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VOL.
XXVI
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
AUGUST
15,
1905
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.
16
THE
CHURCH
AND
THE
SCHOOL
"the
greatest
home
missionary
field
in
the
United
States
is
New
The
endeavor
to
bring
the
public
school
system
of
England
York
City,
and
the
sooner
the
churches
realize
it,
the
better
it
under
the
supervision
of
the
church
of
England
is
causing
con·
will
be
for
our
city
and
our
land."
The
Sun,
reviewing
the
siderable
friction,
and
amounts
to
a
modern
persecution
for
report,
says:
conscience'
sake
that
reminds
of
the
persecutions
of
the
long
"At
present
the
aggregate
of
the
distinctively
Christian
ago.
Good
people,
whose
consciences
are
perhaps
not
backed
population
of
the
town
is
only
two-fifths
of
the
whole.
This
by
proper
knowledge
of
the
Lord's
teachings
on
the
subject,
and
includes
the
whole
of
the
Roman
Catholic
population
and
the
who
therefore
lack
some
measure
of
"the
wisdom
that
cometh
total
number
of
Protestant
communicants.
Besides
these
the
from
above,"
are
refusing
to
pay
school
taxes
because
such
Federation
estimates
a
total
of
about
half
a
million
Protestants
taxes
would
support
schools
which
they
disapprove.
They
who
attend
church
more
or
less
regularly,
and
more
than
a
thereby
bring
upon
them
the
regular
penalties:
their
goods
are
million
Protestants
who
are
'churchless,'
or
outside
of
any
re
sold
to
meet
the
debt
and
some,
in
default
of
the
money,
have
ligious
faith.
been
imprisoned.
"New
York,
therefore,
cannot
now
be
called
a
Christian
city.
In
Canada
the
same
question
is
up
in
an<)ther
form-the
,Tews
and
infidels
and
the
religiom;ly
indifferent
or
unattached
division
of
moneys
raised
by
school
taxes
amongst
sectarian
constitute
a
majority
of
the
inhllbitants.
The
Protestant
per·
schools.
Many
Canadians
see
in
this
an
attack
on
the
public
centage
is
becoming
less,
the
vast
preponderance
of
the
addi
school
system
that
would
favor
Romanism.
They
see
correctly;
tions
to
the
population
being
of
Roman
Catholics
and
Jews.
but
those
who
see
that
"the
time
is
short,"
after
voicing
a
The
total
of
Protestant
communicants
and
church
attendants,
reasonable
protest
may
safely
and
quietly
leave
all
in
the
hands
as
estimated
by
the
Federation,
is
only
about
as
great
as
that
of
the
Lord.
of
the
Jews
alone,
and
by
1910
it
is
likely
to
be
much
less.
By
The
"Churchman"
(Episcopalian)
makes
some
sensible
com·
that
time
there
will
be
more
Jews
here
than
natives
of
native
ments
on
the
subject.
We
quote:
parentage.
The
Jewish
population
has
increased
from
only
"Does
not
the
endeavor
to
ally
the
church
and
Christianity
about
3
per
cent
of
the
whole
in
1880
to
nearly
20
per
cent
with
the
public
school
place
the
church
in
just
as
false
a
pOSI'
in
1905."
tion
as
would
the
endeavor
to
ally
it
with
the
state?
The
NOMINAL
CHRISTIANS
DESCRIBED
church
represents
Christ
infinitely
more
than
through
a
mere
We
hear
boasts
of
the
progress
of
Christianity
in
connection
code
of
laws
or
a
system
of
education.
She
is
in
the
world
with
the
project
of
converting
the
world.
We
see
the
estimate
to
convert,
to
inspire,
and
to
furnish
the
enabling
power
for
of
four
hundred
millions
of
Christians.
It
is
well
that
we
the
life
of
men
and
of
society
in
its
entirety.
examine
the
following
picture
of
some
of
this
number-the
"Definite
religious
teaching
should
be
left
where
it
belongs,
great
mass
of
them.
We
quote
from
the
.New
York
Herald
a
to
the
church
and
to
the
horne.
State
officials
could
not
teach
description
of
the
emigrants
now
coming
to
our
shores.
Alasl
even
the
Ten
Commandments
in
other
than
a
perfunctory
way
the
name
Ohristian
has
corne
to
be
a
byword
by
reason
of
the
without
arousing
controversy.
It
is
because
the
church
and
attempt
to
count
large
numbers,
and
to
stimulate
the
hope
Christian
parents
have
failed
to
give
the
religious
instruction,
that
some
day
the
heathen
world
will
be
converted
to
as
good
that
they
ought
to
have
given,
that
the
demand
is
made
for
conditions
as
is
Christendom
now.
Alas!
Christendom
is
such
instruction
in
the
public
schools.
With
anxiety,
it
seems
"Babylon"
in
God's
esteem
(Rev.
18:4)
and
really
worse
than
sometimes
almost
with
desperation,
they
ask
that
the
state
heathendom-more
excusable
because
of
its
grosser
darkness,
shall
do
what
the
church
has
failed
to
do.
The
state
cannot
denser
blindness.
If
the
400,000,000
of
Christendom
commit
do
what
they
ask,
but
the
church
can.
With
renewed
zeal
and
more
and
greater
crimes
and
are
every
way
more
profane
than
the
best
educational
methods
she
must
supply
the
religious
the
1,100,000,000
heathen,
which
most
needs
converting?
instruction
that
the
state
and
its
schools
cannot
give."
The
Herald
says:
OHURCH
UNION
IN
THE
MAY
OONVENTIONS
"They
are
barbarians
most
of
them.
Subtracting
a
certain
A
marked
tendency
toward
church
union
characterized
the
small
percentage
of
fairly
intelligent-a
percentage
drawn
for
May
meetings
of
the
various
denominations
this
year.
Among
the
most
part
from
the
better
class
of
Scandinavians,
Scotch
the
definite
steps
taken
were
the
organizing
by
the
Northern
and
Germans-the
great
residuum
are
to
all
appearances
so
and
Southern
Baptists
of
a
permanent
body
to
be
known
as
the
densely
ignorant,
so
utterly
alien
to
all
our
preconceived
no,
General
Convention
of
the
Baptists
of
North
America;
the
tions
of
what
constitutes
civilization,
that
it
is
only
with
great
agreement
of
the
United
Brethren,
at
their
quadrennial
con·
difficulty
that
we
force
ourselves
to
remember
that
most
of
ference
in
Kansas
City,
to
accept
the
plan
of
federation
with
them
have
been
born
and
bred
in
the
'Very
8trongholds
of
OhriB
the
Congregationalists
and
the
Methodist
Protestants,
l<;,oking
tendom."
to
a
complete
consolidation
in
the
future;
and
the
action
of
REV.
A.
BEET,
D.
D.
the
General
Assembly
of
the
Presbyterian
church
to~ard
com·
pleting
organic
union
with
the
Cumberland
Presbyterians.
The
Some
time
ago
we
called
attention
to
Professor
Beet's
aecep·
vote
approving
the
latter
merger
was
taken
on
May
22.
Says
tance
of
the
Bible
teaching
of
man's
mortality:
that
eternal
life
a
correspondent
of
the
New
York
Herald
in
reference
to
this
is
God's
gift
through
Christ
to
those
only
who
become
his
fol-
vote:
lowers.
"It
was
the
final
action
of
the
General
Assembly
on
one
The
following,
clipped
from
the
London
Daily
New8,
explains
of
the
greatest
questions
which
have
come
before
it
since
the
the
present
situation.
Professor
Beet's
fidelity
to
the
truth
Civil
War,
and
brings
back
into
that
organization
a
branch
he
has
already
seen
has
led
him
to
renounce
his
honorable
posi
which
went
out
during
the
war
because
or
differences
over
negro
tion
and
good
salary
for
conscience'
sake.
May
he
be
abundantly
slavery.
blessed
and
led
into
the
still
deeper
truths
now
due
to
the
"If
the
opposition
to
the
union
has
made
any
fight
it
has
household
of
faith.
We
quote
as
follows:
been
chiefly
at
the
secret
meetings
of
the
special
canvassing
When
a
man
loves
truth
better
than
dignities
and
emolu
committee
appointed
last
Saturday,
but
there
were
today
no
ments,
he
is
a
man
to
be
noted.
Such
a
man
is
Dr.
Agar
Beet,
signs
of
such
a
contest.
The
special
committee
in
its
report
Theological
Professor
at
Richmond
Wesleyan
College,
England.
canvassed
the
votes
taken
by
presbyteries
on
the
question
of
For
eight
years
he
has
been
under
a
cloud
and
an
object
of
sus
union.
It
showed
144
yeas
to
39
noes.
Two
took
no
action,
picion
in
certain
Methodist
circles
on
account
of
his
Eschato-
one
goave
conditional
assent
and
five
made
no
report."
logical
views.
Under
pressure
he
withdrew
his
book,.
"Last
The
same
correspondent
gives
the
following
further
details:
Things,"
from
circulation,
and
gave
reluctantly
a
promise
not
"The
special
committee
in
its
recommendations
asked
that
to
issue
another
edition,
"in
order
to
avoid
danger
to
the
peace
the
proposition
be
referred
to
the
Committee
on
COOperation
of
the
church,"
and
generally
to
keep
silent
on
the
dark
ques·
and
Union;
that
the
committee
be
increased
in
membership
to
tion
of
the
doom
of
the
lost
until
the
Wesleyan
Conference
gave
twenty-one;
that
it
have
power
to
confer
with
a
committee
permission
for
the
book
to
be
published.
from
the
Cumberland
church;
that
it
find
what
details
must
be
To
an
earnest
seeker
after
truth
the
position
became
in
worked
out
to
consummate
the
union,
and
that
a
report
be
tolerable
and
impossible.
It
was
not
a
matter
of
surprise
that
made
to
the
General
Assembly
next
year.
after
the
last
Conference
had
refused
to
unseal
his
lips
he
"This
committee
is
to
consider
the
corporate
and
legal
promptly
announced
his
intention
to
vacate
his
chair
this
year
rights
of
both
general
assemblies.
The
purpose
is
to
keep
and
claim
freedom
of
thought
and
action.
It
was
the
only
the
consolidation
within
legal
limits,
that
all
civil
suits
and
course
possible.
Better
cease
to
be
a
Professor
than
be
placed
injunctions
may
be
avoided."
under
an
embargo
of
silence.
THE
RELIGIONS
OF
NEW
YORK
Rev.
Dr.
Beet
said
to
a
reporter:
A
journal
styled
Federation
has
gathered
statistics
of
re-
"What
has
brought
about
this
crisis
is
that
I
can
no
longer
ligious
conditions
in
New
York
City.
Its
conclusions
is
tha.t
withhold
from
the
world
a
book
that
has
already
brought
light
(243-244)
[3610]
Vou. XXVI ALLEGHENY, PA., AUGUST 15, 1905 No. 16 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER THE CHURCH AND THE SCHOOL The endeavor to bring the public school system of England under the supervision of the church of England is causing considerable friction, and amounts to a modern persecution for conscience’ sake that reminds of the persecutions of the long ago. Good people, whose consciences are perhaps not backed by proper knowledge of the Lord’s teachings on the subject, and who therefore lack some measure of “the wisdom that cometh from above,” are refusing to pay school taxes because such taxes would support schools which they disapprove. They thereby bring upon them the regular penalties: their goods are sold to meet the debt and some, in default of the money, have been imprisoned. In Canada the same question is up in angther form—the division of moneys raised by school taxes amongst sectarian schools. Many Canadians see in this an attack on the public school system that would favor Romanism. They see correctly ; but those who see that “the time is short,” after voicing a reasonable Protest may safely and quietly leave all in the hands of the Lord. The “Churchman” (Episcopalian) makes some sensible comments on the subject. We quote: “Does not the endeavor to ally the church and Christianity with the public school place the church in just as false a position as would the endeavor to ally it with the state? The church represents Christ infinitely more than through a mere code of laws or a system of education. She is in the world to convert, to inspire, and to furnish the enabling power for the life of men and of society in its entirety. “Definite religious teaching should be left where it belongs, to the church and to the home. State officials could not teach even the Ten Commandments in other than a perfunctory way without arousing controversy. It is because the church and Christian parents have failed to give the religious instruction, that they ought to have given, that the demand is made for such instruction in the public schools. With anxiety, it seems sometimes almost with desperation, they ask that the state shall do what the church has failed to do. The state cannot do what they ask, but the church can. With renewed zeal and the best educational methods she must supply the religious instruction that the state and its schools cannot give.” CHURCH UNION IN THE MAY CONVENTIONS A marked tendency toward church union characterized the May meetings of the various denominations this year. Among the definite steps taken were the organizing by the Northern and Southern Baptists of a permanent body to be known as the General Convention of the Baptists of North America; the agreement of the United Brethren, at their quadrennial conference in Kansag City, to accept the plan of federation with the Congregationalists and the Methodist Protestants, looking to a complete consolidation in the future; and the action of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church toward completing organic union with the Cumberland Presbyterians. The vote approving the latter merger was taken on May 22. Says a correspondent of the New York Herald in reference to this vote: “It was the final action of the General Assembly on one of the greatest questions which have come before it since the Civil War, and brings back into that organization a branch which went out during the war because or differences over negro slavery. “If the opposition to the union has made any fight it has been chiefly at the secret meetings of the special canvassing committee appointed last Saturday, but there were today no signs of such a contest. The special committee in its report canvassed the votes taken by presbyteries on the question of union. It showed 144 yeas to 39 noes. Two took no action, one gave conditional assent and five made no report.” The same correspondent gives the following further details: “The special committee in its recommendations asked that the proposition be referred to the Committee on Codperation and Union; that the committee be increased in membership to twenty-one; that it have power to confer with a committee from the Cumberland church; that it find what details must be worked out to consummate the union, and that a report be made to the General Assembly next year. “This committee is to consider the corporate and legal rights of both general assemblies. The purpose is to keep the consolidation within legal limits, that all civil suits and injunctions may be avoided.” THE RELIGIONS OF NEW YORK A journal styled Federation has gathered statistics of re ligious conditions in New York City. Its conclusions is that (243-244) “the greatest home missionary field in the United States is New York City, and the sooner the churches realize it, the better it will be for our city and our land.” The Sun, reviewing the report, says: “At present the aggregate of the distinctively Christian population of the town is only two-fifths of the whole. This includes the whole of the Roman Catholic population and the total number of Protestant communicants. Besides these the Federation estimates a total of about half a million Protestants who attend church more or less regularly, and more than a million Protestants who are ‘churchless,’ or outside of any religious faith. “New York, therefore, cannot now be called a Christian city. Jews and infidels and the religiously indifferent or unattached constitute a majority of the inhabitants. The Protestant percentage is becoming less, the vast preponderance of the additions to the population being of Roman Catholics and Jews. The total of Protestant communicants and church attendants, as estimated by the Federation, is only about as great as that of the Jews alone, and by 1910 it is likely to be much less. By that time there will be more Jews here than natives of native parentage. The Jewish population has increased from only about 3 per cent of the whole in 1880 to nearly 20 per cent in 1905.” NOMINAL CHRISTIANS DESCRIBED We hear boasts of the progress of Christianity in connection with the project of converting the world. We see the estimate of four hundred millions of Christians. It is well that we examine the following picture of some of this number—the great mass of them. We quote from the.New York Herald a description of the emigrants now coming to our shores, Alas! the name Christian has come to be a byword by reason of the attempt to count large numbers, and to stimulate the hope that some day the heathen world will be converted to as good conditions as is Christendom now. Alas! Christendom is “Babylon” in God’s esteem (Rev. 18:4) and really worse than heathendom— more excusable because of its grosser darkness, denser blindness. If the 400,000,000 of Christendom commit more and greater crimes and are every way more profane than the 1,100,000,000 heathen, which most needs converting? The Herald says: “They are barbarians most of them. Subtracting a certain small percentage of fairly intelligent—a percentage drawn for the most part from the better class of Scandinavians, Scotch and Germans—the great residuum are to all appearances so densely ignorant, so utterly alien to all our preconceived notions of what constitutes civilization, that it is only with great difficulty that we force ourselves to remember that most of them have been born and bred in the very strongholds of Christendom.” REV, A. BEET, D. D. Some time ago we called attention to Professor Beet’s acceptance of the Bible teaching of man’s mortality: that eternal life is God’s gift through Christ to those only who become his folowers, The following, clipped from the London Daily News, explains the present situation. Professor Beet’s fidelity to the truth he has already seen has led him to renounce his honorable position and good salary for conscience’ sake. May he be abundantly blessed and Jed into the still deeper truths now due to the household of faith. We quote as follows: When a man loves truth better than dignities and emoluments, he is a man to be noted. Such a man is Dr. Agar Beet, Theological Professor at Richmond Wesleyan College, England. For eight years he has been under a cloud and an object of sus icion in certain Methodist circles on account of his EschatoTogical views. Under pressure he withdrew his book, “Last Things,” from circulation, and gave reluctantly a promise not to issue another edition, “in order to avoid danger to the peace of the church,” and generally to keep silent on the dark question of the doom of the lost until the Wesleyan Conference gave permission for the book to be published. To an earnest seeker after truth the position became intolerable and impossible. It was not a matter of surprise that after the last Conference had refused to unseal his lips he promptly announced his intention to vacate his chair this year and claim freedom of thought and action. It was the only course possible. Better cease to be a Professor than be placed under an embargo of silence. Rev. Dr. Beet said to a reporter: “What has brought about this crisis is that I can no longer withhold from the world a book that has already brought light [3610]
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