Publication date
1/1/03
Volume
24
Number
1
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1903/1/1903-1-1.html
YOLo 
XXIV 
ALLEGHENY, 
P 
A., 
.T 
ANUARY 
1, 
1903 
No.1 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
* 
* 
Nevertheless, 
self-examinations 
and 
good 
resolutions 
have 
a 
value 
at 
this 
season 
in 
particular. 
That 
reviews 
of 
bu~i­ 
ness; 
taking 
account 
of 
stocks; 
ascertaining 
the 
profits 
and 
the 
losses 
of 
the 
year; 
etc., 
are 
profitable 
111 
respect 
to 
worldly 
affairs, 
all 
will 
admit; 
and 
the 
much 
more 
important 
afraiI 
s 
of 
the 
soul-the 
ascertainment 
of 
gains 
and 
losses 
as 
new 
creatures 
and 
how 
and 
when 
and 
where 
these 
came 
to 
us 
in 
the 
constant 
battle 
with 
the 
world, 
the 
flesh 
and 
the 
devil. 
will 
surely 
profit 
all 
who 
make 
such 
reckonings 
with 
an 
eye 
single 
to 
the 
pleasement 
of 
the 
Lord. 
Let 
us, 
then, 
set 
our 
spiritual 
aims, 
ambitions 
and 
en­ 
deavors 
still 
nearer 
to 
the 
perfect 
divine 
standard; 
remem­ 
bering 
the 
while 
our 
Lord's 
words, 
H\Vithout 
me 
ye 
can 
do 
nothing," 
let 
us 
be 
strong 
ana 
courageous 
in 
the 
strength 
which 
he 
supplies 
and 
promises 
to 
increase 
as 
we 
are 
able 
and 
willing 
to 
accept 
it. 
* 
There 
is 
nothing 
specially 
new 
to 
note,-except 
that 
"all 
things 
are 
onward 
moving" 
in 
the 
direction 
indicated 
by 
the 
\Yord. 
The 
"churches" 
are 
coming 
more 
:1nd 
more 
to 
favor 
the 
combination 
and 
trust 
principle 
and 
desire 
to 
apply 
it; 
-seemingly 
only 
a 
Morganizer 
is 
needed. 
Then 
the 
religi­ 
ous 
"irregulars" 
will 
be 
shamed 
and 
diRcomfited. 
Capibl 
and 
labor 
are 
each 
fortifying-each 
preparing 
for 
the 
g-reat 
strnggle: 
yet 
neithpr 
realizes 
how 
trempndou<; 
the 
confliet 
will 
be-nor 
the 
results, 
as 
we 
do 
in 
the 
light 
of 
the 
Word. 
Financial 
pro'lperity 
holds 
the 
winds 
in 
"Chri~tendom." 
though 
its 
continuanpe 
seems 
to 
deppnd 
on 
the 
expenditure 
of 
vast 
sums 
in 
outside 
wars. 
Thp 
financial 
conditions 
are 
becoming 
unfavorable 
in 
Great 
Britain. 
still 
more 
so 
in 
Ger­ 
manv, 
and 
yet 
more 
so 
in 
Rus<;ia. 
\Ve 
have 
recently 
noted 
the 
rapid 
progress 
of 
Socialism 
in 
German~': 
below 
we 
quote 
from 
the 
New 
Orlpuns 
Ti 
mes­ 
Demnrrat 
respepting' 
its 
progress 
in 
the 
United 
Stab's'- 
"\\'11:11, 
will 
be 
rememhpred 
as 
easilv 
the 
most 
interf'sting 
-and 
we 
had 
almost 
said 
the 
m(lst 
alarming-featnrf' 
in 
tl-te 
Convention 
of 
the 
AmericRn 
Fedf'ration 
of 
Labor 
of 
1 
0 
02. 
was 
revealed 
when 
the 
Convention, 
by 
a 
vote 
of 
4,744 
to 
4,344, 
rejected 
this 
resolution:- 
"'Rpsolved, 
That. 
tlli'l 
twenty-second 
annual 
Convention 
of 
the 
American 
Federation 
of 
Lahor 
Rdvise 
the 
working 
lwor1e 
to 
organize 
their 
ee(lnomic 
and 
political 
powpr 
to 
<;('('ure 
for 
labor 
the 
full 
equivalent 
of 
its 
toil, 
and 
thl' 
o\"('rthro\\-:\ 
I 
ot 
thf' 
wa!!e 
Rvstem 
and 
establishing 
an 
industrial 
co-oJ1l'ra 
tive 
de­ 
mocracy.' 
"Althoug'h 
defeated, 
the 
resolution 
is 
especially 
signifi­ 
('ant 
by 
reason 
of 
the 
great 
number 
of 
vote'! 
recorded 
in 
f:wor 
of 
its 
adoption. 
Out 
of 
a 
total 
of 
!l.088. 
the 
pro-Rociali<;tR 
lo<;t 
by 
the 
exceedingly 
slend!'r 
majority 
of 
400 
votes. 
In 
other 
words. 
the 
American 
FlC'deration 
of 
Labor, 
as 
it 
is 
to­ 
day 
constituted, 
is 
almost 
evenly 
divided 
on 
the 
question 
whf'ther 
or 
not 
Roria1iRm 
should 
be 
indorsed. 
To 
hp 
e'Cact 
47.68 
per 
cent 
of 
the 
Federation 
is 
in 
favor 
of, 
and 
52.32 
per 
cent 
is 
0pPofled 
to. 
Sociali<;m. 
"These 
statistics 
are 
of 
themselves 
sufficient 
to 
make 
labor 
"Faith 
can 
firmly 
trust 
him,-come 
what 
may." 
Love, 
too, 
shoul(1 
be 
stimulated 
by 
a 
retrospectivf> 
glance; 
-di<;cerning 
thf> 
mercif>s 
of 
the 
Lord 
toward 
u" 
should 
en­ 
thn<;e 
ns 
with 
loving 
zeal 
for 
him 
nnd 
his. 
"\Ve 
love 
him 
hpcanse 
he 
fir<;t 
loved 
us!" 
We 
seek 
to 
do 
those 
thing<; 
pleas­ 
ing 
to 
onr 
Lord 
bepanse 
we 
love 
him, 
and 
in 
proportion 
as 
we 
love 
him 
we 
will 
delight 
in 
such 
obedience 
and 
service,­ 
f'ven 
at, 
the 
cost 
of 
self-sacrifice. 
Good 
resolutions 
and 
the 
f€'examination 
of 
our 
ideal 
and 
"tandards 
of 
life 
are 
appropriate 
at 
this 
season, 
too. 
Not 
tllflt 
the 
fullv 
ron<;ecrated 
can 
add 
to 
their 
consecration­ 
for 
if 
propf>r: 
it 
included 
our 
all. 
Not, 
either, 
that 
we 
should 
h3ve 
an 
annulll 
round 
up 
when 
we 
would 
seek 
pardon 
and 
start 
out 
afresh-as 
typical 
Israel 
did 
each 
"Dav 
of 
Atone­ 
ment" 
at 
the 
bf'ginning 
of 
their 
new 
year. 
Spiritual 
brael­ 
itef!. 
rather, 
Rre 
to 
live 
a 
daily, 
an 
hourly 
life 
of 
nearne<;" 
to 
the 
High-Priest. 
'The 
blood' 
of 
the 
New 
Covenant 
i'! 
to 
be 
eontinuallv 
invoked 
for 
the 
cleansin/! 
of 
the 
slightest 
de­ 
filement 
(If 
ponRripTIPe. 
t,hat 
thus 
the 
weddin~ 
garment 
of 
our 
Lord'R 
imT'uted 
ri!!'ht!'ousness 
may 
not 
become 
bedrag­ 
~llC'd. 
hllt 
that 
the 
sli!!,hteRt 
spot 
being 
removed, 
we 
may 
have 
it 
"without 
spot 
or 
wrinkle 
or 
any 
such 
thing." 
NEW 
YEAR 
GREETINGS, 
1903 
Thanks 
be 
to 
God 
that 
his 
grace 
has 
preserved 
us, 
"kept 
us 
from 
falling," 
through 
another 
year!-that 
so 
many 
of 
us 
are 
still 
of 
one 
heart 
and 
of 
one 
mind 
in 
respect 
to 
hiB 
Word 
and 
its 
service! 
Our 
appreciation 
must 
be 
increased 
by 
the 
remembrance 
that 
every 
testImony 
of 
the 
Word 
is 
to 
the 
effect 
that 
the 
close 
of 
the 
"harvest" 
time 
is 
to 
be 
a 
time 
of 
special 
testing 
to 
all 
professing 
to 
be 
the 
Lord's 
people; 
-"every 
man's 
work 
shall 
be 
tried 
so 
as 
by 
fire." 
When 
we 
remember 
that 
the 
adversary 
is 
to 
be 
permitted 
to 
bring 
"strong 
delusions" 
upon 
the 
Lord's 
people 
for 
the 
very 
pur­ 
pose 
of 
sifting 
out 
all 
not 
truly 
his.-that 
they 
may 
believe 
lies 
and 
depart 
from 
the 
truth 
and 
be 
condemned 
as 
un­ 
worthy;-because 
they 
received 
not 
the 
truth 
in 
the 
love 
of 
rt" 
(2 
Thess. 
2:10-12)-it 
surely 
should 
call 
forth 
our 
thanks 
to 
God 
that 
the 
opening 
of 
another 
year 
finds 
us 
still 
stand­ 
ing 
fast,-apprpeiating 
the 
truth 
and 
in 
full 
accord 
with 
all 
the 
divine 
appointments 
by 
which 
he 
has 
kept 
us 
from 
falling. 
The 
Apo<;tle 
reminds 
us 
that 
rejoicings 
do 
not 
belong 
as 
properly 
to 
him 
that 
putteth 
on 
the 
rumor 
8.'l 
to 
him 
who, 
having 
fought 
the 
good 
fight 
to 
the 
finish, 
shall 
lay 
aside 
the 
armor 
and 
put 
on 
robps 
of 
/llory 
in 
the 
First 
Resurrection. 
(I 
Kings 
20:11: 
2 
Tim. 
4:7. 
R) 
Consequently 
we 
mmt 
not 
Rt'1P 
too 
long 
even 
to 
rejoice 
that 
we 
are 
what 
we 
are 
by 
the 
gnWf> 
of 
God. 
but 
mmt 
goo 
on! 
The 
new 
year 
is 
surely 
full 
of 
l)lessingos 
for 
the 
faithful, 
according 
to 
all 
the 
precioml 
promises 
of 
our 
Father's 
\Vord. 
\Ve 
must 
grasp 
these 
afresh, 
a 
1I0wing 
the 
Lord's 
faithfulness 
of 
the 
THlRt 
to 
establish 
onr 
trnot 
the 
more 
firmlv 
for 
the 
future. 
\Vithout 
faith 
?<; 
the 
trnllpv 
to 
connert 
n<; 
'with 
tIll' 
cnrrent 
of 
divine 
power 
we 
will 
fail 
to 
"go 
on 
unto 
pf>rfection." 
[3125] 
ZIONS Vou. XXIV Perala of Csi Presene ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 1, 1903 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER NEW YEAR GREETINGS, 1903 Thanks be to God that his grace has preserved us, “kept us from falling,” through another year!—that so many of us are still of one heart and of one mind in respect to his Word and its service! Our appreciation must be increased by the remembrance that every testimony of the Word is to the effect that the close of the “harvest” time is to be a time of special testing to all professing to be the Lord’s people; —“every man’s work shall be tried so as by fire.” When we remember that the adversary is to be permitted to bring “strong delusions” upon the Lord’s people for the very purpose of sifting out all not truly his—that they may believe lies and depart from the truth and be condemned as unworthy ;—because they received not the truth in the love of et”? (2 Thess. 2:10-12)—it surely should call forth our thanks to God that the opening of another year finds us still standing fast,—appreciating the truth and in full accord with all the divine appointments by which he has kept us from falling. The Apostle reminds us that rejoicings do noi belong as prorerly to him that putteth on the armor as to him who, having fought the good fight to the finish, shall lay aside the armor and put on robes of glory in the First Resurrection. (1 Kings 20:11: 2 Tim. 4:7. 8) Consequently we must not stnp too long even to rejoice that we are what we are by the grace of God. but must go on! The new year is surely full of blessings for the faithful, according to all the precious promises of our Father’s Word. We must grasp these afresh, allowing the Lord’s faithfulness of the past to establish our trust the more firmly for the future. Without faith es the trolley to connect us with the current of divine power we will fail to “go on unto perfection.” “Faith can firmly trust him,—come what may.” Love, too, should be stimulated by a retrospective glance; —discerning the mercies of the Lord toward us should enthuse us with loving zeal for him and his. “We love him hecause he first loved us!” We seek to do those things pleasing to our Lord because we love him, and in proportion as we love him we will delight in such obedience and service,— even at the cost of self-sacrifice. Good resolutions and the reéxamination of our idea] and standards of life are appropriate at this season, too. Not that the fully consecrated can add to their consecration— for if proper, it included our all, Not, either, that we should have an annual round up when we would seek pardon and start out afresh—as typical Israel did each “Dav of Atonement” at the beginning of their new year. Spiritual Israeljtes. rather, are to live a daily, an hourly life of nearness to the High-Priest. ‘The blood’ of the New Covenant is to be continually invoked for the cleansing of the slightest defilement of conscience. that thus the wedding garment of our Lord@’s imputed righteousness may not become bedraggled. but that the slightest spot being removed. we may have it “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” {3125} Nevertheless, self-examinations and good resolutions have a value at this season in particular. That reviews of business; taking account of stocks; ascertaining the profits and the losses of the year; etc., are profitable in respect to worldly affairs, all will admit; and the much more important affairs of the soul—the ascertainment of gains and losses as new creatures and how and when and where these came to us in the constant battle with the world, the flesh and the devil. will surely profit all who make such reckonings with an eye single to the pleasement of the Lord. Let us, then, set our spiritual aims, ambitions and endeavors still nearer to the perfect divine standard; remembering the while our Lord’s words, “Without me ye can do nothing,” let us be strong and courageous in the strength which he supplies and promises to increase as we are able and willing to accept it. * * * There is nothing specially new to note,—except that “all things are onward moving” in the direction indicated by the Word. The “churches” are coming more and more to favor the combination and trust principle and desire to apply it: —seemingly only a Morganizer is needed. Then the religious “irregulars” will be shamed and discomfited. Capital and labor are each fortifying—each preparing for the great struggle: yet neither realizes how tremendous the conflict will be-—nor the results, as we do in the light of the Word. Financial prosperity holds the winds in “Christendom,” though its continuance seems to depend on the expenditure of vast sums in outside wars. The financial conditions are becoming unfavorable in Great Britain, still more so in Germanv, and yet more so in Russia. We have recently noted the rapid progress of Socialism in Germany: below we quote from the New Orleans TimesDemocrat respecting its progress in the United States:— ‘What will be remembered as easily the most interesting -—and we had almost said the most alarming—feature in the Convention of the American Federation of Labor of 1902, was revealed when the Convention, by a vote of 4,744 to 4,344, rejected this resolution :— * Resolved, That. this twenty-second annual Convention of the American Federation of Labor advise the working people to organize their economic and political power to secure for labor the full equivalent of its toil, and the oyerthrowal of the ware svstem and establishing an industrial co-operative democracy.’ “Although defeated, the resolution is especially significant by reason of the great number of votes recorded in favor of its adoption. Out of a total of 9.088. the pro-Socialists lost by the exceedingly slender majority of 400 votes. In other words. the American Federation of Labor, as it is today constituted, is almost evenly divided on the question whether or not Socialism should be indorsed. To be exact 47.68 per cent of the Federation is in favor of, and 52.32 per cent is opposed to, Socialism. “These statistics are of themselves sufficient to make labor (3-4)

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