Publication date
5/1/08
Volume
29
Number
9
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
/../literature/watchtower/1908/9/1908-9-1.html
 
 
 
MAY 
I, 
1908 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
full. 
From 
the 
standpoint 
of 
the 
rulers 
the 
midnight 
hour 
was 
the 
most 
favorable 
because 
large 
concourse 
of 
people 
then 
in 
Jerusalem 
for 
the 
Feast 
of 
Passover 
included 
many 
who 
knew 
Jesus 
and 
had 
been 
witnesses 
of 
his 
miracles 
and 
his 
arrest 
in 
day 
time 
might 
have 
led 
to 
tumult. 
Our 
Lord 
probably 
went 
to 
the 
Garden 
because 
it 
belonged 
to 
friend 
and 
because 
in 
the 
open 
his 
disciples 
would 
have 
better 
op­ 
portunity 
for 
escape 
from 
arrest; 
though 
it 
does 
not 
appear 
that 
there 
was 
any 
special 
endeavor 
to 
make 
an 
arrest, 
except 
that 
mentioned 
by 
Mark 
of 
young 
man 
who 
followed 
with 
the 
crowd 
as 
they 
led 
Jesus 
away 
and 
who 
had 
on 
long, 
loose 
garment, 
and 
when 
they 
laid 
hold 
upon 
it 
he 
fled 
from 
them 
naked. 
This 
is 
supposed 
to 
have 
been 
John 
Mark, 
the 
writer 
of 
the 
Gospel 
of 
Mark, 
and 
that 
he 
lived 
on 
the 
premises 
of 
which 
the 
Gethsemane 
Garden 
was 
part. 
Our 
Lord's 
agony, 
prayer 
and 
comforting 
at 
an 
end, 
he 
returned 
to 
the 
apostles, 
saying, 
Sleep 
on 
now, 
and 
take 
your 
rest." 
Your 
opportunity 
for 
watching 
with 
me 
or 
speaK­ 
ing 
word 
of 
comfort 
has 
passed; 
your 
opportunity 
for 
wak­ 
ing 
your 
own 
hearts 
and 
minds 
to 
prayer 
as 
safeguard 
against 
coming 
trials 
and 
testings 
is 
past. 
Behold 
the 
band 
of 
those 
who 
will 
arrest 
me 
little 
ahead 
of 
the 
band 
came 
Judas, 
who 
indicated 
the 
Master 
by 
the 
traitorous 
kiss, 
which 
John, 
for 
very 
shame, 
did 
not 
record. 
Judas, 
finding 
his 
de­ 
ception 
recognized 
as 
the 
Master 
said, 
ItBetrayest 
thou 
tho 
Son 
of 
man 
with 
kiss'" 
left 
him 
and 
joined 
the 
band 
who 
had 
come 
for 
his 
arrest, 
while 
Jesus, 
coming 
out 
of 
the 
cover 
into 
the 
open, 
said, 
Whom 
seek 
ye'" 
After 
he 
had 
answered 
their 
reply, 
saying, 
It 
am 
he, 
let 
these 
my 
friends 
go 
their 
way, 
we 
read 
that 
the 
men 
went 
backward 
and 
fell 
on 
the 
ground. 
This 
was 
doubtless 
the 
result 
of 
power 
our 
Lord 
exercised 
upon 
them, 
the 
power 
by 
which 
he 
might 
have 
re­ 
sisted 
them 
entirely 
had 
he 
so 
desired. 
What 
he 
did 
was 
suf­ 
ficient 
to 
show 
them 
and 
his 
apostles 
that 
his 
surrender 
was 
not 
one 
of 
necessity, 
but 
that 
the 
Father's 
will 
might 
be 
done. 
Awhile 
before 
Jesus 
had 
said 
that 
they 
shOUld 
have 
some 
swords, 
and, 
finding 
that 
there 
were 
two, 
he 
said 
they 
were 
enough. 
The 
Apostle 
Peter 
was 
evidently 
the 
bearer 
of 
one 
of 
these 
and 
as 
the 
armed 
men 
approached 
the 
Lord, 
Peter 
used 
the 
sword 
and 
smote 
off 
the 
ear 
of 
Malchus, 
the 
servant 
of 
the 
High 
Priest. 
This 
incident 
was 
evidently 
of 
the 
Lord's 
intention 
to 
show 
that 
his 
surrender 
was 
not 
because 
of 
cowardice 
on 
the 
part 
of 
the 
disciples 
or 
himself. 
It 
also 
fur­ 
nished 
the 
opportunity 
of 
healing 
an 
enemy 
by 
our 
Lord's 
touch 
and 
the 
opportunity 
of 
saying 
to 
Peter, 
Put 
up 
thy 
sword; 
they 
that 
take 
to 
the 
sword 
shall 
perish 
by 
the 
sword; 
in 
other 
words, 
My 
followers 
are 
not 
to 
fight 
with 
carnal 
weapons, 
my 
kingdom 
is 
not 
to 
be 
established 
in 
this 
man­ 
ner. 
Annas 
had 
been 
the 
High 
Priest 
for 
number 
of 
years 
and 
had 
been 
followed 
in 
the 
office 
by 
several 
of 
his 
sons 
and 
now 
his 
son-in-law, 
Caiaphas, 
filled 
the 
position. 
Nevertheless, 
Annas 
in 
certain 
sense 
was 
recognized 
and 
hence 
our 
Lord 
was 
first 
taken 
before 
him. 
Annas 
questioned 
him 
but 
did 
not 
attempt 
judicial 
investigation. 
This 
was 
had 
before 
Caiaphas 
and 
apparently 
in 
another 
part 
of 
the 
palace 
of 
the 
High 
Priest. 
It 
was 
apparently 
while 
our 
Lord 
was 
being 
examined 
by 
Annas 
that 
Peter, 
who 
warmed 
himself 
at 
the 
fire, 
was 
ques­ 
tioned 
three 
times 
respecting 
his 
identity 
with 
our 
Lord 
as 
one 
of 
his 
followers, 
and 
three 
times 
he 
denied 
and 
directly 
the 
cock 
crowing 
began. 
Peter 
heard 
it, 
and 
our 
Lord, 
while 
being 
led 
from 
the 
presence 
of 
Annas 
to 
the 
judgment 
soat 
of 
Caiaphas, 
looked 
upon 
Peter. 
What 
sermon 
there 
was 
in 
the 
glance 
toward 
Peter 
He 
who 
had 
boasted 
of 
his 
courage 
that 
he 
never 
would 
deny 
the 
Lord 
had 
failed. 
How 
much 
weaker 
he 
was 
than 
he 
had 
supposed 
How 
the 
Lord's 
prophecy 
had 
come 
true, 
Before 
the 
second 
cock 
crowing 
thou 
shalt 
deny 
me 
thrice 
He 
went 
out 
and 
wept 
bitterly, 
sick 
at 
heart 
and 
thoroughly 
ashamed 
of 
himself, 
resolving, 
no 
doubt, 
that 
he 
would 
be 
less 
boastful 
in 
the 
future 
and 
do 
more 
of 
the 
watching 
and 
praying 
which 
the 
Master 
had 
enjoined. 
We 
know 
not 
how 
close 
parallels 
to 
some 
of 
these 
experi. 
ences 
may 
lie 
before 
some 
of 
the 
Lord's 
dear 
people 
now. 
But 
let 
us 
hope 
that 
if 
any 
of 
us 
should 
come 
so 
sadly 
short 
of 
our 
own 
hopes 
and 
privileges 
that 
the 
Master 
would 
not 
only 
pray 
for 
us, 
as 
he 
did 
for 
Peter, 
but 
that 
he 
would 
turn 
upon 
us 
also 
his 
glances 
of 
reproof, 
of 
chiding, 
and 
also 
such 
glances 
as 
would 
remind 
us 
of 
his 
sympathy 
and 
love 
that 
we 
might 
not 
be 
overwhelmed 
with 
our 
own 
sense 
of 
weakness 
and 
shame, 
but 
that 
our 
repentance, 
unlike 
that 
of 
Judas, 
should 
be 
like 
that 
of 
Peter, 
sincere 
and 
acceptable 
to 
the 
Lord. 
BRITISH 
PILGRIMAGE 
OF 
BRO. 
F. 
W. 
WILLIAMSON 
Carlow, 
Ireland, 
May 
23; 
Dublin, 
Ireland, 
May 
24, 
25; 
Belfast, 
Ireland, 
May 
26; 
Bangor, 
Ireland, 
May 
28; 
Glas­ 
gow, 
Scotland, 
May 
30, 
31; 
Edinburgh, 
Scotland, 
June 
2, 
3; 
London, 
England, 
June 
5, 
8; 
Luton, 
England, 
June 
9; 
Ox­ 
ford, 
England, 
June 
11, 
12. 
VOL. 
XXIX 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
MAY 
15, 
1908 
No. 
10 
THE 
EDITOR'S 
BRITISH 
TOUR 
Kaiser 
Wilhelm 
cler 
Gro88e. 
us 
in 
the 
name 
of 
the 
church, 
and 
to 
provide 
for 
our 
enter- 
To 
THE 
DEAR 
BIBLE 
HOUSE 
FAMILY, 
tainment. 
Assuring 
them 
that 
such 
kindness 
was 
neither 
ex- 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA, 
pected 
nor 
deserved, 
we 
nevertheless 
were 
persuaded 
not 
to 
As 
my 
train 
left 
the 
Pittsburgh 
depot 
your 
waving 
hand- 
spoil 
their 
pleasure 
by 
declining 
the 
arrangement, 
and 
ac­ 
kerchiefs 
greeted 
my 
eyes, 
assuring 
me 
of 
your 
Christian 
love 
cepted 
it 
most 
heartily. 
Their 
arrangements 
included 
an 
even­ 
-and 
that 
it 
would 
go 
with 
me. 
And 
the 
echo 
of 
your 
songs 
ing 
discourse 
at 
Judson 
Memorial 
church. 
We 
spoke 
to 
an 
stays 
with 
me 
still- 
God 
be 
with 
you 
till 
we 
meet 
again" 
audience 
of 
about 
600 
on 
the 
significance 
of 
the 
Passover 
and 
Blest 
be 
the 
tie 
that 
binds 
our 
hearts 
in 
Christian 
love." 
Memorial, 
from 
the 
text, 
Except 
ye 
eat 
the 
flesh 
and 
drink 
Your 
parting 
greetings 
and 
songs 
commingled 
with 
my 
prayers 
the 
blood 
of 
the 
Son 
of 
man, 
ye 
have 
no 
life 
in 
you." 
for 
you 
and 
all 
the 
dear 
Israel 
of 
God, 
and 
my 
thanksgivings 
After 
the 
service 
we 
greeted 
the 
congregation 
at 
the 
door. 
to 
the 
Great 
Giver 
of 
all 
good 
beautifully 
blended 
into 
sweet 
About 
one-half 
of 
the 
number 
were 
friends 
of 
the 
truth-of 
dreams 
and 
refreshing 
sleep. 
New 
York, 
Brooklyn 
and 
nearby 
cities 
as 
far 
east 
as 
Boston 
The 
next 
day, 
Sunday, 
April 
5th, 
we 
reached 
Lynchburg, 
and 
as 
far 
south 
as 
Philadelphia. 
The 
next 
morning 
about 
Va., 
where 
we 
were 
met 
at 
the 
depot 
by 
about 
two 
dozen 
of 
forty 
of 
these 
bade 
us 
It 
Good-bye" 
again 
on 
the 
pier, 
and 
the 
dear 
brethren 
and 
sisters 
of 
that 
vicinity, 
and 
soon 
we 
sang 
God 
be 
with 
you 
till 
we 
meet 
again." 
These 
many 
were 
at 
the 
Opera 
House, 
where 
great 
throng 
came 
to 
hear 
demonstrations 
of 
Christian 
love 
by 
the 
dear 
friends 
every­ 
The 
Bible 
Defended." 
About 
1,000 
were 
present, 
and 
it 
is 
where 
have 
an 
humbling 
effect, 
as 
we 
feel 
our 
unworthiness 
said 
several 
hundred 
were 
turned 
away. 
We 
had 
close 
at- 
of 
so 
much 
of 
their 
kind 
attention; 
and 
it 
has 
stimulating 
tention, 
and 
have 
reason 
to 
hope 
that 
some 
received 
blessing. 
effect, 
too, 
in 
that 
it 
encourages 
us 
to 
endeavor 
still 
more 
The 
evening 
meeting 
was 
not 
advertised, 
and 
the 
audience, 
earnestly 
to 
attain 
the 
perfect 
ideals 
set 
before 
us 
in 
the 
therefore, 
was 
chiefly 
of 
the 
interested-including 
some 
who 
Scriptures. 
had 
come 
from 
Norfolk, 
Suffolk, 
Richmond 
and 
other 
cities. 
Our 
first 
day 
on 
this 
great 
vessel 
has 
been 
delightful 
The 
discourse 
on 
that 
occasion 
you 
already 
have 
in 
the 
Dis- 
one, 
clear, 
sunshiny, 
cool, 
bracing. 
We 
have 
rested, 
read 
patch 
and 
other 
papers 
publishing 
the 
sermons. 
letters 
brought 
from 
home, 
tried 
to 
get 
acquainted, 
and 
above 
We 
left 
at 
2.10 
Monday 
morning, 
and 
reaching 
Washing- 
all 
have 
enjoyed 
sweet 
fellowship 
with 
the 
Lord-allowing 
ton 
City 
were 
surprised 
to 
find 
delegation 
representing 
the 
our 
heart 
to 
overflow 
with 
thankfulness 
on 
our 
own 
behalf 
and 
Washington 
ecclesia 
in 
the 
depot, 
expecting 
us 
to 
change 
cars 
on 
behalf 
of 
all 
the 
dear 
church 
of 
Christ, 
especially 
those 
there 
and 
hent 
on 
having 
us 
take 
breakfast 
with 
them, 
which 
who 
had 
asked 
to 
be 
remembered 
in 
prayer. 
With 
hot 
salt 
we 
did. 
The 
hour 
spent 
in 
their 
company 
was 
delightful 
water 
bath 
we 
will 
retire, 
wishing 
you 
all 
Good 
night 
one, 
reminding 
us 
afresh 
of 
what 
are 
the 
usual 
character- 
and 
visiting 
you 
in 
memory 
as 
we 
pray 
for 
you 
each 
by 
name 
istics 
of 
the 
Church 
of 
the 
First-born' 
'-everywhere, 
viz., 
and 
remember 
what 
we 
know 
of 
your 
special 
needs. 
love 
and 
zeal 
for 
the 
Lord 
and 
for 
all 
who 
are 
his. 
At 
p. 
m., 
April 
13th, 
we 
reached 
Plymouth, 
our 
landing 
Six 
hours 
later 
we 
were 
with 
the 
New 
York 
friends. 
place. 
Our 
journey 
across 
the 
ocean 
was 
rather 
uneventfuI­ 
delegation 
of 
four 
had 
been 
appointed 
to 
meet 
liS 
and 
greet 
apparently 
nobody 
seriously 
seasick. 
We 
enjoyed 
splendid 
[4169] 
May 1, 1908 full. From the standpoint of the rulers the midnight hour was the most favorable because a large concourse of people then in Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover included many who knew Jesus and had been witnesses of his miracles and his arrest in day time might have led to a tumult. Our Lord probably went to the Garden because it belonged to a friend and because in the open his disciples would have a better opportunity for escape from arrest; though it does not appear that there was any special endeavor to make an arrest, except that mentioned by Mark of a young man who followed with the crowd as they led Jesus away and who had on a long, loose garment, and when they laid hold upon it he fied from them naked. This is supposed to have been John Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark, and that he lived on the premises of which the Gethsemane Garden was a part. Our Lord’s agony, prayer and comforting at an end, he returned to the apostles, saying, ‘‘Sleep on now, and take your rest.’? Your opportunity for watching with me or speaking a word of comfort has passed; your opportunity for waking your own hearts and minds to prayer as a safeguard against coming trials and testings is past. Behold the band of those who will arrest me! A little ahead of the band came Judas, who indicated the Master by the traitorous kiss, which John, for very shame, did not record. Judas, finding his deception recognized as the Master said, ‘‘Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?’’ left him and joined the band who had come for his arrest, while Jesus, coming out of the cover into the open, said, ‘*‘ Whom seek ye?’’ After he had answered their reply, saying, ‘‘I am he, let these my friends go their way,’’ we read that the men went backward and fell on the ground. This was doubtless the result of a power our Lord exercised upon them, the power by which he might have resisted them entirely had he so desired. What he did was sufficient to show them and his apostles that his surrender was not one of necessity, but that the Father’s will might be done. Awhile before Jesus had said that they should have some swords, and, finding that there were two, he said they were enough. The Apostle Peter was evidently the bearer of one of these and as the armed men approached the Lord, Peter used the sword and smote off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the High Priest. This incident was evidently of the Lord’s intention to show that his surrender was not because of cowardice on the part of the disciples or himself. It also furnished the opportunity of healing an enemy by our Lord’s touch and the opportunity of saying to Peter, ‘‘Put up thy ZION’S WATCH TOWER (142-147) sword; they that take to the sword shall perish by the sword; ’’ in other words, My followers are not to fight with carnal weapons, my kingdom is not to be established in this manner. Annas had been the High Priest for a number of years and had been followed in the office by several of his sons and now his son-in-law, Caiaphas, filled the position. Nevertheless, Annas in a certain sense was recognized and hence our Lord was first taken before him. Annas questioned him but did not attempt a judicial investigation. This was had before Caiaphas and apparently in another part of the palace of the High Priest. It was apparently while our Lord was being examined by Annas that Peter, who warmed himself at the fire, was questioned three times respecting his identity with our Lord as one of his followers, and three times he denied and directly the cock crowing began. Peter heard it, and our Lord, while being led from the presence of Annas to the judgment scat of Caiaphas, looked upon Peter. What a sermon there was in the glance toward Peter! He who had boasted of his courage that he never would deny the Lord had failed. How much weaker he was than he had supposed! How the Lord’s propheey had come true, Before the second cock crowing thou shalt deny me thrice! He went out and wept bitterly, sick at heart and thoroughly ashamed of himself, resolving, no doubt, that he would be less boastful in the future and dé more of the watching and praying which the Master had enjoined. We know not how close parallels to some of these experiences may lie before some of the Lord’s dear people now. But let us hope that if any of us should come so sadly short of our own hopes and privileges that the Master would not only pray for us, as he did for Peter, but that he would turn upon us also his glances of reproof, of chiding, and also such glances as would remind us of his sympathy and love that we might not be overwhelmed with our own sense of weakness and shame, but that our repentance, unlike that of Judas, should be like that of Peter, sincere and acceptable to the Lord. BRITISH PILGRIMAGE OF BRO. F. W. WILLIAMSON Carlow, Ireland, May 23; Dublin, Ireland, May 24, 25; Belfast, Ireland, May 26; Bangor, Ireland, May 28; Glasgow, Scotland, May 30, 31; Edinburgh, Scotland, June 2, 3; London, England, June 5, 8; Luton, England, June 9; Oxford, England, June 11, 12. Vou. XXIX THE EDITOR’S Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. To THE DEAR BIsLE House FaMILy, ALLEGHENY, Pa. As my train left the Pittsburgh depot your waving handkerchiefs greeted my eyes, assuring me of your Christian love —and that it would go with me. And the echo of your songs stays with me still—‘‘God be with you till we meet again’’ and ‘‘Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.’’ Your parting greetings and songs commingled with my prayers for you and all the dear Israel of God, and my thanksgivings to the Great Giver of all good beautifully blended into sweet dreams and refreshing sleep. The next day, Sunday, April 5th, we reached Lynchburg, Va., where we were met at the depot by about two dozen of the dear brethren and sisters of that vicinity, and soon we were at the Opera House, where a great throng came to hear ‘“The Bible Defended.’’? About 1,000 were present, and it is said several hundred were turned away. We had close attention, and have reason to hope that some received a blessing. The evening meeting was not advertised, and the audience, therefore, was chiefly of the interested—including some who had come from Norfolk, Suffolk, Richmond and other cities. The discourse on that occasion you already have in the Dispatch and other papers publishing the sermons. We left at 2.10 Monday morning, and reaching Washington City were surprised to find a delegation representing the Washington ecclesia in the depot, expecting us to change cars there and bent on having us take breakfast with them, which we did. The hour spent in their company was a delightful one, reminding us afresh of what are the usual characteristics of the ‘‘Church of the First-born’’—everywhere, viz., love and zeal for the Lord and for all who are his. Six hours later we were with the New York friends. A delegation of four had been appointed to meet us and greet ALLEGHENY, PA., MAY 15, 1908 No. 10 BRITISH TOUR us in the name of the church, and to provide for our entertainment. Assuring them that such kindness was neither expected nor deserved, we nevertheless were persuaded not to spoil their pleasure by declining the arrangement, and accepted it most heartily. Their arrangements included an evening discourse at Judson Memorial church. We spoke to an audience of about 600 on the significance of the Passover Memorial, from the text, ‘‘Except ye eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man, ye have no life in you.’’ After the service we greeted the congregation at the door. About one-half of the number were friends of the truth—of New York, Brooklyn and nearby cities as far east as Boston and as far south as Philadelphia. The next morning about forty of these bade us ‘‘Good-bye’’ again on the pier, and sang ‘‘God be with you till we meet again.’’ These many demonstrations of Christian love by the dear friends everywhere have an humbling effect, as we feel our unworthiness of so much of their kind attention; and it has a stimulating effect, too, in that it encourages us to endeavor still more earnestly to attain the perfect ideals set before us in the Seriptures. Our first day on this great vessel has been a delightful one, clear, sunshiny, cool, bracing. We have rested, read letters brought from home, tried to get acquainted, and above all have enjoyed sweet fellowship with the Lord—allowing our heart to overflow with thankfulness on our own behalf and on behalf of all the dear church of Christ, especially those who had asked to be remembered in prayer. With a hot salt water bath we will retire, wishing you all ‘‘Good night!’’ and visiting you in memory as we pray for you each by name and remember what we know of your special needs. At 3 p.m., April 13th, we reached Plymouth, our landing place. Our journey across the ocean was rather uneventful— apparently nobody seriously seasick. We enjoyed a splendid [4169]

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