Kiadás dátuma
1919. 04. 15.
Kötet
40
Szám
8
Az Őrtorony
Liberty in Christ
../literature/watchtower/1919/8/1919-8-2.html
I'R 
II, 
15. 
1919 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(115-116) 
by 
tho 
Scriptures. 
notwithbtanding 
the 
fact 
that 
there 
is 
strong 
were 
r~eel\'ed 
at 
the 
prison. 
of 
{'ourse, 
that 
tlH'se 
men 
were 
opposition 
to 
it 
from 
various 
sources. 
and 
are 
preachers 
of 
the 
Gospel. 
Doubtless 
all 
the 
officers 
It 
is 
not 
infrequent 
that 
men 
faJi 
into 
bondage 
to 
the 
laws 
of 
the 
institution 
had 
been 
advised 
that 
it 
wa, 
the 
doctrines 
of 
the 
land, 
bometirnes 
justly 
so, 
and 
.ometImes 
unjustly 
so, 
an~ 
tea~hings 
preached 
by 
our 
brethren 
tha.t 
caused 
them 
to 
There 
i. 
sometimes 
wilful 
and 
delLberate 
violation 
of 
law 
be 
Imp,rIsoned; 
and 
doubtless 
moved 
with 
the 
desire 
to 
prevent 
resulting 
in 
bondage 
to 
the 
violators. 
There 
are 
times 
when 
any 
dIsturbance 
amongst 
the 
numerous 
other 
prisoners 
our 
bondage 
results 
because 
it 
is 
believed 
that 
one 
has 
violated 
brethren 
were 
advised 
when 
entering 
the 
prison 
that 
they 
must 
the 
law. 
Thus 
one 
may 
find 
himself 
in 
certain 
kind 
of 
bond· 
do 
no 
preaching 
within 
its 
walls. 
To 
this 
one 
of 
the 
brethren 
age, 
deprived 
of 
certaIn 
libcrtie~ 
without 
any 
fault 
or 
inten- 
replied 
to 
the 
officer, 
"We 
promise 
you 
that 
we 
will 
not 
at­ 
tional 
wrong-doing 
on 
his 
part. 
We 
have 
very 
striking 
ii- 
tempt 
to 
force 
oUI 
belief 
upon 
anyone. 
We 
will 
answer 
only 
lustration 
of 
this 
kind 
of 
bondage 
in 
the 
experiences 
of 
certain 
such 
questions 
as 
we 
are 
asked; 
we 
will 
comply 
with 
your 
officers 
and 
members 
of 
our 
Society--our 
brethren 
in 
Christ. 
request." 
We 
give 
herewith 
hripf 
resume 
of 
the 
facts 
leading 
up 
to 
Several 
weeks 
p,assed, 
and 
without 
any 
development. 
All 
their 
inca.rceration 
and 
subsequent 
release, 
for 
time 
at 
least. 
prisoners 
are 
reqUIred 
to 
attend 
chapel 
service 
on 
Stfnday 
BRIEF 
RESUME 
OF 
OUB 
BRETHREN'S 
CASE 
morning 
and 
as 
many 
as 
desire 
may 
remain 
for 
Sunday 
School 
Our 
beloved 
Pastor 
and 
brother, 
Charles 
Taze 
Russell, 
the 
the~eafter. 
Our 
eight 
brethren 
decided 
that 
th"y 
would 
re­ 
seventh 
messenger 
to 
the 
church, 
bpgan 
his 
active 
service 
in 
main 
for 
the 
Sunday 
School, 
forming 
themselves 
into 
class 
this 
exalted 
position 
more 
thun 
fOTty 
years 
ago. 
In 
one 
of 
the 
for 
study 
and 
fellowship 
together, 
with 
no 
intention 
of 
inViting 
early 
issues 
of 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
he 
published 
an 
article 
any 
one 
el~e 
to 
join 
that 
class; 
nor 
did 
they 
invite 
anyone. 
under 
the 
title. 
THE 
FINISHED 
MYSTERY. 
In 
1886 
he 
began 
Their 
deportment, 
their 
manner 
of 
life, 
their 
kindness 
shown 
the 
publication 
of 
series 
of 
Bible 
commentaries--8TuDIES 
to 
others 
drew 
to 
them 
other 
inmates 
of 
the 
prison; 
and 
from 
IN 
THE 
SCRIPTURES, 
announcin~ 
in 
the 
preface 
of 
an 
early 
time 
to 
time 
some 
of 
these 
would 
join 
the 
Sunday 
School 
class 
edition 
of 
Vol. 
1, 
that 
this 
senes 
would 
comprise 
seven 
vol- 
and 
listen 
to 
the 
ex;planation 
of 
the 
questions 
involved. 
Our 
umes. 
Throughout 
the 
period 
of 
his 
faithful 
service 
he 
fre- 
brethren 
took 
turn 
about 
teaching 
this 
class. 
As 
the 
class 
quently 
referred 
to 
the 
sevt':Iih 
volume, 
which 
would 
treat 
increased 
in 
numbers, 
some 
of 
the 
officers 
drew 
near, 
that 
they 
Revelation 
and 
Ezekiel, 
and 
which 
would 
conclude 
the 
series 
also 
might 
hear. 
Interest 
increased 
until 
the 
members 
of 
the 
of 
STUDIES 
IN 
THE 
SCRIPTUlU:S. 
(See 
Z. 
'06, 
p. 
236) 
llow- 
class 
were 
ninety 
in 
number. 
Many 
of 
these 
prisoners 
showed 
ever, 
before 
the 
publication 
of 
the 
last, 
the 
Lord 
took 
him 
to 
deep 
interest 
in 
that 
wonderful 
message 
of 
hope 
of 
deliver­ 
his 
great 
reward. 
The 
compiling 
and 
publication 
of 
this 
la~t 
ance 
promised 
in 
the 
Word 
of 
God. 
number 
of 
them 
asked 
volume--TllE 
FINISHED 
MYSTERY-WaS 
left 
to 
others. 
Our 
questions 
concerning 
the 
same, 
which 
questions 
were 
answered 
eight 
brethren 
in 
bonds 
for 
many 
years 
were 
associated 
with 
to 
their 
satisfaction. 
They 
became 
deeply 
attached 
to 
our 
Pastor 
Russell 
and 
acted 
under 
his 
direction 
in 
the 
promulga- 
brethren, 
and 
when 
it 
was 
indicated 
these 
were 
to 
be 
released 
tion 
of 
the 
message 
of 
the 
kingdom 
of 
Messiah. 
Certain 
ones 
from 
the 
prison 
there 
were 
many 
kind 
expressions 
of 
gladness 
of 
them 
were 
and 
are 
officers 
of 
our 
Society. 
Others 
of 
them 
mingled 
with 
regret 
heard 
from 
the 
lips 
of 
other 
prisoners 
were 
selected 
by 
the 
Society 
to 
prepare 
from 
Brother 
Russell's 
and 
some 
were 
asking, 
What 
shall 
we 
do 
for 
our 
Sundav 
comments 
the 
copy 
of 
TilE 
FINISHED 
MYSTERY 
for 
publication. 
School 
class! 
On 
the 
last 
Sunday 
in 
this 
prison 
one 
of 
oUT 
This 
work 
begun 
in 
December, 
1916; 
and 
by 
the 
latter 
part 
of 
brethren 
gave 
brief 
address, 
outlining 
the 
divine 
plan. 
With 
March, 
1\)17, 
the 
copy 
was 
almost 
complete. 
the 
keenest 
interest 
their 
fellow-prisoners 
listened; 
and 
many 
In 
April 
of 
that 
same 
year 
the 
United 
states 
entered 
the 
of 
them 
shed 
tears 
of 
joy 
for 
the 
hOope 
of 
the 
great 
liberty 
great 
world 
war. 
In 
June 
of 
the 
same 
year 
there 
was 
enacted 
that 
shall 
come, 
not 
only 
to 
them 
but 
to 
all 
mankind 
through 
tho 
so-called 
"Espionage 
Law," 
providing 
for 
the 
punishment 
Christ 
Jesus, 
when 
his 
kingdom 
of 
righteousness 
is 
fully 
es. 
of 
any 
persons 
who 
should 
conspire 
together 
for 
the 
purpose 
tablished. 
of 
producing 
insubordination, 
mutiny 
or 
disobedience 
in 
the 
:FEW 
RESULTS 
OF 
THBIR 
IlfPLtrENOE 
army 
and 
navy. 
Our 
brethren 
were 
so 
fully 
occupied 
in 
pro- 
It 
is 
generally 
thought 
that 
all 
men 
who 
are 
incarcerated 
mulgating 
the 
message 
of 
Messiah's 
Kingdom 
and 
proceeding 
in 
prison 
have 
very 
hard 
hearts, 
and 
pay 
no 
heed 
to 
the 
meso 
with 
the 
work 
which 
our 
dear 
Pastor 
had 
begun 
that 
they 
did 
sage 
of 
the 
Lord; 
but 
this 
is 
not 
so. 
The 
message 
of 
truth, 
not 
even 
take 
notice 
of 
the 
enactment 
of 
the 
Espionage 
Law. 
which 
is 
so 
rea8{)nable, 
80 
loving, 
80 
wonderful, 
appea.ls 
to 
They 
were 
charged 
with 
conspiracy 
under 
that 
law, 
which 
many, 
even 
under 
the 
most 
adverse 
circumstances. 
There 
i9 
means 
an 
agreement 
between 
themselves 
to 
obstruct 
or 
in- 
nothing 
that 
so 
transforms 
one's 
life 
as 
the 
truth. 
There 
is 
terfere 
with 
the 
raising 
and 
operation 
of 
the 
army 
and 
navy 
nothing 
that 
can 
fill 
life 
with 
such 
joy 
as 
knowledge 
and 
of 
the 
United 
States. 
THE 
FINISHED 
MYSTFJlY 
was 
used 
as 
appreciation 
of 
God's 
wonderful 
plan 
of 
redemption. 
Amongst 
basis 
for 
their 
indictment, 
trial 
and 
conviction. 
Their 
testi- 
the 
members 
of 
thi,s 
class 
'was 
one 
man, 
seventy.two 
yeart 
of 
mony 
at 
the 
trial 
disclosed 
that 
they 
never 
had 
a.t 
any 
time 
age, 
brilliant 
of 
mind, 
educated 
and. 
refined, 
who 
l'elD&Tked 
thought 
of 
conspiracy; 
that 
they 
had 
never 
entered 
into 
any 
"I 
am 
seventy-two 
years 
of 
age, 
and 
had 
to 
get 
behind 
prison 
kind 
of 
an 
agreement 
to 
interfere 
with 
the 
government, 
and 
bars 
in 
order 
to 
hear 
the 
truth. 
am 
glad 
for 
this 
reason 
had 
no 
desire 
to 
do 
so. 
l'\htwithstllnding, 
they 
were 
tried 
in 
that 
was 
sent 
to 
the 
penitentiary. 
For 
fifty. 
seven 
yea.rs 
tho 
District 
Court 
of 
the 
United 
Sta.tes 
and 
convicted, 
and 
have 
asked 
questions 
of 
the 
ministers, 
and 
never 
could 
get 
Oil 
the 
ilst 
dav 
of 
.Tunp, 
1!l18, 
were 
sentenccd 
to 
twenty 
years 
satisfactory 
answers. 
Every 
question 
aRked 
these 
men 
[re- 
imprisonment 
'in 
the 
Atlanta 
penitentiary. 
ferring 
to 
our 
brethren] 
has 
been 
answered 
to 
my 
satisfaction." 
OUR 
BRETHREN 
"LIVING 
EPISTLES" 
On 
one 
occasion 
this 
old 
gentleman 
spent 
three 
hours 
in 
asking 
Their 
trial 
was 
had 
at 
time 
of 
great 
excitement 
in 
the 
and 
having 
answered 
Bible 
questions 
of 
one 
of 
our 
brethren. 
public 
mind, 
The 
brethren 
testified 
at 
the 
trial 
that 
they 
Anothpr 
in 
the 
class 
remarkpd, 
"~ly 
time 
i8 
about 
to 
expire; 
never 
had 
tlJOught 
of 
interfering 
with 
the 
war 
or 
causing 
am 
sorry 
have 
to 
leave 
this. 
prison 
on 
aacount 
of 
the 
!:lun· 
insubordination 
or 
mutiny 
or 
disobedience 
in 
the 
army 
and 
day 
Rchool 
class. 
Can 
you 
tell 
me 
where 
can 
find 
some 
peo. 
na.vy; 
that 
they 
were 
and 
are 
fully 
consecrated 
to 
the 
Lord 
ple 
like 
you 
when 
go 
away!" 
Another 
bright 
young 
man 
to 
do 
his 
will; 
that 
he 
had 
through 
his 
Word, 
more 
than 
2500 
I'xpressed 
great 
sorrow 
in 
being 
deprived 
of 
the 
privilege 
of 
years 
ago, 
foretold 
the 
great 
world 
war; 
that 
they 
could 
not 
the 
aid 
of 
our 
brethren 
in 
Bible 
study. 
On 
the 
night 
before 
willingly 
oppose 
it 
and 
be 
consistent 
with 
their 
covenant; 
that 
their 
leaving 
the 
prison 
he 
expressed 
himself 
to 
one 
of 
onr 
those 
being 
wholly 
consecrated 
and 
devoted 
to 
the 
Lord 
could 
brethren 
as 
follows: 
not, 
however, 
conscientiously 
engage 
in 
the 
war, 
but 
that 
their 
"'1'0 
you 
and 
everyone 
with 
you, 
send 
tbis 
parting 
mes­ 
position 
was 
to 
hold 
alOOf 
from 
1\.11 
controversies 
and 
devote 
sage. 
Somehow 
when 
I'm 
noar 
you 
-Or 
witb 
you 
cannot 
ex· 
their 
time 
and 
strength 
and 
energy 
to 
the 
promulgation 
of 
the 
press 
myself. 
seem 
such 
an 
atom, 
hardly 
worthy 
of 
so 
WOft· 
message 
of 
Messiah's 
Kingdom, 
thereby 
pointing 
the 
'people 
derful 
friendship 
as 
yours. 
want 
you 
to 
know 
that 
you 
to 
the 
great 
liberty, 
joy 
and 
happiness 
that 
shall 
be 
theirs 
have 
left 
with 
me 
desire 
to 
be 
better, 
bigf.\'er 
man, 
if 
8uch 
when 
that 
glorious 
reign 
of 
Messiah 
is 
begun. 
can 
emerge 
from 
carell.1ls 
80 
soiled 
and 
world-worn 
as 
mine. 
In 
due 
course 
they 
were 
incarcerated 
in 
prison 
and 
were 
You 
have 
taught 
me 
the 
meaning 
of 
the 
word 
'love' 
as 
used 
received 
a.nd 
treated 
like 
other 
prisoners. 
All 
such 
institu· 
between 
men, 
You 
have 
tanght 
me 
that 
there 
a.re 
thinf.\'s 
in 
tions 
have 
strict 
rules; 
and 
it 
was 
their 
desire 
and 
endeavor 
this 
world 
far 
more 
precious 
than 
rubies; 
and 
if 
He 
who 
is 
to 
live 
up 
to 
those 
rules, 
having 
full 
confidence 
in 
the 
promise 
supreme 
desires 
that 
never 
see 
you 
or 
yours 
again 
shall 
that 
"all 
things 
work 
together 
for 
good 
to 
those 
who 
love 
the 
be 
satisfied, 
knowing 
that 
have 
at 
leastJ 
had 
the 
first 
glean­ 
I.ord 
and 
who 
are 
called 
according 
to 
his 
purpose." 
(Romp,ns 
ings 
of 
beautiful 
knowledge, 
the 
friendship 
Off 
you 
wonder­ 
8:28) 
They 
entered 
the 
prison 
in 
full 
confidence 
that 
the 
ful 
men, 
and 
the 
opportunity 
to 
help 
myself 
if 
only 
can 
Lord 
had 
permitted 
their 
incarceration 
for 
some 
good 
purpose, 
and 
will 
remain 
strong. 
I'm 
weak, 
very 
weak, 
no 
one 
knows 
anli 
that 
ultimately 
it 
would 
appear 
that 
he 
would 
use 
it 
to 
this 
beUer 
thaD 
Y, 
but 
I'll 
try 
and 
I'll 
fight 
with 
myself 
if 
his 
glory 
and 
to 
their 
own 
good 
and 
to 
the 
good 
of 
other 
mem- 
necessary, 
to 
achieve 
the 
full 
fruits 
from 
this 
seed 
you 
have 
bPrs 
of 
the 
church. 
It 
was 
known 
to 
the 
officers 
when 
they 
planted, 
so 
may 
help 
not 
only 
myself 
but 
those 
about 
me. 
[6419] 
\prit. 15, 1919 THE by tho Scriptures, notwithstanding the fact that there is strong opposition to it from various sources. It is not infrequent that men fall into bondage to the laws of the land, sometimes justly so, and sometimes unjustly so. There is sometimes a wilful and deliberate violation of law resulting in bondage to the violators. There are times when bondage results because it is believed that one has violated the law. Thus one may find himself in a certain kind of bondage, deprived of certain liberties without any fault or intentional wrong-doing on his part. We have a very striking illustration of this kind of bondage in the experiences of certain officers and members of our Society—our brethren in Christ. We give herewith a brief resume of the facts leading up to their incarceration and subsequent release, for a time at least. 4 BRIEF RESUME OF OUR BRETHREN’S CASE Our beloved Pastor and brother, Charles Taze Russell, the seventh messenger to the church, began his active service in this exalted position more than forty years ago. In one of the early issues of THe Watca Tower he published an article under the title, Tue Finisnep Mystery. In 1886 he began the publication of a series of Bible commentaries—StTupirs iN THE ScRIpTuRES, announcing in the preface of an early edition of Vol. 1, that this series would comprise seven volumes. Throughout the period of his faithful service he frequently referred to the seventh volume, which would treat Revelation and Ezekiel, and which would conclude the series of StupIes In THe Scriptures. (See Z. °06, p. 236) Mowever, before the publication of the last, the Lord took him to his great reward. The compiling and publication of this last volume—Tus FINISHED Mystrry—was left to others. Our eight brethren in bonds jor many years were associated with Pastor Russel] and acted under his direction in the promulgation of the message of the kingdom of Messiah. Certain ones of them were and are officers of our Society. Others of them were selected by the Society to prepare from Brother Russell’s comments the copy of Tue FinisHep Mystery for publication. This work began in December, 1916; and by the latter part of March, 1917, the copy was almost complete. In April of that same year the United States entered the great world war. In June of the same year there was enacted the so-called “Espionage Law,” providing for the punishment of any persons who should conspire together for the purpose of producing insubordination, mutiny or disobedience in the army and navy. Our brethren were so fully occupied in promulgating the message of Messiah’s Kingdom and proceeding with the work which our dear Pastor had begun that they did not even take notice of the enactment of the Espionage Law, They were charged with conspiracy under that law, which means an agreement between themselves to obstruct or interfere with the raising and operation of the army and navy of the United States. THe FrnisHep MYsTery was used as a basis for their indictment, trial and conviction. Their teatimony at the trial disclosed that they never had at any time a thought of conspiracy; that they had never entered into any kind of an agreement to interfere with the government, and had no desire to do so. Notwithstanding, they were tried in the District Court of the United States and convicted, and on the 21st day of June. 1918, were sentenced to twenty years imprisonment in the Atlanta penitentiary. OUR BRETHREN ‘‘LIVING EPISTLES’’ Their trial was had at a time of great excitement in the public mind. The brethren testified at the trial that they never had a thought of interfering with the war or causing insubordination or mutiny or disobedience in the army and navy; that they were and are fully consecrated to the Lord to do his will; that he had through his Word, more than 2500 years ago, foretold the great world war; that they could not willingly oppose it and be consistent with their covenant; that those being wholly consecrated and devoted to the Lord could not, however, conscientiously engage in the war, but that their position was to hold aloof from all controversies and devote their time and strength and energy to the promulgation of the message of Messiah’s Kingdom, thereby pointing the people to the great liberty, joy and happiness that shall be theirs when that glorious reign of Messiah is begun. In due course they were incarcerated in prison and were received and treated like other prisoners. All such inatitutions have strict rules; and it was their desire and endeavor to live up to those rules, having full confidence in the promise that “all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) They entered the prison in full confidence that the Lord had permitted their incarceration for some good purpose, and that ultimately it would appear that he would use it to his glory and to their own good and to the good of other members of the church. It was known to the officers when they WATCH TOWER (115-116) were received at the prison, of course, that these men were and are preachers of the Gospel. Doubtless all the officers of the institution had been advised that it was the doctrines and teachings preached by our brethren that caused them to be imprisoned; and doubtless moved with the desire to prevent any disturbance amongst the numerous other prisoners our brethren were advised when entering the prison that they must do no preaching within its walls. To this one of the brethren replied to the officer, “We promise you that we will not attempt to force our belief upon anyone. We will answer only such questions as we are asked; we will comply with your request.” Several weeks passed, and without any development. All prisoners are required to attend chapel service on Sunday morning and as many as desire may remain for Sunday School thereafter, Our eight brethren decided that they would remain for the Sunday Schoo), forming themselves into a class for study and fellowship together, with no intention of inviting any one else to join that class; nor did they invite any one. Their deportment, their manner of life, their kindness shown to others drew to them other inmates of the prison; and from time to time some of these would join the Sunday School class and listen to the explanation of the questions involved. Qur brethren took turn about teaching this class. As the class increased in numbers, some of the officers drew near, that they also might hear. Interest increased until the members of tha class were ninety in number. Many of these prisoners showed a deep interest in that wonderful message of hope of deliverance promised in the Word of God. A number of them asked questions concerning the same, which questions were answered to their satisfaction. They became deeply attached to our brethren, and when it was indicated these were to be released from the prison there were many kind expressions of gladness mingled with regret heard from the lips of other prisoners and some were asking, What shall we do for our Sunday School class? On the last Sunday in this prison one of our brethren gave a brief address, outlining the divine plan. With the keenest interest their fellow-prisoners listened; and many of them shed tears of joy for the hope of the great liberty that shall come, not only to them but to all mankind through Christ Jegua, when his kingdom of righteousness is fully es. tablished. A FEW RESULTS OF THEIE INFLUENCE It is generally thought that all men who are incarcerated in prison have very hard hearts, and pay no heed to the message of the Lord; but this is not so. The message of truth, which is so reasonable, so loving, so wonderful, appeals to many, even under the most adverse circumstances. here is nothing that so transforms one’s life as the truth. There is nothing that can fill a life with such joy as a knowledge and appreciation of God’s wonderful plan of redemption. Amonget the members of this class was one man, seventy-two years of age, brilliant of mind, educated and refined, who remarked “T am seventy-two years of age, and I had to get behind prison bars in order to hear the truth. I am glad for this reason that I was sent to the penitentiary. or fifty-seven years 1 have asked questions of the ministers, and never could get satisfactory answers. Every question I asked these men [referring to our brethren] has been answered to my satisfaction.” On one occasion this old gentleman spent three hours in asking and having answered Bible questions of one of our brethren. Another in the class remarked, “My time is about to expire; T am sorry I have to leave this prison on account of the Sunday School elass. Can you tell me where I can find some people like you when I go away?” Another bright young man expressed great sorrow in being deprived of the privilege of the aid of our brethren in Bible study. On the night before their leaving the prison he expressed himself to one of our brethren as follows: “To you and everyone with you, I send this parting message. Somehow when I’m near you or with you I cannot express myself, E seem such an atom, hardly worthy of so wonderful a friendship as yours. I want you to know that you have left with me a desire to be a better, bigger man, if such can emerge from a carcaas so soiled and world-worn as mine. You have taught me the meaning of the word ‘love’ as used between men. You have taught me that there are things in this world far more precious than rubies; and if He who is supreme desires that I never see you or yours again I shall be satisfied, knowing that I have at least had the first gleanings of a beautiful knowledge, the friendship of you wonderful men, and the opportunity to help myself if only I can and will remain strong. I’m weak, very weak, no one knows this better than I, but VU try and I'll fight with myself if necessary, to achieve the full fruits from this seed you have planted, so I may help not only myself but those about me. [6419]

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