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(95-99)
ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
ALLEGHENY,
PA.
earnestness.
We
have
as
Christians
undertaken
a
great
con
tract-a
death-contract
as
regards
the
flesh;
and
lenty
IS
not
to
be
very
much
expected
in
>ouch
a
funeral,
and
especially
not
from
the
corpse.
\\
e
may
say,
however,
that
we
dift'er
constitu
tIOnally;
and
while
the
Lord
has
said,
"Ble~sed
are
those
who
"eep,"
he
certainly
has
not
forbIdden
us
to
laugh.
Quik
prob
ably,
experience
tends
to
bring
sobriety,
and
~obriety
is,
gener
ally
~peaklllg,
the
mo~t
proper
condition
for
the
representatives
or
ambassadors
of
the
gleat
King.
(3)
Is
it
sinful
to
dre~s
well?
.'1nswcj-.-It
is
not
sinful;
but
many
things
that
are
not
~inful
are
still
not
expedient.
v;
e
are
to
consider
our;;elves
stewards
of
the
Lord's
means,
and
whether
or
not
he
would
approve
of
rich
and
extravagant
cloth
ing.
\Ve
are
to
consider,
secondly,
whether
or
not
such
clothing
would
be
helpful
to
u~
III
0111'
lllfluence
in
favor
of
the
truth.
We
are
to
consider
whether
or
not
such
dressing
would
be
cal
eulated
to
have
a
very
good
influence
or
a
very
bad
influence
on
those
who
cannot
afford
rich
clothing.
These
things
would
seem
to
indicate
modesty
and
simplicity,
yet
they
need
not
signify
coarseness
nor
carelessness
nor
mean
appearance.
(4)
Is
dancing
improper?
Answer.-Not
in
itself.
That
is
to
say,
the
mere
exercist.'
of
danclllg
might
in
some
respects
be
beneficial,
especially
if
gentlemen
danced
with
gentlemen
and
ladies
with
ladies.
But
with
such
limitations
we
fancy
that
dancing
would
lose
much
of
its
charm.
We
reason,
therefore,
that
its
charm
is
not
morally
helpful
and
that
Christians
would
do
well
to
avoid
it,
and
to
take
their
exercise
in
some
other
manner,
betkr
calculakd
to
stir
up
heart
purity.
(5)
Is
it
wrong
to
eat
meat?
A.nswer.-The
eating
of
meat
is
not
sinful,
if
the
meat
be
honestly
obtained
and
of
good
quahty
and
healthful
to
the
system.
Our
Lord
ate
meat
during
his
ministry
and
also,
on
two
occasions,
at
least,
after
his
res
urrection.
This
is
a
sufficient
answer
to
those
who
claim
that
the
eating
of
meat
is
sinful.
"In
him
was
no
sin."
THE
AUSTRALIAN
BRANCH
Brother
Hennlllges
reporb
that
he
and
his
wife
have
arrived
safely
at
de~tillabon
atter
a
plea~allt
voyage.
They
have
secured
suitahle
quart~rs
and
the
Mplbourne
Branch
IS
an
ac-
complished
fact.
May
the
Lord's
blessing
be
with
the
work
and
workers
there
as
elsewhere
we
surely
all
pray.
AUSTRALIAN
BRAN"CH-32
JOHNSON
ST.,
FITZROY,
MFLBOURNE.
VOL.
XXV
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
APRIL
1,
1904
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.7
It
is
well
for
those
who
are
followers
of
him
who
is
the
Way,
the
Truth
and
the
Life
to
avoid
extreme
views
and
posi.
tive
assertions
respecting
the
Russo-Japanese
war.
The
new
King,
Immanuel,
has
taken
the
helm
of
earth's
affairs
Michael
has
assumed
command
(Dan.
12:
1)
and
matters
will
no
longer
be
allowed
to
"drift."
The
outcome
will
be
favorable
to
the
preparation
for
and
the
establishment
of
the
kingdom
of
the
Lord
under
the
whole
heavens,
however
disappointing
the
intermediate
steps
may
be
to
those
with
whom
"the
secret
of
the
Lord"
is
not.
Let
us
not
forget
that
the
Lord
is
pre
paring
for
"his
act,
his
strange
act,"
utterly
incomprehensible
to
those
not
acquainkd
with
his
"secret,"
revealed
through
his
Word
only
to
this
''little
flock":
of
demonstrations
against
the
government
at
the
first
favor
able
opportunity.
A
decisive
defeat
of
the
Russians
in
Man
churia
would
unquestIOnably
be
regarded
as
the
opportunity."
One
of
the
leaders
of
the
Russian
revolutiomsts
here
said
recently:
"We
don't
propose
now
to
make
war
on
the
Czar.
Om
efforts
will
be
directed
against
the
creatures
who
use
him
as
a
cloak
for
their
reactionary
designs.
I
believe
that
if
the
Czar
were
freed
from
the
influence
of
such
men
as
Pobil'don
estzeff,
Plehwe
and
those
they
represent,
the
nobles
who
think
more
of
their
privileges
than
of
the
good
of
the
country,
that
hIs
majesty
would
ultimately
be
willing
to
go
as
far
in
the
direction
of
liberalizing
Russia
as
is
desirable
at
this
time.
We
realize
that
there
is
a
vast
population
in
Russia.
the
descendants
of
former
serfs,
who
are
not
ready
for
a
full
measure
of
self-government,
but
we
believe
the
day
for
the
auto('ratic
government
of
Russia
in
the
name
of
the
Czar
by
an
oligarchy
of
noble
grafters
is
nearly
passed.
"Russia's
defeat
by
Japan
would
be
the
very
best
thing
which
could
happen
to
the
fatherland,
and
the
revolutionary
party
will
spare
no
means
to
encompass
it.
This
is
not
a
war
for
Russia.
It
is
a
war
for
the
nobility,
and
the
defeat
of
the
nobility
means
that
the
people
will
come
to
their
own.
That
there
will
be
'removals'
of
high
officials
when
the
time
('omes
is
altogether
probable.
"All
reforms
in
a
country
like
Russia
must
be
accom·
plished
by
agitation,
and
the
dagger
and
bomb
properly
ap
plied
are
potent
agitators.
Even
the
most
radical
revolu
tionary,
however,
will
not
move
against
the
Czar.
His
danger
lies
not
with
the
Nihilists
but
with
the
oligarchs
whose
power
is
threatened.
His
liberal
ideas
and
predilection
for
peace
may
cost
him
his
life,
but
if
he
is
slain
it
will
be
by
the
men
who
have
dragged
Russia
into
this
predicament.
"That
the
Nihilists
will
be
blamed
in
case
the
Czar
is
assassinated
is
altogether
probable,
but
you
may
say
that
those
who
wish
to
see
Russia
enkr
a
new
era
of
greatness
under
a
constitutional
government
look
upon
the
present
Czar
as
more
likely
to
bring
this
about
than
any
man
liv,ing,
and
would
regard
his
death
as
a
national
calamity."
*
*
*
RELIGIOUS
ASPECT
OF
THE
WAR
The
su('('e~s
of
.Japan
bids
f.lir
to
make
of
her
a
"Christian
nation"-for
are
not
the
~uccessful
fighting
nations
Christian
n,ltlOns?
And
are
not
the
unsuccessful
fighters
the
barba
nans?
As
a
matter
of
fact
tile
heathen
masses
of
the
Jupa
1le~e
are
tractable
and
obedient
to
their
rulers.
economIcal
and
iJ1(lustrious
and
very
poor.
The
leaders
of
that
nation
ha:v
e
arloptl'd
the
civilization
of
Europe
and
America,
but
very
ht
tIe
Christianity,
(>X('ppt
as
it
appeals
to
them
as
indispensable
to
foreign
relations
and
the
advancement
of
their
own
nation's
intprpsts.
So
far
as
we
can
ascertain,
the
majority
of
those
ratpd
flS
Christian~
are
110
more
worthy
the
name
than
are
pyo]utioni>ots
and
higher
edtics
of
Europe
and
America,
thpv
are
agnostics.
The
mune
Chnstian
is
a
respectable
one
1l00~.a-days,
and
many
good
fighters
pnd
brilliant
thmkers
}ll'pfpr
and
adopt
it
as
in
('ontrast
with
Hcatlwn.
\'\'e
even
hl'ar
that
the
"Anglo-Israelites"
have
about
con·
eluded
that
the
Japanl'se
must
be
part
of
what
they
are
plea,\pd
to
term
the
"ten
lost
tribes."
Why?
\lVe
presume
uP/'ausf'
they
are
SllceeRsful
fighters!
Alas,
that
the
professed
rli~ciples
of
the
Prince
of
Peace
should
measure
the
affairs
of
l'arth
by
such
carnal
rules!
The
Nl'w
York
Independent
(>ontrasts
the
paganism
of
.Tapnn
and
the
Christianity
of
Rns'\ia
tlnts:-
"Russia
daims
to
hc
fi~hting
the
battle
of
Ch~istendom
ngainst
a
pngan
nation,
It
i'\
not
so
easy
to
say.
wInch
is
the
Chi
istin
n
nation.
Japan
allows
liberty
of
eonSClence.
There
nl
e
membl'rs
of
Christian
churphes
who
command
her
battle
~llJps.
who
sit
in
her
(>abinl't,
who
preside
over
her
parliament.
'1'hl're
is
the
full
civilb;ation
that
has
grown
out
of
Christian
ity:
public
RPhools,
the
hest
education,
the
,institutions
of
hn;;inl'ss
and
bnevolence
which
are
the
product
of
Christianity.
This
has
been
given
to
Japan
under
the
tutelage
of
Christian
l1l~tionR,
frankly
adoph'd
from
this
and
other
countries.
There
iR
a
constitutional
gov(>rnment,
elected
rulers,
courts
and
free
dom.
"But
wllllt
(10
Wl'
Rec
in
Ru;;sia?
An
absolutely
auto
('rntie
governm(>nt,
with
no
loral
self-government.
no
congress,
no
constitution.
no
public-school
system,
no
religious
liberty,
thl'
Dukhobortsi,
the
.Tews
and
the
Lutheran
Finns
equally
for(>(>d
into
exile
and
the
Armenians
in
the
Caucasus
driven
to
frenzv
by
the
robhcrv
of
their
churches
and
schools.
\Vhich
iR
the
CllIi'stian
counti
y
?"
RUSSIA'S
INTERNAL
TROUBLES
"Geneva.
Switzerland.
March
I3.-Japan
is
not
all
that
is
worrying
the
RU'lsian
government
at
present.
As
a
matter
of
fact,
the
opinion
prt.'vails
in
revolutionary
circlE'S
here
(and
thii'l
is
headquarters
for
the
whole
revolutionary
movement
in
Europe)
that
St.
Petl'rsburg
is
in
far
greater
dread
of
the
work
of
the
revolntionary
party
at
home
than
of
the
legions
and
warships
of
the
Mikado
in
the
far
east.
"Geneva
Rwarms
with
Russian
spies,
and
the
movements
of
known
Nihilist
leaders
llre
watched
as
closely
as
possible;
but
despik
all
the
efforts
of
the
Czar's
police,
the
presses
are
busily
turning
out
revolutionary
literature
and
most
of
it
findR
its
way
across
the
frontier
and
is
distributed
through-
out
Russia.
"There
is
no
doubt
that
plans
are
being
made
for
a
series
[3342]
"God
moves
in
a
mysterious
way,
His
wonders
to
perform;
He
plants
his
footsteps
in
the
sea,
And
rides
upon
the
storm."
(95-99) earnestness. We have as Christians undertaken a great contract—a death-contract as regards the flesh; and levity 1s not to be very much expected in such a funeral, and especially not from the corpse. We may say, however, that we differ constitutionally ; and while the Lord has said, “Blessed are those who weep,” he certainly has not forbidden us to laugh. Quite probably, experience tends to bring sobriety, and sobriety is, generally speaking, the most proper condition for the representatives or ambassadors of the great King. (3) Is it sinful to dress well? Answer.—It is not sinful; but many things that are not sinful are still not expedient. We are to consider ourselves stewards of the Lord’s means, and whether or not he would approve of rich and extravagant clothing. We are to consider, secondly, whether or not such clothing would be helpful to us in our influence in favor of the truth. We are to consider whether or not such dressing would be calculated to have a very good influence or a very bad influence on ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa. those who cannot afford rich clothing. These things would seem to indicate modesty and simplicity, yet they need not signify coarseness nor carelessness nor mean appearance. (4) Is dancing improper? Answer.—Not in itself. That is to say, the mere exercise of dancing might in some respects be beneficial, especially if gentlemen danced with gentlemen and ladies with ladies. But with such limitations we fancy that dancing would lose much of its charm. We reason, therefore, that its charm is not morally helpful and that Christians would do well to avoid it, and to take their exercise in some other manner, better calculated to stir up heart purity. (5) 1s it wrong to eat meat? Answer—The eating of meat is not sinful, if the meat be honestly obtained and of good quality and healthful to the system. Our Lord ate meat during his ministry and also, on two occasions, at least, after his resurrection. This is a sufficient answer to those who claim that the eating of meat is sinful. “In him was no sin.” THE AUSTRALIAN BRANCH Brother Henninges reports that he and his wife have arrived safely at destination atter a pleasant vovage. They have secured suitable quarters and the Melbourne Branch is an ac Vou. XXV RELIGIOUS ASPECT OF THE WAR The success of Japan bids fair to make of her a “Christian nation”—for are not the successful fighting nations Christian nations? And are not the unsuccessful fighters the barbarians? As a matter of fact the heathen masses of the Japanese are tractable and obedient to their rulers, economical] and industrious and very poor. The leaders of that nation have adopted the civilization of Europe and America, but very little Christianity, except as it appeals to them as indispensable to forcign relations and the advancement of their own nation’s interests. So far as we can ascertain, the majority of those rated as Christians are no more worthy the name than are evolutionists and higher critics of Europe and Amcrica,— they are agnostics. The name Christian is a respectable one now-a-days, and many good fighters end brilliant thinkers prefer and adopt it as in contrast with Heathen. We even hear that the “Anglo-Israclites” have about coneluded that the Japanese must be part of what they are pleased to term the “ten lost tribes.” Why? We presume because they are successful fighters! Alas, that the professed disciples of the Prince of Peace should measure the affairs of earth by such carnal rules! The New York Independent contrasts the paganism of Japan and the Christianity of Russia thus:— “Russia claims to he fighting the battle of Christendom against a pagan nation. It is not so easy to say which is the Christian nation. Japan allows liberty of conscience, There are members of Christian churches who command her battleships. who sit in her cabinet, who preside over her parliament, There is the full civilization that has grown out of Christianity: public schools, the best education, the institutions of Intsiness and bnevolence which are the product of Christianity. This has been given to Japan under the tutelage of Christian nations, frankly adopted from this and other countries. There is a constitutional government, elected rulers, courts and freedom. “But what do we see in Russia? An absolutely autocratic government, with no local self-government, no congress, no constitution, no public-school system, no religious liberty, the Dukhobortsi, the Jews and the Lutheran Finns equally foreed into exile and the Armenians in the Caucasus driven to frenzy by the robbery of their churches and schools, Which is the Christian country?” RUSSIA’S INTERNAL TROUBLES “Geneva, Switzerland. March 13.—Japan is not all that is worrying the Russian government at present. As a matter of fact, the opinion prevails in revolutionary circles here (and this is headquarters for the whole revolutionary movement in Europe) that St. Petersburg is in far greater dread of the work of the revolutionary party at home than of the legions and warships of the Mikado in the far east. “Geneva swarms with Russian spies, and the movements of known Nihilist leaders are watched as closely as possible; but despite all the efforts of the Czar’s police, the presses are busily turning out revolutionary literature and most of it finds its way across the frontier and is distributed throughout Russia. “There is no doubt that plans are being made for a series ALLEGHENY, PA., APRIL 1, 1904 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER complished fact. May the Lord’s blessing be with the work and workers there as elsewhere we surely all pray. AUSTRALIAN BRANCH—32 JOHNSON ST., FITZROY, MFLBOURNE. No. 7 of demonstrations against the government at the first favorable opportunity. A decisive defeat of the Russians in Manchuria would unquestionably be regarded as the opportunity.” One of the leaders of the Russian revolutionists here said recently: “We don’t propose now to make war on the Czar. Our efforts will be directed against the creatures who use him as a cloak for their reactionary designs. I believe that if the Czar were freed from the influence of such men as Pobiedonestzeff, Plehwe and those they represent, the nobles who think more of their privileges than of the good of the country, that his majesty would ultimately be willing to go as far in the direction of liberalizing Russia as is desirable at this time. We realize that there is a vast population in Russia, the descendants of former serfs, who are not ready for a full measure of self-government, but we believe the day for the autocratic government of Russia in the name of the Czar by an oligarchy of noble grafters is nearly passed. ‘“Russia’s defeat by Japan would be the very best thing which could happen to the fatherland, and the revolutionary party will spare no means to encompass it. This is not a war for Russia. It is a war for the nobility, and the defeat of the nobility means that the people will come to their own, That there will be ‘removals’ of high officials when the time comes is altogether probable. “All reforms in a country like Russia must be accomplished by agitation, and the dagger and bomb properly applied are potent agitators. Even the most radical revolutionary, however, will not move against the Czar. His danger lies not with the Nihilists but with the oligarchs whose power is threatened. His liberal ideas and predilection for peace may cost him his life, but if he is slain it will be by the men who have dragged Russia into this predicament. “That the Nihilists will be blamed in case the Czar is assassinated is altogether probable, but you may say that those who wish to see Russia enter a new era of greatness under a constitutional government look upon the present Czar as more likely to bring this about than any man living, and would regard his death as a national calamity.” * * * It is well for those who are followers of him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life to avoid extreme views and positive assertions respecting the Russo-Japanese war. The new King, Immanuel, has taken the helm of earth’s affairs— Michael has assumed command (Dan. 12:1) and matters will no longer be allowed to “drift.” The outcome will be favorable to the preparation for and the establishment of the kingdom of the Lord under the whole heavens, however disappointing the intermediate steps may be to those with whom “the secret of the Lord” is not. Let us not forget that the Lord is preparing for “his act, his strange act,” utterly incomprehensible to those not acquainted with his “secret,” revealed through his Word only to this “little flock”: “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.” [3342]
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