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Ocrosper 15, 1918 The convention concluded with a love feast; and many eyes were tear-dimmed with the sorrow of parting end also with the joy of anticipation of the great convention when we shall be forever with the Lord. AT OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA One unusua! feature in connection with the Oakland Convention was that four brethren were sent there from the East, traveling together, serving the friends at Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles en route. At these cities two-day conventions had been arranged, and an average of 500 attended at each place. About 650 were present at the Oakland Convention, which proved to be a most helpful and enjoyable concourse, It was remarkable for the sweet spirit manifested; and as those present eagerly listened to the discourses or gave their testimony to the Lord’s grace, their radiant faces outwardly attested the inward heart-condition. Many and fervent were the expres THE WATCH TOWER (306-323) sions of mutual Christian love among the conventioners. Twenty-three were immersed at Oakland. At all the conventions resolutions were passed expressing love and sympathy for the brethren at headquarters, and pledging co-operation with the Society and its work. OTHER CONVENTIONS Other two-day and four-day conventions were held at New Castle, Pa., Portland, Oregon, Seattle and Spokane, Boise, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis and Toledo, while still others are proposed. Altogether the year 1918 will be the banner year for conventions. It is expected that the Pastor Russell Memorial Convention at Pittsburgh Oct. 31—Nov. 1-3, will be the principal one of the year. The public activities of the Society being somewhat curtailed at present, these gatherings seem to supply the needed stimulus and encouragements for the friends. Evidently the Lord has wonderfully blest the conventions. THE WATCH TOWER OFFICE The Society’s removal to new headquarters in Pitteburgh is now completed, and al] departments are now in operation, although it will take two or three weeks more to get fully settled. We have beautiful quarters on the third floor of the Martin Building, with plenty of room, well lighted and well ventilated. We are confident that the removal is providential ; for the Lord’s hand has been continually manifested in connection therewith. In another column we print an up-to-date Vou. AXXIX price list of our stock on hand. Please do not order anything not listed, until you see notice of replenished stock’ in THE WATCH. TOWER, Address al} letters to the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Room 310, Martin Building, N. 8. Pittsburgh, Pa. To secure uniformity we suggest that our new headquarters be referred to as “The Watch Tower Office,’ and that paragraph two of the Vow be changed to harmonize therewith. PITTSBURGH, PA., NOVEMBER 1, 1918 VIEWS FROM THE TOWER > No. 2} “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8, 9. The grand truth so succinctly stated in this text is not appreciated by any except the mature Christian; and it takes years of experience in the school of Christ to learn this lesgon well. Very few learn the lesson properly; but as a result these enjoy a calm and a peace in their daily life which others do not. These also have a greater confidence than others possibly can have. In the words of the Apostle, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Such have learned that the failure of their own plans, the thwarting of their own purposes, is not an evil nor an evidence of divine disfavor. They have learned that this is the very way which God uses to teach them the lesson that divine wisdom is superior to human wisdom; and what confidence, what hope, what joy fill the hearts of these! With such mature Christians every trial is but “light affliction,” “not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed.” When seeming calamities come into their lives, they “sorrow not as those who have no hope”; for’ they recognize the Father’s loving hand in every experience, assigning to them needed lessons, in order that they may be “made meet for the Master’s use.” This lesson of full submission to the divine will must be learned by us all, ere we can hope to share with our Lord in his kingdom. The past two years of the church’s experience have been fraught with many such lessons. How often the heavenly Father has scemingly hindered the accomplishment of our plans, and afterwards shown ug his own grand designs, which we have always found to be higher, grander in every sense, than our own! A SUCCESSION OF SURPRISES It would seem well at this season, the memorial of the translation of “that faithful and wise steward” fram earthly to heavenly activities (Revelation 14:13), to review the Lord’a dealings with his people, both individually and _ collectively, and learn lessons thereby. Two years ago the Lord’s people were all engaged in harvest activities, with no thought of any sudden change. Brother Russell-had gone on an extended trip. Few realized how near he was to his journey’s end. On the morning of November 1, 1916, word had gone all around the world that Pastor Russell had died on the afternoon of October 31. How little did the massea realize earth’s loss! How few realized that his work was continuing! None realized his gain. From that time on, apparently the Lord has been giving to the church a series of experiences different from what we had had before, a succession of surprises, every one of which was needed, that we might learn the lesson of our text. The report of Brother Ruasell’s death came as a shock to us all, and proved a trial of our faith. Most of us had planned his demise at a different time and in a different way. Now our minds were more or less bewildered; and we began to ques VII—34 tion: “Has the harvest ended? Is the door closed? Are we of the great company class? Who will carry on the work now?” At first we were inclined to mourn our loss unduly, to grieve over Brother Russell’s departure. But scon our sorrow was turned to joy; for it speedily became manifest that the Lord had simply exalted Brother Russell, and had given him greater powers and grander opportunities of service than were ever his before. Furthermore, when. we realized that his interest in the members of the church remaining in the flesh, and his ability to assist them, had been increased manifold, our joy increased proportionately. THE TEST KOW UPON THE CHUROH Slowly the majority regained their equilibrium, as the Lord manifested his ability to carry on the work. How much we all needed to learn that lesson in order to stabilize our faith! How grandly the Lord fulfilled his promise to raise up shepherds to care for the flock! How marvelously the work progressed for a time! How strenuous was the activity, and how we did enjoy it for a time! Suddenly, however, divine providence so overruled that the work should come almost to a standstill. How the Lord’s providences seemed to change! How differently events were occurring from what we had expected! Another needed trial was upon the church. While engaged in the activities of the harvest work and while smiting Jordan, we had learned lessons of confidence, humility and patience; but the dear Lord saw that we needed to learn these same lessons from another angle. Would we continue to have confidence, to be humble and patient, when all our activities had practically ceased? The Lord is still permitting this test to be upon us. Would we lose our confidence now, and conclude that the Lord had desertéd his work and his people, when he has told us: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”? Would we lose our humility to the extent that we would assert that the Lord had cast off the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, and was no longer using it as his agency for comforting and blessing his people? Would we become so impatient with the Lord and his ways that we would take things into our own hands and cease to recognize the church as a Scripturally organized body, and consider ourselves at liberty to “draw away disciples after’ ourselves? Would we so far lose the Master’s spirit and forget his injunction not to judge, not to condemn, that we would thus injure our brother? How could the work possibly continue now?’ Who could be found with ability to carry it on? An early demise of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society was predicted by some; and all the dear sheep wondered what would be the outeome. Quietly and grandly the Lord impressed the' lesson again, that his work was not dependent upon the ability of man, but that the Father was able to [6849]