Data publicării
01.07.1903
Volumul
24
Numărul
13
Turnul de veghe
Conventions Across the Sea
../literature/watchtower/1903/13/1903-13-2.html
{197-198) 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
ALLIlCHIlNY, 
PA. 
queries 
we 
again 
promised 
to 
return 
whenever 
the 
Lord's 
provi­ 
dences 
seem 
so 
to 
direct. 
rail 
journey 
to 
the 
sea, 
night 
on 
the 
boat 
and 
then 
seven 
hours 
by 
rail, 
blought 
us 
to 
Elberfeld, 
Germany-already 
decided 
upon 
as 
the 
most 
appropriate 
location 
for 
the 
Watch 
Tower 
Bible 
and 
Tract 
Society's 
branch 
for 
Germany, 
France, 
Switzerland, 
Italy, 
Denmark, 
Sweden, 
etc. 
'Ve 
made 
this 
selec­ 
tion 
because 
of 
the 
character 
of 
the 
population-religious 
and 
independent. 
Our 
contact 
with 
the 
people 
has 
seemed 
to 
con­ 
firm 
this. 
Our 
first 
attention 
was 
given 
to 
searching 
for 
suitable 
apart­ 
ments. 
We 
obtained 
from 
renting 
agency 
the 
addresses 
of 
eight 
places, 
and 
on 
going 
to 
the 
first 
of 
these 
we 
felt 
that 
the 
Lord's 
providence 
had 
directed 
us 
to 
it; 
and 
after 
looking 
at 
the 
others 
we 
felt 
convinced 
of 
this 
and 
rented 
it. 
It 
has 
large 
room, 
suitable 
for 
meetings, 
with 
three 
smaller 
rooms 
connected, 
suitable 
for 
light 
housekeeping, 
one 
of 
which 
can 
be 
made 
into 
one 
with 
the 
large 
room 
(by 
opening 
four 
large 
doors) 
should 
this 
ever 
become 
necessary. 
It 
would 
thus 
aceom­ 
moll 
ate 
150 
persons. 
There 
is 
also 
basement 
for 
the 
storage 
of 
tom 
of 
tracts, 
DAWNS, 
etc. 
The 
location 
is 
fine-near 
the 
postoffice 
and 
railway 
station, 
and 
with 
an 
electric 
car 
service 
to 
every 
part 
of 
the 
city. 
And, 
an 
important 
item, 
the 
rent 
is 
cheap. 
The 
next 
day 
we 
met 
with 
the 
dear 
friends 
of 
Barmen-Elber­ 
feld 
and 
vicinity. 
In 
the 
afternoon 
we 
had 
social 
and 
question 
meeting 
with 
the 
deeply 
interested 
numbering 
about 
35. 
In 
the 
evening 
we 
had 
public 
meeting, 
attended 
by 
about 
100, 
of 
whom 
probably 
one-half 
were 
in 
sympathy 
with 
present 
truth, 
aIHI 
the 
remainder 
their 
friends 
who 
are 
inquiring. 
We 
spoke 
on 
"The 
Oath-bound 
Covenant," 
endeavoring 
to 
stimulate 
the 
faith 
of 
all 
in 
that 
promise, 
and 
urging 
all 
to 
lay 
firm 
hold 
of 
the 
great 
promise 
and 
to 
seek 
earnestly 
to 
make 
their 
caj.lin~ 
and 
election 
sure 
to 
membership 
in 
the 
church, 
the 
body 
of 
Christ-the 
seed 
of 
Abraham 
that 
is 
so 
soon 
to 
engage 
in 
the 
grand 
work 
of 
blessing 
all 
the 
families 
of 
the 
earth, 
distrib­ 
uting 
the 
divine 
favors 
legally 
secured 
by 
the 
sacrifice 
ot 
God'fl 
dear 
Son, 
our 
Lord. 
After 
night's 
rest 
we 
arose 
at 
a. 
m. 
and 
took 
an 
early 
train 
for 
Miilhausen 
(in 
company 
with 
three 
brethren, 
also 
bound 
for 
ZUrich) 
We 
arrived 
at 
p. 
m. 
and 
received 
hearty 
greeting 
at 
the 
station. 
Being 
thus 
refreshed 
in 
spirit, 
and 
subsequently 
with 
substantials, 
we 
were 
pleased 
to 
address 
fifty 
brethren 
and 
friends 
from 
8: 
15 
to 
10: 
15--speaking, 
as 
at 
the 
previous 
place, 
on 
the 
Oath-bound 
Promise, 
which 
cannot 
fail, 
and 
which 
means 
so 
much 
to 
us, 
the 
church, 
and 
also 
to 
the 
world. 
At 
noon 
on 
the 
next 
day 
(May 
30) 
we 
left 
for 
Basle, 
Switz­ 
erland, 
where 
during 
three 
hours 
between 
trains 
we 
made 
the 
personal 
acquaintance 
of 
the 
brethren 
there, 
and 
sought 
to 
en­ 
courage 
them 
to 
run 
the 
heavenly 
race 
with 
patience. 
Our 
arrival 
at 
ZUrich 
was 
late 
at 
night, 
but 
dozen 
of 
the 
brethren 
awaited 
us 
at 
the 
depot 
and 
gave 
us 
hearty 
greetings, 
which 
we 
as 
heartily 
reciprocated. 
Our 
stay 
of 
two 
days 
at 
Zurich 
was 
interesting 
and, 
we 
trust, 
not 
without 
profit. 
We 
got 
personally 
acquainted 
with 
170, 
previously 
known 
only 
through 
correspondence, 
mostly 
Swiss, 
but 
goodly 
number 
from 
France 
and 
Germany, 
besides 
two 
from 
Hungary 
and 
two 
from 
Italy. 
Our 
stop 
at 
Thun 
was 
only 
short 
one, 
but 
gave 
us 
the 
acquaintance 
of 
still 
others 
of 
the 
household 
of 
faith. 
Here 
we 
parted 
company 
with 
Brother 
and 
Sister 
Henninges, 
who 
returned 
to 
Elberfeld 
and 
the 
ncw 
work 
there, 
while 
we 
has­ 
tened 
on-stopping 
at 
Neuchatel, 
Switzerland, 
between 
trains. 
Hcre 
the 
friends, 
as 
per 
previous 
arrangement, 
met 
us 
at 
the 
depot 
and 
escorted 
us 
to 
nearby 
park, 
where 
we 
had 
twenty­ 
five 
minutes 
talk, 
through 
two 
interpreters, 
on 
the 
things 
per­ 
taining 
to 
the 
kingdom. 
Two 
of 
the 
fourteen 
present 
were 
Germans. 
By 
appointment 
with 
Brother 
Hemery, 
the 
Society's 
British 
representative, 
we 
stopped 
two 
days 
in 
London-not 
to 
meet 
the 
church, 
but 
to 
seek 
new 
location 
for 
the 
Society's 
London 
office. 
The 
matter 
is 
not 
yet 
settled, 
but 
the 
splendid 
prospects 
for 
the 
work 
in 
Great 
Britain 
appeal 
to 
us 
strongly 
for 
more 
central 
location 
than 
the 
one 
which 
has 
served 
us 
so 
well 
for 
the 
past 
three 
years. 
We 
are 
looking 
for 
the 
leadings 
of 
divine 
providence 
in 
this 
matter 
and 
will 
report 
on 
it 
later. 
Our 
return 
journey 
was 
by 
the 
same 
splendid 
steamer 
in 
which 
we 
went 
away,-the 
"New 
York." 
The 
Lord 
furnished 
an 
opportunity 
for 
the 
distribution 
of 
tracts, 
and 
also 
for 
Sunday 
afternoon 
service 
(in 
the 
second 
cabin) 
-as 
result 
of 
which 
we 
hope 
for 
the 
garnering 
of 
at 
least 
two 
grains 
of 
"wheat." 
On 
board 
was 
polite 
minister 
of 
the 
Episcopal 
church, 
but 
conversation 
revealed 
the 
fact 
that, 
like 
the 
one 
we 
met 
when 
outward 
bound, 
he 
is 
not 
Christian-not 
believer 
in 
the 
fall 
and, 
consequently, 
not 
believer 
in 
the 
redemptio-n 
from 
the 
"curse," 
or 
condemnation. 
of 
the 
fall-not 
believer 
in 
the 
atonement. 
The 
evidences 
multiply 
that 
the 
falling 
men­ 
tioned 
by 
the 
prophet 
is 
well 
advanced: 
"A 
thousand 
shall 
fall 
at 
thy 
side." 
Evidently 
the 
leaders 
of 
Christian 
sentiment 
and 
ceremony 
have 
already 
fallen 
from 
the 
faith. 
We 
were 
amazed 
at 
the 
lack 
of 
interest 
in 
religious 
themes 
amongst 
the 
passengers. 
An 
extensive 
library 
on 
board 
was 
well 
patronized 
for 
works 
of 
fiction, 
but 
no 
one 
seemed 
to 
care 
for 
religious 
matters-especially 
amongst 
the 
upper 
class. 
They 
have 
lost 
their 
fear 
of 
eternal 
torment, 
and 
neither 
have, 
nor 
seek, 
anything 
to 
take 
its 
place. 
The 
rejection 
of 
"hell" 
means 
to 
them 
rejection 
of 
absolute 
faith 
in 
the 
Bible 
as 
God's 
inspired 
Word. 
(What 
great 
injury 
that 
unscriptural 
theory 
has 
worked! 
They 
satisfy 
the 
cravings 
of 
their 
minds 
with 
morality 
and 
forms 
of 
godliness. 
We 
are 
glad 
that 
it 
is 
so, 
rather 
than 
the 
reverse,-that 
they 
should 
be 
steeped 
in 
immorality 
and 
ungodly 
practices. 
But 
how 
we 
long 
for 
ability 
to 
open 
the 
eyes 
of 
their 
understanding, 
that 
they 
might 
re­ 
joice 
with 
us 
in 
the 
divine 
"plan 
Of 
the 
ages" 
and 
in 
the 
love 
toward 
God 
which 
it 
inspires! 
Thank 
God 
the 
powers 
of 
dark­ 
ness 
will 
soon 
be 
scattered 
by 
the 
glories 
of 
the 
Millennial 
morning, 
when 
many 
of 
these 
fine, 
noble 
people 
will 
see 
out 
of 
obscurity, 
and 
rejoice 
to 
avail 
themselves 
of 
the 
restitution 
privileges 
then 
prevailing! 
As 
our 
vessel 
reached 
its 
dock 
we 
were 
greeted 
by 
thirteen 
of 
the 
dear 
friends 
of 
the 
New 
York 
church-first 
with 
waving 
handkerchiefs 
and 
hats, 
and 
later 
with 
fervent 
hand-clasps. 
The 
busiest 
afternoon 
of 
the 
week 
was 
sacrificed 
to 
do 
honor 
to 
the 
cause 
we 
represent. 
The 
L,ord, 
we 
are 
sure, 
will 
reward 
their 
love. 
(Heb.6:10) 
One 
dear 
brother 
remarked, 
"Brother 
Russell, 
we 
remembered 
you 
in 
prayer 
every 
day; 
and 
believe 
it 
was 
so 
with 
the 
dear 
friends 
everywhere. 
am 
confident 
that 
no 
pilgrimage 
ever 
made 
was 
accompanied 
by 
so 
many 
prayers." 
We 
answered 
that 
we 
had 
greatly 
enjoyed 
and 
been 
encouraged 
by 
the 
thought 
that 
at 
least 
20,000 
of 
God's 
people 
were 
thus 
remembering 
us 
almost 
daily. 
As 
we 
neared 
Pittsburgh 
on 
Sunday 
morning, 
two 
of 
the 
brethren 
boarded 
our 
train 
at 
an 
outer 
station 
to 
be 
first 
to 
welcome 
us 
home, 
and 
later 
at 
the 
depot 
we 
were 
cordially 
wel­ 
comed 
by 
delegation 
from 
the 
Allegheny 
church. 
One 
of 
these 
dear 
brethren 
had 
come 
all 
the 
way 
from 
Canada 
to 
participate 
in 
this 
greeting. 
We 
were 
escorted 
to 
the 
large 
sitting 
room 
of 
the 
Bible 
House 
(Allegheny). 
Entering, 
we 
found 
the 
office­ 
workers 
gathered-each 
with 
red 
rose 
on 
his 
bosom, 
em­ 
blematic 
of 
Christian 
love. 
After 
greetings, 
rose 
was 
pinned 
to 
our 
coat 
lapel, 
too, 
and 
then 
the 
entire 
company 
joined 
in 
hymn 
of 
welcome 
composed 
for 
the 
occasion, 
after 
which 
one 
of 
our 
number 
rendered 
our 
united 
acknowledgments 
and 
thanks 
to 
God. 
Notwithstanding 
the 
fact 
that 
it 
rained, 
and 
that 
it 
was 
generally 
expected 
that 
we 
would 
lIOt 
arrive 
until 
Monday, 
and 
reception 
had 
been 
arranged 
for 
~Ionday 
night, 
the 
Bible 
House 
Chapel 
was 
full 
(about 
300) 
for 
our 
usual 
Sunday 
after­ 
noon 
service. 
For 
this 
occasion. 
and 
for 
the 
Monday 
night 
re­ 
ception, 
many 
of 
the 
dear 
friends 
had 
Rent 
in 
floral 
ofl"ering~, 
and 
the 
Chapel 
platform 
was 
resplendent 
as 
never 
before 
with 
roseg 
and 
lilies 
and 
ferns. 
At 
first 
our 
"bump" 
of 
economy 
was 
diRposed 
to 
chide 
our 
dear 
friends 
fOr 
their 
generosity, 
and 
to 
say, 
"'Vherefore 
this 
waste! 
The 
money 
represented 
in 
these 
floflwers 
might 
have 
been 
better 
spent 
in 
publishing 
tracts, 
etc., 
to 
assigt 
our 
poor 
blinded 
brethren." 
But 
we 
remembered 
that 
it 
was 
Judas, 
and 
not 
our 
Lord. 
who 
voiced 
those 
sentiments. 
So 
we 
accepted 
all 
as 
done 
unto 
him 
'''ho 
loved 
us 
and 
bouaht 
lh 
with 
his 
own 
precious 
blood 
(Eph. 
4: 
2), 
and 
said 
not 
~ne 
worl1 
to 
mar 
the 
joy 
of 
the 
dear 
companv, 
who, 
after 
our 
di,,­ 
course 
on 
lflaiah 
55: 
8-11. 
preflsed 
our 
hand, 
assuriu<Y 
us 
of 
their 
joy 
in 
welcoming 
us 
home. 
We 
assured 
them 
that, 
~lthough 
we 
had 
met 
and 
become 
personally 
interested 
in 
many 
dear 
breth­ 
len 
and 
sigters 
on 
foreign 
shores, 
our 
heart 
was 
proportionately 
enlarged, 
so 
that 
it 
meant 
no 
diminution 
of 
our 
love 
for 
the 
dea'r 
saints 
in 
America, 
and, 
in 
an 
especial 
scuse, 
the 
church 
at 
Alle­ 
gheny. 
Monday 
night's 
reception 
brought 
together 
splendid 
com­ 
pany 
of 
the 
Lord's 
consecrated 
children-adorned 
with 
the 
fruits 
and 
graces 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit, 
"the 
ornament 
of 
meek 
and 
quiet 
spirit, 
whieh 
in 
the 
sight 
of 
God 
is 
of 
great 
value." 
(I 
Pet. 
3: 
4) 
Quite 
number 
came 
from 
surrounding 
cities 
and 
towns-and 
more 
flowers 
came, 
too; 
"alabaster 
boxes" 
of 
sweet 
odor 
to 
the 
Lord, 
because 
really 
rendered 
unto 
him, 
and 
to 
us 
merely 
because 
he 
had 
been 
pleased 
to 
use 
us 
as 
his 
mouthpiece 
in 
proclaiming 
his 
great 
plan 
of 
the 
ages 
in 
this 
hie 
due 
time 
for 
revealing 
it. 
It 
is 
not 
possible 
to 
describe 
the 
pleasures 
of 
our 
fellowship 
in 
Christ 
that 
evening, 
and 
we 
will 
not 
try. 
But 
it 
is 
safe 
to 
say 
that 
with 
all 
the 
secret 
of 
joy 
was 
in 
the 
Lord's 
gre,lt 
plan 
and 
in 
what 
we 
can 
see 
of 
its 
prosperity. 
Faithfully. 
your 
brother 
and 
servant 
in 
the 
Lord, 
CHARLES 
T. 
RUSSELL. 
[3214] 
(197-198) queries we again promised to return whenever the Lord’s providenceg seem so to direct. A rail journey to the sea, a night on the boat and then seven hours by rail, brought us to Elberfeld, Germany—alread decided upon as the most appropriate location for the Watc Tower Bible and Tract Society’s branch for Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, ete. We made this selection because of the character of the population—religious and independent. Our contact with the people has seemed to confirm this. Our first attention was given to searching for suitable apartments. We obtained from a renting agency the addresses of eight places, and on going to the first of these we felt that the Lord’s providence had directed us to it; and after looking at the others we felt convinced of this and rented it. It has a large room, suitable for meetings, with three smaller rooms connected, suitable for light housekeeping, one of which can be made into one with the large room (by opening four large doors) should this ever become necessary. It would thus accommodate 150 persons. There is also a basement for the storage of tons of tracts, Dawns, etc. The location is fine—near the postoffice and railway station, and with an electric car service to every part of the city. And, an important item, the rent is cheap. The next day we met with the dear friends of Barmen-Elberfeld and vicinity. In the afternoon we had a social and question meeting with the deeply interested numbering about 35. In the evening we had a public meeting, attended by about 100, of whom probably one-half were in sympathy with present truth, and the remainder their friends who are inquiring. We spoke on “The Oath-bound Covenant,” endeavoring to stimulate the faith of all in that promise, and urging all to lay firm hold of the great promise and to seek earnestly to make their caHing and election sure to a membership in the church, the body of Christ—the seed of Abraham that is so soon to engage in the grand work of blessing all the families of the earth, distributing the divine favors legally secured by the sacrifice ot God’s dear Son, our Lord, After a night’s rest we arose at 5 a. m. and took an early train for Miilhausen (in company with three brethren, also bound for Ztirich). We arrived at 5 p. m. and received a hearty greeting at the station. Being thus refreshed in spirit, and subsequently with substantials, we were pleased to address fifty brethren and friends from 8:15 to 10:15—speaking, as at the previous place, on the Oath-bound Promise, which cannot fail, and which means so much to us, the church, and also to the world. At noon on the next day (May 30) we left for Basle, Switzerland, where during three hours between trains we made the personal acquaintance of the brethren there, and sought to encourage them to run the heavenly race with patience. Our arrival at Ziirich was late at night, but a dozen of the brethren awaited us at the depot and gave us hearty greetings, which we as heartily reciprocated. Our stay of two days at Ziirich was interesting and, we trust, not without profit. We got personally acquainted with 170, previously known only through correspondence, mostly Swiss, but a goodly number from France and Germany, besides two from Hungary and two from Italy. Our stop at Thun was only a short one, but gave us the acquaintance of still others of the household of faith. Here we parted company with Brother and Sister Henninges, who returned to Elberfeld and the new work there, while we hastened on—stopping at Neuchatel, Switzerland, between trains. Here the friends, as per previous arrangement, met us at the depot and escorted us to a nearby park, where we had a twentyfive minutes talk, through two interpreters, on the things pertaining to the kingdom. Two of the fourteen present were Germans. By appointment with Brother Hemery, the Society’s British representative, we stopped two days in London—not to meet the church, but to seek a new location for the Society’s London office. The matter is not yet settled, but the splendid prospects for the work in Great Britain appeal to us strongly for a more central location than the one which has served us so well for the past three years. We are looking for the leadings of divine providence in this matter and will report on it later. Our return journey was by the same splendid steamer in which we went away,—the “New York.” The Lord furnished an opportunity for the distribution of tracts, and also for a Sunday afternoon service (in the second cabin)—as a result of which we hope for the garnering of at least two grains of “wheat.” On board was a polite minister of the Episcopal church, but conversation revealed the fact that, like the one we met when outward bound, he is not a Christian—not a believer in the fall and, consequently, not a believer in the redemption from the “curse,” or condemnation, of the fall—not a believer ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa. in the atonement. The evidences multiply that the falling mentioned by the prophet is well advanced: “A thousand shall fall at thy side.” Evidently the leaders of Christian sentiment and ceremony have already fallen from the faith. We were amazed at the lack of interest in religious themes amongst the passengers. An extensive library on board was well patronized for works of fiction, but no one seemed to care for religious matters—especially amongst the upper class, They have lost their fear of eternal torment, and neither have, nor seek, anything to take its place. The rejection of “hell” means to them a rejection of absolute faith in the Bible as God’s inspired Word. (What a great injury that unscriptural theory has worked!) They satisfy the cravings of their minds with morality and forms of godliness. We are glad that it is so, rather than the reverse,—that they should be steeped in immorality and ungodly practices. But how we long for ability to open the eyes of their understanding, that they might rejoice with us in the divine “plan of the ages” and in the love toward God which it inspires! Thank God the powers of darkness will soon be scattered by the glories of the Millennial morning, when many of these fine, noble people will see out of obscurity, and rejoice to avail themselves of the restitution privileges then prevailing! As our vessel reached its dock we were greeted by thirteen of the dear friends of the New York church—first with waving handkerchiefs and hats, and later with fervent hand-clasps. The busiest afternoon of the week was sacrificed to do honor to the cause we represent. The Lord, we are sure, will reward their love. (Heb. 6:10) One dear brother remarked, “Brother Russell, we remembered you in prayer every day; and I believe it was so with the dear friends everywhere. I am confident that no pilgrimage ever made was accompanied by so many prayers.” We answered that we had greatly enjoyed and been encouraged by the thought that at least 20,000 of God’s people were thus remembering us almost daily. As we neared Pittsburgh on Sunday morning, two of the brethren boarded our train at an outer station to be first to welcome us home, and later at the depot we were cordially welcomed by a delegation from the Allegheny church. One of these dear brethren had come all the way from Canada to participate in this greeting. We were escorted to the large sitting room of the Bible House (Allegheny). Entering, we found the officeworkers gathered—each with a red rose on his bosom, emblematic of Christian love. After greetings, a rose was pinned to our coat lapel, too, and then the entire company joined in a hymn of welcome composed for the occasion, after which one of our number rendered our united acknowledgments and thanks to God. Notwithstanding the fact that it rained, and that it was generally expected that we would not arrive until Monday, and a reception had been arranged for Monday night, the Bible House Chapel was full (about 300) for our usual Sunday afternoon service. For this occasion, and for the Monday night reception, many of the dear friends had sent in floral offerings, and the Chapel platform was resplendent as never before with roses and lilies and ferns. At first our “bump” of economy was disposed to chide our dear friends for their generosity, and to say, “Wherefore this waste! The money represented in these floflwers might have been better spent in publishing tracts, etc., to assist our poor blinded brethren.” But we remembered that it was Judas, and not our Lord. who voiced those sentiments. So we accepted all as done unto him who loved us and bought us with his own precious blood (Eph, 4:2), and said not one word to mar the joy of the dear companv, who, after our discourse on Isaiah 55:8-11, pressed our hand, assuring us of their joy in welcoming us home. We assured them that, although we had met and become personally interested in many dear breth1en and sisters on foreign shores, our heart was proportionately enlarged, so that it meant no diminution of our love for the dear saints in America, and, in an especial sense, the church at Allegheny. Monday night’s reception brought together a splendid company of the Lord’s consecrated children—adorned with the fruits and graces of the holy Spirit, “the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great value.” (1 Pet. 3:4) Quite a number came from surrounding cities and towns—and more flowers came, too; “alabaster boxes” of sweet odor to the Lord, because really rendered unto him, and to us merely because he had been pleased to use us as his mouthpiece in proclaiming his great plan of the ages in this hie due time for revealing it. It is not possible to describe the pleasures of our fellowship in Christ that evening, and we will not try. But it is safe to say that with all the secret of joy was in the Lord’s great plan and in what we can see of its prosperity. Faithfully, your brother and servant in the Lord, Cuartes T, RUSSELL. [3214]

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