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ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
ALLEGHENY,
P.l..
To
those
who
have
never
taken
this
step
we
urge
a
prompt
acceptance,
irrespective
of
the
gracious
hopes
we
have
of
a
transcendant
reward
of
glory,
honor,
immortality.
As
the
Apos
tle
declares,
it
is
our
reasonable
service.
Reasonable
people
ought
to
be
glad
of
the
knowledge
that
God
is
willing
to
accept
our
service,
and
of
the
opportunity
to
present
themselves
under
the
covering
of
the
merit
of
the
dear
Redeemer's
robe
of
righteousness.
To
those
who
have
already
accepted
the
Lord's
favor,
who
have
already
presented
their
bodies
living
sacrifices,
who
have
already
given
the
Lord
their
hearts,
we
urge
a
remembrance
of
the
fact
that
the
sacrifice
once
put
upon
the
altar
must
remain
there,
and
that
the
longer
it
remains
the
more
joyful
should
be
the
service,
the
more
appreciated
every
opportunity
for
sacrifice,
the
more
thankful
should
be
the
heart
and
the
more
rich
should
be
the
experience
in
the
peace
of
God
which
passeth
all
understanding,
ruling
in
our
hearts
and
preparing
us
more
and
more
through
the
graces
of
the
Spirit
for
the
glorious
things
which
God
hath
in
reservation
for
them
that
so
love
him
and
so
reverence
his
Son.
VOL.
XXVII
ALLEGHENY,
P
A.,
JANUARY
15,
1906
No.
2
TOWER
THE
WORLD'S
PERPLEXITY
WATCH
world'
Will
it
not
find
a
way
to
do
away
with
competi
tors
or
those
who
do
not
believe
in
its
principles
and
refuse
to
cooperate
in
its
purposes'
Surely
it
would
be
but
a
step
to
find
the
heretics,
and
likewise
find
a
way
to
punish
them.
And
whoever
ponders
the
history
of
the
fourth
century
and
studies
the
acts
and
words
of
the
great
religious
councils
of
those
early
days
must
sec
in
the
recent
congress
of
religionists
in
New
York
an
ex
act
parallel;
and
the
significance
of
a
movement
that
will
lead,
as
was
clearly
indicated
by
several
of
the
speakers,
to
a
world
religion,
must
not
be
under-estimated.
Back
there,
there
was
a
cooperation
and
a
federation
on
a
magnificent
scale.
And
the
sure
result
was
the
ushering
in
of
the
scenes
of
the
dark
ages.
It
was
a
minority
that
lighted
up
the
splendid
gardens
of
Nero
or
the
chariot
races,
their
bodies
soaked
in
:petroleum,
providing
fuel
for
the
lurid
flames:
it
was
a
minorIty
that
underwent
the
tortures
of
the
thumb-screw,
the
rack
and
the
fagot,
that
endured
the
Span.
ish
Inquisition
and
the
exquisite
punishments
of
a
praying
Torquemada
rather
than
yield
"the
faith."
It
was
the
majority,
the
cooperative
majority,
that
defined
the
civil
and
religious
duties
of
man
and
provided
punishments
to
fit
the
crime.
Shall
history
repeat
itself!
We
hope
not.
But
let
this
fede·
ration
or
combination
of
all
churches
pursue
its
course
to
the
last
analysis,
and
we
tremble
for
the
results.
Let
ministers
of
the
gospel
strive
for
forgiveness
of
sin
and
regeneration,
and
legislators
attend
strictly
to
the
business
of
providing
punishment
for
crime.
And
let
a
wide
distinction
ever
be
made
between
sin
and
crime.
There
will
then
be
little
likeli
hood
of
religious
persecutions.
In
the
name
of
liberty
to
worship
God
"according
to
the
dictates
of
one's
own
conscience,"
I
want
to
enter
a
pub
lic
protest
against
a
federation
or
organization
of
churches
that
seeks
to
use
the
civil
power
to
attain
an
end
that
al
lows
only
of
spiritual
methods,
and
to
recommend
to
all
the
study
of
the
life
and
trials
of
Roger
Williams,
the
hanging
of
the
Quakers,
the
whipping
of
the
Anabaptists,
the
story
of
Daniel
in
the
lion's
den
and
the
Hebrew
worthies
in
the
fiery
furnace.
All
this
was
accomplished
by
a
religious
federation,
which
is
only
another
name
for
a
church
trust.
Instead
of
a
demand
for
a
world
religion
that
compels,
let
there
be
a
plea
for
a
genuine
religion
that
implores.
JOHN
S.
WIGHTMAN.
THE
VIEWS
FROM
THREE
CHURCHES
UNITE
IN
CANADA
Items
such
as
the
above
quoted
in
these
columns
are
not
thereby
endorsed.
We
print
them
as
news-as
showing
the
fulfilment
of
prophecy.
We
could
more
nearly
endorse
the
fol
lowing
article
from
the
"New
York
Tribune":
THE
INTER-CHURCH
CONFERENCE
Cooperation
on
a
far-reaching
scale
seems
to
have
been
the
main
object
of
the
recent
Inter-Church
Conference
on
Federa
tion
of
American
Churches,
held
in
New
York
City,
and
the
eminent
men
and
delegates
of
the
conference,
with
hardly
a
On
the
opposite
page
we
copy
from
"Doctor"
Dowie's
single
exception,
predicted,
as
the
result
of
Christian
unity
publication
a
cartoon
which
fairly
well
represents
the
present
and
denominational
fellowship
the
ushering
in
upon
the
world
situation
of
"Christendom."
But
should
not
Doctor
Dowie
of
a
reign
of
universal
peace
and
righteousness,
in
fact,
the
also
be
represented
in
the
crowd,
shouting,
"I
am
for
myself,
setting
up
of
the
kingdom
of
God.
as
'First
Apostle,'
'Elijah,'
and
the
'Messenger
of
the
Cove-
The
writer
notes
that
this
most
excellent
state
of
affairs
nant''''
It
would
seem
sol
is
to
be
brought
about
by
potent
forces
and
activities
intro-
Possibly
some
unfriendly
critic
may
say,
'
,
Yes;
and
you
duced
in
the
realm
of
civil
law,
and
using
"the
gateway
of
are
another
who
is
adding
to
the
Babel
of
confusion,
forming
politics."
No
doubt
those
who
are
so
enthusiastic
for
a
vital
a
new
division,
'the
sect
everywhere
spoken
against,'
the
unity
agreeable
to
all
sects,
for
a
confederated
power
that
no-name
sect."
shall
reach
to
and
be
felt
"in
all
Christendom,"
are
well
Not
so,
we
reply.
It
is
not
we
but
the
truth
which
causes
meaning;
still,
it
must
seem
to
some
like
only
an
iridescent
the
division,
even
as
our
Master
foretold
and
exemplified:
"I
dream;
an
attempt
to
reorganize
society
and
introduce
a
"new
am
not
come
to
send
peace,
but
a
sword."
As
present
truth
order
of
things"
by
and
through
the
aid
of
the
civic
power,
did
a
separating
work
between
the
wheat
and
the
chaff
in
the
instead
of
the
apostolic
process
of
the
"new
birth"
and
the
Jewish"
harvest,"
so
now
present
truth
will
be
uled
of
the
operation
of
those
powers
which
belong
exclusively
to
the
Lord
to
separate
the
"wheat"
from
the"
tares"
in
the
pres-
s
p
i
r
i
t
u
a
l
.
'
ent
"harvest"
of
this
age.
One
is
led
to
inquire
whether
the
proposed
federation
of
It
is
true
that
our
quiet,
effective
presentation
of
God's
all
the
churches
into
a
substantial
organization
that
shall
Word
and
plan
does
cause
commotion
and
a
great
din,
as
all
make
itself
felt
in
the
religious,
the
social
and
the
business
sects
and
parties
at
once
shout
against
the
faithful
presenta
worlds
is
not,
after
all,
a
church
"trust."
And
if
a
church
tions
of
God's
Word
of
"good
tidings
of
great
joy
unto
all
,
'trust"
will
not
its
methods
be
something
after
the
order
of
people,
"
as
presented
in
MILLENNIAL
DAWN.
But
that
is
the
methods
of
the
great
trusts
and
combines
of
the
financial
Babylon's
noise,
not
ours:
It
is
their
effort
to
obscure
the
[3704]
PRESBYTERIANS,
CONGREGATIONALISTS
AND
METHODISTS
AGREE
Toronto,
Ont.-The
central
committee,
composed
of
repre
sentatives
from
the
Presbyterian,
Methodist
and
Congrega
tional
churches
throughout
the
Dominion,
have
agreed
upon
a
code
of
doctrines
that
will
unify
the
three
denominations
into
one
great
church,
which,
it
is
proposed,
should
be
known
as
the
"United
Church
of
Canada."
The
revised
confession
of
faith
of
the
American
Presbyterian
church
will
be
used.
The
new
Church
is
to
be
governed
by
the
"General
Conference,"
after
the
Methodist
form,
with
a
president
as
the
chief
officer.
Below
is
to
be
a
council,
after
the
Congregational
idea,
with
a
chairman
at
the
head.
The
next
body
is
to
be
a
"Presbytery,"
governed
be
a
moderator.
The
plan
will
be
submitted
to
the
several
denominations
throughout
Canada
for
approval,
which
it
is
expected
to
receive.
FOR
GREAT
CHURCH
UNION
Concord,
N.
H.-A
number
of
the
Episcopal
clergymen
of
the
diocese
of
New
Hampshire
have
made
preliminary
arrange
ments
for
the
formation
of
an
association
which
will
have
for
its
ultimate
object
the
union
of
the
Anglican
Church
with
the
Orthodox
Church
of
Russia
and
other
ancient
churches
of
the
East.
The
organization
is
the
outgrowth
of
the
thanks
giving
service
at
Christ
Church,
Portsmouth,
which
followed
the
signing
of
the
treaty
of
peace
between
Russia
and
Japan,
and
at
which
priests
of
the
Episcopal
and
Russian
churches
officiated.
The
new
organization
will
follow
the
lines
of
the
,
'Eastern
Ohurch
Association"
of
the
Church
of
England
and
will
have
branches
in
all
dioceses
of
the
Episcopal
Church
in
this
country,
if
the
plans
of
the
promoters
are
successful.
It
is
said
that
within
a
half
a
dozen
years
the
relations
be·
tween
the
Russian
and
Episcopal
churches
have
been
growing
closer,
but
until
the
thanksgiving
evensong
held
at
Portsmouth,
there
had
been
no
general
participation
in
one
service
by
both
Russian
and
Episcopal
priests.
*
*
*
(19-20) To those who have never taken this step we urge a prompt acceptance, irrespective of the gracious hopes we have of a transcendant reward of glory, honor, immortality. As the Apostle declares, it is our reasonable service. Reasonable people ought to be glad of the knowledge that God is willing to accept our service, and of the opportunity to present themselves under the covering of the merit of the dear Redeemer’s robe of righteousness. To those who have already accepted the Lord’s favor, who have already presented their bodies living sacrifices, who have Vou. XXVII ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 15, 1906 ALLEGHENY, Pa. already given the Lord their hearts, we urge a remembrance of the fact that the sacrifice once put upon the altar must remain there, and that the longer it remains the more joyful should be the service, the more appreciated every opportunity for sacrifice, the more thankful should be the heart and the more rich should be the experience in the peace of God which passeth all understanding, ruling in our hearts and preparing us more and more through the graces of the Spirit for the glorious things which God hath in reservation for them that so love him and so reverence his Son. No. 2 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER THREE CHURCHES UNITE IN CANADA PRESBYTERIANS, CONGREGATIONALISTS AND METHODISTS Toronto, Ont.—The central committee, composed of representatives from the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches throughout the Dominion, have agreed upon a code of doctrines that will unify the three denominations into one great church, which, it is proposed, should be known as the ‘‘United Church of Canada.’’?’ The revised confession of faith of the American Presbyterian church will be used. The new Church is to be governed by the ‘‘General Conference,’’ after the Methodist form, with a president as the chief officer. Below is to be a council, after the Congregational idea, with a chairman at the head. The next body is to be a ‘‘ Presbytery,’’ governed be a moderator. The plan will be submitted to the several denominations throughout Canada for approval, which it is expected to receive. FOR GREAT CHURCH UNION Concord, N. H.—A number of the Episcopal clergymen of the diocese of New Hampshire have made preliminary arrangements for the formation of an association which will have for its ultimate object the union of the Anglican Church with the Orthodox Church of Russia and other ancient churches of the East. The organization is the outgrowth of the thanksgiving service at Christ Church, Portsmouth, which followed the signing of the treaty of peace between Russia and Japan, and at which priests of the Episcopal and Russian churches officiated. The new organization will follow the lines of the ‘Eastern Church Association’’ of the Church of England and will have branches in all dioceses of the Episcopal Church in this country, if the plans of the promoters are successful. It is said that within a half a dozen years the relations between the Russian and Episcopal churches have been growing closer, but until the thanksgiving evensong held at Portsmouth, there had been no general participation in one service by both Russian and Episcopal priests. ae Items such as the above quoted in these columns are not thereby endorsed. We print them as news—as showing the fulfilment of prophecy. We could more nearly endorse the following article from the ‘‘New York Tribune’’: THE INTER-CHURCH CONFERENCE Coéperation on a far-reaching scale seems to have been the main object of the recent Inter-Church Conference on Federation of American Churches, held in New York City, and the eminent men and delegates of the conference, with hardly a single exception, predicted, as the result of Christian unity and denominational fellowship the ushering in upon the world of a reign of universal peace and righteousness, in fact, the setting up of the kingdom of God. The writer notes that this most excellent state of affairs is to be brought about by potent forces and activities introduced in the realm of civil law, and using ‘‘the gateway of polities.’? No doubt those who are so enthusiastic for a vital unity agreeable to all sects, for a confederated power that shall reach to and be felt ‘‘in all Christendom,’’ are well meaning; still, it must seem to some like only an iridescent dream; an attempt to reorganize society and introduce a ‘‘new order of things’’ by and through the aid of the civic power, instead of the apostolic process of the ‘‘new birth’’ and the operation of those powers which belong exclusively to the spiritual. , One is led to inquire whether the proposed federation of all the churches into a substantial organization that shall make itself felt in the religious, the social and the business worlds is not, after all, a church ‘‘trust.’’ And if a church ‘‘trust’’ will not its methods be something after the order of the methods of the great trusts and combines of the financial world? Will it not find a way to do away with competitors or those who do not believe in its principles and refuse to codperate in its purposes? Surely it would be but a step to find the heretics, and likewise find a way to punish them. And whoever punders the history of the fourth century and studies the acts and words of the great religious councils of those early days must see in the recent congress of religionists in New York an exact parallel; and the significance of a movement that will lead, as was clearly indicated by several of the speakers, to a world religion, must not be under-estimated. Back there, there was a codperation and a federation on a magnificent scale. And the sure result was the ushering in of the scenes of the dark ages. It was a minority that lighted up the splendid gardens of Nero or the chariot races, their bodies soaked in petroleum, providing fuel for the lurid flames: it was a minority that underwent the tortures of the thumb-screw, the rack and the fagot, that endured the Spanish Inquisition and the exquisite punishments of a praying Torquemada rather than yield ‘‘the faith.’’ It was the majority, the codperative majority, that defined the civil and religious duties of man and provided punishments to fit the crime. Shall history repeat itself? We hope not. But let this fede. ration or combination of all churches pursue its course to the last analysis, and we tremble for the results. Let ministers of the gospel strive for forgiveness of sin and regeneration, and legislators attend strictly to the business of providing punishment for crime. And let a wide distinction ever be made between sin and crime. There will then be little likelihood of religious persecutions. In the name of liberty to worship God ‘‘according to the dictates of one’s own conscience,’’ I want to enter a publie protest against a federation or organization of churches that seeks to use the civil power to attain an end that allows only of spiritual methods, and to recommend to all the study of the life and trials of Roger Williams, the hanging of the Quakers, the whipping of the Anabaptists, the story of Daniel in the lion’s den and the Hebrew worthies in the fiery furnace. All this was accomplished by a religious federation, which is only another name for a church trust. Instead of a demand for a world religion that compels, let there be a plea for a genuine religion that implores. JOHN 8, WIGHTMAN. THE WORLD'S PERPLEXITY On the opposite page we copy from ‘‘Doctor’’ Dowie’s publication a cartoon which fairly well represents the present situation of ‘‘Christendom.’’ But should not Doctor Dowie also be represented in the crowd, shouting, ‘‘I am for myself, as ‘First Apostle,’ ‘Elijah,’ and the ‘Messenger of the Covenant’’’? It would seem so! Possibly some unfriendly critic may say, ‘‘Yes; and you are another who is adding to the Babel of confusion, forming a new division, ‘the sect everywhere spoken against,’ the no-name sect.’? Not so, we reply. It is not we but the truth which causes the division, even as our Master foretold and exemplified: ‘‘I am not come to send peace, but a sword.’’ As present truth did a separating work between the wheat and the chaff in the Jewish ‘‘harvest,’’ so now present truth will be used of the Lord to separate the ‘‘wheat’’ from the ‘‘tares’’ in the present ‘‘harvest’’ of this age. It is true that our quiet, effective presentation of God’s Word and plan does cause commotion and a great din, as all sects and parties at once shout against the faithful presentations of God’s Word of ‘‘good tidings of great joy unto all people,’’? as presented in MILLENNIAL DAWN. But that is Babylon’s noise, not ours: It is their effort to obscure the [3704]
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