Publication date
12/15/17
Volume
38
Number
24
The WatchTower
Annual report - 1917
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1917/24/1917-24-1.html
 
 
 
 
DEcEMBItit 
1, 
1917 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(354-371) 
dear 
Lord 
bless 
the 
compilers, 
publishers, 
editors, 
mailers, 
and 
with 
marrow 
<l.nd 
fatness 
and 
my 
mouth 
shall 
praise 
Thee 
the 
brethren 
for 
their 
zeal 
for 
him. 
The 
book 
is 
indeed 
a 
feast 
with 
joyful 
lips.' 
I 
greet 
my 
WATCH 
TOWER 
with 
eager 
hands 
to 
the 
children 
of 
God." 
J. 
D. 
G., 
Ga. 
and 
thrilling 
heart; 
for 
to 
me 
it 
is 
the 
blest 
tie 
that 
binds 
us 
"In 
reading 
Volume 
Seven, 
'my 
soul 
shall 
be 
satisfied 
as 
al! 
In 
him 
and 
brings 
sweet 
fellowship." 
M. 
M., 
Kan. 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
DATE 
OF 
DISTRIBUTION-8UNDA 
Y, 
DEC. 
30 
The 
B. 
S. 
:M. 
Volunteer 
Matter 
bearing 
the 
title 
THE 
FALL 
latter 
being 
a 
holiday. 
Please 
distribute 
none 
of 
these 
papers 
OF 
BABYLON, 
is 
being 
shipped 
to 
the 
various 
classes 
ordering 
before 
December 
30th. 
It 
will 
be 
well 
to 
neatly 
fold 
each 
the 
same. 
It 
is 
expl'cted 
that 
the 
classes 
will 
have 
these 
papers 
paper 
and 
place 
under 
the 
door 
or 
in 
private 
letter 
boxl's, 
by 
the 
latter 
part 
(}f 
December. 
Sunday, 
December 
30th, 
is 
the 
Previous 
to 
the 
date 
set 
the 
territory 
should 
be 
systematically 
date 
set 
for 
the 
distribution 
of 
this 
B. 
S. 
M. 
Where 
the 
terri· 
divided 
and 
caCll 
one 
desiring 
to 
work 
assigned 
to 
his 
or 
tory 
is 
large 
and 
cannot 
be 
covered 
in 
one 
day, 
then 
we 
suggest 
her 
territory, 
that 
the 
work 
may 
be 
doue 
thoroughly 
and 
that 
the 
work 
be 
continued 
on 
the 
31st 
and 
on 
January 
1st, 
the 
quickly. 
• 
• 
IN 
RE 
MILITARY 
SERVICE 
A 
number 
of 
the 
brethren 
throughout 
the 
country 
arc 
asking 
any 
authority 
to 
define 
what 
is 
non-combatant 
service, 
so 
then 
us 
with 
reference 
to 
non-combatant 
scrvice. 
The 
Selective 
if 
the 
Local 
Bo,trd 
of 
Exemption 
announces 
to 
anyone 
that 
Draft 
Act 
passed 
by 
Congress 
May 
18th, 
this 
year, 
provides 
thcy 
will 
be 
given 
nOll-combatant 
service, 
such 
a 
statement 
is 
that 
no 
one 
is 
exempt 
from 
service 
which 
thc 
President 
may 
very 
indefinite 
and 
uncertain. 
In 
all 
pmbability 
no 
non­ 
declare 
is 
non-combatant. 
The 
President, 
up 
to 
the 
present 
combatant 
service 
will 
be 
defined 
for 
several 
months 
in 
the- 
time, 
has 
not 
defined 
what 
is 
non-combatant 
scrvice, 
and, 
as 
future. 
we 
are 
advised 
by 
a 
high 
official, 
it 
is 
his 
intention 
not 
to 
do 
so. 
\Ve 
have 
been 
asked 
how 
many 
adherents 
to 
the 
INTERNA· 
When 
Congress 
convenes 
again 
it 
is 
our 
understanding 
that 
the 
TIONAL 
BmLE 
STv"'DENTS 
ASSOCIATION 
there 
are 
in 
the 
United 
matter 
will 
be 
takrn 
up 
and 
that 
body 
asked 
to 
define 
what 
is 
States. 
From 
the 
names 
on 
our 
\VATOU 
TOWER 
list 
we 
would 
non-combatant 
service. 
Thus 
it 
is 
seen 
that 
at 
this 
time 
there 
answer, 
there 
are 
approximately 
75,000 
adherents. 
How 
many 
is 
no 
Buch 
thing 
as 
non-combatant 
service 
that 
is 
officially 
de· 
of 
these 
are 
fully 
consecrated 
we 
do 
not 
know. 
Therc 
arc 
fined. 
millions 
who 
support 
much 
of 
the 
doctrine 
taught 
by 
Pastor 
As 
the 
law 
now 
stands, 
nobody 
aside 
from 
the 
President 
has 
Russell 
and 
the 
I. 
B. 
S. 
A. 
IMPORTANT 
NOTICE 
Few 
realize 
the 
amount 
of 
work 
necessary 
to 
bring 
up 
all 
cause 
confusion 
and 
would 
probably 
be 
too 
late. 
All 
proxies 
the 
Good 
Hopes 
accounts 
for 
the 
year, 
and 
to 
credit 
individually 
should 
be 
in 
the 
hands 
of 
the 
Secretary 
no 
later 
than 
Dec. 
lOth. 
the 
thousands 
of 
monthly 
remittMlces 
and 
carry 
them 
forward 
After 
being 
certified 
they 
will 
be 
returned 
to 
you 
by 
mail, 
or 
to 
the 
voting-sharc 
record. 
Last 
year 
it 
was 
necessary 
to 
use 
delivered 
to 
you 
or 
to 
your 
proxy 
in 
person 
at 
the 
convention. 
an 
extra 
force 
of 
assistants 
fQr 
over 
six 
weeks. 
This 
year 
we 
W'l'ite 
nothing 
on 
the 
back 
of 
the 
proxy 
blank 
except 
your 
in­ 
adopted 
the 
method 
of 
sending- 
out 
the 
proxy 
blanks 
first, 
so 
structions 
to 
the 
party 
who 
holds 
your 
shares. 
Use 
a 
separate 
that 
each 
one 
who 
had 
voting 
shares 
could 
fill 
out 
quickly 
and 
sheet 
for 
orders 
or 
letters. 
return. 
It 
has 
been 
found 
necesslLry 
to 
close 
all 
records 
on 
We 
shall 
make 
no 
reply 
to 
any 
further 
papers 
sent 
out 
by 
November 
30th, 
in 
order 
that 
there 
may 
be 
time 
to 
have 
the 
the 
opposition. 
We 
realize 
it 
is 
only 
a 
desperate 
attempt 
on 
individual 
records 
listed, 
checked, 
verified 
and 
signed 
in 
time 
the 
part 
of 
the 
adversary 
to 
hinder 
the 
harvest 
work 
which 
is 
for 
the 
election, 
Jan. 
5th. 
shaking 
the 
very 
foundations 
of 
his 
kingdom. 
We 
prefer 
a'oove 
Proxies, 
to 
be 
valid 
for 
voting, 
must 
be 
dated 
and 
signed 
everything 
else 
the 
approval 
of 
our 
Lord; 
and 
the 
evidence 
of 
by 
the 
shareholder. 
Have 
the 
signature 
witnessed. 
Addition- 
his 
blessing 
upon 
the 
work 
of 
the 
past 
year, 
and 
especially 
.llly 
all 
proxies 
must 
be 
certified 
by 
the 
Secretary 
and 
President 
during 
the 
last 
few 
months 
is" 
to 
our 
mind, 
abundant 
evidence 
of 
the 
SoolE~rY. 
Such 
proxies 
are 
then 
Voting 
Certificates. 
Even 
of 
his 
approval, 
and 
we 
therefr>re 
leave 
the 
matter 
in 
his 
hands, 
thou~h 
you 
expect 
to 
be 
personally 
present 
at 
the 
Annual 
knowing 
that 
he 
is 
well 
able 
to 
care 
for 
his 
own, 
and 
bring 
the 
MeetIngs, 
you 
must 
sign 
and 
send 
your 
proxy 
to 
the 
Secretary 
full 
truth 
to 
light 
in 
his 
own 
time. 
We 
have 
nothing 
to 
hide 
so 
that 
it 
may 
be 
properly 
certified 
and 
returned 
to 
you. 
Do 
and 
nothing 
to 
fear, 
but 
<I. 
great 
and 
glorious 
work 
to 
do 
not 
wait 
until 
the 
convention 
convenes. 
Such 
delay 
would 
quickly.-Nehemiah 
6:3. 
VOL. 
XXXVIII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
DECEMBER 
15, 
1917 
No. 
24 
1917-ANNUAL 
When 
the 
earnest 
laborers 
in 
the 
Lord's 
harvest 
field 
have 
carefully 
considered 
this 
report, 
we 
believe 
it 
will 
bring 
them 
joy 
and 
encouragement. 
It 
has 
been 
truly 
said 
that 
"Nothing 
succeeds 
like 
success." 
To 
succeed 
in 
the 
Lord's 
work 
means 
to 
have 
the 
blessing 
of 
the 
Lord; 
and 
"The 
blessing 
of 
the 
Lord, 
it 
maketh 
rich, 
and 
he 
addeth 
no 
sorrow 
with 
it." 
(Pro­ 
verbs 
10:22) 
Therefore 
the 
trials 
which 
he 
permits 
to 
come 
to 
us, 
if 
properly 
received, 
bring 
It 
blessing; 
and 
henee 
we 
rejoice 
in 
tribulation, 
thankful 
in 
our 
hearts 
for 
all 
the 
way 
he 
leads 
us. 
The 
year 
1917 
has 
been 
a 
5trenuous 
one. 
The 
nations 
of 
earth 
are 
in 
great 
distress 
MId 
perplexity 
as 
to 
what 
course 
shall 
be 
taken, 
and 
the 
hearts 
of 
men 
are 
flLiling 
them 
for 
what 
they 
see 
must 
be 
the 
inevitable 
rcsult. 
Those 
who 
have 
no 
faith 
in 
prophecy 
cannot 
see 
the 
rapid 
weakening 
of 
the 
governments. 
Revolution 
mergin~ 
into 
anarchy 
is 
now 
the 
order 
in 
Russia, 
a 
condition 
whIch 
is 
certain 
to 
follow 
in 
the 
other 
European 
nations. 
The 
public 
press 
quotes 
Mr. 
Gerard 
as 
saying, 
"When 
the 
revolution 
starts 
in 
Germany 
it 
will 
be 
BO 
terrible 
that 
it 
will 
make 
the 
French 
Revolution 
look 
like 
a. 
picnic." 
Earthquakes, 
disasters, 
famine, 
pestilence, 
etc., 
are 
all 
taking 
their 
plaee 
in 
the 
time 
of 
trouble, 
in 
ful· 
filment 
of 
the 
prophetic 
words 
of 
the 
Lord 
Jesus. 
Such 
great 
sorrow, 
suffering 
and 
distress 
in 
the 
world 
would 
discourage 
even 
the 
Christian, 
were 
it 
not 
for 
the 
assuring 
words 
of 
the 
Master, 
8llydng, 
"When 
these 
things 
begin 
to 
come 
to 
pass, 
then 
look 
up, 
and 
lift 
up 
your 
heads; 
for 
your 
redemption 
draweth 
nigh."-Luke 
21 
:28. 
THE 
JUSTU 
THE 
OKDlF 
BEAPEB 
It 
is 
the 
tendency 
of 
almost 
everyone 
to 
lean 
upon 
some 
other 
person. 
Recognizing 
Brother 
Russell 
as 
the 
IJord's 
REPORT-1917 
messenger 
to 
the 
Laodicean 
church 
and 
as 
the 
Lord's 
chosen 
servant 
for 
the 
period 
of 
the 
harvest, 
coupled 
with 
his 
strong 
personality, 
his 
kind 
and 
loving 
manner, 
all 
of 
the 
Lord's 
people 
of 
the 
present 
time 
who 
knew 
him 
were 
led 
to 
more 
or 
Jess 
lean 
upon 
him. 
He 
was 
a 
wonderful 
man, 
and 
won­ 
derfully 
used 
of 
the 
Lord. 
It 
pleased 
the 
Lord 
to 
take 
him 
a.way 
from 
the 
field 
of 
earthly 
activiUies, 
and 
his 
passing 
was 
a 
great 
shock 
to 
others 
in 
the 
harvest 
field. 
It 
was 
the 
thought 
of 
many 
that 
his 
entering 
the 
kingdom 
marked 
the 
end 
of 
the 
work. 
The 
year 
1917 
opcncd 
with 
rather 
a 
discouraging 
outlook. 
~ecessarily 
there 
were 
some 
misgivings, 
some 
doubts 
and 
fears. 
The 
trials 
came 
thick 
and 
fast; 
but 
with 
each 
trial 
came 
increased 
blessing 
as 
a 
further 
evidence 
that 
the 
Lord 
is 
still 
the 
Ohief 
Rea~er, 
and 
that 
the 
,harvest 
is 
not 
the 
work 
of 
man, 
but 
the 
Lord 
s 
work. 
True 
to 
his 
promise, 
he 
'.'turned 
his 
hand 
upon 
his 
little 
ones," 
and 
hail 
"opened 
the 
windows 
of 
heaven 
and 
poured 
out 
a 
blessing" 
upon 
his 
peopl~ 
beyond 
their 
greatest 
expectations 
or 
hopes. 
More 
and 
more 
his 
peo­ 
ple 
began 
to 
realize 
that 
the 
work 
of 
the 
harvest 
docs 
not 
depend 
upon 
any 
person 
or 
persons, 
but 
that 
the 
Lord 
is 
amply 
capable 
of 
performing 
his 
own 
sovereign 
will 
and 
accomplishing 
his 
purposes 
in 
his 
own 
due 
time. 
THE 
WOBJt 
AT 
BBOOXLYN 
Shortly 
before 
the 
death 
of 
Brother 
Russell 
he 
had 
deter­ 
mined 
upon 
a 
reorganization 
of 
the 
office 
force; 
and 
to 
this 
end 
he 
made 
several 
changes 
and 
gave 
directions 
eoncerning 
others. 
These 
were 
carried 
out; 
and 
the 
Lord's 
guiding 
hand 
and 
overruling 
providences 
in 
this 
behalf.are 
plainly 
to 
be 
seen. 
The 
reorganization 
of 
the 
office 
force 
upon 
lj. 
strictly 
business 
and 
economic 
basis 
was 
completed 
and 
is 
now 
moving 
with 
a 
[6181J 
Decemser 1, 1917 dear Lord bless the compilers, publishers, editors, mailers, and the brethren for their zeal for him. The book is indeed a feast to the children of God.” J.D. G., Ga. “In reading Volume Seven, ‘my soul shall be satisfied as THE WATCH TOWER (354-371) with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful Hps.’ I greet my WaTca Tower with eager hands and thrilling heart; for to me it is the blest tie that binds us all In him and brings sweet fellowship.” M. M., Kan. DATE OF DISTRIBUTION—SUNDAY, DEC. 30 The B. 8. M. Volunteer Matter bearing the title THE FALL OF BABYLON, is being shipped to the various classes ordering the same. It is expected that the classes will have these papers by the latter part of December. Sunday, December 30th, is the date set for the distribution of this B. S. M. Where the territory is large and cannot be covered in one day, then we suggest that the work be continued on the 31st and on January Ist, the IN A number of the brethren throughout the country are asking us with reference to non-combatant service. The Selective Draft Act passed by Congress May 18th, this year, provides that no one is exempt from service which the President may declare is non-combatant. The President, up to the present time, has not defined what is non-combatant service, and, as we are advised by a high official, it is his intention not te do so, When Congress convenes again it is our understanding that the matter will be taken up and that body asked to define what is non-combatant service. Thus it is seen that at this time there is no such thing a3 non-combatant service that is officially defined. As the law now stands, nobody aside from the President has latter being a holiday. Please distribute none of these papers before December 30th. It will be well te neatly fold each paper and place under the door or in private letter boxes, Previous to the date set the territory should be systematically divided and eacn one desiring to work assigned to his or her territory, that the work may be done thoroughly and quickly. | RE MILITARY SERVICE any authority to define what is non-combatant service, so then if the Local Board of Exemption announces to any one that they will be given non-combatant service, such a statement is very indefinite and uncertain. In all probability no noncombatant service will be defined for several months in the future. We have been asked how many adherents to the INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION there are in the United States. From the names on our Warcu Tower list we would answer, there are approximately 75,000 adherents. How many of these are fully consecrated we do not know. There are millions who support much of the doctrine taught by Pastor Russell and the I. B. 8. A. IMPORTANT NOTICE Few realize the amount of work necessary to bring up all the Good Hopes accounts for the year, and to credit individually the thousands of monthly remittances and carry them forward to the voting-share record. Last year it was necessary to use an extra force of assistants for over six weeks. This year we adopted the method of sending out the proxy blanks first, so that each one who had voting shares could fill out quickly and return. It has been found necessary to close all records on November 30th, in order that there may be time to have the individual records listed, checked, verified and signed in time for the election, Jan. 5th. Proxies, to be valid for voting, must be dated and signed by the shareholder. Have the signature witnessed. Additionally all proxies must be certified by the Secretary and President of the Socrrry. Such proxies are then Voting Certificates. Even though you expect to be personally present at the Annual Meetings, you must sign and send your proxy to the Secretary so that it may be properly certified and returned to you. Do not wait until the convention convenes. Such delay would VoL. XXXVITI BROOKLYN, N. Y., DECEMBER 15, 1917 cause confusion and would probably be too late. All proxies should be in the hands of the Secretary no later than Dee, 10th. After being certified they will be returned to you by mail, or delivered to you or to your proxy in person at the convention. Write nothing on the back of the proxy blank except your instructions to the party who holds your shares, Use a separate sheet for orders or letters. We shall make no reply to any further papers sent out by the opposition. We realize it is only a desperate attempt on the part of the adversary to hinder the harvest work which is shaking the very foundations of his kingdom. We prefer above everything else the approval of our Lord; and the evidence of his blessing upon the work of the past year, and especially during the last few months is,,to our mind, abundant evidence of his approval, and we therefore leave the matter in his hands, knowing that he is well able to care for his own, and bring the full truth to light in his own time. We have nothing to hide and nothing to fear, but a great and glorious work to do quickly. —Nehemiah 6:3. No. 24 1917—-ANNUAL REPORT—1917 When the earnest laborers in the Lord’s harvest field have carefully considered this report, we believe it will bring them joy and encouragement. It has been truly said that “Nothing succeeds like success.” To succeed in the Lord’s work means to have the blessing of the Lord; and “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” (Proverbs 10:22) Therefore the trials which he permits to come to us, if properly received, bring a blessing; and hence we rejoice in tribulation, thankful in our hearts for all the way he leads us. The year 1917 has been a strenuous one. The nations of earth are in great distress and perplexity as to what course shall be taken, and the hearts of men are failing them for what they see must be the inevitable result. Those who have no faith in prophecy cannot see the rapid weakening of the governments. Revolution merging into anarchy is now the order in Russia, a condition which is certain to follow in the other European nations. The public press quotes Mr. Gerard as saying, “When the revolution starts in Germany it will be so terrible that it will make the French Revolution look like a picnic.” Earthquakes, disasters, famine, pestilence, ete., are all taking their place in the time of trouble, in fulfilment of the prophetic words of the Lord Jesus. Such great sorrow, suffering and distress in the world would discourage even the Christian, were it not for the assuring words of the Master, saying, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”—Luke 21:28. HE MASTER THE CHIEF REAPER It is the tendency of almost everyone to lean upon some other person. Recognizing Brother Russell as the Lord’s messenger to the Laodicean church and as the Lord’s chosen servant for the period of the harvest, coupled with his strong personality, his kind and loving manner, all of the Lord’s people of the present time who knew him were led to more or less lean upon him. He was a wonderful man, and wonderfully used of the Lord. It pleased the Lord to take him away from the field of earthly activities, and his passing was a great shock to others in the harvest field. It was the thought of many that his entering the kingdom marked the end of the work. The year 1917 opened with rather a discouraging outlook. Necessarily there were some misgivings, some doubts and fears. The trials came thick and fast; but with each trial came increased blessing as a further evidence that the Lord ig still the Chief Reaper, and that the harvest is not the work of man, but the Lord’s work, True to his promise, he “turned his hand upon his little ones,” and has’ “opened the windows of heaven and poured out a blessing” upon his people beyond their greatest expectations or hopes. More and more his people began to realize that the work of the harvest does not depend upon any person or persons, but that the Lord is amply capable of performing his own sovereign will and accomplishing his purposes in his own due time. THE WORK AT BROOKLYN Shortly before the death of Brother Russell he had determined upon a reorganization of the office force; and to this end he made several changes and gave directions concerning others. These were carried out; and the Lord’s guiding hand and overruling providences in this behalf.are plainly to be seen, The reorganization of the office force upon a strictly business and economic basis was completed and is now moving with @ (6181]

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