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VOL.
XXIX
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
JANUARY
1,
1908
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.1
The
opening
of
a
New
Year
is
a
most
favorable
time
for
special
circumspection-for
reviewing
the
year
past,
for
the
looking
forward
to
the
things
coming
upon
the
earth,
and
for
a
general
survey
of
present
conditions
in
the
world,
in
the
church,
and
particularly
in
our
own
hearts.
This
circumspec
tion
should
be
taken
with
a
view
to
our
growth
in
knowledge
and
in
grace-not
from
idle
curiosity
nor
from
boastful
self
sufficiency.
in
public
and
in
private.
Let
us
remember,
also,
that
many
of
the
most
successful
have
not
gained
their
wealth
hy
grinding
the
poor
nor
by
treating
them
as
slaves,
but
on
the
contrary
have
paid
the
best
wages,
treated
their
employees
most
honor
ably,
and
really
have
been
benefactors
to
the
world
in
that
their
business
acumen
enabled
them
to
launch
large
projects,
which
gave
profitable
employment
and
large
wages
to
many
of
their
fellows,
who
would
have
been
incapable
of
sueh
management
CHRISTENDOM
IN
SURVEY
LET
A
MAN
THINK
SOBERLY
While
church
and
state
are
in
many
respects
totally
sep-
Many
are
able
to
take
the
reasonable,
just,
philosophical
arate,
nevertheless
throughout
what
we
term
Christendom
they
view
of
the
subject
above
presented
so
long
as
they
are
doing
are
so
closely
related
and
intertwined
as
to
appear
one,
and
reasonably
well
themselves;
but
when
the
pinch
eomes
and
this
oneness
we
believe
the
Scriptures
to
teach
will
increase
they
begin
to
be
in
want
they
l'('uson
differently.
They
forget
until
for
all
practical
purposes
they
will
be
one.
We
surmise
a
part
of
the
truth
on
the
suhject-they
think
merply
of
the
that
this
will
be
accomplished
within
the
next
three
years.
The
fact
that
in
nature
and
providence
we
are
surrounded
hy
won
Committee
on
Chureh
Federation
appointed
some
time
ago
is
derful
bounties
and
vast
opportunities,
and
in
the
scramble
to
meet
in
December,
1908.
Conditions
during
the
present
year
for
wealth
which
these
produced
others
got
the
lion's
share.
will
undoubtedly
cause
the
idea
of
Church
Federation
to
take
From
this
standpoint
they
reason
that
the
wealth
of
the
world
firmer
hold
than
ever
upon
the
public
mind,
especially
upon
the
and
the
increment
belong
equally
to
the
wise
and
the
unwise,
cleries,
and
our
expectation,
therefore,
is
that
two
years
later
to
the
learned
and
the
ignorant,
to
the
ambitious
and
the
care
it
will
be
an
accomplished
fact.
Quite
probably
by
that
time
less,
and
with
this
thought
in
view
they
are
inclined
to
demand
some
arrangement
will
have
been
effected
between
the
Epis-
their
share
and
to
hold
that
anyone
who
has
more
than
his
copal
system
and
other
Protestant
denominations,
whereby
the
pel'
capita
portion
must
have
stolpn
it
from
his
fellows.
But
clergy
of
the
latter
will
all
be
recognized
by
the
former-
since
they
joined
in
the
scramble,
hoping
to
he
amongst
the
probably
by
the
Episcopal
clergy
in
some
manner
imparting
more
successful,
even
aeknowledging
thus
the
principles
of
the
apostolic
succession.
Thereafter
any
not
recognized
by
selfish
eompdition,
it
is
with
bad
grace
that
tlwy
now
pspeeially
the
system
will
be
in
sore
straits,
condemned
as
unorthodox,
find
fault
with
those
who
have
been
more
successful
than
they,
and
without
right
or
authority
or
privilege
to
preach
or
teach.
instead
of
finding
fault
with
the
system
whieh
permitted,
fos
This
condition
of
things,
as
pointed
out
in
these
columns
tered
and
developed
present
conditions.
Indeed,
however
stren
twenty-eight
years
ago,
we
look
for
as
the
fulfillment
of
Rev.
uous
may
be
the
results
of
present
conditions
of
the
world,
we
13:15-17.
can
fully
justify
divine
providence
in
permitting
matters
to
In
the
Lord's
providenee
the
increase
of
light
and
knowl-
take
the
course
which
has
led
up
to
the
prespnt
eondition
of
edge
preparatory
for
the
great
Millennial
day
has
brought
to
things-up
to
the
time
of
trouble
whi('h
will
mark
the
('onsum
Christendom
great
riches.
Not
only
have
the
millions
of
mation
of
this
age
and
the
inaugurntion
of
the
Millennium.
Christendom
been
more
constantly
employed
than
ever,
but
by
Without
selfish
amhition
to
spm
men
on,
without
the
law
reason
of'
eilucation
their
employment
has
yielded
larger
of
necessity
to
speed
the
movements
of
the
slothful,
the
ten
fruitage,
and
in
combination
with
machinery
the
results
have
dency
of
mankind
would
have
been
toward
a
barhari('
indolen('e,
surely
been
five-fold.
No
wonder,
then,
that
the
world's
wealth
contentment
with
a
hut
instend
of
a
pala('e,
sntisfied
with
signs
has
been
enormously
increased.
As
might
be
expected,
how-
and
grunts
nnd
hieroglyphics
instend
of
an
edueation.
Un
ever,
all
have
not
profited
equally
by
this
great
gain.
While
doubtedly,
all
the
fallen
conditions
('onsidered,
the
Lord
did
all
have
profited
in
great
measure,
the
master
minds-especially
the
best
thing
for
the
race
to
permit
selfish
ambition
to
crack
those
endowed
with
large
acquisitiveness-have
profited
chiefly
the
whip
and
drive
the
remainder
of
the
world
toward
a
hIgher
by
the
favorable
conditions.
As
a
result
we
see
that
one-
civilization
than
that
into
which
they
had
sunk,
ns
described
seventh
of
the
people
own
six-sevenths
of
the
wealth,
If
on
by
the
Apostle
in
Romam,
chapters
1
and
2.
the
one
hand
this
condition
of
things
seems
hard
and
inequita-
"ALL
THINGS
CONTINUE
AS
THEY
WERE"
ble,
let
us
remember
on
the
other
hand
that
it
is
the
legitimate
The
Lord
through
the
Apostle
calls
our
attention
to
the
fruit
of
the
law
of
selfishness,
under
which
the
world
has
fact
that
in
the
end
of
this
age
there
would
be
a
tendency
operated
now
for
six
thousand
years.
That
the
field
in
many
on
the
part
of
the
worldly
wise
to
say
that
there
would
be
respects
has
been
a
fair
and
open
one
is
evidenced
by
the
fact
no
change
of
dispensation;
that
all
things
continue
as
they
that
some
of
the
wealthiest
people
of
today
started
life
in
the
were
from
the
heginning
of
creation
and
will
so
continue-that
humblest
circumstances.
If
some
of
these
in
gaining
their
there
will
be
no
change.
This
is
brought
out
as
an
answer
wealth
have
used
unscrupulous
means,
let
us
remember
that
that
will
be
made
to
some
who
will
claim
the
presence
of
the
they
did
nothing
more
than
many
of
their
neighbors
who
had
Lord
and
the
change
of
dispensation-just
as
we
are
doing.
less
s:uccess
in
life-nothing
more
than
what
the
majority
of
But
in
accord
with
the
Word
of
God,
we
are
not
heeding
mankmd
would
have
done
had
they
possessed
opportunity
and
these
worldly
wise,
but
are
hearkening
to
the
voice
of
him
that
the
intellectual
talent
to
improve
it.
This
being
true,
it
be-
speakE'th
from
heaven,
which
assures
us
of
a
great
change,
hooves
us
to
look
with
generosity
upon
the
rich,
and
to
note
to
and
that
it
is
now
at
the
door:
(1)
A
change
of
rulers,
the
their
credit
that
many
of
them
have
been
very
benevolent
both
Prince
of
Light
taking
from
the
prince
of
darkness
the
sceptre
V--!7
[4109]
ZIONS Vou. XXIX ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 1, 1908 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER The opening of a New Year is a most favorable time for special circumspection—for reviewing the year past, for the looking forward to the things coming upon the earth, and for a general survey of present conditions in the world, in the church, and particularly in our own hearts. This circumspection should be taken with a view to our growth in knowledge and in grace—not from idle curiosity nor from boastful selfsufficiency. CHRISTENDOM IN SURVEY While chureh and state are in many respects totally separate, nevertheless throughout what we term Christendom they are so closely related and intertwined as to appear one, and this oneness we believe the Scriptures to teach will increase until for all practical purposes they will be one. We surmise that this will be accomplished within the next three years. The Committee on Church Federation appointed some time ago is to meet in December, 1908. Conditions during the present year will undoubtedly cause the idea of Church Federation to take firmer hold than ever upon the public mind, especially upon the clerics, and our expectation, therefore, is that two years later it will be an accomplished fact. Quite probably by that time some arrangement will have been effected between the Episeopal system and other Protestant denominations, whereby the clergy of the latter will all be recognized by the former— probably by the Episcopal clergy in some manner imparting the apostolic succession. Thereafter any not recognized by the system will be in sore straits, condemned as unorthodox, and without right or authority or privilege to preach or teach. This condition of things, as pointed out in these columns twenty-eight years ago, we look for as the fulfillment of Rev. 13:15-17. In the Lord’s providence the increase of light and knowledge preparatory for the great Millennial day has brought to Christendom great riches. Not only have the millions of Christendom been more constantly employed than ever, but by reason of education their employment has yielded larger fruitage, and in combination with machinery the results have surely been five-fold. No wonder, then, that the world’s wealth has been enormously increased. As might be expected, however, all have not profited equally by this great gain. While all have profited in great measure, the master minds—especially those endowed with large acquisitiveness—have profited chiefly by the favorable conditions. As a result we see that oneseventh of the people own six-sevenths of the wealth. If on the one hand this condition of things seems hard and inequitable, let us remember on the other hand that it is the legitimate fruit of the law of selfishness, under which the world has operated now for six thousand years. That the field in many respects has been a fair and open one is evidenced by the fact that some of the wealthiest people of today started life in the humblest circumstances, If some of these in gaining their wealth have used unscrupulous means, let us remember that they did nothing more than many of their neighbors who had less success in life—nothing more than what the majority of mankind would have done had they possessed opportunity and the intellectual talent to improve it. This being true, it behooves us to look with generosity upon the rich, and to note to their credit that many of them have been very benevolent both V—27 [4109} in publie and in private. Let us remember, also, that many of the most successful have not gained their wealth by grinding the poor nor by treating them as slaves, but on the contrary have paid the best wages, treated their employees most honorably, and really have been benefactors to the world in that their business acumen enabled them to launch large projects, which gave profitable employment and large wages to many of their fellows, who would have been incapable of such management LET A MAN THINK SOBERLY Many are able to take the reasonable, just, philosophical view of the subject above presented so long as they are doing reasonably well themselves; but when the pinch comes and they begin to be in want they reason differently. They forget a part of the truth on the subject—they think merely of the fact that in nature and providence we are surrounded by wonderful bounties and vast opportunities, and in the scramble for wealth which these produced others got the lion’s share. From this standpoint they reason that the wealth of the world and the increment belong equally to the wise and the unwise, to the learned and the ignorant, to the ambitious and the careless, and with this thought in view they are inclined to demand their share and to hold that anyone who has more than his per capita portion must have stolen it from his fellows. But since they joined in the scramble, hoping to be amongst the more successful, even acknowledging thus the principles of selfish compctition, it is with bad grace that they now especially find fault with those who have been more successful than they, instead of finding fault with the system which permitted, fostered and developed present conditions. Indeed, however strenuous may be the results of present conditions of the world, we ean fully justify divine provideneec in permitting matters to take the course which has led up to the present condition of things—up to the time of trouble which will mark the eonsummation of this age and the inauguration of the Millennium. Without selfish ambition to spur men on, without the law of necessity to speed the movements of the slothful, the tendeney of mankind would have been toward a barharie indolence, contentment with a hut instead of a palace, satisfied with signs and grunts and hicroglyphies instead of an education. Undoubtedly, all the fallen conditions considered, the Lord did the best thing for the race to permit selfish ambition to crack the whip and drive the remainder of the world toward a higher civilization than that into which they had sunk, as described by the Apostle in Romans, chapters 1 and 2. “ALL THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY WERE’’ The Lord through the Apostle calls our attention to the fact that in the end of this age there would be a tendency on the part of the worldly wise to say that there would be no change of dispensation; that all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation and will so continue—that there will be no change. This is brought out as an answer that will be made to some who will claim the presence of the Lord and the change of dispensation—just as we are doing. But in accord with the Word of God, we are not heeding these worldly wise, but are hearkening to the voice of him that speaketh from heaven, which assures us of a great change, and that it is now at the door: (1) A change of rulers, the Prince of Light taking from the prince of darkness the sceptre (3-4)
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