Publication date
12/15/16
Volume
37
Number
24
The WatchTower
1915--Annual Report--1916
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1916/24/1916-24-1.html
 
 
 
DllCllKBItR 
1, 
1916 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(387-388) 
We 
are 
still 
firm 
in 
the 
faith, 
and 
our 
eyes 
wait 
upon 
the 
Lord 
our 
God.-Psalm 
123: 
1, 
2. 
"Blest 
be 
the 
tie 
that 
binds 
our 
hearts 
in 
Christian 
Love." 
Push 
on, 
dear 
brethren; 
fight 
the 
good 
fight 
of 
faith, 
and 
let 
nothing 
come 
between 
us, 
no 
matter 
how 
severe, 
that 
will 
even 
scratch 
the 
link 
that 
binds 
us 
together! 
LEXINGTON 
ECCLESIA.-Ky. 
VOL. 
XXXVII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
DECEMBER 
15, 
1916 
No. 
~ 
4: 
69 
552,498 
6,575 
1,507 
3,124 
9.221 
809,393 
vanous 
Branches 
of 
the 
service 
of 
the 
Society.] 
to 
secure 
sufficient 
cloth 
STUDIES 
to 
fill 
the 
colporteurs' 
orders. 
Then 
the 
De 
Luxe 
SCENARIOS 
ran 
short, 
and 
also 
the 
supply 
of 
Karatol 
volumes. 
The 
printers 
were 
unable 
to 
obtain 
delivery 
of 
the 
materials 
necessary 
to 
their 
manufac­ 
ture. 
The 
paper 
shortage 
has 
greatly 
hindered 
the 
printers. 
Many 
of 
the 
colporteurs 
made 
a 
specialty 
of 
the 
SCENARIO 
in 
territory 
which 
had 
already 
been 
canvassed 
a 
number 
of 
times 
for 
the 
STUDIES. 
Total 
output 
of 
STUDIES 
for 
year.......... 
265,495 
Total 
output 
of 
SCENARIOS 
..••••..•...... 
70,000 
Total 
output 
of 
Booklets 
......•.......... 
110,000 
1915-ANNUAL 
REPORT-1916 
[Together 
with 
a 
Resume 
of 
the 
work 
of 
tM 
"Ve 
feel 
sure 
that 
the 
dear 
friends 
everywhere 
are 
eagerly 
awaiting 
the 
Report 
for 
1916. 
Our 
fiscal 
year 
ends 
October 
31st. 
It 
may 
appear 
to 
some 
quite 
significant 
that 
it 
was 
on 
this 
very 
date 
that 
Brother 
Russell 
passed 
away, 
thus 
closing 
his 
earthly 
ministry 
with 
the 
end 
of 
the 
Society's 
business 
year. 
What 
more 
appropriate 
time 
could 
there 
be 
for 
us 
to 
turn 
aside 
for 
a 
little 
season 
and 
survey 
the 
field! 
In 
the 
heat 
and 
excitement 
of 
battle 
one 
cannot 
take 
much 
time 
to 
look 
about 
or 
to 
inquire 
wbat 
others 
may 
be 
doing 
or 
who 
may 
possibly 
be 
falling. 
Each 
soldier 
is 
on 
th~ 
alert 
to 
carry 
out 
the 
commands 
given 
by 
the 
great 
Captam 
of 
our 
Salvation; 
but 
the 
Lord 
loves 
all 
the 
true 
soldiers, 
and 
occa- 
sionally 
calls 
them 
aside 
for 
a 
little 
breathing 
spell 
and 
Total. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
• 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
.. 
.. 
$445,495 
refreshment, 
thus 
preparing 
them 
for 
the 
next 
and 
more 
Moreover, 
these 
faithful 
workers 
were 
careful 
to 
encourage 
vigorous 
campaign. 
The 
Lord's 
people 
will 
greatly 
rejoice 
the 
reading 
of 
the 
STUDIES, 
where 
they 
found 
them 
already 
in 
over 
the 
progress 
made 
during 
the 
year-Nov. 
I, 
1915, 
to 
the 
homes. 
A 
number 
were 
thus 
awakened 
to 
the 
import 
of 
Nov. 
I, 
H1I6. 
present 
conditions, 
and 
some 
to 
active 
co-operation. 
Who 
can 
Our 
covenant 
with 
the 
Lord 
calls 
for 
a 
walk 
by 
faith. 
say 
what 
the 
yield 
may 
be 
when 
the 
Master 
of 
the 
harvest 
We 
are 
therefore 
not 
to 
expect 
to 
see 
the 
full 
results 
of 
our 
shall 
show 
forth 
all 
the 
increase? 
May 
the 
Lord 
richly 
bless 
labors 
while 
on 
this 
side 
the 
veil, 
but 
our 
Lord 
is 
so 
loving 
the 
dear 
colporteurs! 
and 
considerate 
that 
he 
frequently 
draws 
the 
curtain 
aside 
a 
THE 
PILGRIM 
SERVIOE 
little, 
that 
we 
may 
have 
a 
glimpse 
of 
the 
results 
following 
We 
might 
liken 
the 
pilgrim 
force 
in 
some 
:respeets 
to 
the 
some 
of 
our 
labors 
of 
love. 
How 
such 
views 
rejoice 
Our 
Cavalry 
division 
of 
the 
army. 
It 
is 
much 
smaller 
than 
the 
hearts! 
colporteur 
list, 
and 
covers 
more 
territory, 
and 
the 
force 
must 
The 
year 
1916 
has 
been 
a 
very 
eventful 
one 
in 
many 
ways. 
be 
moved 
more 
quickly. 
Its 
work 
for 
the 
past 
year 
compares 
'.Ve 
need 
not 
mention 
here 
those 
events 
particularly 
connected 
v~ry 
favorably 
with 
any 
other 
year 
of 
the 
entire 
harvest 
with 
the 
falling 
of 
the 
"king'doms 
of 
this 
world." 
They 
are 
campaign. 
Note 
the 
following 
figures: 
written 
by 
the 
world's 
historians. 
Our 
interests 
are 
centered 
Numbers 
of 
Pilgrims 
....................•. 
in 
the 
establishment 
of 
"the 
kingdom 
of 
God," 
for 
which 
the 
Miles 
traveled 
. 
. 
church 
has 
so 
long 
been 
praying. 
At 
the 
beginning 
of 
the 
Towns 
visited 
.........................•. 
year 
we 
were 
in 
a 
more 
or 
les~ 
expectant 
attitude, 
not 
know- 
Public 
meetings 
held.............. 
. 
. 
inO' 
what 
new 
experiences 
the 
Lord 
might 
have 
in 
store. 
'Ve 
Semi-public 
meetings 
held 
. 
w~re 
certain 
that 
he 
would 
supply 
us 
with 
the 
waters 
of 
truth 
Parlor 
meetings 
held 
. 
and 
lead 
us 
to 
certain 
victories, 
if 
we 
but 
followed 
elosely. 
Total 
attendance 
. 
There 
was 
much 
polishing 
and 
buckling 
on 
of 
the 
Armor 
of 
FREE 
LITERATURE 
God, 
and 
preparing 
for 
whatever 
might 
be 
ahead. 
No 
one 
We 
might 
term 
this 
the 
Grenadier 
Department 
of 
the 
thought 
of 
faltering-the 
prize 
appeared 
brighter, 
and 
the 
army. 
It 
seeks 
out 
the 
hiding 
places 
of 
the 
('nemy, 
and 
goal 
nearer. 
Those 
inclined 
to 
criticize 
us 
had 
prophesied 
endeavors 
to 
leave 
little 
"bombs" 
in 
every 
available 
place. 
that, 
as 
1914 
had 
passed, 
and 
as 
their 
interpretation 
of 
our 
The 
output 
for 
1916 
has 
lIOt 
quite 
equaled 
that 
of 
191f>. 
We 
understanding 
of 
the 
Scriptures 
had 
failed 
to 
e.ome 
to 
pass, 
cautioned 
the 
friends 
to 
be 
much 
more 
careful 
that 
each 
the 
work 
woald 
soon 
come 
to 
naught. 
How 
lIttle 
do 
they 
"bomb" 
be 
properly 
placed, 
so 
that 
no 
waste 
be 
made. 
The 
realize 
the 
po\Y~r 
of 
the 
spirit 
of 
God 
in 
the 
hearts 
of 
the 
amount 
of 
free 
literature 
thus 
distributed 
is 
almost 
beyond 
consecrated! 
And 
how 
fa 
I' 
short 
of 
the 
reality 
is 
their 
our 
comprf'hens'ion. 
The 
total 
output 
for 
the 
year 
was 
knowledge 
of 
our 
glorious 
hopf's 
and 
prospects! 
Considermg 
22,158,000 
BIBLE 
STUDENTS 
MOl"THLIES. 
To 
print 
these 
took 
the 
conditions-the 
comparatively 
small 
army 
of 
tnoroughly 
over 
598.000 
pounds 
of 
paper. 
or 
16 
carloads. 
Who 
can 
esti­ 
cons~crated 
and 
tIle 
great 
tension 
under 
which 
the 
whole 
mate 
the 
number 
of 
strongholds 
of 
error 
which 
these 
"bombs" 
world 
is 
straining-the 
results 
seem 
but 
little 
short 
of 
mirac- 
may 
have 
overthrown? 
But 
that 
is 
only 
an 
incidE'ntai 
UlOI'S. 
But 
vE'ry 
few 
have 
become 
discouraged 
or 
have 
feature 
of 
the 
work. 
The 
principal 
thing 
was 
the 
reflex 
action 
returned 
to 
their 
former 
pursuits. 
upon 
our 
own 
hearts. 
Row 
we 
have 
rejoiced 
as 
we 
sou<:\,ht 
THE 
OOLPORTEUR 
WORK 
to 
carry 
the 
message 
of 
good 
tidings 
to 
others 
and 
to 
free 
them 
Every 
well-equipped 
army 
is 
composf'd 
of 
several 
branches. 
from 
the 
shackles 
of 
error, 
even 
as 
we 
ourselves 
have 
been 
The 
main 
branch 
is 
always 
the 
Infantry. 
It 
is 
the 
heavy 
freed! 
fio-htinCf 
hndv. 
and 
the 
main 
reliance 
of 
every 
commander. 
So 
The 
friends 
will 
be 
glad 
to 
know 
that 
we 
have 
some 
very 
,,~ 
might 
th'ink 
of 
the 
colporteurs. 
They 
are 
the 
soldiers 
~ho 
excellent 
volunteer 
matter 
for 
1917, 
prepared 
by 
Brother 
do 
the 
h1ll"d 
fighting 
at 
the 
front. 
Though 
each 
year 
SlDce 
Russell. 
On 
page 
396 
of 
this 
W 
ATCJI 
TOWER 
will 
be 
found 
war 
conditions 
prevail 
notices 
a 
change 
in 
the 
number8, 
yet 
an 
item 
especially 
upon 
this 
subject. 
"'7 
e 
dE'sire 
to 
make 
a. 
these 
110hle 
soldiers 
of 
the 
cross 
"clo~e 
up 
ranks" 
and 
move 
word 
of 
explanation 
here: 
It 
is 
not 
so 
mueh 
a 
qUE-stion 
of 
on 
steadily 
and 
unfalteringly. 
We 
doubt 
not 
that 
the 
Lord 
how 
many 
shots 
are 
fired 
a'l 
of 
how 
many 
are 
hits. 
~ote 
the 
will 
O'reatly 
reward 
this 
noble 
band. 
They 
have 
stormed 
cost 
of 
this 
year's 
output 
in 
the 
financial 
report. 
The 
paper 
manv 
.... 
a 
rerioubt 
of 
the 
enemy, 
and 
have 
been 
mighty 
in 
the 
for 
next 
year 
will 
cost 
us 
more 
than 
twice 
as 
much 
as 
for- 
Lord's 
hand 
to 
the 
pulling 
down 
of 
strongholds 
of 
evil 
and 
merly. 
In 
other 
words, 
we 
were 
fortunately 
able 
to 
purchase 
preilldire 
and 
planting 
the 
good 
seed 
of 
the 
kingdom. 
paper 
last 
year 
at 
3%c 
per 
pound. 
Next 
year 
it 
will 
cost 
us 
Owin 
Cf 
to 
the 
fact 
that 
financial 
conditions 
were 
greatly 
over 
8e, 
This 
means 
that 
a 
dollar 
will 
not 
go 
so 
far 
now 
as 
strainf'd 
,", 
in 
many 
localities, 
and 
that 
labor 
difficulties 
and 
fifty 
cents 
have 
gone 
heretofore. 
Therefore, 
it 
behoove8 
us 
to 
loeal 
disturbances 
existed 
in 
othf'rs, 
the 
number 
of 
those 
who 
be 
very 
careful 
to 
make 
every 
shot 
count 
Hnd 
not 
to 
waste 
were 
able 
to 
df'vote 
most 
of 
their 
time 
to 
the 
work 
has 
been 
any. 
'Better 
fire 
only 
five 
shots 
and 
make 
three 
hits 
than 
to 
considerably 
less 
than 
in 
1915. 
However, 
those 
who 
have 
fire 
twenty 
shots 
for 
the 
same 
number 
of 
hits. 
Noise 
or 
remained 
have 
done 
better 
work 
on 
the 
average. 
For 
1915, 
number 
does 
not 
count. 
The 
shots 
only 
are 
effective. 
There­ 
the 
averag'e 
sale 
per 
colporteur 
was 
a 
trifle 
over 
406 
STUDIES 
fore 
judge 
cautiously 
as 
to 
your 
needs, 
and 
be 
sure 
to 
use 
all 
and 
23 
SCENARIOS. 
For 
1916, 
the 
average 
sale 
per 
colporteur 
that 
you 
order. 
We 
shall 
be 
pleased 
to 
have 
your 
orders 
as 
was 
a 
little 
over 
430 
STUDIES, 
and 
166 
SCENARIOS. 
An 
quickly 
as 
possible. 
The 
matter 
will 
be 
ready 
Jan. 
1. 
"The 
average 
of 
372 
colporteurs 
WE're 
in 
the 
field 
for 
the 
year. 
World 
on 
Fire" 
is 
the 
leading 
article. 
The 
general 
advance 
in 
prices 
on 
all 
commodities 
hit 
this 
THE 
NEWSPAPER 
WORK 
branch 
of 
the 
work 
very 
hard 
in 
some 
respects. 
During 
a 
This 
had 
become 
greatly 
curtailed, 
owing 
to 
our 
drop- 
number 
of 
months 
we 
were 
greatly 
hindered 
by 
not 
being 
able 
ing 
from 
the 
list 
many 
papers 
of 
small 
circulation, 
and 
fur- 
[6021] 
DecemsBer 1, 1916 We are still firm in the faitn, and our eyes wait upon the Lord our God.—Psalm 123:1, 2. “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian Love.” Push on, dear brethren; fight the good fight of faith, and let THE WATCH TOWER (387-388) nothing come between us, no matter how severe, that will even scratch the link that binds us together! LexIncTon Eccresta.—Ky. Vou. XXXVII BROOKLYN, N. Y., DECEMBER 15, 1916 No. . 4 191I5—ANNUAL REPORT—1916 [Together with a Resume of the work of the various Branches of the service of the Society.] We feel sure that the dear friends everywhere are eagerly awaiting the Report for 1916. Our fiscal year ends October 3lst. It may appear to some quite significant that it was on this very date that Brother Russell passed away, thus closing his earthly ministry with the end of the Society’s business year. What more appropriate time could there be for us to turn aside for a little season and survey the field! In the heat and excitement of battle one cannot take much time to look about or to inquire what others may be doing or who may possibly be falling. Each soldier is on the alert to carry out the commands given by the great Captain of our Salvation; but the Lord loves all the true soldiers, and occasionally calls them aside for a little breathing spell and refreshment, thus preparing them for the next and more vigorous campaign. The Lord’s people will greatly rejoice over the progress made during the year—Nov. 1, 1915, to Nov. 1, 1916. Our covenant with the Lord calls for a walk by faith. We are therefore not to expect to see the full results of our labors while on this side the veil, but our Lord is so loving and considerate that he frequently draws the curtain aside a little, that we may have a glimpse of the results following some of our labors of love. How such views rejoice our hearts! The year 1916 has been a very eventful one in many ways. We need not mention here those events particularly connected with the falling of the “kingdoms of this world.” They are written by the world’s historians, Our interests are centered in the establishment of “the kingdom of God,” for which the church has so long been praying. At the beginning of the vear we were in a more or less expectant attitude, not knowing what new experiences the Lord might have in store. We were certain that he would supply us with the waters of truth and lead us to certain victories, if we but followed closely. There was much polishing and buckling on of the Armor of God, and preparing for whatever might be ahead. No one thought of faltering—the prize appeared brighter, and the goal nearer. Those inclined to criticize us had prophesied that, as 1914 had passed, and as their interpretation of our understanding of the Scriptures had failed to come to pass, the work would soon come to naught. How little do they realize the power of the spirit of God in the hearts of the consecrated! And how far short of the reality is their knowledge of our glorious hopes and prospects! onsidering the conditions—the comparatively small army of thoroughly consecrated and the great tension under which the whole world is straining—the results seem but little short of miraculovs, But very few have become discouraged or have returned to their former pursuits. THE COLPORTEUR WORK Every well-equipped army is composed of several branches. The main branch is always the Infantry. It is the heavy fighting body, and the main reliance of every commander. So we might think of the colporteurs. They are the soldiers who do the hard fighting at the front. Though each year since war conditions prevail notices a change in the numbers, yet these noble soldiers of the cross “close up ranks” and move on steadily and unfalteringly. We doubt not that the Lord will greatly reward this noble band. They have stormed many a redoubt of the enemy, and have been mighty in the Lord’s hand to the pulling down of strongholds of evil and preiudice and planting the good seed of the kingdom. Owing to the fact that financial conditions were greatly strained in many localities, and that labor difficulties and local disturbances existed in others, the number of those who were able to devote most of their time to the work has been considerably less than in 1915. However, those who have remained have done better work on the average. For 1915, the average sale per colporteur was a, trifle over 406 STUDIES and 23 Scenarios. For 1916, the average sale per colporteur was a little over 430 Srupres, and 166 Scenagios. An average of 372 colporteurs were in the field for the year. _ The general advance in prices on all commodities hit this branch of the work very hard in some respects. During a number of months we were greatly hindered by not being able to secure sufficient cloth Srupies to fill the colporteurs’ orders. Then the De Luxe Scenarios ran short, and also the supply of Karatol volumes. The printers were unable to obtain delivery of the materials necessary to their manufacture. The paper shortage has greatly hindered the printers. Many of the colporteurs made a specialty of the SceNagio in territory which had already been canvassed a number of times for the STuDIES. Total output of Srupies for year.......... 265,495 Total output of SCENARIOS .......eeee0--- 70,000 Total output of Booklets ...... sense senes 110,000 Total.......... see eee sete eeeeee . $445,495 Moreover, these faithful workers were careful to encourage the reading of the Stup1es, where they found them already in the homes. A number were thus awakened to the import of present conditions, and some to active co-operation. Who can say what the yield may be when the Master of the harvest shall show forth all the increase? May the Lord richly bless the dear colporteurs! THE PILGRIM SERVICE We might liken the pilgrim force in some respects to the Cavalry division of the army. It is much smaller than the colporteur list, and covers more territory, and the force must be moved more quickly. Its work for the past year compares very favorably with any other year of the entire harvest campaign. Note the following figures: Numbers of Pilgrims........... 0.0. cece. 69 Miles traveled ........ ccc e ee cee e ce eeee 552,498 Towns visited 22... ... cece ee eee cee c eee 6,575 Public meetings held............2. seeeeee 1,507 Semi-public meetings held.............22.- 3,124 Parlor meetings held..............-¢.. cue. 9,221 Total attendance..................500-008- 809,393 FREE LITERATURE We might term this the Grenadier Department of the army. It seeks out the hiding places of the enemy, and endeavors to leave little “bombs” in every available place. The output for 1916 has not quite equaled that of 1915. We cautioned the friends to be much more careful that each “bomb” be properly placed, so that no waste be made. The amount of free literature thus distributed is almost beyond our comprehension. The total output for the year was 22,158,000 BIBLE STUDENTS MonruLies. To print these took over 598,000 pounds of paper, or 16 carloads. Who can estimate the number of strongholds of error which these “bombs” may have overthrown? But that is only an incidental feature of the work. The principal thing was the reflex action upon our own hearts. How we have rejoiced as we sought to carry the message of good tidings to others and to free them from the shackles of error, even as we ourselves have been freed! The friends will be glad to know that we have some very excellent volunteer matter for 1917, prepared by Brother Russell. On page 396 of this Watcu Tower will be found an item especially upon this subject. We desire to make a word of explanation here: It is not so much a question of how many shots are fired as of how many are hits. Note the cost of this year’s output in the financial report. The paper for next year will cost us more than twice as much as formerly. In other words, we were fortunately able to purchase paper last year at 3%c per pound. Next year it will cost us over 8c. This means that a dollar will not go so far now as fifty cents have gone heretofore. Therefore, it behooves us to be very careful to make every shot count and not to waste any. Better fire only five shots and make three hits than to fire twenty shots for the same number of hits. Noise or number does not count. The shots only are effective. Therefore judge cautiously as to your needs, and be sure to use all that you order. We shall be pleased to have your orders as quickly as possible. The matter will be ready Jan. 1. “The World on Fire” is the leading article. THE NEWSPAPER WORK This had become greatly curtailed, owing to our drop ing from the list many papers of small circulation, and fur [6021}

This website uses cookies to improve the website and your experience. By continuing to browse this website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. If you require further information or do not wish to accept cookies when using this website, please visit our Global Policy on Use of Cookies and Similar Technologies .