The Watchtower, January 15, 1923

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my joot He ■> ill to tlnw

Upon the c.i.th <na u. ii-iiui* with perplexity; the sea and the waves (the discontented) loaung, men’s hearts failing them for fear ..n1 t« u. g io me

things coming upon the earth (society); for the powers of the heavens (ecclesiasticism) shall be .shaken. . . . When je see these things b nt 1 1 • to J-'-isa, then know that the Kingdom of God la at hand. Look up« lift op your heads, rejoice, for your redemption draweth nigh.—Matt. 24:33; Mark 13.2. au* 21: 25-31.

Wchiwroi, wt tWforning

Vol. XLIV

Semi-Monthly

No ~

Anno Mundi 6051 — January 15, 1923

C0NTENTS

Views from the Watch Tower.....................

New Invention Excels Phonograph............

Assistant Air Chief Sets New Flight Mark. Lesson for the United Slates...... ...............

World Peace Mo\e by Religionist*..............

Dr. Cannon and His “Holy War”... . .......

Highly Colored Campaign Literntu-e.. ______

ROCK-bFAG£Si^

Other founciation-can*'zi n o m.a n I a y

ARAN SOM FORA L LW;

The 1’prodigal Son.....................

KiCii Man and Lazarus.........

Purified by Fire^ of Hades_____

The Grace of c.inriiThE ........

How the Kingdom Conies In...

I v ill stand upon my wat(h and will *et

QWTB5TS

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 of communication through which they may be reached with announcements of the Society’s conventions and of the coming of its traveling representatives, styled “Pilgrims”, and refreshed with reports of its conventions.

Our “Berean Lessons” are topical rehearsals or reviews of our Society's published Studies most entertainingly arranged, and very helpful to all who would merit the only honorary degiee which the Society accords, vrz., Vet bi Dei Minister (V. I). M.), which translated into English is Minister of God’s Word. Our treatment of the International Sunday School Lessons is specially for the older Bible students and teachers. By some this feature is considered indispensable.

This journal stands firmly for the defense of the only true foundation of the Christian’s hope now being so generally repudiated —redemption through the precious blood of “the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom [a corresponding price, a substitute] for all”. (1 Peter 1:19; 1 Timothy 2:6) 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 parties, sects anr’ creeds of men, while it seeks more and more to bring its every utterance into fullest subjection to the will of God in Christ, as expressed in the holy Scriptures. It is thus tree to declare boldly whatsoever the Lord hath spoken—according to the divine wisdom granted unto us to understand his utterances, its attitude is not dogmatic, but confident; for we know whereof we affirm, treading with implicit faith upon the sure promLos of God. It is held as a trust, to be used only in his service; hence our decisions relative to what may and what may not appear tn its columns must be according to our judgment of his good pleasure, the teaching of his Word, for the upbuilding of his peonle in grace and knowledge. And ne not only invite but urge OUE readers to prove all its tiorrantes by the infallible Word to which reference is constantly made to facilitate such testing.

TO US THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH

That the church is “the <.^...ple of the living God”, peculiarly “his workmanship” ; that its construction has been in progress throughout the gospel age—ever since’Christ became the world’s Redeemer and the Chief Corner Stone of his temple, through which, when finished, God’s blessing shall come “to all people”, and they find access to him.—1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; Ephesians 2:20-22; Genesis 28 :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 precious,” shall have been made icndy, the groat Master Woiknian will bring all together in the first resurrection; 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 Christ, 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 icoria”, “in due time”.— Hebrews 2:9; John 1: 9 ; 1 Timothy 2:5, 6.

That the hope of the church is that she may be like her Lord, “see him as he is,” be partaker of the divine nature,’ and share his glory as his joint-heir.—1 John 3:2; John 17:24; Romans 5:17; 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 ever? grace; to be God’s witness to the world; and to prepare to be kings and priests 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 oil by Christ’s Millennial kingdom, restitution of all that was lost in Adam, to all the willing and obedient, at the bands of their Redeemer and his glorified churchy when all the wilfully wicked will be destroyed.—Acts 3:19-23; Isaiah 35.

T>ublished ay

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Vol. XLIV

January 15, 1923

No. 2

VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER

THE prophet Daniel had a vision of the standing up of Michael, the great Prince to whom would be given “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him,” and connected with it a great increase of knowledge and much running to and fro. 'Die worldly-wise are now boasting of the recent great increase of knowledge and of the marvelous speed attained by harnessing the powers of nature. To them this is proof of the “evolution of man”; and by their feeding upon such “wisdom” the gas of egotism is generated in their mental stomachs. As a result they swell up like a balloon, and expect the reverence of people in proportion to their inflated size.

The child of God beholds the same general increase of knowledge and the running to and fro; but, directed by the Word of God and by the spirit of a sound mind, he is impelled to lift up his head and look; for these are the foretold heralds of his redemption, and with grateful joy he joins in the hallelujah chorus, “We give thee thanks, 0 Lord God Almighty, . . . because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.”— Revelation 11:17.

The past fifty years might well be called “The Age of Miracles” because of the increase of knowledge along all scientific lines, and because of the thousands of useful and convenient inventions which are liberating man more and more from the slavery of physical labor. We often hear the expression, “Will wonders never cease!” Telegraph, telephone, and radio—each in turn called forth exclamations of wonder, and each later was harnessed for the service of man. Photography opened the way for the moving pictures and the recording of actions, some, even, of those too rapid for the eye to catch. Now comes the photographing of the voice upon the same film with the moving picture, thus reproducing and recording not only the actions but also the words and the tone of the actors. We quote from a recent news item, under date of October 18. Even Mr. Edison exclaims: “What next!”

A NEW INVENTION EXCELS PHONOGRAPH

Schenectady, N. Y., Oct. 18.—“What next 1” Such was the exclamation of Thomas A. Edison, famous electrical wizard, after he had watched Dr. Charles P. Steinmetz, chief consulting engineer of the General Electric Company, hurl thunderbolts from his artificial lightning-making malt chine in his laboratory in the General Electric Works here today. . . .

There were two other outstanding features in Edison’s visit to the General Electric plant. lie saw the Hoxie voice film machine, which records a person’s -\oice on a film much the same as the movie film records the picture. When light rays are thrown onw this film, the voice is reproduced in wonderful clearness.

This means, Edison was told, that the talking movie is now possible, that voice can be synchronized witli the picture, that both voice and picture can be made on one film.

A central studio could be set up in New York, where great artists could sing or could play musical instruments, the sounds photographed on the film, and this sent to San Francisco or any other city in the world, or reproduced into a radio station transmittor, witli the exact quality of the original sounds.

It was pointed out that the reproduced voice in the Hoxie machine is a great improvement over Ilie phonograph because of the entire absence of the scratching sound and the all-around better reproduction of the sounds. The machine has been tried at radio broadcasting station WGY, the General Electric station in tills cily, and lias worked so well that none of the thousands of listeners lime known but that the actual voice or sounds were being produced in the studio directly into the traiisinil tor of the radio apparatus.

The other outstanding eh'ctrical development shown Edison was the mercury boiler turbine, which is rated much more efficient than the present day steam turbine.

If God has provided such powers for the service and convenience of his earthly creatures, who can imagine the powers and methods which he may be using for his own convenience! The Psalmist declared: “Thou un-derstandest my thoughts afar off”; and our Lord said: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” and “Thy Lather which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” The skeptic laughed at the credulity of the Christian, claiming to be too “wise” to be caught by any such nonsense. But we can begin to see how easy it uould bo for God to arrange some method by which he can record not only the acts, words, and tones of an individual, b it also the thoughts, character, and memory, even though d ath may have destroyed the body. God is well able to fulfill his promise to bring all forth from the grave and also to cause them to remember their former ways, thus fully reproducing the individual.

Voltaire, the skeptic, laughed at Sir Isaac Nev. ton, who believed the Bible, because the latter had pr b'et ’d that man would sometime be able to travel at the rate of fifty miles per hour. We wonder what Voltaire will think when he first reads something like the following:

ASSISTANT AIR CHIEF SETS NEW FLIGHT MARK

Mt. Clemens, Mien., Oct. 18.—Brigadier General William Mitchell, assistant chief of the United States arm) air service, today set a new official world's speed record over a one-kilometer course at Selfridge Field at an average speed of 224.05 miles an hour in four heats. The test was timed by the Federation Aeronautique Iiiternnliomiie. thus making it official. Lieutenant It. J. Maughan's speed of 248.5 miles an hour last week was unofficial.

“For when they shall say, Peace and salt tv; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.’’ (1 Thessalonians 5:3) Note the following pertinent remarks by Arthur Brisbane, the most widely-read editor today:

A LESSON FOR THE UNITED STATES

A new linmup in Europe, with till' friend of

Tuikey. Poland and Russia, against Eir.'.a'id. The next step, naturally, Mill be a British step toward Germany, Austria and Italy. Then Europe will be all rculy lor a new start and u new war. Russia, as usual, will be the uncertainty—she reserves the right to change her mind and change sides at any moment. That is the revolutionary method.

A while ago war ended witli France and England in each Other's arms, vowing eternal friendship, Italy disgusted, as she well might be, witli her allies’ treatment. Germany and Austria nowhere, Russia boycotted by all, and Turkey apparently a tiling of the past.

Then France sent weapons and money to the Turks to fight the Greeks; back came Turkey, with the Allies bowing and yielding politely to the “unspeakable” one. And now everything is changed.

Just one lesson for Uncle Sam in all that. Let him attend to his own business, keep away from Europe’s complications, and let our friends over there fight and borrow from each other.

WORLD PEACE MOVE BY RELIGIONISTS

The archbishops, bishops, ami ministers, D. D.’s, all “holy men of God”( ?), are very anxious to herald their loyalty to the governments and to the god of this world. They thus publicly acknowledge the identification of Revelation 17: 2. Note the following special cable to the New York Times, under date of October 5:

London, Oct. 5.—Tomorrow a little company of men will meet at Lambeth Palace under the Presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury to consider the whole question of international peace. This announcement was made by Dr. Jowett yesterday at the Autumnal assembly of the Congregational Union at Hull, and is a sequel to his appeal of the churches since his return from the Copenhagen conference.

He hoped they might meet witli courage and understanding and that they might be able to find agreement and some mode of expression by which the united church of Christ would be able to register its judgment of the late war and PLEDGE ITSELF to place its moral and spiritual resources in support of the League of Nations and in the cause of international peace.

Dr. Jowett --aid that there must be nothing above the League—no Supreme Council, no Reparation Commission knd no Council of Ambassadors. It must be supreme. There was something infinitely more important to him than the freedom of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. We might by force keep the Straits open for our ships of commerce and our men o’ war, but by national sacrifice ami CmisJan grace Britain might keep open the whole of two continents to international friendship. [Italics ours.]

DR. CANNON AND HIS “HOLY WAR”

The modern Jezebel is as murderous as was her type. Recently Dr. James Cannon, junior bishop of the II. E. Church South, sent a cable message to Secretary of State Hughes in which he is reported to have said:

“Almighty God will hold our government responsible for its inaction in not intervening in the Near East situation last July, when the American church bodies ‘urged the state department to take what steps were necessary to protect eastern Christianity.’ ... I know what I advocate might mean war, but if necessary it would be justifiable. And it would not be so much of a war.”

Of course, some American soldiers might die, and according to the published creed of his church might go to eternal torment for fighting; but what of that! His god needs some help to save his church. The editor of the Detroit Free Press remarks sarcastically upon the Bishop’s message. We quote in part as follows:

The burden of Dr. Cannon’s demand on the American state department does not seem to be primarily in behalf of suffering and outraged humanity in general, but exclusively in behalf of suffering and outraged Christian humanity. His contention is this: “Millions of church people in the United States for the past century worked to better the lot of the people who lived in Turkey, the Armenians in particular. We worked and toiled to this end; and now on behalf of the churches of the United States I want to know if we intend to allow the Turks with impunity, as far as we are concerned, to continue their massacres until all those Christians are wiped out and our good work witli them?”

What at bottom is Dr. Cannon demanding? Is he asking that the United States intervene to save non-eonibal an I s from murder and outrage? Or is lie asking that the I luted States intervene to save “the work?” Is lie urging America to a humanitarian war or to a religious war?

We believe the question is worth asking, particularly in view of the plain words used a day or two ago by Viscount St. Davids while making a report in London on the Neal-East relief committee. The viscount charged that the Greeks in their retreat through Asia Minor burned every Turkish village, and looted and killed out of sheer malice. He remarked that Constantine and his servants were very bad at fighting but first-class in robbery and arson, that it was absurd ever to have given them Smyrna, that it was fortunate they could not hold it, and that the Greeks deserved all they got and more.

Perhaps on his side also, Lord St. Davids is a little extreme, nevertheless he provides a point. 'This is, that as far as outrages and murder and robbery go, the Christian Greeks are as barbarous in their war methods as are the Mohammedan Turks. If America had heeded the church bodies last July and had intervened in Asia Minor, perhaps gone to war as Dr. Cannon calmly suggests—and it is wonderful how enthusiastic for war representatives of the Prince of Peace can be when a question of the welfare of their mission work is involved—it would have been to assist a people whose troops in the course of a year of operations have murdered in cold blood about 100,000 non-combatants, and in retreat were guilty of conduct for which the Smyrna horror was unhappily merely retaliation in kind.

The helpless victims on botli sides were doubtless for the most part guiltless of wrong, and their blood cries from the ground against their ravishers and murderers. Nevertheless, quite apart from the fact that this is a mess for England and France, who created it, to clean up, we cannot see where the United States has been or is under any obligation to tight to prevent Christians from being massacred by Mohammedans when the net result would be the exposure of Mohammedans to no less barbarous abuse by Christians, particularly as in the Greek-Turkish war the Christians were originally the aggressors.

HIGHLY COLORED CAMPAIGN LITERATURE

The following extracts from a lengthy address of the Methodist Bishop, Fred B. Fisher, in the “I Will Maintain” fund campaign, indicate the willingness of church leaders to color highly the picture of their denominational work in India, in a frantic effort to secure the funds necessary to repair their crumbling edifices. He quotes the criticism of a Socialist, but fails to be warned by it. He says:

The living Christ is at work in the world today.

He is larger than our old concept ions of him.

Many theological systems have compressed him into the thirty-three years during which he lived upon earth.

This really makes of him a human Christ. . . .

What is now happening is that Jesus has become the recoynized and universal ideal of mankind. He has been taken down from that niche in heaven and is seen as the personal leader of the social movements of the world.

I met a young Socialist in Paris. His eyes blazed with the light of spiritual abandon and discipleship. He excoriated our churches. He declared that many of our cathedrals ought to be torn down and the stones used to build shelters for the poor, and then taunted me, when I said that the church was the only answer to the problems of the present day, by declaring that Jesus is the Answer, not the church as an organism. With eyes blazing this youth cried:

“The Christ I love is far diviner than you know. He is at the very head of this whole modern social, industrial uprising, and I am not sure but that He is happier to lead us than He is to lead you.”

THE VISION THE PEOPLE HAVE CAUGHT

From this point of view, it is the Living Christ who stirs up a great deal of the unrest in the world today. The people have caught the vision of the Christ who eame to give liberty to the captives, to give sight to the blind, and to heal the broken-hearted.

During recent years I have been called into wards of towns with the request to baptize every man, woman and child. We began with the head man and baptized the ward council and then all of the citizens. This was brought about by a strange social, economic, and religious awakening, which is called the Mass Movement toward Christianity. The mayors of neighboring towns are called together in summer schools, where they are taught Christian principles, the life of Christ, and Christian hymns. They are sent back to their villages to tell the stories they have learned. They first call the town council together and report the “good news.” Then the members of the council scatter themselves among the families and inform all their people. At the end of a number of months a Christian worker and a missionary will bring their spirit to bear upon this village life. What a privilege to baptize them all into the kingdom of Christ I . . .

In my travels during the last eighteen years, it has seemed to me that more and more I have beheld this Living Christ at work among the populations of the world. Expanding ideals, expanding nations, expanding races I Christ is the power at work in all these enlarging movements. . . .

It is evident, likewise, in the Church of Christ. The new ministry is a ministry with its face toward tomorrow, and the vital follower of Jesus Christ is the man or the woman who can behold him alive and at work in the world. . . .

The one problem of the industrial problems, the racial problems, the international problems of the world today is to seo the unifying power of this Living Christ among us.

I am convinced that the present financial emergency which is upon our own church and others is simply the result of the failure to behold this Living Christ and to follow him. An attitude of pessimism and of discouragement has crept into our religious life. We have wondered whether our investments would really pay. If we can only behold this Christ at work we shall come to see that the investment of one dollar during the next year will do more than the investment of one hundred dollars twenty-live years hence in missionary endeavor. We must give not only the tithe of our income but in many cases we will be called upon to give our sons and daughters.

There was never a time in the world’s history when investment of life and money will count so much. I am so satisfied that the heart of our churches is right that I expect a complete turning of the tide. I am convinced that our offering of money and time during the next year will be so great that we shall see a rising tide which will lift all the spiritual boats of the world.

CHRISTIANITY AND PEACE

Some of the “benighted heathen” do not seem to care for the pseudo “Christianity,” more properly named “churchianity,” put forth by zealous denominational ministers and missionaries. The following from Ross W., Sanderson in the Wichita Eagle, of September 16, is to the point:

Fred B. Smith is home from a trip around the world. He found that our notion of Christianity was not shared by many orientals. The average Mohammedan regards Christianity, he says, as a religion of war and bloodshed. The Moslems, who freel.v advocate the sword, accuse Christians of insincerity in professing a love of peace while waging the bloodiest wars in all history.

In India a distinguished native Christian advised him not to use the word Christianity in his addresses in that country. “You can preach Christ,” said this oriental, “but you cannot preach Christianity. It is here regarded as the name of a western religion which has failed.”

“I could multiply similar illustrations,” says Mr. Smith, “from China and Japan. Hindus, Mohammedans, and Buddhists are filling the East with descriptions of western Christianity as a war-loving and war-promoting organization. The East says: ‘Christianity, a cannon-ball, a submarine, and a gas bomb go together.’”

Sueli reports from a man who has actually been on the ground ought to wake ns up. We do not believe that Christianity is a religion which has failed. But how much have we done to make it succeed on a world-scale?

Fred B. Smith goes on to say: “The Christian church is the only organization with the world contacts which make possible a common binder for preserving peace. If the ehureh fails in its new opportunity more and worse wars are coming. The new stage setting is perfect for more outbreaks. Only the Christian gospel of brotherhood can furnish the moral and spiritual foundation that will make peace really possible.”

CHANGED INTO HIS IMAGE

**We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord.”—2 Corinthians 3:18.

I Note : As heretofore announced in these columns, we will publish in advance a brief comment on the weekly prayermeeting text for the consideration of the brethren. In order that there may be no confusion, and that the friends may understand Ilie week for which the text is used, this is the rule to follow: The text for the week will be the text that appears O'i the sheet of the calendar for that week ; that is to say, the prayer-meeting text to be considered on the evening of January 3 is that which appears on the first sheet of the calendar: namely, “Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created.” On the morning of January 4 (Thursday), the friends should begin to consider the text that will be used on the following V>’odn<sday night: namely, January 10. Each Thursday morning there should be read and then considered during the week the text that is to be used on the Wednesday following. The text, therefore, for consideration Wednesday evening, January 17, is, “The Lord God hath anointed rm" This text should be meditated vpon and co"-,! t 're 1 bv the friends from Thursday, January 11, to the 17th.]

ANOINTING OF THE KOLY SPIRIT

A NOINTING means a divine designation to a posi-Z-X tion of service or authority. Aaron the high priest was anointed with the holy oil. The kings of God’s holy nation were anointed. The anointing of Aaron the high priest foreshadowed the anointing of the great priesthood of which Jesus is the head. The ceremony in connection with .Karon’s anointing was performed by the ointment being poured upon the head, and it ran down upon the beard, down to the skirts of his garments.—• Psalm 133: 2.

At the time Jesus was at the Jordan, he was begotten and anointed of the holy spirit. Both took place at practically the same time. He therefore became Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah. Thereafter each one who is inducted into the body of Christ by spirit-begetting and adoption receives the anointing. The begetting is an individual matter. The anointing is a collective matter. As the anointing oil was poured only upon the head of Aaron the high priest, and not upon the underpriests, it thus foreshadow,ed that the anointing that came upon the Lord Jesus is directly upon him alone and through him descends upon the members of the body, who are inducted into the body of Christ.

It is one and the same spirit that begets and anoints; but somewhat different in process of operation. All who are called, justified, and accepted as a part of the sacrifice are called in one hope of their calling, arc begotten to the divine nature, and are set aside and designated to a position in the body of Christ. God has placed the members there as it pleases him. Those who will finally end in the great company class will lose the anointing, because they will lose their position in the body of Christ. Those who maintain the anointing unto the end will be born on the divine plane.

The anointing carries with it a commission to do certain things; and this commission is set forth by the Prophet in these words: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the, Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bcir’d; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and i’ day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” (Isaiah 61:1, 2) All such anointed ones, then, become ambassadors for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20) An ambassador is supposed to represent faithfully his King, his Lord and Head. The more he grows in the likeness of his Head, the better is he enabled to be a representative of the Lord and to show forth his praises.

Let us remember that the mind is the battleground; that the transformation takes place chiefly in the mind, as St. Paul puts it: “Be w transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, v ill of God.” It is fitting, then, that the ambassador of Christ should have his mind centered upon things pertaining to the duties and obligations of his office. These duties and obligations may bo summed up in a few words: (1) To represent the Lord faithfully by being his true and faithful witness; and (2) by thus doing, to cooperate in being transformed into the likeness of his Lord and Master and being made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. Lach one, of the anointed ones, then, will have a de.-ire to serve the Lord faithfully. If he finds this desire is somewhat dimmed, then he should pray the Lord to give him a clearer vision of his will and a greater desire to serve him to his glory. He should then find in his heart that zeal peculiar to the Lord’s house, the zeal prompted by unselfish love. Having the desire to represent the Lord and his kingdom faithfully, he will be watching for opportunities, and seizing these opportunities when they come to him, to give the witness. Thus indulging in the performance of the obligations laid upon him, his mind will be centered upon such things, his heart devoted thereto; and the transforming influence will continue, and the end of the year will find him happy in his situation because he has been striving to please his Lord and Master.

All who have received the anointing are delegated to preach the glad tidings in proportion as thy have opportunity. That is what is designated the divine commission. No man on earth ever held a higher commission. Blessed is our prhilege, then, if we have been commissioned as the Lord’s representatives to tell the message of glad tidings to others. Now recognizing the presence of the King and his kingdom taking its place in the great divine drama, it becomes the privilege of each anointed one to herald the glad tidings as occasion is afforded him by the Lord.

GIFT OF GOD

[Text for January 24]

“God hath given unto us his holy spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 4:8) The spirit of Jehovah is love, because God is love. His disposition is to do good unto all. Everything our Father and our Lord do is prompted by love. When begotten and anointed of the holy spirit we receive the spirit of the Lord; hence we receive the holy spirit as a gift from him. It is the will of God that we should develop the disposition and character likeness of our Lord and Head. It is the spirit of God working in us to will and to do his good pleasure which by his grace accomplishes the end desired. We must possess a sincere desire to do good unto all and evil unto none. In line with this, the Apostle under inspiration writes: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

God exercises a family love toward each member of the house of sons; and those who have his spirit will likewise exercise the spirit of love toward each member of the house. The Apostle in connection with the text under consideration says: “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” Then he advises us to increase in this spirit or disposition more and more; and to do this we are admonished to study to be quiet and to do our own business, which means that no one will have the disposition to interfere with the duties and obligations of another, but will study to remain quiet and not be meddlesome, and to ascertain God’s will and do it.

What God really wishes his people to possess is his holy spirit. Because of the imperfections of the flesh none of us can be filled with the spirit all at once, as vas our perfect Master. We first have the desire to be in harmony with God. This desire increases, to be filled with his spirit and to grow in the likeness of our Lord and Master. By seeking the Lord’s way we find it; and knocking at the door of opportunity, it is opened unto us. Praying to the Lord for more of his spirit, we have the assurance of our prayer being heard; for God is more willing to give us this than we are to give good gifts unto our children. Each consecrated child of God should come confidently to the throne of grace and, in the spirit of the Lord, ask for an increased measure of his spirit. Our heavenly Father is much more considerate, kind, just and loving than any earthly parent; and he delights to give to the members of his house of sons more and more of his spirit as they are able to receive it.

The spirit of the Lord given to us develops in us wisdom. Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge acquired from God’s Word. That wisdom which comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. The more we increase in wisdom, the more disposed we shall be to dwell in peace with all insofar as it is possible. We shall be more disposed to be gentle, kind and considerate to all, even to the unthankful. We shall be more easily entreated by others to be considerate with them. We shall increase in mercy, exercising compassion toward those who err and illy treat us. We shall be developing and manifesting more good fruits. We shall not be disposed to be partial toward some, but shall strive to treat all kindly and in a considerate way. We shall shun hypocrisy and be open and frank, dealing honestly and justly.

All these things are a gift from God. By developing these graces of the spirit, we are more and more being transformed into the image and likeness of our Lord and Master. To this end have our eyes of understanding been opened; and as we behold the wonderfully beautiful character of our Lord, as reflected by the Word of God, and strive to copy that image, the more we are transformed into his likeness, being changed from one degree of glory into a greater degree of glory, even by the spirit of the Lord Jesus.

As we come in contact with those of the world and present to them the gospel of the kingdom, we may be rebuffed, spurned, ill-treated, slandered, and abused. But remembering that we have received from God his spirit, we shall pity those who persecute us and shall watch for opportunities to do them good. In this way we shall develop the unselfish love for the world that God has already manifested toward the world. There can be no complete transformation of character without developing that higher, unselfish love, everywhere shed forth from the Word of God, which reflects the character of Jehovah and Jesus Christ his beloved Son.

REVELATION FROM GOD

[Text for January 31 [

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. Hut God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:9, 10) Luring the gospel age God reveals his deep things only to the members of his family. This family relationship is attained by exercising faith in the shed blood of Jesus, by full consecration, justification, spirit-begetting and anointing. Then the new creature begins to have the eyes of his understanding opened; and as he gazes into the perfect mirror (God’s Word of truth) and sees there reflected the character of the Father and the Lord Jesus and strives to conform himself thereto, the revelation grows brighter and brighter. The promise is: “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”—Proverbs 4: 18.

But be it noted that this revelation of the deeper things of God’s Word is by his spirit. As we saw in our last lesson, God gives us his spirit. Only those who maintain the spirit of the Lord can remain in and advance with the increased light. One of the things that would take a Christian out of the light is bitterness of heart. Concerning this St. Paul writes: “Follow peace with all. and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” The disposition to find fault, to criticize harshly, slander, and backbite, creates bitterness in the heart. Continuing, the Apostle says: “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”—Hebrews 12: 14, 15.

The very opposite of the spirit of bitterness is the spirit of love, which is the spirit of the Lord, and which is the means of revelation to us. St. Paul, again writing to the consecrated, says that it is necessary for God’s people to have their hearts “united in love, and in all the wealth of the full assurance of the understanding, in order to an exact knowledge of the secret of God, in which are stored all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2. 3, 1)idf/7oft) It follows, then, that in order to continue in the light and have the increased revelation of God’s great plan and character to us we must dwell tog: (her in peaces' and love must so predominate that our hearts will be united together. This explains why, then, one who manifests the spirit of bitterness, fault-finding, criticism and strife, soon finds himself drifting into the darkness. To walk in the light and enjoy the blessings of that light we must have his spirit, which is love for God supremely and for the brethren as members of his household.

Those who today are walking after the spirit are having the eyes of their understanding opened wider and wider. Daily they witness the fulfillment of prophecy testifying to the presence of the Kwg. and that he is dashing to pieces Satan’s empire and putting into power his kingdom which shall bless all the families of the earth. Seeing these glorious things now due to be seen and appreciated by the child of Ged. he takes gnat joy in announcing to others the King and his kingdom. His mind and heart being set upon these precious things there is a gradual transformation into the likeness of the glorious Lord and King. Truly at this time to the Christian it may be said: “Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.”

WORLD-WIDE WITNESS

FROM every part of the field in Europe and America, Asia and Africa, come reports of the world-wide witness on October 29. These reports are indeed gratifying. They testify to the increased zeal of the brethren and to the joy had in making known the message of the kingdom. There is a steadily increasing interest of the people in this message of the hour. Many more people are inquiring concerning the message of the Lord today than at any time during the harvest period.

Reports of the world-wide witness for December 10 are just beginning to arrive; and these likewise give every cause for encouragement. The reports thus far show increased attendance and likewise increased interest. Here and there some of the friends have become discouraged and think we should no longer use th,e subject “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” Their argument is that the people will think we know of nothing else about which to talk. We suggest that such friends forget that our duty is to place before the people the message advertising the presence of the King and his kingdom. It matters not if the people think of us as being unable to speak on anything else. Some will ridicule, but thereby they will preach the glad tidings themselves.

The Lord would not need to have the message announced by us at all. but ho has always chosen to act through human agencies. Moses was required to appear several times before Pharaoh and present his petition before the Lord would arrange for him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Joshua and his army marched around Jericho thirteen times before the walls fell. Why did not God permit the same result to happen at the first time? Evidently because he desired to test the faith of his people and to have the witness so thoroughly given to his opponents that they would know that the power came from Jehovah and not from man. Now the Lord is calling upon his people to be faithful and true witnesses. Let us not be weary in well doing. In God’s due time we shall reap if we do not relax.

The meeting for December 10 at Cleveland, Ohio, is entitled to special mention because of the zeal and effort put forth by the brethren there and the results accomplished. It is a strong refutation of the argument that we should cease using “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” On two former occasions Brother Rutherford had spoken at Cleveland, using that subject. In addition to this, many meetings had been addressed by other brethren on the same subject. For December 10 the Cleveland ecclesia engaged the largest hall in that city, and probably the largest hall of its kind in the world. It is said to have a seating capacity of 13,000. Zealous brethren went about the city, advertising the meeting by making personal calls and extending personal invitations to the people to come and hear on Sunday afternoon. The result was that at the meeting the great hall was filled to its utmost capacity; several hundred standing; two to three thousand were turned away. An overflow meeting was addressed by Brother Matthews at Engineers’ Hall.

Let us remember, dear brethren, that it is our privilege to constantly keep before the people the message of the hour. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” The Lord did not say how many times we should preach it. But the time has come, we must continue to preach it until he says that it is enough.

Another world-wide witness is expected in April next. The exact date we are not able just now to announce. It will be announced in due time. Let the brethren everywhere be preparing for that time. Let us prove ouioelves true and faithful witnesses to our present King.

THE PRODIGAL SON

---Januaby 21---Luke 15---

THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY—THE LOST SON—BEPENTANCE AND BETURN—RESTOBATION—THE WELCOME HOME—THE CLEliOY Al THE ELDEB BROTHER.

"There is joy in the presence of the anyels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”—Luke 15: 10.

TODAY’S lesson gathers around the parable of the Prodigal Son, perhaps the best known of our Lord’s parables. It is easy to understand why tins parable should be such a favorite: There is none like it to set forth the love of God for his lost sons. other story elsewhere in human history sets forth the love and sympathy and forgiveness of God as it is set forth by this parable. The parable is preceded by two others almost as well known—the parables of the Lost Sheep, and of the Lost Piece of Money, gems which would shine anywhere. The parable of the Prodigal is a picture beautifully framed, another example of the excellence of Luke’s setting of the wonderful truths he had to tell.

The parables arise out of the incidents recorded in the previous chapter. Jesus had shown that very many who had opportunities of service for God and advancement for themselves would fail to gain what was near to their hand through lack of humility. Their opportunities would slip past them. Luke tells that there gathered to Jesus publicans and sinners to hear him. Evidently they had heard of Jesus' attitude towards the ostentatious and sei I-righteous rich ; and, spurned by all these, and frequently so by the people, they gathered to him, feeling that he was their friend. Jesus must have taken some meals with them; for Luke says: “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”

Jesus heard their murmuring, and spoke to them in the words of the parable of the Lost Sheep Undoubtedly this beautiful parable is intended to show that the publicans and sinners were lost sheep. The Pharisees and scribes represented the righteous who thought that they needed no repentance. The main points of the parable are these: (1) The lost sheep is very precious to the good shepherd, who seeks it at great cost to himself; and (2) that which is lost brings, when restored, a joy that is otherwise impossible of realization. This is very important.

THE LOST PIECE OF MONEY

To emphasize these things, the Lord spoke the parable of the Lost Piece of Money. This should not be understood as meaning merely that a woman had lost a coin as one might lose a shilling or a dime. It is said, and we believe correctly, that the coin was one of a number strung together which married women wore on their foreheads, and for the care of which they were very particular. For a woman to be careless in these matters meant some lack for consideration for her respectability. It was not greed that caused the woman to sweep so carefully; her honor was in question. Hence the rejoicing when the lost piece was found.

Here again our Lord’s message is pointed. If we take the parables in the wider sense, they surely tell us that the love of God is involved in the loss of his straying sheep, the human family; and that to some extent the honor or brightness of his glory would be dimmed if he had no plan for sating the sin-smitten world. The Pharisees and scribes, who considered themselves righteous, ought to have rejoiced with Jesus that some publicans and sinners were being brought near to him ; they ought to have had compassion upon these, and to have desired to help them; they ought to have been helping him to find the lost piece of money in order that God’s goodness might be magnified. But they stood aloof and even murmured at his attempts to help.

After our Lord had spoken these things, there comes the Incomparable parable, which also is intended to show the

SB love of God, his tender mercy, and the gladness v hieli (m.ics to him through the return of his repentant sons. Our Lord said: “There is joy in the presence of the angels ot God.” In other words, God the Shepherd of Israel, and Jesus, the great Shepherd of his sheep, have joy together whenmer a repentant sinner is restored; and the angels see it. ami surely rejoice with them.

THE LOST SON

The two parables show God’s loss from a material point of view, as when an owner loses a sheep out of his flock or when something of material value is lost. But there is another viewpoint, a more tender one, by which Jesus illustrates God’s love and his sense of loss. It is that of a father who has lost a son—a loss entirely different from one of material things. Whatever there is of real value on earth—whatever enriches the life of man—has come from the heart of God. We may very truly say that as the loss which a parent feels when a loved child is lost through waywardness—a loss as if a room in his heart is closed, not to be occupied until the child shall return—so God was deprived of love to give and to receive when his human sons were lost in the far country of sin.

Jesus wished to show these Pharisees how precious the publicans and sinners of Israel were to his Father, ami should be to them. He told how the younger of two sons asked of his father the portion of the estate which would fall to him on his father's death. According to the lav.' of Israel the elder son received two-thirds, and the younger the one-third remaining; but there was no claim on the father for realization and division of his property before death, though this was sometimes done in Israel. Whether it was convenient for the father so to realize on some of his property, and thus divide with his son we do not know; but he agreed to the request, and the thoughtless, wilful young man got what he desired.

Apparently, without any consideration for his father, this son left home for a far country to enjoy himself. He began to squander the money for which his father had labored, and which should have been his portion to start him in life. Soon he sank very low, and was left without a friend. A mighty famine came in the land; and, forced by hard circumstances, he became a swineherd, to a Jew a detestable occupation. He would gladly have tried to satisfy his hunger with the food given to the swine. Apparently he got just enough to keep himself alive, but never sufficient to satisfy his hunger; and none of his new friends, nor indeed anyone else, had any compassion for him.

REPENTANCE AND RETURN

The young man’s terrible condition brought him to his senses. His true self had, as it were, been absent; and now he began to think. His mind turned to his comfortable home. He thought of the many hired servants his father had, who had always plenty to eat, and always something to spare, whilst he never had sufficient. Thoughts of home and of a satisfied appetite led him to think of his father; and perhaps a thought crossed his mind of his father’s hunger for him. He determined to go to his father, to acknowledge his sin both against heaven and before his father, and to beg to be made as one of his father’s hired servants. He was so broken in spirit that he would not presume to ask to be taken back as a son; he felt that he had forfeited that favored position.

Having made up his mind to go to his father, lie went on the way. A great surprise awaited him. Probably he had thought to go up to his father’s house at night-time, and perhaps find shelter and some food from some of the servants who had been under his care in days gone past. But, happening to lift up his eyes as he was going along the road, he saw his father coining towards him ; more wonderful still, that his father began to run to him: and still more wonderful when they met. his father, without a word of reproach, fell on his neck and kissed him. The prodigal began to tell his tale to bis father, making his confession, but the father waited it to one side; for the tact of the return and the demeanor of the son were -’illlcient for him.

There would have been something ig if the con '(‘■■sun had not been spoken, but being >pi>ki'ii it needed no further expression. The story is so b, auti.ul. so tender, mid the father's action so gracious Hint as we see him einb.m leg his long-lost son, his heart beatii g with gladness, and tears of joy streaming down his face, we cannot help entering into his happiness. The returned prodigal was welcomed home with an effusion of gladness, amt his heart would have been of stone if by all this it had not been turned into a right attitude. In this way God. through his dear Son whom he sent to represent him. and by whom he revealed himself to us, tells us of his gladness when a prodigal comes back to him.

THE WELCOME HOME

The father was so glad to have his son back that he arranged a party that all his household could share his pleasure. But tlu? elder son was absent. On coming near to the house, and hearing the music and dancing, he called one of the servants aside and asked what these things meant. On being told that his brother had come back, and that his father had killed the fatted calf because he had received him safe and sound, he was angry, and would not go in. The father, hearing of this, came out and entreated him. Then comes one of those perversions of truth which only an ungrateful heart and a perverted mind can produce. He told bis father that he had served him for many years and had never transgressed, but that such a night of merriment and joy had never been made for him. nor such pleasure shown in him as for this son who had devoured his substance in riotous living. The father pleaded with the elder son, apparently without avail. But the la-t word was with the father. He said: “It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again ; and was lost, and is found.”

.Testis here shows not only the gladness of God in getting his eliildten back to him, but the detestable meanness of the mind which was in the Pharisees and lawyers who despised the publicans and sinners. The elder son of this parable is as objectionable a man as the father is lovable, and the younger son forgivable.

What was the sin of the prodigal son? Clearly he was selfish, very self-indulgent, lacking those common restraints which a man should put upon himself, and entirely without consideration for his father. Though he was a waster, a foolish, careless son. who must have given his father much pain. I here is no word in the parable to tell this; but the fulness of feeling which the father exhibited when his son returned disclosed it. The parable shows that God lets his wayward children go their own way. In order to give them the necessary experiences, he lets some have what they want, and others he tests by his own joy in receiving the prodigals back to himself.

There are elder sons. Pharisees and scribes,'in our day. a class that exactly correspond to those of Jesus' day. The clergy, who have had all the privileges of knowledge, are not at all pleased that the poor have the gospel of the kingdom preached to them, nor pleased that they are told of the love of God for the world and of his purpose to restore his prodigal sons by Hie trouble which brings them to their senses, to a realization of their need of him, and to an understanding of the love to be manifested through Christ. The attitude of this class towards the message of truth seems to show conclusively that they would rather the multitudes of earth's sons, burdened with sin and hard circumstances, should have the eternal torment doctrine preached to them than the message of love and hope. They make no protest against those, such as the Salvation Army and ollicrs. wlm still blaspheme the name of God by preaching Hie lot meat doclrine; but they hinder the message of truth in every possible way. They prefer the honor of themselves more than the joy of the Father, or the salvation of the human family. And just as surely as the elder son could not enter into his father's house nor into his happiness, through the hardness ot his heart, so surely will these find themselves out-ide the joy of the Lord when he receives his prodigals home.

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• Prodigal Son