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(207-211) have us believe that the moral standard of thousands high in the churches is so low as to almost stagger reason. “Now if what Mr. Sunday says about the denominations is true they are not fit places for good, respectful people, to say nothing of true Christians. In fact, if they are only half as bad as he says, then every faithful child of God ought to get out of them as quickly as he can, “If they are but one-quarter as bad as Mr. Sunday tells, then the only safety on the part of one who wishes to retain his faith is to get out of such spiritual pest-holes, And we must confess that Mr. Sunday’s delineation of the conditions in religious organizations is true to fact. “This is why we are glad to take a stand independent of all denominations, and advise all who are not satisfied with the conditions prevailing in these systems to follow our example. Of course, there are many who want to know why we do not remain in the churches and try to reform them. We answer them that if all the able evangelists from Moody to Sunday have been able to accomplish go little in that direction then the case is hopeless. It is like the Bible puts it, ‘We would have healed her, but she could not be healed.’ The disease is incurable. That is why the denominations are DYING.” The gentleman never attempted to refute my statements, but he said, “However, you must admit there has been a great, THE WATCH TOWER Brooxiyn, N. Y. revival in the way of Bible study in the past few years. Does that not look. hopeful for the churches?” I replied, “It is true that the past few years have seen the inauguration of several movements having for their object the encouragement of more Bible study. But do you know the real reason for their existence? “When Pastor Russell first began to call attention to the extent to which the Word of God was being ignored in these denominations, his views were treated with the same scant courtesy as the Bible; and it was only a question of time until the Scriptures would have been altogether neglected. “But as the religious leaders began to see the people listen ing to Pastor Russell they trembled for the effect it would have on their own prestige, just as I imagine the Pharisees must have done when they found the common people listening to the words of Jesus. And in their fears the clergy realized that they must get up some kind of substitute for Bible-study to keep the mass of mankind from listening to the one who is unquestionably the religious Reformer of this century.” The poor man had nothing more to say. He probably knew it was all too true. How glad any of us would have been to have given him the same comforting light we have, but he was not yet ready for it. Yours in the Fellowship of the Gospel of Peace, B. H. Barron. FALSE REPORTS INJURIOUS DEAR BRoruer RUSSELL: — For some time it has seemed expedient that I write you re some field observations. You may recall that I reported while South about a year ago, that a rumor was then going the rounds of that section that Rockefeller had sent you a check for a million dollars. Since reaching the territory which I have been in for the past six weeks, I have come up against a widely circulated report that you had received another million dollars, but this time from Helen Gould. Now this report is vouched for as being authentic, for it is said to have come from some one engaged in the work, recently at Brooklyn, so he knows (they think). If such reports were not so absurd they would be laughable. How any one can give credence to such reports I cannot understand. For about the same period of time I have been hearing that Brother Bohnet had passed beyond, and that Brothers Toole and Hersee have gone out of the truth. All these things sound to me very much like “vain babbling.” At Chicago I was told that the reports coming in there from various pilgrims indicate that the friends generally are going to sleep, at least resting on beds of eaSe. My observations have been quite the reverse of these reports, and you know the territory covered by me during the past eighteen months has been quite extensive. The cases of drowsiness noted by me have been rare. Generally speaking I have found the classes in good spiritual health, the friends wide-awake, Probably a more vital matter is a report throughout the same territory, just referred to, that your present thought is that the church will not be gathered until 1925. I was told that a pilgrim brother, whose name was not mentioned, had made some calculations to this effect, but before presenting them to the classes had submitted same to you and that you had returned the notes with your approval, as the story goes. So often do I find the friends forgetful of your oft-repeated statement that if you had any information to give them they might expect to find same in THE ‘TowER. it seems to me that all such matters as I am repeating are worse than idle—that they are in reality harmful; for when the minds of the friends are exercised about such things they cannot be exercised about the things that would help them into the kingdom. It seemed to me that you might consider these matters of sufficient importance to warn the dear friends against them through THE Tower. My heart was made solemn indeed by the article in THE Warce Tower, “Seventy Sent Forth.” The breaking of such tender ties is a great test, but we are in the testing time and cannot know what awaits us. When one member suffers, all. suffer—sympathetically. Surely the end is near—all the more occasion for rejoicing. Remember me, dear Pastor, in your prayers, that I may meet you in the kingdom, even if not before. My love for you expands and grows more tender as the days pass. To my mind evidences are being multiplied to the effect that the dear Lord is still guiding you in all things pertaining to his service. Daily do I thank the Father that I am privileged to be a coworker together with you in these closing days. With abounding love and confidence, Your brother by His kind favor, W. M. WISDOM. Von. XXXVI BROOKLYN, N. Y., JULY 15, 1915 No. 14 LOVE OF THE FATHER AND THE SON OUR PATTERN (Discourse delivered by Brother Russell at the recent Convention at Oakland, Cal.) Of the Master we are assured that at the conclusion of his earthly ministry he still dearly loved his disciples. We read, ‘Jesus, . . having loved his own, he loved them unto the end.” We are to draw a strict line of demarcation between the love of God which the Bible points out as applicable to all mankind, and the love of God which is conferred upon the church. In the large, broad sense of the word, the Bible assures us that “God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him might not perish, but have everlasting life.” However, there was nothing in the fallen man that God could really love. in the sense of fellowshiping him. Really, there was nothing in man to draw out the love of God toward him—cverything rather to the contrary. And this was the reason God sentenced man at the first, immediately after his fall, declaring Father Adam not worthy of his continued love and favor, and condemned him to death.—_Genesis 3:17-19. We are not to understand that God changed his mind meantime and concluded that, after all, he did love Adam and wished that he had not condemned him to death. Rather, we are to understand that the love of God which he exercised toward the world is of the sympathetic love for a poor dog. If he had injured his paw, we would like to bind up that paw. We would have the sympathetic love. Not that we really loved that dog. but we had sympathy for it. So God’s attitude toward the world is an attitude of sympathy. And he would have his people have a kind, generous feeling toward all men, and even toward the brute creation. In harmony with this the Apostle tells us that we are to do good to all men as we have opportunity, but especially unto them who are of the household of faith.—Galatians 6:10. The Lord makes a definite rule. We are not to class the household of faith in with the world. We are not to think of giving the world the same affection or love or interest that we give to the household of faith. Neither does God. The love which God has for the world is entirely different from that which the Savior mentions when he says, “The Father himself loves you.” This seems to me one of the most wonderful texts of the Bible—that our great God could have a love for us—so small, so unworthy of his love or attention! [5724]