(274-275) upon you and all his dear people everywhere, we remain, Yours in his service, JAMES Lockwoop, JacoB COBINE, Menta Sturgeon, Horace E. Houuisrer, R. Rosert HovLISTER. My Dear Brother Russell :— I want to express my appreciation of the timely letter in June 15th Towrr. My heart overflows with joy and glad ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa ness for all the dear Lord’s leadings. Every word in the letter and all of the article, ‘‘Pay thy Vows,’’ was read by me with very deep interest. I want to tell you I have gladly and reverently made this Vow to my heavenly Father and trust in his grace and strength that I may fulfil all his good will concerning me. May the dear Lord’s richest blessings rest upon you, dear Brother Russell. Your sister in Christ, (Mrs.) Lydia MEssner. Vou. XXIX ALLEGHENY, PA., SEPTEMBER 15, 1908 No, 18 PAY THY VOWS UNTO THE LORD A vow is a solemn promise, either to God or men. See any dictionary. It should not be followed by an oath, for the Christian’s Yea should be Yea and his Nay should be Nay—as binding as though sworn to. Our Lord’s words might be otherwise rendered, Let your avowal be a sufficient avowal and your disavowal a sufficient disavowal. Our ‘‘Consecration Vow’’—our ‘‘Baptismal Vow’’—if a proper one—was all-comprehensive. It inclined the sacrifice of all that we possessed or ever would acquire. That all has continued to increase as the eyes of our understanding opened, and those who would ‘‘draw back’’ from the obligations of further light would thereby prove themselves not ‘“‘more than conquerors.’’ Those of us whose eyes of understanding discern tne expediency of the vow lately proposed in the Tower, in taking it have certainly acted up to our original consecration vow. In it we promised that our human wills would be dead and that we would do everything in our power to assist ourselves and others in the ‘‘narrow way.’? The few brethren who have expressed to us opposition to the vow have all been married men, one of whom opposed merely the last clause, and intimated his pleasure in giving the ‘‘holy kiss’’ to sisters. We remind such as are living in wedlock that this matter is already covered by their ‘‘ Marriage Vow,’’ and besides that the Apostle referred to the ‘‘holy kiss’’ as being the Eastern custom of males kissing males. However, we do not claim that a kiss is sinful, but merely one of the things ‘‘not expedient’’ for us now. In the past we have opposed ‘‘clerical vows’’ and “*church vows.’’ And these we still oppose: they are vows to men and constitute a bondage, a slavery very injurious. We have never oppased vows to the Lord; on the contrary, these we have urged and still urge. Our ‘‘ consecration vow,’’ all comprehensive from the first, should be kept alive daily and should be enlarged daily, to cover new features of duty or privilege, as we come to see them. The Scriptures declare that it would be better that we should make no vow at all than that we should vow to the Lord and then break the vow. (Heel. 5:5.) Our Lord em PUT-IN-BAY CONVENTION Our Put-in-Bay Convention is a thing of the past, though its sweet memories, we doubt not, will be with us to eternity. Jt was not only the greatest convention ever held under the auspices of the WarcH Towrr BiBLe AND Tract Society, but in some respects it was one of the most remarkable gatherings of Christian people in modern times. The attendanee was variously estimated at from 3,000 to 4,800, probably 3,500 would be a safe estimate. With so many meetings on the programme and some of the visitors very weary from travel and under mental strain, it is safe to suppose that one-seventh of the whole might have been missing from any one service; and it is estimated that 2,500 were present on several occasions. It was a grandly inspiring congregation, because the faces were not only intelligent, but lighted up with a spirit of Christian love. It was a peculiar gathering in that it represented no sect or party, but professed the Bible creed alone. It was a peculiar audience further in that nearly all were consecrated people in the fullest sense of that term; it was peculiar in that so vast a company of Christian people were thorough believers in redemption through the precious blood of Christ, and disbelievers in the now popular but unseriptural Evolution Doctrine. The Pacific Coast from Washington to California, the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida, and all the States intermediate were well represented. The convention cost to those who attended it approximately $100,000. Each paid his own way, except in some noble instances, where the poorer friends were assisted. For instance, the Chicago Church voluntarily donated $1,500, and in so doing permitted the blessing of this phasized the same lesson. (Luke 14:28-34.) It is in harmony with this that we oppose so-called ‘‘Revival’’ methods and urge all to first ‘‘sit down and count the cost’’ before making the consecration vow—the baptismal vow. So now we are urging this further perception of the meaning of our consecration vow and the strength that will come to us all and to the cause by fully accepting it; and thus binding our sacrifices the more firmly to the altar on which they already are. To those who do see the Vow it is but a part of the original vow which Must BE Paip. To those who do not so see we offer no condemnation. Each one is responsible to his own Master. Nevertheless we have a warning to give: Do not oppose the vow. Use your own liberty in the matter and let others use theirs. If it is of the Lord, as we believe, none can overthrow it and whosoever opposes it will do himself injury. If in your judgment no ‘‘evil day,’’ no ‘‘hour of temptation,’’ no ‘‘strange work,’’ no ‘‘strong delusion’’ is impending, you should be wise enough and kind enough not to oppose those who do so believe and who are getting ready for the same. Remember the Lord’s words on this subject, ‘Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.’’ (Acts 13:41.) ‘‘Now, therefore, be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong.’’ (Isa. 28:22.) Those who once take a stand of opposition will have all the more to overcome; pride not fully dead will assert itself and blind them. Hence our urgent appeal: If you do not take the vow at least do not set either your heart or your tongue against it or against those who have taken it. And, contrariwise, we admonish those who take the vow to do so in humility, not boastfully; and that they refrain from casting any reflection upon those who do not take the vow. Time will tell whether or not we are foolishly careful about our words, our thoughts, our avoidance of Occultism, Spiritism, ete., and in our particularity of conduct toward the opposite sex. Already many report rich added blessing through the making and keeping of the vow. Have patience with those who make slower progress and Jet your advantage be manifested. REPORT convention to reach some of the dear friends who would not otherwise have enjoyed it. It can surely be said that this was the best of ali the Society’s conventions thus far held, and not merely the largest. The spirit of the convention was the spirit of brotherly love, which found abundant expression, not only in the meetings, but also in the social gatherings and dining halls. The dear friends had come for a blessing, and it was only what we expected—that the Lord fulfilled his gracious promises in granting us refreshment. Our cups of joy ran over, time and again. Our hearts were enlarged. Our capacity for spiritual joy was increased, and we came time and again to the Father’s table and partook of the refreshments, giving thanks in Jesus’ name. The place was in many respects ideal for such a convention—spacious, beautiful, quiet. The great hotel at which we made our headquarters accommodated about 2,400, while smaller hotels and cottages housed and fed the remainder. Naturally the crowd overtaxed the preparations and some of the dear friends were crowded more than we would have preferred. Nevertheless even the hotel people were astonished at the patience and kindly forbearance exhibited. In the congested condition, instead of murmuring, some of the dear friends assisted in waiting at the tables. Others helped by making up their own beds. Altogether the determination seemed to be a fixed one—that we had come together for a spiritual rest, a spiritual feast, and that nothing should hinder us from obtaining; and we got it according to the Lord’s promises. Lessons learned in the matter of providing hotel accommodations will doubtless prove [4238]
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