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VOL.
XXIV
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
FEBRUARY
1,
1903
No.3
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
considerable
powers
of
mind
are
rendered
partially
useless
by
perpetual
hurry."
*
*
*
ABOUT
OUR
PROSPERITY
The
Pittsburg
Gazette
editorially
says:-
"While
the
United
States
is
enjoying
unexampled
prosperity,
England
is
feeling
the
pinch
of
hard
times.
Accounts
agree
that
in
the
poorer
parts
of
London
and
in
some
of
the
in
dustrial
centers
in
the
provinces
there
is
an
exceptional
amount
of
distress.
It
is
admitted
that
the
year
now
closing
has
been
marked
by
a
decline
of
industrial
prosperity
and
that
there
is
an
unusually
large
per
centage
of
unemployed
workmen,
for
whose
relief
during
the
winter
special
exertions
will
have
to
be
made.
Similar
news
comes
from
Russia.
Famine
prevails
in
the
province
of
Finlano,
and
in
all
industrial
centers
there
is
great
suffering
owing
to
lack
of
work.
It
is
reported
that
workmen
in
important
towns
are
glad
to
get
work
for
35
copecks
a
day,
equal
to
23
cents.
The
depression
in
England
is
largely
a
real'tion
from
artificial
stimulus
of
war
expenditure.
and
in
Russian
it
is
a
recoil
from
over
production
and
over
trading
in
connection
with
the
rapid
expansion
of
the
empirE'.
Germany
is
beginning
to
E'merge
from
the
depression
that
over
took
her
industries
some
years
ago,
but
the
recent
tariff
legis
lation,
hostile
to
the
commercial
treaties
which
stimulated
her
industrial
progress,
has
clouded
the
prospect
again.
The
in·
dustrial
prosperity
of
the
United
States
is
the
admiration
and
envy
of
the
world."
'Ve
learn
with
regret
that
our
reports
of
the
progress
of
Socialism
at
home
and
aLroa(1
have
been
misunderstood
by
some
to
signify
expectation
that
Socialism
may
be
the
Lord's
way
of
bringing
in
the
blessings
of
the
Millennial
kingdom.
Our
position
seems
difficult
for
some
to
understand.
We
believe
that
many
of
the
ideals
of
Socialism
are
good
i-more
than
this,
that
niany
of
those
ideals
will
be
realized
in
the
kingdom
as
they
are
now
realized
in
heaven.
But,
we
dispute
the
ability
of
Socialists
to
put
those
ideals
into
effect
and
make
them
continuously
operative.
Why
so
1
Because
of
sin;
-because
selfishness,
the
reverse
of
love,
is
born
with
all
men
i-and
because
nothing
but
a
thorough
conversion
(such
as
few
experience)
Ilnd
subsequent
instruction
in
the
school
of
Christ
(such
as
few
now
enjoy)
could
possibly
so
correct
the
natural
heart
as
to
make
love--the
golden
rule-its
law.
No
doubt
many
Socialists
believe
that
their
desires
for
Socialism
are
actuated
by
love,
and
not
by
selfishness;
but
such
should
not
forget
the
Scriptural
declaration
that
"the
heart
is
deceitful
above
all
things."
Those
clamoring
for
Socialism
are
generally
such
as
believe
that
their
temporal
interests
would
he
improved,
or,
at
least,
not
injured,
by
Socialism.
Remark
ably
few
are
advocating
Socialism
or
anything
else
to
their
own
disadvantage.
We
are
not
finding
fault
with
this
nat1lral
con
ditiol1s;
only
God's
saints
love
to
the
extent
of
self-sacrifice
for
the
good
of
others.
We
are
merely
pointing
to
this
evidence
that
the
advocates
of
Socialism
cannot
claim
to
be
actuated
by
low,
but
by
selfishness
i-we
are
merely
proving
our
position,
We
receive
many
queries
respecting
the
probable
duration
that
even
if
Socialism
were
established
it
could
not
last,
because
of
present
prosperity.
That
question
no
human
being
can
selfishness
would
continually
prompt
each
to
work
either
for
his
answer
satisfactorily.
The
world's
wars
being
over
and
the
own
advantage,
or
else
to
work
as
little
as
possible.
great
war
expenditures
stopped,
would
naturally
mean
that
Possibly
a
very
few
may
be
found
working
for
Socialism
prosperity
has
already
crested
and
is
on
the
decline.
But
who
aull
against
their
own
interest:
it
is
not
for
us
to
decide;
but
it
knows
what
may
come
of
the
Venezuelan
trouble
or
similar
IS
possible
that
ambition
or
combativeness
have
as
much,
or
difficulties
with
other
states,
through
the
new
program
of
the
more,
to
do
with
their
sacrifices
than
has
love
of
mankind.
The
great
powers
that
the
claims
of
private
bondholders
against
the
point
we
make
is
that
Socialism
is
not
practicable
under
selfish
smaller
nations
may
be
collected
by
force'
Who
knows
that
conditions;
and
that
the
voluntary
Socialism
which
the
Lord
this
program
and
the
"Monroe
Doctrine"
may
not
clash
so
a'l
will
introduce
will
not
be
attained
until
the
close
of
the
Millen-
to
bring
about
one
of
the
greatest
sea
wars
of
modern
times'
neum,
when
the
selfishness
of
the
fallen
condition
will
have
Or
something
else.
of
which
we
as
yet
have
not
a
surmise
...
may
given
place
to
perfect
love
and
the
full
image
of
God
i-all
the
come
forward
suddenly
to
give
business
a
fresh
spurt.
incorrigibly
selfish
being
destroyed
in
the
second
death.
The
So
far
as
the
Scriptures
guide
us,
we
expect
the
climax
Rocialism
of
the
Millennium
will
not
be
voluntary,
but
enforced
of
the
great
time
of
anarchous
trouble
in
October,
1914.
Our
hv
the
rule
of
the
"rod
of
iron
"-Rev.
2
:27.
opinion
is
that
so
great
a
trouble
would
necessarily
last
in
.
Our
reason
for
keeping
track
of
the
progress
of
Socialism
violent
form
at
least
three
or
four
years
before
reaching
that
now
is,
that
we
expect
that
it,
or
something
akin
to
it,
is
about
climax.
Hence,
we
expect
strenuous
times
by
or
before
October,
to
ileceive
the
world
into
looking
for
a
Millennium
of
its
own,
1910.
And
this
agrees
well
with
the
corresponding
and
typical
and
lead
them
unconsciously
to,
and
then
over
the
hrink
into
trouble
with
which
the
Jewish
age
ended.
the
anarchy
and
"time
of
trouble
such
as
was
not
since
there
Reasoning
backwarrl
from
1910
A.
D.
we
are
bound
to
as
was
a
nation."
We
cannot
wonder
that
this
"will
0'
the
wisp"
sume
that
the
conditions
leading
up
to
such
violence
as
we
then
should
attract
and
ensnare
many
of
"the
groaning
creation"
expect
would
include
gTE'at
financial
depre8sion,
which
probably
who
long
for
better
things
for
themselves
and
neighbors;
and
would
last
some
years
before
reaching
so
disheartening
a
stage.
wI'
should
and
do
sympathize
with
such
very
keenly;
but
for
We
could
not,
therefore,
expect
that
depression
to
begin
later
anyone
who
has
had
his
eyes
opened
to
the
divine
plan
for
than,
say,
1908.
Our
reasoning
is
that
a
depression
beginning
the
hlessing
of
the
world,
through
Christ
and
his
church,
in
the
now
would
culminate
too
quickly
for
the
dates
we
consider
fixed
Millennial
kingdom.
(invisible
to
the
worlel),
to
be
attracted
to
by
Scripture,
and
that
there
is
not
sufficient
time
for
a
de
Socialism
would
be
a
distinct
evidence
of
his
going
into
the
pression
and
then
another
boom
and
another
depression
before
"onter
elarkness"
of
the
world-away
from
the
inner
light
of
1910,-notwithstanding
the
rapid
changes
of
our
day.
These
divine
revelation
given
to
the
church.
reasons
incline
us
to
expect
a
prolongation
of
present
prosperity
for
a
couple
of
years
more.
It
is
because
we
see
no
other
cause
CONDITIONS
IN
GERMANY
than
war
lik«:>ly
to
sustain
present
prosperity.
that
we
nre
011
The
London
Spectator
editorially
reviews
the
German
sit-
the
lookout
for
one
i-and
not
that
we
favor
or
sympathize
with
uation,
and
the
evidences
seen
there
of
a
political
or
a
social
wars.
revolution-all.
be
it
marked,
based
on
selfishness.
It
says:-
CATHOLICISM
IN
THE
PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS
"Professor
Mommsen,
whose
opinion
has
great
weight
in
Recent
reports
indicate
that
the
movement
among
the
FBi-
Germany,
has
issued
a
remarkable
manifesto.
He
says
that
pinos
to
throw
off
the
yoh
of
the
Roman
Catholic
church
is
'the
overthrow
of
the
Imperial
Constitution
is
rapidly
progress-
progressing
rapidly.
They
have
established
the
"National
FBi
ing.'
The
Reichstag
and
the
Emperor
alike
are
being
subjected
pino
Church"
modeled
after
the
pattern
of
the
Church
of
Eng
to
thl'
absolutism
of
an
alliance
between
the
Tory
landlords
and
land.
They
have
chosen
as
its
archbishop
"Father
Aglipay,"
the
priests.
That
is
revolution
and
worse
than
pE'rsonal
govern-
an
excommunicated
Catholic
priest,
and
the
movement
is
taking
mellt,
because
the
autocrat
would
be
impartial.
All
parties,
well
with
the
people
who
for
so
many
years
have
been
under
the
Jll
fact,
are
becoming
revolutionary.
The
Liberals
would
like
oppression
of
the
monks
and
friars,
both
socially
and
financially.
to
convert
the
supreme
head
of
the
state
into
a
'first
official,'
The
latter
have
gotten
into
their
control
vast
estates
and
many
after
the
English
pattern,
and
'that
is
revolution.'
So
is
the
of
the
most
profitable
plantations,
as
well
as
all
the
church
desire
of
the
Centre
to
reconvert
Germany
to
Catholicism.
So
property,
schools,
etc.,
with
money
wrested
from
the
people
is
the
(lesire
of
the
German
squirearchy
to
restore
aristocratic
for
performing
funeral
and
wedding"
and
christening
services,
rule,
and
degrade
the
Emperor
to
be
only
first
among
his
peers.
and
for
masses
and
penances,
under
the
pretext
of
saving
them
And
finally,
so
is
the
desire
of
the
Social
Democrats
that
every
from
untellable
torture
in
the
future.
workman,
without
regard
to
his
work,
should
receive
out
of
a
The
people
have
seized
many
of
the
church
buildings,
claim
general
pot
the
same
quality
of
soup
as
his
neighbors.
The
ing
(we
think,
properly)
that
they
were
built
with
their
and
only
remedy
is
for
Liberals
and
Social
Democrats
to
unite
in
their
fathers'
mOl~ey
and
labor
and
belong
properly
to
them;
resistance;
but
that
requires
a
modification
in
the
ideas
of
each,
and
they
are
holdmg
these
by
armed
force
and
using
them
for
which
the
Social
Democrats
in
particular,
who
seem
bent
on
worship
according
to
their
lights.
Both
parties-the
people
'political
suicide,'
will
be
slow
to
concede.
Weare
not
so
hope·
and
the
friars-are
appealing
to
the
American
Governor
Taft
less
as
the
Professor;
but
certainly
the
trend
of
events
in
to
decide
for
them.
Neither
party
seems
able
to
understand
Germany
is
towards
Cresarism
in
the
hands
of
a
Cresar
whose
how
church
and
state
are
distinctly
separate
with
UB.
The
Gov-
[.3141]
(35
-36)
Vou. XXIV ALLEGHENY, PA., FEBRUARY 1, 1903 No. 3 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER We learn with regret that our reports of the progress of Socialism at home and abroad have been misunderstood by some to signify expectation that Socialism may be the Lord’s way of bringing in the blessings of the Millennial kingdom. Our position seems difficult for some to understand. We believe that many of the ideals of Socialism are good;—more than this, that niany of those ideals will be realized in the kingdom as they are now realized in heaven. But, we dispute the ability of Socialists to put those ideals into effect and make them continuously operative. Why so? Because of sin;—because selfishness, the reverse of love, is born with all men;—and because nothing but a thorough conversion (such as few experience) and subsequent instruction in the school of Christ (such as few now enjoy) could possibly so correct the natural heart as to make love—the golden rule—its law. No doubt many Socialists believe that their desires for Socialism are actuated by love, and not by selfishness; but such should not forget the Scriptural declaration that “the heart is deceitful above all things.” Those clamoring for Socialism are generally such as believe that their temporal interests would he improved, or, at least, not injured, by Socialism. Remarkably few are advocating Socialism or anything else to their own disadvantage. We are not finding fault with this natural conditions; only God’s saints love to the extent of self-sacrifice for the good of others. We are merely pointing to this evidence that the advocates of Socialism cannot claim to be actuated by love, but by selfishness;—we are merely proving our position, that even if Socialism were established it could not last, because selfishness would continually prompt each to work either for his own advantage, or else to work as little as possible. Possibly a very few may be found working for Socialism and against their own interest: it is not for us to decide; but it 18 possible that ambition or combativeness have as much, or more, to do with their sacrifices than has love of mankind. The point we make is that Socialism is not practicable under selfish conditions; and that the voluntary Socialism which the Lord will introduce will not be attained until the close of the Millenneum, when the selfishness of the fallen condition will have given place to perfect love and the full image of God;—all the incorrigibly selfish being destroyed in the second death. The Socialism of the Millennium will not be voluntary, but enforced by the rule of the “rod of iron ”—Rev. 2:27. Our reason for keeping track of the progress of Socialism now is, that we expect that it, or something akin to it, is about to deceive the world into looking for a Millennium of its own, and lead them unconsciously to, and then over the brink into the anarchy and “time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.” We cannot wonder that this “will o’ the wisp” should attract and ensnare many of “the groaning creation” who long for better things for themselves and neighbors; and we should and do sympathize with such very keenly; but for any one who has had his eyes opened to the divine plan for the blessing of the world, through Christ and his church, in the Millennial kingdom, (invisible to the world), to be attracted to Socialism would be a distinct evidence of his going into the “outer darkness” of the world—away from the inner light of divine revelation given to the church. CONDITIONS IN GERMANY The London Spectator editorially reviews the German situation, and the evidences seen there of a political or a social revolution—all, be it marked, based on selfishness. It says:— “Professor Mommsen, whose opinion has great weight in Germany, has issued a remarkable manifesto. He says that ‘the overthrow of the Imperial Constitution is rapidly progressing. The Reichstag and the Emperor alike are being subjected to the absolutism of an alliance between the Tory landlords and the priests. That is revolution and worse than personal government, because the autocrat would be impartial. All parties, in fact, are becoming revolutionary. The Liberals would like to convert the supreme head of the state into a ‘first official,’ after the English pattern, and ‘that is revolution.’ So is the desire of the Centre to reconvert Germany to Catholicism. So is the desire of the German squirearchy to restore aristocratic rule, and degrade the Emperor to be only first among his peers. And finally, so is the desire of the Social Democrats that every workman, without regard to his work, should receive out of a general pot the same quality of soup as his neighbors. The only remedy is for Liberals and Social Democrats to unite in resistance; but that requires a modification in the ideas of each, which the Social Democrats in particular, who seem bent on ‘political suicide,’ will be slow to concede. We are not so hopeless as the Professor; but certainly the trend of events in Germany is towards Cesarism in the hands of a Cesar whose [3141] considerable powers of mind are rendered partially useless by perpetual hurry.” ABOUT OUR PROSPERITY The Pittsburg Gazette editorially says:— “While the United States is enjoying unexampled prosperity, England is feeling the pinch of hard times. Accounts agree that in the poorer parts of London and in some of the industrial centers in the provinces there is an exceptional amount of distress. It is admitted that the year now closing has been marked by a decline of industrial prosperity and that there is an unusually large per centage of unemployed workmen, for whose relief during the winter special exertions will have to be made. Similar news comes from Russia. Famine prevails in the province of Finland, and in all industrial centers there is great suffering owing to lack of work. It is reported that workmen in important towns are glad to get work for 35 copecks a day, equal to 23 cents, The depression in England is largely a reaction from artificial stimulus of war expenditure. and in Russian it is a recoil from over production and over trading in connection with the rapid expansion of the empire. Germany is beginning to emerge from the depression that overtook her industries some years ago, but the recent tariff legislation, hostile to the commercial treaties which stimulated her industrial progress, has clouded the prospect again. The industrial prosperity of the United States is the admiration and envy of the world.” x . * We receive many queries respecting the probable duration of present prosperity. That question no human being can answer satisfactorily. The world’s wars being over and the great war expenditures stopped, would naturally mean that prosperity has already crested and is on the decline. But who knows what may come of the Venezuelan trouble or similar difficulties with other states, through the new program of the great powers that the claims of private bondholders against the smaller nations may be collected by force? Who knows that this program and the “Monroe Doctrine” may not clash so as to bring about one of the greatest sea wars of modern times? Or something else. of which we as vet have not a surmise, may come forward suddenly to give business a fresh spurt. So far as the Scriptures guide us, we expect the climax of the great time of anarchous trouble in October, 1914. Our opinion is that so great a trouble would necessarily last in violent form at least three or four years before reaching that climax. Hence, we expect strenuous times by or before October, 1910. And this agrees well with the corresponding and typical trouble with which the Jewish age ended. Reasoning backward from 1910 A. D. we are bound to assume that the conditions leading up to such violence as we then expect would include great financial depression, which probably would last some years before reaching so disheartening a stage. We could not, therefore, expect that depression to begin later than, say, 1908. Our reasoning is that a depression beginning now would culminate too quickly for the dates we consider fixed by Scripture, and that there is not sufficient time for a depression and then another boom and another depression before 1910,—notwithstanding the rapid changes of our day. These reasons incline us to expect a prolongation of present prosperity for a couple of years more. It is because we see no other cause than war likely to sustain present prosperity. that we are on the lookout for one;—and not that we favor or sympathize with wars. CATHOLICISM IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Recent reports indicate that the movement among the Filipinos to throw off the yoke of the Roman Catholic church is progressing rapidly. They have established the “National Filipino Chureh” modeled after the pattern of the Church of England. They have chosen as its archbishop “Father Aglipay,” an excommunicated Catholic priest, and the movement is taking well with the people who for so many years have been under the oppression of the monks and friars, both socially and financially. The latter have gotten into their control vast estates and many of the most profitable plantations, as well as all the church property, schools, etc., with money wrested from the people for performing funeral and wedding and christening services, and for masses and penances, under the pretext of saving them from untellabie torture in the future. The people have seized many of the church buildings, claiming (we think, properly) that they were built with their and their fathers’ money and labor and belong properly to them; and they are holding these by armed force and using them for worship according to their lights. Both parties—the people and the friars—are appealing to the American Governor Taft to decide for them. Neither party seems able to understand how church and state are distinctly separate with us. The Gov (35 -36)
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