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(255-259)
ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
ALLIlCHIlNY,
PA.
DEAR
BROTHER
RUSSELL:-
I
thought
I
would
write
you
a
few
lines
to
tell
you
how
I
came
to
the
knowledge
of
the
truth.
I
was
born
and
brought
up
in
the
Catholic
faith
in
Syria.
At
the
age
of
eight
I
was
brought
to
this
country
and
sent
to
a
Catholic
school
and
church.
Being
religiously
inclined
I
wandered
off
into
differ
ent
denominations
and
sects,
Episcopal,
Baptist,
Spiritualism,
Seventh
Day
Adventism,
etc.
At
last
(about
a
year
ago)
I
became
disgusted
with
every·
thing
and
didn't
go
to
any
church.
At
that
time
I
was
work
ing
in
a
bakery.
Tn
delivering
an
order
I
found,
in
a
pile
of
old
paper
and
rubbish,
the
first
three
volumes
of
DAWN.
I
read
the
DAWNS
and
became
deeply
interested.
Then
another
day,
as
I
was
taking
a
short
walk,
I
picked
up
a
circular
ad·
vertising
a
course
of
lectures
to
be
delivered
in
a
certain
hall.
I
attended,
and
to
my
surprise,
I
found
out
that
the
people
there
were
all
readers
of
MILLENNIAL
DAWN,
like
myself,
and
just
as
deeply
interested.
So
you
see,
I
have
been
led
all
the
way.
Five
thousand
miles
across
the
Mediterranean
Sea
and
Atlantic
Ocean,
tossed
about
and
seasick,
and
then
across
Babylon,
tossed
about
and
almost
drowned,
but
rescued
by
the
Lord,
through
MILLENNIAL
DAWN.
I
have
been
doing
colporteur
service
for
the
la!'lt
two
months,
and
would
like
to
continue
the
work.
I
have
sold
170
volumes
and
have
75
orders
unfilled
at
the
present
time.
I
am
now
18
years
of
age.
I
think
I
will
do
bet'ter
work
hereafter.
May
the
Lord
bless
you
and
all
the
brethren
in
Allegheny.
I
remain,
Yours
ill
the
Blessed
Hope,
ABRAHAM
OBREY,-N.
Y.
DEAR
SIRS:-
I
have
just
read
one
of
your
periodicals
called
"The
Di
vine
Plan
of
the
Ages."
I
consider
it
fine.
I
was
an
ortho·
dox
minister
for
18
years.
The
subjects
you
treat
on
were
always
stumbling
blocks
to
me,
the
fall
of
Adam
especially
j
the
billion
of
dead
in
their
graves;
why
they
should
all
be
forever
lost.
It
is
as
plain
now
to
me
as
the
nose
on
my
face.
I
want
you
to
send
me
"Wbat
say
the
Scriptures
about
Hell
!"
I
never
preached
a
sermon
on
Hf'll
in
all
the
18
years
I
did
preach.
I
would
never
make
myself
believe
that
a
good
God
would
punish
the
vast
majority
of
mortal
endlessly.
I
am
now
a
recluse.
I
lately
wrote
an
article
for
one
of
our
city
papers,
why
I
_
did
not
attend
churches.
I
told
the
people
I
could
no
longer
subscribe
to
the
creeds
formulated
in
the
16th
century.
I
told
them
some
of
the
best
men
I
ever
met,
while
I
was
a
preacher,
didn't
belong
to
any
church.
So
some
one
who
believes
in
MILLENNIAL
DAWN
sent
me
the
periodical
I
mentioned.
It
is
the
finest
thing
I
ever
read,
and
it
is
God's
truth
too.
Yours
faithfully,
,
Ohio.
VOL.
XXVI
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
SEPTEMBER
1,
1905
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.
17
A
BUSINESS
MAN'S
VIEW
labor,
is
the
pending
national
legislation
to
have
the
govern-
How
a
well-informed
business
man
views
the
present
situa-
ment
fix
railroad
rates.
tion
may
be
of
interest
as
showing
that
with
all
the
prosperity
"It
was
Macaulay
who
prophesied,
in
effect,
that
the
masses
of
business
men
in
recent
years,
and
all
their
hurry
and
greed
of
the
American
people
would,
in
the
course
of
several
genera·
for
dollars,
they
do
see
some
things
which
touch
their
own
in-
tions,
use
their
right
of
suffrage
to
confiscate
all
wealth
in
the
terests.
name
of
the
State.
This
prophec.y
certainly
places
a
low
esti·
The
following
is
an
extract
from
the
address
of
Mr.
D.
M.
mate
on
the
moral
perceptions
of
the
common
people
and
dis·
Parry,
before
the
National
Manufacturers'
Association,
at
its
plays
a
woeful
lack
of
faith
in
the
ability
of
men
in
general
to
recent
session
in
Atlanta,
Georgia.
He
sees
a
nearer
enemy
govern
themselves.
But
while
the
prophecy
is
rightly
to
be
re
than
"the
Yellow
PeriL"
He
said
in
part,
as
reported
in
the
garded
as
absurd,
yet
there
is
no
question
that
there
are
ele
public
press:
ments
in
our
population
that
are
attracted
by
the
proposition
"Before
proceeding
to
a
brief
consideration
of
the
labor
of
enriching
themselves
through
the
ballot
box.
It
is
said
that
question,
I
wish
to
make
a
few
statements
respecting
the
ten·
men
vote
in
accordance
with
their
interests,
and
some
men
dency
towards
Socialism,
which,
at
this
time,
is
being
strongly
doubtless
construe
it
to
be
for
their
interests
to
vote
for
confis·
manifested
in
many
ways.
The
Socialist
party
last
fall
cast
cation.
But
I
am
confident
that
such
men
are
in
the
small
nearly
a
half
million
votes,
a
remarkable
development
in
minority.
I
prefer
to
believe
that
the
greater
number
of
those
strength,
and
organized
labor,
composed
of
over
two
million
who
favor
Socialistic
measures
do
so
from
an
honest
conviction
employes
arrayed
in
opposition
to
individualism,
continues,
ac-
that
these
measures
would
be
beneficial
for
the
common
weal.
cording
to
reports
of
its
officials,
to
increase
its
membership.
The
tendency
towards
Socialism
is
certainly
not
to
be
attrib
The
growth
of
an
avowedly
Socialistic
party,
with
its
present
uted
to
a
declining
sense
of
public
morality.
Rather,
I
believe,
creed,
is
certainly
a
sinister
fact
to
all
loyal
citizens
who
under-
is
it
to
be
traced
to
ignoran('e
of
the
fundamental
principles
of
stand
and
appreciate
the
importance
of
individual
liberty.
But
true
liberty
and
to
demagogic
leadership
that
for
its
own
ends
while
the
existence
of
these
organizations
is
indicative
of
a
would
stop
short
of
nothing.
Thousands
of
well-disposed
men,
serious
defection
from
the
individualistic
principle
by
certain
who
would
not
think
of
injuring
the
interests
of
their
fellow
classes,
yet
I
believe
that
a
still
graver
portent
of
coming
evil
beings
by
their
votes,
have
been
led
by
these
demagogues
and
is
to
be
seen
in
the
Socialistic
trend
of
the
thought
of
the
gen-
false
teachers
into
the
belief
that
they
are
in
some
inscrutable
eral
public
as
reflected
by
the
press,
by
public
men,
and
by
recent
manner
being
robbed
by
the
rich,
and
they,
therefore,
are
not
to
legislative
enactments.
This
trend
of
thought
is
having
a
po-
be
morally
censured
for
taking
up
with
Socialistic
propositions.
tent
influence
on
the
policies
of
both
the
leading
political
parbes.
"Since
the
Socialistic
tendency
is
to
be
attributed
to
ignor.
and
while
the
question
of
individualism
and
Socialism
is
not
a
ance
rather
than
dishonesty
on
the
part
of
many
voters,
the
political
issue
in
the
sense
that
it
has
caused
a
division
of
party
.
d'
.d
r
l
'
t
If
d
t
lines,
it
is,
nevertheless,
a
leading
issue
within
the
ranks
of
both
problem
of
protectmg
in
IVI
ua
Ism
reso
ves
I
se
own
0
a
problem
of
educating
the
voting
masses.
Many
Americans
in
parties.
reply
to
MacaUlay's
prophecy,
will
declare
that
its
fulfilment
is
"While
the
enlargement
of
the
scope
and
power
of
govern-
impossible
because
the
people
of
this
country
are,
generally
ment
by
the
purchase
and
management
of
certain
enterprises
speaking,
far
more
intelligent
than
the
people
of
other
coun
has
found
considerable
support
anwng
the
people.
yet
I
believe
tries,
and
that
the
democracy
in
the
establishment
of
a
great
the
sentiment
favorable
to
Socialistic
measures
involving
the
common-school
system
has
amply
provided
for
its
own
protec
confiscation
of
profits
and
the
limitation
of
private
management
tion.
But
existing
facts
denwnstrate
that
the
common.school
of
capital
is
the
more
widespread
and
dangerous.
Without
mak-
system
is
not
a
sufficient
guarantee
of
the
perpetuation
of
lib
in~
special
reference
to
the
aim
of
the
avowed
Socialists
to
erty.
Because
the
law-abiding
elements,
busy
with
their
own
bring
about
the
Millennium
through
undisguised
confiscation,
affairs,
leave
politics
to
others,
who
perhaps
are
not
quite
so
we
have
organized
labor
and
its
sympathizers
supporting
the
busy,
the
government
in
many
of
our
communities
has
become
idea
that
organizations
of
men
may
dictate
to
a
large
extent
a
protector
of
vice
and
a
machine
for
graft,
as
well
as
being
a
the
management
of
enterprises
which
they
do
not
own.
Besides
policeman.
And
if
these
same
law-abiding
elements
and
busy
assuming
to
say
how
much
wages
the
employer
shall
pay
and
.
t
1
bl
how
he
shall
manage
his
capital
in
other
respects,
the
union
men
of
affairs
do
not
Wish
to
see
the
govern
men
a
so
ossom
also
presumes
to
deny
the
right
of
the
individual
to
the
full
con-
out
into
a
paternalistic
meddler
in
private
business
the
sooner
trol
of
his
own
labor,
determining
for
him
the
rate
of
wages
for
they
devise
methods
whereby
they
can
wield
at
least
a
part
of
which
he
shall
work,
the
number
of
hours
he
shall
employ
him-
their
proper
share
of
influence
in
public
matters
the
better.
self
and
the
maximum
amount
of
daily
output
he
shall
produce.
What
we
need
is
less
politics
in
business
and
more
business
in
As
eight·hour
and
anti·injunction
legislation
is
designed
to
as-
politics.
It
is
sheer
folly
to
leave
the
discussion
of
public
ques
sist
the
unions
in
the
accomplishment
of
these
objects
these
tions
to
the
demagogue
and
agitator
alone.
measures
fall
under
the
classification
of
Socialistic
attempts
by
"The
most
effective
and
permanent
method
of
meeting
the
confiscation.
Still
another
illustration
of
this
kind
of
Socialis-
issue
of
Socialism
is,
I
believe,
that
of
educational
propaganda.
tic
propositions,
and
one
whil'h
does
not
proceed
from
organized
In
order
to
establish
such
a
propaganda
it
requires
the
organi-
[3618]
(255-259) DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:— I thought I would write you a few lines to tell you how I came to the knowledge of the truth. I was born and brought up in the Catholic faith in Syria. At the age of eight I was brought to this country and sent to a Catholic school and church. Being religiously inclined I wandered off into different denominations and sects, Episcopal, Baptist, Spiritualism, Seventh Day Adventism, etc. At last (about a year ago) I became disgusted with everything and didn’t go to any church. At that time I was working in a bakery. In delivering an order I found, in a pile of old paper and rubbish, the first three volumes of Dawn, I read the Dawns and became deeply interested. Then another day, as I was taking a short walk, I picked up a circular advertising a course of lectures to be delivered in a certain hall. I attended, and to my surprise, I found out that the people there were all readers of MILLENNIAL Dawn, like myself, and just as deeply interested. So you see, I have been led all the way. Five thousand miles across the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, tossed about and seasick, and then across Babylon, tossed about and almost drowned, but rescued by the Lord, through MILLENNIAL AWN, I have been doing colporteur service for the last two months, and would like to continue the work. JI have sold 170 volumes ZION’S WATCH TOWER _ did not attend churches. ALLEGHENY, PA, and have 75 orders unfilled at the present time. I am now 18 years of age. I think I will do better work hereafter. May the Lord bless you and all the brethren in Allegheny. I remain, Yours in the Blessed Hope, ABRAHAM OsBREY,—VN, Y. Dear Sirs :— I have just read one of your periodicals called “The Divine Plan of the Ages.” I consider it fine. I was an orthodox minister for 18 years. The subjects you treat on were always stumbling blocks to me, the fall of Adam especially ; the billion of dead in their graves; why they should all be forever lost. It is as plain now to me as the nose on my face. I want you to send me “What say the Scriptures about Hell?” I never preached a sermon on Hell in all the 18 years I did preach. I would never make myself believe that a good God would punish the vast majority of mortal endlessly. I am now a recluse. I lately wrote an article for one of our city papers, why I I told the people I could no longer subscribe to the creeds formulated in the 16th century. I told them some of the best men I ever met, while I was a preacher, didn’t belong to any church. So some one who believes in MILLENNIAL Dawn sent me the periodical I mentioned. It ig the finest thing I ever read, and it is God’s truth too. Yours faithfully, —————, Ohio. Vou. XXVI ALLEGHENY, PA., SEPTEMBER 1, 1905 No. 17 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER A BUSINESS MAN'S VIEW How a well-informed business man views the present situation may he of interest as showing that with all the prosperity of business men in recent years, and all their hurry and greed for dollars, they do see some things which touch their own interests, The following is an extract from the address of Mr. D. M. Parry, before the National Manufacturers’ Association, at its recent session in Atlanta, Georgia. He sees a nearer enemy than “the Yellow Peril.” He said in part, as reported in the public press: “Before proceeding to a brief consideration of the labor question, I wish to make a few statements respecting the tendency towards Socialism, which, at this time, is being strongly manifested in many ways. The Socialist party last fall cast nearly a half million votes, a remarkable development in strength, and organized labor, composed of over two million employes arrayed in opposition to individualism, continues, according to reports of its officials, to increase its membership. The growth of an avowedly Socialistic party, with its present creed, is certainly a sinister fact to all loyal citizens who understand and appreciate the importance of individual liberty. But while the existence of these organizations is indicative of a serious defection from the individualistic principle by certain classes, yet I believe that a still graver portent of coming evil is to be seen in the Socialistic trend of the thought of the general public as reflected by the press, by public men, and by recent legislative enactments. This trend of thought is having a po tent influence on the policies of both the leading political parties, and while the question of individualism and Socialism is not a political issue in the sense that it has caused a division of party lines, it is, nevertheless, a leading issue within the ranks of both parties. “While the enlargement of the scope and power of government by the purchase and management of certain enterprises has found considerable support among the people, yet I believe the sentiment favorable to Socialistic measures involving the confiscation of profits and the limitation of private management of capital is the more widespread and dangerous. Without making special reference to the aim of the avowed Socialists to bring about the Millennium through undisguised confiscation, we have organized labor and its sympathizers supporting the idea that organizations of men may dictate to a large extent the management of enterprises which they do not own. Besides assuming to say how much wages the employer shall pay and how he shall manage his capital in other respects, the union also presumes to deny the right of the individual to the full control of his own labor, determining for him the rate of wages for which he shall work, the number of hours he shall employ himself and the maximum amount of daily output he shall produce. As eight-hour and anti-injunction legislation is designed to assist the unions in the accomplishment of these objects these measures fall under the classification of Socialistic attempts by confiscation, Still another illustration of this kind of Socialistic propositions, and one which does not proceed from organized labor, is the pending national legislation to have the government fix railroad rates, “It was Macaulay who prophesied, in effect, that the masses of the American people would, in the course of several generations, use their right of suffrage to confiscate all wealth in the name of the State. This prophecy certainly places a low estimate on the moral perceptions of the common people and displays a woeful lack of faith in the ability of men in general to govern themselves. But while the prophecy is rightly to be regarded as absurd, yet there is no question that there are elements in our population that are attracted by the proposition of enriching themselves through the ballot box. It is said that men vote in accordance with their interests, and some men doubtless construe it to be for their interests to vote for confiscation. But I am confident that such men are in the small minority. I prefer to believe that the greater number of those who favor Socialistic measures do so from an honest conviction that these measures would be beneficial for the common weal. The tendency towards Socialism is certainly not to be attributed to a declining sense of public morality. Rather, I believe, is it to be traced to ignorance of the fundamental] principles of true liberty and to demagogic leadership that for its own ends would stop short of nothing. Thousands of well-disposed men, who would not think of injuring the interests of their fellowbeings by their votes, have been led by these demagogues and false teachers into the belief that they are in some inscrutable manner being robbed by the rich, and they, therefore, are not to be morally censured for taking up with Socialistie propositions. “Since the Socialistic tendency is to be attributed to ignorance rather than dishonesty on the part of many voters, the problem of protecting individualism resolves itself down to a problem of educating the voting masses. Many Americans in reply to Macaulay’s prophecy, will declare that its fulfilment is impossible because the people of this country are, generally speaking, far more intelligent than the people of other countries, and that the democracy in the establishment of a great common-school system has amply provided for its own protection. But existing facts demonstrate that the common-school system is not a sufficient guarantee of the perpetuation of liberty. Because the law-abiding elements, busy with their own affairs, leave politics to others, who perhaps are not quite so busy, the government in many of our communities has become a protector of vice and a machine for graft, as well as being a policeman. And if these same law-abiding elements and busy men of affairs do not wish to see the government also blossom out into a paternalistic meddler in private business the sooner they devise methods whereby they can wield at least a part of their proper share of influence in public matters the better. What we need is less politics in business and more business in politics. It is sheer folly to leave the discussion of public questions to the demagogue and agitator alone. “The most effective and permanent method of meeting the issue of Socialism is, I believe, that of educational propaganda, In order to establish such a propaganda it requires the organi [3618]
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