(114-182) advise us how many they cun use when their present supply 1s distributed, we will be in a position to estimate the probable number needed. We believe that all will agree that this is undoubtedly the most opportune time in the history of the Gospel age to witness to the truth and to the rapid approach of the kingdom, and we believe that the new volunteer matter will tit the situation well, THE WATCH TOWER Brvooxirn, N.Y. the Lord’s volunteer army is a large one, and, armed with the weapon of the truth, is “mighty through God to the puling down of strongholds (of error) and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” Minute men and women are needed at this hour; but the first ammunition provided for the year needs to be fully cleared away before the battle begins afresh with the new. When ordering please mention Vol. 9, No. 5. IN RE EMPLOYMENT BY MENA FILM COMPANY Many letters are coming to us from brethren all over the country enclosing a letter sent to them by the Mena Film Company, inviting the friends to accept employment to represent said Company. Many of the friends inquire as to what they should do, while some write as though they thought the letter had been sent out from this office. We take this course through THe Warcu Tower to inform the brethren everywhere that the WatcH Tower BisLe anp Tract Society had nothing whatever to do with sending out such a letter. Furthermore, the Watcu Toweg BIBLE aNp Tract Society would not employ solicitors to solicit money from the friends for any purpose, and it does not approve of soliciting money from the brethren for any purpose whatsoever. Several times we have tried to make plain through the columns of THE Watcu TOWER that neither the Society nor any officer of the Sociery nor any one connected with the Socrery’s offices has anything to do with the Mena Film Company. We also wish to make it plain, in answer to these letters received by us, that the brethren should not in any sense be influenced to believe that the Society is either directly or indirectly furthering this enterrise. P The Socrery takes this occasion also to give notice to all that the use of its name or the name of any of its officers has been wholly without its knowledge or consent. The SocIgTy could not advise any one to invest money in anything in these perilous times. Appreciating the fact that all that any of the consecrated possess belongs to the Lord, we would advise that they do with it exactly as they believe the Lord would be pleased to have them do, We are very sorry indeed that the brethren have been put to so much inconvenience about this matter; and we hope that with this further explanation the whole matter may be made clear. Vou. XXXVIIT BROOKLYN, N. Y., MAY 1, 1917 No. 9 PASTOR RUSSELL ‘*Your brethren that hated you, that east you out for my name’s sake, said: Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.’’—Isaiah 66:5. WHY LOVED BY THE COMMON PEOPLE! WHY HATED BY THE CLERGY! Man’s greatness is properly measured by the amount of good he accomplishes on behalf of his fellowmen. The good accomplished ig not to be determined in money value, but must be measured by the amount of true happiness brought into the lives of the largest number. The man who attains to this position of greatness must do so through adversity, and for this there is a reason. Since Adam and Eve forfeited the joys and beauties of Eden, there have been two opposing forees contending in the universe—good and evil. God is the perfect expression of goodness; Satan, the very personification of evil. All of the sorrows of the human race are traceable to the machinations of Satan and his coadjutors. Every human being that has lived upon the earth has fought either under the banner of the Lord of righteousness or under the leadership of the evil one—Satan. Every one in the world today is fighting under the one or the other standard. All who have fought under the Lord’s banner of righteousness have done so willingly. The Lord coerces the will of no man. But the great mass of the soldiers of the adversary have fought under him unwillingly. They have been the bond-slaves of evil, enslaved by the wrongful act of the first man, and unable to extricate themselves from this slavery. REMARKABLE TRIBUTE TO PASTOR RUSSELL'S WORTH It follows, therefore, that every man who achieves real greatness must be a brave and valiant soldier of righteousness. An apostle of light, he is often made te appear evil by his adversaries; whereas the great adversary and his coadjutors often appear in the garb of angels of light, thereby deceiving many. Century after century history has repeated itself in this respect. Why? We answer, Because the same great forces are constantly warring against each other, the evil always opposing the right. The world has produced some great men. Some men, by reason of their untiring struggles, have become great; while some have attained greatness by reason of God’s specia] favor. Not since the days of the Apostle Paul has there lived in the world a greater and better mani than Pastor Russell, We say this advisedly, because in that time no man hag been so wonderfully used to bring lasting blessings te so large a number of people. He, as a servant of the Lord, brought to them in clear terms the glad tidings of salvation found in the Scriptures, which Jesus first began to speak upon this earth. For centuries the adversary and his coadjutors have beclouded the message of salvation, but during the last half century the Lord has caused greater light to shine upon this message, and he used Pastor Russell as his specia] instrument in directing to that light. If Pastor Russell was a follower of Jesus (and no one who knew him could doubt it), why should any one hate him? Searching for the true answer to this question, we find that the life and experjences of our Lord Jesus shed a great flood of light upon the matter. THE MASTER—''DESPISED AND REJECTED OF MEN’’ The greatest man that ever lived upon the earth was Jesus of Nazareth. He was the greatest Reformer of all times. Above all, he was the Redeemer and Savior of the world. Yet, he was “despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Why? We give the answer here that we may show why those who have stood for righteousness have always been bitterly persecuted and maligned. Eighteen centuries before Jesus came in the flesh, God had made a covenant with the nation of Israel. He favored them above all other peoples of the earth. He gave them a code of perfect laws. He sent his prophets to teach them. He blessed them far above their neighbors, But he made the perpetuation of these blessings dependent upon their obedience to him. Many times their leaders became disloyal and led the people away from God, and for this he punished them. When they repented, he would again bless them, and again they would become unmindful of hia ‘Slessing, Near the close of the long period of God’s favor toward them he said, through his Prophet, “You only have I recognized of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” In addition to giving them the Law, God instituted amon-zst the Jews the Levitical priesthood. It was the duty of the priests to instruct the people in the way of righteousness, and to keep them in mind of the coming Seed of Abraham, through which they would receive a lasting blessing. Jehovah did not authorize any sect or division amongst them. When Jesus came to earth he found a marked departure from the teachings that had been given to Israe] through the holy prophets. Gradually, near the close of the age, there had come into existence certain religious sects, to wit: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and Cyreneans. These sects had mixed with the true Word of God doctrines which they had borrowed from heathen philosophers. They were gen over to great formalism. They pretended to worship God, worshiping him with their lips, while their hearts were removed far from him. Their leadera were proud, high-minded, heady, self-willed and egotistical. They practised fraud and deceit upon the people. The Pharisees would stand in the streets and utter long pray ers. They publicly thanked God that they were better than other men. They loved to be called Rabbi, Master, Father, ete. They oppressed the widows and orphans, making their burdens grievous to be borne. They knew well that the Scriptures taught the coming of Messiah; but they reasoned that if he should come, he would select them above all others as his chief ones, because of their greatness of learning, and thelr superiority to the common people. [6078]
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