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(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
a
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
a
great
revival
in
the
way
of
Bible
study
in
the
past
few
years.
Does
that
not
look.
hopeful
for
the
(;hurches?"
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.
BARTON.
FALSE
REPORTS
INJURIOUS
DEAR
BROTHER
RUSSIc"'LL:-
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
O'oinO'
the
rounds
of
that
section
that
Rockefeller
had
sent
yo~
a
~heck
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
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
I
cannot
understand.
For
about
the
same
period
of
time
I
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
I
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
I
have
found
the
classes
in
good
spiritual
health,
the
friends
wide-awake.
Probably
a
more
vital
matter
is
a
report
through
out
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
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
I
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
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
WATCH
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
oecasion
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
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
I
thank
~he
Fath~r
that
I
am
privileged
to
be
a
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
a
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
a
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
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
oppor
tunity,
but
especially
unto
thcm
who
are
of
the
household
of
faith.-Galatians
6:
10.
The
Lord
makes
a
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
a
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]
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