Publication date
9/1/08
Volume
29
Number
17
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1908/17/1908-17-2.html
SEPTEMBER 
15, 
1908 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
helpful 
to 
us, 
should 
we 
ever 
again 
attempt 
so 
large 
a 
con­ 
vention, 
either 
at 
the 
same 
place 
or 
elsewhere. 
So 
important 
an 
event 
seemed 
to 
us 
to 
justify 
the 
de­ 
voting 
of 
one 
entire 
issue 
of 
our 
journal 
to 
a 
report 
of 
it. 
This 
we 
have 
done 
in 
a 
manner 
which, 
we 
trust, 
will 
be 
ac­ 
ceptable 
to 
all 
of 
our 
readers. 
We 
have 
not 
attempted 
to 
give 
a 
full 
report 
of 
any 
of 
the 
discourses, 
but 
divided 
equally 
the 
space 
at 
our 
disposal, 
giving 
a 
synopsis 
of 
each 
discourse. 
blessing 
indeed 
to 
have 
the 
privilege 
of 
greeting 
so 
many, 
of 
whom 
he 
supposed 
a 
large 
proportion 
were 
fully 
conse­ 
crated 
to 
the 
Lord. 
He 
expressed 
himself 
as 
thinking 
it 
a 
most 
wonderful 
thing 
indeed 
that 
flO 
many 
had 
laid 
their 
all 
upon 
the 
altar 
for 
sacrifice, 
for 
most 
of 
the 
Lord's 
peo­ 
ple, 
no 
doubt, 
had 
found 
by 
experience, 
by 
actual 
inquiry 
among 
their 
acquaintance.s 
and 
friends, 
that 
very 
few 
would 
be 
willing 
to 
say 
that 
they 
had 
made 
a 
full, 
complete 
con­ 
secration 
to 
the 
Lord, 
and 
while 
this 
was 
saddening 
to 
the 
OPENING 
'.rBE 
CONVEN'lION 
heart, 
yet 
it 
demonstrated 
the 
truth 
of 
the 
Lord's 
own 
SATURDAY, 
AUGUST 
29TH. 
statement, 
that 
the" 
elect" 
class 
would 
constitute 
only 
a 
Brother 
J. 
F. 
Rutherford, 
chairman 
of 
the 
convention, 
"little 
flock." 
presided. 
After 
the 
opening 
hymn 
and 
prayer 
he 
made 
the 
He 
stated 
that 
it 
was 
not 
an 
uncommon 
thing 
for 
audi- 
address 
of 
welcome, 
which 
we 
report 
as 
follows: 
ences 
of 
that 
size 
to 
be 
convened, 
but 
that 
it 
Wll.5 
a 
very 
"Dear 
Brethren 
in 
the 
Lord-We 
are 
glad 
to 
welcome 
uncommon 
thing 
to 
see 
an 
audience 
of 
that 
size 
composed 
you 
in 
the 
name 
of 
the 
Watch 
Tower 
Bible 
and 
Tract 
of 
individuals, 
most 
of 
them 
not 
wealthy 
in 
this 
world's 
Society 
to 
this 
the 
greatest 
convention 
of 
the 
Lord's 
peo- 
goods, 
who 
were 
attending 
for 
their 
own 
personal 
edifica­ 
pIe 
that, 
has 
yet 
been 
held, 
or 
that 
may 
be 
held, 
this 
side 
tion 
and 
not 
as 
paid 
delegates 
from 
large 
and 
wealthy 
eon­ 
of 
the 
vail. 
We 
rejoice 
to 
come 
here, 
for 
some 
of 
the 
gregations. 
Lord's 
people 
have 
been 
looking 
forward 
to 
this 
day, 
be- 
He 
expressed 
gratification 
that 
the 
dear 
friends 
had 
Heving 
that 
a 
great 
blessing 
is 
to 
flow 
out 
to 
his 
dear 
ones 
come 
together 
for 
personal 
benefit, 
and 
felt 
sure 
that 
they 
during 
the 
next 
ten 
days. 
We 
come 
here, 
dear 
friends, 
with 
could 
not 
have 
come 
with 
a 
desire 
to 
shine 
before 
the 
world, 
the 
purpose 
of 
building 
one 
another 
up 
in 
the 
most 
holy 
for 
nothing 
connected 
with 
the 
truth 
had 
that 
tendency. 
faith, 
and 
of 
giving 
thanks 
for 
what 
the 
Lord 
has 
done 
for 
Rather, 
as 
the 
Apostle 
says, 
"We 
are 
counted 
fools." 
But 
all 
of 
us." 
this 
is 
merely 
the 
estimation 
of 
the 
world, 
which 
estimation 
The 
chairman 
made 
apt 
application 
of 
the 
statement 
of 
is 
foolishness 
in 
God's 
sight. 
We 
have 
taken 
God's 
side 
the 
Prophet 
that 
the 
Lord's 
praises 
should 
be 
declared 
in 
and 
this 
is 
the 
foundation 
of 
our 
confidence 
and 
of 
our 
re­ 
the 
"island." 
It 
was 
suggested 
that 
this 
convention, 
be- 
joicing. 
ing 
held 
on 
an 
island, 
in 
the 
midst 
of 
the 
turbulent 
sea, 
The 
brother 
stated 
that 
this 
was 
the 
only 
meeting 
in 
symbolized 
the 
condition 
of 
heart 
of 
those 
who 
amid 
the 
the 
whole 
world, 
so 
far 
as 
he 
knew, 
composed 
of 
so 
many 
distressed 
condition 
of 
society 
still 
had 
their 
confidence 
whose 
hearts, 
as 
well 
as 
heads, 
were 
so 
thoroughly 
convinced 
resting 
in 
the 
Lord; 
that 
the 
Lord's 
people 
are 
the 
stable 
in 
harmony 
with 
the 
Bible. 
While 
they 
were 
free 
from 
ones 
in 
society 
now. 
It 
was 
also 
considered 
suggestive 
that 
error 
and 
superstition, 
nevertheless 
they 
hail 
come 
into 
a 
so 
many 
of 
the 
dear 
friends 
were 
gathered 
together 
from 
most 
abject 
bondage, 
bond-slaves 
of 
the 
Lord. 
On 
the 
one 
various 
quarters, 
practically 
under 
one 
roof, 
and 
the 
name 
hand 
free, 
on 
the 
other 
hand 
bound; 
bounden 
by 
their 
minds 
of 
the 
building 
"Victory." 
This 
was 
declared 
to 
be 
ex- 
and 
by 
their 
hearts; 
bound 
by 
love-"Blessed 
be 
the 
tie 
pressive 
of 
the 
common 
sentiment 
entertained 
by 
all 
of 
that 
binds"-bound 
in 
that 
after 
their 
acceptance 
they 
are 
the 
Lord's 
people-Victory 
I 
The 
brother 
further 
said: 
not 
permitted 
to 
do 
a 
single 
thing 
out 
of 
harmony 
with 
his 
"Dear 
friends, 
we 
all 
desire 
the 
victory; 
we 
all 
desire 
will; 
that 
only 
upon 
these 
conditions 
is 
a 
man 
permitted 
to 
be 
victors, 
yea, 
more 
than 
conquerors." 
It 
was 
suggested 
to 
be 
the 
servant 
of 
the 
Lord. 
The 
speaker 
urged 
that 
they 
further 
that 
this 
island 
in 
the 
midst 
of 
the 
beautiful 
seas 
let 
nothing 
come 
between 
them 
and 
this 
spirit 
of 
service- 
was 
named 
"Put-in-Bay," 
which 
presented 
a 
further 
pic- 
"Oh, 
let 
no 
earth-born 
cloud 
arise 
ture 
to 
the 
mind. 
A 
bay 
is 
a 
haven 
of 
rest 
from 
the 
storms 
To 
hide 
thee 
from 
thy 
servant's 
eyes." 
that 
beat 
upon 
the 
sea. 
The 
brother 
very 
fervently 
urged 
We 
are 
not 
bound 
for 
a 
day 
or 
a 
week 
or 
a 
month, 
but 
that 
all 
of 
the 
dear 
friends 
have 
their 
hearts 
overflowing 
to 
the 
end 
of 
our 
journey, 
until 
we 
die. 
"Be 
thou 
faithful 
with 
the 
spirit 
of 
love; 
love 
for 
God 
supreme, 
love 
for 
the 
unto 
death," 
is 
the 
divine 
condition 
imposed 
for 
the 
ob­ 
brethren, 
love 
for 
truth 
and 
righteousness 
and 
sympathetic 
taining 
of 
the 
crown 
of 
life. 
It 
is 
a 
full 
surrender 
to 
all 
love 
for 
the 
poor, 
groaning 
creation, 
now 
in 
darkness, 
wait- 
eternity. 
He 
made 
the 
statement 
that 
it 
was 
no 
doubt 
true 
ing 
for 
the 
manifestation 
of 
the 
glorified 
sons 
of 
God. 
that 
those 
who 
had 
been 
in 
this 
condition 
of 
bondage 
for 
The 
chairman 
made 
it 
plain 
that 
everyone 
who 
is 
a 
be- 
ten 
years 
had 
more 
joy, 
more 
rest 
in 
the 
Lord, 
than 
those 
Hever 
in 
the 
atoning 
blood 
of 
Christ 
would 
be 
made 
'heartily 
who 
had 
been 
in 
that 
condition 
for 
only 
one 
year; 
that 
as 
welcome. 
Especially 
did 
he 
welcome 
the 
Colporteurs, 
liken- 
our 
experiences 
increased, 
our 
blessings 
increased, 
from 
grace 
ing 
them 
to 
the 
brave 
warriors 
of 
Balaklava, 
as 
they 
pass 
to 
grace) 
from 
glory 
to 
glory, 
in 
our 
hearts 
now, 
in 
our 
onward 
in 
their 
campaign 
against 
the 
stronghold 
of 
error, 
whole 
bemg 
now; 
and 
that 
by 
and 
by 
there 
would 
be 
the 
at­ 
heeding 
not 
the 
undesirable 
circumstances 
and 
conditioM 
tainment 
of 
the 
glory 
that 
God 
hath 
in 
reservation 
for 
with 
which 
they 
continually 
come 
in 
contact; 
heeding 
only 
those 
that 
love 
him. 
the 
command 
of 
their 
King 
to 
be 
faithful 
unto 
death. 
The 
brother 
ciMed 
by 
exhorting 
the 
dear 
friends 
to 
be 
Also 
the 
others 
specially 
engaged 
in 
the 
harvest 
work 
faithful, 
to 
keep 
their 
eyes 
on 
the 
final 
and 
glorious 
hopes 
were 
very 
cordially 
welcomed-the 
volunteers 
and 
the 
pil- 
and 
promises, 
on 
the 
grand 
consummation 
of 
our 
hopes, 
that 
grims. 
The 
brother 
further 
stated 
that 
he 
felt 
sure 
that 
we 
might 
be 
permitted 
to 
share 
in 
"the 
resurrection 
of 
the 
the 
hearts 
of 
all 
were 
united 
ill 
love 
and 
appreciation 
for 
dead," 
and 
that 
each 
is 
assured 
of 
a 
share 
in 
the 
glory 
him 
whom 
God 
had 
so 
highly 
honored 
as 
to 
place 
in 
a 
posi- 
upon 
condition 
that 
he 
continue 
to 
share 
in 
the 
sufferings 
tion 
where 
he 
would 
be 
privileged 
to 
bring 
the 
precious 
of 
this 
present 
time. 
truths 
of 
the 
harvest 
period 
to 
the 
attention 
of 
so 
many 
who 
are 
hungering 
and 
thirsting 
after 
righteousness. 
The 
remainder 
of 
the 
afternoon 
was 
spent 
in 
prayer, 
Each 
one 
of 
the 
dear 
friends 
was 
exhorted 
to 
bear 
in 
praise 
and 
testimony 
and 
proved 
to 
be 
a 
very 
interesting 
mind 
the 
nobility 
of 
his 
calling, 
and 
to 
conduct 
himself 
and 
profitable 
service. 
with 
appropriate 
dignity. 
The 
friends 
were 
given 
the 
com- 
After 
supper 
the 
friends 
mingled 
in 
sweet 
Christian 
fel­ 
forting 
thought 
that 
even 
though 
the 
adversary 
was 
in 
close 
lowship 
in 
the 
spacious 
halls 
and 
parlors 
of 
Hotel 
Victory. 
proximity 
on 
the 
island 
they 
were 
absolute)y 
invulnerable 
In 
the 
immense 
parlors, 
offices, 
corridors 
and 
verandas 
the 
as 
long 
as 
they 
kept 
close 
to 
the 
Master 
a,nd 
had 
his 
Spirit, 
friends 
had 
full 
possession, 
and 
if 
any 
went 
away 
unblessed, 
banishing 
thoughts 
of 
hatred 
or 
fault-finding. 
unrefreshed, 
uncomforted, 
unstrengthened, 
we 
surely 
beHeve 
BRO'.rBER 
RUSSELL'S 
SALU'.rA'.rIO)1' 
that 
it 
must 
have 
been 
for 
some 
cause 
of 
his 
own. 
After 
Brother 
Rutherford's 
address 
a 
hymn 
was 
sung, 
SUNDAY, 
AUGUST 
30TH. 
"Blest 
be 
the 
tie 
that 
binds 
our 
hearts 
in 
Christian 
love," 
For 
more 
than 
an 
hour 
in 
ad 
vance 
of 
the 
programme 
in 
the 
midst 
of 
which 
Brother 
Russell 
ascended 
the 
plat- 
announcement 
the 
friends 
gathered 
in 
the 
vast 
auditorium. 
form. 
He 
was 
greeted 
with 
the 
Chautauqua 
salute, 
the 
A 
praise 
and 
prayer 
service 
prepared 
for 
a 
discourse 
from 
waving 
of 
handkerchiefs, 
and 
he 
returned 
the 
same, 
waving 
Brother 
John 
Harrison. 
which 
we 
briefly 
report 
below: 
his 
own 
to 
the 
enthusiastic 
gathering. 
On 
being 
introduced 
DISCOURSE 
BY 
BRO'.rHER 
JOHN 
HARRISON 
by 
the 
chairman 
he 
said: 
"My 
dear 
friends, 
I 
esteem 
it 
a 
great 
honor 
as 
well 
as 
"I 
am 
here 
on 
this 
occasion 
to 
offer 
you 
salutation. 
I 
privilege 
to 
be 
permitted 
to 
greet 
you 
in 
the 
first 
service 
salute 
you 
in 
the 
name 
of 
our 
great 
heavenly 
Father, 
in 
this 
morning. 
We 
come 
to 
you 
this 
morning 
with 
ames- 
the 
name 
of 
our 
great 
Redeemer 
and 
Lord, 
and 
in 
the 
name 
sage 
recorded 
in 
2 
Tim. 
4:6-8, 
'I 
am 
now 
ready 
to 
be 
of- 
of 
all 
the 
dear 
brethren 
and 
sisters 
who 
are 
interested 
in 
fered, 
and 
the 
time 
of 
my 
departure 
is 
at 
hand. 
I 
have 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
and 
the 
truths 
which 
it 
continues 
to 
fought 
the 
good 
fight, 
I 
have 
finished 
my 
course, 
I 
have 
present 
to 
the 
best 
of 
its 
ability." 
kept 
the 
faith: 
henceforth 
there 
is 
laid 
up 
for 
me 
a 
crown 
The 
brother 
continued 
to 
state 
that 
he 
considered 
it 
a 
of 
righteousness, 
which 
the 
Lord, 
the 
righteous 
judge, 
shall 
[4239] 
SEPTEMBER 15, 1908 helpful to us, should we ever again attempt so large a convention, either at the same place or elsewhere. So important an event seemed to us to justify the devoting of one entire issue of our journal to a report of it. This we have done in a manner which, we trust, will be acceptable to all of our readers. We have not attempted to give a full report of any of the discourses, but divided equally the space at our disposal, giving a synopsis of each discourse. OPENING THE CONVENTION SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH. Brother J. F. Rutherford, chairman of the convention, presided. After the opening hymn and prayer he made the address of welcome, which we report as follows: ‘‘Dear Brethren in the Lord—We are glad to welcome you in the name of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society to this the greatest convention of the Lord’s people that, has yet been held, or that may be held, this side of the vail. We rejoice to come here, for some of the Lord’s people have been looking forward to this day, believing that a great blessing is to flow out to his dear ones during the next ten days. We come here, dear friends, with the purpose of building one another up in the most holy faith, and of giving thanks for what the Lord has done for all of us.’? The chairman made apt application of the statement of the Prophet that the Lord’s praises should be declared in the ‘‘island.’’ It was suggested that this convention, being held on an island, in the midst of the turbulent sea, symbolized the condition of heart of those who amid the distressed condition of society still had their confidence resting in the Lord; that the Lord’s people are the stable ones in society now. It was also considered suggestive that so many of the dear friends were gathered together from various quarters, practically under one roof, and the name of the building ‘‘Victory.’’ This was declared to be expressive of the common sentiment entertained by all of the Lord’s people—Victory! The brother further said: ‘‘Dear friends, we all desire the victory; we all desire to be victors, yea, more than conquerors.’’ It was suggested further that this island in the midst of the beautiful seas was named ‘‘Put-in-Bay,’’? which presented a further picture to the mind. A bay is a haven of rest from the storms that beat upon the sea. The brother very fervently urged that all of the dear friends have their hearts overflowing with the spirit of love; love for God supreme, love for the brethren, love for truth and righteousness and sympathetic love for the poor, groaning creation, now in darkness, waiting for the manifestation of the glorified sons of God. The chairman made it plain that every one who is a believer in the atoning blood of Christ would be made heartily welcome. Especially did he weleome the Colporteurs, likening them to the brave warriors of Balaklava, as they pass onward in their eampaign against the stronghold of error, heeding not the undesirable circumstances and conditions with which they continually come in contact; heeding only the command of their King to be faithful unto death. Also the others specially engaged in the harvest work were very cordially weleomed—the volunteers and the pilgrims. The brother further stated that he felt sure that the hearts of all were united in love and appreciation for him whom God had so highly honored as to place in a position where he would be privileged to bring the precious truths of the harvest period to the attention of so many who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, Each one of the dear friends was exhorted to bear in mind the nobility of his calling, and to conduct himself with appropriate dignity. The friends were given the comforting thought that even though the adversary was in close proximity on the island they were absolutely invulnerable as long as they kept close to the Master and had his Spirit, banishing thoughts of hatred or fault-finding. BROTHER RUSSELL’S SALUTATION After Brother Rutherford’s address a hymn was sung, ‘‘Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love,’’ in the midst of which Brother Russell ascended the platform. He was greeted with the Chautauqua salute, the waving of handkerchiefs, and he returned the same, waving his own to the enthusiastic gathering. On being introduced by the chairman he said: “‘T am here on this occasion to offer you salutation. I salute you in the name of our great heavenly Father, in the name of our great Redeemer and Lord, and in the name of all the dear brethren and sisters who are interested in Zion’s WaTcH Tower and the truths which it continues to present to the best of its ability.’’ The brother continued to state that he considered it a ZION’S WATCH TOWER (275-276) blessing indeed to have the privilege of greeting so many, of whom he supposed a large proportion were fully consecrated to the Lord. He expressed himself as thinking it a most wonderful thing indeed that so many had laid their all upon the altar for sacrifice, for most of the Lord’s people, no doubt, had found by experience, by actual inquiry among their acquaintances and friends, that very few would be willing to say that they had made a full, complete consecration to the Lord, and while this was saddening to the heart, yet it demonstrated the truth of the Lord’s own statement, that the ‘‘elect’’ class would constitute only a ‘‘little flock.’’ He stated that it was not an uncommon thing for audiences of that size to be convened, but that it was a very uncommon thing to see an audience of that size composed of individuals, most of them not wealthy in this world’s goods, who were attending for their own personal edification and not as paid delegates from large and wealthy congregations. He expressed gratification that the dear friends had come together for personal benefit, and felt sure that they could not have come with a desire to shine before the world, for nothing connected with the truth had that tendency. Rather, as the Apostle says, ‘‘We are counted fools.’’ But this is merely the estimation of the world, which estimation is foolishness in God’s sight. We have taken God’s side and this is the foundation of our confidence and of our rejoicing. The brother stated that this was the only meeting in the whole world, so far as he knew, composed of so many whose hearts, as well as heads, were so thoroughly convinced in harmony with the Bible. While they were free from error and superstition, nevertheless they had come into a most abject bondage, bond-slaves of the Lord. On the one hand free, on the other hand bound; bounden by their minds and by their hearts; bound by love—‘‘Blessed be the tie that binds’’—bound in that after their acceptance they are not permitted to do a single thing out of harmony with his will; that only upon these conditions is a man permitted to be the servant of the Lord. The speaker urged that they let nothing come between them and this spirit of service— **Oh, let no earth-born cloud arise To hide thee from thy servant’s eyes.’’ We are not bound for a day or a week or a month, but to the end of our journey, until we die. ‘‘Be thou faithful unto death,’’ is the divine condition imposed for the obtaining of the crown of life. It is a full surrender to all eternity. He made the statement that it was no doubt true that those who had been in this condition of bondage for ten years had more joy, more rest in the Lord, than those who had been in that condition for only one year; that as our experiences increased, our blessings increased, from grace to grace, from glory to glory, in our hearts now, in our whole being now; and that by and by there would be the attainment of the glory that God hath in reservation for those that love him. The brother closed by exhorting the dear friends to be faithful, to keep their eyes on the final and glorious hopes and promises, on the grand consummation of our hopes, that we might be permitted to share in ‘‘the resurrection of the dead,’’ and that each is assured of a share in the glory upon condition that he continue to share in the sufferings of this present time. The remainder of the afternoon was spent in prayer, praise and testimony and proved to be a very interesting and profitable service. After supper the friends mingled in sweet Christian fellowship in the spacious halls and parlors of Hotel Victory. In the immense parlors, offices, corridors and verandas the friends had full possession, and if any went away unblessed, unrefreshed, uncomforted, unstrengthened, we surely believe that it must have been for some cause of his own. SUNDAY, AUGUST 30TH. For more than an hour in advance of the programme announcement the friends gathered in the vast auditorium. A praise and prayer service prepared for a discourse from Brother John Harrison, which we briefly report below: DISCOURSE BY BROTHER JOHN HARRISON ‘*My dear friends, I esteem it a great honor as well as privilege to be permitted to greet you in the first service this morning. We come to you this morning with a message recorded in 2 Tim. 4:6-8, ‘I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall [4239]

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