Publication date
9/15/15
Volume
36
Number
18
The WatchTower
Views From The Watch Tower
/../literature/watchtower/1915/18/1915-18-1.html
 
 
(271-275) 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BaOOKI,YN. 
N. 
Y. 
impulse 
to 
call 
a,t 
once 
upon 
our 
dear 
Lord 
for 
relief, 
remem­ 
bering 
the 
promise 
of 
Corinthians 
10: 
13. 
He 
has 
answered 
my 
prayer, 
has 
granted 
me 
release, 
and 
has 
given 
me 
that 
peace 
of 
mind 
which 
those 
only 
can 
know 
who 
dwell 
"in 
the 
secret 
place 
of 
the 
Most 
High." 
Although 
this 
has 
been 
very 
severe 
test, 
the 
one 
which 
had 
soon 
after 
making 
consecration 
was 
more 
so. 
It 
began 
in 
thoughts 
of 
hatred 
toward 
everyone 
met. 
This 
continued 
alJout 
two 
days, 
when 
commenced 
continually 
repeating 
the 
scnh'nee, 
"I 
LOVE 
EVERYBODY!" 
Having 
very 
sensitive 
nature 
and 
an 
abhorrence 
of 
evil 
whidl 
is 
hIghly 
developed, 
it 
is 
possilJle 
that 
my 
self-examina­ 
tion 
is 
too 
critical. 
My 
daily 
and 
oft-repeated 
prayer 
is 
that 
c\,prything 
not 
in 
harmony 
with 
the 
divine 
will 
may 
be 
rooted 
out 
of 
my 
heart, 
making 
it 
fit 
temple 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit. 
have 
never 
let 
slip 
an 
opportunity 
to 
witness 
for 
the 
truth, 
either 
by 
handing 
out 
literature 
or 
by 
word 
of 
mouth. 
This 
activity 
has 
resulted 
in 
my 
business 
being 
boycotted. 
W,IS 
notifil'c! 
that 
this 
would 
result 
if 
persisted. 
But 
Ire­ 
joiee 
in 
the 
persecution, 
whieh 
experieuce 
also 
in 
my 
own 
home. 
It 
only 
stimulatp" 
me 
to 
further 
zeal 
for 
the 
Lord. 
Again 
thalJking 
you 
for 
your 
sympathy 
and 
brotherly 
love, 
whieh 
appreciate 
more 
than 
words 
can 
express, 
with 
much 
love, 
remain 
Your 
brother 
and 
fellow-servant, 
H. 
C. 
K~;ITH.-I1!d. 
BRITAIN'S 
SOLDIERS 
STUDYING 
THE 
TRUTH 
\VATCH 
Tow~;R 
BIBLE 
AND 
TRACT 
SOCIETY:- 
have 
lJrother 
who 
has 
been 
twice 
wounded 
in 
the 
war. 
wrote 
and 
told 
him 
some 
truth 
and 
sent 
some 
tracts 
while 
he 
was 
in 
England. 
(Ill' 
is 
still 
there 
at 
Belfield 
Park, 
Wey­ 
mouth, 
County 
Dorset.) 
He 
wrote 
and 
told 
me 
that 
to 
for­ 
give 
your 
enemies 
is 
not 
ina 
soldier's 
creed, 
and 
that 
they 
must 
take 
revenge 
on 
the 
GermarH. 
received 
letter 
again 
day 
or 
two 
ago, 
and 
he 
said 
he 
was 
pleased 
with 
the 
tracts 
sent, 
and 
that 
he 
was 
beginning 
to 
realize 
the 
truth. 
He 
says 
he 
got 
some 
of 
the 
men 
to 
read 
them, 
and 
now 
they 
have 
class 
of 
fourteen, 
and 
their 
officer 
has 
allowed 
them 
tent 
for 
study. 
They 
sent 
for 
books 
to 
the 
London 
Tabernacle, 
and 
received 
them. 
He 
says 
their 
officer 
drops 
in 
occasionally. 
He 
asked 
for 
more 
trads 
on 
the 
PHOTO-DRAMA 
OF 
CREATION, 
so 
sent 
some, 
together 
with 
other 
tracts. 
ask 
your 
prayers 
for 
these 
poor 
men, 
should 
any 
have 
the 
qualifieations 
for 
the 
truth. 
told 
my 
brother 
to 
write 
again 
to 
London 
Tabernacle 
to 
see 
if 
they 
could 
not 
get 
somebody 
to 
go 
down 
to 
teach 
them. 
It 
would, 
indeed, 
be 
well 
if 
this 
could 
be 
done. 
pray 
that 
your 
good 
work 
will 
bring 
forth 
fruit. 
Pray 
for 
me! 
Yours 
very 
sincerely 
in 
Christ, 
EDWARD 
H. 
CLAY.-'1'oronto, 
(Jan. 
FAR-OFF 
TASMANIA 
HEARD 
FROM 
DEAR 
FRlENlJ:- 
must 
tell 
you 
what 
blessing 
the 
STUlJI8S 
IN 
TilE 
SCRIP­ 
TURES 
have 
been 
to 
me, 
and 
what 
joy 
and 
peace 
they 
have 
given 
me! 
Although 
believer 
for 
years 
past, 
Yl't 
waR 
dissatisfied 
and 
unwilling 
to 
consecrate 
myself. 
But 
now 
thl' 
Lord 
has 
seemed 
to 
meet 
me 
as 
he 
met 
the 
Prodigal 
in 
our 
Lord's 
para 
LIe. 
The 
"vow 
nnto 
the 
Lord" 
have 
reeentiv 
taken, 
and 
would 
like 
to 
Le 
lJaptized; 
suppose. 
ho\\"('n:r, 
that 
nonp 
of 
Ow 
pilgrims 
vi,.;it 
this 
plaee, 
a,.; 
it 
is 
isolated 
and 
the 
ppopll' 
are 
generally 
indifferent 
to 
spiritual 
mattl'rs. 
have 
II1pt 
hut 
one 
interested 
person-a 
humlJlc, 
simple 
woman-grieving 
OVl'r 
the 
loss 
of 
child, 
the 
sorrow 
opening 
her 
hea 
rt 
to 
thl' 
things 
of 
God. 
Talking' 
with 
her, 
she 
begged 
me 
to 
POlllP 
again; 
she 
is 
eager 
to 
know 
more. 
think 
others 
like 
her 
can 
be 
found 
here. 
should 
likp 
to 
tell 
Pastor 
RlISspll 
fullv 
what 
his 
jJDoks 
have 
(lone 
for 
me; 
but 
although 
cannot 
(CO 
this, 
do 
pray 
for 
him 
an(I 
his 
coworkers. 
hope 
soon 
to 
sl'nd 
contribution 
for 
the 
work; 
!lopp 
also 
that 
pilgrim 
will 
make 
his 
appp,trance 
up 
thi" 
way. 
oecasionally 
attend 
monthly 
religiou" 
seni"ll 
an<l 
wOIII,1 
like 
some 
withdrawal 
letters 
if 
~'(m 
will 
kindly 
"Pllll 
tIlPlIl. 
Your 
Sister 
in 
Christ. 
MRS. 
Br 
.. 
\NCIIE 
.ToIIXSO:".--'J'lIsmnn;n. 
VOL. 
XXXVI 
BIWOKL 
YX, 
N. 
Y., 
SEP'l'K:\lB 
Ii), 
In];) 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
;\0. 
l~ 
REV. 
DR. 
GORDON'S 
WAR 
VIEWS 
The 
"Toronto 
Globe" 
puhlislll's 
the 
following 
stirring 
artide 
from 
the 
pen 
of 
Rev. 
Charles 
\V. 
GonIon. 
D. 
D., 
widely 
known 
under 
the 
pen-name 
of 
Ralph 
Connor. 
Rev. 
Gordon, 
as 
Chap­ 
lain 
of 
the 
Forty-third 
Battalion 
Cameron 
Highlanders, 
has 
returned 
to 
Canada, 
bringing 
back 
his 
wounded 
brother, 
Lieu­ 
tenant 
A. 
R. 
Gordon. 
His 
article 
in 
the 
"Globe" 
follows: 
BRITAIN 
SEES 
SPECTRE 
OF 
DEFEAT 
"En'ry 
one 
has 
I)('pn 
dutifully 
"a~'ing 
that 
this 
war 
IS 
serious 
business, 
but 
no 
man 
living, 
not 
even 
Kitchener 
him­ 
self, 
knew 
till 
three 
months 
ago 
just 
how 
serious 
it 
was. 
Kitch­ 
ener 
knows 
now. 
Asquith 
knows. 
Lloyd-George 
knows. 
Bonar 
Law 
knows. 
The 
labor 
leaders 
of 
Britain 
and 
the 
labor 
unions 
know 
just 
how 
seriolls, 
how 
(lL'adly 
serious, 
this 
war 
is. 
And 
on 
London 
streets 
and 
in 
London 
offices, 
in 
the 
drawing 
rooms 
and 
at 
'week-ends,' 
men 
are 
asking 
each 
other 
in 
whis­ 
pers, 
questions 
they 
would 
not 
dare 
to 
ask 
aloud, 
and 
are 
get­ 
ting 
answers 
that 
somL'times 
give 
queer 
feeling 
at 
their 
Brit­ 
ish 
hearts. 
"A 
serious 
business 
indeed 
is 
this 
war. 
The 
issue 
of 
it 
the 
cheerful 
and 
irresponsible 
optimist, 
with 
his 
eye 
on 
the 
past, 
when 
wars 
were 
waged 
by 
lllen 
and 
not 
by 
machines, 
and 
when 
valor, 
1I0t 
explosives, 
won 
fights, 
dpclure, 
to 
be 
assured-only 
one 
issue 
is 
possible-yictory 
to 
our 
armS. 
pleasant 
man 
this 
cheerful 
optimist, 
till 
you 
notice 
that 
his 
eye 
is 
upon 
the 
back 
trail 
or 
in 
the 
clouds. 
When 
you 
know 
him. 
yOll 
damn 
him 
for 
lH'ill~' 
mi,<],'ading 
fool. 
En'rv 
man 
in 
the 
empire 
that 
ought 
to 
be 
listened 
to 
Sl'es 
no 
hope 
of 
vic­ 
tory, 
absolutely 
none, 
and 
little 
hope 
of 
Llrawn 
battle, 
unless 
conditions 
be 
changed, 
so 
as 
to 
be 
utterly 
different 
from 
those 
under 
which 
the 
war 
has 
been 
hitherto 
waged. 
"The 
first 
impression 
one 
got 
on 
reaching 
LonLlon, 
about 
two 
months 
ago, 
was 
that 
the 
traditional 
British 
cocksurencss 
had 
been 
shattered 
·and 
had 
been 
replaced 
by 
paralyzing 
s~'nBe 
of 
uncertainty. 
You 
caught 
it 
everywhere; 
on 
the 
streets, 
in 
the 
hotels, 
at 
dinners, 
in 
the 
House 
of 
Commons 
and 
in 
the 
press-even 
in 
the 
press! 
It 
was 
not 
so 
much 
what 
people 
said, 
but 
what 
they 
refused 
to 
say. 
It 
was 
the 
deter­ 
mined 
and 
obvious 
effort 
to 
be 
checrful 
that 
depressed 
and 
disturbed 
one. 
Everybody 
was 
saying 
to 
his 
neighbor, 
'Cheer 
up, 
things 
will 
improve.' 
"BLAMES 
WAR 
OFFICE 
FOR 
STATE 
OF 
THINGS 
"But 
eyerybo(1y, 
when 
by 
himsl'lf, 
refnsl'd 
to 
phl'l'r 
up. 
He 
was 
mostly 
engaged 
during 
thm;e 
lonl'!y 
moments 
in 
blam­ 
ing 
in 
his 
own 
particular 
way, 
sOlllething 
or 
sOlllebody, 
and 
not 
the 
Germans 
either, 
but 
wry 
largely 
those 
in 
the 
\\'0.1' 
Office. 
"What 
was 
wrong~ 
The 
fact 
was 
simply 
this: 
That 
th,' 
British 
people 
were 
standing 
an,l 
looking 
with 
nl'wly-openp(l 
eyes 
as 
the 
spcctre 
of 
defeat 
looming 
up 
thl'llng'h 
the 
channPl 
mists; 
spectre 
unlike 
the 
traditions 
of 
onr 
dre:lllls, 
sleeping 
or 
waking', 
in 
that 
it 
refused 
to 
disapppar, 
al1<1 
worp 
shiny 
hellllet. 
That 
spectrl', 
unless 
eon,1itioHs 
were 
ehangp,l, 
eould 
not 
be 
laid, 
but 
would 
take 
on 
reality 
of 
hideonsness 
III 
p"rlllaneney 
for 
their 
children 
to 
contemplate 
ftlr 
suecessiye 
generations. 
Thl're 
are 
people 
Lloubtless 
reading 
this 
line 
who 
pause 
to 
say 
'Rot.' 
But 
the 
British 
people 
are 
not 
saying 
'Uot' 
any 
more, 
and 
did 
not 
say 
'Rot' 
when 
thpir'pyes 
\\'!'re 
OIlt'II!',l 
sOllie 
two 
months 
and 
half 
ago. 
Then 
thc 
British 
people 
sat 
up 
broad 
awake, 
and 
with 
that 
sllperb 
cool 
courage 
that 
fael's 
men 
up 
to 
unpleasant 
and 
terrilJle 
facts, 
lookc,l 
the 
sit, 
uation 
in 
the 
eye 
and 
began 
forthwith 
to 
change 
things. 
"ASQUITH 
MET 
THINGS 
IN 
CHARACTERISTIC 
WAY 
"The 
government 
showed 
the 
way. 
With 
that 
fine 
pow!'r 
of 
sacrifice 
which 
is 
the 
characteristic 
of 
the 
British 
states­ 
man 
Asquith 
met 
the 
crisis, 
for 
crisis 
it 
was. 
It 
was 
bitter, 
hard 
day 
for 
the 
Premier, 
the 
bitterest 
and 
hardest 
day 
of 
his 
whole 
career, 
hut 
he 
was 
equal 
to 
the 
demand 
made 
upon 
his 
patriotism. 
coalition 
government 
was 
formed. 
Then 
the 
hOllsecleaning 
began. 
Among 
other 
things 
the 
War 
Office 
was 
reorganized. 
new 
department 
was 
created 
with 
Lloyd­ 
George, 
that 
wonderful, 
great, 
little 
man 
at 
its 
head. 
Up 
to 
this 
time 
the 
call 
had 
been 
for 
men, 
and 
more 
men. 
ow 
to 
the 
nation's 
ears 
came 
new 
cry: 
"Munitions, 
munitions 
and 
more 
munitions.' 
That 
'wonder-working 
little 
Welshman' 
was 
onto 
his 
job. 
"One 
question 
still 
remains 
to 
be 
answered: 
'What 
is 
to 
be 
the 
issue 
of 
this 
serious 
war" 
The 
answer 
is 
plain, 
so 
plain 
that 
even 
the 
erstwhile 
cheerful 
optimist 
can 
see 
it. 
And 
the 
answer 
is 
this: 
If 
the 
change 
in 
conditions 
so 
splen­ 
didly 
initiated 
be 
not 
continuetl, 
and 
with 
ever-increasing 
ac­ 
celeration, 
the 
issue 
is, 
defeat. 
[5764] 
(271~275) impulse to call at once upon our dear Lord for relief, remembering the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13. He has answered my prayer, has granted me release, and has given me that peace of mind which those only can know who dwell “in the secret place of the Most High.” Although this has been a very severe test, the one which I had soon after making consecration was more so. It began in thoughts of hatred toward every one I met. This continued about two days, when I commenced continually repeating the sentence, “I Love EvERYBopy!” Having a very sensitive nature and an abhorrence of evil which is highly developed, it is possible that my self-examination is too critical. My daily and oft-repeated prayer is that everything not in harmony with the divine will may be rooted out of my heart, making it a fit temple of the holy Spirit. I have never let shp an opportunity to witness for the truth, either by handing out literature or by word of mouth. This activity has resulted in my business being boycotted. I was notified that this would result if I persisted. But I rejoice in the persecution, which I experience also in my own home. Jt only stimulates me to further zeal for the Lord. Again thanking you for your sympathy and brotherly love, which ] appreciate more than words can express, with much love, I remain Your brother and fellow-servant, BRITAIN’S SOLDIERS STUDYING THE TRUTH WatcH Tower BipLe anp Tract Socrery:— I have a brother who has been twice wounded in the war. I wrote and told him some truth and sent some tracts while he was in England. (He is still there at Belfield Park, Weymouth, County Dorset.) He wrote and told me that to forgive your enemies is not in a soldier’s creed, and that they must take revenge on the Germans, I received a letter again a day or two ago, and he said he was pleased with the tracts I sent, and that he was beginning to realize the truth. He savs he got some of the men to read them, and now they have a class of fourteen, and their officer has allowed them a tent for study. They sent for H. C. Kerry.—tInd. Vou. XXXVI THE WATCH TOWER Brooxiyn, N. Y. books to the London Tabernacle, and received them. He says their officer drops in occasionally, He asked for more tracts on the PHoro-DraMa or CREATION, so I sent some, together with other tracts. J ask your prayers for these poor men, should any have the qualifications for the truth. I told my brother to write again to London Tabernacle to see if they could not get somebody to go down to teach them, It would, indeed, be well if this could be done. I pray that your good work will bring forth fruit. Pray for me! Yours very sincerely in Christ, Epwarp H. Cray.—T'oronto, Can. FAR-OFF TASMANIA HEARD FROM DEAR FRIEND: — I must tell you what a blessing the STUDIES IN THE ScriPTURES have been to me, and what joy and peace they have given me! Although a believer for years past, yet I] was dissatisfied and unwilling to consecrate myself. But now the Lord has seemed to meet me ag he met the Prodigal in our Lord’s parable. The “vow unto the Lord’ I have recently taken, and 1 would like to be baptized; I suppose, however, that none of the pilgrims visit this place, as it is isolated and the people are generally indifferent to spiritual matters. I have met Int one interested person—a humble, simple woman—grieving over the loss of a child, the sorrow opening her heart to the things of God. Talking with her, she begged me to come again; she is eager to know more. I think others like her can be found here. I should like to tell Pastor Russell fully what his books have done for me; but although I cannot do this, I do pray for him and his coworkers. I hope soon to send a contribution for the work; I hope also that a pilgrim will make his appearance up this way. I occasionally attend a monthly religious service and would like some withdrawal letters if vou will kindly send them. Your Sister in Christ, Mrs, Brancire JOUNSON.-—Tasmania. REV. DR. GORDON’S WAR VIEWS The “Toronto Globe” publishes the following stirring article from the pen of Rey. Charles W. Gordon. D. D., widely known under the pen-name of Ralph Connor, Rev. Gordon, as Chaplain of the Forty-third Battalion Cameron Highlanders, has returned to Canada, bringing back his wounded brother, Lieutenant A. R. Gordon. His article in the “Globe” follows: BRITAIN SHES SPECTRE OF DEFEAT “Every one has been dutifully saving that this war is a serious business, but no man living, not even Kitchener himself, knew till three months ago just how serious it was. Kitchener knows now. Asquith knows. Lloyd-George knows. Bonar Law knows. The labor leaders of Britain and the labor unions know just how serious, how deadly serious, this war is. And on London streets and in London offices, in the drawing rooms and at ‘week-ends,’ men are asking each other in whispers, questions they would not dare to ask aloud, and are getting answers that sometimes give a queer feeling at their British hearts. “A serious business indeed is this war. The issue of it the cheerful and irresponsible optimist, with his eve on the past, when wars were waged by men and not by machines, and when valor, not explosives, won fights, declares to be assured—only one issue is possible—victory to our arms. A pleasant man this cheerful optimist, till you notice that his eye is upon the back trail or in the clouds. When you know him, you damn him for being a misleading fool . Every man in the empire that ought to be listened to sces no hope of victory, absolutely none, and little hope of a drawn battle, unless conditions be changed, so as to be utterly different from those under which the war has been hitherto waged. “The first impression one got on reaching London, about two months ago, was that the traditional British cocksureness had been shattered and had been replaced by a paralyzing sense of uncertainty. You caught it everywhere; on the streets, in the hotels, at dinners, in the House of Commons and in the press—even in the press! It was not so much what people said, but what they refused to say. It was the determined and obvious effort to be cheerful that depressed and disturbed one. Everybody was saying to his neighbor, ‘Cheer up, things will improve.’ BROOKLYN, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 15, 1915 No. 1s VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER ‘“‘BLAMES WAR OFFICE FOR STATE OF THINGS “But everybody, when by himself, refused to cheer up. He was mostly engaged during those lonely moments in blaming in his own particular way, something or somebody, and not the Germans either, but very largely those in the War Office. “What was wrong? The fact was simply this: That the British people were standing and looking with newly-opened eyes as the spectre of defeat looming up through the channel mists; a speetre unlike the traditions of our dreams, sleeping or waking, in that it refused to disappear, and wore a shiny helmet. That spectre, unless conditions were changed, could not be laid, but would take on a reality of hideousness and permanency for their children to contemplate for successive generations. There are people doubtless reading this line who pause to say ‘Rot! But the British people are not saying ‘Rot’ any more, aud did not say ‘Rot’ when their'cyes were opened some two months and a half ago. Then the British people sat up broad awake, and with that superb cool courage that faces men up to unpleasant and terrible facts, looked the situation in the eye and began forthwith to change things. ‘ASQUITH MET THINGS IN CHARACTERISTIC WAY “The government showed the way. With that fine power of sacrifice which is the characteristic of the British statesman Asquith met the crisis, for crisis it was. It was a bitter, hard day for the Premier, the bitterest and hardest day of his whole career, but he was equal to the demand made upon his patriotism. A coalition government was formed. Then the housecleaning began. Among other things the War Office was reorganized. A new department was created with LloydGeorge, that wonderful, great, little man at its head. Up to this time the call had been for men, and more men. Now to the nation’s ears came a new cry: “Munitions, munitions and more munitions.’ That ‘wonder-working little Welshman’ was onto his job. “One question still remains to be answered: ‘What is to be the issue of this serious war?’ The answer is plain, so plain that even the erstwhile cheerful optimist can see it. And the answer is this: If the change in conditions so splendidly initiated be not continued, and with ever-increasing acceleration, the issue is, defeat. [5764]

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