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download/literature/watchtower/1900-7.pdf
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.Y
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W.-1
Tell
TOW
E
R
(
"i
I)
33
I
h<1'.p
a-bumed
tIle
libClt,Y
to
celelJlat<'
thi-
MCIllOI'J,t1
at
"arion,
times-weekI),
monthly,
quartedy,
e
l
e,
but
in
h,llmony
"Ith
the
caIly
church
we
understand
OUI
LOltl
to
mean
that
"e
-hould
celebrate
this
as
we
celebrate
am
oth('l'
eHnt-on
it
anni,'ersary;
just
as
we
now
mIght
~ay.
',\s
oft
a
~
the
Fourth
,A
July
is
celehrated
it
shows
forth
the
Independence
of
thi;;
nation.
Those
who
celebrate
our
Lonl'b
dcath
ill
t;le
"Last
Supper"
at
noon
everv
Sunda\',
mistake
it
for
the
\\cl'kh'
"Lon'
Feast"
,,1'
"Breakin~'
of
Br~ad"
practiced
enry
Lor(l's
Day
by
the
,'allY
clnll
eh
in
memory
of
our
LOrtl'b
rcsll
treel
IOn
and
hi"
,)pel;ing
of
the
cye~
of
their
undel
~tanding
in
the
breaking
of
bread..
Rightly
undprstood,
nothing
in
thl'~e
''.
l'ekly
feast"
of
JOY
rescm
bled
the
annual
commelllOl
a
tlOn
of
our
JHastcr's
SOlI'OW
and
death-nor
j"
the
"eup"
ev~'r
lllentioned
in
con
nection
with
them.
The
church
at
Allegheny
will
celeln,lte
the
JUemorial
Supppr
commemorative
of
our
RedeemP1"';
dcath
for
U",
anti
of
our
Pass-orcr
from
death
unto
life
throu::;h
the
merit
of
IllS
f'acJifice,
and
of
our
consecration
to
"be
dl'old
,vith
him"
to
drink
his
"cup"-on
the
evemng
of
April
12th
at
7
::JO
I)'clock
at
Bible
Hous('
chapel,
Allegheny,
Pa.
Friends
of
the
truth
who
can
make
it
convenient
to
mept,
with
Us
'viII
bp
\1
elcomed
cordiallv:
bnt
we
advise
that
wherever
there
all'
home-meetings
or
\vherever
such
gatherings
seem
possible
they
he
not
deserted,
No
other
season
seems
so
favorable
for
the
.!rawing
of
the
hearts
of
the
Lord's
people
closely
together;
,'wn
as
it
seems
also
to
be
specially
an
hOUl
of
temptation
to
all
professing
to
be
the
Lord's
followers,
\"ho
like
Peter
of
olrl
"ppm
to
be
specially
sifted
nt
thi"
sen
son
of
the
yenr.
'J
he
achice
of
our
LOlli
to
the
early
di~clples.
at
tlll~
tllne
of
thp
~ear.
~eem~
still
spcciall.\'
appropriate,
'\V,1tch
anr!
1'1
:l;'
!",t
;
c
enit'r
inti)
temptation
'I"
Anrl
recogni7ing
thh
thl
ohler
sy-tclll<;
Homan
Cllthohc
ani!
Epi~copalinn
<;till
IJlceede
the
~Icmorial
,nth
a
fa"t
or
Lenten
season-wlllch
l'ntel"tl
mto
not
formally
but
III
the
spirit
"I'
beliel'e
i~
a
\(>1':'
helpful
custom
to
many-uot
only
physically
but
~IJll1t'
uall\'.
'~(;ootl
Fd,],);"
\I
,1
<;
~uu-tItutecl
fOl
the
~Iemol
Ltl
~ll!,PCI
a"
otiginall:-
olbPl'I'l'
l
ll~:
the
1"']11',
people
-
the
R,I
~t('m
of
coullting
bl'illg
~Iight:
\'
,:hange·'l.
The
mOl
e
fl
cquent
('ekhr,l
tioll"
or
tIl('
LOl'l]''i
Sup!,"\'
by
rlot("·tant~
ate
ba~ed
';prm
l'apacy'~
celebratIOn
of
the
'~LI-<;."
an
institu1
Jon
",hIt
h
both
l!l
fact
n1l'!
th('or\,
i,
:\11
:1hOlll'll.ltlOl\
to
our
Lord--drll\
mg
as
it
doe~
the
flllim·--
oi
the
d1lt-aey
of
thl'
01
iginal
san'ili,,'
at
Calvary
\Ve
tI'11'ot
O':1t
j
l
l"
L"nl'-
l'I',,!,I,·
('\('lnvh.·],·
\1111
',10
I"i~"
in
remembrance
of
thp
gore.lt
sin-,arnf!rl'-not
me](']y
a-
all
outward
111emorinl
hut
,t1so
awl
spccially
at
the
~:lIlte
tim.'
fecding
on
the
Lon!
h,1!
faith
in
their
he,Ll'ts,
and
afre,I'
pledging
tlwir
cOll-pcrati01l
unto
death
with
him
while
par
taking
of
the
"cup"
For
fudhrr
pa
1
tIcllhl1-~
~ee
ollr
J~SIl'·
of
~Iarch
1.
lSDH.
\Ve
will
be
glad
to
ha\-e
plOmpt
po,t,l!
cald
J('porb
flom
the
appointed
seeretary
or
bPrilJe
of
eaeh
little
group-\\here
ever
"two
or
three"
meet
in
his
deal'
name
tu
do
thIS.
Makl'
all
your
arrangements
heforehand
that
the
prccious
season
of
heart
"communion"
he
not
disturbed
by
business
affairs,
Let
us
not
onl:'
unitt,
in
IHayer
amI
communion,
but
also
so
far
as
practicable
in
our
song"
of
prai::<e-using
nUlllbH"
2:1.
122
and
1
of
Hymns
of
nUl!
II.
AVOID
FLATTERY
In
a
recent
letter
one
of
the
"Ptlgdll1~:'
after
giYing
l'<1rtieulars
respecting
his
efforts
to
ieed
the
Lord's
sheep
:lnd
lamb.,
concludes
thus:-
"Pray
for
me.
dear
brother,
that
I
may
be
b:pt
a
'servant.'
Could
;vou
not
in
some
\\
ay
through
the
TOWER
suggest
tu
th
...
friends
not
to
praise
a
'pilgrim'
to
his
face:
they
do
not
know
what
'offences'
they
sometimes
causl',
what
fet'ling--
of
latent
pride
they
arouse."
YOLo
XXI
ALLEGHEKY.
PA
..
MARCH
15
AND
APRIl,
I,
1900
WHICH
IS
THE
TRUE
GOSPEL?
Nos,
G
A~D
-;
"I
am
l'Ot
A.shamed
of
the
Gospel
of
Ohrist."-Rom.
1:
Hi.
.\
})bcourse
b~'
P,lstor
C.
T.
Russell
of
Allegheny,
Pa.,
delivered
at
The
Florida
Chautauqua
.\ssembly,
Defuniak
SPI
ing".
Fla"
~Iarch
4,
1900,
as
reported
by
the
Associatl'd
Ple,,~.
x
a
apology
~eems
necessary
for
our
subjed-"Which
is
the
true
Gospel
of
which
the
Apostle
was
not
a~hamed?"
If
time
and
thought
may
be
profitabl,l'
expended
in
the
study
o)f
the
earthly
sciences-sociology,
finance,
etc.,
etc.,
built
largely
upon
human
inferences
and
conjectul'Ps-surely
none
could
(lispute
the
plOpriety
of
studying
the
~cience
of
divine
1
evelation.
If
it
be
profitable
to
investigate
the
physical
dis
eases
of
mankind
and
their
causcs,
and
the
law.,
of
medicine
and
of
sanitation
for
the
offset
of
these,
it
~urely
cannot
be
disputed
that
the
Gospel
which
God
has
presented
as
the
antidote
for
soul-sickne~s
and
soul-death,
and
as
the
science
pertaining
to
life
eternal,
is
worthy
of
still
gn-ater
and
more
profound
con~ideratlOn,
The
greatest
mlllds,
the
noblest
specimens
of
our
race,
ha,-e
admitted
our
topic
to
be
the
one
above
all
others
in
impor
tance,
and
have
'I'cighed
it
earefuIl)'-whether
as
a
result
they
accepted
or
rejeded
it.
'Ve
are
not
now
discussing
the
weight
of
mental
acumen
enlisted
for
and
against
the
Gospel:
we
are
merely
noting
the
fact
that
all
men
of
abIlity
have
recognized
that
the
subject
is
WOl
thy
of
their
careful
con
-ideration,
and
as
having
claims
upon
their
attention
para
mount
to
an,l-
and
all
oth'lrs.
Indeed,
it
may
be
set
down
as
a
fact
that
whoever
has
given
the
subject
of
religion
no
con
~ideration
is
one
of
three
things,-a
novice
in
mental
exer
cisc,
or
a
near
relatIve
to
"the
fool
who
hath
said
in
his
heal
t,
There
is
no
God,"
or
a
coward,
preyed
upon
by
fears,
instigated
by
Satan
to
hinder
honest
investigation
of
the
divine
message
of
love
and
mercy.
Even
a
hasty
glance
into
the
intelligent
faces
of
this
large
audience
assures
me
that
you
all
have
given
some
thought
to
our
theme
;-though
experience
assures
me
that
compara
tively
few
of
you
have
ever
reached
conclusions
on
this
sub
ject
fully
satisfactory
to
yourselves.
Hence
your
faith
and
love
and
zeal
toward
God
and
your
zeal
for
the
Gospel
are
less
strong
than
you
could
desire.
Let
us
hope
that
as
we
reason
together
on
this
great
subject
to-day,
we
may,
by
God's
grace,
see
more
clearly
than
ever
before
which
is
the
true
Gospel-the
one
of
which
the
.\po~tle
was
not
ashamt'd.
and
of
which,
therefor!',
none
of
us
need
feel
ashamed,-tlll'
Gos
pel,
therefore,
which
should
more
and
more
move
and
enpl
g-izp,
us
as
the
power
of
God
unto
salvatIOn.
No
one
of
intelligence
will
cllspute
the
meaning
ot
th,·
word
"Gospel;"
it
signifies
"good
tidings,"
good
ne',
",-.1
good
messnge.
Neverthele~R,
in
some
unaecountable
mnnlll'l,
by
common
con
Rent,
"a
real
Gospel
sel
mon"
is
almobt
unive1'
sally
understood
to
signify
bad
tidings-tidings
of
ctprnal
misery
to
the
great
mass
of
our
race-to
all
except
the
littlp
flock
of
God's
faithful
people.
A.,
a
ponscquence
the
preachel
of
a
"Cospel
sermon"
i<;
expected
to
figuratively
shake
the
congregatiun
over
an
abyss
of
everlaRting
tortur\.:.
maklllg
a~
strong
an
effort
as
possible
to
intimidate
them
thereby
to
a
thorough
r~formation
of
life,
in
hope
of
thus
escapmg
an
awful
etermty.
True,
this
that
,Ye
might
term
"the
Cospel
(1)
of
damna
tion"
is
not
so
gcnerally
preached
ns
it
once
was,
beCaUb\'
more
enlightened
minds
of
cultured
people
rppudiate
It
as
a
fetich
of
the
past.
Yet
tId.,
pCI've
1
sian
of
the
Gospel
is
still
to
be
heard
in
country
plael's,
at
camp
mpeting,;,
occasionally
in
the
city
pulpit.
allll
universally
in
SalvatlOn
Army
meet
ings.
Nothing
is
furthcr
from
our
intention
than
a
critieism
of
the
conscIences
alld
honesty
of
intention
of
tllOse
who
thus
preach,
It
is
no
part
of
our
mission
to
criticise
person"
and
motives,
but
"With
malice
toward
none
and
with
charit,
toward
all"
wc
consider
it
not
only
our
pnvilege
but
Olll
duty
to
criticise
doctrines,
that
thereby
the
truth
may
be
more
freely
established,
and
error
brought
into
disrepute.
Before
we
proceed
to
the
consideration
of
the
Gospel
of
whieh
the
Apostle
was
not
ashamed-the
Gospel
set
forth
in
the
Scriptures-it
will
be
expedient
for
us
to
take
a
glance
at
the
different
gospels
set
forth
by
the
various
denomina
tions
of
Christendom.
It
is
not
our
thought
that
each
de
nomination
represents
a
different
gospel,
for
the
differences
in
many
instances
are
chiefly
respecting
cprcmonies,
forms,
methods
of
government,
name,
etc.,
and
not
in
respect
to
the
[2593]
Maren 1, 1906 ZION’S nase assumed the libeity to celebrate this Memorial at variou~ times—weekl}, monthly, quarteily. eft¢. but in harmeny with the early church we understand ow Loid to mean that we should celebrate this as we celebrate an, other event—on its anniversary; just as we now might say. As oft as the Fourth of July is celebrated it shows forth the Independence of this nation, Those who celebrate our Lord’s death in te “Last Supper” at noon everv Sunday, mistake it for the weekly “Love Feast” ar “Breaking of Bread” practiced every Lord's Day by the early chuich in memory of our Lord's resurrection and his opening of the eyes of their understanding in the breaking of bread. Rightly understood, nothing in thexe weekly feasts of yoy resembled the annual commemoration of our Master's sorrow and death—nor is the “cup” ever mentioned in connection with them. The church at Allegheny will celebrate the Memorial Supper commemorative of our Redecmer’s death for us, and of our Pass-over from death unto life through the merit of his sacrifice, and of our consecration to “be dead with him’?’— to drink his “cup”’—on the evenmg of April 12th at 7:30 o'clock at Bible House chapel, Allegheny, Pa. Friends of the truth who can make it convenient to meet with us will be welcomed cordially: but we advise that wherever there are home-meetings or wherever such gatherings seem possible they he not deserted. No other season seems so favorable for the drawing of the hearts of the Lord’s people closely together ;— even as it seems also to be specially an how of temptation to all professing to be the Lord’s followers, who like Peter of old seem to be specially sifted at this season of the year. WATCH TOWER The advice of our Lond to the early disciples, at this time of the year, seems still specially appropriate, ‘Watch and pinay lest ye enter into temptation?” And recognizing this the older systems Roman Catholic and Episcopalian still precede the Memorial with a fast or Lenten season—which entered into not formally but in the spirit we believe is a very helpful custom te many—not only physically but spititually. “Good Friday” was substituted for the Memorial Supper as oiiginally observe | by the Lore’. people —the system of counting being slightly changed. The more frequent celebra tions or the Lord's Supper by Protestants aie based npon Papacy’s celebration of the * Mass.’ an instituéion which both im fact and theory is an abom nation to our Lord—-denving as it does the fullness of the efficacy of the original sacrifice at Calvary We trust that the Lord’s people everywhere will * do this” in remembrance of the great sin-saecrifice—not merely as an outward memorial but also and specially at the same time feeding on the Lord by faith in their hearts, and afresh pledging their consecration unto death with him while partaking of the Seup’' For further particular, see our issue of March 1, 1898, We will be glad to have prompt postal card 1eports from the appointed secretary or scribe of each little group—whereever “two or three” mect in his dear name to do this. Make all your arrangements heforehand that the precious season of heart “communion” be not disturbed by business affairs. Let us not only unite in prayer and communion, but also so far as practicable in our songs of praixe—using numbers 23. 122 and 1 of Hymns of Daun. AVOID FLATTERY In a recent letter one of the “Pilgiims.” after giving particulars respecting his efforts to feed the Lord’s sheep and lambs concludes thus:— “Pray for me. dear brother, that I may be kept a ‘servant.’ Could you not in some way through the Tower suggest to the friends not to praise a ‘pilgrim’ to his face: they do not know what ‘offences’ they sometimes cause, what feelings of latent pride they arouse.” Vout, XXI ALLEGHENY., PA., MARCH 15 AND APRIL 1, 1900 Nos. 6 AnD 7 WHICH IS THE TRUE GOSPEL? “IT am not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.”—-Rom. 1:16, -\ Discourse by Pastor C, T. Russell of Allegheny, Pa., delivered at The Florida Chautauqua Assembly, Defuniak Springs, Fla.. March 4, 1900, as reported by the Associated Press, No apology seems necessary for our subject—“Which is the true Gospel of which the Apostle was not ashamed?” If time and thought may be profitably expended in the study of the earthly sciences—sociology, finance, ete., ete., built largely upon human inferences and conjectures—surely none could dispute the propriety of studying the science of divine revelation. If it be profitable to investigate the physical diseases of mankind and their causes, and the laws of medicine and of sanitation for the offset of these, it surely cannot be disputed that the Gospel which God has presented as the antidote for soul-sickness and soul-death, and as the science pertaining to life eternal, is worthy of still greater and more profound consideration. The greatest minds, the noblest specimens of our race, have admitted our topic to be the one above all others in importance, and have weighed it carefully—whether as a result they accepted or rejected it. We are not now discussing the weight of mental acumen enlisted for and against the Gospel: we are merely noting the fact that all men of ability have recognized that the subject is woithy of their careful consideration, and as having claims upon their attention paramount to any and all others. Indeed, it may be set down as a fact that whoever has given the subject. of religion no consideration is one of three things——a novice in mental exercise, or a near relative to “the fool who hath said in his heart, There is no God,” or a coward, preyed upon by fears, instigated by Satan to hinder honest investigation of the divine message of love and mercy. Even a hasty glance into the intelligent faces of this large audience assures me that you all have given some thought to our theme;—though experience assures me that comparatively few of you have ever reached conclusions on this subject fully satisfactory to yourselves. Hence your faith and love and zeal toward God and your zeal for the Gospel are less strong than you could desire. Let us hope that as we reason together on this great subject to-day, we may, by God’s grace, see more clearly than ever before which is the true Gospel—the one of which the Apostle was not ashamed. and of which, therefore, none of us need feel ashamed,—the Gospel, therefore, which should more and more move and energize. us as the power of God unto salvation. No one of intelligence will dispute the meaning ot the word “Gospel;” it signifies “good tidings,” good news,—. good message. Nevertheless, in some unaccountable manner, by common consent, “a real Gospel sermon” is almost universally understood to signify bad tidings—tidings of eternal misery to the great mass of our race—to all except the little flock of God’s faithful people. As a consequence the preachei of a “Gospel sermon” is expected to figuratively shake the congregation over an abyss of everlasting torture. making as strong an effort as possible to intimidate them thereby to a thorough reformation of life. in hope of thus escaping an awful eternity. True, this that we might term “the Gospel (1) of damnation” is not so generally preached as it once was, because more enlightened minds of cultured people repudiate it as a fetich of the past. Yet this perversion of the Gospel igs still to be heard in country places, at camp meetings, occasionally in the city pulpit, and univ ersally in Salvation Army meetings. Nothing is further from our intention than a criticism of the consciences and honesty of intention of those who thus preach. It is no part of our mission to criticise persons and motives, but “With malice toward none and with charity toward all” we consider it not only our privilege but oui duty to criticise doctrines, that thereby the truth may be more freely established, and error brought into disrepute. Before we proceed to the consideration of the Gospel of which the Apostle was not ashamed—the Gospel set forth in the Scriptures—it will be expedient for us to take a glance at the different gospels set forth by the various denominations of Christendom. It is not our thought that each denomination represents a different gospel, for the differences in many instances are chiefly respecting ceremonies, forms, methods of government, name, etc., and not in respect to the [2593]
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