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(356-386) HIS WORK Seeing that God has such a wonderful plan for the blessing of mankind, Pastor Russell gave all of his power and energy to making known these great truths to the world. He never took a vacation; he worked until the day of his death. Like other Christians, he was looking for the second coming of Christ. Between 1872-6 he discovered that the Scriptures clearly teach that the Lord would not return in a body of flesh, but would return as a spirit being, invisible to human eyes, and that his second presence was due in the autumn of 1874. This led to the publishing of a booklet entitled, “The Object and Manner of Our Lord’s Return,” which had a phenomena] circulation. Many students of the Bible throughout the United States and Canada responded to the information derived from that book, and his correspondence became voluminous. Realizing the necessity of keeping the truth before the minds of those who had begun to investigate, in 1879 be began the publication of Tok Watcn TowFR AND Hrrarbd or Crreist’s PRESENCE, and was its sole Editor to the time of his death. This journal is issued semi-monthly; it never publishes advertisements, but is devoted exclusively to religious topics. Among the English speaking people in the United States, Canada and Great Britain, its semi-monthly circulation is 45,000 copies. It is also published in German, French, Swedish, Dano-Norwegian and Polish, reaching a large number of subscribers in America and Europe. He was President of the Watcn Tower BrnLeE aNp TRACT Society from its organization in 1884 until his death. He was also President of the PEopLES Pupit ASSOCIATION, organized in 1909, and the INTFRNATIONAL Bre_e STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, incorporated in London, in 1913. both of the latter corporations being adjuncts to the Warcn Towrr BIBLE aNnp Tract Society. Through these religious corporations, as well as by the word of mouth, he promulgated the Gospel of Messiah’s kingdom. He was the author of the following publications, issued between the years 188] and 1914, each having phenomenal circulation, as given below: Foop ror THINKING CHRISTIANS. ....... . 1,450,000 TABERNACLE SHADOWS .........---. cee eee 1,000,000 DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES ..........0.-0.00005 4,817,000 Tue TIME IS AT HAND.............. 0000 eee 1,657,000 Tuy Kinapom CoMr .......... 02.20 cee e eee 1,578.000 BaTTLe OF ARMAGEDDON...... 0 .....- 464.000 THE ATONEMENT ... 20... ccc eee eee eee 445,000 THe New CREATION............000 20000 eee 423,000 Wuat Say THE Scriptures ABouT HEeii . 3,000,000 He was also the author of Wuat Say THE SCRIPTURES Apout SPIRITISM, Orp Turotocy Tracts, et cetera, et cetera. He was the author of the PHoro-DRAMA OF CREATION, which had been exhibited prior to his death to more than nine million persons. He wrote and published the Scrnario of the PuHoto-DRAMA OF CREATION, which had a very wide circulation. His publications were translated into thirty-five different languages. At the same time he was Pastor of rore than 1,200 congregations of Bible students, in different parts of the world. These he visited and taught as often as possible. He organized and conducted a Lecture Bureau which constantly erployed seventy Bible lecturers, who traveled and delivered lectures on the Scriptures. He organized and managed an auxiliary lecture bureau of seven hundred men who gave a portion of their time to lecturing on Bible teachings. Each year he wrote practically all of the copy for the BRT Srupents Monruiy, the annual distribution of which amounted to approximately fifty million copies. THE WATCH TOWER Brookuiyn, N. Y. His weekly sermons were handled by a newspaper syndicate. More than 2,000 newspapers, with a combined circulation of fifteen million readers, at one time published his discourses. All told, more than 4,000 newspapers published these sermons. The Continent, a publication whose editor often opposed Pastor Russell, once published the following significant statement concerning him: “His writings are said to have greater newspaper cireulation every week than those of any other living man; a greater, (loubtless, than the combined circulation of the writings of all the priests and preachers in North Ameriica; greater even than the work of Arthur Brisbane, Norman Hapgood, George Horace Lorimer, Dr. Frank Crane, Frederick Haskins, and a dozen other of the best known editors and syndicate writers put together.” HARVEST WORK Pastor Russell adhered closely to the teachings of the Scriptures. He believed and taught that we are living in the time of the second presence of our Lord, and that his presence dates from 1874; that since that time we have been living in the time of the end”—the “end of the age.” during which the Lord has been conducting his great harvest work; that, in harmony with the Lord’s own statement, this harvest work is separating true Christians designated as ‘wheat,’ from merely professing Christians, designated as ‘‘tares,” and gathering the true saints into the kingdom of the Lord. It is here interesting to note that Jesus said, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing! Verily, I say unto you that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell’s writings believe that he filled the office of “that faithful and wise servant,” and that his great work was giving to the household of faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation. For a more detailed account of his work, reference is made to Tue WatTcr Tower of June Ist, 1916. In 1910 Pastor Russell visited Palestine and Russia. He there orally delivered lectures to thousands of orthodox Jews on the regathering of Jews to Palestine. In 1911] he was one of a committee of seven who made a journey around the world and especially examined into the conditions of missionary work in Japan, China, Korea and Jndia. On the same occasion he again visited the Jews in Palestine and Galatia, explaining to them that the prophecies teach that the Jews at an early date will again be established in Palestine. On his return to America he was given a great ovation at the New York City Hippodrome by thousands of Jews, his discourse on this occasion being published by Hebrew papers both in America and in Europe. During the 42 years of Pastor Russell’s Christian work he never directly or indirectly solicited money. No collection wags ever taken at any meeting addressed by him or by any of his associates. He had faith that the Lord would supply sufficient money to carry on his work; that the work was the Lord’s, and not man’s. The fact that voluntary contributions were liberally made by many persons throughout the world proved that his conclusions were correct. He devoted his private fortune entirely to the cause to which he gave his life. He received the nominal sum of $11.00 per month for his personal expenses. He died, leaving no estate whatsoever. Thus closed the career of a most remarkable man. He was loved most by those who knew him best. BROTHER RUSSELL’S CHRISTMASTIDE GREETINGS Shortly before his death Brother Russell gave instructions for the publication of a beautiful little card conveying his Christian greetings and best wishes to the new creation, together with references to five recent WATCH TOWER articles which he considered particularly timely and helpful, also announcing the Year Text for 1917, over his signature. On the other side of this card is a rotogravure reproduction of the famous painting, “Christ Stilling the Storm on the Sea,” as selected by our Pastor. According to his request, these cards are now being enclosed in all regular mail sent out from his office in acknowledgment of orders, etc. By this means practically all of our interested readers will receive one. Any who fail to receive a copy, may have one upon request. Anticipating s continued demand for this picture, he ordered an edition in regular post-card form, with space for message, which may be had at 10c per doz., postpaid. We have also a quantity of the same picture in post-card size, printed on heavy coated paper, with “Our Morning Resolve” on the reverse side. These will cost. 6c per doz., postpaid. [5998]