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ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
ALLEGHENY,
PA.
be
without
employment-not
only
the
actual
residents
of
the
stricken
city,
but
those
who
resided
in
the
cities
around
the
Bay,
and
what
will
result
from
it
remains
only
to
be
seen
by
waiting
and
exercIsing
patience
and
faith
in
God.
It
is
impossible
for
any
but
those
who
have
witnessed
the
effects
of
this
catastrophe
to
conceive
how
complete
was
the
destruction
of
what
everyone
must
confess
was
a
wicked
city.
Brother
Owen
and
myself
viewed
the
ruined
city
from
an
eminence
that
ga\
e
us
a
complete
view
of
both
the
burned
and
unburned
districts.
My
estimate
is
that
two-thirds
of
the
city
was
destroyed,
while
Brother
Owen
thinks
four-fifths
was
destroyed;
but
in
either
estimate
it
is
very
bad.
What
the
suffering
and
inconvemence
of
many
have
been
and
will
be
for
a
time
can
only
be
surmiRed.
We
can,
all
of
us
here,
thank
God
for
this
object
lesson,
and
the
strengthening
effect
it
has
upon
each
one
of
us,
as
does
every
experience
in
life,
and,
as
you
say,
assists
us
in
recognizing
in
this
the
ncar
apl,roach
of
the
kingdom
which
shall
forever
end
such
calamities
and
afilictions.
Your
brother
and
servant
in
Christ,
H.
M.
FITCH,
California.
PILGRIM
VISITS
OF
BRO.
B.
H.
BARTON
London,
Eng.
June
24
Uddingston,
Scot.
June
22
Luton,
'
,
"
6,7
Motherwell,
'
,
,
,
2:1
Wing,
Leighton,
"
8
Glasgow,
"
"
~4
Birmingham,
"
"
9,10
Dundee,
"
"25,26
Sheffield,
"
"
11,12
Kirkcaldy,
"
,
,
27
Leeds,
"
"
13,14
Hawick,
"
,
,
28,29
Barnoldswick,
Scot."
15
Edinburgh,
"
"30-JuI.2
Glasgow,
"
"16-18
Bedlington,
Northumb
'ndJul.:3
Greenock,
"
,
,
19
Newcastle,
Eng.
July
4
Gourock,
'
,
"
20
Stockton,
,
,
,
,
5
Rothesay,
"
"
21
Eston,
"
"
6-8
VOL.
m.
DAWN
IN
DANO-NORWEGIAN
We
have
just
issued
the
above,
in
cloth
binding
only.
Uniform
in
style
with
Engllsh
rdition.
Price,
25c.,
postpaHI.
CLIPPINGS
FOR
THE
EDITOR
Friends
are
requested
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us
clippings
unfavorable
to
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Truth,
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item.s,
writing
on
same
the
name
of
the
J01lrnal
and
date
o.f
publl
catton.
VOL.
XXVII
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
JUNE
1,
1906
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.
11
THE
WESTMINSTER
CONFESSION
AGAIN
No
doubt
our
Presbyterian
friends
thought
they
had
buried
the
Westminster
Confession
of
Faith
so
deeply
under
their
new
statement
of
PreRbyterian
faith.
that
they
wonld
never
have
further
trouble
from
its
bad
odor.
Rev.
Samuel
T.
Cart.1r,
D.
D.,
was
one
of
those
who
warred
for
its
burial
at
that
time.
Satisfied
for
the
time,
apparently,
Dr.
Carter
now
realizes
that
the
Westminster
Confession
is
still
the
creed
-
of
the
Presbyterian
church
and
the
newer
statement
a
mere
blind.
His
honest
soul
now
charge,s
into
the
battle
afresh
for
its
complete
repudiation.
He
recently
wrote
to
the
Presbyterian
General
Assembly
on
the
subject,
and
we
quote
from
his
letter
as
follows:-
"Fathers
and
Brethren:-Many
years
ago,
when
I
was
orJained
to
the
ministry
of
the
gospel,
I
declared
in
the
most
solemn
manner
I
believed
the
Westminster
Confes
Ilion
to
be
the
truth
of
God.
I
now
in
an
equally
solemn
manner
deeIare
I
don't
believe
it
to
be
the
truth
of
God;
that
I
utterly
reject
it
as
a
setting
forth
of
the
character
of
the
heavenly
Father.
There
never
was,
there
is
not
now,
and
there
never
will
be
such
a
God
as
the
God
of
the
West
minster
Confe,ssion.
"It
is
an
idol
of
man's
invention,
as
truly
as
any
wor
shiped
in
Delhi,
Pekin
or
Africa.
I
believe
the
great
and
true
God
is
inl~nitely
and
exquisitely
good
and
gracious;
tJ!at
the
one
thing
that
we
can
neither
fully
receive
nor
declare
is
thr
boundh'ss
love
of
Goa;
that
all
the
noblest
exhibitions
of
human
love
arc
but
bright
and
beautiful
sparks
from
that
intensc
and
llivine
flame-the
love
that
through
nges
and
generations
has
bccn
leading
men
by
the
fulle,st
wisdom
and
most
tcnner
providrnce
to
heights
of
knowledge,
love
nnd
boun(lIess
hope
that
far
transcend
ali
humnn
thonght.
I
lift
up
this
oYerwhelming
divine
love
before
my
fel'ow-mcn,
bclieving
that
this
alone
will
draw
all
mcn
nnto
Him.
"I
he1irvc
that
the
'Vrl'tminstcr
Confession
darkens
and
(lcllics
this
gl'l'at
lo\'c
of
God
nnd
should
not
be
retained
as
a
CO'IlfcRsion
hy
any
church
today,
ana
that
our
church
is
fal~e
to
itR
g'l"l'ah'Rt
<luty
of
being
a
true
witness
for
God
so
long
as
it
retains
this
Confe.ssion."
*
*
*
have
been
prompt
to
obey
conscience,
and
shouIn
have
stepped
out
of
Presbyterianism
into
the
liberty
wherewith
Christ
makes
free
indeed.
PresbyteriaIl,9
who
honestly
and
truly
believe
the
statements
of
the
Confession
have
a
right
to
hold
it
and
to
tell
it
abroad.
It
is
the
others
who
are
at
fault.
If
all
who
disagree
with
the
Westminster
Con
fession
would
promptly
and
decidedly
withdraw
from
the
denomination
into
liberty,
explaining
their
reasons
for
with
drawing,
the
effect
would
be
a
hundred
time,s
mOTe
satisfac
tory.
"Actions
speak
louder
than
words."
Dr.
Carter's
words
say
that
he
is
an
honest,
bold,
advocate
of
truth
at
any
cost;
but
his
actions
speak
the
reverse.
They
tell
us,
"The
Westminster
Confession
has
ties
and
emoluments
which
I
Jove
more
than
I
love
'the
truth
and
the
liberty
which
Christ
offers.
I
prefer
the
bondage,
and
to
be
amongst
those
who
misrepresent
my
God,
than
to
forsake
all
and
follow
the
Redeemer
and
his
'little
flock'
whom
the
world
counts'
fools'
fOr
Christ's
sake
and
too
conscientious."
We
hape
that
Brother
Carter
and
many
others
will
ulti
mately
grow
stronger
in
the
Lord
and
still
more
devoten
to
the
truth.
so
that
ultimately
they
will
take
glanly
the
spoiling
of
their
goods-worldly
prospects,
etc.-for
Christ's
sake,
the
truth's
sake,
hoping
for
the
"better
resurrection"
as
"more
than
conquerOTs."
EPWORTH
LEAG'UE
FACING
A
CRISIS
Throughout
the
entire
Methodist
church,
we
are
informed,
"mutterings
of
uncertainty
and
dissatisfaction"
are
being
heard
in
regard
to
the
future
of
the
Epworth
League,
the
young
people's
organization,
which
has
a
membership
of
about
2,000,000.
Indeed,
the
crisis
has
become
so
serious
that
The
Epworth
Herald
(Chicago),
official
organ
of
the
League,
is
publishing
a
series
of
articles
about
it
from
the
pen
of
Dr.
Wentworth
F.
Stewart,
author
of
the
"Evangel
istic
Awakening."
Dr.
Stewart
says
it
is
his
observation
that
"the
League
in
Illany
places
is
lacking
in
vigorous,
self-sustaining
life;
in
others,
is
a
problem
in
itself;
and
only
rarely
is
it
measuring
up
to
reasonable
expectation
in
spiritual
<jUlture,
evangelistic
zeal,
and
a
missionary
enterprise;
..
\.
it
is
not
a
reviving
and
recruiting
force,
and
is
not
saving
to
any
reasonable
doegree
the
young
peo-
Brothrr
('arter's
expNiences
encourage
us
to
hope
and
pIe
within
its
reach."
He
says:
~,ait
pntipntly
for
fllrthl'r
awakenings
amongst
the
theo-
10girn.1
"dry
bones."
For
years
and
years
Dr.
Carter
A
GENERAL
CRITICISM
prcnclJrd
lllldpr
the
ConfeRsian
which
he
did
not
believe.
"Our
whole
church
has
been
for
years
cammitted
to
the
For
ycnrs
he'
Irnt
his
name
and
voice
and
iJifluence
for
God-
numerical
ideal
of
quantity
instead
of
quality.
Anything
di,<honorillg
enol'
until
he
got
strong
enough
and
courageous
to
secure
a
crowd,
multiply
numbers,
increase
the
member-
enough
to
protpst
an(1
cry
for
libel
ty
from
his
slavery.
Rhip
roll.
Some
churches
and
some
leagues
double
their
T'he
partial
liherty
{Irm/fra
was
doubtleRs
appreciated;
hut
membership
while
the
same
pews
hold
the
congregation,
now
he
lonjZ's
and
cries
fo]'
mOl'e,
more
liberty
to
think.
He
the
same
chairs
seat
the
people
at
the
mid-week
prayer
desires
to
be
sct
free.
His
conscience
longs
and
cries
out
service
and
the
devotional
meeting
of
the
League,
and
only
that
it
can
stano.
the
galling
E'rror,s
no
longer.
the
same
prayers
and
testimonies
are
heard
because
there
Poor
Brother
Carter
does
not
see
the
inconsistency
of
is
not
leaven
enough
to
permeate
their
entire
following.
hi'!
position.
He
should
not
have
entered
the
Presbyterian
"To
gain
Our
membership
one
by
one,
seeking
their
con
house
of
bondnge!
He
should
never
have
confessed
the
version
first,
and
relation
after,
through
a
slower
process,
Confession
which
his
hend
and
his
heart
repudiated.
Or,
is
infinitely
more
valuable
than
a
red-and-blue
contest
with
if
he
nid
believe
the
errors
at
the
beginning
of
his
Chris-
no
significance
attached;
the
same
amount
of
energy
thor
tian
life
and
ministry,
and
learned
of
them
later,
he
should
oughly
spiritualized
and
spent
in
evangelistic
activities
[3782]
(159-163) be without employment—-not only the actual residents of the stricken city, but those who resided in the cities around the Bay, and what will result from it remains only to be seen by waiting and exercising patience and faith in God. It is impossible for any but those who have witnessed the effects of this catastrophe to conceive how complete was the destruction of what every one must confess was a wicked city. Brother Owen and myself viewed the ruined city from an eminence that gave us a complete view of both the burned and unburned districts. My estimate is that two-thirds of the city was destroyed, while Brother Owen thinks four-fifths was destroyed; but in either estimate it is very bad. What the suffering and inconvenience of many have been and will be for a time can only be surmised. We ean, all of us here, thank God for this object lesson, and the strengthening effect it has upon each one of us, as does every experience in life, and, as you say, assists us in recognizing in this the near approach of the kingdom which shall forever end such calamities and afflictions. Your brother and servant in Christ, H. M. Fitcu, California. ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA. PILGRIM VISITS OF BRO. B. H. BARTON London, Eng. June 2-4 Uddingston, Scot. June 22 Luton, . ”? 6,7 Motherwell, ’’ ” 23 Wing, Leighton, ” 8 Glasgow, ” ”? 24 Birmingham, ”’ 2? 9,10 Dundee, ”? 7) 25,26 Sheffield, ,”? 7? 41,12 Kirkealdy, ” ? 27 Leeds, ” 7? 13,14 Hawick, ” 7? 28,29 Barnoldswick, Seot. ’’ 15 Edinburgh, ”’ ?930-Jul.2 Glasgow, ” ?? 16-18 Bedlington, Northumb’ndJul.3 Greenock, ”? ” 19 WNeweastle, Eng. July 4 Gourock, ” ” 20 Stockton, ” ”? 5 Rothesay, ” ” 21 = Eston, ”? ” 6-8 VOL. III. DAWN IN DANO-NORWEGIAN We have just issued the above, in cloth binding only. Uniform in style with English edition. Price, 25c., postpaid. CLIPPINGS FOR THE EDITOR Friends are requested to send us clippings unfavorable to the interests of the Truth, as well as special news items, writing on same the name of the journal and date of publicatton. Vou. XXVIT ALLEGHENY, PA., JUNE 1, 1906 No. 11 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION AGAIN No doubt our Presbyterian friends thought they had buried the Westminster Confession of Faith so deeply under their new statement of Presbyterian faith, that they would never have further trouble from its bad odor. Rev. Samuel T. Carter, D. D., was one of those who warred for its burial at that time. Satisfied for the time, apparently, Dr. Carter now realizes that the Westminster Confession is still the ereed of the Presbytcrian ehurch and the newer statement a mere blind. His honest soul now charges into the battle afresh for its complete repudiation. He recently wrote to the Presbyterian General Assembly on the subject, and we quote from his letter as follows:— “(Fathers and Brethren:—Many years ago, when I was ordained to the ministry of the gospel, I declared in the most solemn manner I believed the Westminster Confession to be the truth of God. JI now in an equally solemn manner declare I don’t believe it to be the truth of God; that I utterly reject it as a setting forth of the character of the heavenly Father. There never was, there is not now, and there never will be such a God as the God of the Westminster Confession, “It is an idol of man’s invention, as truly as any worshiped in Delhi, Pekin or Africa. I believe the great and true God is inftnitely and exquisitely good and gracious; that the one thing that we can neither fully receive nor deelare is the boundless love of God; that all the noblest exhibitions of human love are but bright and beautiful sparks from that intense and divine flame—the love that through ages and generations has been Icading men by the fullest wisdem and most tender providence to heights of knowledge, love and boundless hope that far transeend ali human thought. I lift up this overwhelming divine love before my fel'ow-men, believing that this alone will draw all men unto Him. ‘*T believe that the Westminster Confession darkens and denies this great love of God and should not be retained as a Confession hy any church today, and that our church is false to its greatest duty of being a true witness for God so long as it retains this Confession.’’ * * * Brother Carter’s experienees encourage us to hope and wait patiently for further awakenings amongst the theological ‘‘dry bones.’? For years and years Dr. Carter preached under the Confession which he did not believe. For years he lent his name and voice and influence for Goddishonoring error until he got strong enough and courageous enough to protest and ery for lberty from his slavery. The partial liberty granted was doubtless appreciated; but now he longs and cries for more, more liberty to think. He desires to be sct free. His conscience longs and cries out that it can stand the galling errors no longer. Poor Brother Carter does not see the inconsistency of his position. He should not have entered the Presbyterian house of bondage! He should never have confessed the Confession which his head and his heart repudiated. Or, if he did belicve the errors at the beginning of his Christian life and ministry, and learned of them later, he should have been prompt to obey conseience, and should have stepped out of Presbyterianism into the liberty wherewith Christ makes free indeed. Presbyterians who honestly and truly believe the statements of the Confession have a right to hold it and to tell it abroad. It is the others who are at fault. If all who disagree with the Westminster Confession would promptly and decidedly withdraw from the denomination into liberty, explaining their reasons for withdrawing, the effect would be a hundred times more satisfactory. ‘* Actions speak louder than words.’’ Dr. Carter’s words say that he is an honest, bold, advocate of truth at any cost; but his actions speak the reverse. They tell us, ‘‘The Westminster Confession has ties and emoluments which I love more than I love the truth and the liberty which Christ offers. I prefer the bondage, and to be amongst those who misrepresent my God, than to forsake all and follow the Redeemer and his ‘little flock’ whom the world counts ‘fools’ for Christ’s sake and too conscientious.’’ We hope that Brother Carter and many others will ultimately grow stronger in the Lord and still more devoted to the truth, so that ultimately they will take gladly the spoiling of their goods—worldly prospects, ete.—for Christ’s sake, the truth’s sake, hoping for the ‘‘ better resurrection’’ as ‘‘more than conquerors.’’ EPWORTH LEAGUE FACING A CRISIS Throughout the entire Methodist church, we are informed, ‘‘mutterings of uncertainty and dissatisfaction’’ are being heard in regard to the future of the Epworth League, the young people’s organization, which has a membership of about 2,000,000. Indeed, the crisis has become so serious that The Epworth Herald (Chicago), official organ of the League, is publishing a series of articles about it from the pen of Dr. Wentworth F, Stewart, author of the ‘‘Evangelistic Awakening.’’ Dr. Stewart says it is his observation that ‘‘the League in many places is lacking in vigorous, self-sustaining life; in others, is a problem in itself; and only rarely is it measuring up to reasonable expectation in spiritual qulture, evangelistic zeal, and a missionary enterprise; ..|. it is not a reviving and recruiting force, and is not saving to any reasonable degree the young people within its reach.’’ He says:— A GENERAL CRITICISM ‘‘Our whole ehurch has been for years committed to the numerical ideal of quantity instead of quality. Anything to secure a crowd, multiply numbers, increase the membership roll. Some churches and some leagues double their membership while the same pews hold the congregation, the same chairs seat the people at the mid-week prayer service and the devotional meeting of the League, and only the same prayers and testimonies are heard because there is not leaven enough to permeate their entire following. ‘“To gain our membership one by one, seeking their conversion first, and relation after, through a slower process, is infinitely more valuable than a red-and-blue contest with no significance attached; the same amount of energy thor. oughly spiritualized and spent in evangelistic activities [3782]
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