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OCTOBER
15,
1904
ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
(319-323)
DEAR
SIR:-
Some
time
since
I
mailed
to
your
address
a
copy
of
the
Pittsburg
Gazette,
special
edition,
containing
reports
of
the
Eaton-Russell
debates.
I
have
also
come
into
possession
of
some
pamphlets
bearing
on
these
subjects,
printed
at
Alle
gheny,
Pa.,
one
of
which
I
am
mailing
to
you.
I
am
an
ardent
student
of
the
Scriptures,
and
am
associ
ated
with
a
small
number
of
others
who,
like
myself,
love
the
Lord
and
s.eek
always
to
increase
our
knowledge
of
his
Word
and
revealed
wisdom,
to
the
end
that
we
may
become
more
able
to
do
that
which
IS
pleasmg
to
him.
We
are
not
con
nected
with
any
particular
denomination,
but
we
realize
that
many
earnest
and
well-informed
disciples
of
Jesus
are
mem
bers
of
each,
whose
intellectual
capacity
is
far
greater
than
our
own,
hence
this
request,
which
I
fell
you
will
not
consider
presumptuous,-that,
if
agreeable
and
convenient
to
you,
I
may
be
privileged
to
have
an
expression
of
your
views
on
the
questIOns
involved
in
these
debates
eIther
briefly
or
at
length.
as
pleltSml
you,
and
your
opinion
as
to
what
methods
would
be
best
to
pursue
in
order
that
a
truth-hungry
child
of
God
may
reach
a
proper
conclusion
on
these
and
other
doc
trines
which
seem
to
clash,
and,
while
each
claims
a
Biblical
basis
of
proof,
run
counter
to
each
other.
I
can
assure
you
that,
knowing
you
to
be
a
leader
of
thought
among
professing
Christians,
any
assistance
to
further
light
on
God's
revealed
word
will
be
greatly
appreciated
and
your
words
will
receive
respectful
consideratIOn,
should
you
deign
to
reply.
Sincerely
yours,
J.
LocKwooD,-Mo.
DEAR
BRETHREN:--
Enclosed
please
find
report.
I
must
tell
you
that
we
have
encouraging
experiences
by
the
way,
with
an
occasional
reb~ff.
In
an
out-of-the-way
place
I
saw
two
men
by
the
road~Ide.
As
I
introduced
the
work,
one
man
broke
in
with
the
remark,
"Did
you
ever
read
that
great
debate
by
that
man
Russell
and
Dr.
Eaton?
He
is
a
smart
llllLn,
but
he
could
not
stand
before
Mr.
Russell."
He
spoke
in
a
very
enthusiastic
way.
When
informed
that
the
book
I
sold
was
by
Bro.
Russell,
he
took
it,
and
I
trust
it
will
become
a
great
blessing
to
him.
In
showing
the
Plan
of
the
Ages
to
the
M.
E.
minister
at
G
-
he
remarked,
"I
have
that
book.
I
did
not
read
it
much,
as
I
did
not
find
it
as
definite
as
I
expected."
I
began
to
read
page
224
in
explanation
of
the
Chart,
"The
Path
of
Glory."
I
had
not
read
far
when
he
said,
"We
have
found
out
that
is
not
so;
Adam
was
never
perfect."
We
then
brought
the
ransom
to
his
attentIOn,
and
having
ackllowled!!e<l
that
Jesus
was
perfect
as
a
man.
he
could
not
well
reSIst
the
force
of
this
grand
Bible
truth.
He
said
he
was
glad
to
have
met
me,
would
read
the
book,
and
asked
could
I
speak
for
him
some
time
I
was
that
way.
He
seemed
very
sincere
and
desir
ous
of
the
truth,
and
now
that
he
has
it
I
trust
it
will
be
received
into
a
good
and
honest
heart.
We
hope
to
add
to
the
great
blessing
received
at
the
con
vention
at
Boston
and
be
more
successful
in
the
harvest
work.
In
the
Lord's
name
and
with
Christian
love,
A.
N.
MARCHANT,-Colp.
VOL.
XXV
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
NOVEMBER
1,
1904
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.
21
SIGNS
OF
DEGENERATION
•
'Lovers
of
Pleasure
More
than
Lovers
of
God"--2
Tim.
3:4
Dr.
Hall,
President
of
Union
Theological
Seminary,
New
York,
declared
recently:--
"We
all
rejoice
in
the
remarkable
growth
and
the
excellent
features
of
American
civilization,
and
we
are
pleased
at
the
relatively
good
state
of
the
commonalty
of
the
people,
but
&
deeper
examination
of
the
social
side
of
our
American
life
re
veals
a
situation
that
causes
anything
but
satisfaction.
"It
is
a
matter
of
consternation
and
deep
concern
to
us
that
the
moral
standard
of
American
life
is
deteriorating.
In
the
hustle
and
bustle
of
every·day
activity
we
have
astonished
the
world,
but
morally
we
are
rapidly
going
astern--so
rapidly
that
one
is
dumfounded
at
the
contrast
of
a
visit
to
some
of
the
countries
of
the
Old
World.
"I
am
an
optimist
through
and
through,
but
I
am
not
a
stone-blind
optimist.
I
feel,
and
I
know
from
observation
that
religion
has
little,
if
any,
part
in
our
American
civilization
today.
This
is
a
lamentable
state
of
affairs,
and
it
behoovea
each
and
all
of
us
to
do
all
we
can
to
help
stem
the
tide
of
in
difference.
Our
home
life
is
not
what
it
should
be.,
and
it
is
not
to
be
wondered
at
when
we
realize
the
general
apathy
of
the
people
as
regards
their
spiritual
welfare."
•
•
•
Doctor
Hall
should
have
expected
just
such
results
from
the
teaching
of
evolution
and
higher
criticism
in
"Union"
and
other
Theological
Seminaries.
And
it
is
only
beginning,
too.
For
twenty
years
the
Doctor
and
his
coadjutors
have
been
sowing
the
seed
of
unbelief:
now
they
are
surprised
at
the
first
sam
ples
of
the
crop.
They
ha.ve
failed
to
gauge
up
the
ordinary
layman
as
more
honest
than
their
clerical
brethren:
when
they
lase
faith
in
the
Bible
and
supernatural
religion
they
will
soon
drop
,the
forms
and
ceremonies
associated
therewith.
Some
clerical
higher
critics
and
agnostics
would
do
the
same
were
they
not
looking
for
honor
and
"~ain
everyone
from
his
own
quarter,"
or
denomination.--Isa.
515:11.
THE
PBAYBB·MEETIKG
TEST
"It
is
a
common
thing
in
village
and
rural
districts
to
find
churches
where
the
prayer
meeting
has
not
even
a
name
to
live.
It
is
just
as
common
to
find
in
towns
and
cities
among
the
larger
churches
where
the
membership
goes
up
into
the
hun
dreds
to
find,
comparatively
speaking,
a
handful
of
people,
mostly
women,
gathered
in
the
weekly
prayer-meeting,
when
scores
if
not
hundreds
might
reasonably
be
expected
to
be
present.
The
situation
is
one
of
concern,
if
not
of
alarm,
and
unless
a
remedy
is
soon
found,
that
meeting
of
the
church
which
above
all
others
is
vital
to
its
life
and
work
will
have
gone
out
of
existence.
We
do
not
believe
that
either
the
neces
sity
for
the
prayer
meeting
or
its
genuine
usefulness
has
~one,
but
we
are
persuaded
that
many
of
our
people
need
to
be
reo
converted
regarding
its
responsibility
and
value
to
themselves
and
the
community
in
which
they
live."--Canadi<ln
Baptist.
*
*
*
Yes,
the
prayer·meeting
test
is
a
good
one.
Wherever
true
Christians
find
it
possible
to
meet
for
mid-week
communion
with
the
Lord
and
with
each
other,
they
will
surely
have
pleas
ure
in
so
doing.
The
Spirit
of
the
Lord
will
constrain
them
and
his
Word
will
encourage
them,--"Where
two
or
three
of
you
are
met
in
my
name,
there
am
I
in
the
midst."
We
are
glad
to
say
that
the
Allegheny
congregation
has
this
evidence
of
spiritual
life.
Six
meetings
of
this
nature
are
held
every
Wednesday
evening
in
the
various
districts
con
tiguous
to
Allegheny.
The
attendance
ranges
from
seven
to
thirty,
and
those
most
regular
in
attendance
are
usually
the
most
earnest
and
most
spiritually
alive.
Our
hope
is
that
this
love
of
prayer
and
praise
and
communion
with
each
other
on
spiritual
themes
and
experiences
of
the
week
may
be
more
and
more
a
characteristic
of
all
of
"this
way"--of
all
WATCH
TOWEB
readers.
eOlfGBEGATIONALISTS
ALABMED
"Congregational
leaders,
especially
those
in
the
West,
are
alarmed
over
the
showing
just
reported
made
by
their
body
in
the
states
of
Illinois,
Iowa
and
Michigan.
In
all
three
states
Congregationalism
lost
in
membership
last
year,
and
in
two
of
them
in
Sunday-school
a.ttendance.
The
leaders
referred
to
are
pointing
out
to
their
brethren
that
in
these
states
conditione
are
best
fitted
of
all
states,
New
England
not
excepted,
for
Puritan
growth.
Yet
there
has
been
less.
The
membership
in
all
states
is
120,000
in
round
figures,
or
a
little
more
than
one-sixth
of
the
entire
Congregational
membership,
and
almost
exactly
the
membership
of
the
same
body
in
Massachusetts.
These
leaders
are
asking
the
Muse
and
the
remedy.
The
former
they
give
as
too
much
higher
criticism
and
too
little
real
re
ligion.
They
I,loint
out
that
these
lltates
are
filled
with
educa.·
tional
institubons."--8ecular
Pre
••.
•
•
•
The
thing
which
seems
to
strike
the
alarm
bell
in
religious
clerical
circles
is
any
sign
of
falling
off
in
numbers.
That
is
a
sore
spot.
It
means
fewer
preachers
or
less
salaries,
and
nat
urally
awakens
alarm.
The
numbers
and
wealth
are
too
great
now.
If
the
"wheat"
could
only
get
together
and
study
God's
Word
and
learn
something
of
the
lengths
and
breadths
and
heights
and
depths
of
the
great
divine
plan
of
the
ages
and
the
love
which
it
exemplifies,
they
would
be
blest
richly,
and
the
great
bulk
of
well-meaning
but
unconsecrated
and
unbelieving
tares
could
better
be
dispensed
with.
"Fear
not,
little
flock."
"Not
many
great
or
wise
or
noble
hath
God
chosen"-to
be
heirs
of
the
kingdom,
which
shortll
now
will
be
set
up
in
power
and
great
glory
to
bless
the
'tares"
and
"all
the
familIes
of
the
earth."
THE
PAIne
OF
1913
"There
is
something
almost
uncanny
in
the
thought
that
panics
in
the
financial
and
commercial
world
have
a
habit
of
recurrin~
at
such
regular
intervals
that,
if
not
prevented,
we,
here
in
the
United
States,
are
doomed
to
suffer
another
ca'~a
(')"slh
in
the
business
world
in
l!Jl:J.
It
would
seem
that,
given
[3449]
Ocroser 15, 1904 Dear SiIr:— Some time since I mailed to your address a copy of the Pittsburg Gazette, special edition, containing reports of the Eaton-Russell debates. I have also come into possession of some pamphlets bearing on these subjects, printed at Allegheny, Pa., one of which I am mailing to you. I am an ardent student of the Scriptures, and am associated with a small number of others who, like myself, love the Lord and seek always to increase our knowledge of his Word and revealed wisdom, to the end that we may become more able to do that which 1s pleasing to him. We are not connected with any particular denomination, but we realize that many earnest and well-informed disciples of Jesus are members of each, whose intellectual capacity is far greater than our own, hence this request, which I fell you will not consider presumptuous,—that, if agreeable and convenient to you, I may be privileged to have an expression of your views on the questions involved in these debates either briefly or at length, as pledS3@8 you, and your opinion as to what methods would be best to pursue in order that a truth-hungry child of God may reach a proper conclusion on these and other doctrines which seem to clash, and, while each claims a Biblica] basis of proof, run counter to each other. I can assure you that, knowing you to be a leader of thought among professing Christians, any assistance to further light on God’s revealed word will be greatly appreciated and your words will receive respectful consideration, should you deign to reply. Sincerely yours, J. Lockwoop,——Mo. ZION’S WATCH TOWER (319-323) DEAR BRETHREN :— Enclosed please find report. I must tell you that we have encouraging experiences by the way, with an occasional rebuff, In an out-of-the-way place I saw two men by the roadside. As I introduced the work, one man broke in with the remark, “Did you ever read that great debate by that man Russell and Dr. Eaton? He is a smart man, but he could not stand before Mr. Russell.” He spoke in a very enthusiastic way. When informed that the book I sold was by Bro. Russell, he took it, and I trust it will become a great blessing to him. In showing the Plan of the Ages to the M. E. minister at G—— he remarked, “I have that book. I did not read it much, as I did not find it as definite as I expected.” I began to read page 224 in explanation of the Chart, “The Path of Glory.” I had not read far when he said, “We have tound out that is not so; Adam was never perfect.” We then brought the ransom to his attention, and having acknowledged that Jesus was perfect as a man, he could not well resist the force of this grand Bible truth. He said he was glad to have met me, would read the book, and asked could I speak for him some time I was that way. He seemed very sincere and desirous of the truth, and now that he has it I trust it will be received into a good and honest heart. We hope to add to the great blessing received at the convention at Boston and be more successful in the harvest work. In the Lord’s name and with Christian love, A. N. Magcuant,—Colp. Vou. XXV ALLEGHENY, PA., NOVEMBER 1, 1904 No. 21 ——— VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER SIGNS OF DEGENERATION ‘*Lovers of Pleasure More than Lovers of God’’—2 Tim. 3:4 Dr. Hall, President of Union Theological Seminary, New York, declared recently :-— “We all rejoice in the remarkable growth and the excellent features of American civilization, and we are pleased at the relatively good state of the commonalty of the people, but a deeper examination of the social side of our American life reveals a situation that causes anything but satisfaction. “It is a matter of consternation and deep concern to us that the moral standard of American life is deteriorating. In the hustle and bustle of every-day activity we have astonished the world, but morally we are rapidly going astern—so rapidly that one is dumfounded at the contrast of a visit to some of the countries of the Old World. “I am an optimist through and through, but I am not a stone-blind optimist. I feel, and I know from observation that religion has little, if any, part in our American civilization today. This is a lamentable state of affairs, and it behooves each and all of us to do all we can to help stem the tide of indifference. Our home life is not what it should be, and it is not to be wondered at when we realize the general apathy of the people as regards their spiritual welfare.” Doctor Hall should have expected just such results from the teaching of evolution and higher criticism in “Union” and other Theological Seminaries. And it is only beginning, too. For twenty years the Doctor and his coadjutors have been sowing the seed of unbelief: now they are surprised at the first sam les of the crop. They have failed to gauge up the ordinary ayman as more honest than their clerical brethren: when they lose faith in the Bible and supernatural religion they will soon drop the forms and ceremonies associated therewith. Some clerical higher critics and agnostics would do the same were they not looking for honor and “gain every one from his own quarter,” or denomination.—Isa. 56:11. THE PRAYER-MEETING TEST “It is a common thing in village and rural districts to find churches where the prayer meeting has not even a name to live. It is just as common to find in towns and cities among the larger churches where the membership goes up into the hundreds to find, comparatively speaking, a handful of people, mostly women, gathered in the weekly prayer-meeting, when scores if not hundreds might reasonably be expected to be present. The situation is one of concern, if not of alarm, and unless a remedy is soon found, that meeting of the church which above all others is vital to its life and work will have gone out of existence. We do not believe that either the necessity for the prayer meeting or its genuine usefulness has gone, but we are persuaded that many of our people need to be reconverted regarding its responsibility and value to themselves and the community in which they live.’—Canadian Baptist. * * * Yes, the prayer-meeting test is a good one. Wherever true Christians find it possible to meet for mid-week communion with the Lord and with each other, they will surely have pleasure in so doing. The Spirit of the Lord will constrain them and his Word will encourage them,—‘‘Where two or three of you are met in my name, there am I in the midst.” We are glad to say that the Allegheny congregation has this evidence of spiritual life. Six meetings of this nature are held every Wednesday evening in the various districts contiguous to Allegheny. The attendance ranges from seven to thirty, and those most regular in attendance are usually the most earnest and most spiritually alive. Our hope is that this love of prayer and praise and communion with each other on spiritual themes and experiences of the week may be more and more a characteristic of all of “this way”’—of all WatTcn TOWER readers. CONGREGATIONALISTS ALARMED “Congregational leaders, especially those in the West, are alarmed over the showing just reported made by their body in the states of Illinois, Iowa and Michigan. In all three states Congregationalism lost in membership last year, and in two of them in Sunday-school attendance. The leaders referred to are pointing out to their brethren that in these states conditions are best fitted of all states, New England not excepted, for Puritan growth. Yet there has been less. The membership in all states is 120,000 in round figures, or a little more than one-sixth of the entire Congregational membership, and almost exactly the membership of the same body in Massachusetts. These leaders are asking the cause and the remedy. The former they give as too much higher criticism and too little real religion. They point out that these states are filled with educational institutions.”—Secular Press, . The thing which seems to strike the alarm bell in religious clerical circles is any sign of falling off in numbers. That is a sore spot. It means fewer preachers or less salaries, and naturally awakens alarm. e numbers and wealth are too great now. If the “wheat” could only get together and study God’s Word and learn something of the lengths and breadths and heights and depths of the great divine plan of the ages and the love which it exemplifies, they would be blest richly, and the great bulk of well-meaning but unconsecrated and unbelieving tares could better be dispensed with. “Fear not, little flock.” “Not many great or wise or noble hath God chosen”—-to be heirs of the kingdom, which shortly now will be set up in power and great glory to bless the “tares” and “all the families of the earth.” THE PANIC OF 1913 “There is something almost uncanny in the thought that panics in the financial and commercial world have a habit of recurring at such regular intervals that, if not prevented, we, here in the United States, are doomed to suffer another cataelvsth in the business world in 1913. It would seem that, given [3449]
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