Publication date
1/1/04
Volume
25
Number
1
The WatchTower
Views From the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1904/1/1904-1-1.html
VOL. 
XXV 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
JANUARY 
1, 
1904 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
No.1 
From 
the 
standpoint 
of 
the 
truth 
and 
its 
prosperity-its 
\ 
ictory 
over 
error-no 
year 
in 
the 
past, 
in 
our 
experience, 
has 
ever 
offered 
so 
grand 
a 
prospect. 
During 
the 
past 
year 
the 
Lord 
has 
done 
great 
things 
for 
his 
people, 
whereof 
we 
are 
glad. 
Viewed 
from 
Some 
standpoints 
it 
is 
difficult 
to 
imagine 
that 
the 
coming 
year 
could 
equal 
the 
past 
one, 
much 
less 
excel 
it. 
However, 
as 
we 
are 
learning 
more 
of 
the 
Lord's 
ways 
we 
are 
coming 
to 
have 
greater 
confidence 
in 
his 
almighty 
power, 
which 
is 
able 
to 
make 
all 
things 
work 
out 
his 
glorious 
plans 
as 
the 
due 
time 
of 
each 
item 
arrives. 
But 
oUr 
hopes 
have 
circumstantial 
foundations 
supporting 
our 
faith. 
We 
will 
mention 
some 
of 
these, 
that 
we 
may 
hope 
and 
rejoice 
together. 
(I) 
The 
number 
of 
the 
interested 
is 
greater 
than 
ever 
before 
;-the 
'V 
ATCH 
TOWER 
list 
is 
nearly 
twenty 
thousand, 
which 
represents 
about 
40,000 
readers 
and 
co-laborers. 
(2) 
The 
consecration 
of 
all 
seems 
to 
be 
deepen­ 
ing. 
(3) 
These 
furnish 
nearly 
one 
thousand 
"volunteers," 
and 
guarantee 
a 
circulation 
of 
at 
least 
three 
millions 
of 
tracts 
which 
we 
may 
hope 
will 
find 
and 
enlist 
other 
earnest, 
conse­ 
crated 
heads, 
hearts 
and 
hands. 
(4) 
The 
colporteur 
brigade 
is 
now 
nearly 
150 
strong, 
and 
many 
of 
them 
well 
tried 
and 
experienced 
soldiers 
of 
the 
cross, 
whose 
zeal 
increases 
a.s 
they 
realize 
that 
"now 
is 
our 
salvation 
nearer 
than 
when 
we 
first 
believed." 
(Rom. 
13: 
11) 
These 
will 
surely 
put 
into 
the 
hands 
of 
the 
Christian 
people 
many 
thousands 
of 
volumes 
of 
MiZl.enmal 
Dawn-which, 
in 
turn, 
should 
assist 
much 
in 
breaking 
down 
prejudice 
and 
superstition 
in 
thousands 
and 
in 
bringing 
hun­ 
dreds 
into 
fellowship 
with 
the 
truth. 
(5) 
The 
pilgrim 
service 
will, 
we 
trust, 
be 
blest 
of 
the 
Lord 
to 
those 
already 
fully 
com­ 
mitted. 
(6) 
The 
Pittsburgh 
Gazette 
each 
week 
publishes 
the 
"ditor's 
sermon 
to 
from 
7p,000 
to 
85.000 
readers 
far 
and 
near. 
This 
should 
prove 
a 
help 
to 
some. 
Many 
will 
read 
in 
a 
secu­ 
Inr 
iournal 
what 
they 
would 
refuse 
to 
notice 
elsewhere. 
(7) 
The 
"Good 
Hopes" 
prospects 
are 
favorable 
so 
far, 
and 
encour­ 
age 
us 
to 
lay 
our 
plans 
broad 
and 
deep 
for 
the 
year 
beginnmg. 
The 
above 
prospects 
relate 
to 
the 
"machinery" 
which 
the 
Lord 
seems 
to 
have 
provided 
and 
blessed 
in 
connection 
with 
the 
''harvest'' 
work. 
Now 
let 
us 
look 
to 
the 
conditions 
in 
the 
world 
outside 
our 
influence. 
We 
find 
that 
an 
increasingly 
large 
number 
of 
pious, 
Christian 
people 
are 
losing 
their 
preiu­ 
dice 
and 
getting 
their 
eyes 
opened, 
little 
by 
little, 
to 
the 
bE'auties 
of 
the 
divine 
plan 
of 
the 
ages. 
It 
may 
be 
that 
the 
millions 
of 
tracts 
and 
liundreds 
of 
thousands 
of 
DAwNs 
which 
we 
have 
unitedly 
circulated, 
and 
the 
other 
efforts 
put 
forth 
to 
proclaim 
the 
truth, 
have 
been 
used 
of 
the 
Lord 
to 
break 
down 
the 
prejudice 
and 
to 
anoint 
the 
dim 
eye'l. 
We 
are 
glad 
to 
hope 
so: 
we 
would 
feel 
discouraged 
indeed 
with 
any 
other 
view. 
However, 
we 
are 
inclined 
to 
think 
that 
tile 
results 
are 
largely 
the 
operation 
of 
forces 
at 
work 
in 
an 
opposite 
direc­ 
tion. 
While 
we 
are 
busy 
heralding 
the 
truth 
and 
endeavoring 
to 
show 
the 
real 
meaning 
of 
God's 
Word 
and 
its 
sureness 
of 
fulfilment, 
Satan 
is 
no 
less 
busy 
and 
has 
powerful 
influences 
at 
work. 
For 
the 
past 
twenty 
years 
he 
has 
been 
carefully 
sow­ 
ing 
and 
watering 
the 
seed'! 
of 
unbelief-"evolution" 
and 
"higher 
criticism"-in 
all 
the 
colleges 
and 
theological 
sem­ 
inaries 
of 
Christendom. 
As 
a 
result 
the 
''leaven''-the 
corrup­ 
tion 
of 
faith-abounds 
in 
every 
direction. 
To 
such 
an 
extent 
is 
this 
true, 
that 
the 
term 
"orthodoxy" 
practically 
stands 
for 
this 
modern 
form 
of 
"rationalism" 
or 
unbelief. 
The 
effect 
of 
this 
growing 
skepticism, 
or 
"falling 
away" 
from 
the 
faith, 
is 
two-fold. 
To 
a 
large 
class 
it 
is 
infectious: 
never 
well 
established 
or 
convinced 
of 
the 
truth 
of 
Gou's 
reve­ 
lation, 
they 
needed 
only 
the 
word 
of 
some 
one 
"highly 
esteemed 
among 
men" 
(Luke 
16: 
15), 
D. 
D., 
to 
turn 
them 
away 
from 
the 
truth 
to 
fables. 
Soon 
they 
plume 
themselves 
upon 
their 
"advanced 
views," 
and 
learn 
to 
look 
down 
upon 
those 
who 
hold 
fast 
to 
the 
precious 
Word 
(Titus 
1:9), 
and 
to 
think 
of 
them 
and 
speak 
of 
them 
as 
"credulous" 
and 
"old 
fogy." 
These 
"snares 
of 
the 
adversary" 
will, 
we 
doubt 
1I0t, 
en­ 
tangle 
the 
great 
mass 
of 
professing 
Churchianity. 
They 
shall 
indeed 
be 
snared 
and 
taken. 
A 
thousand 
will 
fall 
to 
bne 
who 
will 
stand. 
(Isa. 
28: 
13; 
Psa. 
91: 
7) 
But 
the 
Lord's 
truly 
consecrated 
people 
will 
be 
kept 
by 
the 
power 
of 
God 
through 
faith. 
At 
first 
they 
are 
sure 
to 
be 
bewildered 
as 
they 
hear 
their 
trusted 
under-shepherds 
advance 
the 
very 
argumentR 
once 
set 
forth 
by 
Ingersoll, 
Paine 
and 
other 
opponents 
of 
the 
Word. 
They 
wonder 
whether 
or 
not 
they 
heard 
correctly, 
and 
finally 
they 
wonder 
if 
they 
have 
been 
too 
slow 
and 
stupid 
and 
too 
credulous. 
Alas! 
many 
of 
these 
dear 
sheep 
have 
relied 
too 
much 
on 
the 
creeds 
and 
traditions 
of 
men. 
and 
have 
not 
sufficiently 
"proved 
all 
things" 
before 
acceptance, 
with 
the 
standard 
of 
God's 
Word. 
And 
so 
their 
faith 
may 
be 
sadly 
shaken 
and 
their 
peace 
and 
joy 
in 
the 
Lord 
destroyed. 
But 
as 
surely 
aR 
thcy 
are 
the 
Lord's 
sheep 
he 
will 
not 
abanclon 
them. 
but 
if 
they 
cry 
unto 
him 
he 
will 
deliver 
them 
from 
the 
Evil 
One. 
Deliverance 
will 
corne 
to 
them 
just 
in 
time 
;-im<t 
wlH'n 
they 
have 
learned 
to 
deplore 
their 
loss 
of 
faith 
and 
its 
connpc­ 
tion 
with 
the 
ioy'l 
of 
the 
Lord. 
Wc 
are 
rapidly 
approaching 
a 
time 
of 
famine 
for 
thE' 
hearing 
of 
the 
Word 
of 
the 
Lord. 
ThoRe 
who 
hi\ve 
always 
fed 
on 
tht' 
hu'!kR 
of 
human 
theory 
and 
tradition 
will 
not 
be 
aware 
of 
thiR 
famine; 
but 
those 
who 
do 
know 
the 
Lord 
will 
begin 
to 
feel 
the 
pan~s 
of 
hunger. 
"BlesRed 
are 
they 
that 
hunger 
and 
thirRt 
after 
ri~hteommeRs, 
for 
they 
shall 
be 
filled." 
ThE'Lord 
will 
hear 
their 
cry 
for 
the 
brelld 
of 
preRent 
truth 
and 
will 
send 
it 
to 
them 
by 
the 
hand 
of 
some 
of 
his 
willing 
servant 
'I. 
Vl'rily 
they 
shan 
be 
fed 
and 
IE'd 
into 
green 
pastures; 
heCaURE' 
they 
are 
true 
Rhecp 
and 
under 
the 
care 
of 
the 
true 
Shepllerd.-Psalm 
2::1. 
It 
is, 
thE'refore, 
in 
the 
interest 
of 
the 
I~orcl'R 
true 
shl'ep 
that 
the 
evolutionists 
anel 
hip;her 
critic'! 
should 
hecome 
morp 
lmd 
more 
bold 
and 
a~~re'!sive 
soon. 
So 
mnch 
thp 
sooner 
will 
the 
Lord's 
true 
followers 
diRcprn 
that 
Bahylon 
haR 
been 
re­ 
iected-tbat 
inRtead 
of 
the 
name 
meanin~ 
10ngE'T 
the 
GatE' 
of 
God, 
it 
now 
stands 
for 
confuRion. 
When 
once 
they 
~et 
their 
eyes 
open 
on 
thiR 
subjE'ct 
they 
will 
li'lten 
more 
C'arpfully 
than 
ever 
for 
the 
true 
Shepherd's 
voice. 
and 
seek 
for 
the 
flopk 
he 
i'l 
feedin~. 
that 
they 
alRo 
may 
feed 
in 
paRture'l 
green 
and 
be 
refreshed 
by 
the 
still. 
deep 
waters 
of 
present 
truth. 
Our 
view 
in 
this 
direction 
is 
mORt 
encouragin~. 
The 
lead­ 
ers 
of 
Babylon 
are 
nearly 
all 
evolutionists 
and 
higher 
critics, 
and 
their 
numbers 
and 
influence 
are 
making 
thE'ID 
more 
and 
more 
bold 
and 
outspoken. 
We 
welcome 
thiR 
progress 
of 
error 
in 
this 
class, 
realizing 
that 
it 
is 
the 
Lord's 
way 
of 
letting 
[3295] 
(3-4) 
ZIONS Vout. XXV ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 1, 1904 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER From the standpoint of the truth and its prosperity—its victory over error—no year in the past, in our experience, has ever offered so grand a prospect. During the past year the Lord has done great things for his people, whereof we are glad. Viewed from some standpoints it is difficult to imagine that the coming year could equal the past one, much less excel it. However, as we are learning more of the Lord’s ways we are coming to have greater confidence in his almighty power, which is able to make all things work out his glorious plans as the due time of each item arrives. But our hopes have circumstantial foundations supporting our faith. We will mention some of these, that we may hope and rejoice together. (1) The number of the interested is greater than ever before;—the Watcn Tower list is nearly twenty thousand, which represents about 40,000 readers and co-laborers. (2) The consecration of all seems to be deepening. (3) These furnish nearly one thousand “volunteers,” and guarantee a circulation of at least three millions of tracts which we may hope will find and enlist other earnest, conseerated heads, hearts and hands. (4) The colporteur brigade is now nearly 150 strong, and many of them well tried and experienced soldiers of the cross, whose zeal increases as they realize that “now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed.” (Rom. 13:11) These will surely put into the hands of the Christian people many thousands of volumes of Millennial Dawn-—which, in turn, should assist much in breaking down prejudice and superstition in thousands and in bringing hundreds into fellowship with the truth. (5) The pilgrim service will, we trust, be blest of the Lord to those already fully committed. (6) The Pittsburgh Gazette each week publishes the editor’s sermon to from 79,000 to 85,000 readers far and near. This should prove a help to some. Many will read in a secular journal what they would refuse to notice elsewhere. (7) The “Good Hopes” prospects are favorable so far, and encourage us to lay our plans broad and deep for the year beginning. The above prospects relate to the “machinery” which the Lord seems to have provided and blessed in connection with the “harvest” work. Now let us look to the conditions in the world outside our influence. We find that an increasingly large number of pious, Christian people are losing their prejudice and getting their eyes opened, little by little, to the beauties of the divine plan of the ages. It may be that the millions of tracts and hundreds of thousands of Dawns which we have unitedly circulated, and the other efforts put forth to proclaim the truth, have been used of the Lord to break down the prejudice and to anoint the dim eyes. We are glad to hope so: we would feel discouraged indeed with any other view. However, we are inclined to think that the results are largely the operation of forces at work in an opposite direction. While we are busy heralding the truth and endeavoring to show the real meaning of God’s Word and its sureness of fulfilment, Satan is no less busy and has powerful influences at work. For the past twenty years he has been carefully sowing and watering the seeds of unbelief—“evolution” and “higher criticism”’—in all the colleges and theological seminaries of Christendom. As a result the “leaven”—the corruption of faith—abounds in every direction. To such an extent [3295] is this true, that the term “orthodoxy” practically stands for this modern form of “rationalism” or unbelief. The effect of this growing skepticism, or “falling away” from the faith, is two-fold. To a large class it is infectious: never well established or convinced of the truth of God’s revelation, they needed only the word of some one “highly esteemed among men” (Luke 16:15), D. D., to turn them away from the truth to fables. Soon they plume themselves upon their “advanced views,” and learn to look down upon those who hold fast to the precious Word (Titus 1:9), and to think of them and speak of them as “credulous” and “old fogy.” These “snares of the adversary” will, we doubt not, entangle the great mass of professing Churchianity. They shall indeed be snared and taken. A thousand will fall to one who will stand. (Isa. 28:13; Psa. 91:7) But the Lord’s truly consecrated people will be kept by the power of God through faith, At first they are sure to be bewildered as they hear their trusted under-shepherds advance the very arguments once set forth by Ingersoll, Paine and other opponents of the Word. They wonder whether or not they heard correctly, and finally they wonder if they have been too slow and stupid and too eredulous. Alas! many of these dear sheep have relied too much on the creeds and traditions of men, and have not sufficiently “proved all things” before acceptance, with the standard of God’s Word. And so their faith may be sadly shaken and their peace and joy in the Lord destroyed. But as surely as they are the Lord’s sheep he will not abandon them, but if they cry unto him he will deliver them from the Evil One. Deliverance will come to them just in time;—just when they have learned to deplore their loss of faith and its connection with the joys of the Lord. We are rapidly approaching a time of famine for the hearing of the Word of the Lord. Those who have always fed on the husks of human theory and tradition will not be aware of this famine; but those who do know the Lord will begin to feel the pangs of hunger. “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” The Lord will hear their cry for the bread of present truth and will send it to them hy the hand of some of his willing servants. Verily they shall he fed and led into green pastures; hecause they are true shecp and under the care of the true Shepherd.—Psalm 23. It is, therefore, in the interest of the Lord’s true sheep that the evolutionists and higher critics should become more and more bold and aggressive soon. So much the sooner will the Lord’s true followers discern that Bahylon has heen rejected—that instead of the name meaning longer the Gate of God, it now stands for confusion. When once they get their eyes open on this subject they will listen more carefully than ever for the true Shepherd’s voice, and seek for the flock he is feeding, that they also may feed in pastures green and be refreshed by the still, deep waters of present truth. Our view in this direction is most encouraging. The leaders of Babylon are nearly all evolutionists and higher critics, and their numbers and influence are making them more and more bold and outspoken. We welcome this progress of error in this class, realizing that it is the Lord’s way of letting (3-4)

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