Poit «d Spain. Timidad C<>\emy, England.....
SI 79
London, Ont Memphis, Teun .
MKlnt.i. K'P’V, • y oungstovv n. Ohio Dallas, Texas -Dv‘iue*ne. P,L \ " BeJt.ist Iieland . Ki csno. Cal -I’atei , J ■ RoeheMei - • I
7S
71 ..70 .70 CKijdon, Englund - -69
Chicago. Hl (Scandinavian) Lvnn Mas’ - - - Jq
Nauru ohe Pa (Polish) - -n’ T.’l.l _ ....... Ud
Monnral Que Sant.i Ilia, Cal -Tiiaav'ii'.i. Tiiniilail
_.. 66
.... 66
... 65
AMi i< Ham • -r/
Balboa llc-dils Canal Zone 65
I.-..., Kiii.hv. England ... oo
East KUKiiy, nir.KM.u _____
fchuneayoh-s Mum. (Polish) 65
Poitsinoutli, England.........65
Philadelphia, l’a (Polish)
San Jose, Cal VVinnipeg, Man Brool.lvn N ' Oiebro, Sweden Panama Canal Topeka Kans Yoik. Pa -
(Ukiniman)
(Polliil)
Zone -
64 ..64
62 ...62
Painesville, 0 (Hunguiian) St Petersburg, Fla Cardiff, Wales ......-.......
Stockton, Cal ............
Elizabeth, N J............
Long Beach, Cal...............
Newark, N. J ........— ....
Toledo, O. (Polish) .....
Wheeling, W. Va. . ............
Wolverhampton, England Canton, Ohio................
Dundee, Scotland ..........
Kalamazoo, Mich.......,.........
Schenectady, N. Y.............
Duluth, Minn........._...........
Norikoepihg, Sweden ..........
Phoenix, Ariz......................
Wilmington, Del .............
Altoona, Pa ................
Cunibei land. Md..................
Fall River, Mass
Ft. Worth, Tex. ..
Hammond—E. Chicago, Ind
(Polish)
Mattoon, III
Omaha Neb
Sault Ste Mane, Ont.............45 Springfield, Mass.........~
Duluth, Minn (Polish)
Essex, England.....-
Gillingham, England...
Mobile, Ala
Mt Veinon, NY
Southend-on-Sea, England ....44
Ihadford, England ....
Kitchener, Ont.......
Teile 11 aute, Ind.
Wigan England .........
Auburn, Ind ...........
Biazd, Ind
Drantfoid. Ont .........
Dartford, England . ... Biemerton, Wash ......
Champaign, Hl
Des Aloines, la.....
Lima. Ohio ......
Mansfield, England Oxford, England .
Perteisbiirg, Va..........
Portsmouth, O............
Sharon, O...............
Warren, O ..............
Bai noldswick, England Bellingham, Wash......
Boise, Idaho ...........
Medicine Hat, Alta......
Niagara Falls, N. Y. ..... Port Huron, Mich.......
St. Helens. England .... St John, N. B ..........
Cedar Rapids, Ift.........
Clinton, la .........
Ciomwell, Conn ..........
Laurence, Mass...........
......43
......43
.. ..43
.....42
.....42
..42
.. ..42
_____41
______41
..... 41
......41
„41
..41
. . ..41
.....41
.....41
02 .. G1 .. 61
.61 ...61 . .61
Flint Mich - -.....
Gloucestei England ... Pullman. Ill (Polish) Wai rington, England ... Watertown. N. Y. ............—•
Detroit, Mich. (Hungarian) 53 Malmo, Sweden ..................
Rockfoid, Hl........- -
Atlanta, Ga. - - - - •
New Hai en. Conn .....
New Brighton, Pa ......
South Berni, Ind........
Dubniiue Iowa Buffalo. NY. (Polish) . Chicago, Ill (Uliiainian. East St Louis, III.....—
Nottingham, England .. Aurora. Ill. ..............
Bjoerneborg, Sweden . . Cape Town, S. Afuca ... Clvdach-on-Tawe, Wales Detroit. Mich (Colored) Wallasey, England.....
..........59
—
..58
.....56 -------55 ) .
........54 .........54
......54
......-.54
.......54
> - ... 54
.....54
......53
Bajonne, N J....................--
Bnkenhead, England.......53
Pawtucket, R I................
South Bend, Ind (Polish) Stockpoit, England .........
Wal’all, England ...........
Beient, Wis (Polish) . .... Chicago, Ill (Colored) ......
Crooksville, O. . Easton, Pa......
Latchford, Enland ...........
Saginaw, Mich...............
Scranton, Pa ............
•Syracuse, N. Y. . ...........
Brandon. Man . Gary, Ind. (Polish) — Huddersfield. England .. .. Johnstown, Pa - ... .....
New Lebanon, Ind.......
Sacramento, Cal.........
Ashton-U-Lyne, England .. Chatham, Ont. ................
Coatbridge. England ------
Dei by. England ..............
Ft Smith. Ark................
Calmar Alta ..........—
Camden, N J..... ...........
Fargo. N D ........
Norfolk. Va ........
Nunenton England .
Passaic. N J. .. -Providence. R I -Bay City, Mich .....
Birmingham, Ala.
Jackson, Mick ......
... 53 ....53 .....53 .....52 .....52 _.51
Middlesboio, England ..
Nashville, Tenn ............
Brockton, Mass ...........
Elwood, Ind ........—
Greenheld, Mass........
Lancastci. England .........
Lincoln Neb ...............
Modesto, Cal .................
W Biownsville, Pa (Hunganan) .........
Wooster. O ..............
Bournemouth, England Chase Tei race, England Eiee|>ort, Ill ..............
Grimsby, England ...........
Kingston, N. Y............
Paso Robles, Cal..........
Pueblo, Col...................
Bloomfield, N. J. . -------
Colon Panama ...... —
Cristobal, Canal Zone (Colored) ...............
Curtiss, Wis ...........
Danville. IH ..........
Gieenock, Scotland.....
Kukaldy, Scotland .......
Tiffin, O ..............
Zanesville, 0............
Alliance, O ...................
Chestei, Pa ................
L'lkliait, Ind ...............
Galt, Ont. ........ —
...40 ...40 ...40 ...40 ...40 ...40 ...40 -.40
39 ...39 ...39 ...39 ....39
39 ....39 ....39 ....38 . ..38 ....38 ....38 ....38 ....38 ....38 ....38 —.37 —.37 ... 37 ...37 ... 37 ____37 ... .36 —36 —36 .....36 .....36 .... 35 .....35 .... 35 .....35 ... 35 .... 35 .... 35
Niagara Falls, Ont. Old Hill, England . .. . Portage La Prairie, Man. Sprmgheld* Mo ..... . ..
Barrow-in-Furness, England 34 Evansville, Ind............. — 34
Ft. Wayne, Ind............... 34
Hammond, Ind........——...34
.....34
34 .._33
33 ... 33 .....33 .....33 .....33
.33 .33 .32 .32
... .32
.....32
.....32
.. ..31
_______31
. . 31
.......31
......31
. .31
........31
......31
.......31
.........30
.........30
Joplin, Mo
Manchester, N. H. (Greek) ....30
Mai ion. 0
Neu Liskeard, Ont
New Orleans, La., No. 2
Peterborough, England
7.7.30
.. ...30
. . 30
......30
.....30
......30
.....30
......30
......29
......29
____29
Pisaizowa, Poland ..
Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Quincy, Mass.............
Saginaw, Mich...........
South Shields, England
Stottville, N. Y.............
Tonawanda, N. Y........
Trenton, N. J..............
Utica. N. Y................
Yeovil, England ........
Aikaii’as City, Kans.
Blackpool, England ...
Elgin, Ill-----------------------------
Falknk. Scotland .—
Grand Rapids, Mich. (Polish) 29
Hutchinson, Kans
Little Rock, Ark. ..
Marmn, Ind
Massillon, 0
New Bntain, Conn
Newburgh, N. Y
North Weymouth, Mass
Rotherham, England
Syracuse, N. Y. (Polish)
Tulsa, Okla................-
Barnsley, England
Berberton-Akron, O
. ...28
. ..28
(Hungarian) .......
Burlington, Wash. .
Calgary, Alta .......
California, Trinidad ... .
Chatanooga, Tenn (Colored) 28
Cincinnati, 0 (Coloied) 28
Cleveland, O (Hungarian) . .28
Cleveland, O (Slovak) °°
Glace Bay, N. 8.........
Harrisburg, Pa............
Hawthorne, Cal........
Iola, Kans .........................
Linton, Ind......................
New Castle, Pa..........
Port Limon, Costa Rica ...
Sawtelle, Cal ................
Stockton-on Tees, England Augusta, Ga ..............
Blaby, England ____________
Butler, Pa., No. 1 ......
Chelmsford, England ......
Colorado Springs, Colo.....
Danbuiy, O.......................
El Paso, Tex...................
I-Tegevvisch Hl (Polish) „ MaHetta, O ...............
McKee-poi t. Pa ...........
New Kensington, Pa.......
N Chelnmford, Mass. „
28 .28
.27
.27
.27
.27
.....27
.. 27
. . 27
. 27
Perth Amboy, N. J. (Polish) Portland Me ......
Woodstock, Ont ......—.....
Colne. England . .
Darlington, England Des Plaines, Ill Dewsbury, England Dowlais, Wales ..................
Eagle Rock City, Cal.......—
...27
Lewiston, Pa
Llanelly', Wales
Moline ill...........................
Muncie, Ind
Nelson, England
Pottstown, Pa
Southampton, England......
Akion, O (Polish)
Benton Harbor, Mich ..25
Brighton, England
Ipswich, England
Lansing, Mich
Lodz Poland
Lorain, O (Polish) .........
Morgantown, W, Va
Penarth, Wales .................
Regina, Sask....................
Runcorn, England
Sioux Citv. la
Winklei, Man
Bracebi idge. Ont
Denison, Tex.......................
Gieensboro, N. C
Guelph. Out
Halifax, N. S
Jackson, Mich. (Polish) .. ....24
Johnstown, NY
Kamsack. Sask
Nevvark, 0
New Brunskick, N. J
Parsons, Kans
Peterboro, Ont............. .... 24
Pittsburg, Kans ..........
San Antonio. Tex. (Spanish) 24
Taninoith, England
Tunbridge Weils, England .. 24
Wakefield, England....
Wilkes-Barre. Pa
Aleksandrowkn, Poland
Asheville, N. C
Bayonne. N. J. (Polish)
Big Sandy, Tex
Framingham, Mass........
Katy. Poland
McKeesport, Pa. (Colored) . 23
Ottawa Ont
Stratfoid, Ont
Windsor, Ont
Athens. Gieece
Bath. England
2G 26 2G .26 .26
Black Rock. N. Y (Polish) - .22
Bolsover. England.....
Bolton, England ... ....
Chesterfield England ...
Hamilton, Eimland
Hastings, England
Kentville, N S
Margate England
Mazenod, Sask
San Antonio, Tex. (Colored) 22
Warren. Ta .
Wenatchee, Wash
W Chelmsford. Mass
Wilmington, N. C
Bedford. Ind. ... .
Belvidere 111
ChHondale, Ma^.s
Congo. O (Hungarian) .. . Jl
Tan ell Ta
Geneva III
JellcisGDMlle. Ind
Jamestown N. Y. *
Kewanee, Hl
Long Branch N» J.
Monessen Pa . . .
Muskegon. Mich .. .
New Castle, Va (Polish) .
New Oilcans, La, No 1 . .. 21
Santa Ciuz, Cal
Stirling, Ont -
Whitsett Pa (Russian)
Albany. NY
Annapolis, Md ......... .
Bndgenort. Conn
(Hungarian) ...
Cheltenham. England
Duquesne, l’a (Hungarian)
Ehnsfoid, NY
Erie, Pa (Polish)
Knoxville Tenn
Mansfield. O
Na’hua-Milford N H
New Bedfoid Mass
Nomstown. I‘a
Penv, NY
Perth, Scotland
Poznan, Poland
Saugie Gia.ide Trinidad .
Seguin Tex (Spanish)
St Paul Minn (1‘nli’h) . . 20
Svdnev N S
Whitlev Bay, England
Wichita JmIN. To\
DANIEL CAST TO THE LIONS
--July 23 — Daniel 6.1-28--
NOBILITY OF ANCIENT KINGS-WHY DANIEL MAS HATED-“TEAMING” AN INNOCENT MAN — “THE LAW OF HIS GOD”-CLIMAY
OF THE CONSPIRACY — THE MOUTHS OF THE LIONS SHUT — I’UNISHMINT OF THE CONSPIRATORS.
“Who tluough faith subdued Kingdoms, wrought i ightcousness, obtained promises, stopped, the mouths of lions.”—Hebieios 11: 3d.
WHEN the Medo-Persian empire succeeded Babylonia as the world empire, and Daniel was found occupying a place ol importance and high honor, Ins qualifications were promptly lecognized; and when the then civilized world was divided into one hundred and twenty provinces, wnli a governor oxer each, there was a court of three superior governors who had charge of the whole as the kings representatives or ministers, and Daniel was the chief ot these tlnee l-low wondeiful this appeals' Him we inii-l adiniie that element ot inndor and evident desne tor uood government wlirli led the kings of Babylon .nd Modo-I’ersia to exalt to place and power those who weie found competent ami 11 list woi thy '
WHY DANIEL WAS HATED
As one of the three presidents of the empiie anil having charge over a bundled and twenty of its piov inces. Daniel stood in the wav ot many who sought office: and, as a man of unimpeachable character, no doubt he stood in the way of many schemes lor the plundenng of the tieasuiv lor such public plundenng and dishonesty, very genei.il throughout the earth today, was piob.iblv so then to a large extent.
Additionally' they no doubt envied Daniel He was not a Mede, he was not a Persian, he was not even a Chaldean; He was a Jew, a man whose very nation had witheied and disappe.ued from among the nations With him out of the wav they would all have better oppoilunity lor attaining then ambitious—not only' would one of them get his higher position but all would profit by Ins fall.
for these selfish reasons. Daniel was sure to have a host ot seciet enemies, who sought his downfall. From the narrative we might suppose that these enemies, many of whom would be prominent in official life, had watched in vai.-i to find any real cause of complaint, and that they finally concluded that il iault would be found at all, it must be on account ot Ins lehgion.
How this lemii ds us of the Apostle’s testimony, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”; and again, our Lord's woids, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hotel h mu1" (2 Tim 3 12, John 15:19) Even whore there are no selfish motives to impel the persecution, there is ever present the distinction between “light” and “darkness” ; and the fact noticed by all is mentioned by our Lord—that all who are themselves of the darkness hate the light and all who walk in the light. (John 3: 10-21) Some one has truly said:
“Whosoever does well and is faithful and true, while others are dishonest and false, must expect to be opposed and hated. Every effort will be made to injure Lis character, to drag him into the mire, and to make it appear that he is no better than those who assail him. Envy is sharper than a seipent’s tooth, and deadlier than the poison of asps.”
Envy and hatred are set down in the Word of God as works of the flesh and of the devil, antagonistic to everything that is good and right and approved of the Lord. It may be a new thought to some of the Lord’s consecrated people, who have long harbored more or less of envy and hatred, that their condition is really more reprehensible in the sight of the Lord than that of some who, while better in heart, are in public prisons because of wickedness of their flesh
“FRAMING” AN INNOCENT MAN
Not successful m detecting wrong doing in Daniel his associates took the opposite turn and concluded to entrap him in his well doing. They had learned of his strength of character, and rightly concluded that he would not swerve from the course his conscience approved—and their plans were laid accordingly.
Veiy skillfully they counseled with the king respecting the necessity that the people should recognize him as a god, and urged this as essential to the enforcement of obedience to the king's commands among Ins new subjects. The theory of the empiie was that the king’s person was specially possessed bv Orinuzd, the deity of the empiie, that his word was theieioie i < piesentalively the woid of that god, and that theieioie all of Ins decrees were infallible and inviolable. even by himself. Taking advantage of tins law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree could be altered or abiogaled, these plotters succeeded in having the king set apait thirty days in which it should be a crime to offer petition or worship to any other person or god save to Dai ms himself
“THE LAW OF HIS GOD”
Daniel < onlinued to worship the Lord as beioie He would not sell his cousi iciice, he would not deny Ins God , he would not pretend that he was playing to or worshiping Dai ms Nor was he satisfied.to merely close his eyes in piayei utter he had retired to rest, as do many people living under the greater light of this gospel age, and under greater pnvileges and opportunities and grander promises. He had a great God who was woithy of reverence and worship, and lie was great enough as a man to appieciate that it was a privilege to have inteicouise and fellowship with his Creator He was not onlv not ashamed to bow the knee to the Almighty, but was unwilling to assume a less humble position befo’e God than he and of hers assumed toward earthly kings Our judgment is that il is impossible for any Chustian to maintain a pioper consistent walk m life, and to build up such a charactei and liiith structure as are represented by the Apostle as composed o1 “gold, silver and precious stones,” without prayer.—moie than this, without regularity in prayer;—we would almosr be inclined to say. without kneeling m prayer and we believe that the expenem.es and testimonies of the truest ami best of the Lord’s people who have ever lived will corioborate this
Some one has remarked that, as the sharpening of scythes in harvest time does not mean lost time or energy, so also time spent in prayer is not lost as respects the affaiis ol life. Unquestionably the best men and women in the word are those who pray, and pray regularly, who bow the knee as did Daniel. Unquestionably' the moments thus taken 1.0111 earthly affaiis are well spent and bring more than commensurate blessings upon the worshiper and all with which he has to do. Unquestionably it is impossible to live a con-seciated life 111 neglect ot piiiver What would Daniel h.nr been without his praying time! How would his faith in God have persisted in that heathen land? How would Ins loyally' to principle have maintained itself in the midst of corruption had it not been for his communion with his Maker?
The king was greatly displeased with himself that he had fallen into a trap, and was displeased undoubtedly with the princes who had entrapped him. The words “with himself” are lacking from some of the reliable manuscripts, which
makes the displeasure all the broader to include bis counsellors He appreciated Daniel as a man of God and .is an able servant of the einpiie, and set about at once to do everything in his power to annul his own decree. “He labored until the going down of the sun to deliver him”; but he found no excuse.
Ordinarily, when the kings desired to be released from some decree, they called upon their wise men and magicians, who usually were skillful in suggesting a way out of the dilemma; but in this case it would appear that there was a combination of all the wise men and rulers of Babylon against Daniel. They now had him in their power, and would suggest nothing in the way of release. On the contiary, they held up before the king that he was bound bv his decree and that he could not do otherwise than execute it because a failure to do so would mean a dishonor to the empire in having broken its laws and would endanger his throne.
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