Publication date
2/1/03
Volume
24
Number
3
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1903/3/1903-3-1.html
 
 
 
VOL. 
XXIV 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
FEBRUARY 
1, 
1903 
No.3 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
considerable 
powers 
of 
mind 
are 
rendered 
partially 
useless 
by 
perpetual 
hurry." 
* 
* 
* 
ABOUT 
OUR 
PROSPERITY 
The 
Pittsburg 
Gazette 
editorially 
says:- 
"While 
the 
United 
States 
is 
enjoying 
unexampled 
prosperity, 
England 
is 
feeling 
the 
pinch 
of 
hard 
times. 
Accounts 
agree 
that 
in 
the 
poorer 
parts 
of 
London 
and 
in 
some 
of 
the 
in­ 
dustrial 
centers 
in 
the 
provinces 
there 
is 
an 
exceptional 
amount 
of 
distress. 
It 
is 
admitted 
that 
the 
year 
now 
closing 
has 
been 
marked 
by 
a 
decline 
of 
industrial 
prosperity 
and 
that 
there 
is 
an 
unusually 
large 
per 
centage 
of 
unemployed 
workmen, 
for 
whose 
relief 
during 
the 
winter 
special 
exertions 
will 
have 
to 
be 
made. 
Similar 
news 
comes 
from 
Russia. 
Famine 
prevails 
in 
the 
province 
of 
Finlano, 
and 
in 
all 
industrial 
centers 
there 
is 
great 
suffering 
owing 
to 
lack 
of 
work. 
It 
is 
reported 
that 
workmen 
in 
important 
towns 
are 
glad 
to 
get 
work 
for 
35 
copecks 
a 
day, 
equal 
to 
23 
cents. 
The 
depression 
in 
England 
is 
largely 
a 
real'tion 
from 
artificial 
stimulus 
of 
war 
expenditure. 
and 
in 
Russian 
it 
is 
a 
recoil 
from 
over 
production 
and 
over 
trading 
in 
connection 
with 
the 
rapid 
expansion 
of 
the 
empirE'. 
Germany 
is 
beginning 
to 
E'merge 
from 
the 
depression 
that 
over­ 
took 
her 
industries 
some 
years 
ago, 
but 
the 
recent 
tariff 
legis­ 
lation, 
hostile 
to 
the 
commercial 
treaties 
which 
stimulated 
her 
industrial 
progress, 
has 
clouded 
the 
prospect 
again. 
The 
in· 
dustrial 
prosperity 
of 
the 
United 
States 
is 
the 
admiration 
and 
envy 
of 
the 
world." 
'Ve 
learn 
with 
regret 
that 
our 
reports 
of 
the 
progress 
of 
Socialism 
at 
home 
and 
aLroa(1 
have 
been 
misunderstood 
by 
some 
to 
signify 
expectation 
that 
Socialism 
may 
be 
the 
Lord's 
way 
of 
bringing 
in 
the 
blessings 
of 
the 
Millennial 
kingdom. 
Our 
position 
seems 
difficult 
for 
some 
to 
understand. 
We 
believe 
that 
many 
of 
the 
ideals 
of 
Socialism 
are 
good 
i-more 
than 
this, 
that 
niany 
of 
those 
ideals 
will 
be 
realized 
in 
the 
kingdom 
as 
they 
are 
now 
realized 
in 
heaven. 
But, 
we 
dispute 
the 
ability 
of 
Socialists 
to 
put 
those 
ideals 
into 
effect 
and 
make 
them 
continuously 
operative. 
Why 
so 
1 
Because 
of 
sin; 
-because 
selfishness, 
the 
reverse 
of 
love, 
is 
born 
with 
all 
men 
i-and 
because 
nothing 
but 
a 
thorough 
conversion 
(such 
as 
few 
experience) 
Ilnd 
subsequent 
instruction 
in 
the 
school 
of 
Christ 
(such 
as 
few 
now 
enjoy) 
could 
possibly 
so 
correct 
the 
natural 
heart 
as 
to 
make 
love--the 
golden 
rule-its 
law. 
No 
doubt 
many 
Socialists 
believe 
that 
their 
desires 
for 
Socialism 
are 
actuated 
by 
love, 
and 
not 
by 
selfishness; 
but 
such 
should 
not 
forget 
the 
Scriptural 
declaration 
that 
"the 
heart 
is 
deceitful 
above 
all 
things." 
Those 
clamoring 
for 
Socialism 
are 
generally 
such 
as 
believe 
that 
their 
temporal 
interests 
would 
he 
improved, 
or, 
at 
least, 
not 
injured, 
by 
Socialism. 
Remark­ 
ably 
few 
are 
advocating 
Socialism 
or 
anything 
else 
to 
their 
own 
disadvantage. 
We 
are 
not 
finding 
fault 
with 
this 
nat1lral 
con­ 
ditiol1s; 
only 
God's 
saints 
love 
to 
the 
extent 
of 
self-sacrifice 
for 
the 
good 
of 
others. 
We 
are 
merely 
pointing 
to 
this 
evidence 
that 
the 
advocates 
of 
Socialism 
cannot 
claim 
to 
be 
actuated 
by 
low, 
but 
by 
selfishness 
i-we 
are 
merely 
proving 
our 
position, 
We 
receive 
many 
queries 
respecting 
the 
probable 
duration 
that 
even 
if 
Socialism 
were 
established 
it 
could 
not 
last, 
because 
of 
present 
prosperity. 
That 
question 
no 
human 
being 
can 
selfishness 
would 
continually 
prompt 
each 
to 
work 
either 
for 
his 
answer 
satisfactorily. 
The 
world's 
wars 
being 
over 
and 
the 
own 
advantage, 
or 
else 
to 
work 
as 
little 
as 
possible. 
great 
war 
expenditures 
stopped, 
would 
naturally 
mean 
that 
Possibly 
a 
very 
few 
may 
be 
found 
working 
for 
Socialism 
prosperity 
has 
already 
crested 
and 
is 
on 
the 
decline. 
But 
who 
aull 
against 
their 
own 
interest: 
it 
is 
not 
for 
us 
to 
decide; 
but 
it 
knows 
what 
may 
come 
of 
the 
Venezuelan 
trouble 
or 
similar 
IS 
possible 
that 
ambition 
or 
combativeness 
have 
as 
much, 
or 
difficulties 
with 
other 
states, 
through 
the 
new 
program 
of 
the 
more, 
to 
do 
with 
their 
sacrifices 
than 
has 
love 
of 
mankind. 
The 
great 
powers 
that 
the 
claims 
of 
private 
bondholders 
against 
the 
point 
we 
make 
is 
that 
Socialism 
is 
not 
practicable 
under 
selfish 
smaller 
nations 
may 
be 
collected 
by 
force' 
Who 
knows 
that 
conditions; 
and 
that 
the 
voluntary 
Socialism 
which 
the 
Lord 
this 
program 
and 
the 
"Monroe 
Doctrine" 
may 
not 
clash 
so 
a'l 
will 
introduce 
will 
not 
be 
attained 
until 
the 
close 
of 
the 
Millen- 
to 
bring 
about 
one 
of 
the 
greatest 
sea 
wars 
of 
modern 
times' 
neum, 
when 
the 
selfishness 
of 
the 
fallen 
condition 
will 
have 
Or 
something 
else. 
of 
which 
we 
as 
yet 
have 
not 
a 
surmise 
... 
may 
given 
place 
to 
perfect 
love 
and 
the 
full 
image 
of 
God 
i-all 
the 
come 
forward 
suddenly 
to 
give 
business 
a 
fresh 
spurt. 
incorrigibly 
selfish 
being 
destroyed 
in 
the 
second 
death. 
The 
So 
far 
as 
the 
Scriptures 
guide 
us, 
we 
expect 
the 
climax 
Rocialism 
of 
the 
Millennium 
will 
not 
be 
voluntary, 
but 
enforced 
of 
the 
great 
time 
of 
anarchous 
trouble 
in 
October, 
1914. 
Our 
hv 
the 
rule 
of 
the 
"rod 
of 
iron 
"-Rev. 
2 
:27. 
opinion 
is 
that 
so 
great 
a 
trouble 
would 
necessarily 
last 
in 
. 
Our 
reason 
for 
keeping 
track 
of 
the 
progress 
of 
Socialism 
violent 
form 
at 
least 
three 
or 
four 
years 
before 
reaching 
that 
now 
is, 
that 
we 
expect 
that 
it, 
or 
something 
akin 
to 
it, 
is 
about 
climax. 
Hence, 
we 
expect 
strenuous 
times 
by 
or 
before 
October, 
to 
ileceive 
the 
world 
into 
looking 
for 
a 
Millennium 
of 
its 
own, 
1910. 
And 
this 
agrees 
well 
with 
the 
corresponding 
and 
typical 
and 
lead 
them 
unconsciously 
to, 
and 
then 
over 
the 
hrink 
into 
trouble 
with 
which 
the 
Jewish 
age 
ended. 
the 
anarchy 
and 
"time 
of 
trouble 
such 
as 
was 
not 
since 
there 
Reasoning 
backwarrl 
from 
1910 
A. 
D. 
we 
are 
bound 
to 
as­ 
was 
a 
nation." 
We 
cannot 
wonder 
that 
this 
"will 
0' 
the 
wisp" 
sume 
that 
the 
conditions 
leading 
up 
to 
such 
violence 
as 
we 
then 
should 
attract 
and 
ensnare 
many 
of 
"the 
groaning 
creation" 
expect 
would 
include 
gTE'at 
financial 
depre8sion, 
which 
probably 
who 
long 
for 
better 
things 
for 
themselves 
and 
neighbors; 
and 
would 
last 
some 
years 
before 
reaching 
so 
disheartening 
a 
stage. 
wI' 
should 
and 
do 
sympathize 
with 
such 
very 
keenly; 
but 
for 
We 
could 
not, 
therefore, 
expect 
that 
depression 
to 
begin 
later 
anyone 
who 
has 
had 
his 
eyes 
opened 
to 
the 
divine 
plan 
for 
than, 
say, 
1908. 
Our 
reasoning 
is 
that 
a 
depression 
beginning 
the 
hlessing 
of 
the 
world, 
through 
Christ 
and 
his 
church, 
in 
the 
now 
would 
culminate 
too 
quickly 
for 
the 
dates 
we 
consider 
fixed 
Millennial 
kingdom. 
(invisible 
to 
the 
worlel), 
to 
be 
attracted 
to 
by 
Scripture, 
and 
that 
there 
is 
not 
sufficient 
time 
for 
a 
de­ 
Socialism 
would 
be 
a 
distinct 
evidence 
of 
his 
going 
into 
the 
pression 
and 
then 
another 
boom 
and 
another 
depression 
before 
"onter 
elarkness" 
of 
the 
world-away 
from 
the 
inner 
light 
of 
1910,-notwithstanding 
the 
rapid 
changes 
of 
our 
day. 
These 
divine 
revelation 
given 
to 
the 
church. 
reasons 
incline 
us 
to 
expect 
a 
prolongation 
of 
present 
prosperity 
for 
a 
couple 
of 
years 
more. 
It 
is 
because 
we 
see 
no 
other 
cause 
CONDITIONS 
IN 
GERMANY 
than 
war 
lik«:>ly 
to 
sustain 
present 
prosperity. 
that 
we 
nre 
011 
The 
London 
Spectator 
editorially 
reviews 
the 
German 
sit- 
the 
lookout 
for 
one 
i-and 
not 
that 
we 
favor 
or 
sympathize 
with 
uation, 
and 
the 
evidences 
seen 
there 
of 
a 
political 
or 
a 
social 
wars. 
revolution-all. 
be 
it 
marked, 
based 
on 
selfishness. 
It 
says:- 
CATHOLICISM 
IN 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
ISLANDS 
"Professor 
Mommsen, 
whose 
opinion 
has 
great 
weight 
in 
Recent 
reports 
indicate 
that 
the 
movement 
among 
the 
FBi- 
Germany, 
has 
issued 
a 
remarkable 
manifesto. 
He 
says 
that 
pinos 
to 
throw 
off 
the 
yoh 
of 
the 
Roman 
Catholic 
church 
is 
'the 
overthrow 
of 
the 
Imperial 
Constitution 
is 
rapidly 
progress- 
progressing 
rapidly. 
They 
have 
established 
the 
"National 
FBi­ 
ing.' 
The 
Reichstag 
and 
the 
Emperor 
alike 
are 
being 
subjected 
pino 
Church" 
modeled 
after 
the 
pattern 
of 
the 
Church 
of 
Eng­ 
to 
thl' 
absolutism 
of 
an 
alliance 
between 
the 
Tory 
landlords 
and 
land. 
They 
have 
chosen 
as 
its 
archbishop 
"Father 
Aglipay," 
the 
priests. 
That 
is 
revolution 
and 
worse 
than 
pE'rsonal 
govern- 
an 
excommunicated 
Catholic 
priest, 
and 
the 
movement 
is 
taking 
mellt, 
because 
the 
autocrat 
would 
be 
impartial. 
All 
parties, 
well 
with 
the 
people 
who 
for 
so 
many 
years 
have 
been 
under 
the 
Jll 
fact, 
are 
becoming 
revolutionary. 
The 
Liberals 
would 
like 
oppression 
of 
the 
monks 
and 
friars, 
both 
socially 
and 
financially. 
to 
convert 
the 
supreme 
head 
of 
the 
state 
into 
a 
'first 
official,' 
The 
latter 
have 
gotten 
into 
their 
control 
vast 
estates 
and 
many 
after 
the 
English 
pattern, 
and 
'that 
is 
revolution.' 
So 
is 
the 
of 
the 
most 
profitable 
plantations, 
as 
well 
as 
all 
the 
church 
desire 
of 
the 
Centre 
to 
reconvert 
Germany 
to 
Catholicism. 
So 
property, 
schools, 
etc., 
with 
money 
wrested 
from 
the 
people 
is 
the 
(lesire 
of 
the 
German 
squirearchy 
to 
restore 
aristocratic 
for 
performing 
funeral 
and 
wedding" 
and 
christening 
services, 
rule, 
and 
degrade 
the 
Emperor 
to 
be 
only 
first 
among 
his 
peers. 
and 
for 
masses 
and 
penances, 
under 
the 
pretext 
of 
saving 
them 
And 
finally, 
so 
is 
the 
desire 
of 
the 
Social 
Democrats 
that 
every 
from 
untellable 
torture 
in 
the 
future. 
workman, 
without 
regard 
to 
his 
work, 
should 
receive 
out 
of 
a 
The 
people 
have 
seized 
many 
of 
the 
church 
buildings, 
claim­ 
general 
pot 
the 
same 
quality 
of 
soup 
as 
his 
neighbors. 
The 
ing 
(we 
think, 
properly) 
that 
they 
were 
built 
with 
their 
and 
only 
remedy 
is 
for 
Liberals 
and 
Social 
Democrats 
to 
unite 
in 
their 
fathers' 
mOl~ey 
and 
labor 
and 
belong 
properly 
to 
them; 
resistance; 
but 
that 
requires 
a 
modification 
in 
the 
ideas 
of 
each, 
and 
they 
are 
holdmg 
these 
by 
armed 
force 
and 
using 
them 
for 
which 
the 
Social 
Democrats 
in 
particular, 
who 
seem 
bent 
on 
worship 
according 
to 
their 
lights. 
Both 
parties-the 
people 
'political 
suicide,' 
will 
be 
slow 
to 
concede. 
Weare 
not 
so 
hope· 
and 
the 
friars-are 
appealing 
to 
the 
American 
Governor 
Taft 
less 
as 
the 
Professor; 
but 
certainly 
the 
trend 
of 
events 
in 
to 
decide 
for 
them. 
Neither 
party 
seems 
able 
to 
understand 
Germany 
is 
towards 
Cresarism 
in 
the 
hands 
of 
a 
Cresar 
whose 
how 
church 
and 
state 
are 
distinctly 
separate 
with 
UB. 
The 
Gov- 
[.3141] 
(35 
-36) 
Vou. XXIV ALLEGHENY, PA., FEBRUARY 1, 1903 No. 3 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER We learn with regret that our reports of the progress of Socialism at home and abroad have been misunderstood by some to signify expectation that Socialism may be the Lord’s way of bringing in the blessings of the Millennial kingdom. Our position seems difficult for some to understand. We believe that many of the ideals of Socialism are good;—more than this, that niany of those ideals will be realized in the kingdom as they are now realized in heaven. But, we dispute the ability of Socialists to put those ideals into effect and make them continuously operative. Why so? Because of sin;—because selfishness, the reverse of love, is born with all men;—and because nothing but a thorough conversion (such as few experience) and subsequent instruction in the school of Christ (such as few now enjoy) could possibly so correct the natural heart as to make love—the golden rule—its law. No doubt many Socialists believe that their desires for Socialism are actuated by love, and not by selfishness; but such should not forget the Scriptural declaration that “the heart is deceitful above all things.” Those clamoring for Socialism are generally such as believe that their temporal interests would he improved, or, at least, not injured, by Socialism. Remarkably few are advocating Socialism or anything else to their own disadvantage. We are not finding fault with this natural conditions; only God’s saints love to the extent of self-sacrifice for the good of others. We are merely pointing to this evidence that the advocates of Socialism cannot claim to be actuated by love, but by selfishness;—we are merely proving our position, that even if Socialism were established it could not last, because selfishness would continually prompt each to work either for his own advantage, or else to work as little as possible. Possibly a very few may be found working for Socialism and against their own interest: it is not for us to decide; but it 18 possible that ambition or combativeness have as much, or more, to do with their sacrifices than has love of mankind. The point we make is that Socialism is not practicable under selfish conditions; and that the voluntary Socialism which the Lord will introduce will not be attained until the close of the Millenneum, when the selfishness of the fallen condition will have given place to perfect love and the full image of God;—all the incorrigibly selfish being destroyed in the second death. The Socialism of the Millennium will not be voluntary, but enforced by the rule of the “rod of iron ”—Rev. 2:27. Our reason for keeping track of the progress of Socialism now is, that we expect that it, or something akin to it, is about to deceive the world into looking for a Millennium of its own, and lead them unconsciously to, and then over the brink into the anarchy and “time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.” We cannot wonder that this “will o’ the wisp” should attract and ensnare many of “the groaning creation” who long for better things for themselves and neighbors; and we should and do sympathize with such very keenly; but for any one who has had his eyes opened to the divine plan for the blessing of the world, through Christ and his church, in the Millennial kingdom, (invisible to the world), to be attracted to Socialism would be a distinct evidence of his going into the “outer darkness” of the world—away from the inner light of divine revelation given to the church. CONDITIONS IN GERMANY The London Spectator editorially reviews the German situation, and the evidences seen there of a political or a social revolution—all, be it marked, based on selfishness. It says:— “Professor Mommsen, whose opinion has great weight in Germany, has issued a remarkable manifesto. He says that ‘the overthrow of the Imperial Constitution is rapidly progressing. The Reichstag and the Emperor alike are being subjected to the absolutism of an alliance between the Tory landlords and the priests. That is revolution and worse than personal government, because the autocrat would be impartial. All parties, in fact, are becoming revolutionary. The Liberals would like to convert the supreme head of the state into a ‘first official,’ after the English pattern, and ‘that is revolution.’ So is the desire of the Centre to reconvert Germany to Catholicism. So is the desire of the German squirearchy to restore aristocratic rule, and degrade the Emperor to be only first among his peers. And finally, so is the desire of the Social Democrats that every workman, without regard to his work, should receive out of a general pot the same quality of soup as his neighbors. The only remedy is for Liberals and Social Democrats to unite in resistance; but that requires a modification in the ideas of each, which the Social Democrats in particular, who seem bent on ‘political suicide,’ will be slow to concede. We are not so hopeless as the Professor; but certainly the trend of events in Germany is towards Cesarism in the hands of a Cesar whose [3141] considerable powers of mind are rendered partially useless by perpetual hurry.” ABOUT OUR PROSPERITY The Pittsburg Gazette editorially says:— “While the United States is enjoying unexampled prosperity, England is feeling the pinch of hard times. Accounts agree that in the poorer parts of London and in some of the industrial centers in the provinces there is an exceptional amount of distress. It is admitted that the year now closing has been marked by a decline of industrial prosperity and that there is an unusually large per centage of unemployed workmen, for whose relief during the winter special exertions will have to be made. Similar news comes from Russia. Famine prevails in the province of Finland, and in all industrial centers there is great suffering owing to lack of work. It is reported that workmen in important towns are glad to get work for 35 copecks a day, equal to 23 cents, The depression in England is largely a reaction from artificial stimulus of war expenditure. and in Russian it is a recoil from over production and over trading in connection with the rapid expansion of the empire. Germany is beginning to emerge from the depression that overtook her industries some years ago, but the recent tariff legislation, hostile to the commercial treaties which stimulated her industrial progress, has clouded the prospect again. The industrial prosperity of the United States is the admiration and envy of the world.” x . * We receive many queries respecting the probable duration of present prosperity. That question no human being can answer satisfactorily. The world’s wars being over and the great war expenditures stopped, would naturally mean that prosperity has already crested and is on the decline. But who knows what may come of the Venezuelan trouble or similar difficulties with other states, through the new program of the great powers that the claims of private bondholders against the smaller nations may be collected by force? Who knows that this program and the “Monroe Doctrine” may not clash so as to bring about one of the greatest sea wars of modern times? Or something else. of which we as vet have not a surmise, may come forward suddenly to give business a fresh spurt. So far as the Scriptures guide us, we expect the climax of the great time of anarchous trouble in October, 1914. Our opinion is that so great a trouble would necessarily last in violent form at least three or four years before reaching that climax. Hence, we expect strenuous times by or before October, 1910. And this agrees well with the corresponding and typical trouble with which the Jewish age ended. Reasoning backward from 1910 A. D. we are bound to assume that the conditions leading up to such violence as we then expect would include great financial depression, which probably would last some years before reaching so disheartening a stage. We could not, therefore, expect that depression to begin later than, say, 1908. Our reasoning is that a depression beginning now would culminate too quickly for the dates we consider fixed by Scripture, and that there is not sufficient time for a depression and then another boom and another depression before 1910,—notwithstanding the rapid changes of our day. These reasons incline us to expect a prolongation of present prosperity for a couple of years more. It is because we see no other cause than war likely to sustain present prosperity. that we are on the lookout for one;—and not that we favor or sympathize with wars. CATHOLICISM IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Recent reports indicate that the movement among the Filipinos to throw off the yoke of the Roman Catholic church is progressing rapidly. They have established the “National Filipino Chureh” modeled after the pattern of the Church of England. They have chosen as its archbishop “Father Aglipay,” an excommunicated Catholic priest, and the movement is taking well with the people who for so many years have been under the oppression of the monks and friars, both socially and financially. The latter have gotten into their control vast estates and many of the most profitable plantations, as well as all the church property, schools, etc., with money wrested from the people for performing funeral and wedding and christening services, and for masses and penances, under the pretext of saving them from untellabie torture in the future. The people have seized many of the church buildings, claiming (we think, properly) that they were built with their and their fathers’ money and labor and belong properly to them; and they are holding these by armed force and using them for worship according to their lights. Both parties—the people and the friars—are appealing to the American Governor Taft to decide for them. Neither party seems able to understand how church and state are distinctly separate with us. The Gov (35 -36)

This website uses cookies to improve the website and your experience. By continuing to browse this website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. If you require further information or do not wish to accept cookies when using this website, please visit our Privacy Policy    Terms of Use    .