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(304-307) Dear BROTHER RUSSELL:—The Tower for Aug. 15 is at hand and read, and I cannot resist writing to you on the subject, but by no means for the purpose of getting an answer as T well knew the value of your tume. When first, in the gicat joy of having received the truth, I hastened to tell my dear brothers and sisters in Holland, I met with terrible rebuffs. My very dear youngest sister sent me a tract, in which a parson, Cjeharsi—hireling (whose the sheep are not) warned his flock (pen) against the “soul-damning doctrines of MILLENNIAL Dawn.” “It added,” said he, “and lopped off Scripture,” and to prove that ke never did such a thing he went on to say that “the wages of sin 1s death and eternal torment.” Ever since 94 I have quietly but persistently spoken of my Lord as I know him now. Lately my sister’s notice has been drawn to the fact that I was concerned about her “soul’s condition,” and I pointed out to her how she, knowing that I had imbibed “soul-damning doctrines.” had never taken a step to prevent my going into the tortures of hell fire. while she would give her time to, and pet concerned about the welfare of some man in prison, who had merely transgressed the “traditions et men? My letter was largely prompted by one from a seeond sister, who has youth, beauty, wealth, talent and society in her favor, but who gives all to nurse the sick. She has worked her way to be directress of the Reformed hospital in Amsterdam, our native city. Hers is a life of actual service, and, tho still in orthodoxy, she confessed that she was touched by the evident love and interest I manifested in Christ’s teaching, and that I had the “gift to analyze thought.” Oh, how glad I will be if I may have stepped out so far past mysclf to show them my only Head and Master! Souls full of love and consecration. but yet of the heart “slow to understand.” Just think of lives hké those clearly seeing, so that they too may receive the “gift to analyze (order) thought.” Oh, how dearly I hope I may have sufficient light in me that it may shine clearly enough for others to see! I fully appreciate what you savy about sudden deaths. The fact that we have an understanding of the plan of the ages is not a guarantce that the mind of Christ is in us. If, in one sense, it is a sign of exceeding love and benefaction, it brings with it no less a responsibility. Not all those who understand these truths are destined for one oflice and one purpose. I do not care for the reward, I do not ask for one; all I ask and all I care for is to render efficient service to at least some sinladen, faltering one for His Name’s sake. The 15th Psalm has been my choice one from childhood: and from it I learned, amid the luxurious surroundings of a banker’s home, to ask why T had received so much when others had so little, others whom I loved and honored, and who were more worthy than I. Good as my father was, both as man and Christian, I saw that he did not earn his wealth, and that the world was but little better for his being in it. I made up my mind (I can easily remember) at the age of 12, that I would right the wrong if I could, and today I am still laboring towards that end. I feel that I swore then—and whether to my hurt or not I do not know—and I have not changed since. I do know that, according to the Psalm, I have been blessed far beyond my deserts, for “Mine eyes have seen thy salvation;” yea, I behold Canaan's ghttering shores. It 1s therefore quite immaterial to me, reverently speaking, what occurs. The kingdom cometh not hy observation, that they should say Lo here. or lo there, and I would pluck my right eye (that wherein I thought I saw aright) rather than lose the kingdom. With prayers, brother, that the spirit of meekness, love and humility may he increasingly yours, that so you may prove faithful to the last. I am Yours in the service of the truth, DANIEL F. BorsSEvVAIN,—Canada. Drak Broriurr Russrri-—I take the first opportunity to personally thank you for vour attendance at the Saratoga Con ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa, vention. I realize that to be present costs you some sacrifice and inconvenience, perhaps, but if you could have heard the expressions of satisfaction at its close, and the expressions of regret that it was so soon over, I know that you would have felt well repaid. But, dear Brother Russell, your reward is in the hands of him who is the “rewarder of all those that diligently seek him,” and our thanks are feeble indeed when compared with the satisfaction which he gives in this life, and the hope which he sets before us to be given us in tke life to come. All the brethren expressed themselves in these words, “‘A feast of fat things’ if ever there was such a feast,” and I found it in my own heart to echo the same words. I was very sorry to miss the sessions during the day on Tuesday, but it could not be avoided. However, it seemed that my cup of satisfaction was full. It seems, as one brother expressed it, that every Convention is a little better than the preceding one, and that this must be true is indicated by the fact thit we are in the end of the days, and the end draws on apace. How good our Master is to so freely disclose to us things which are intended for our consolation and hope and purification, As we comprehend more and more of the plan of the ages and of the love of God, which he manifested in his Son, we exclaim, “Who is a God hke unto thee; great and marvelous are thy works!” And as we come to comprehend also that the plan and the Jove, both, include even us, we feel constrained to adore such a God, and to spend our lives in his service. Remember me, as I remember all saints, before the throne of grace. Yours in his service, R. H. BAarser,—New York. Dear BrotuerR Russett:—Just a word to tell you that all our plans are turned over,—no doubt with the Lord’s permission. I cannot go to Giengen: just today I received a letter from Sister Finkh, in which she informs me that the fact of renting a dwelling for me has aroused such an excitement and hostihty amongst church people there that the people who rented me the rooms are so afraid as to annul it. Two ministers came three or four times to the woman, and finally told her that she would bring a curse upon herself, if she would take me in her house, they would write to the church authorities, and went to the police, etc. Sr, Finkh was attacked in the street by a woman, who cried aloud after her ugly words, and the ministers themselves used such expressions in speaking of me as would be punished here, if spoken publicly. Sr. Finkh and the other three scem to be most earnest, and will follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth, even unto death. There is already such hatred as to kill the Lord’s true people, if they were permitted at all. I do not know, at this moment where to go, but trust the Lord will show me soon, as I wish with all my heart to follow his leading only. Pray for me, dear brother, and for the dear sisters in Giengen. Yours in our glorious hope, M. E. GIESEKE.—Germany. [It is remarkable what an antagonism the truth awakens among the preachers and church officials of Babylon. We hear much of Christian union and liberality and fraternization of Catholics and Protestants, but such things apply to and among those who preach “bad tidings,” and is not considered applicable to us who proclaim the “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.” Strange, is it not? And yet how it reminds us of the bitterness of the hatred of the church officials of Jewry at the first advent. As our Lord declared, they “hated the light,” and the greater the light the more was their hatred, until they attempted to extinguish the Light by killing him. The hatred above described indicates the spirit of murder (1 John 3:15): will it ever lead to literal murder ’—How soon ?—EDITOR.] Vou. XXT oo ALLEGHENY, PA., OCTOBER 15, 1900 No. 20 VIEWS FROM WORLD MOVEMENT TOWARD DENOMINATIONAL UNION A contemporary thus sums up the recent tendencies toward union on the part of Churchianity,—in full harmony with what our pages for the past twenty years have shown will be the procedure of “Babylon” just prior to her fall “as a great millstone into the sea.” We quote as follows:— “The question of denominational union is fast becoming one of the most important questions of the day in all Protestant lands. In Germany, as we have lately pointed out, a strong movement exists for the federation of the stste THE TOWER churches, amounting to nearly fifty in number; and federation is one step on the road to organic union. In Scotland, the Congregationalists and the churches of the Evangelical Union—sometimes called Morrisanians—amalgamated their forces a short time ago; and the Free and the United Presbyterian churches are to become organically one next October, as already mentioned in these pages. In South Australia the three leading Methodist denominations, and in Canada all the various Methodist bodies have for some years been one. This is an encouraging record. {2710}