Publication date
1/1/02
Volume
23
Number
1
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower The Twentieth Century Church
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1902/1/1902-1-1.html
 
VOL. 
XXIII 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
.JANUAHY 
1. 
If)O~ 
NEW 
YEAR 
GREETINGS 
No.1 
We 
extend 
to 
our 
list 
of 
subscribers, 
and 
to 
all 
friends 
of 
our 
cause 
(all 
of 
whom 
we 
hope 
to 
have 
on 
our 
lists 
soon, 
as 
per 
suggestion'3 
in 
our 
Dccemher 
15th 
issue), 
most 
hearty 
greet. 
ings, 
wishing- 
you 
all 
A 
Very 
Happy 
and 
Spiritually 
Prosperous 
New 
Year-lfJ02. 
We 
trust 
that 
you 
were 
all 
greatly 
pleased 
with 
our 
report 
for 
last 
year. 
Its 
showing 
of 
a 
previous 
deficiency 
wiped 
out, 
and 
a 
snug 
sum 
on 
hand 
wherewith 
to 
begin 
this 
year's 
opera­ 
tion~, 
are 
good 
cause 
for 
joy 
and 
for 
thankfulness 
to 
God. 
The 
outlook 
for 
the 
present 
year, 
you 
will 
be 
glad 
to 
learn, 
seem~ 
to 
us 
very 
encouraging. 
"Ye 
are 
expecting 
much, 
and 
believe 
the 
Lord's 
providences 
and 
his 
Word 
justifv 
these 
ex­ 
pertations. 
\Ve 
hope 
to 
prepare, 
shortly, 
an 
artide 
dealing 
further 
with 
the 
Call 
of 
this 
Gospel 
Agp: 
showing 
Rome 
of 
our 
r(,f1ROIl~ 
for 
surmising 
that 
the 
next 
four 
years 
should 
quite 
douhle 
the 
pre~pnt 
numbprs 
of 
the 
interested, 
and 
the 
present 
opprationR 
in 
thp 
service 
of 
the 
"harvest" 
message. 
It 
will 
apppar 
a~ 
soon 
as 
possible, 
and 
we 
beli('ve 
will 
be 
convincing 
to 
all. 
"Ve 
mention 
the 
matter 
now, 
in 
ad, 
~tnce, 
be('auRe 
we 
think 
that 
~ome 
are 
slackening 
their 
effort'l, 
through 
a 
mis- 
taken 
supposition 
that 
little 
more 
is 
to 
be 
done. 
We 
hope 
to 
convince 
and 
revive 
them; 
that 
they 
may 
renew 
their 
pfl'orts 
in 
thp 
service, 
and 
thus 
increase 
their 
joy 
and 
their 
usefulness. 
We 
know 
not 
what 
is 
before 
us 
in 
the 
ypar, 
dpar 
brethren­ 
nor 
do 
we 
need 
to 
know. 
If 
we 
have 
commItted 
our 
all. 
for 
time 
and 
eternity, 
to 
the 
Lord's 
care, 
let 
us 
assure 
our 
hearts, 
afresh, 
of 
divine 
wisdom 
and 
power 
as 
well 
as 
love. 
Resting 
confidently 
in 
the 
everlasting 
arms, 
we 
may 
take 
whatever 
his 
providence 
may 
permit; 
not 
only 
willingly, 
but 
joyfully. 
If 
the 
year 
shall 
bring 
us 
blessings, 
prosperity 
and 
encouragement 
in 
spiritual 
matters, 
we 
can 
while 
rejoicing 
lay 
by 
a 
Rtore 
of 
grace; 
for 
stormy 
times 
of 
trial 
later 
on. 
If 
the 
year 
brings 
us 
sorrows, 
physical 
or 
mental 
anguish, 
Ipt 
us 
receivp 
them 
with 
re'3ignation: 
saying, 
with 
the 
Master, 
"Th(' 
cup 
which 
my 
Father 
hath 
poured 
for 
me, 
shall 
I 
not 
drink 
it?" 
If, 
dear 
brethren, 
life's 
experiences 
are 
acceptpd 
with 
faith. 
in 
the 
manner 
indicated, 
we 
may 
rest 
assured 
that 
thi'l 
will 
he 
not 
only 
a 
happy 
but 
a 
blessed 
year 
for 
us. 
It 
is 
with 
('ach 
to 
determine 
this 
for 
himself 
under 
the 
Lord's 
grace. 
Faithful 
is 
he 
who 
hath 
called 
us 
;-let 
us 
be 
faithful. 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
THE 
TWENTIETH 
CENTURY 
CHURCH 
An 
• 
'Orthodox" 
View 
The 
Rev. 
Haweis, 
of 
St. 
James 
Church, 
London, 
England, 
to 
teach 
it. 
No 
one 
believes 
It 
unless 
he 
IS 
a 
fool 
or 
a 
brain­ 
gives 
his 
views 
of 
this 
subject 
in 
the 
Lonilon 
Da71y 
Ohronicle, 
less 
idot. 
. 
.. 
His 
creed, 
in 
the 
same 
way, 
as 
has 
been 
finely 
from 
which 
we 
extract 
the 
following 
intercsting 
items:- 
said, 
"merely 
stands 
sentinel 
over 
the 
heart 
to 
keep 
it 
empty." 
"The 
only 
hope 
for 
the 
church 
of 
the 
Twentieth 
Century 
"I 
believe," 
he 
says, 
"m 
the 
resurrpptlOn 
of 
thl' 
hody" 
HI' 
is 
that 
it 
should 
make 
a 
clean 
swepp 
of 
1!){)O 
ve'\rs 
of 
theology 
iloesn't; 
nobody 
does; 
but 
he 
is 
not 
allowed 
to 
tl'al'h 
in~tefl,l: 
and 
get 
back 
to 
Christ. 
We 
now 
know 
what 
this 
theology 
can 
"I 
believe 
in 
the 
survival 
of 
myself," 
whil'h 
was 
practil'ally 
all 
do 
for 
us. 
It 
has 
done 
a 
great 
deal, 
for 
its 
Rtatements 
at 
dif- 
those 
of 
old 
mpant 
by 
the 
phrase, 
"the 
survival 
of 
the 
,.elf,' 
ferent 
times 
have 
approved 
themselves 
to 
different 
ages, 
and 
being 
to 
them 
inconceivable 
apart 
from 
the 
resurrel'tion 
of 
the 
been 
the 
vphicles 
of 
a 
certain 
amount 
of 
Christian 
truth; 
but 
body, 
and 
so 
on 
ad 
infinitum. 
Our 
mistake 
is 
in 
prptenrlillg' 
to 
as 
Dpan 
Milman 
said 
in 
his 
wise 
History 
of 
Christianity, 
believe 
obsolete 
statements 
which 
once 
expressed 
truth, 
but 
Theophilm 
of 
Antioch, 
who 
invented 
the 
doctrine 
of 
the 
Trinity 
which 
are 
now 
~een 
to 
be 
defective. 
We 
should 
discard 
them 
or, 
at 
all 
pvents, 
coined 
that 
theological 
word--did 
not 
thereby 
openly 
and 
plead 
for 
proper 
re-statements 
. 
. 
. 
. 
very 
grNlt1y 
benefit 
the 
church. 
The 
same 
mav 
be 
said 
of 
every 
"People 
now 
despise 
the 
clergy 
on 
account 
of 
the 
old 
rubhi~h 
other 
Christian 
dogma. 
It 
isn't 
that 
we 
rlon't 
hplieve 
the 
very 
they 
are 
not 
ashamed 
to 
teach. 
The 
twentieth 
century 
will 
not 
important 
spiritual 
truths 
underlying 
evpry 
Christian 
dogma, 
tolerate 
them 
unless 
they 
mend 
their 
ways. 
The 
twentieth 
but 
a 
form 
of 
expression 
of 
truth 
which 
is 
a 
living 
and 
a 
sat- 
century 
will 
go 
solid 
for 
fact 
in 
the 
shape 
of 
re-~tatement. 
isfal'tory 
one 
to 
an 
age 
immeiliately 
bpl'nmes 
false 
and 
dan- 
'Dear 
me!' 
people 
say, 
'the 
working 
man 
doesn't 
go 
to 
church. 
gerous 
when 
a 
better 
and 
a 
more 
complete 
expression 
is 
de- 
How 
odd! 
' 
Very 
much 
odder 
if 
he 
did. 
The 
twentieth 
pentury 
vised. 
will 
insist 
upon 
a 
clear 
statement 
of 
what 
we 
may 
call 
exact 
THE 
NEED 
FOB. 
RE-STA.TEMENT 
knowledge 
of 
God 
or 
the 
moral 
nature 
of 
the 
Sovprei!!n 
Will 
"The 
Twentieth 
Century 
church 
will 
insist 
upon 
re-state- 
ruling 
the 
universe. 
. 
.. 
Then 
the 
twentieth 
century 
will 
have 
ment 
on 
a 
large 
scale. 
Present 
theological 
text 
books 
are 
obso- 
to 
entirely 
change 
its 
attitude 
to 
the 
religions 
of 
the 
world, 
Ipte. 
They 
practically 
teach 
men 
and 
women 
infidelity. 
The 
and 
it 
will 
have 
to 
arlmit 
that 
God 
has 
always 
bepn 
revealing 
Cimmerian 
darkness 
of 
Sunday-school 
teaching 
must 
be 
aban- 
himself, 
his 
will, 
his 
purpose, 
as 
fast 
as 
man 
coulrl 
reccive 
it 
doned; 
the 
conRcientious 
agonies 
of 
devout 
Sunday-school 
teach- 
anrl 
that 
the 
different 
Rnd 
imperfect 
faiths 
anil 
creeds 
are 
the 
ers 
mu~t 
bp 
relieved. 
They 
don't 
bl'lievp 
in 
the 
old 
hp11 
them- 
result 
of 
the 
obscured 
mediums 
of 
the 
intelligence 
and 
the 
selves, 
hut 
they 
have 
to 
teach 
it; 
the 
children 
don't 
believe 
it, 
undevPloped 
spiritual 
faculties 
of 
man. 
The 
,.un 
that 
always 
but 
they 
have 
to 
put 
their 
hands 
behind 
their 
backs 
and 
tell 
shines 
is 
seen 
through 
many 
diverse 
and 
distorting 
media­ 
the 
teachers 
these 
naughty 
lies 
every 
Sunday. 
The 
teacher 
does 
smoked 
glass, 
clouds 
or 
mere 
tiny 
cracks 
in 
a 
darKened 
room, 
not 
believe 
in 
the 
Bible 
in 
the 
way 
in 
which 
he 
is 
supposed 
or 
again 
the 
prism, 
SUDset 
clouds, 
or 
through 
folded 
lids 
of 
[2929] 
(SUPPLEM~NT-3) 
Vou. XNTII NEW YEAR We extend to our list of subscribers, and to all friends of our cause (all of whom we hope to have on our lists soon, as per suggestions in our December 15th issue), most hearty greetings, wishing you all A Very Happy and Spiritually Prosperous New Year—1902. We trust that you were all greatly pleased with our report for last year. Its showing of a previous deficiency wiped out, and a snug sum on hand wherewith to begin this year’s operations, are good cause for joy and for thankfulness to God. The outlook for the present year, you will be glad to learn, seems to us very encouraging. We are expecting much, and believe the Lord’s providences and his Word justifv these expectations. We hope to prepare, shortly, an article dealing further with the Call of this Gospel Age: showing some of our reasons for surmising that the next four years should quite double the present numbers of the interested, and the present operations in the service of the “harvest” message. It will appear as soon as possible, and we believe will be convincing to all. We mention the matter now, in advance, because we think that some are slackening their efforts, through a mis ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 1, 1902 GREETINGS taken supposition that little more is to be done. We hope to convince and revive them; that they may renew their efforts in the service, and thus increase their joy and their usefulness, We know not what is before us in the year, dear brethren— nor do we need to know. If we have committed our all. for time and eternity, to the Lord’s care, let us assure our hearts, afresh, of divine wisdom and power as well as love. Resting confidently in the everlasting arms, we may take whatever his providence may permit; not only willingly, but joyfully. If the year shall bring us blessings, prosperity and encouragement in spiritual matters, we can while rejoicing lay by a store of grace; for stormy times of trial later on. If the year brings us sorrows, physical or mental anguish, let us receive them with resignation: saying, with the Master, “The cup which my Father hath poured for me, shall I not drink it?” If, dear brethren, life’s experiences are accepted with faith, in the manner indicated, we may rest assured that this will be not only a happy but a blessed year for us. It is with each to determine this for himself under the Lord’s grace. Faithful is he who hath called us;—let us be faithful. VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER THE TWENTIETH CENTURY CHURCH An The Rev. Haweis, of St. James Church, London, England, gives his views of this subject in the London Daily Chronicle, from which we extract the following interesting items :— “The only hope for the church of the Twentieth Century is that it should make a clean sweep of 1900 verrs of theology and get back to Christ. We now know what this theology can do for us. It has done a great deal, for its statements at different times have approved themselves to different ages, and been the vehicles of a certain amount of Christian truth; but as Dean Milman said in his wise History of Christianity, Theophilus of Antioch, who invented the doctrine of the Trinity or, at all events, coined that theological word—did not thereby very greatly benefit the church. The same mav be said of every other Christian dogma. It isn’t that we don’t believe the very important spiritual truths underlying every Christian dogma, but a form of expression of truth which is a living and a satisfactory one to an age immediately becrmes false and dangerous when a better and a more complete expression ig devised. THE NEED FOR KE-STATEMENT “The Twentieth Century church will insist upon re-statement on a large scale. Present theological text books are obsolete. They practically teach men and women infidelity. The Cimmerian darkness of Sunday-school teaching must be abandoned; the conscientious agonies of devout Sunday-school teachers must be relieved. They don’t believe in the old hell themselves, but they have to teach it; the children don’t believe it, but they have to put their hands behind their backs and tell the teachers these naughty lies every Sunday. The teacher does not believe in the Bible in the way in which he is supposed [2929} ‘“Orthodox’’ View to teach it. No one believes if unless he 1s a fool or a brainless idot. ... His creed, in the same way, as has been finely said, “merely stands sentinel over the heart to keep it empty.” “IT believe,” he says, “im the resurrection of the body” Tle doesn’t; nobody does; but he is not allowed to teach instead: “T believe in the survival of myself,” which was practically all those of old meant by the phrase, “the survival of the self,’ being to them inconceivable apart from the resurrection of the body, and so on ad infinitum. Our mistake is in pretending to believe obsolete statements which once expressed truth, but which are now seen to be defective. We should discard them openly and plead for proper re-statements. . . . “People now despise the clergy on account of the old rubbish they are not ashamed to teach. The twentieth century will not tolerate them unless they mend their ways. The twentieth century will go solid for fact in the shape of re-statement. ‘Dear me!’ people say, ‘the working man doesn’t go to church. How odd!’ Very much odder if he did. The twentieth century will insist upon a clear statement of what we may call exact knowledge of God or the moral nature of the Sovereign Will ruling the universe... . Then the twentieth century will have to entirely change its attitude to the religions of the world, and it, will have to admit that God has always been revealing himself, his will, his purpose, as fast as man could reccive it and that the different and imperfect faiths and creeds are the result of the obscured mediums of the intelligence and the undeveloped spiritual faculties of man. The sun that always shines is seen through many diverse and distorting media— smoked glass, clouds or mere tiny cracks in a darkened room, or again the prism, sunset clouds, or through folded lids of (SuprLEMENT—3)

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