Publication date
11/1/16
Volume
37
Number
21
The WatchTower
How We May Grow Up Into Christ
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1916/21/1916-21-1.html
 
 
 
INTERESTING 
LETTERS 
FIERY 
TRIALS 
IN 
BRITAIN 
EASING 
DEAR 
BROTHER 
RUSSEll.;- 
Greetings 
and 
fond 
love 
in 
the 
Lord! 
It 
is 
now 
some 
little 
time 
since 
last 
we 
wrote 
you 
with 
respect 
to 
those 
of 
our 
dear 
brethren 
who 
are 
affected 
by 
the 
Military 
Service 
Act 
in 
this 
country. 
We 
are 
glad 
now 
to 
report 
some 
slight 
improvements 
in 
the 
situation. 
From 
the 
very 
beginning 
our 
brethren 
have 
claimed 
exemption 
from 
the 
provisions 
of 
the 
Act 
as 
Conscientious 
Objectors, 
but 
for 
a 
long 
time 
the 
Tribunals 
before 
Wlhich 
their 
cases 
came 
were 
not 
pre­ 
pared 
to 
acknowledge 
their 
conscientious 
objection, 
one 
diffi­ 
culty 
being 
tha,t 
the 
I. 
B. 
S. 
A. 
was 
not 
known 
to 
them. 
But 
things 
have 
changed 
now 
and 
our 
brethren 
are 
finding 
it 
less 
hard 
to 
secure-as 
an 
alternative 
to 
Military 
Service­ 
some 
work 
of 
National 
Importance. 
At 
the 
present 
time 
five 
of 
our 
brethren 
have 
been 
given 
absolute 
exemption, 
twenty-three 
are 
in 
a 
Non-combatant 
Corps, 
one 
hundred 
and 
fifty-four 
have 
been 
given 
work 
of 
National 
Importance, 
and 
eighty-two 
have 
been 
handed 
over 
to 
the 
Military 
and 
have 
suffered 
various 
punishments 
rather 
than 
obey 
Military 
or­ 
ders. 
With 
reference 
to 
this 
latter 
number 
the 
Government 
put 
into 
operation 
a 
scheme 
whereby 
these 
men 
are 
to 
be 
re­ 
leased 
from 
Prison 
and-as 
State 
servants-be 
employed 
in 
work 
of 
National 
Importance. 
such 
as 
road-making, 
quarrying, 
etc. 
About 
thirty 
of 
the 
eighty-two 
mentioned 
are 
already 
thus 
engaged 
and 
about 
twelve 
others 
are 
at 
home 
on 
parole 
waiting 
for 
work 
to 
be 
found 
for 
them. 
You 
will 
be 
interested 
to 
know 
that 
the 
War 
Office 
offi­ 
(·ials 
have 
kindly 
consented 
to 
cancel 
the 
papers 
calling 
to 
the 
colors 
all 
those 
brethren 
who 
are 
elders, 
pending 
the 
elecision 
of 
the 
nigh 
Court 
as 
to 
the 
proper 
status 
of 
our 
elders 
under 
the 
Act. 
This 
decision 
we 
expect 
to 
receive 
about 
the 
middle 
of 
Novpmbpr. 
This 
mpans. 
of 
course, 
that 
various 
dasses 
arp 
to 
ref'eive 
thp 
henpfit 
of 
their 
plders' 
serv­ 
ices 
meantime. 
\Ve 
are 
gmteI1lI 
to 
the 
Lord 
for 
this 
evi­ 
dpnce 
of 
his 
loving 
carp 
for 
his 
dear 
ones 
in 
this 
hour 
of 
need. 
We 
need 
hardly 
say 
how 
kepnly 
we 
are 
antipipating 
fur­ 
ther 
opportunities 
of 
sl'rvipp 
that 
tlle 
Lord 
in 
his 
graPious 
purposes 
may 
have 
this 
side 
of 
the 
veil; 
amI 
we 
are 
looking 
to 
you 
as 
his 
faithful 
servant 
to 
point 
out 
to 
us 
sueh 
further 
privileges 
of 
witne,s 
as 
it 
may 
be 
Ids 
gooll 
pleasure 
to 
provide. 
We 
beIipve 
that 
the 
trials 
through 
whil'h 
01lT 
heloved 
IJrdhren 
here 
have 
been 
called 
upon 
to 
pass 
of 
late 
ha 
ve 
had 
a 
mighty, 
sane·tifying 
infhH'npe 
and 
klYC 
hplppel 
liS 
all 
to 
hI' 
still 
more 
devoted 
to 
our 
Lonl, 
and 
prepnn'd 
to 
spenel 
and 
he 
spent 
in 
his 
servipp-rf>alizing 
thp 
pri\'ile~e 
of 
hl'inr~ 
hi" 
witnesses 
and 
suffering, 
if 
it 
hp 
hi" 
will. 
for 
his 
name's 
s:lkp. 
\Ve 
pray 
for 
you. 
dpar 
nrothI'r, 
anr! 
[111 
ollr 
/'x,lon'r! 
hrethren 
associated 
with 
yOll 
in 
senipe 
for 
t.hp 
LorI!, 
th"t 
he 
grant 
you 
all 
heavenly 
wisdom 
and 
grapp 
sufIil'ient 
ral'h 
and 
every 
day, 
w 
that 
YOllr 
lahors 
may 
ever 
b(' 
to 
his 
praise 
and 
glory. 
\Vith 
much 
fprn'nt 
lo\'p 
in 
him 
to 
voundf 
and 
all 
the 
dear 
colaborprs 
with 
you. 
we 
are, 
• 
Your 
brethrt'n 
and 
servants 
in 
the 
Lord, 
1. 
B. 
S. 
A.-Ijondon, 
Eng. 
REJOICING 
AGAIN 
IN 
THE 
LORD 
DEAR 
PASTOR 
RUSSELL:- 
Some 
twenty-five 
years 
ago 
I 
read 
Vols. 
I. 
and 
II. 
of 
STUDIES 
IN 
THE 
SCRIPTURES. 
I 
found 
them 
very 
interesting. 
but 
to 
me 
at 
that 
time 
not 
spiritually 
helpful, 
so 
I 
read 
only 
part 
of 
Vol. 
III. 
Of 
late 
years 
I 
have 
been 
greatly 
oppressed 
by 
the 
gr?w­ 
ing 
powers 
of 
evil 
in 
every 
denomination, 
and 
I 
felt 
a 
WIth­ 
drawing 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
from 
me. 
I 
prayerfully 
sought 
to 
know 
the 
reason, 
and 
my 
only 
answer 
was 
a 
direction 
to 
study 
the 
book 
of 
Revelation. 
I 
tried 
to 
do 
so 
several 
times, 
but 
even 
with 
the 
help 
of 
a 
commentary, 
I 
could 
not 
under­ 
stand 
it. 
Finally, 
I 
thought 
that 
if 
I 
carefully 
and 
prayer­ 
fully 
read 
your 
books 
they 
could 
not 
harm 
me. 
I 
did 
so, 
and 
looked 
up 
every 
reference 
and 
the 
cont('xt, 
and 
also 
the 
history 
of 
the 
world. 
The 
dates 
from 
the 
Bible 
st'e-med 
vpry 
conl'lusive; 
but 
the 
Pyramid 
chapter 
convinced 
me. 
and 
'r 
rpsolved 
that 
I 
would 
be 
guided 
in 
the 
future 
according 
to 
the 
STuDn~. 
I 
belonged 
to 
the 
Anglican 
Chur('h, 
and 
had 
a 
fair 
knowl­ 
edge 
of 
its 
doctrines 
and 
those 
of 
several 
drnominations; 
aDd 
I 
thought 
you 
belonged 
to 
one 
that 
I 
did 
not 
know 
ahout. 
While 
trying 
in 
St. 
John 
to 
get 
other 
volumes 
of 
your 
books, 
I 
met 
with 
some 
people 
who 
believed 
a.s, 
you 
do. 
I 
bought 
the 
whole 
set 
of 
books 
and 
subscribed 
for 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER. 
I 
rejoiee 
now 
again 
in 
the 
Lord, 
and 
in 
our 
dear 
Savior's 
second 
presence. 
I 
have 
not 
yet 
finished 
all 
the 
volumps, 
hut 
I 
have 
take 
It 
the 
Vow. 
and 
I 
mean 
to 
follow 
on 
in 
the 
way 
that 
God 
may 
guide. 
Praise 
his 
name! 
1 
wish 
to 
thank 
you 
for 
the 
hplp 
I 
have 
r('('pivpa 
through 
your 
writings, 
and 
I 
mean 
to 
do 
all 
I 
can 
to 
spread 
them, 
and 
speak 
about 
the 
truth. 
Your 
sister 
in 
Christ, 
ELIZABETH 
\VFITMORE. 
HOLDING 
TO 
FAITH'S 
ANCHOR 
VENI';RATED 
BROTHF.R 
IN 
THE 
LORD;- 
\Vhile 
renewing 
my 
subscription 
to 
THE 
'VA'rcu 
Tow~;R. 
I 
a\'ail 
myself 
of 
the 
opportunity 
to 
tell 
you 
how 
much 
its 
spmi-monthly 
calls 
gladden 
us. 
\Ve 
pver 
find 
thprein, 
abund­ 
antly 
g-ivpn. 
the 
strong 
meat 
necessary 
to 
properly 
maintain 
us 
as 
npw 
cre-atures, 
that 
we 
may 
grow 
in 
all 
the 
graces 
and 
fruits 
of 
the 
spirit. 
In 
spifp 
of 
the 
trials 
and 
diffiI'ulti('s 
abounding 
in 
these 
pe-rilous 
time-s, 
the 
condition 
of 
our 
little 
class 
is 
very 
satiR­ 
factory. 
Each 
of 
us 
is 
holding 
firmly 
to 
the 
anchor 
of 
faith­ 
thp 
prppiou~ 
promises 
of 
our 
Heavenly 
Fathpr, 
which 
alone 
l'an 
protpl't 
us 
against 
the 
waves 
alrl'ady 
foaming, 
roaring 
and 
threatpning 
to 
engulf 
the 
"mountains." 
"Ve 
make 
Psalm 
46 
ours. 
In 
behalf 
of 
the 
whole 
ecclesia 
here 
and 
vicinity, 
I 
pre­ 
spnt 
to 
you, 
beloved 
Brother 
Russell, 
this 
expression 
of 
the 
sine'ere 
sentiments 
of 
our 
love 
in 
the 
Lord. 
Your 
humble 
brother 
in 
the 
aile 
hope. 
ELm 
TUERONII. 
YOLo 
XXXYTI 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
NOVEMBER 
1, 
1016 
=-===-==-==--==--== 
No. 
21 
[5977] 
things, 
which 
is 
the 
Head, 
even 
Ohrist."-Ephesians 
4; 
15. 
We 
shoultl 
have 
a 
filial 
fear 
toward 
God, 
but 
not 
with 
the 
thought 
that 
he 
would 
harm 
us 
or 
torm('nt 
us 
or 
rIo 
us 
violence 
of 
any 
kinll, 
but 
fear 
lest 
we 
should 
lo~e 
ollr 
fdlow~hip 
with 
him. 
So, 
then, 
whatcvpr 
fear 
,,·e 
have 
of 
a 
slavish 
kine] 
is 
not 
from 
GorI. 
Such 
frar 
brings 
a 
snare. 
But 
lovp, 
inspired 
by 
a 
true 
knowle<1ge 
of 
God, 
amI 
begottpn 
of 
his 
Spirit, 
delivers 
I1S 
also 
from 
the 
fear 
of 
man, 
in 
proportion 
as 
this 
love 
aboun,]s 
in 
us. 
God 
has 
given 
us 
the 
spirit 
of 
love, 
the 
spirit 
of 
a 
sound 
mind, 
the 
spirit 
of 
power. 
The 
Ohristian 
knows 
that 
"all 
things 
work 
together 
for 
good 
to 
them 
that 
10Yl' 
God." 
This 
is 
to 
him 
a 
source 
of 
power, 
of 
strpngth. 
Circumstances 
and 
conditions 
which 
woul.l 
quite 
overwhelm 
others, 
he 
lIIay 
pxpef't 
to 
have. 
This 
spirit 
is 
not 
only 
a 
spirit 
of 
power, 
but 
a 
spirit 
of 
love-a 
spirit 
of 
kmdness 
an<1 
gentleness. 
It 
is 
a 
spirit 
that 
loves 
to 
do 
good, 
to 
do 
right, 
to 
be 
helpful. 
And 
so 
the 
Christian 
with 
this 
spirit 
of 
love 
anrI 
of 
a 
sound 
mind 
becomps 
more 
and 
more 
Go<1like. 
This 
enables 
him 
to 
have 
lIIore 
and 
more 
compassion 
for 
those 
who 
arc 
out 
of 
the 
way. 
Anel 
as 
God 
sent 
his 
Son, 
an<1 
as 
the 
Son 
came 
and 
provi<1ed 
the 
hless­ 
ing 
of 
life 
for 
all 
at 
such 
a 
great 
cost 
to 
himself, 
so 
all 
who 
ha 
ve 
his 
spirit 
will 
strive 
to 
bless 
others. 
EVIDENCES 
OF 
A 
SOUND 
MIND 
The 
fall 
of 
Adam 
has 
worked 
ruin 
to 
mankind, 
so 
that 
from 
(319-323) 
HOW 
WE 
MA 
Y 
GROW 
UP 
INTO 
CHRIST 
"Speaking 
the 
truth 
in 
love, 
... 
grow 
up 
into 
him 
in 
all 
In 
proportion 
as 
any 
who 
seek 
to 
know 
God 
are 
led 
to 
see 
his 
true 
character, 
thl'y 
have 
confidence 
in 
him. 
After 
such 
have 
come 
to 
the 
point 
of 
full 
con~ecration 
to 
the 
Lord, 
they 
rec"ive 
the 
begetting 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit, 
and 
become 
of 
the 
church 
class, 
the 
sanetified 
in 
Christ 
Jpsus, 
the 
set 
apart 
ones 
-set 
apart 
by 
the 
holy 
Spirit. 
Of 
these 
the 
Apostle 
Paul 
says, 
"Gat] 
hath 
not 
given 
us 
the 
spirit 
of 
fear." 
The 
new 
creature 
must 
repel 
every 
attack 
of 
servile 
fear-which 
be­ 
longs 
to 
the 
flesh, 
the 
fallen 
condition. 
The 
new 
mind 
must 
triumph 
over 
this 
natural 
tendency, 
must 
cultivate 
trust 
in 
the 
Lord. 
No 
man 
could 
do 
more 
than 
take 
away 
our 
earthly 
life. 
No 
man 
can 
take 
away 
our 
future 
life. 
"Frar 
not 
them 
wl,ich 
kill 
the 
body, 
but 
are 
not 
able 
to 
kill 
the 
soul; 
but 
rather 
fear 
him 
which 
is 
able 
to 
destroy 
both 
soul 
and 
body." 
So 
the 
ehild 
of 
God 
is 
to 
be 
very 
courageous, 
knowing 
that 
no 
one 
can 
do 
him 
harm, 
knowing 
that 
God 
will 
not 
permit 
anything 
to 
come 
to 
him 
that 
will 
not 
be 
for 
his 
good. 
Tlw 
l'nlightened 
child 
of 
God 
would 
have 
no 
fear, 
or 
dread, 
of 
eternal 
torment. 
He 
would 
still 
have 
proper 
fear 
such 
as 
a 
husband 
would 
have 
toward 
a 
wife, 
or 
a 
wife 
toward 
a 
hus­ 
band-a 
fpar 
of 
tlispleasing 
or 
disappointing, 
and 
thus 
losing 
the 
esteem 
and 
confidence 
of 
the 
companion. 
In 
respect 
to 
all 
the 
brethren 
we 
should 
have 
such 
fear. 
INTERESTING LETTERS FIERY TRIALS IN BRITAIN EASING Dear GRoTHER RUSSELL: — Greetings and fond love in the Lord! It is now some little time since last we wrote you with respect to those of our dear brethren who are affected by the Military Service Act in this country. We are glad now to report some slight Improvements in the situation. From the very beginning our brethren have claimed exemption from the provisions of the Act as Conscientious Objectors, but for a long time the Tribunals before which their eases came were not prepared to acknowledge their conscientious objection, one difficulty being that the I. B. S. A. was not known to them. But things have changed now and our brethren are finding it less hard to secure—as an alternative to Military Service— some work of National Importance. At the present time five of our brethren have been given absolute exemption, twenty-three are in a Non-combatant Corps, one hundred and fifty-four have been given work of National Importance, and eighty-two have been handed over to the Military and have suffered various punishments rather than obey Military orders. With reference to this latter number the Government put into operation a scheme whereby these men are to be released from Prison and-—-as State servants—be employed in work of National Importance, such as road-making, quarrying, ete. About thirty of the eighty-two mentioned are already thus engaged and about twelve others are at home on parole waiting for work to be found for them. You will be interested to know that the War Office officials have kindly consented to cancel the papers calling to the colors all those brethren who are elders, pending the decision of the High Court as to the proper status of our elders under the Act. This decision we expect to receive about the middle of November. This means, of course, that various classes are to receive the benefit of their elders’ services meantime. We are gratetul to the Lord for this evidence of his loving care for his dear ones in this hour of need. We need hardly say how keenly we are anticipating further opportunities of service that the Lord in his gracious purposes may have this side of the veil; and we are looking to you as his faithful servant to point out to us such further privileges of witness as it may be his good pleasure to provide. We believe that the trials through which our heloved brethren here have been called upon to pass of late have had a mighty, sanctifying influence and have helped us all to be still more devoted to our Lord, and prepared to spend and be spent in his service—realizing the privileze of being his witnesses and suffering, if it be his will. for his name’s soke. We pray for you, dear Prother, and all our beloved brethren associated with you in service for the Jord, thot he grant you all heavenly wisdom and grace sufficient cach and every day, so that your labors may ever be to his praise and glory. With much fervent love in him to yourself and all the dear colaborers with you. we are, Your brethren and servants in the Lord, I. B. S. An—London, Eng. Vou. NXNVIT BROOKLYN, N. Y., NOVEMBER 1, 1916 REJOICING AGAIN IN THE LORD Deak Pastor RusseLi :— Some twenty-five years ago I read Vols. I. and II. of STuDIES IN THE ScrirpruREsS. I found them very interesting, but to me at that time not spiritually helpful, so I read only part of Vol. III. Of late years I have been greatly oppressed by the growing powers of evil in every denomination, and I felt a withdrawing of the holy Spirit from me. I prayerfully sought to know the reason, and my only answer was a direction to study the book of Revelation. I tried to do so several times, but even with the help of a commentary, I could not understand it. Finally, I thought that if I carefully and prayerfully read your books they could not harm me. I did so, and looked up every reference and the context, and also the history of the world. The dates from the Bible seemed very conclusive; but the Pyramid chapter convinced me, and [ resolved that I would be guided in the future according to the Srunies, I belonged to the Anglican Church, and had a fair knowledge of its doctrines and those of several denominations; and I thought you belonged to one that I did not know about. While trying in St. John to get other volumes of your books, I met with some people who believed as you do. I bought the whole set of books and subscribed for THe Watcn TowER. I rejoice now again in the Lord, and in our dear Savior’s second presence. I have not yet finished all the volumes, but I have taken the Vow. and I mean to follow on in the way that God may guide. Praise hig name! I wish to thank you for the help I have received through your writings, and I mean to do all I can to spread them, and speak about the truth. Your sister in Christ, ELIZABETH WETMORE. HOLDING TO FAITH’S ANCHOR VENERATED BROTHER IN THE LoRD:— While renewing my subscription to THE Warcu Tower, I avail myself of the opportunity to tell you how much its semi-monthly calls gladden us. We ever find therein, abundantly given, the strong meat necessary to properly maintain us as new creatures, that we may grow in all the graces and fruits of the spirit. In spite of the trials and difficulties abounding in these perilous times, the condition of our little class is very satisfactory. Each of us is holding firmly to the anchor of faith— the precious promises of our Heavenly Father, which alone can protect us against the waves already foaming, roaring and threatening to engulf the “mountains.” We make Psalm 46 ours, In behalf of the whole ecclesia here and vicinity, I present to you, beloved Brother Russell, this expression of the sincere sentiments of our love in the Lord. Your humble brother in the one hope, Err THERONN. No. 21 HOW WE MAY GROW UP INTO CHRIST “Speaking the truth in love, In proportion as any who seek to know God are led to see his true character, they have confidence in him. After such have come to the point of full consecration to the Lord, they reerive the begetting of the holy Spirit, and become of the church class, the sanctified in Christ Jesus, the set apart ones -—set apart by the holy Spirit. Of these the Apostle Paul says, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear.” The new creature must repel every attack of servile fear—-which belongs to the flesh, the fallen condition. The new mind must triumph over this natural tendency, must cultivate trust in the Lord. No man could do more than take away our earthly life. No man can take away our future life. “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body.” So the child of God is to be very courageous, knowing that no one can do him harm, knowing that God will not permit anything to come to him that will not be for his good. The enlightened child of God would have no fear, or dread, of eternal torment. He would still have proper fear such as a husband would have toward a wife, or a wife toward a husband—-a fear of displeasing or disappointing, and thus losing the esteem and confidence of the companion. In respect to all the brethren we should have such fear. [5977] ++. grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ.”—Ephesians 4:15. We should have a filial fear toward God, but not with the thought that he would harm us or torment us or do us violence of any kind, but fear lest we should lose our fellowship with him, So, then, whatever fear we have of a slavish kind is not from God. Such fear brings a snare. But love, inspired by a true knowledge of God, and begotten of his Spirit, delivers us also from the fear of man, in proportion as this love abounds in us. God has given us the spirit of love, the spirit of a sound mind, the spirit of power. The Ohristian knows that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” This is to him a source of power, of strength. Circumstances and conditions which would quite overwhelm others, he may expect to have. This spirit is not only a spirit of power, but a spirit of love—a spirit of kindness and gentlencss. It is a spirit that loves to do good, to do right, to be helpful. And so the Christian with this spirit of love and of a sound mind becomes more and more Godlike. This enables him to have more and more compassion for those who are out of the way. And as God sent his Son, and as the Son came and provided the blessing of life for all at such a great cost to himself, so all who have his spirit will strive to bless others. EVIDENCES OF A SOUND MIND The fall of Adam has worked ruin to mankind, so that from (319-323)

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