12
1
12
download/literature/watchtower/1908-17.pdf
../literature/watchtower/1908/17/1908-17-1.html
ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
ALLEGHENY,
PA.
upon
you
and
all
his
dear
people
everywhere,
we
remain,
Yours
in
his
service.
JAMES
LOCKWOOD,
JACOB
COBINE,
MENTA
STURGEON,
HORACE
E.
HOLLISTER,
R.
ROBERT
HOL
LISTER.
My
Dear
Brother
Russell:-
I
want
to
express
my
appreciation
of
the
timely
letter
in
June
15th
TOWER.
My
heart
oyerflows
with
joy
and
glad-
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.
VOL.
XXIX
ALLEGHENY,
P
A.,
SEPTEMBER
15,
1908
No.
18
PAY
THY
VOWS
A
vow
is
a
solemn
promise,
either
to
God
or
men.
See
any
dictionary.
It
should
nat
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'
'-aur
"Baptismal
Vow'
'-if
a
proper
one-was
all-comprehensive.
It
inclined
the
sacrifice
of
all
that
we
possessed
or
ever
would
acquire.
That
all
ha.s
continued
to
increase
as
the
eyes
of
our
understanding
opened,
and
those
who
would
"draw
back"
from
the
obli
gations
of
further
light
would
thereby
prove
themselves
not
"more
than
conquerors."
Those
of
us
whose
eyes
of
un
derstanding
discern
tne
expediency
of
the
vow
lately
pro
posed
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
opp~ed
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
fea
tures
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.
(Eccl.
5:5.)
Our
Lord
em-
UNTO
THE
LORD
phasized
the
same
lesson.
(Luke
14:28-34.)
It
is
in
har
mony
with
this
that
we
oppose
so-called
,.
Revival"
meth
ods
and
urge
all
to
first"
sit
down
and
count
the
cost"
be
fore
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
came
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
o1'iginal
vow
which
MUST
BE
PAID.
To
those
who
do
not
so
see
we
offer
no
condemnation.
Each
one
is
re
spon:sible
to
~is
own
Master.
Nevertheless
we
have
a
warning
to
give:
Do
not
op
pose
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
be·
lieve,
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
boast
fully;
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,
etc.,
and
in
our
par
ticularity
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
let
your
advantage
be
manifested.
PUT-IN-BAY
CONVENTION
REPORT
Our
Put-in-Bay
Convention
is
a
thing
of
the
past,
though
convention
to
reach
some
of
the
dear
friends
who
would
not
its
sweet
memories,
we
doubt
not,
will
be
with
us
to
eternity.
otherwise
have
enjoyed
it.
It
was
not
only
the
greatest
convention
ever
held
under
It
can
surel)-
be
said
that
this
was
the
best
of
all
the
the
auspices
of
the
WATCH
TOWER
BIBLE
AND
TRACT
SOCIETY,
Society's
conventions
thus
far
held,
and
not
merely
the
but
in
some
respects
it
was
one
of
the
most
remarkable
largest.
The
spirit
of
the
convention
was
the
spirit
of
gatherings
of
Christian
people
in
modern
times.
The
at-
brotherly
love,
which
found
abundant
expression,
not
only
tendanre
was
variously
estimated
at
from
3,000
to
4,800,
in
the
meetings,
but
also
in
the
social
gatherings
and
diu-
probnhly
3,500
would
be
a
safe
estimate.
WIth
so
many
ing
halls.
The
dear
friends
had
come
for
a
blessing,
and
it
meetings
on
the
pl'ogramme
and
some
of
the
visitors
very
,,:as
only
what
we
expected-that
the
Lord
fulfilled
his
weary
from
travel
and
under
mental
strain,
it
is
safe
to
gracious
promises
in
granting
us
refreshment.
Our
cups
of
suppose
that
one-seventh
of
the
whole
might
have
been
joy
ran
over,
time
and
again.
Our
hearts
were
enlarged.
missing
from
anyone
service;
and
it
is
estimated
that
2,500
Our
capacity
for
spiritual
joy
was
increased,
and
we
came
were
present
on
several
occasions.
time
and
again
to
the
Father's
table
and
partook
of
the
It
was
a
grandly
inspiring
congregation,
because
the
refreshments,
giving
thanks
in
Jesus'
name.
faces
were
not
only
intelligent,
but
lighted
up
with
a
spirit
The
place
was
in
many
respects
ideal
for
such
a
con-
of
Christian
love.
It
was
a
peculiar
gathering
in
that
it
vention-spacious,
beautiful,
quiet.
The
great
hotel
at
represented
no
sect
or
party,
but
IJrofessed
the
Bible
creed
which
we
made
our
headquarters
accommodated
about
2,400,
alone.
It
was
a
peculiar
audience
further
in
that
nearly
while
smaller
hotels
and
cottages
housed
and
fed
the
re-
all
were
consecrated
people
in
the
fullest
sense
of
that
term;
mainder.
Naturally
the
crowd
overtaxed
the
preparations
it
was
peculiar
in
that
so
vast
a
comlJany
of
Christian
peo-
and
some
of
the
dear
friends
were
crowded
more
than
we
pIe
were
thorough
believers
in
redemption
through
the
would
have
preferred.
Nevertheless
even
the
hotel
people
precious
blood
of
Christ,
and
disbelievers
in
the
now
popu-
were
astonished
at
the
patience
and
kindly
forbearance
ex-
lar
but
un
scriptural
Evolution
Dodrine.
The
Pacific
Coast
hibited.
In
the
congested
condition,
instead
of
murmuring,
from
WaShington
to
California,
the
Atlantic
Coast
from
some
of
the
dear
friends
assisted
in
waiting
at
the
tables.
Maine
to
Florida,
and
all
the
States
intermediate
were
well
Others
helped
by
making
up
their
own
beds.
Altogether
the
represented.
The
convention
cost
to
those
who
attended
determination
seemed
to
be
a
fixed
one-that
we
had
come
it
approximately
$100,000.
Each
paid
his
own
way,
except
together
for
a
spiritual
rest,
a
spiritual
feast,
and
that
in
some
noble
instances
t
where
the
poorer
friends
were
as-
nothing
should
hinder
us
from
obtaining;
and
we
got
it
ac-
sisted.
For
instance,
the
Chicago
Church
voluntarily
do-
carding
to
the
Lord's
promises.
Lessons
learned
in
the
mat-
nated
$1,500,
and
in
so
doing
permitted
the
blessing
of
this
ter
of
providing
hotel
accommodations
will
doubtless
prove
[4238J
(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]
To enhance your experience on our website, we use cookies and similar technologies. Some cookies are essential for the core functionality of our site and cannot be declined. You can choose to accept or decline additional cookies. We want to assure you that none of this data will be sold or used for marketing purposes. You can adjust your preferences at any time by accessing the Privacy Settings from the footer of the page. For more information, please refer to our
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
.
