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VOL.
XXX
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
APRIL
15,
1909
No.8
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
(115-116)
*
*
RAPIDLY
GROWING
BURDEN
OF
MILITARISM
The"
Dallas
Morning
News"
says
that
"Militarism
has
re
duced
more
people
to
slavery
and
crushed
more
nations
into
the
earth
than
any
of
the
other
burdens.
It
is
unaccountable
that
the
civilization
of
today
will
promote
or
endure
it.
It
means
the
same
thing
over
again,
and
yet
the
educated
people
of
the
twentieth
century
tolerate
it
and
hurrah
over
it
just
as
the
Assyrians
and
Persians
did
in
the
remote
ages
of
passion,
tyranny
and
conquest.
The
penalties
of
it
are
incalculable.
The
appropriation
for
armies
and
navies,
tremendous
as
they
are,
are
by
no
means
the
heaviest
of
the
losses.
There
is
no
other
line
of
jobbery
and
graft
that
is
comparable
to
that
of
the
sharp
opportunity
hunters
who
invent
causes
of
war,
and
who
sell
to
their
pets
in
military
politics
the
stores,
supplies
and
equipments
which
are
consumed
by
armies
and
navies,
whether
idle
or
active.
But
more
scandalous
than
all
the
costly
plun·
dering
and
grafting
is
that
loss
of
self-reliance,
of
ability
to
make
a
living,
of
civic
character
and
peaceful
purpose
that
fol
lows
in
many
instances
the
change
from
a
life
of
working
for
a
living
to
a
life
of
idling
or
fighting
for
a
living.
"Truly,
as
an
observant
contemporary
says,
it
is
of
little
use
for
consumers
to
protest
against
a
tax
on
coffee
and
sugar
for
property
owners
to
protest
against
income
taxes,
or
fo;
States
to
object
to
Federal
inheritance
taxes,
unless
a
similar
protest
is
made
against
the
policies
which
relate
to
these
taxes
as
cause
to
effect.
What
causes
the
deficit
in
National
finances?
Out
of
a
total
of
$810,000,000
appropriated,
exclusive
of
the
postal
Department,
$526,000,000
was
required
to
meet
the
war
bills
of
the
government!
We
are
paying
$1,440,000
a
day
for
war!
That
is
more
than
the
cost
of
the
first
year
of
the
Civil
War,
and
more
than
half
the
cost
of
the
last
year,
in
which
great
armies
were
maintained
in
action.
We
are
at
peace
with
the
world,
but
we
are
maintaining
a
war
standard
of
equip
ment.
We
must
pay
for
it.
We
have
iollowed
the
nations
of
Europe
in
our
military
poliey.
In
this
we
have
taken
on
the
deadly
curse
of
the
ages.
As
a
nation
we
have
never
committed
before
any
blunder
that
is
comparable
to
it
in
either
its
ma
terial
or
moral
penalties."
*
our
possessions
on
the
Pacific
and
we
to
guarantee
the
safety
of
hers
in
the
North
Atlantic."----Exchange.
*
*
*
Pe~ce
I
Peace
I
is
the
cry,
as
the
Scriptures
predicted.
Yet
there
IS
no
peace,
as
they
declare.
True,
no
war
is
being
waged
at
~he
present.
time;
but
it
~s.
surely
expected,
and
the
great
natIons
dread
It
and
spend
mIllIons
on
war
preparation!:
in
har·
mony
with
those
convictions.
Would
the
world's
wise
and
rich
~en
tax
t~emselves
to
the
poi~t
of
distress
for
war
purposes
If
they
belIeved
as
Mr.
CarnegIe
seeks
to
convince
himself
and
others'
Surely
not
I
But
why
is
there
no
peace'
Because
sin
has
entrenched
itself
in
fallen
human
nature.
Selfishness
is
sin
and
the
cause
of
war;
wickedness
is
the
Scriptural
name--"There
is
no
peace
for
the
wicked,
saith
my
God."
If
Mr.
Carnegie
can
tell
the
world
how
to
convert
its
people
giving.
t.hem
~ender
in~tead
of
.stony
hearts,
then
the
peac~
propOSItIOn
WIll
be
qUIckly
realIzed.
But
aside
from
such
a
whol~sale
~onversio~
there
is
hope
for
peace
only
along
the
lines
predIcted
m
the
BIble;
namely,
by
the
establishment
of
Mes
siah's
kingdom
in
spiritual
glory
and
with
unlimited
power.
This
the
~ible
assures
is
nigh
at
hand.
But,
alas!
its
blessings
must
be
mtroduced
by
wars
of
selfishness
which
will
wreck
pre.sent
institutions
and
prepare
~umanity
to
cry
to
God
for
his
relIef
and
the
new
heart,
"Thy
kIngdom
come;
thy
will
be
done
on
earth
as
in
heaven!"
MORE
WAR
ENGINES
The
above
is
the
serious
side
of
this
matter.
The
amusing
"The
first
thought
that
arises
is
an
unpleasant
one,
viz.,
side
is
that
this
war
fever
attacks
nations
in
proportion
as
that
never
in
the
history
of
the
world
have
the
leading
powers
they
become
"Christianized"
or
"Civilized."
Would
we
not
been
engaged
to
such
extent
in
hastening
the
construction
of
better
term
this
warlike
spirit
unchristian
and
uncivIl'
Ah
engines
of
destruction
such
as
the
world
has
never
seen,
a
de·
yes,
to
be
a
Christian
is
a
personal
and
not
a
national
matter~
plorable
fact
which
cannot
but
give
pain
to
every
lover
of
Not
until
Messiah
takes
the
reins
of
government
will
there
be
his
race."
an
end
of
wars.
PEACEl
PEACE
I
AND
DREADNOUGHTS
As
respects
the
war-expenditures,
they
cost
the
poor
noth-
"Britain
built
a
ship
which
created
a
class
by
itself.
By
a
ing
and
the
middle
class
almost
nothing.
Why
object
to
the
strange
fatality
she
called
the
ship
the
Dreadnought,
but
ex-
rich
having
the
costly
toys-battleships
costing
millions
to
perience
is
teaching
her
that
from
it
she
has
everything
to
build
and
other
millions
to
maintain'
Do
not
these
monies
dread.
Germany
began
to
build
new
ships
and
naturally
these
circulate
amongst
the
masses'
Does
not
the
employment
of
were
Dreadnoughts.
Other
Powers
are
about
to
follow.
Among
men
in
the
building
and
maintainin~
of
a
war-outfit
relieve
the
them
we
regret
to
find
our
own
land.
But
it
is
inevitable
that
pressure
upon
the
labor
market,
too,
and
thus
inure
to
the
if
any
ships
are
to
be
built
they
must
be
Dreadnoughts.
maintenance
of
wage
ratel'l'
Let
the
poor
world
have
its
way.
"An
interesting
suggestion
has
been
made
by
a
London
Let
it
play
with
its
toys
and
find
by
experience
their
littie
writer
proposing
the
co-operation
of
the
fleets
of
the
two
worth.
Surely
they
will
become
the
more
ready
for
the
uew
English
speaking
peoples,
Britain
to
guarantee
the
safety
of
King
and
kingdom
of
righteousness!
[4373]
This
is
a
frank
statement
of
what
Doctor
Abbott
thinks
or
guesses.
He
is
to
be
commended
for
not
trying
to
prove
that
his
text
means
the
reverse
of
what
it
says.
How
much
better
it
would
be
for
the
world
if
all
Bible
teachers
thus
distinguished
between
what
they
think
and
what
the
BiBle
teaches.
But
what
is
the
value
of
the
doctor's
thought'
On
what
is
it
based'
What
does
he
know
on
the
subject
on
which
to
base
specula
tions
and
surmises'
Was
he
ever
dead'
Does
he
really
know
anyone
who
passed
through
the
experience
of
death'
Until
we
get
such
a
demonstration
we
prefer
to
believe
the
Bible.
cor
roborated
by
our
five
senses,
rather
than
trust
to
the
infallibility
of
Doctor
Abbott's
thinking
apparatus.
Dr.
Abbott
is
a
gentleman
and
a
scholar
of
no
mean
caliber,
yet
his
teachings,
here
reported,
are
in
line
with
the
claims
of
Spiritism,
which
the
Bible
teaches
us
is
demon
ism.
Should
the
doctor
resist
the
seductive
proposition
of
Spiritism
to
put
him
into
communication
with
his
dead
wife,
etc.,
it
will
be
because
of
his
strong
character.
Many
of
those
who
read
his
words
may
be
far
less
strong
to
resist
and
may
fall
under
a
demoniacal
spell,
led
on
by
the
doctor's
words,
to
seek
communication.
Well
do
the
Scriptures
declare
of
our
day,
"The
wisdom
of
their
wise
men
shall
perish;
the
understanding
of
their
prudent
men
shall
not
be
manifested."-Isaiah
29:
14.
INTERNATIONAL
PEACE
FESTIVAL
Andrew
Carnegie,
presiding
at
the
International
Peace
Fes
tival
held
by
the
Peace
Society
of
New
York
to
celebrate
the
peace
now
prevailing
throughout
the
world,
told
an
audience
representing
a
score
of
foreign
countries
in
Carnegie
Hall
that
the
only
shadow
on
the
occasion
was
the
competition
of
great
nations
in
building
battleships.
But
he
predicted
that
the
day
of
universal
peace
is
at
hand.
The
stage
presented
a
brilliant
scene,
"Peace"
blazing
forth
in
huge
white
letters
from
the
centre,
flags
of
eighty
nations
adorning
the
hall,
and
delegations
in
costumes
representing
a
dozen
different
nations,
including
seven
Japanese
girls
in
the
front
row
in
native
dress,
Russian
belles
in
costume
and
others
adding
to
the
color
scheme.
Except
the
speeches
of
Mr.
Car
negie
and
Dr.
Wu
Ting-fang,
the
Chinese
Ambassador,
the
pro
gramme
was
musical.
Japan
received
the
warmest
reception
of
the
evening,
and
nearly
all
the
nations
were
represented
by
singers.
Mr.
Carnegie
said
in
part:
"It
was
thought
proper
that
the
Peace
Society
assemble
to
night
to
celebrate
the
fact
that
the
world
at
the
present
moment
is
at
peace.
REV.
LYMAN
ABBOTT
ON
RESURRECTION
When
addressing
the
students
of
the
Yale
University
on
the
subject
of
"Human
Immortality,"
from
the
text,
"The
dead
shall
rise
again,"
Doctor
Abbott
is
reported
to
have
said:-
"I
do
not
think
the
dead
will
rise
again.
I
do
not
think
that
good
people
ever
die.
Their
spirits,
I
think,
just
drop
off
the
body,
as
clothing,
and
they
go
on
into
a
higher
and
larger
life.
"When
people
really
die,
I
do
not
think
they
ever
live
again.
There
are
some
people
who
in
their
lives
on
earth
become
wholly
animal,
wholly
sensuous.
These
people,
with
the
going
out
of
life
from
their
bodies,
I
think
really
die,
for
they
have
no
place
in
a
higher
life.
"I
do
not
think
of
those
whom
we
see
no
longer
as
being
in
spotless
raiment
afar
off,
knowing
nothing
of
what
we
are
doing
and
being
happy
in
only
a
sort
of
negative
bliss.
I
believe
they
are
with
us
still,
though
we
cannot
see
them,
and
that
they
are
still
very
interested
in
what
we
do.
A
year
ago
my
wife
died
in
a
foreign
land,
but
I
still
feel
that
she
is
beside
me
helping
and
inspiring
me."
*
*
*
Vou. XXX BROOKLYN, N. Y., APRIL 15, 1909 No. 8 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER REV. LYMAN ABBOTT ON RESURRECTION When addressing the students of the Yale University on the subject of “Human Immortality,” from the text, “The dead shall rise again,” Doctor Abbott is reported to have said:— “I do not think the dead will rise again. I do not think that good people ever die. Their spirits, I think, just drop off the body, as clothing, and they go on into a higher and larger life. “When people really die, I do not think they ever live again. There are some people who in their lives on earth become wholly animal, wholly sensuous. These people, with the going out of life from their bodies, I think really die, for they have no place in a higher life. “I do not think of those whom we see no longer as being in spotless raiment afar off, knowing nothing of what we are doing and being happy in only a sort of negative bliss. I believe they are with us still, though we cannot see them, and that they are still very interested in what we do. A year ago my wife died in a foreign land, but I still feel that she is beside me helping and inspiring me.” * * * This is a frank statement of what Doctor Abbott thinks or guesses. He is to be commended for not trying to prove that his text means the reverse of what it says. How much better it would be for the world if all Bible teachers thus distinguished between what they think and what the Bible teaches. But what is the value of the doctor’s thought? On what is it based? What does he know on the subject on which to base speculations and surmises? Was he ever dead? Does he really know anyone who passed through the experience of death? Until we get such a demonstration we prefer to believe the Bible. corroborated by our five senses, rather than trust to the infallibility of Doctor Abbott’s thinking apparatus. Dr. Abbott is a gentleman and a scholar of no mean caliber, yet his teachings, here reported, are in line with the claims of Spiritism, which the Bible teaches us is demonism. Should the doctor resist the seductive proposition of Spiritism to put him into communication with his dead wife, etc., it will be because of his strong character. Many of those who read his words may be far less strong to resist and may fall under a demoniacal spell, led on by the doctor’s words, to seek communication. Well do the Seriptures declare of our day, “The wisdom of their wise men shall perish; the understanding of their prudent men shall not be manifested.”—Isaiah 29:14. INTERNATIONAL PEACE FESTIVAL Andrew Carnegie, presiding at the International Peace Festival held by the Peace Society of New York to celebrate the peace now prevailing throughout the world, told an audience representing a score of foreign countries in Carnegie Hall that the only shadow on the occasion was the competition of great nations in building battleships. But he predicted that the day of universal peace is at hand. The stage presented a brilliant scene, “Peace” blazing forth in huge white letters from the centre, flags of eighty nations adorning the hall, and delegations in costumes representing a dozen different nations, including seven Japanese girls in the front row in native dress, Russian belles in costume and others adding to the color scheme. Except the speeches of Mr. Carnegie and Dr. Wu Ting-fang, the Chinese Ambassador, the programme was musical. Japan received the warmest reception of the evening, and nearly all the nations were represented by singers. Mr. Carnegie said in part: “It was thought proper that the Peace Society assemble tonight to celebrate the fact that the world at the present moment is at peace. MORE WAR ENGINES “The first thought that arises is an unpleasant one, viz., that never in the history of the world have the leading powers been engaged to such extent in hastening the construction of engines of destruction such as the world has never seen, a deplorable fact which cannot but give pain to every lover of his race.” PEACE! PEACE! AND DREADNOUGHTS “Britain built a ship which created a class by itself. By a strange fatality she called the ship the Dreadnought, but experience is teaching her that from it she has everything to dread. Germany began to build new ships and naturally these were Dreadnoughts. Other Powers are about to follow. Among them we regret to find our own land. But it is inevitable that if any ships are to be built they must be Dreadnoughts. “An interesting suggestion has been made by a London writer proposing the co-operation of the fleets of the two English speaking peoples, Britain to guarantee the safety of [4373] our possessions on the Pacific and we to guarantee the safety of hers in the North Atlantic.”—Exchange. * * * Peace! Peace! is the ery, as the Scriptures predicted. Yet there is no peace, as they declare. True, no war is being waged at the present time; but it is surely expected, and the great nations dread it and spend millions on war preparations in harmony with those convictions. Would the world’s wise and rich men tax themselves to the point of distress for war purposes if they believed as Mr. Carnegie seeks to convince himself and others? Surely not! But why is there no peace? Because sin has entrenched itself in fallen human nature. Selfishness is sin and the cause of war; wickedness is the Scriptural name—“There is no peace for the wicked, saith my God.” If Mr. Carnegie can tell the world how to convert its people, giving them tender instead of stony hearts, then the peace proposition will be quickly realized. But aside from such a wholesale conversion there is hope for peace only along the lines predicted in the Bible; namely, by the establishment of Messiah’s kingdom in spiritual glory and with unlimited power. This the Bible assures is nigh at hand. But, alas! its blessings must be introduced by wars of selfishness which will wreck present institutions and prepare humanity to ery to God for his relief and the new heart, “Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as in heaven!” RAPIDLY GROWING BURDEN OF MILITARISM The “ Dallas Morning News” says that ‘“Militarism has reduced more people to slavery and crushed more nations into the earth than any of the other burdens. It is unaccountable that the civilization of today will promote or endure it. It means the same thing over again, and yet the educated people of the twentieth century tolerate it and hurrah over it just as the Assyrians and Persians did in the remote ages of passion, tyranny and conquest. The penalties of it are incalculable. The appropriation for armies and navies, tremendous as they are, are by no means the heaviest of the losses. There is no other line of jobbery and graft that is comparable to that of the sharp opportunity hunters who invent causes of war, and who sell to their pets in military polities the stores, supplies and equipments which are consumed by armies and navies, whether idle or active. But more scandalous than all the costly plundering and grafting is that loss of self-reliance, of ability to make a living, of civic character and peaceful purpose that follows in many instances the change from a life of working for a living to a life of idling or fighting for a living. “Truly, as an observant contemporary says, it is of little use for consumers to protest against a tax on coffee and sugar, for property owners to protest against income taxes, or for States to object to Federal inheritance taxes, unless a similar protest is made against the policies which relate to these taxes as cause to effect. What causes the deficit in National finances? Out of a total of $810,000,000 appropriated, exclusive of the postal Department, $526,000,000 was required to meet the war bills of the government! We are paying $1,440,000 a day for war! That is more than the cost of the first year of the Civil War, and more than half the cost of the last year, in which great armies were maintained in action. We are at peace with the world, but we are maintaining a war standard of equipment. We must pay for it. We have followed the nations of Europe in our military policy. In this we have taken on the deadly curse of the ages. As a nation we have never committed before any blunder that is comparable to it in either its material or moral penalties.” * * * The above is the serious side of this matter. The amusing side is that this war fever attacks nations in proportion as they become “Christianized” or “Civilized.” Would we not better term this warlike spirit unchristian and uncivil? Ah, yes, to be a Christian is a personal and not a national matter. Not until Messiah takes the reins of government will there be an end of wars. As respects the war-expenditures, they cost the poor nothing and the middle class almost nothing. Why object to the rich having the costly toys—battleships costing millions to build and other millions to maintain? Do not these monies circulate amongst the masses? Does not the employment of men in the building and maintaining of a war-outfit relieve the pressure upon the labor market, too, and thus inure to the maintenance of wage rates? Let the poor world have its way. Let it play with its toys and find by experience their little worth. Surely they will become the more ready for the new King and kingdom of righteousness! (115-116)
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