Publication date
10/15/00
Volume
21
Number
20
The WatchTower
Views From the Watch Tower
/../literature/watchtower/1900/20/1900-20-1.html
 
 
 
(304-307) 
ZIONJS 
WATCH 
TOWER 
ALLEGH£NY. 
PA. 
DEAR 
BROTllER 
RUSSELL 
:-The 
TOWER 
for 
Aug. 
15 
is 
at 
hand 
and 
read, 
and 
cannot 
resi5t 
writing 
to 
you 
on 
the 
sub­ 
ject, 
but 
by 
no 
meam 
for 
the 
purpose 
of 
getting 
an 
answer 
as 
well 
klll'w 
the 
,",due 
of 
your 
tune. 
\Yhen 
iir"t, 
III 
the 
gll'ut 
joy 
of 
ha\ 
ll1g 
rccelYl'd 
the 
truth, 
hastened 
to 
tell 
my 
dear 
brother~ 
and 
sister~ 
In 
Holland, 
met 
with 
terrible 
rebuffs. 
My 
very 
dcar 
~'oungest 
sbter 
sent 
me 
tract, 
in 
which 
parson, 
CJehar51-111relIng 
(whose 
the 
sheep 
are 
not) 
warned 
his 
flock 
(pen) 
agalIl~t 
the 
"soul'damning 
doctnnes 
of 
MIL· 
LEN:\L\L 
DAwx." 
"It 
addcd," 
said 
he, 
"and 
lopped 
off 
Scrip, 
ture," 
and 
to 
prove 
that 
he 
never 
did 
such 
thing 
he 
went 
on 
to 
say 
that 
"tlw 
wages 
of 
~1Il 
l~ 
death 
and 
eternal 
torment." 
Ever 
since 
'94 
have 
quietly 
but 
persistently 
spoken 
of 
my 
Lord 
a~ 
know 
hIm 
now. 
Lately 
Illy 
si~ter's 
notiee 
has 
been 
drawn 
to 
the 
faet 
that 
was 
con('erned 
about 
her 
"soul's 
conditIOn." 
and 
pointed 
out 
to 
her 
how 
she, 
knowing 
that 
had 
imlllbcd 
"~oul,damnilJg 
do('trillPs." 
had 
never 
taken 
step 
to 
prc"Cllt 
my 
poing 
Into 
the 
torturps 
of 
hell 
ihe. 
while 
.,he 
\\oul,1 
gl\'2 
I}er 
tunc 
to, 
and 
get 
conccrned 
about 
the 
wei· 
fare 
of 
some 
man 
111 
pn~on, 
who 
had 
merely 
tran;;gres;;ed 
the 
"tradltJolh 
<:t 
nl('n" 
~ry 
Idt"l 
\\a, 
hugdy 
pJ(llllpteel 
hy 
OIl(' 
from 
sc('olHI 
si~tcr. 
who 
has 
youth, 
beauty, 
\"eaIth, 
talent 
and 
society 
in 
her 
fa 
,'or, 
but 
who 
gives 
all 
to 
nur~e 
the 
Rick. 
She 
has 
workc,l 
her 
way 
to 
be 
dIrectress 
of 
the 
Upformed 
hos­ 
pital 
in 
.Am~ter<lam, 
our 
natn'e 
city. 
Hers 
is 
life 
of 
actual 
service, 
aJ1(!, 
tho 
still 
in 
ortllOdoxy, 
she 
confessed 
that 
she 
was 
toUf'lH'tl 
JJy 
the 
eV!e!eut 
love 
and 
interest 
manife~ted 
in 
Christ's 
traching, 
and 
that 
had 
the 
"gift 
to 
analyze 
thought." 
Dh, 
how 
gla,] 
will 
be 
if 
may 
have 
stepped 
out 
so 
far 
past 
myself 
to 
~how 
them 
my 
only 
Head 
and 
:MaRter! 
Souls 
full 
of 
loye 
and 
peJU'-epration. 
hut 
yet 
of 
the 
heart 
"slow 
to 
under­ 
stand." 
,Tu~t 
thmk 
of 
liv('s 
like 
those 
clearly 
seeing, 
1"0 
that 
they 
too 
may 
receive 
the 
"gift 
to 
analyze 
(order) 
thought." 
Dh, 
how 
dearly 
hope 
mav 
have 
sufficient 
light 
in 
me 
that 
it 
may 
shine 
clearly 
enough 
for 
others 
to 
see! 
fully 
appreciate 
what 
you 
say 
about 
suddpn 
deaths. 
The 
fact 
that 
we 
haye 
an 
undpl'standing 
of 
the 
plan 
of 
the 
ages 
is 
not 
guarantpe 
that 
the 
mine! 
of 
Chri"t 
is 
in 
us. 
If, 
in 
one 
sense, 
it 
is 
5ign 
of 
exceeellllg 
loye 
and 
benefaction, 
it 
brmgs 
with 
it 
no 
less 
re~ponsibihty. 
Kot 
all 
those 
who 
understanJ 
these 
truths 
are 
destined 
for 
one 
office 
and 
one 
purpose. 
do 
not 
care 
for 
the 
reward, 
do 
not 
ask 
for 
one; 
all 
aRk 
and 
all 
care 
for 
is 
to 
rencler 
efficipnt 
service 
to 
at 
least 
some 
sin­ 
laden, 
faltering 
one 
for 
His 
Name's 
sake. 
The 
15th 
Psalm 
has 
been 
my 
choice 
one 
from 
chilelhood: 
and 
from 
it 
learned, 
amid 
the 
luxurious 
surroundings 
of 
banker's 
home, 
to 
ask 
why 
had 
received 
so 
much 
when 
others 
had 
so 
little, 
others 
whom 
loved 
and 
honored, 
an,l 
who 
were 
more 
worthy 
than 
1. 
Good 
as 
my 
father 
was, 
both 
as 
man 
and 
Christian, 
saw 
that 
he 
did 
not 
earn 
his 
wealth, 
and 
that 
the 
world 
was 
but 
little 
better 
for 
his 
bemg 
in 
it. 
made 
up 
my 
mind 
(I 
can 
easily 
rememb('r) 
at 
the 
age 
of 
12, 
that 
would 
right 
the 
wrong 
if 
could, 
and 
today 
am 
stilI 
laboring 
towards 
that 
end. 
feel 
that 
swore 
then-and 
whether 
to 
my 
hurt 
or 
not 
do 
not 
know-and 
have 
not 
chang-ed 
Rince. 
do 
know 
that. 
accordlllg' 
to 
the 
l'~alm. 
haye 
heen 
!Jlessecl 
far 
bevon,l 
mv 
des('rts, 
for 
"Mine 
Pyps 
have 
seen 
thy 
salvation;" 
yea, 
be­ 
hold 
('anaan's 
g11ttprJng- 
shon''-. 
It 
1R 
thereforp 
<iUIle 
im­ 
material 
to 
me, 
r('H'rently 
sppaking, 
what 
occurs. 
The 
king­ 
dom 
pometh 
not 
11\' 
(1)',('1 
.Ition. 
that 
tJI('V 
~honl(! 
~av 
Lo 
11(':'('. 
or 
10 
there, 
and 
:i 
\\ 
onl,! 
pluck 
my 
right 
eye 
(that' 
wherein 
thought 
Raw 
aright) 
rather 
than 
lose 
the 
kingdom. 
\Vith 
prayerR, 
hrothcr. 
that 
the 
spirit 
of 
meekness, 
loye 
and 
humility 
may 
he 
increasingly 
yours, 
that 
so 
you 
may 
prove 
faithful 
to 
th(' 
laRt. 
am 
Yours 
in 
the 
sen'icp 
of 
the 
truth, 
D.\XIEL 
F. 
BOISSEVAIN,-Canada. 
DF..\R 
TIllOTHF.R 
RGSSFf 
'-1 
takp 
the 
firRt 
opportunity 
to 
personally 
thank 
you 
for 
~'our 
attendance 
at 
the 
Saratoga 
Con- 
vention. 
realize 
that 
to 
be 
present 
costs 
you 
some 
sacrifiCE' 
and 
inconvenience, 
perhaps, 
but 
if 
you 
could 
have 
heard 
the 
expressIOns 
of 
satisfaction 
at 
its 
clobe, 
and 
the 
expressions 
of 
regret 
that 
it 
was 
so 
soon 
over, 
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 
dili­ 
gently 
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 
He 
life 
to 
come. 
All 
the 
brethren 
expressed 
themselves 
in 
thesE' 
words, 
'A 
feast 
of 
fat 
things' 
if 
ever 
there 
was 
such 
feast," 
and 
found 
it 
in 
my 
own 
heart 
to 
echo 
the 
same 
words. 
was 
y('ry 
Rorry 
to 
miss 
the 
sessions 
during 
the 
day 
on 
Tuesday. 
but 
it 
could 
not 
be 
voided. 
However, 
it 
seemed 
that 
my 
cup 
of 
satIsfaction 
was 
full. 
It 
~eems. 
as 
one 
brother 
expresRed 
it, 
that 
every 
Convention 
is 
little 
better 
than 
the 
preceding 
one, 
and 
that 
this 
must 
j'e 
tru(' 
i~ 
indIcated 
l,y 
the 
f,lpt 
tlr 
It 
\\ 
ear" 
IU 
tlip 
elld 
of 
the 
days, 
and 
the 
end 
draws 
on 
apace. 
How 
good 
our 
Master 
is 
to 
so 
freely 
discl05e 
to 
us 
tlungs 
which 
are 
intended 
for 
our 
e'on~olation 
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. 
"\Yho 
is 
God 
like 
unto 
thee; 
great 
and 
mar­ 
velous 
are 
thy 
works'" 
And 
as 
we 
come 
to 
comprehend 
also 
that 
the 
plan 
and 
the 
love, 
both, 
include 
even 
us, 
we 
feel 
con­ 
strained 
to 
adore 
such 
God, 
and 
to 
spend 
our 
lives 
in 
his 
Rcnice. 
Rememher 
me, 
as 
remember 
all 
saints, 
before 
the 
throne 
of 
grace. 
Yours 
in 
his 
service, 
R. 
H. 
BARBER.-New 
York. 
DEAR 
BROTHER 
RUSSELL:-Just 
wonl 
to 
tell 
you 
that 
all 
our 
plans 
are 
turned 
over,-no 
douht 
with 
the 
Lord's 
permission. 
cannot 
go 
to 
Giengen: 
just 
today 
re('eived 
letter 
from 
Sister 
Flllkh. 
in 
whIch 
she 
informs 
me 
that 
the 
fact 
of 
renting 
dwelling- 
for 
me 
has 
arousell 
such 
an 
excitement 
and 
hostility 
among~t 
church 
people 
there 
that 
the 
people 
who 
rented 
me 
the 
rooms 
are 
RO 
afraid 
as 
to 
annul 
it. 
Two 
ministers 
came 
three 
or 
four 
times 
to 
the 
woman, 
and 
finallv 
told 
her 
that 
she 
woul,l 
bring 
curse 
upon 
herself, 
if 
she 
would 
take 
me 
in 
her 
hOllSP. 
they 
would 
write 
to 
the 
chun·h 
authorities, 
and 
went 
to 
the 
police, 
etc. 
Sr. 
Finkh 
was 
attacked 
in 
the 
street 
by 
woman, 
who 
cried 
aloud 
after 
her 
ugly 
words, 
and 
the 
ministers 
themselves 
used 
such 
ex' 
pressions 
in 
speaking 
of 
me 
as 
would 
be 
punished 
here, 
if 
spoken 
publicly. 
Sr. 
Finkh 
and 
the 
other 
three 
seem 
to 
bE' 
most 
earnest, 
and 
will 
follow 
the 
Lamb 
whitherRocver 
he 
goeth, 
even 
unto 
death. 
There 
is 
already 
such 
hatred 
as 
to 
kill 
the 
Lord's 
true 
people, 
if 
they 
were 
permitted 
at 
all. 
do 
not 
know, 
at 
this 
moment 
where 
to 
go, 
but 
trust 
the 
Lord 
will 
show 
me 
soon, 
as 
wish 
with 
all 
my 
heart 
to 
follow 
his 
leading 
only. 
Pray 
for 
me, 
dear 
brother, 
and 
for 
the 
dear 
sistprs 
in 
Gil'ngen. 
Yours 
in 
our 
glorious 
hope, 
1\1. 
E. 
GIESEKE.-Germany. 
[It 
is 
remarkable 
what 
an 
antagonism 
the 
truth 
awakens 
among 
the 
preachers 
and 
church 
officials 
of 
Babylon. 
':Ne 
hear 
much 
of 
Christian 
union 
and 
liberality 
and 
fratermza­ 
tlOn 
of 
CatholicR 
and 
Protestant~. 
but 
'-u"h 
thing~ 
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 
Jewrv 
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 
indi.cates 
the 
spirit 
of 
murder 
(1 
John 
3: 
15) 
will 
it 
ever 
lead 
to 
hteral 
murder 
?-How 
soon 
?-EDITOR.] 
VOL. 
XXI 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
OCTOBER 
15, 
1900 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
TOWER 
No. 
20 
WORLD 
MOVEMENT 
TOWARD 
DENOMINATIONAL 
UNION 
contemporary 
thus 
sums 
up 
the 
recent 
tendencies 
toward 
union 
on 
the 
part 
of 
Churchianity.-in 
full 
harmony 
with 
what 
our 
pagps 
for 
the 
past 
twenty 
years 
have 
shown 
will 
be 
the 
procedure 
of 
"Babylon" 
ju<,t 
prior 
to 
her 
fall 
"as 
great 
millstone 
into 
the 
sea." 
\Ve 
quote 
as 
follows:- 
"The 
queRtion 
of 
denominational 
union 
is 
fast 
becoming 
one 
of 
the 
mo~t 
important 
questions 
of 
the 
daJ 
in 
all 
Prot­ 
estant 
lands. 
In 
Germany, 
as 
we 
have 
lately 
pointed 
out, 
strong 
movement 
exists 
for 
the 
federation 
of 
the 
sts 
te 
churches. 
amounting 
to 
nearly 
fifty 
in 
number; 
and 
federa­ 
tion 
iR 
one 
step 
on 
the 
road 
to 
organic 
union. 
In 
Scotland, 
the 
Congregationalists 
and 
the 
churches 
of 
the 
Evangelical 
l'nion-sometimes 
called 
Morrisanians-amalgamated 
their 
forces 
short 
time 
ago; 
and 
the 
Free 
and 
the 
United 
Presby­ 
terian 
churches 
are 
to 
become 
organically 
one 
next 
October, 
as 
already 
mentioned 
in 
these 
pages. 
In 
South 
Australia 
thp 
three 
leading 
Methodist 
denominations, 
and 
in 
Oanada 
all 
the 
various 
Methodist 
bodies 
have 
for 
some 
years 
been 
one. 
This 
is 
an 
encouraging 
record. 
[2710] 
(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}

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