Publication date
7/15/15
Volume
36
Number
14
The WatchTower
Love of the Father and the Son our Pattern
/../literature/watchtower/1915/14/1915-14-1.html
 
 
 
(207-211) 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BaOOKI,YN, 
N. 
Y. 
have 
us 
believe 
that 
the 
moral 
standard 
of 
thousands 
high 
in 
the 
churches 
is 
so 
low 
as 
to 
almost 
stagger 
reason. 
"Now 
if 
\1{hat 
: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 
l\lr. 
Sunday's 
delineation 
of 
the 
conditions 
in 
religious 
organiza 
tions 
is 
true 
to 
fact. 
"This 
is 
why 
we 
are 
glad 
to 
take 
stand 
independent 
of 
all 
denominations, 
and 
advise 
all 
who 
are 
not 
satisfied 
with 
the 
conditions 
prevailing' 
in 
these 
systems 
to 
follow 
our 
ex­ 
ample. 
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 
so 
little 
in 
that 
direc­ 
tion 
then 
the 
case 
is 
hopeless. 
It 
is 
like 
the 
Bible 
puts 
it, 
,\Ye 
would 
have 
herded 
her, 
but 
she 
could 
not 
be 
healed.' 
The 
disease 
is 
incurable. 
That 
is 
why 
the 
denominations 
are 
HYING." 
Thc 
gentleman 
never 
attempted 
to 
refute 
my 
statements, 
but 
he 
said, 
"Howev~r, 
you 
must 
admit 
there 
has 
been 
great 
revival 
in 
the 
way 
of 
Bible 
study 
in 
the 
past 
few 
years. 
Does 
that 
not 
look. 
hopeful 
for 
the 
(;hurches?" 
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 
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 
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. 
BARTON. 
FALSE 
REPORTS 
INJURIOUS 
DEAR 
BROTHER 
RUSSIc"'LL:- 
For 
some 
time 
it 
has 
seemed 
expedient 
that 
write 
you 
re 
some 
field 
observations. 
You 
may 
recall 
that 
reported 
while 
South 
about 
year 
ago, 
that 
rumor 
was 
then 
O'oinO' 
the 
rounds 
of 
that 
section 
that 
Rockefeller 
had 
sent 
yo~ 
~heck 
for 
million 
dollars. 
Since 
reaching 
the 
territory 
which 
have 
been 
in 
for 
the 
past 
six 
weeks, 
have 
come 
up 
against 
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 
corne 
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 
anyone 
can 
give 
credence 
to 
such 
reports 
cannot 
understand. 
For 
about 
the 
same 
period 
of 
time 
have 
been 
hearing 
that 
Brother 
Bohnet 
had 
passed 
beyond, 
and 
that 
Brot'hers 
Toole 
and 
Hersee 
have 
gone 
out 
of 
the 
truth. 
All 
these 
things 
sound 
to 
me 
very 
much 
like 
"vain 
babbling." 
At 
Chicago 
was 
told 
that 
the 
reports 
corning 
in 
there 
from 
various 
pil­ 
grims 
indicate 
tha,t 
the 
friends 
generally 
are 
going 
to 
sleep, 
at 
least 
resting 
on 
beds 
of 
ease. 
My 
observations 
have 
been 
quite 
the 
reverse 
of 
these 
re­ 
ports, 
and 
you 
know 
the 
territory 
covered 
by 
me 
during 
the 
past 
eighteen 
months 
has 
been 
quite 
extensive. 
The 
cases 
of 
drowsiness 
notl'd 
by 
me 
have 
been 
rare. 
Generally 
speaking 
have 
found 
the 
classes 
in 
good 
spiritual 
health, 
the 
friends 
wide-awake. 
Probably 
more 
vital 
matter 
is 
report 
through­ 
out 
the 
same 
territory, 
just 
referred 
to, 
that 
your 
present 
thought 
is 
that 
the 
church 
will 
not 
be 
gathered 
until 
1925. 
was 
told 
that 
pilgrim 
brother, 
whose 
name 
was 
not 
men­ 
tioned, 
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 
find 
the 
friends 
forgetful 
of 
your 
oft-repeated 
statement 
that 
if 
you 
had 
any 
information 
to 
give 
them 
they 
might 
exped 
to 
find 
same 
in 
THE 
TOWER. 
It 
seems 
to 
me 
that 
all 
such 
matters 
as 
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 
WATCH 
TOWER, 
"Seventy 
Sent 
Forth." 
The 
breaking 
of 
such 
tender 
ties 
is 
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 
oecasion 
for 
rejoicing. 
Remember 
me, 
dear 
Pastor, 
in 
your 
prayers, 
that 
may 
meet 
you 
in 
the 
kingdom, 
even 
if 
not 
before. 
My 
love 
for 
you 
expands 
and 
gro.vs 
more 
tend.er. 
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 
thank 
~he 
Fath~r 
that 
am 
privileged 
to 
be 
coworker 
together 
With 
you 
III 
these 
closing 
days. 
'Yith 
abounding 
love 
lwd 
confidence, 
Your 
brother 
by 
His 
kind. 
favor, 
W. 
M. 
WISDO~[, 
VOL. 
XXXVI 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
JULY 
15, 
]015 
No. 
14 
LOVE 
OF 
THE 
FATHER 
AND 
THE 
SON 
OUR 
PATTERN 
(Disc01lrse 
delivered 
by 
Brother 
Russell 
Of 
the 
Mastpr 
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 
lond 
them 
unto 
the 
end." 
We 
are 
to 
draw 
strict 
line 
of 
demarpation 
bdween 
the 
love 
of 
God 
which 
the 
Bible 
points 
out 
as 
applicable 
to 
all 
mankind, 
and 
the 
love 
of 
God 
whiph 
is 
conferred 
upon 
the 
church. 
In 
the 
large, 
broad 
sense 
of 
the 
word, 
the 
Bible 
as­ 
sures 
us 
that 
"God 
so 
loved. 
the 
world 
that 
he 
gave 
his 
Only 
Begotten 
Son, 
that 
whosOPvpr 
believeth 
on 
him 
might 
not 
per­ 
ish, 
but 
have 
evprlasting 
life." 
However, 
there 
was 
nothing 
in 
the 
fallen 
man 
that 
God 
could 
really 
love. 
in 
the 
sense 
of 
fel­ 
lowshiping 
him. 
Really. 
tlH're 
was 
nothing 
in 
man 
to 
draw 
out 
the 
love 
of 
God 
toward 
him-everything 
rather 
to 
the 
contrary. 
And 
this 
was 
the 
reason 
God 
sentelH'ed 
man 
at 
the 
first, 
immediately 
after 
his 
fall, 
declaring 
F,lther 
Adam 
not 
worthy 
of 
his 
continupd 
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. 
RathC'r, 
we 
at 
the 
recent 
Convention 
at 
Oaklwnd, 
Cal.) 
arc 
to 
understand 
that 
the 
love 
of 
God 
which 
he 
exercised 
to­ 
ward 
the 
world 
is 
of 
the 
sympathetic 
love 
for 
poor 
dog. 
If 
he 
had 
injured 
his 
paw, 
we 
would 
like 
to 
bind 
up 
that 
paw. 
"'e 
would 
have 
the 
sympathetic 
love. 
Not 
that 
we 
really 
lovell 
that 
dog. 
but 
we 
had 
sympathy 
for 
it. 
So 
God's 
attitude 
towar.d 
the 
world 
is 
an 
attitude 
of 
sympathy. 
And 
he 
would 
have 
hIS 
people 
have 
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 
oppor­ 
tunity, 
but 
especially 
unto 
thcm 
who 
are 
of 
the 
household 
of 
faith.-Galatians 
6: 
10. 
The 
Lord 
makes 
definite 
rnle. 
'Ve 
are 
not 
to 
class 
the 
household 
of 
faith 
in 
with 
the 
world. 
We 
are 
not 
to 
think 
of 
giving 
the 
world 
the 
same 
affection 
01' 
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 
love 
for 
us-so 
small, 
so 
unworthy 
of 
his 
love 
or 
attention! 
[5724] 
(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]

This website uses cookies to improve the website and your experience. By continuing to browse this website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. If you require further information or do not wish to accept cookies when using this website, please visit our Global Policy on Use of Cookies and Similar Technologies .