Publication date
4/15/12
Volume
33
Number
8
The WatchTower
REPORT on Foreign Mission Work by The Missions Investigation Committee
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1912/8/1912-8-1.html
 
 
 
APRIL 
1. 
1912 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(118-123) 
some 
mistake, 
that 
if 
Jesus 
were 
the 
Messiah 
he 
should 
have 
hegun 
a 
work 
of 
restitution, 
a 
work 
of 
social, 
moral, 
intel· 
lectual 
and 
physical 
uplift 
for 
mankind, 
using 
Israel 
as 
his 
channel, 
his 
agency. 
The 
Jew 
points 
to 
the 
eighteen 
centuries 
of 
Christian 
preaching, 
and 
says 
if 
Christians 
are 
right 
it 
make 
void 
all 
of 
the 
prophecies 
of 
the 
past. 
What 
is 
the 
answer 
to 
this' 
Jesus 
gives 
the 
answer, 
saying 
that 
the 
prophecies 
are 
being 
fulfilled. 
T·he 
prophecies 
tell 
not 
only 
of 
Jesus 
but 
also 
of 
his 
brethren, 
the 
"little 
flock," 
the 
bride 
class; 
and 
that 
class 
must 
be 
selected 
before 
other 
features 
of 
the 
prophecies 
can 
be 
fulfilled. 
"I 
will 
declare 
thy 
name 
unto 
my 
brethren."­ 
(Psa. 
22: 
22; 
Heb. 
2: 
12.) 
This 
is 
the 
present 
work-the 
work 
of 
selecting 
the 
class 
mentioned 
by 
the 
Psalmist, 
saying, 
"I 
have 
saiu 
ye 
are 
gods, 
all 
of 
you 
sons 
of 
the 
Highest; 
but 
ye 
shall 
all 
die 
like 
men."-Psa. 
82 
:6. 
The 
law 
and 
prophets 
point 
out 
the 
necessity 
of 
a 
priestly 
l'1as~ 
under 
the 
High 
Priest-of 
a 
sacrificing 
class 
which 
would 
beeome 
a. 
royal 
priesthood. 
These 
prophecies 
are 
in 
process 
of 
fulfillment; 
neither 
the 
law 
nor 
the 
prophets 
are 
being 
ignored. 
Soon 
this 
feature 
of 
the 
divine 
plan 
will 
have 
been 
accomplished; 
the 
church 
will 
be 
glorified 
with 
her 
Lord, 
and 
then 
those 
features 
of 
the 
law 
and 
prophets 
which 
dazzle 
the 
eyes 
of 
Israel 
will 
begin 
to 
be 
fulfilled, 
and 
will 
bring 
them 
blessings, 
and 
through 
them 
blessings 
to 
the 
world 
far 
beyond 
their 
highest 
conceptions. 
If 
therefore 
any 
of 
the 
followers 
of 
Jesus 
should 
violate 
the 
Ten 
Commanuments 
and 
teach 
men 
so 
to 
do, 
it 
would 
mani­ 
festly 
be 
done 
through 
ignorance 
and 
misunderstanding, 
and 
would 
thus 
mark 
himself 
as 
a 
follower 
of 
Jesus 
on 
a 
low 
plane 
-one 
of 
the 
least 
in 
the 
kingdom. 
This 
would 
apply 
amongst 
the 
Lord's 
followers 
at 
the 
present 
time: 
the 
church 
is 
the 
kingdom 
in 
embryo, 
and 
any 
brother 
in 
such 
an 
attitude 
should 
be 
considered 
by 
the 
brethren 
as 
weak 
and 
should 
not 
be 
given 
a 
position 
of 
prominence 
in 
the 
service 
of 
the 
church. 
THE 
PHARISEES' 
STANDARD 
LOWER 
In 
Jesus' 
day 
the 
Pharisees 
prided 
themselves 
on 
their 
zeal 
for 
the 
law 
and 
found 
fault 
with 
Jesus' 
disciples 
and 
with 
himself 
for 
healing 
the 
sick 
on 
the 
Sabbath. 
Instead 
of 
ad­ 
mitting 
their 
claims 
Jesus 
repeatedly 
showed 
them 
to 
be 
fal· 
lacious. 
They 
were 
particular 
respecting 
the 
little 
requirements 
of 
the 
law, 
but 
were 
careless 
respecting 
its 
spirit 
of 
love. 
This 
.Jesus 
termed 
hypocri~y; 
He 
declared 
that 
unless 
his 
followers 
would 
be 
nearer 
right 
in 
heart 
than 
were 
the 
Pharisees 
they 
would 
not 
get 
into 
the 
kingdom 
at 
all. 
(We 
must 
remember 
the 
difference 
between 
the 
embryo 
kingdom 
which 
was 
inaugu­ 
rated 
at 
Pentecost 
and 
the 
glorious 
kingdom 
into 
which 
the 
fai 
thful 
will 
be 
ushered 
by 
the 
first 
resurrection 
change.) 
Unless 
his 
followers 
would 
have 
more 
of 
the 
spirit 
of 
the 
uivine 
law 
than 
the 
Pharisees 
they 
would 
not 
be 
fit 
for 
the 
be­ 
getting 
at 
Pentecost-none 
but 
those 
who 
love 
righteou~ness 
and 
who 
thus 
have 
the 
spirit 
of 
the 
divine 
law 
are 
acceptable 
at 
all 
in 
the 
church-"the 
church 
of 
the 
first-born, 
whose 
names 
are 
written 
in 
heaven." 
The 
Pharisees 
held 
the 
letter 
of 
the 
law 
and 
said, 
Beware 
lest 
you 
kill 
a 
man, 
for 
that 
would 
subject 
you 
to 
judgment 
or 
trial 
before 
the 
council, 
or 
local 
court 
of 
your 
town; 
but 
Jesus 
taught 
that 
hatred 
is 
murder, 
even 
if 
it 
do 
not 
go 
to 
the 
length 
of 
killing. 
So 
high 
is 
this 
standard 
amongst 
the 
Lord's 
consecrated 
people 
that 
for 
one 
of 
them 
to 
be 
even 
slightly 
angry 
would 
be 
a 
serious 
matter; 
and 
if 
he 
were 
angry 
enough 
to 
call 
a 
brother 
Christian 
"a 
fool" 
it 
would 
imply 
that 
he 
were 
in 
serious 
danger 
of 
the 
second 
death­ 
Gehanna. 
All 
Christ's 
followers, 
therefore, 
must 
not 
only 
guard 
their 
actions 
but 
also 
their 
lips 
and 
the 
very 
thoughts 
of 
their 
hearts, 
that 
even 
in 
thoughts 
they 
shall 
be 
in 
fullest 
accord 
with 
the 
very 
spirit 
of 
the 
divine 
law 
of 
love; 
and 
if 
on 
ap­ 
proaching 
the 
throne 
of 
grace 
they 
find 
any 
other 
spirit 
in 
their 
hearts 
they 
should 
go 
no 
further 
toward 
God, 
but 
first 
be 
reconciled 
to 
their 
brother. 
Under 
a 
parable 
of 
arrest, 
con­ 
demnation 
and 
imprisonment 
our 
Loru 
teaches 
his 
disciples 
that 
if 
they 
have 
a 
wrong 
feeling 
toward 
a 
brother 
they 
should 
make 
great 
haste 
to 
settle 
the 
matter. 
Every 
moment 
of 
delay 
endangers 
their 
spiritual 
standing 
with 
the 
Lord 
and 
makes 
it 
more 
difficult 
for 
themselves 
in 
their 
relationship 
with 
God. 
The 
intimation 
is 
that 
if 
we 
have 
wronged 
a 
brother 
and 
delay 
to 
make 
the 
matter 
right 
and 
the 
case 
come 
before 
the 
Lord 
for 
settlement. 
we 
will 
be 
obliged 
to 
suffer 
the 
full 
penalty 
of 
our 
neglect, 
"the 
uttermost 
farthing" 
before 
we 
will 
be 
fully 
restored 
to 
divine 
favor 
and 
fellowship. 
How 
good 
to 
know 
His 
never-failing 
Word 
proclaims 
it 
so! 
Here, 
Lord, 
I 
give 
myself 
to 
thel', 
Work 
out 
thy 
gracious 
purposes 
in 
me 
Until 
in 
heavpn 
thv 
hles'ieu 
fap(' 
I 
sec, 
And 
dwell 
with 
thee 
through 
all 
eternity. 
WM. 
W. 
JOHNSTON-Africa. 
And 
can 
it 
be 
That 
down 
throughout 
succeelling 
ages 
he 
With 
ardent 
longing 
waits 
Th' 
eventful 
day 
When-sin 
all 
purged 
away­ 
We'll 
sit 
within 
his 
gates' 
Can 
we 
be 
subjects 
of 
our 
God's 
desire' 
Doth 
he 
our 
loving 
fellowship 
require' 
And 
to 
this 
height 
may 
such 
as 
we 
aspire' 
GOD'S 
INHERITANCE 
EPHESIANS 
1: 
18. 
Nor 
name, 
nor 
fame, 
nor 
power, 
nor 
pleasure 
here 
below 
My 
soul 
entice. 
How 
poor 
these 
transitory 
things 
of 
earth 
Beside 
this 
treasure 
of 
unending 
worth, 
This 
heavenly 
followship, 
this 
royal 
birth! 
This 
poor, 
weak 
clay 
Can 
he 
transform 
it 
in 
such 
a 
way 
That 
it 
shall 
yield 
divinity' 
This 
sin-stained 
mind 
So 
cleanse 
that 
he 
in 
us 
shall 
finu 
Affinity? 
Th' 
abode 
of 
his 
eternal 
rest, 
That 
habitation 
which 
he 
loveth 
best, 
His 
chosen 
Zion' 
City 
ever 
blest' 
If 
this 
be 
so, 
Not 
all 
the 
wealth 
this 
world 
can 
know 
Will 
me 
suffice; 
And 
can 
it 
be 
That 
God 
designs 
with 
you 
and 
me 
Forevermore 
to 
dwell' 
Can 
his 
great 
might 
Spcure 
for 
us 
the 
right 
To 
be 
his 
Israel' 
A 
people 
chosen 
to 
proclaim 
his 
worth, 
To 
sound 
the 
praises 
of 
his 
glory 
forth, 
To 
lead 
the 
van 
of 
an 
adoring 
earth' 
\' 
OL. 
XXXIII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y 
.. 
APRIL 
15, 
1912 
l\o. 
S 
THE 
WORLD'S 
CONVERSION 
REPORT 
OF 
MISSIONS 
INVESTIGATING 
COMMITTEE. 
INTERNATIONAL 
BIBLE 
STUDENTS 
ASSOCIATION 
At 
its 
convention 
held 
September 
1-10, 
1911, 
the 
Intern 
a- 
iCR 
respecting 
the 
inefficiency 
of 
the 
Missions 
and 
Missionaries 
tional 
Bible 
Students 
Association 
appointed 
a 
Committee 
to 
already 
in 
the 
Oripntal 
lanlk 
Thes(' 
tall'S 
possibly 
had 
some- 
tour 
the 
world 
and 
supply 
an 
unvarnished 
report 
of 
the 
true 
thing 
'to 
do 
with 
the 
falling 
off 
of 
contributions 
to 
Missionary 
condition 
of 
affairs 
in 
Oriental 
lands 
amongst 
the 
peoples 
u,;· 
Societies. 
It 
is 
the 
thought 
of 
many, 
however, 
that 
the 
secret 
uallv 
termed 
"heathens." 
of 
the 
curtailment 
of 
donations 
to 
various 
propaganda 
is 
the 
The 
proposition 
of 
a 
certain 
Laymen's 
Missionary 
Movement 
same 
as 
applies 
to 
the 
home 
work 
of 
all 
Christian 
denomina- 
to 
promptly 
collect 
$30,000,000 
and 
immediately 
convert 
the 
tions. 
The 
secret 
is 
that 
the 
masse~ 
of 
the 
people, 
as 
well 
as 
world 
naturally 
aroused 
the 
query 
respecting 
the 
possibility 
of 
the 
wealthy, 
are 
!'apiuly 
losing 
faith 
in 
revealed 
religion-in 
attaining 
such 
desirable 
results. 
No 
doubt 
existed 
that 
benev- 
the 
Bible. 
alent 
people 
woulu 
willingly 
expend 
thirty 
million 
dollars, 
and 
The 
higher 
critics 
in 
all 
of 
our 
colleges 
and 
seminaries. 
and 
much 
more. 
if 
the 
results 
aimed 
at 
could 
be 
attained. 
On 
the 
in 
the 
chief 
pulpits 
of 
Christendom, 
have 
for 
fifty 
years 
been 
other 
hand, 
many 
rumOrs 
had 
been 
reaching 
Europe 
and 
Amer- 
carrying 
on 
a 
subtle 
warfare 
against 
the 
Bible. 
Are 
we 
not 
[5007] 
ApriL 1, 1912 some mistake, that if Jesus were the Messiah he should have begun a work of restitution, a work of social, moral, intellectual and physical uplift for mankind, using Israel as his channel, his agency. The Jew points to the eighteen centuries of Christian preaching, and says if Christians are right it make void all of the prophecies of the past. What is the answer to this? Jesus gives the answer, saying that the prophecies are being fulfilled. ‘The prophecies tell not only of Jesus but also of his brethren, the “little flock,” the bride class; and that class must be selected before other features of the prophecies can be fulfilled. ‘I will declare thy name unto my brethren.”— (Psa. 22:22; Heb. 2:12.) This is the present work—the work of selecting the class mentioned by the Psalmist, saying, “I have said ye are gods, all of you sons of the Highest; but ye shall all die like men.”—Psa. 82:6, The law and prophets point out the necessity of a priestly class under the High Priest—of a sacrificing class which would become a royal priesthood. These prophecies are in process of fulfillment; neither the law nor the prophets are being ignored. Soon this feature of the divine plan will have been accomplished; the church will be glorified with her Lord, and then those features of the Jaw and prophets which dazzle the eyes of Israel will begin to be fulfilled, and will bring them blessings, and through them blessings to the world far beyond their highest conceptions, If therefore any of the followers of Jesus should violate the Ten Commandments and teach men so to do, it would manifestly be done through ignorance and misunderstanding, and would thus mark himself as a follower of Jesus on a low plane —one of the least in the kingdom. This would apply amongst the Lord’s followers at the present time: the church is the kingdom in embryo, and any brother in such an attitude should be considered by the brethren as weak and should not be given a position of prominence in the service of the church. THE PHARISEES’ STANDARD LOWER In Jesus’ day the Pharisees prided themselves on their zeal for the law and found fault with Jesus’ disciples and with himself for healing the sick on the Sabbath. Instead of admitting their claims Jesus repeatedly showed them to be fal THE WATCH TOWER (118-123) lacious. They were particular respecting the little requirements of the law, but were careless respecting its spirit of love. This Jesus termed hypocrisy; He declared that unless his followers would be nearer right in heart than were the Pharisees they would not get into the kingdom at all. (We must remember the difference between the embryo kingdom which was inaugurated at Pentecost and the glorious kingdom into which the faithful will be ushered by the first resurrection change.) Unless his followers would have more of the spirit of the divine law than the Pharisees they would not be fit for the begetting at Pentecost—none but those who love righteousness and who thus have the spirit of the divine law are acceptabie at all in the church—‘‘the church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven.” The Pharisees held the letter of the law and said, Beware lest you kill a man, for that would subject you to judgment or trial before the council, or local court of your town; but Jesus taught that hatred is murder, even if it do not go to the length of killing. So high is this standard amongst the Lord’s consecrated people that for one of them to be even slightly angry would be a serious matter; and if he were angry enough to call a brother Christian “a fool” it would imply that he were in serious danger of the second death— Gehanna. All Christ’s followers, therefore, must not only guard their actions but also their lips and the very thoughts of their hearts, that even in thoughts they shall be in fullest accord with the very spirit of the divine law of love; and if on approaching the throne of grace they find any other spirit in their hearts they should go no further toward God, but first be reconciled to their brother. Under a parable of arrest, condemnation and imprisonment our Lord teaches his disciples that if they have a wrong feeling toward a brother they should make great haste to settle the matter. Every moment of delay endangers their spiritual standing with the Lord and makes it more difficult for themselves in their relationship with God. The intimation is that if we have wronged a brother and delay to make the matter right and the case come before the Lord for settlement, we will be obliged to suffer the full penalty of our neglect, “the uttermost farthing” before we will be fully restored to divine favor and fellowship. GOD’S INHERITANCE EPHESIANS 1:18. And can it be That God designs with you and me Forevermore to dwell? Can his great might Secure for us the right To be his Israel? A people chosen to proclaim his worth, To sound the praises of his glory forth, To lead the van of an adoring earth? This poor, weak clay Can he transform it in such a way That it shall yield divinity? This sin-stained mind So cleanse that he in us shall find Affinity ? Th’ abode of his eternal rest, That habitation which he loveth best, His chosen Zion? City ever blest? If this be so, Not all the wealth this world can know Will me suffice; Vou. XNATIT THE WORLD’S REPORT OF MISSIONS INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE. At its convention held September 1-10, 1911, the International Bible Students Association appointed a Committee to tour the world and supply an unvarnished report of the true condition of affairs in Oriental lands amongst the peoples usually termed “heathens.” The proposition of a certain Laymen’s Missionary Movement to promptly collect $30,000,000 and immediately convert the world naturally aroused the query respecting the possibility of attaining such desirable results. No doubt existed that benevolent people would willingly expend thirty million dollars, and much more, if the results aimed at could be attained. On the other hand, many rumors had been reaching Europe and Amer BROOKLYN, N. Y.. APRIL 15, 1912 Nor name, nor fame, nor power, nor pleasure here below My soul entice. How poor these transitory things of earth Beside this treasure of unending worth, This heavenly followship, this royal birth! And can it be That down throughout succeeding ages he With ardent longing waits Th’ eventful day When—sin all purged away— We'll sit within his gates? Can we be subjects of our God’s desire? Doth he our loving fellowship require? And to this height may such as we aspire? How good to know His never-failing Word proclaims it so! Here, Lord, I give myself to thee, Work out thy gracious purposes in me Until in heaven thy blessed face I see, And dwell with thee through all eternity. WM. W. JOHNSTON—Africa. No. 8 CONVERSION INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION ica respecting the inefficiency of the Missions and Missionaries already in the Oriental lands. These tales possibly had something to do with the falling off of contributions to Missionary Societies. It is the thought of many, however, that the secret of the curtailment of donations to various propaganda is the same as applies to the home work of all Christian denominations. The secret is that the masses of the people, as well as the wealthy, are rapidly losing faith in revealed religion—in the Bible. The higher critics in all of our colleges and seminaries, and in the chief pulpits of Christendom, have for fifty years been carrying on a subtle warfare against the Bible. Are we not [5007]

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