8
1
8
download/literature/watchtower/1915-24.pdf
../literature/watchtower/1915/24/1915-24-1.html
DItCItWBU
1,
1915
THE
WATCH
TOWER
(367-371)
not
seem
like
a
complaint.
but
instead,
a
service
in
behaIf
of
the
cause
we
all
love
so
well.
With
wal'mest
love
in
the
Lord,
Yours
in
His
service,
-
-
-
.
TIME
ENOUGH
FOB
PBOTEST
DEAR
BROTHER
RUSSELL:-
In
reading
and
rereading
the
first
article
of
Sept.
1st
TOWER;
Le.
"Christian
Duty
and
the
War,"
we
have
been
greatly
helped
and
encouraged.
We
especially
wish
to
speak
of
the
last
part
of
the
article
and
the
advice
given
therein.
We
gladly
accept
and
appreciate
this
advice.
You
seem
to
have
said
just
what
was
in
our
hearts
and
minds.
Weare
desirous,
however,
of
asking
a
further
question.
Would
you
think
it
proper
and
wi3e
to
place
before
the
gov
ernment
at
this
time,
before
they
become
involved
in
the
war.
our
determination
in
Mse
they
do?
"Be
it
known
unto
thee,
o
King,
we
will
not
serve
thy
(War)
gods."
Would
not
a
perfectly
frank
and
honest
posi
tion
on
our
part
require
such
action?
As
for
instance,
the
sending
of
a
resolution
to
this
effect
signed
by
all
who
wished,
to
President
Wilson
and
the
public
press.
Grel?tly
thanking
you
for
your
continued
labors
of
love
and
praying
the
Master's
richest
blessing
upon
you
and
the
glorious
work
you
are
doing,
we
remain,
Yours
faithfully
in
the
Anointed,
-
-
-
.
We
advise
that
no
protest
be
made
until
there
is
some
demand;
and
then
only
a
quiet,
modest
declaration
of
our
consciences
on
the
subject.
EDITOR.
"LIFT
t1P
YOn
HEADS
AND
REJOICE'"
Question.-<Should
the
Lord's
people
be
grieved,
or
should
they
rejoice,
over
this
present
great
international
war!
Answer.-Our
M,aster
said,
"When
ye
see
these
things
be
gin
to
oome
to
pass,
then
lift
up
your
heads
and
rejoice!"
We
cannot
think
that
the
Lord
meant
that
we
should
rejoice
in
tne
sufferings
of
those
engaged
in
this
war.
nor
in
the
suffer
ings
of
the
wives
and
children,
the
bereaved
ones,
nor
in
the
loss
of
those
whose
homes
are
destroyed,
nor
in
the
sorrows
of
millions
here
who
are
without
homes
in
consequence
of
the
war.
We
cannot
think
that
he
meant
this!
He
says
that
we
are
to
sympathize
with
those
who
are
in
trouble,
to
rejoice
with
those
who
rejoice
and
to
weep
with
those
wfio
weep.
The
reason
why
we
rejoice
is
that
we
know
what
the
outcome
of
this
trouble
upon
the
nations
will
be,
as
foreshown
in
the
Scriptures.
We
rejoice
not
in
the
sorrows,
the
difficulties,
not
,in
the
war,
and
what
is
to
follow
in
its
wake,
but
in
the
fact
that
all
these
things
prefigure
tJhe
end
of
the
reign
of
~in
and
Death
and
the
inauguration
of
Messiah's
glorious
empire!
\·OL.
XXXVI
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
DECEMBER
15,
1915
No.
24
WATCH
TOWER,
BIBLE
AND
TRACT
SOCIETY
ANNUAL
REPORT
FOR
FISCAL
YE,AR-1915
Although
the
year
1915
falls
considerably
short
of
previous
years
in
respect
to
the
Society's
ae.tivities
in
the
promulga
tion
of
truth;
nevertheless,
this
is
one
of
the
best
reports
the
Society
has
ever
been
privileged
to
render.
It
so
impresses
us
because
many
of
the
dear
friends
who
have
been
active
sup
porters
of
the
work
in
the
past
have
been
so
generous,
so
fervent,
so
zealous,
that
they
left
themselves
with
merely
enough
of
this
world's
goods
to
properly
maintain
themselves
and
those
for
whom
they
had
responsibility.
Our
expectations
that
the
Lord's
consecrated
people
might
be
taken
beyond
the
veil
by
October,
1914,
had
muth
to
do
with
these
previous
activities;
leading
the
friends
to
spend
and
be
spent
in
the
most
marvelous
way
in
the
interest
of
the
King
and
the
breth
hen,
heirs
of
the
kingdom.
True,
for
two
years
preceding
the
date
mentioned,
THE
WATCH
TOWER
pointed
out
that
the
grand
climax
of
our
hopes
seemed
not
likely
to
be
fulfilled
at
that
time.
Nevertheless,
the
fervent
zeal
of
the
brethren
led
many
of
them
to
serve
to
their
limit.
And
during
the
year
preceding,
the
PHOTO
DRAMA
OF
CREATION
so
greatly
appealed
to
the
brethren
as
a
providential
arrangement
of
the
Lord
for
the
scattering
of
the
truth
that
it
quite
made
up
for
any
loss
of
expectancy
in
re
gard
to
the
time.
We
therefore
consider
it
very
remarkable
that
in
the
face
of
these
circumstances
the
work
has
gone
on,
practically
uninterrupted-some
features
of
it
even
increasing,
notwithstanding
the
financial
depression
of
the
earlier
half
of
the
fiscal
year.
First
of
all,
we
note
the
beautiful
spirit
manifested
by
the
Lord's
people
in
every
part
of
the
harvest
field.
A
deep
work
of
grace
in
the
hearts
and
minds
of
the
brethren
is
everywhere
manifest.
Their
possession
of
the
holy
Spirit
in
increasing
measure
is
manifested,
as
the
Apostle
declared
it
should
be,
in
the
fruits
of
the
Spirit;
i.
e.,
meekness,
gentleness,
patience,
long-suffering,
brotherly
kindness,
love.
We
know
of
these
prevailing
conditions,
not
merely
through
the
dear
brethren
who
represent
the
pilgrim
work
and
by
whom
reports
are
con
tinually
sent
in
in
respect
to
every
class
visited;
but
we
have
information
of
the
same
thing
from
every
part
of
the
world,
through
the
Correspondence
Department.
As
an
illustration
of
how
the
work
goes
gradually
on,
we
note
the
fact
that
in
the
New
York
City
congregation
the
num
ber
immersed
during
the
year-208--exceeded
those
of
the
preceding
years.
We
have
similar
reports
from
all
over
the
world,
witnessing
to
an
increasing
number,
coming
under
the
influence
of
the
truth,
and
"presenting
their
bodies,
living
sac
rifices,"
in
consecration
to
the
Lord
and
his
service.
THE
COLPORTEUR
WORK
The
financial
strain
of
the
early
part
of
the
year
discour
aged
many
of
the
colporteurs,
and
led
them
to
leave
the
har·
vest
work
temporarily
and
enter
business
pursuits-it
being
impossible
for
them,
for
a
time,
to
meet
their
expenses.
Now,
however,
the
great
improvement
in
business
everywhere,
re
sulting
from
the
manufacture
of
munitions
of
war
for
Europe,
is
encouraging
many
of
these
brethren
to
return
to
the
harvest
work.
There
surely
never
was
a
more
encouraging
time
for
engaging
in
this
blessed
service.
Not
only
are
the
STUDIES
IN
THE
SCRIPTURES
supplemented
by
the
CREATION
SCENARIO;
but
additionally
and
especially,
the
minds
of
the
people
are
open
as
never
before,
to
know
something
about
the
meaning
of
the
war,
and
to
consider
the
relationship
of
God
and
the
divine
plan
to
the
terrible
war
now
in
progress.
We
have
the
thing
they
need,
the
thing
they
crave;
and
no
one
else
has
it.
We
are
hoping
that
many
of
the
dear
friends
who
became
temporarily
discouraged
will
per
ceive
the
hand
of
the
Lord
beckoning
forward
for
a
further
gleaning
in
the
harvest
field
before
"the
night
cometh
when
no
man
can
work."
The
circumstances
mentioned
will
account
for
the
decrease
in
the
output
of
the
STUDIES
IN
THE
SCRIP
TURES,
as
shown
in
this
report.
THE
PILGBIM
WORK
While
various
circumstances
and
conditions
have
seemed
to
make
it
advisable
that
some
of
the
pilgrim
brethren
be
dropped
from
the
active
service,
others
have
been
brought
into
the
work,
and
still
others
are
expected
to
enter
it
in
the
near
future.
The
results
of
the
year,
as
shown
in
the
tabulation,
certainly
compare
very
favorably
with
the
year
1914.
We
consider
this
one
of
the
most
important
branches
of
the
serv
ice,
and
continue
to
commend
to
the
love
and
special
considera
tion
of
all
the
Lord's
people
the
pilgrims
whom
the
Society
sends
forth.
A
special
blessing
seems
to
be
going
with
this
feature
of
the
work
at
the
present
time.
The
public
have
an
ear
to
hear,
and
the
Lord
seems
to
he
giving
his
faithful
on\'s
more
and
more
of
wisdom
and
grace
in
the
presentation
of
the
message.
The
results
are
gratifying.
CREATION
PHOTO-DRAMA
This
branch
of
the
work,
having
been
pushed
for
a
year,
most
persistently
at
great
expense,
yielded
such
bountiful
re
sults
that
we
were
loth
to
see
the
great
activity
in
this
direc
tion
curtailed.
Nevertheless,
it
was
the
only
wise
and
possible
thing
under
the
circumstances-the
financial
stringency.
For
a
time,
all
but
three
of
the
DRAMAS
in
the
United
States
were
discontinued;
and
these
were
not
run
as
continually
as
before.
Various
endeavors
were
made
to
put
the
DRAMA
on
a
financial
footing
to
yield
its
own
expenses.
It
was
found,
however,
that
in
order
to
make
it
attractive
to
the
theater
people,
the
DRAMA
was
so
shortened
that
the
main
object
was
largely
frustrated.
The
Society,
on
the
contrary,
had
the
special
interest
in
the
slides
and
records,
because
by
these
the
great
Gospel
message
was
delivered-the
moving
pictures
merely
being
introduced
to
draw
the
audience
and
to
hold
their
attention.
All
such
exhibi
tions
of
the
DRAMA
have
been
discontinued.
Hereafter
it
is
to
be
shown
only
in
its
full
four
parts,
without
any
curtailment.
And
the
Lord's
blessing
seems
to
be
returning
to
the
DRAMA
on
the
free
basis.
We
have
now,
practically,
all
of
our
DRAMA
sets
in
opera
tion,
though
not
showing
usually,
except
Sundays,
in
the
the
aters.
And
the
friends
can
usually
obtain
the
theaters
at
a
very
low
price.
In
cities
where
ordinary
Photo-Drama
entertain-
[5813]
DecempBer 1, 1915 not seem like a complaint, but instead, a service in behalf of the cause we all love so well. With warmest love in the Lord. Yours in His service, . TIME ENOUGH FOR PROTEST Deas BRoTHER RUSSELL:— In reading and rereading the first article of Sept. Ist Tower; ie. “Christian Duty and the War,” we have been greatly helped and encouraged. We especially wish to speak of the last part of the article and the advice given therein. We gladly accept and appreciate this advice. You seem to have said just what was in our hearts and minds. We are desirous, however, of asking a further question. Would you think it proper and wise to place before the government at this time, before they become involved in the war, our determination in ease they do? “Be it known unto thee, O King, we will not serve thy (War) gods.” Would not a perfectly frank and honest position on our part require such action? As for instance, the sending of a resolution to this effect. signed by all who wished, to President Wilson and the public press. Greetly thanking you for your continued labors of love and praying the Master’s richest blessing upon you and the glorious work you are doing, we remain, Yours faithfully in the Anointed, Vou. XXXVI THE WATCH TOWER BROOKLYN, N. Y., DECEMBER 15, 1915 (367-371) We advise that no protest be made until there is some demand; and then only a quiet, modest declaration of our consciences on the subject. EDITOR. “LIFT UP YOUR HEADS AND REJOICE!’’ Question—Should the Lord’s people be grieved, or should they rejoice, over this present great international war? Answer.—Our Master said, “When ye see these things begin to come to pass, then lift up your heads and rejoice!” We cannot think that the Lord meant that we should rejoice in tne sufferings of those engaged in this war, nor in the sufferings of the wives and children, the bereaved ones, nor in the loss of those whose homes are destroyed, nor in the sorrows of millions here who are without homes in consequence of the war, We cannot think that he meant this! He says that we are to sympathize with those who are in trouble, to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those wlio weep. The reason why we rejoice is that we know what the outcome of this trouble upon the nations will be, as foreshown in the Scriptures. We rejoice not in the sorrows, the difficulties, not in the war, and what is to follow in its wake, but in the fact that all these things prefigure the end of the reign of Sin and Death and the inauguration of Messiah’s glorious empire! No. 24 WATCH TOWER, BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR—1915 Although the year 1915 falls considerably short of previous years in respect to the Society’s activities in the promulgation of truth; nevertheless, this is one of the best reports the Society has ever been privileged to render. It so impresses us because many of the dear friends who have been active supporters of the work in the past have been so generous, 80 fervent, so zealous, that they left themselves with merely enough of this world’s goods to properly maintain themselves and those for whom they had responsibility. Our expectations that the Lord’s consecrated people might be taken beyond the veil by October, 1914, had muth to do with these previous activities; leading the friends to spend and be spent in the most marvelous way in the interest of the King and the brethhen, heirs of the kingdom. True, for two years preceding the date mentioned, THE WarcH Tower pointed out that the grand climax of our hopes seemed not likely to be fulfilled at that time. Nevertheless, the fervent zeal of the brethren led many of them to serve to their limit. And during the year preceding, the PHoToDRAMA OF CREATION so greatly appealed to the brethren as a providential arrangement of the Lord for the scattering of the truth that it quite made up for any loss of expectancy in regard to the time. We therefore consider it very remarkable that in the face of these circumstances the work has gone on, practically uninterrupted—some features of it even increasing, notwithstanding the financial depression of the earlier half of the fiscal year. First of all, we note the beautiful spirit manifested by the Lord’s people in every part of the harvest field. A deep work of grace in the hearts and minds of the brethren is everywhere manifest. Their possession of the holy Spirit in increasing measure is manifested, as the Apostle declared it should be, in the fruits of the Spirit; i. e., meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, brotherly kindness, love. We know of these prevailing conditions, not merely through the dear brethren who represent the pilgrim work and by whom reports are continually sent in in respect to every class visited; but we have information of the same thing from every part of the world, through the Correspondence Department. As an illustration of how the work goes gradually on, we note the fact that in the New York City congregation the number immersed during the year-—208—exceeded those of the preceding years. We have similar reports from all over the world, witnessing to an increasing number, coming under the influence of the truth, and “presenting their bodies, living sacrifices,” in consecration to the Lord and his service. THE COLPORTEUR WORK The financial strain of the early part of the year discouraged many of the colporteurs, and led them to leave the harvest work temporarily and enter business pursuits—it being impossible for them, for a time, to meet their expenses. Now, however, the great improvement in business everywhere, resulting from the manufacture of munitions of war for Europe, is encouraging many of these brethren to return to the harvest work. There surely never was a more encouraging time for engaging in this blessed service. Not only are the STuDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES supplemented by the Creation Scenario; but additionally and especially, the minds of the people are open as never before, to know something about the meaning of the war, and to consider the relationship of God and the divine plan to the terrible war now in progress. We have the thing they need, the thing they erave; and no one else has it. We are hoping that many of the dear friends who became temporarily discouraged will perceive the hand of the Lord beckoning forward for a further gleaning in the harvest field before “the night cometh when no man can work.” The circumstances mentioned will account for the decrease in the output of the STupIEs IN THE ScripTURES, as shown in this report. THE PILGRIM WORK While various circumstances and conditions have seemed to make it advisable that some of the pilgrim brethren be dropped from the active service, others have been brought into the work, and still others are expected to enter it in the near future. The results of the year, as shown in the tabulation, certainly compare very favorably with the year 1914. We consider this one of the most important branches of the service, and continue to commend to the love and special consideration of all the Lord’s people the pilgrims whom the Society sends forth. A special blessing seems to be going with this feature of the work at the present time. The public have an ear to hear, and the Lord seems to be giving his faithful ones more and more of wisdom and grace in the presentation of the message. The results are gratifying. CREATION PHOTO-DRAMA This branch of the work, having been pushed for a year, most persistently at great expense, yielded such bountiful results that we were loth to see the great activity in this direction curtailed. Nevertheless, it was the only wise and possible thing under the circumstances—the financial stringency. For a time, all but three of the DraMas in the United States were discontinued; and these were not run as continually as before. Various endeavors were made to put the DraMa on a financial footing to yield its own expenses. It was found, however, that in order to make it attractive to the theater people, the DrRaMa was so shortened that the main object was largely frustrated. The Society, on the contrary, had the special interest in the slides and records, because by these the great Gospel message was delivered—the moving pictures merely being introduced to draw the audience and to hold their attention. All such exhibitions of the Drama have been discontinued. Hereafter it is to be shown only in its full four parts, without any curtailment. And the Lord’s blessing seems to be returning to the Drama on the free basis. We have now, practically, all of our DraMa sets in operation, though not showing usually, except Sundays, in the theaters, And the friends can usually obtain the theaters at a very low price. In cities where ordinary Photo-Drama entertain [5813]
To enhance your experience on our website, we use cookies and similar technologies. Some cookies are essential for the core functionality of our site and cannot be declined. You can choose to accept or decline additional cookies. We want to assure you that none of this data will be sold or used for marketing purposes. You can adjust your preferences at any time by accessing the Privacy Settings from the footer of the page. For more information, please refer to our
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
.
