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(111-115) terest to them. He mentioned religious matters only in connection with evil speaking, slander and backbiting until he fairly disgusted his hearers. But not so the certain class who seemed to enjoy his unchristian attacks on the life and character of another. The friends called to mind the text, “Speak evil of no man,” and especially Paul’s admonition prohibitive of the speaking aught against an elder, and thus he was unconsciously “driving nails into his own coffin,” as the Germans say, I cautioned the friends to ever beware of anyone who allows himself to speak evil of others, assuring them that even were the statement entirely true the one who so speaks is manifestly more guilty in God’s sight than is the one he is endeavoring to malign and injure. In giving my own testimony in the general assembly, prompted by the other testimonies of the friends present, 1 told the dear ones of how I had for many years been a member of the Bible House family, had eaten and lived there, and even enjoyed your uncomfortable bed-lounge with you on Various occasions since the year 1895, and that never once in all that time had I heard a cross or angry word from your lips, and that never had I known you to do or say aught unbecoming a Christian and a gentleman. Brother, I may have been somewhat personal. but in view of some malicious attacks that had been made on you behind your back I could not refrain from uttering the truth in your defense, although I am well aware of your practice to make little or no defense of yourself, but to vigorously defend others, or the truth, or THE WATCH TOWER Brooktyn, N. Y. a matter involving a principle or doctrine. While I can say, All honor to the man who can adhere to such a policy persistently, yet sometimes I feel that you really ought to defend yourself, if not for your own sake, for the sake of many dear ones on whose shoulders part of the burden falls. » You always say in substance, “The Lord knows all about it, and with him you let it rest. The letter enclosed contains a sentence right along this line. You will not need to return it. _ I think these Fifth-Sunday conventions are a means of great blessing to our people, stimulating and refreshing. I would like to hear from the friends elsewhere as to their experience re these little gatherings. 1 feel like encouraging all the truth friends to institute these occasions of spiritual uplift. I will do all in my power to assist. Both at Detroit and Canton they worked me pretty hard, yet it was joy to serve the friends. I regret my inability to serve as I should like. The Lord, however, knows I am willing to do the best I can, The bond of Christian love was strengthened in the heart of everyone who attended yesterday’s convention, I am sure, and you are more dearly than ever entrenched in the hearts of all who were there. God bless you and keep you in his tender care. ; . Thanking you once more for making it possible for me to be there, I remain in loving sympathy, Your Brother in Christ, our Advocate and Lord, J. A. BOHNET. SOME INTERESTING LETTERS DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:— I desire to let you know of an incident that is an occasion of joy to our little class, and I believe it is an act of justice to a brother to hasten to tell the good report we can now give, inasmuch as you were acquainted at the Jacksonville Convention, February, 1909, with the estrangement here, We are so glad to announce that Brother , Once our elder, has won a great victory over tue “old man,” pride, self, and the adversary. He by the grace of God, at a testimony meeting, arose and confessed his faults, saying that pride and the adversary combined had deceived and cheated him of the blessed fellowship of this class, that he had been to the throne of grace with the matter and desired to do nothing but the Lord’s will in all matters and desired to again meet regularly with “those of like precious faith.” Each one present at the end of our brother’s testimony came forward and extended the hand of fellowship and love. Stimulated by the example, another one of our class who had been unstable, arose and testified in like manner, to whom also we demonstrated our love and good will be shaking hands. We felt that the power of God’s holy Spirit had worked mightily in our midst and rejoiced greatly. These two brothers are demonstrating the sincerity of their testimony by attending all the meetings regularly, which is our Lord’s appointed way of blessing his church, those who “forsake not the assembling of themselves together as is the manner of some.” Yours faithfully in our Redeemer and King, M. L. McILvaIne. My Dear Pastor:— For months the publications of those poor “dreamers,” so graphically described by the Apostle Jude, have been coming through the mail into our home. Dear Pastor, what a fearful thing to be “spots on the feasts of love’ of God’s dear people as they meet to worship and learn of him. To be “trees whose fruit withereth—twice dead, plucked up by the roots!” The empty clouds (“without water”), carried about by winds, “every wind of doctrine.” Will you offer a special prayer for me and mine that we may “keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life?” “ And for the foolish ones, deluded for a time by these “wandering stars,” who have gone in the way “of Cain, Balaam and Core,” pray that we may have all proper “compassion, making a difference,” “pulling them out of the fire,” by continually feasting our minds on the truth, and keeping on the “whole armor of God,” thus being equipped for any Service or any trial. Surely, we never could help any one by imbibing error, even with the thought of being better able to contrast it with the truth. . A number of times I have thought of writing letters to some, trying to help them; but if all the clear, beautiful expositions of Scripture we have been given through the TOWERS cannot dispel their mental and spiritual clouds, I thought anything I might say surely would do no good. ; May the God of all grace keep you continually; give you wisdom, grace and strength to meet every need. Yours in our blessed Redeemer and Advocate, Mrs. C. A. WISE. Dear BROTHER RUSSELL:— . Since the opponents of the vow called attention to the small number of names registered, the Birmingham church has decided to send a full list of her members that have taken the vow, as a means of expressing to you our hearty approval and appreciation of it. ; . While the majority took it some time ago and so notified you, yet others have been dilatory about sending in their names. Only a few have not yet seen the necessity for taking it, and we trust, in God’s providence, they may soon see “eye to eye” with us, as no antagonism has been shown. We should like to say, also, that we feel most grateful for the season of refreshing that we have recently enjoyed, and are confident that much permanent good will result therefrom. Yours in him, B. T. M.,—Secretary. Vout. XXXTI BROOKLYN, N. Y., APRIL 1, 1910 No. 7 THE MEMORIAL PASSOVER SUPPER As heretofore announced, the date of the Memorial Supper Anniversary this year falls on Friday evening. April 22d, after six o’clock, according to Jewish reckoning. The Christian church originally kept this Passover Memorial as we now do, but in order to make the dates more regular, and also in order to draw the minds of Christians away from the thought of following the Jewish precedents too closely, the method of reckoning the date was slightly altered. Thus the Jewish reckoning let the Passover fall where it might as respects the days of the week. But the change made the anniversary of our Lord’s death to come always on a Friday, styled “Good Friday.” and his resurrection date always, therefore. to fall on the Sunday there after, “the third day,” styled subsequently Easter Sunday. The _Jewish reckoning of time was by the moon as well as by the sun. Thus the majority of years with them had twelve months, but occasionally one would have thirteen months. The Jewish reckoning of the Passover date begins to count with the first New Moon after the Spring equinox, the Passover day thus coming on the full moon, fourteen days thereafter. Subsequently the Christian church accepted the Friday near the first ful] moon after the Spring equinox, even though the moon was new before the Friday. This explains the difference in dates this year, Good Friday. according to Catholic usage, falling on March 25, while the corresponding date, according to Jewish reckoning, [4590]