Publication date
12/15/07
Volume
28
Number
24
The WatchTower
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society's Annual Report
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1907/24/1907-24-1.html
 
 
VOL. 
XXVIII 
ALLEGHENY, 
P 
A., 
DECEMBER 
15, 
1907 
No. 
24 
WATCH 
TOWER, 
BIBLE 
AND 
TRACT 
SOCIETY'S 
REPORT 
FOR 
THE 
YEAB 
ENDING 
NOVEMBER 
30, 
1907 
Another 
year 
has 
coursed 
swiftly 
by. 
We 
congratulate 
you 
that 
one 
year 
less 
lies 
between 
us 
and 
the 
glorious 
con­ 
summation 
of 
our 
hopes-the 
completion 
of 
our 
"change' 
,­ 
that 
one 
year 
less 
intervenes 
before 
the 
establishment 
of 
God's 
glorious 
Empire, 
which 
is 
to 
bring 
blessing 
to 
all 
the 
families 
of 
the 
earth 
through 
the 
setting 
at 
liberty 
of 
the 
captives 
of 
sin 
and 
death. 
From 
this 
standpoint 
we 
rejoice 
to 
see 
the 
years 
fly 
swiftly 
by, 
and, 
as 
our 
Lord 
directed, 
we 
lift 
up 
our 
heads 
and 
rejoice, 
knowing 
that 
our 
deliverance 
draweth 
nigh. 
(Luke 
21 
:28) 
But 
while 
we 
would 
not 
restrain 
the 
speeding 
days 
and 
years, 
nor 
wish 
for 
a 
renewal 
of 
their 
trials 
and 
difficulties, 
joys 
and 
sorrows, 
nevertheless 
we 
be­ 
lieve 
that 
the 
expiring 
year, 
like 
many 
of 
its 
predecessors, 
has 
been 
a 
joyful, 
a 
pleasant 
one 
to 
the 
majority 
of 
the 
Lord's 
faithful 
followers. 
To 
the 
world 
it 
might 
appear 
that 
the 
trials, 
the 
testings, 
the 
scoffs, 
the 
slanders 
to 
which 
faith­ 
fulness 
to 
the 
Lord 
is 
sure 
to 
expose, 
would 
rob 
life 
of 
all 
its 
pleasures. 
But 
not 
so: 
"When 
he 
giveth 
quietness, 
who 
then 
can 
make 
trouble'" 
(Job 
34:29) 
All 
the 
Lord's 
people 
are 
surely 
being 
taught 
the 
lesson 
enunciated 
by 
the 
Apostle-that 
we 
must 
learn 
to 
rejoice 
in 
tribulation, 
and 
to 
be 
patient 
because 
of 
our 
hope, 
which, 
as 
an 
anchor 
sure 
and 
steadfast, 
has 
entered 
within 
the 
vail. 
Quite 
to 
the 
con­ 
trary 
of 
what 
the 
world 
would 
suppose, 
our 
own 
experiences, 
and 
the 
testimony 
of 
many 
of 
the 
household 
of 
faith, 
assure 
us 
that 
no 
other 
people 
in 
all 
the 
world 
are 
so 
happy, 
so 
contented, 
so 
joyful 
in 
the 
house 
of 
their 
pilgrimage 
as 
are 
we. 
The 
poet 
has 
well 
said: 
"Think 
what 
spirit 
dwells 
within 
thee, 
Think 
what 
Father's 
smiles 
are 
thine, 
Think 
how 
Jesus 
died 
to 
save 
thee­ 
Child 
of 
heaven, 
canst 
thou 
repine'" 
If, 
momentarily, 
earth-born 
clouds 
and 
shadows 
do 
to 
SOme 
degree 
becloud 
Our 
pathway, 
it 
is 
but 
for 
a 
brief 
season 
until 
we 
hear 
the 
voice 
of 
Our 
Father 
and 
of 
our 
Savior 
assuring 
us 
of 
"Love 
divine, 
all 
love 
excelling." 
Before 
our 
mental 
vision 
comes 
the 
bright 
picture 
of 
the 
first 
manifestation 
of 
divine 
love 
on 
our 
behalf-in 
the 
redemption 
accomplished 
by 
our 
dear 
Redeemer; 
then 
the 
call 
of 
the 
little 
flock, 
and 
the 
fact 
that 
the 
way 
of 
attainment 
thereto 
has 
been 
made 
so 
clear 
to 
us-justification 
through 
faith 
in 
the 
blood, 
and 
begetting 
to 
a 
new 
nature 
through 
the 
operation 
of 
the 
truth 
and 
the 
sanctification 
of 
our 
hearts. 
Then 
comes 
the 
evidence 
that 
we 
have 
the 
divine 
favor, 
in 
that 
the 
eyes 
of 
our 
under­ 
standing 
have 
been 
permitted 
to 
see 
wonderful 
things 
in 
the 
divine 
Word-to 
realize 
that 
we 
are 
in 
the 
harvest 
time, 
that 
the 
great 
Chief 
Reaper 
is 
present, 
that 
the 
separating 
work 
is 
in 
progress, 
that 
the 
wheat 
is 
already 
being 
~arnered, 
and 
that 
when 
the 
reaping, 
threshing 
and 
winnowing 
processes 
shall 
have 
been 
completed, 
and 
the 
last 
worthy 
member 
of 
the 
body 
shall 
have 
been 
changed, 
"Then 
shall 
the 
righteous 
rthe 
saints 
1 
shine 
forth 
as 
the 
sun 
in 
the 
kingdom 
of 
their 
Father.' 
'-Matt. 
13 
:43. 
Our 
sighs 
and 
tears 
are 
indeed 
called 
for 
as 
we 
think 
of 
our 
dear 
friends 
and 
nei~hbors 
who 
are 
still 
blind 
to 
those 
glorious 
things. 
Yet 
the 
murmur 
is 
hushed 
and 
the 
tears 
dried, 
as 
we 
hearken 
to 
the 
voice 
of 
him 
that 
speaketh 
from 
heaven, 
assuring 
us 
that 
his 
love 
and 
sympathy 
for 
the 
groaning 
creation 
are 
far 
greater 
than 
ours, 
and 
that 
he 
has 
made 
ample 
provision 
for 
every 
man, 
and 
that 
in 
his 
"due 
time" 
all 
shall 
have 
the 
necessary 
knowledge 
and 
the 
necessary 
assistance 
to 
a 
participation 
in 
the 
glorious 
"restI­ 
tution 
of 
all 
things 
which 
God 
hath 
spoken 
by 
the 
mouth 
of 
all 
the 
holy 
prophets 
since 
the 
world 
began.' 
'-Acts 
3 
:19-23. 
THE 
VOLUNTEER 
WORK 
We 
began 
our 
report 
of 
the 
year's 
work 
with 
that 
feature 
in 
which 
the 
largest 
number 
of 
us 
have 
had 
the 
privilege 
of 
active 
participation-some 
by 
the 
contribution 
of 
money 
fOl" 
the 
publication 
of 
these 
tracts 
and 
the 
payment 
of 
the 
freight 
and 
express 
charges 
thereon, 
others 
by 
the 
free 
circulation 
of 
the 
tracts, 
giving 
their 
time 
and 
energy 
thereto, 
and 
some 
by 
participating 
in 
both 
of 
these 
ways, 
and 
still 
others 
who, 
unable 
to 
actively 
participate. 
have 
sympathetically 
assisterl 
the 
workers, 
figuratively 
holding 
up 
their 
hands 
in 
prayer­ 
and 
otherwise. 
This 
year 
properly 
enough 
surpasses 
any 
of 
the 
previol1!! 
years 
in 
the 
distribution 
of 
fl"ee 
literature. 
Many 
who 
have 
recently 
come 
into 
the 
truth 
have 
found 
in 
this 
arrangement 
an 
opportunity 
for 
service, 
joining 
hands 
with 
those 
who 
for 
years 
have 
been 
active 
in 
volunteer 
tract 
distribution 
And 
more 
and 
more, 
as 
the 
truth 
works 
down 
deeply 
into 
the 
hearts 
of 
the 
Lord's 
people, 
and 
they 
come 
more 
and 
more 
to 
appreciate 
the 
Lord's 
favor 
to 
them 
and 
their 
priVIlege 
of 
being 
co-laborers 
with 
him, 
the 
dear 
friends 
are 
seeking 
opportunities 
to 
engage 
in 
this 
work. 
Many 
arl? 
obeying 
the 
Apostolic 
injunction 
to 
redeem 
the 
time-to 
buy 
it 
back 
from 
earthly 
cares, 
pleasures, 
ambitions, 
etc., 
that 
they 
may 
have 
the 
greater 
opportunity 
of 
"showing 
forth 
the 
praises 
of 
him 
who 
has 
called 
us 
out 
of 
darkness 
into 
his 
marvelou~ 
light." 
(Eph. 
5:15, 
16; 
2 
Pet. 
2:9) 
We 
congratulate 
you 
a 
H, 
dear 
brethren 
and 
sisters, 
in 
the 
success 
of 
this 
depart· 
ment 
of 
the 
Lord's 
service, 
and 
we 
trust 
that 
the 
figures 
shown 
may 
so 
stimulate 
and 
energize 
you 
that 
the 
ncw 
year 
before 
us 
may 
show 
no 
slacking 
of 
our 
zeal, 
but 
rather 
an 
increase, 
as 
the 
signs 
multiply 
about 
us 
confirmatory 
of 
our 
faith 
and 
hopes. 
Amongst 
the 
laborers 
in 
thi'l 
department 
of 
the 
Lord's 
harvest 
work 
are 
many 
brethren 
and 
sisters 
of 
good 
education, 
good 
social 
position, 
etc., 
who 
rightly 
reason 
that 
whatever 
of 
social 
standing 
or 
honor 
amongst 
men 
they 
may 
have 
at­ 
tained 
should 
be 
brought 
to 
the 
support 
of 
the 
truth-laid 
as 
a 
tribute 
upon 
the 
altar 
of 
the 
Lord. 
We 
think, 
for 
in· 
stance, 
of 
one 
company 
of 
volunteers 
in 
whose 
ranks 
are 
to 
be 
found 
several 
business 
men, 
several 
teachers, 
a 
high-school 
professor, 
a 
General 
of 
the 
U. 
S. 
Army 
and 
several 
llank 
clerks. 
These, 
instead 
of 
being 
ashamed 
to 
own 
their 
Lord 
and 
to 
witness 
a 
good 
confession 
of 
his 
Word 
of 
Truth, 
are 
rroperly 
glad 
that 
they 
have 
a 
little 
influence 
in 
the 
world 
to 
lay 
at 
the 
Master's 
feet. 
Not 
that 
we 
consider 
it 
a 
great 
matter 
to 
distribute 
gratuitously 
leaves 
of 
healing 
for 
the 
mental 
and 
moral 
comfort 
and 
relief 
of 
our 
friends 
and 
neighbors-it 
is 
indeed 
a 
light 
service, 
a 
precious 
opportunit:v 
for 
showing 
to 
Our 
Master 
on 
a 
small 
scale 
our 
love 
and 
zeal. 
Glad 
would 
we 
be 
if 
we 
had 
a 
thousand 
toug'ues 
to 
sing 
our 
great 
Redeemer's 
praise, 
and 
a 
thousand 
hands 
and 
feet 
to 
use 
in 
the 
promulgation 
of 
the 
blessed 
message 
of 
"good 
tidings 
of 
great 
joy 
which 
shall 
be 
unto 
all 
people." 
-Luke 
2:10. 
THE 
COLPORTEUR 
WORK 
The 
summing 
up 
of 
this 
year's 
work 
in 
the 
colporteur 
department 
has 
exceeded 
our 
most 
sanguine 
hopes. 
Many 
of 
the 
dear 
friends, 
astonished 
at 
the 
results 
of 
last 
year's 
efforts, 
thought 
that 
we 
must 
not 
expect 
as 
great 
results 
this 
year: 
others 
thought 
it 
would 
be 
unwise 
at 
least 
to 
expect 
more; 
but 
we 
ventured 
to 
express 
the 
hope 
that 
this 
year 
we 
might 
reach 
nearly 
to 
the 
half-million 
mark. 
To 
our 
surprise, 
and 
yours 
no 
doubt, 
the 
totals 
show 
that 
we 
have 
surpassed 
this-notwithstanding 
the 
fact 
that 
a 
strikA 
in 
the 
bindery 
interfered 
considerably 
for 
a 
little 
season. 
The 
love 
and 
zeal 
with 
which 
the 
dear 
colporteurs 
have 
labored 
during 
the 
year 
is 
worthy 
of 
our 
highest 
appreciation, 
and 
gradually 
their 
numbers 
have 
increased, 
until 
now 
we 
have 
about 
600 
laborers 
in 
the 
field, 
mOi'e 
than 
half 
of 
whom 
are 
giving 
all 
of 
their 
time, 
and 
others 
a 
portion, 
to 
this 
blessed 
service, 
which 
the 
Lord 
seems 
to 
be 
using 
so 
wonder 
fully 
in 
the 
scattering 
of 
his 
message. 
Amongst 
these 
dear 
laborers 
are 
several 
who 
were 
physicians, 
others 
who 
were 
school-teachers, 
stenographers, 
farmers 
and 
preachers, 
and 
others 
still 
who 
left 
manual 
labor 
and 
housework 
to 
give 
their 
time 
and 
energy 
to 
this 
method 
of 
preaching 
the 
Gospel. 
God 
is 
blessing 
these 
dear 
co-laborers, 
and 
we 
can 
note 
in 
their 
letters 
to 
the 
office, 
in 
their 
reports, 
and 
in 
the 
good 
results 
which 
follow 
their 
labors, 
that 
they 
themselves 
are 
growing 
continually 
in 
grace, 
in 
knowledge 
and 
in 
the 
love 
which 
the 
truth 
begets, 
which 
includes 
meekness, 
gentleness, 
patience, 
long-suffering, 
brotherly 
kindness. 
We 
note 
with 
interest 
also 
that 
the 
public 
are 
awaken­ 
ing 
more 
and 
more-that 
they 
are 
discovering 
a 
spiritual 
deadness 
in 
the 
nominal 
church, 
and 
that 
those 
who 
have 
been 
begotten 
of 
the 
Lord's 
holy 
Spirit 
are 
feeling 
and 
hun­ 
gering 
and 
thirsting 
for 
the 
truth, 
which 
the 
chaff 
of 
sectar­ 
ianism 
cannot 
satisfy. 
Many 
formerly 
earnest 
are 
therefore 
absenting 
themselves 
from 
former 
church 
associations-some 
times 
to 
seek 
for 
spiritual 
food 
elsewhere 
and 
Mmetimes 
giv­ 
ing 
themselves 
over 
to 
worldliness 
and 
carelessness 
and 
douht 
These, 
who 
could 
not 
be 
reached 
from 
any 
pulpit, 
are 
reached 
by 
the 
colporteurs, 
who 
not 
only 
defenc1 
the 
Bible 
as 
tlJe 
divine 
revelation, 
but 
proffer 
thrm 
helpful 
sugge~tions, 
and 
seek 
to 
put 
into 
their 
hands 
the 
Bible 
Keys. 
The 
books 
may 
be 
neglected 
for 
a 
time, 
yet 
the 
earnestness 
of 
the 
colporteur 
will 
so 
attach 
itself 
to 
the 
STUDIES 
that, 
as 
the 
time 
of 
[4103] 
Vou. XXVIII ALLEGHENY, PA., DECEMBER 15, 1907 No. 24 WATCH TOWER, BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 1907 Another year has coursed swiftly by. We congratulate you that one year less lies between us and the glorious consummation of our hopes—the completion of our ‘‘change’’— that one year less intervenes before the establishment of God’s glorious Empire, which is to bring blessing to all the families of the earth through the setting at liberty of the captives of sin and death. From this standpoint we rejoice to see the years fly swiftly by, and, as our Lord directed, we lift up our heads and rejoice, knowing that our deliverance draweth nigh. (Luke 21:28) But while we would not restrain the speeding days and years, nor wish for a renewal of their trials and difficulties, joys and sorrows, nevertheless we believe that the expiring year, like many of its predecessors, has been a joyful, a pleasant one to the majority of the Lord’s faithful followers, To the world it might appear that the trials, the testings, the scoffs, the slanders to which faithfulness to the Lord is sure to expose, would rob life of all its pleasures. But not so: ‘‘When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?’’ (Job 34:29) All the Lord’s people are surely being taught the lesson enunciated by the Apostle—that we must learn to rejoice in tribulation, and to be patient because of our hope, which, as an anchor sure and steadfast, has entered within the vail. Quite to the contrary of what the world would suppose, our own experiences, and the testimony of many of the household of faith, assure us that no other people in all the world are so happy, so contented, so joyful in the house of their pilgrimage as are we, The poet has well said: ‘Think what spirit dwells within thee, Think what Father’s smiles are thine, Think how Jesus died to save thee— Child of heaven, canst thou repine?’’ If, momentarily, earth-born clouds and shadows do to some degree becloud our pathway, it is but for a brief season until we hear the voice of our Father and of our Savior assuring us of ‘‘Love divine, all love excelling.’? Before our mental vision comes the bright picture of the first manifestation of divine love on our behalf—in the redemption accomplished by our dear Redeemer; then the call of the little flock, and the fact that the way of attainment thereto has been made so clear to us—justification through faith in the blood, and begetting to a new nature through the operation of the truth and the sanctification of our hearts. Then comes the evidence that we have the divine favor, in that the eyes of our understanding have been permitted to see wonderful things in the divine Word—to realize that we are in the harvest time, that the great Chief Reaper is present, that the separating work is in progress, that the wheat is already being garnered, and that when the reaping, threshing and winnowing processes shall have been completed, and the last worthy member of the body shall have been changed, ‘‘Then shall the righteous [the saints] shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. ’’—Matt. 13:43. Our sighs and tears are indeed called for as we think of our dear friends and neighbors who are still blind to those glorious things. Yet the murmur is hushed and the tears dried, as we hearken to the voice of him that speaketh from heaven, assuring us that his love and sympathy for the groaning creation are far greater than ours, and that he has made ample provision for every man, and that in his ‘due time’’ all shall have the necessary knowledge and the necessary assistance to a participation in the glorious ‘‘restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth ot gos the holy prophets since the world began.’’—Acts THE VOLUNTEER WORK We began our report of the year’s work with that feature in which the largest number of us have had the privilege of active participation—some by the contribution of money for the publication of these tracts and the payment of the freight and express charges thereon, others by the free circulation of the tracts, giving their time and energy thereto, and some by participating in both of these ways, and still others who, unable to actively participate, have sympathetically assisted the workers, figuratively holding up their hands in prayer and otherwise. This year properly enough surpasses any of the previous years in the distribution of free literature. Many who have recently come into the truth have found in this arrangement an opportunity for service, joining hands with those who [4103] for years have been active in volunteer tract distribution And more and more, as the truth works down deeply into the hearts of the Lord’s people, and they come more and more to appreciate the Lord’s favor to them and their privilege of being co-laborers with him, the dear friends are seeking opportunities to engage in this work. Many are obeying the Apostolic injunction to redeem the time—to buy it back from earthly cares, pleasures, ambitions, etc., that they may have the greater opportunity of ‘‘showing forth the praises of him who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.’’? (Eph. 5:15, 16; 2 Pet. 2:9) We congratulate you all, dear brethren and sisters, in the success of this department of the Lord’s service, and we trust that the figures shown may so stimulate and energize you that the new year before us may show no slacking of our zeal, but rather an increase, as the signs multiply about us confirmatory of our faith and hopes. Amongst the laborers in this department of the Lord’s harvest work are many brethren and sisters of good education, good social position, ete., who rightly reason that whatever of social standing or honor amongst men they may have attained should be brought to the support of the truth—laid as a tribute upon the altar of the Lord. We think, for instance, of one company of volunteers in whose ranks are to be found several business men, several teachers, a high-school professor, a General of the U. S. Army and several bank clerks, These, instead of being ashamed to own their Lord and to witness a good confession of his Word of Truth, are rroperly glad that they have a little influence in the world to lay at the Master’s feet. Not that we consider it a great matter to distribute gratuitously leaves of healing for the mental and moral comfort and relief of our friends and neighbors—it is indeed a light service, a precious opportunity for showing to our Master on a small scale our love and zeal. Glad would we be if we had a thousand tongues to sing our great Redeemer’s praise, and a thousand hands and feet to use in the promulgation of the blessed message of ‘‘good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people.’’ —Luke 2:10. THE COLPORTEUR WORK The summing up of this year’s work in the colporteur department has exceeded our most sanguine hopes. Many of the dear friends, astonished at the results of last year’s efforts, thought that we must not expect as great results this year: others thought it would be unwise at least to expect more; but we ventured to express the hope that this year we might reach nearly to the half-million mark. To our surprise, and yours no doubt, the totals show that we have surpassed this—notwithstanding the fact that a strike in the bindery interfered considerably for a little season. The love and zeal with which the dear colporteurs have labored during the year is worthy of our highest appreciation, and gradually their numbers have increased, until now we have about 600 laborers in the field, more than half of whom are giving all of their time, and others a portion, to this blessed service, which the Lord seems to be using so wonder fully in the scattering of his message. Amongst these dear laborers are several who were physicians, others who were school-teachers, stenographers, farmers and preachers, and others still who left manual labor and housework to give their time and energy to this method of preaching the Gospel. God is blessing these dear co-laborers, and we can note in their letters to the office, in their reports, and in the good results which follow their labors, that they themselves are growing continually in grace, in knowledge and in the love which the truth begets, which includes meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, brotherly kindness. We note with interest also that the public are awakening more and more—that they are discovering a spiritual deadness in the nominal church, and that those who have been begotten of the Lord’s holy Spirit are feeling and hungering and thirsting for the truth, which the chaff of sectarianism cannot satisfy. Many formerly earnest are therefore absenting themselves from former church associations—some times to seek for spiritual food elsewhere and sometimes giving themselves over to worldliness and carelessness and douht These, who could not be reached from any pulpit, are reached by the colporteurs, who not only defend the Bible as the divine revelation, but proffer them helpful suggestions, and seek to put into their hands the Bible Keys, The books may be neglected for a time, yet the earnestness of the colporteur will so attach itself to the Srupres that, as the time of (371-372)

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