Publication date
12/15/18
Volume
39
Number
24
The WatchTower
Annual report for fiscal year - 1918
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1918/24/1918-24-1.html
 
 
 
 
 
 
YOLo 
XXXIX 
PITTSBURGH, 
PA., 
DECEMBER 
15, 
1918 
No. 
24 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BIBLE 
AND 
TRACT 
SOCIETY 
ANNUAL 
REPORT 
FOR 
FISCAL 
YEAR-1918 
(371-372) 
101 
7,809 
2,131 
357,418 
3,110 
291,341 
10,848 
300,687 
784,295 
16,089 
949,444 
225 
275,000 
130,754 
100,000 
~ate 
this; 
and 
the 
reports 
of 
the 
Pilgrim 
brethren 
agree 
with 
this. 
It 
is 
apparent 
that 
those 
dasses 
which 
are 
£Q-operating 
most 
heartily 
with 
the 
Society 
in 
its 
work 
are 
in 
the 
best 
spiritual 
condition, 
and 
show 
a 
larger 
degree 
of 
spiritual 
iJ'owth. 
The 
evidences 
of 
divine 
favor 
upon 
our 
work 
are 
too 
numerous 
and 
too 
positive 
to 
admit 
of 
the 
thought 
that 
the 
Lord 
is 
no 
longer 
recognizing 
or 
using 
the 
Watch 
Tower 
Bi­ 
ble 
& 
Tract 
Society. 
A 
few, 
taking 
this 
view 
of 
the 
matter, 
are 
not 
cooperating 
with 
us. 
It 
is 
not 
our 
m.ission 
to 
judge 
or 
condemn 
them; 
but 
it 
is 
our 
mission 
to 
continue 
our 
endea­ 
vor 
to 
strengthen 
the 
weak 
hands 
and 
confirm 
the 
feehle 
knees, 
and 
to 
say 
to 
them 
of 
a 
fearful 
heart: 
"Look 
up!" 
Instead 
of 
separating 
ourselves 
from 
the 
Lord's 
people 
and 
from 
the 
work, 
we 
should 
heed 
the 
Apostle's 
exhortation 
not 
to 
neglect 
to 
assemble 
ourselves 
together, 
but 
thus 
to 
do 
more 
and 
more 
as 
we 
see 
the 
day 
approaching.-Hebrews 
10:25. 
We 
remember 
that 
the 
service 
of 
the 
six 
messengers 
to 
the 
church 
continued 
for 
long 
periods 
after 
they 
had 
finished 
tlieir 
earthly 
course. 
Undoubtedly 
this 
is 
true 
also 
of 
the 
work 
of 
the 
seventh 
and 
last 
messenger. 
We 
are 
convinced 
that 
tlIe 
Laodicean 
messenger 
will 
finish 
the 
Laodicean 
work, 
which 
we 
are 
aware 
is 
a 
judgment 
work 
upon 
all 
who 
profess 
the 
name 
of 
Christ. 
The 
Apostle 
aSSUTl."8 
us 
that 
the 
judgment 
begins 
at 
the 
house 
of 
God 
(1 
Peter 
4: 
17) 
: 
and 
it 
will 
not 
end 
until 
all 
the 
"judgments 
written" 
are 
executed. 
The 
Psalmist 
tells 
us 
that 
the 
honor 
of 
executIng 
these 
judgments 
will 
be 
given 
to 
all 
the 
saints. 
(Psalm 
149: 
5-9) 
The 
Seventh 
MC'8senger 
in· 
terpreted 
this 
to 
include 
the 
living 
and 
the 
resurrected 
saints. 
WHAT 
THE 
WATCHES 
SEE 
Surely 
the 
most 
interesting 
year 
of 
the 
harvest 
period 
is 
the 
year 
just 
past. 
It 
is 
almost 
exciting 
to 
watch 
the 
fulfilments 
of 
prophecy 
as 
they 
crowd 
one 
upon 
another, 
and 
to 
realize 
tbat 
we 
are 
witnessing 
the 
setting 
up 
of 
Mes­ 
siah's 
kingdom 
in 
the 
earth. 
Many 
wonderful 
events 
are 
yet 
to 
occur 
ere 
this 
kingdom 
is 
fully 
set 
up; 
and 
so 
we 
look 
forward 
to 
other 
and 
grander 
fulfillments 
of 
prophecy 
in 
the 
year 
to 
come. 
We 
are 
indeed 
grateful 
for 
the 
share 
which 
our 
heavenly 
Father 
has 
given 
us 
in. 
the 
work 
of 
the 
year 
just 
finished; 
and 
we 
gladly 
hold 
ourselves 
ready 
to 
do 
whatever 
he 
wiII 
permit 
us 
to 
do 
in 
the 
year 
to 
come. 
Below 
we 
append 
a 
brief 
summary 
of 
the 
year's 
work. 
For 
several 
reasons 
it 
is 
not 
possible 
to 
report 
accurately 
on 
some 
things; 
as 
for 
instance, 
the 
number 
of 
letters 
sent 
out 
will 
exceed 
the 
numb€r 
reported, 
b€cause 
the 
new 
executive 
did 
not 
realize 
the 
necessity 
of 
keeping 
a 
record 
of 
the 
correspon­ 
dence. 
Again, 
the 
number 
of 
STUDTES 
IN 
THE 
SCRIPTURF,s 
sold 
include 
only 
those 
sold 
by 
Colporteurs, 
and 
not 
those 
sent 
out 
to 
classes 
and 
individuals 
by 
our 
Shipping 
Department. 
It 
is 
also 
impossible 
even 
to 
approximate 
the 
amonnt 
of 
volunteer 
work 
done. 
On 
the 
other 
hand, 
the 
friends 
seem 
to 
have 
appre­ 
ciated 
the 
convention 
privileges 
to 
a 
wonderful 
degree. 
Over 
forty 
conventions 
of 
a 
general 
character 
have 
been 
held 
during 
the 
year, 
besides 
probably 
as 
many 
lIWre 
of 
a 
local 
character. 
Glowing 
reports 
have 
b€en 
received. 
from 
all 
these 
conventions. 
Formerly 
all 
conventions 
were 
held 
during 
the 
late 
summer 
or 
the 
early 
fall: 
but 
now 
every 
month 
in 
the 
year 
has 
its 
eonventions. 
Several 
large 
conventions 
are 
announced 
for 
the 
near 
future. 
The 
annual 
report 
follows: 
CORRESPONDENCE 
DEPARTMENT 
Letters 
received 
. 
Letters 
sent 
out 
. 
OOLPORTElJR 
DEPABTMENT 
Colporteurs 
in 
active 
service 
. 
Output 
of 
SCRlPTURE 
STUDIES 
. 
PILGBIH 
DEPARTMENT 
Pilgrims 
in 
the 
service 
. 
Cities 
and 
towns 
visited 
. 
Public 
meetings 
held 
. 
Total 
attendance 
at 
public 
meetings 
. 
Semi-public 
meetings 
held 
. 
Total 
attendance 
at 
semi-public 
meetings 
. 
Parlor 
meetings 
hcld 
. 
Total 
attendance 
at 
parlor 
meetings 
. 
Miles 
traveled 
. 
Grand 
total 
meetings 
held 
. 
Grand 
total 
attendance 
. 
FINANCIAl, 
REPORT 
Cash 
on 
hand, 
Nov. 
1, 
1917 
$ 
28,927.05 
Donations 
to 
the 
Tract 
Fund 
203,581.49 
Pilgrim 
Service 
$43,586.90 
Foreign 
Branches 
36,470.19 
Free 
l~iterature 
49,782.19 
Literatnre 
in 
storage 
65,578.93 
Although 
we 
eailllOt 
report 
as 
great 
activities 
in 
the 
pro, 
mulgation 
of 
the 
truth 
during 
the 
past 
year 
as 
in 
previous 
years, 
we 
fire 
neither 
dismayed 
nor 
discouraged; 
and 
we 
do 
not 
feel 
tllat 
any 
of 
the 
Lord's 
people 
have 
reason 
to 
be 
thus 
cast 
down. 
On 
the 
contrary, 
we 
are 
happy 
and 
are 
rejoicing 
in 
the 
Lord. 
We 
rejoice 
in 
the 
rrivileges 
and 
opportunities 
which 
have 
b€en 
ours. 
We 
rejoice 
In 
the 
trials 
and 
hard 
experiences 
which 
have 
fallen 
to 
our 
lot. 
'Ve 
remember 
the 
Apostle's 
words 
that 
a 
"good 
soldier 
will 
endure 
hardness." 
(2 
Timothy 
2: 
3) 
We 
rejoice 
yet 
more 
b€cause 
we 
realize 
that 
in 
all 
these 
experiences 
and 
trials 
we 
are 
able 
to 
recognize 
the 
Lord's 
hand, 
meting 
out 
to 
his 
faithul 
ones 
needed 
experiences, 
to 
teach 
them 
necessary 
lessons. 
We 
rejoice 
.still 
further 
because 
we 
have 
seen 
fulfilled 
before 
our 
eyes 
the 
various 
things 
which 
"many 
prophets 
and 
righteous 
men" 
have 
foretold 
and 
have 
"desired 
to 
see" 
ful· 
filled, 
and 
which 
the 
"angels 
have 
desired 
to 
look 
into." 
(Mat­ 
thew 
13:17; 
I 
Peter 
1:12) 
Again, 
we 
rejoice 
because 
we 
are 
one 
year's 
march 
nearer 
to 
"Mount 
Zion, 
the 
city 
of 
the 
living 
God, 
the 
heavenly 
Jerusalem, 
and 
to 
an 
innumerable 
company 
of 
angels, 
to 
the 
general 
assembly 
and 
ohurch 
of 
the 
first· 
born, 
which 
are 
written 
in 
heaven, 
and 
to 
God, 
the 
Judge 
of 
all, 
and 
to 
the 
spirits 
of 
jU'8t 
men 
made 
perfect, 
and 
to 
Jesu!', 
the 
Mediator 
of 
the 
New 
Covenant 
and 
to 
the 
blood 
of 
sprinkling, 
which 
speaketh 
better 
things 
than 
that 
of 
AbeI."-Hebrews 
12: 
18-24. 
THE 
FEET 
MEMBERS 
OF 
OH:aIST 
It 
ig 
a. 
grand 
privilege 
to 
be 
in 
this 
army 
which 
has 
been 
marching 
upward 
to 
Zion 
for 
nearly 
thirteen 
hundred 
years; 
and 
aJthoug'h 
we 
are 
III 
the 
rear 
guard 
of 
this 
great 
army, 
we 
are 
not 
to 
assume 
that 
we 
are 
lese 
necell88.ry 
and 
our 
work 
any 
less 
essential 
than 
those 
who 
have 
gone 
before. 
On 
\he 
contrary. 
ours 
is 
a 
glorious 
part. 
Hear 
the 
prophet 
of 
the 
Lord, 
in 
beautiful, 
poetic 
language, 
portray 
the 
part 
which 
these 
last 
faithful 
marclIers 
have 
in 
the 
service 
of 
their 
King: 
"How 
beautiful 
upon 
the 
rrwuntains 
are 
the 
feet 
of 
him 
that 
bring­ 
eth 
good 
tldinl!"s, 
that 
publillheth 
peace, 
that 
bring-eth 
good 
tidings 
of 
good. 
that 
publillheth 
salvation; 
that 
saith 
unto 
Zion. 
Thy 
God 
rl'ig-neth!"-Isaiah 
52:7, 
8. 
Poor: 
tind 
feet! 
Long 
have 
they 
marched 
I 
Long 
have 
they 
waited 
for 
this 
home-coming! 
Long 
have 
they 
watched 
for 
the 
evidences 
that 
the 
kingdom 
is 
at 
hand! 
And 
now, 
as 
they 
near 
their 
journey's 
end, 
the 
Watchers 
are 
rewarded 
with 
It 
vision 
of 
tlIe 
glory 
of 
the 
King 
and 
his 
kingd()l]ll. 
The 
pro­ 
phet 
describes 
their 
joy 
in 
these 
words: 
"Thy 
watchmen 
shall 
lift 
up 
the 
voice; 
with 
the 
voice 
together 
shall 
they 
sing: 
for 
they 
shall 
see 
eye 
to 
eye 
when 
the 
Lord 
returns 
to 
Zion." 
The 
burden 
of 
the 
song 
is: 
"Thy 
God 
reigneth!" 
But 
there 
is 
a 
still 
further 
reason 
for 
rejoicing: 
namely, 
that 
we 
continue 
to 
love 
these 
truths 
and 
this 
work, 
and 
that 
the 
Lord 
continues 
to 
count 
us 
worthy 
of 
his 
favor 
and 
to 
give 
us 
a 
part 
in 
the 
singing 
of 
this 
glad 
song. 
How 
grateful 
we 
ought 
to 
b€ 
for 
these 
privileges! 
The 
Imparalleled 
conditions 
in 
the 
world 
during 
the 
past 
year 
have 
greatly 
curtailed 
our 
work, 
especially 
for 
the 
pub­ 
lie; 
and 
we 
suggest 
that 
possibly 
this 
may 
be 
the 
fulfillment 
of 
our 
Lord's 
words 
in 
John 
9:4: 
"The 
night 
cometh 
when 
no 
man 
can 
work"; 
and 
that 
this 
text 
may 
have 
no 
reference 
to 
the 
work 
of 
comforting 
and 
encouraging 
one 
another, 
a 
work 
which 
is 
still 
possible 
for 
all 
to 
do. 
V 
ABIED 
EXPERIENCES 
A 
BLESSING 
We 
should 
rememb€r, 
however, 
that 
ours 
is 
not 
the 
only 
work 
which 
has 
been 
curtailed: 
for 
many 
other 
business 
and 
religious 
enterpriSeR 
have 
been 
thus 
affected. 
We 
b€lieve 
that 
this 
wa.~ 
all 
of 
divine 
arrangement, 
and 
therefore 
we 
have 
no 
eomplaint 
to 
make. 
We 
are 
glad 
to 
submit 
to 
what 
our 
heaven­ 
ly 
Father 
~ermitB; 
for, 
.while 
our 
public 
aetiviti.es 
have. 
been 
much 
restrIcted, 
we 
beheve 
that 
the 
Lord 
permitted 
thIS 
re­ 
straint 
in 
order 
that 
we 
might 
have 
more 
tmle 
for 
study 
and 
for 
learning 
lessons 
which 
we 
could 
not 
otherwise 
learn. 
The 
Lord 
gives 
his 
people 
a 
variety 
of 
experiences 
so 
that 
they 
may 
learn 
to 
"stand" 
in 
them 
all. 
As 
the 
eagle 
stirs 
up 
the 
nest 
and 
pushes 
the 
voung 
eaglets 
out 
so 
that 
they 
ma.y 
learn 
to 
fly, 
and 
then 
lends 
assistance 
by 
swooping 
beneath'them 
and 
bearing 
them 
aloft 
again, 
so 
the 
Lord 
gives 
his 
children 
cer· 
tain 
experience 
until 
they 
become 
accustomed 
to 
these 
eondi· 
tions, 
measurably 
at 
ea.~e, 
and 
then 
he 
forces 
them 
into 
other 
and 
harder 
experiences, 
for 
their 
strengthening, 
for 
their 
good. 
And 
without 
these 
experiences 
we 
could 
never 
be 
properly 
fitted 
for 
the 
kingdom 
work.-Deuteronomy 
32:11-13. 
We 
are 
sure 
that 
the 
varied 
experiences 
of 
the 
past 
year 
have 
been 
a 
bll'!lBing- 
to 
those 
rightly 
exercised 
thereby. 
Num­ 
erous 
letters 
coming 
in 
to 
the 
correspondence 
department 
indi- 
[6367] 
Vor. XXXIX PITTSBURGH, PA., DECEMBER 15, 1918 No. 24 WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR—1918 Although we cannot report as great activities in the promulgation of the truth during the past year as in previous years, we are neither dismayed nor discouraged; and we do not feel that any of the Lord’s people have reason to be thus cast down. On the contrary, we are happy and are rejoicing in the Lord. We rejoice in the privileges and opportunities which have been ours. We rejoice in the trials and hard experiences which have fallen to our lot. We remember the Apostle’s words that a “good soldier will endure hardness.” (2 Timothy 2:3) We rejoice yet more because we realize that in all these experiences and trials we are able to recognize the Lord’s hand, meting out to his faithul ones needed experiences, to teach them necessary lessons, We rejoice still further because we have seen fulfilled before our eyes the various things which “many prophets and righteous men” have foretold and have “desired to see” fulfilled, and which the “angels have desired to look into.” (Matthew 13:17; 1 Peter 1:12) Again, we rejoice because we are one year’s march nearer to “Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling, which speaketh better things than that of Abel.”—Hebrews 12:18-24. THE FEET MEMBERS OF OHRIST It is a grand privilege to be in this army which has been marching upward to Zion for nearly thirteen hundred years; and although we are in the rear guard of this great army, we are not to assume that we are less necessary and our work any leas essential than those who have gone before. On the contrary. ours is a glorious part. Hear the prophet of the Lord, in beautiful, poetic language, portray the part which these last faithful marchers have in the service of their King: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”—Isaiah 52:7, 8. Poor, tired feet! Long have they marched! Long have they waited for this home-coming! Long have they watched for the evidences that the kingdom is at hand! And now, as they near their journey’s end, the Watchers are rewarded with a vision of the glory of the King and his kingdom. The prophet describes their joy in these words: “Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord returns to Zion.” The burden of the song is: “Thy God reigneth!” But there is a still further reason for rejoicing; namely, that we continue to love these truths and this work, and that the Lord continues to count us worthy of his favor and to give us a part in the singing of this glad song. How grateful we ought to be for these privileges! The unparalleled conditions in the world during the past year have greatly curtailed our work, especially for the public; and we suggest that possibly this may be the fulfillment of our Lord’s words in John 9:4: “The night cometh when no man can work”; and that this text may have no reference to the work of comforting and encouraging one another, a work which is still possible for all to do. VARIED EXPERIENCES A BLESSING We should remember, however, that ours is not the only work which has been curtailed; for many other business and religious enterprises have been thus affected. We believe that this was all of divine arrangement, and therefore we have no complaint to make. We are glad to submit to what our heavenly Father permits; for, while our public activities have been much restricted, we believe that the Lord permitted this restraint in order that we might have more time for study and for learning lessons which we could not otherwise learn. The Lord gives his people a variety of experiences so that they may learn to “stand” in them all, As the eagle stirs up the nest and pushes the young eaglets out so that they may learn to fly, and then lends assistance by swooping beneath’them and bearing them aloft again, so the Lord gives his children certain experience until they become accustomed to these conditions, measurably at ease, and then he forces them into other and harder experiences, for their strengthening, for their good. And without these experiences we could never be properly fitted for the kingdom work.—Deuteronomy 32:11-13. We are sure that the varied experiences of the past year have been a blessing to those rightly exercised thereby. Numerous letters coming in to the correspondence department indi [6367] cate this; and the reports of the Pilgrim brethren agree with this. It is apparent that those classes which are co-operating most heartily with the Society in its work are in the best spiritual condition, and show a larger degree of spiritual growth. The evidences of divine favor upon our work are too numerous and too positive to admit of the thought that the Lord ig no longer recognizing or using the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. A few, taking this view of the matter, are not codperating with us. It is not our mission to judge or condemn them; but it is our mission to continue our endeavor to strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees, and to say to them of a fearful heart: “Look up!” Instead of separating ourselves from the Lord’s people and from the work, we should heed the Apostle’s exhortation not to neglect to assemble ourselves together, but thus to do more and more as we see the day approaching.—Hebrews 10:25, We remember that the service of the six messengers to the church continued for long periods after they had finished their earthly course. Undoubtedly this is true also of the work of the seventh and last messenger. We are convinced that the Laodicean messenger will finish the Laodicean work, which we are aware is a judgment work upon all who profess the name of Christ. The Apostle assures us that the judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17); and it will not end until all the “judgments written” are executed. The Psalmist tells us that the honor of executing these judgments will be given to all the saints, (Psalm 149:5-9) The Seventh Messenger interpreted this to include the living and the resurrected saints. WHAT THE WATCHES SEE Surely the most interesting year of the harvest period is the year just past. It is almost exciting to watch the fulfilments of prophecy as they crowd one upon another, and to realize that we are witnessing the setting up of Messiah’s kingdom in the earth. Many wonderful events are yet to occur ere this kingdom is fully set up; and so we look forward to other and grander fulfillments of prophecy in the year to come. We are indeed grateful for the share which our heavenly Father has given us in the work of the year just finished; and we gladly hold ourselves ready to do whatever he will permit us to do in the year to come. Below we append a brief summary of the year’s work. For several reasons it is not possible to report accurately on some things; as for instance, the number of letters sent out will exceed the number reported, because the new executive did not realize the necessity of keeping a record of the correspondence. Again, the number of Srupres rn THE Scriprures sold include only those sold by Colporteurs, and not those sent out to classes and individuals by our Shipping Department. It is also impossible even to approximate the amount of volunteer work done. On the other hand, the friends seem to have appreciated the convention privileges to a wonderful degree. Over forty conventions of a general character have been held during the year, besides probably as many more of a local character. Glowing reports have been received from all these conventions. Formerly all conventions were held during the late summer or the early fall; but now every month in the year has its conventions. Several large conventions are announced for the near future. The annual report follows: CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT Letters received ......... 00 cere eee tena 130,754 Letters sent Out .....-.-. ce eee eee ee 100,000 COLPORTEUR DEPARTMENT Colporteurs in active service ............05 225 Output of Scrrerure Srupies ............ 275,000 PILGEIM DEPARTMENT Pilgrims in the service .......... 00... e eee 103 Cities and towns visited ............0+2005 7,809 Public meetings held ............--..0.005 2,131 Total attendance at public meetings ........ 357,416 Semi-public meetings held ................ 3,110 Total attendance at semi-public meetings ... 291,341 Parlor meetings held ...........00. eee 10,848 Total attendance at parlor meetings ........ 300,687 Miles traveled ......... 2. cet cee eee ee eee 784,295 Grand total meetings held ................ 16,089 Grand total attendance ..............0+.4. 949,444 FINANCIAL REPORT Cash on hand, Nov. 1, 1917 .............- $ 28,927.05 Donations to the Tract Fund .............. 203,581.49 Pilgrim Service ..............055. $43,586.90 Foreign Branches ....-+-+......+... 36,470.19 Free Literature ..........5....05. 49,782.19 Literattre in storage .........++.. 65,578.93 (371-372)

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