Publication date
9/1/09
Volume
30
Number
17
The WatchTower
Our Western Convention Tour
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1909/17/1909-17-1.html
 
 
GENERAL 
CONVENTION 
SARATOGA 
SPRINGS, 
N. 
Y., 
AUGUST 
31 
TO 
SEPT. 
3-HUDSON 
BIVEB 
TBIl' 
ON 
CHARTERED 
STEAMER, 
SEPT. 
4. 
BBOOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
SEPT. 
5, 
6. 
We 
have 
concluded 
to 
have 
the 
convention 
at 
Saratoga 
Springs, 
N. 
Y., 
with 
steamboat 
excursion 
to 
Brooklyn. 
This, 
we 
believe, 
will 
be 
much 
more 
enjoyable 
than 
to 
have 
the 
con­ 
vention 
at 
Brooklyn. 
Our 
thought 
is 
to 
have 
a 
four-day 
co~­ 
vention 
at 
Saratoga 
Springs 
from 
Tuesday, 
August 
31st, 
to 
Ffl­ 
day, 
September 
3d, 
and 
on 
Saturday, 
September 
4th. 
to 
enjoy 
fellowshipping 
on 
one 
of 
the 
famous 
steamboat 
trips 
on 
the 
Hud­ 
son 
River, 
arriving 
in 
good 
season 
to 
secure 
necessary 
accom­ 
modation 
for 
Saturday 
night. 
On 
Sunuay, 
September 
5th, 
the 
Academy 
of 
Music, 
the 
largest 
and 
finest 
auditorium 
in 
Brook­ 
lyn, 
will 
be 
used 
for 
the 
three 
sessions, 
morning, 
afternoon 
and 
evening. 
Monday, 
the 
6th, 
will 
be 
devoted 
to 
visiting 
the 
head­ 
quarters 
of 
the 
Watch 
Tower 
Bible 
and 
Tract 
Society, 
the 
Brooklyn 
Tabernacle 
and 
Bethel 
Home. 
Saratoga 
has 
long 
been 
regarded 
as 
one 
of 
the 
finest 
sum­ 
mer 
and 
health 
resorts 
in 
the 
United 
States. 
Its 
immense 
Con­ 
vention 
Hall 
seats 
five 
thousand 
people 
and 
is 
admirably 
suited 
for 
our 
general 
convention. 
The 
acoustic 
properties 
of 
the 
building 
make 
it 
easy 
for 
speakers 
to 
be 
heard 
in 
any 
part 
of 
the 
auditorium. 
Tickets 
should 
be 
purchased 
to 
Saratoga 
Springs, 
N. 
Y., 
making 
careful 
inquiry 
as 
to 
lowest 
rate 
applicable 
from 
your 
own 
station. 
Special 
concession 
on 
the 
basis 
of 
the 
certificate 
plan 
on 
account 
of 
the 
Watch 
Tower 
Bible 
and 
Tract 
Society's 
eonvention 
will 
probably 
be 
obtained, 
in 
which 
event 
full 
fare 
will 
be 
paid 
on 
going 
trip, 
and 
certificate 
receipt 
furnished 
by 
the 
agent, 
which 
will 
entitle 
holder 
to 
return 
fare 
at 
reduced 
rate. 
All 
believers 
in 
the 
Atonement 
by 
the 
Precious 
Blood 
will 
be 
welcomed 
if 
they 
have 
the 
Spirit 
of 
Christ. 
But 
"grievous 
wolves," 
"backbiters," 
"slanderers" 
and 
"contentious" 
J;>ersons 
are 
not 
invited. 
Should 
such 
attend 
these 
or 
any 
meetmg's 
ot 
truth 
people, 
they 
should 
be 
treated 
so 
Scripturally 
as 
to 
make 
them 
ill 
at 
ease 
and 
very 
unhappy 
at 
theee 
Love 
Feasts. 
Mark 
the 
Apostolic 
delineations 
and 
admQnitions 
and 
be 
of 
good 
cour· 
age 
in 
obeying 
the 
same. 
Read 
Jude 
10-12 
and 
Romans 
16:17 
and 
Philippians 
3: 
17. 
Reasonable 
terms 
for 
boarding 
and 
lodging 
have 
been 
se­ 
cured. 
None 
should 
count 
on 
an 
expense 
of 
less 
than 
$1.25 
per 
day, 
and 
of 
course 
at 
gQO{l 
hotels 
it 
would 
be 
considerably 
more. 
VOL. 
XXX 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
SEPTEMBER 
1, 
1909 
No. 
17 
OUR 
WESTERN 
CONVENTION 
TOUR 
THE 
SEATTLE 
OONVENTION 
pure 
heart 
inspired 
by 
love, 
and 
that 
this 
love 
not 
only 
relates 
Our 
train 
reached 
Seattle 
Thursday 
morning, 
July 
22nd, 
to 
the 
Father 
and 
Son, 
but 
must 
be 
in 
a 
general 
element 
of 
and 
the 
four 
days 
of 
our 
stay 
will 
surely 
long 
be 
remembered 
character 
applicable 
to 
all 
men 
and 
in 
proportion 
as 
they 
are 
by 
all 
who 
participated 
in 
the 
blessings 
of 
this 
convention. 
in 
accord 
with 
the 
Divine 
character 
and 
applicable 
also 
even 
The 
weather 
was 
ideal; 
the 
arrangement 
excellent; 
and 
the 
to 
the 
new 
creation. 
cheap 
railroad 
rate 
brought 
many 
friends 
living 
within 
a 
In 
the 
evening 
after 
praise 
service 
Brother 
O. 
L. 
Sullivan 
radius 
of 
five 
hundred 
miles. 
One 
brother 
eighty-three 
years 
addressed 
the 
convention. 
We 
did 
not 
have 
the 
pleasure 
of 
old 
told 
us 
that 
he 
had 
come 
a 
distance 
of 
over 
two 
thousand 
hearing 
the 
address, 
having 
accepted 
an 
invitation 
to 
visit 
a 
miles. 
The 
friends 
were 
very 
warmly 
enthusiastic 
and 
gave 
Brother 
and 
a 
Sister, 
residing 
at 
Everett, 
who 
were 
physically 
many 
evidences 
of 
great 
love 
for 
the 
Lord, 
for 
the 
truth 
and 
unable 
to 
attend 
the 
convention. 
We 
were 
most 
cordially 
for 
each 
other. 
As 
our 
company 
of 
ninety 
alighted 
at 
Seattle 
received 
and 
found 
that 
they 
were 
rejoicing 
in 
the 
truth 
and 
station 
we 
were 
greeted 
by 
approximately 
one 
hundred 
and 
strong 
in 
the 
Lord. 
The 
Brother 
is 
eIghty-seven 
years 
old 
fifty, 
who 
welcomed 
us 
warmly 
in 
the 
name 
of 
the 
Lord 
and 
and 
physically 
in 
a 
most 
deplorable 
condition, 
but 
his 
heart 
his 
children. 
We 
returned 
the 
salutations 
and 
quickly 
realized 
is 
happy 
and 
his 
face 
bright, 
because 
of 
the 
light 
of 
the 
that 
we 
were 
.in 
the 
loving 
company 
of 
the 
Lord's 
brethren. 
knowledge 
of 
the 
Lord 
which 
had 
shined 
into 
his 
heart. 
His 
The 
convention 
opened 
at 
10:30 
o'clock. 
Brother 
Acheson, 
affliction 
is 
of 
a 
rheumatic 
character 
and 
has 
affected 
hiS 
of 
the 
Seattle 
class, 
as 
its 
representative, 
greeted 
us 
and 
joints, 
so 
that 
the 
slightest 
movement 
of 
them 
is 
with 
intense 
assured 
us 
of 
the 
love 
of 
the 
local 
church 
and 
of 
their 
happi- 
pain. 
Cheerfully 
and 
patil'ntly 
he 
told 
me 
that 
he 
was 
waiting 
ness 
in 
having 
us 
with 
them. 
Following 
this, 
Brother 
Baker, 
for 
the 
Lord's 
time 
for 
his 
"change," 
and 
that 
his 
entire 
speaker 
for 
the 
friends 
of 
the 
entire 
Northwest, 
greeted 
the 
consolation 
is 
the 
truth. 
'I'llI' 
dear 
brother 
who 
took 
us 
to 
convention 
tourists, 
assuring 
us 
that 
the 
friends 
of 
the 
exten- 
see 
him 
remarked 
that 
whenever 
he 
felt 
discouraged 
or 
in 
any 
sive 
district 
which 
he 
represented 
were 
of 
one 
heart 
and 
mind 
wise 
inclined 
to 
murmur 
he 
took 
a 
little 
run 
up 
to 
see 
this 
in 
thanking 
us 
for 
our 
coming, 
and 
in 
anticipation 
of 
divine 
brother, 
with 
the 
result 
that 
he 
always 
concluded 
that 
in 
blessing 
for 
the 
Convention, 
and 
laden 
with 
prayers 
for 
divine 
comparison 
he 
had 
no 
difficulty, 
no 
trials, 
no 
pains, 
and 
that 
benediction 
upon 
the 
services 
which 
were 
to 
be 
held. 
if 
this 
dear 
brother 
can 
praise 
the 
Lord 
under 
such 
conditions 
Next, 
as 
the 
President 
of 
the 
Watch 
Tower 
Bible 
and 
Tract 
not 
a 
murmur 
or 
a 
sigh 
should 
escape 
those 
who 
a.re 
in 
a 
Society, 
we 
greeted 
all 
the 
dear 
friends 
in 
attendance 
at 
the 
more 
favored 
condition, 
except 
the 
sigh 
of 
sympathy. 
convention, 
assuring 
them 
all 
of 
our 
Christian 
love 
and 
good 
Friday 
morning 
we 
had 
another 
praise 
and 
testimony 
wishes 
and 
that 
we 
were 
pleased 
to 
be 
in 
their 
midst 
and 
to 
meeting, 
after 
which 
Brother 
F. 
A. 
Acheson, 
of 
Seattle, 
gave 
receive 
their 
welcome 
and 
to 
return 
to 
them 
our 
cordial 
greet- 
what 
was 
reported 
to 
be 
a 
very 
interesting 
discourse. 
In 
the 
ing. 
We 
assured 
them 
of 
the 
Society's 
endeavors 
at 
all 
times 
afternoon 
we 
conducted 
a 
question 
meeting 
for 
over 
two 
hours 
and 
under 
all 
circumstances 
to 
look 
out 
for 
the 
interests 
of 
and 
greatly 
appreciated 
the 
questions, 
which 
indicated 
breadth 
the 
Lord's 
flock 
and 
to 
do 
everything 
in 
our 
power 
to 
aid 
the 
and 
depth 
of 
thought. 
In 
the 
evening 
one 
of 
the 
local 
breth­ 
dear 
sheep 
to 
a 
full 
appreciation 
of 
the 
length 
and 
breadth 
ren, 
Brother 
W. 
A. 
Baker, 
addressed 
the 
Convention, 
evidently 
and 
height 
and 
depth 
of 
the 
love 
of 
God. 
We 
then 
introduced 
much 
to 
its 
satisfactiOn. 
Brother 
J. 
F. 
Rutherford 
as 
the 
permanent 
chairman 
of 
the 
Saturday, 
July 
24.-The 
day 
opened 
with 
a 
testimony 
convention, 
which 
was 
opened 
with 
a 
testimony 
meeting, 
at 
meeting, 
reported 
to 
have 
been 
most 
interesting, 
and 
this 
which 
many 
hearts 
unburdened 
themselves, 
telling 
of 
t 
h 
e 
i 
r 
. 
ed 
b 
d' 
b 
B 
I 
JAB 
h 
t 
love 
for 
the 
Lord 
and 
the 
truth; 
how 
in 
divine 
providence 
the 
servICe 
was 
follow 
y 
a. 
Iscourse 
y 
rot 
ler 
. 
. 
0 
ne 
, 
truth 
had 
first 
come 
to 
their 
a.ttention; 
how 
they 
had 
been 
of 
which 
we 
heard 
excellen. 
reports. 
We 
regretted 
inability 
to 
growing 
in 
grace 
and 
knowledge; 
how 
their 
love 
for 
the 
Lord 
be 
present 
when 
oth.erhs 
"h·ered.sl,leakingll' 
out 
ou; 
time, 
in. 
har­ 
and 
for 
the 
brethren 
kept 
increasing; 
how 
they 
realized 
the 
mony, 
we 
beheve, 
Wit 
t 
I" 
Ivme 
WI 
, 
was 
glVen 
to 
prIvate 
t 
d 
appointments 
with 
frienda 
who 
had 
particular 
and 
prIvate 
closing 
of 
the 
age 
and 
that 
the 
harvest 
would 
soon 
be 
pas 
an 
matters 
to 
discuss. 
In 
the 
afternoon 
we 
gave 
a 
discourse 
on 
the 
summer 
of 
divine 
favor 
soon 
ended, 
and 
how 
th1 
were 
Baptism, 
its 
import 
and 
its 
symbol, 
following 
which 
eighty 
striving 
by 
divine 
grace 
"to 
make 
their 
calling 
an 
their 
were 
immersed, 
forty-three 
brethren 
and 
thIrty-seven 
sisters. 
election 
sure."-2 
Pet. 
1: 
10. 
Following 
a 
praise 
service 
in 
the 
afternoon 
we 
addressed 
In 
the 
evening 
we 
had 
a 
symposium 
on 
the 
gifts 
and 
graces 
ot 
the 
convention 
from 
the 
text, 
"Who 
hath 
known 
the 
mind 
of 
love, 
nine 
dear 
brethren 
participating 
to 
the 
pleasure 
and 
the 
Lord, 
or 
who 
hath 
been 
his 
counsellor?" 
(Rom. 
11 
:34) 
profit 
of 
the 
convention. 
We 
outlined 
the 
divine 
plan 
as 
outlined 
in 
the 
Scriptures, 
be- 
Sunday, 
July 
25.-The 
meetings 
of 
this 
day 
were 
held 
in 
ginning 
with 
Satan's 
deflection, 
and 
showing 
the 
testing 
of 
the 
New 
Armory 
Hall. 
Brother 
J. 
F. 
Rutherword 
spoke 
in 
the 
angels 
in 
connection 
with 
man's 
fall, 
and 
the 
lessons 
of 
man's 
forenoon, 
the 
congregation 
being 
composed 
chiefly 
of 
the 
fall 
and 
redemption 
and 
restitution 
and 
final 
test. 
We 
friend!! 
of 
the 
truth, 
to 
the 
number 
of 
about 
five 
hundred. 
cndeavored 
to 
mal-:- 
dear 
that 
obedience 
to 
God 
is 
the 
ultimate 
His 
text 
was 
Malachi 
3 
:2, 
the 
particular 
point 
of 
the 
dis­ 
test 
by 
which 
all 
of 
his 
creatures 
on 
any 
plane 
will 
be 
tried. 
course 
being 
the 
trials 
of 
the 
present 
time.-Who 
will 
stand? 
None 
but 
the 
obedient 
shall 
have 
eternal 
life. 
All 
of 
the 
dis. 
and, 
What 
assistances 
the 
Lord 
has 
provided 
for 
them. 
obedient 
shall 
be 
destroyed. 
We 
endeavored 
to 
note 
what 
the 
The 
.Lfternoon 
service 
was 
specially 
for 
the 
public, 
our 
divine 
injunctions 
are 
which 
must 
be 
obeyed, 
and 
found 
that 
topic 
being, 
"Where 
are 
the 
Dead?" 
A 
large 
and 
very 
intelli­ 
they 
include 
faith, 
humility 
and 
loyalty, 
and 
these 
out 
of 
a 
gent 
audience 
was 
present-residents 
of 
Seattle, 
and 
people 
V-49 
[4461] 
(255-259) 
GENERAL CONVENTION SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y., AUGUST 31 TO SEPT. 3—HUDSON RIVER TRIP ON CHARTERED STEAMER, SEPT. 4. BROOKLYN, N. Y., SEPT. 5, 6. We have concluded to have the convention at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., with steamboat excursion to Brooklyn. This, we believe, will be much more enjoyable than to have the convention at Brooklyn. Our thought is to have a four-day convention at Saratoga Springs from Tuesday, August 31st, to Friday, September 3d, and on Saturday, September 4th. to enjoy fellowshipping on one of the famous steamboat trips on the Hudson River, arriving in good season to secure necessary accommodation for Saturday night. On Sunuay, September 5th, the Academy of Music, the largest and finest auditorium in Brooklyn, will be used for the three sessions, morning, afternoon and evening. Monday, the 6th, will be devoted to visiting the headquarters of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, the Brooklyn Tabernacle and Bethel Home. Saratoga has long been regarded as one of the finest summer and health resorts in the United States. Its immense Convention Hall seats five thousand people and is admirably suited for our general convention. The acoustic properties of the building make it easy for speakers to be heard in any part of the auditorium. Tickets should be purchased to Saratoga Springs, N. Y., making careful inquiry as to lowest rate applicable from your own station. Special concession on the basis of the certificate plan on account of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society’s eonvention will probably be obtained, in which event full fare will be paid on going trip, and certificate receipt furnished by the agent, which will entitle holder to return fare at reduced rate. All believers in the Atonement by the Precious Blood will be welcomed if they have the Spirit of Christ. But “grievous wolves,” “backbiters,” “slanderers” and “contentious” persons are not invited. Should such attend these or any meetings ot truth people, they should be treated so Scripturally as to make them ill at ease and very unhappy at these Love Feasts. Mark the Apostolic delineations and admonitions and be of good courage in obeying the same. Read Jude 10-12 and Romans 16:17 and Philippians 3:17. Reasonable terms for boarding and lodging have been secured. None should count on an expense of less than $1.25 per Vout. XXX BROOKLYN, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 1, 1909 day, and of course at good hotels it would be considerably more. No. 17 OUR WESTERN CONVENTION TOUR THE SEATTLE CONVENTION Our train reached Seattle Thursday morning, July 22nd, and the four days of our stay will surely long be remembered by all who participated in the blessings of this convention. The weather was ideal; the arrangement excellent; and the cheap railroad rate brought many friends living within a radius of five hundred miles. One brother eighty-three years old told us that he had come a distance of over two thousand miles. The friends were very warmly enthusiastic and gave many evidences of great love for the Lord, for the truth and for each other. As our company of ninety alighted at Seattle station we were greeted by approximately one hundred and tifty, who welcomed us warmly in the name of the Lord and his children, We returned the salutations and quickly realized that we were in the loving company of the Lord’s brethren. The convention opened at 10:30 o’clock. Brother Acheson, of the Seattle class, as its representative, greeted us and assured us of the love of the local church and of their happiness in having us with them. Following this, Brother Baker, speaker for the friends of the entire Northwest, greeted the convention tourists, assuring us that the friends of the extensive district which he represented were of one heart and mind in thanking us for our coming, and in anticipation of divine blessing for the Convention, and laden with prayers for divine benediction upon the services which were to be held. Next, as the President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, we greeted all the dear friends in attendance at the convention, assuring them all of our Christian love and good wishes and that we were pleased to be in their midst and to receive their welcome and to return to them our cordial greeting. We assured them of the Society’s endeavors at all times and under all circumstances to look out for the interests of the Lord’s flock and to do everything in our power to aid the dear sheep to a full appreciation of the length and breadth and height and depth of the love of God. We then introduced Brother J. F. Rutherford as the permanent chairman of the convention, which was opened with a testimony meeting, at which many hearts unburdened themselves, telling of their love for the Lord and the truth; how in divine providence the truth had first come to their attention; how they had been growing in grace and knowledge; how their love for the Lord and for the brethren kept increasing; how they realized the closing of the age and that the harvest would soon be past and the summer of divine favor soon ended, and how they were striving by divine grace “to make their calling and their election sure.”—2 Pet. 1:10. Following a praise service in the afternoon we addressed the convention from the text, “Who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counsellor?” (Rom. 11:34) We outlined the divine plan as outlined in the Scriptures, beginning with Satan’s deflection, and showing the testing of the angels in connection with man’s fall, and the lessons of man’s fall and redemption and restitution and final test. We endeavored to mal~ clear that obedience to God is the ultimate test by which all of his creatures on any plane will be tried. None but the obedient shall have eternal life. All of the disobedient shall be destroyed. We endeavored to note what the divine injunctions are which must be obeyed, and found that they include faith, humility and loyalty, and these out of a v—49 [4461] pure heart inspired by love, and that this love not only relates to the Father and Son, but must be in a general element of character applicable to all men and in proportion as they are in accord with the Divine character and applicable also even to the new creation. In the evening after praise service Brother O. L. Sullivan addressed the convention. We did not have the pleasure of hearing the address, having accepted an invitation to visit a Brother and a Sister, residing at Everett, who were physically unable to attend the convention. We were most cordially received and found that they were rejoicing in the truth and strong in the Lord. The Brother is elghty-seven years old and physically in a most deplorable condition, but his heart is happy and his face bright, because of the light of the knowledge of the Lord which had shined into his heart. His affliction is of a rheumatic character and has affected his joints, so that the slightest movement of them is with intense pain. Cheerfully and patiently he told me that he was waiting for the Lord’s time for his “change,’ and that his entire consolation ig the truth. The dear brother who took us to see him remarked that whenever he felt discouraged or in any wise inclined to murmur he took a little run up to see this brother, with the result that he always concluded that in comparison he had no difficulty, no trials, no pains, and that if this dear brother can praise the Lord under such conditions not a murmur or a sigh should escape those who are in a more favored condition, except the sigh of sympathy. Friday morning we had another praise and testimony meeting, after which Brother F. A. Acheson, of Seattle, gave what was reported to be a very interesting discourse, In the afternoon we conducted a question meeting for over two hours and greatly appreciated the questions, which indicated breadth and depth of thought. In the evening one of the local brethren, Brother W. A. Baker, addressed the Convention, evidently much to its satisfacuon. Saturday, July 24.—The day opened with a testimony meeting, reported to have been most interesting, and this service was followed by a discourse by Brother J. A. Bohnet, of which we heard excellenu reports. We regretted inability to be present when others were speaking, put our time, in harmony, we believe, with the divine will, was given to private appointments with friends who had particular and private matters to discuss. In the afternoon we gave a discourse on Baptism, its import and its symbol, following which eighty were immersed, forty-three brethren and thirty-seven sisters. In the evening we had a symposium on the gifts and graces ot love, nine dear brethren participating to the pleasure and profit of the convention. Sunday, July 25.—The meetings of this day were held in New Armory Hall. Brother J. F. Rutherword spoke in the forenoon, the congregation being composed chiefly of the friends of the truth, to the number of about five hundred. His text was Malachi 3:2, the particular point of the discourse being the trials of the present time—Who will stand? and, What assistances the Lord has provided for them. The ifternoon service was specially for the public, our topic being, “Where are the Dead?” A large and very intelligent audience was present—residents of Seattle, and people (255-259)

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