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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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