Publication date
11/1/08
Volume
29
Number
21
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1908/21/1908-21-1.html
 
 
 
 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA. 
but 
in 
great 
mercy 
the 
Lord 
purposes 
to 
pass 
them 
through 
a 
"great 
tribulation" 
and 
to 
accept 
as 
"conquerors" 
those 
who 
will 
stand 
the 
tests 
of 
that 
time 
of 
trouble 
loyally. 
But 
their 
sufferings 
will 
not 
be 
on 
their 
own 
account. 
They 
will 
suffer 
for 
the 
sins 
of 
others-the 
accumulated 
sins 
of 
this 
age 
against 
light 
and 
knowledge 
will 
be 
required 
of 
those 
who 
in 
this 
day 
of 
the 
"bright 
shining" 
of 
the 
light 
of 
truth 
have 
still 
held 
back 
from 
the 
voluntary 
sacrifice 
to 
which 
they 
devoted 
themselves 
in 
consecration. 
However, 
eventually 
this 
great 
company, 
passing 
their 
tests, 
proving 
themselves 
loyal 
to 
the 
Lord, 
at 
last 
will 
receive 
a 
great 
blessing, 
even 
though 
it 
will 
not 
be 
so 
grandly 
glorious 
as 
that 
which 
the 
Lord 
will 
give 
to 
the 
little 
flock, 
who 
will­ 
ingly, 
gladly, 
lay 
down 
their 
lives 
in 
harmony 
with 
the 
privi­ 
leges 
and 
instructions 
of 
the 
Word. 
They 
will 
be 
invited 
to 
participate 
in 
the 
marriage 
festival 
of 
the 
Lamb.-Rev. 
19 
:9. 
Some 
have 
written 
us 
lately 
the 
assurance 
that 
they 
know 
that 
the 
great 
company 
will 
be 
blessed 
on 
the 
earthly 
plane. 
We 
reply 
that 
it 
is 
true 
that 
a 
great 
multitude 
will 
be 
blessed 
during 
the 
Millennium 
under 
the 
restitution 
blessings 
and 
privileges-' 
'all 
the 
families 
of 
the 
earth." 
But 
the 
Great 
Company 
of 
Revelation 
7 
:9-15 
is 
specially 
identified 
with 
the 
church 
and 
separate 
from 
the 
world. 
They 
will 
come 
up 
to 
their 
station 
through 
"great 
tribulation," 
while 
the 
world 
will 
be 
led 
upward 
along 
the 
grand 
highway 
of 
holiness, 
on 
which 
there 
shall 
be 
no 
lion 
or 
ravenous 
beast, 
and 
in 
a 
time 
when 
nothing 
shall 
hurt 
nor 
destroy 
in 
all 
that 
holy 
kingdom. 
If 
there 
were 
no 
references 
to 
the 
great 
company 
in 
the 
Bible 
we 
should 
be 
inclined 
to 
look 
for 
one, 
or 
else 
know 
with 
sorrow 
that 
many 
shall 
go 
into 
the 
second 
death. 
Surely 
of 
all 
that 
consecrate 
fully 
and 
are 
begotten 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
to 
new 
nature 
only 
a 
"little 
flock" 
make 
their 
election 
sure 
by 
compliance 
with 
the 
terms. 
The 
remainder, 
unfit 
for 
the 
glories 
to 
which 
they 
were 
called, 
must, 
it 
would 
seem, 
either 
die 
the 
second 
death 
or 
have 
their 
new 
natures 
developed 
in 
fiery 
trials 
and 
great 
tribulations 
"for 
the 
destruction 
of 
the 
flesh 
that 
the 
spirit 
may 
be 
'3aved 
in 
the 
day 
of 
the 
Lord 
Jesus." 
LETTERS 
ACKNOWLEDGING 
"VOW" 
BLESSINGS 
[QUERY:-What 
if 
health 
or 
weather 
hindered 
leaving 
the 
door 
open, 
ancI 
one 
were 
alone 
in 
a 
room 
with 
one 
of 
the 
opposite 
sex1 
Or 
what 
if 
it 
were 
in 
an 
office 
or 
room 
not 
under 
the 
control 
of 
the 
one 
who 
took 
the 
Vow1 
ANSWER:-Both 
of 
these 
and 
every 
other 
contingency 
are 
fully 
met 
by 
the 
word, 
"so 
far 
as 
reasonably 
possible," 
and 
it 
is 
your 
own 
judgment 
that 
decides. 
It 
would 
not 
be 
reason­ 
ably 
possible 
for 
anyone 
to 
regulate 
an 
office 
or 
room 
that 
is 
only 
partly 
or 
not 
at 
all 
under 
his 
control.] 
Dear 
Brother 
Russell:- 
I 
write 
to 
tell 
you 
that 
I 
have 
taken 
the 
Vow. 
I 
was 
influ­ 
enced 
to 
come 
to 
the 
point 
by 
reading 
a 
paragraph 
of 
an 
article 
in 
the 
TOWER 
entitled, 
"David 
Attaining 
Kingship." 
The 
paragraph 
was 
this: 
It 
is 
difficult 
to 
estimate 
the 
power 
of 
the 
human 
will. 
Apparently 
God 
has 
placed 
all 
the 
interests 
of 
the 
present 
hfe 
under 
the 
control 
of 
our 
wills, 
and, 
indeed, 
much 
of 
the 
success 
in 
respect 
to 
the 
future 
life 
is 
similarly 
under 
the 
con­ 
trol 
of 
our 
wills. 
Apparently 
the 
will, 
rightly 
exercised 
against 
sin, 
is 
invulnerable. 
I 
humbly 
pray 
that 
God 
may" 
work 
in 
me 
both 
to 
will 
and 
to 
do 
of 
his 
good 
pleasure." 
Sincerely 
yours 
in 
Christian 
fellowship, 
F. 
1. 
PARMENTER. 
Dear 
Brother 
in 
the 
Lord:- 
I 
don't 
want 
to 
wait 
another 
hour 
to 
register 
my 
vow 
to 
the 
Lord. 
I 
am 
very 
sorry 
I 
waited 
this 
long. 
I 
am 
so 
glad 
it 
is 
not 
too 
late. 
I 
have 
hesitated 
because 
I 
was 
afraid 
I 
could 
not 
k('ep 
the 
vow, 
and 
know 
it 
is 
worse 
to 
break 
than 
to 
pledge 
myself 
at 
all. 
Since 
praying 
and 
thinking 
it 
dver 
I 
know 
that 
I 
can, 
with 
the 
help 
of 
our 
dear 
Master, 
live 
up 
to 
the 
vow. 
I 
surely 
need 
it 
as 
much 
or 
more 
than 
anyone 
else. 
My 
life 
previous 
to 
consecration 
was 
most 
sinful, 
and 
I 
regret 
that 
I 
cannot 
tell 
you 
that 
I 
have 
made 
no 
great 
mistakes 
since. 
My 
sacrifice 
is 
such 
a 
small, 
miserable 
thing; 
but 
I 
do 
want 
to 
bind 
it 
firmly 
to 
the 
altar. 
Remember 
me 
in 
your 
prayers, 
dear 
Brother, 
and 
give 
my 
love 
to 
all 
the 
dear 
ones 
at 
the 
Bible 
House. 
Yours 
in 
Christ, 
Dear 
Brother 
Russell:- 
We 
wish 
to 
add 
our 
names 
to 
those 
of 
the 
dear 
friends 
who 
have 
made 
the 
vow 
unto 
our 
heavenly 
Father, 
and 
are 
very 
thankful 
for 
the 
privilege. 
As 
God's 
children 
we 
are 
willing 
to 
do 
anything 
that 
will 
help 
us 
along 
the 
narrow 
way 
and 
bring 
us 
nearer 
to 
our 
heav· 
enly 
Father, 
and 
this 
we 
know 
the 
vow 
is 
doing. 
We 
cannot 
have 
too 
much 
of 
a 
good 
thing 
if 
we 
use 
it 
properly. 
We 
think 
we 
should 
have 
taken 
the 
vow 
even 
if 
we 
had 
no 
need 
of 
it 
at 
this 
time, 
for 
we 
do 
not 
know 
what 
we 
shall 
need 
in 
the 
"evil 
day," 
except 
keeping 
close 
to 
the 
Lord. 
And 
so, 
dear 
brother, 
we 
ask 
that 
you 
remember 
us 
in 
your 
prayers 
that 
by 
his 
strength 
we 
may 
keep 
the 
vow 
we 
have 
made. 
With 
much 
Christian 
love 
and 
best 
wishes, 
we 
remain, 
Your 
brothers 
in 
Christ, 
W. 
T. 
BAKER, 
A. 
SMITH. 
Dear 
Brother 
Russell:- 
Beloved 
Brother 
in 
the 
Lord. 
It 
has 
taken 
considerable 
time, 
and 
a 
severe 
conflict 
with 
the 
old 
self, 
to 
reach 
the 
point 
of 
sending 
in 
my 
name 
as 
a 
signer 
and 
endorser 
of 
the 
vow 
in 
all 
its 
particulars. 
I 
must 
confess 
that 
I 
was 
somewhat 
opposed 
to 
the 
matter 
at 
the 
first. 
However, 
I 
prayed 
very 
earnestly 
for 
guidance 
and 
wisdom 
to 
decide 
the 
matter 
aright. 
Have 
just 
now 
fin­ 
ished 
a 
re-reading 
of 
it, 
and 
am 
wondering 
how 
I 
found 
any 
objection, 
for 
my 
heart 
and 
head 
both 
endorse 
in 
the 
fullest 
possible 
manner 
its 
every 
detail. 
Sister 
Kendall 
and 
I 
now 
feel 
convinced 
that 
our 
heavenly 
Father 
in 
his 
loving 
kindnes& 
has 
sent 
this 
vow 
as 
a 
special 
safeguard 
to 
his 
children 
in 
thi'3 
time 
of 
special 
need, 
and 
I 
have 
been 
prompt 
to 
send 
my 
name 
as 
soon 
as 
the 
matter 
was 
made 
plain 
to 
my 
mind. 
It 
will 
surely 
prove 
a 
source 
of 
great 
blessing 
to 
all 
the 
pure 
in 
heart. 
Doubtless 
it 
will 
sift 
out 
some 
who 
are 
not. 
'Tis 
always 
so. 
Therefore, 
with 
greatly 
increased 
thankfulness 
to 
our 
loving 
heavenly 
Father 
for 
this 
further 
evidence 
of 
his 
care 
over 
us, 
and 
with 
renewed 
assurance, 
dear 
Brother, 
of 
our 
perfect 
con­ 
fidence 
in 
your 
own 
Christian 
deportment 
and 
integrity, 
we 
gladly 
and 
solemnly 
and 
reverently 
register 
this 
vow 
before 
"Our 
Father, 
which 
art 
in 
heaven," 
praying 
that 
he 
will 
en­ 
able 
us 
to 
keep 
it 
inviolate. 
With 
much 
Christian 
love, 
MR. 
AND 
MRS. 
S. 
C. 
KENDALL. 
VOL. 
XXIX 
ALLEGHENY, 
P 
A., 
NOVEMBER 
15, 
1908 
THE 
NOVA 
SCOTIA 
CONVENTION 
No. 
22 
The 
journey 
from 
Allegheny 
to 
Halifax 
and 
back 
was 
approximately 
3,000 
miles-a 
long 
distance 
to 
go 
to 
a 
conven­ 
tion 
where 
only 
comparatively 
a 
small 
number 
could 
be 
ex­ 
pected. 
However, 
the 
Nova 
Scotia 
frimds 
were 
anxious 
for 
a 
convention, 
as 
were 
also 
some 
of 
those 
at 
Boston 
born 
in 
N 
ova 
Scotia. 
This 
helps 
to 
account 
for 
the 
fact 
that 
75 
of 
the 
Boston 
friends 
attended. 
From 
various 
parts 
of 
Nova 
Scotia 
ahout 
125 
more 
completed 
the 
total 
of 
200 
in 
attend­ 
ance. 
Everything 
considered 
this 
was 
an 
excellent 
turnout. 
We 
had 
a 
very 
enjoyable 
time 
and 
part<>d 
company, 
longing 
for 
the 
time 
wh<>n 
"those 
of 
like 
precious 
faith" 
will 
be 
for­ 
ever 
with 
the 
Lord 
ano 
with 
each 
other. 
The 
convention 
had 
been 
in 
session 
two 
days 
by 
the 
time 
of 
our 
arrival 
and 
continued 
two 
days 
more. 
The 
chairman 
was 
Brother 
Marchant, 
and 
discourses 
were 
given 
by 
Brothers 
Streeter, 
Bridges, 
Barker, 
Brenneisen, 
MacMillan 
and 
Russell 
on 
various 
features 
of 
the 
Divine 
Plan. 
Seventeen 
symholized 
their 
consecration 
by 
water 
immersion, 
and 
when 
it 
came 
to 
the 
closing 
service-the 
LOVE 
FEAST-the 
blessings 
seemed 
to 
overflow 
out 
of 
all 
our 
hearts. 
The 
experience 
was 
both 
a 
solemn 
and 
happifying 
one, 
well 
calculated 
to 
remind 
us 
all 
of 
the 
perfect 
union 
with 
our 
Lord, 
in 
which 
we 
hope 
to 
join 
in 
the 
General 
Assembly 
of 
the 
Church 
of 
the 
First-Borns. 
The 
largest 
attendance 
at 
the 
convention 
was, 
of 
course, 
on 
the 
occasion 
of 
the 
discourse 
to 
the 
public, 
on 
"The 
Over­ 
throw 
of 
Satan's 
Empire." 
The 
audience 
was 
variously 
esti­ 
mated 
above 
2,000, 
but 
we 
accepted 
the 
most 
conservative 
estimate 
of 
1,200, 
and 
felt 
very 
glad 
that 
that 
number 
of 
[42741 
(332-339) but in great mercy the Lord purposes to pass them through a ‘‘great tribulation’’ and to accept as ‘‘conquerors’’ those who will stand the tests of that time of trouble loyally. But their sufferings will not be on their own account. They will suffer for the sins of others—the accumulated sins of this age against light and knowledge will be required of those who in this day of the ‘‘bright shining’’ of the light of truth have still held back from the voluntary sacrifice to which they devoted themselves in consecration. However, eventually this great company, passing their tests, proving themselves loyal to the Lord, at last will receive a great blessing, even though it will not be so grandly glorious as that which the Lord will give to the little flock, who willingly, gladly, lay down their lives in harmony with the privileges and instructions of the Word. They will be invited to participate in the marriage festival of the Lamb.—Rev. 19:9. Some have written us lately the assurance that they know that the great company will be blessed on the earthly plane. We reply that it is true that a great multitude will be blessed LETTERS ACKNOWLEDGING [Qurery:—What if health or weather hindered leaving the door open, and one were alone in a room with one of the opposite sex? Or what if it were in an office or room not under the control of the one who took the Vow? ANSWER :—Both of these and every other contingency are fully met by the word, ‘‘so far as reasonably possible,’’ and it is your own judgment that decides. It would not be reasonably possible for anyone to regulate an office or room that is only partly or not at all under his control.] Dear Brother Russell :— I write to tell you that I have taken the Vow. I was infiuenced to come to the point by reading a paragraph of an article in the Tower entitled, ‘‘David Attaining Kingship.’’ The paragraph was this: It is difficult to estimate the power of the human will. Apparently God has placed all the interests of the present hfe under the control of our wills, and, indeed, much of the success in respect to the future life is similarly under the control of our wills. Apparently the will, rightly exercised against sin, is invulnerable. I humbly pray that God may ‘‘ work in me both to will and to do of his good pleasure. ’’ Sincerely yours in Christian fellowship, F. I. PARMENTER. Dear Brother in the Lord:— I don’t want to wait another hour to register my vow to the Lord. I am very sorry I waited this long. I am so glad it is not too late. I have hesitated because I was afraid I could not keep the vow, and know it is worse to break than to pledge myself at all. Since praying and thinking it dver I know that I can, with the help of our dear Master, live up to the vow. I surely need it as much or more than any one else. My life previous to consecration was most sinful, and I regret that I cannot tell you that I have made no great mistakes since. My sacrifice is such a small, miserable thing; but I do want to bind it firmly to the altar. Remember me in your prayers, dear Brother, and give my love to all the dear ones at the Bible House. Yours in Christ, ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa, during the Millennium under the restitution blessings and privileges—‘‘all the families of the earth.’’ But the Great Company of Revelation 7:9-15 is specially identified with the church and separate from the world. They will come up to their station through ‘‘great tribulation,’’ while the world will be led upward along the grand highway of holiness, on which there shall be no lion or ravenous beast, and in a time when nothing shall hurt nor destroy in all that holy kingdom. If there were no references to the great company in the Bible we should be inclined to look for one, or else know with sorrow that many shall go into the second death. Surely of all that consecrate fully and are begotten of the holy Spirit to new nature only a ‘‘little flock’’ make their election sure by compliance with the terms. The remainder, unfit for the glories to which they were called, must, it would seem, either die the second death or have their new natures developed in fiery trials and great tribulations ‘‘for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.’’ “VOW” BLESSINGS Dear Brother Russell :— We wish to add our names to those of the dear friends who have made the vow unto our heavenly Father, and are very thankful for the privilege. As God’s children we are willing to do anything that will help us along the narrow way and bring us nearer to our heavenly Father, and this we know the vow is doing. We cannot have too much of a good thing if we use it properly. We think we should have taken the vow even if we had no need of it at this time, for we do not know what we shall need in the ‘‘evil day,’’ except keeping close to the Lord. And so, dear brother, we ask that you remember us in your prayers that by his strength we may keep the vow we have made. With much Christian love and best wishes, we remain, Your brothers in Christ, W. T, Baxer, A. SMITH. Dear Brother Russell:— Beloved Brother in the Lord. It has taken considerable time, and a severe conflict with the old self, to reach the point of sending in my name as a signer and endorser of the vow in all its particulars. I must confess that I was somewhat opposed to the matter at the first. However, I prayed very earnestly for guidance and wisdom to decide the matter aright. Have just now finished a re-reading of it, and am wondering how I found any objection, for my heart and head both endorse in the fullest possible manner its every detail. Sister Kendall and I now feel convinced that our heavenly Father in his loving kindness has sent this vow as a special safeguard to his children in this time of special need, and I have been prompt to send my name as soon as the matter was made plain to my mind. It will surely prove a source of great blessing to all the pure in heart. Doubtless it will sift out some who are not. ’Tis always so. Therefore, with greatly increased thankfulness to our loving heavenly Father for this further evidence of his care over us, and with renewed assurance, dear Brother, of our perfect confidence in your own Christian deportment and integrity, we gladly and solemnly and reverently register this vow before ‘‘Our Father, which art in heaven,’’ praying that he will enable us to keep it inviolate. With much Christian love, Mr. AND Mrs. 8. C. KENDALL. Vout. XXIX ALLEGHENY, PA., NOVEMBER 15, 1908 No. 22 THE NOVA SCOTIA CONVENTION The journey from Allegheny to Halifax and back was approximately 3,000 miles—a long distance to go to a convention where only comparatively a small number could be expected. However, the Nova Scotia friends were anxious for a convention, as were also some of those at Boston born in Nova Scotia. This helps to account for the fact that 75 of the Boston friends attended. From various parts of Nova Scotia about 125 more completed the total of 200 in attendance. Everything considered this was an excellent turnout. We had a very enjoyable time and parted company, longing for the time when ‘‘those of like precious faith’’ will be forever with the Lord and with each other. The convention had been in session two days by the time of our arriva) and continued two days more. The chairman was Brother Marchant, and discourses were given by Brothers Streeter, Bridges, Barker, Brenneisen, MacMillan and Russell on various features of the Divine Plan. Seventeen symbolized their consecration by water immersion, and when it came to the closing service—the Lovz Frast—the blessings seemed to overfiow out of all our hearts. The experience was both a solemn and happifying one, well caleulated to remind us all of the perfect union with our Lord, in which we hope to join in the General Assembly of the Church of the First-Borns. The largest attendance at the convention was, of course, on the occasion of the discourse to the public, on ‘‘The Overthrow of Satan’s Empire.’’ The audience was variously estimated above 2,000, but we accepted the most conservative estimate of 1,200, and felt very glad that that number of [4274]

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