LETTERS RESPECTING THE Dearly Beloved Brother Russell:— I write to say how much I appreciate the letter in the last Tower on the proper conduct of brothers and sisters, and to tell you how giad I am that this matter has been brought thus to the notice of all concerned, and that increased blessings may result. The Vow you and others have taken, as given in the TOWER, I most heartily take also. Indeed, it expresses my deepest heartfelt expressions, and by God’s help, through our dear Lord, I will endeavor to carry it out fully. Praying that each one who so vows may have the necded strength and help, and may be greatly blessed and made a blessing to all with whom he or she may come in contact, I am, With much love in the Lord, Jas. T. Hoper,—Eng. Dear Brother Russell:— I want to tell you of my joy and appreciation of June 15th TowrErR. It came to me as a blessing from the Lord’s own hand. I am glad to tell you that I have taken the Vow and am already receiving many wonderful blessings therefrom. I feel that it will be a great strength to me, and am thankful for it and the many blessings I have received through you. I assure you, dear brother, that I remember you at the throne of heavenly grace daily and also the dear Bible House family. With much Christian love, Yours in his service, STELLA WILsoNn,—Ind. € ‘VOW” My Dear Brother Russell:— Your article in June 15th Tower, giving a copy of the recent Vow to the Lord, which the Pilgrim brethren have all made, has made a profound impression upon me, and I feel sure it will be blessed of the Lord and result in greatly strengthening the brethren who consecrate anew themselves by following the example set. I write only a line to say that I have reverently made this Vow to my heavenly Father, and beg for your prayers. Yours in bonds of love, J. 8. CoLe,—Fla. Dear Brother Russell:— Christian greeting to you. I received the letter containing the Vow to the Lord, and gave it a somewhat lengthy consideration—to some extent forgetting its receipt until the matter was again brought to my mind afresh by the letter and comments in the June 15th Tower. I have since more minutely considered its embodiments, and must say that to me there is nothing new in the Vow with the exception of the last clause or sentence. In view of this would say that should the child of God be thus thrown into the private society of some designing enemy of the ‘‘truth,’’ he or she would have little help outside of the Lord against the false and slanderous reports which such an one might circulate. So, dear brother, we with you, and all of those pure and desiring to be pure in heart, Vow unto the Lord, that, he being our help, we will fulfil all the conditions of this Vow, and abstain as much as in us lies even from the ‘‘appearance of evil,’’ Your brother and fellow-servant in the dear Redeemer, ANTHONY STONER,—Ohio. Vou, XXIX ALLEGHENY, PA., AUGUST 15, 1908 No. 16 OUR WESTERN CONVENTION TOUR Sunday, July 5th, was Pittsburgh’s conveution day. The morning session was devoted to the exposition of the doctrine of Baptism. The afternoon service for the public was held in Alvin Theatre. There were about 1,000 present, of whom about one-half were strangers. Close attention was given to our topic, ‘‘Where are the Dead?’’ The evening service at Bible House Chapel was a Question Meeting, after which we took train on our western journcy—accompanied to the depot by about a dozen of the friends. We stopped over with the Indianapolis friends and had a delightful mecting with about fifty-five of them from 8 to 10 a. m. We remarked the love for the truth which would bring together nearly the entire class on a Monday morning. They came not from curiosity-—-to see the speaker—-for they had seen and heard him many times. They came not ‘‘to hear some new thing,’’ for they are already well acquainted with the divine plan of the ages, and knew that only ‘‘the old, old story’’ would be presented. Evidently the attraction was in the rehearsing of the old message of ‘‘love divine, all love excelling.’ Little Rock, Arkansas, was reached early on Tuesday, July 7. A little group awaited our arrival at the depot and greeted us most heartily. From 10:30 to 12 we talked to about sixty on the precious things of the divine plan—especially exhorting the interested. The afternoon session was for the public and was well attended for a week-day afternoon. About 200 to 250 very intelligent people listened with manifest interest for nearly two hours. We met with some of the dear friends in a social way until train time, a considerable number accompanying us to the depot. Houston, Tex., was reached on Wednesday at 5 p.m. All the sessions were held in the Public Park Theatre—two of them for the interested and two for the public. The attendance at the former was about 100 and at the latter between 500 and 600. The interest was good. San Antonio, Texas, was reached next morning. An enthusiastic group met us at the depot and after refreshments we addressed quite a good congregation for an hour and a half, the essence of our theme being ‘‘Love the principal thing,’’ and therefore the final test of saintly character. An afternoon meeting with the elders of the congregation took two hours and then we addressed the friends for an hour on the delusions coming on the world which, ‘‘if it were possible, would deceive the very elect.’’ The evening meeting for the public was in the Opera House, and surely brought the truth to a large and very intelligent audience. We have excellent hopes for the results, but they of course are wholly in the Lord’s hands. It is ours (238-243) to do our best to present the truth, but not ours to give the hearing ear. Dallas, Texas, was reached in season for a Saturday morning discourse to the interested. The session had already started with a Testimony Meeting and a delegation awaited our train and escorted us to the Maccabees’ Temple. On our arrival the congregation of nearly 300 arose and joined in singing, **Blest Le the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.’’ The afternoon session was addressed by Pilgrim Hoskins with excellent acceptance, and the evening meeting was held on Brother Rust’s lawn in the suburbs. About 200 attended. The first hour was occupied by six speakers for ten minutes each and then we spoke for about an hour and a quarter on ‘‘the evil day’’ and its peculiar testings and needs for grace from on high. Pilgrim Parker addressed the convention at its Sunday morning session and quite evidently pleased and edified those who heard. The afternoon session was specially for the public, the topic being, ‘‘ Where are the Dead?’’ The audience was estimated at 700 and excellent attention was given. Our Sunday evening discourse to the interested has already been published and has reached many of you through the Dispatch, Enquirer and other journals. The Monday morning session of the convention opened with a discourse on Baptism, by Brother Coward, and was followed by an immersion service. The afternoon session concluded the convention, and consisted of brief addresses by a number of brethren, covering various phases of Love. We can give no particulars of Monday’s sessions because we left at six a. m. for our next appointment. Oklahoma City, Okla., was reached about five p. m., Monday, July 13th. Our reception began at once as we alighted from the train; about 106 greeting us with hearty handshakes. It was our first visit to the friends of these parts, and we met the majority for the first time and received a hearty welcome. The evening service was for the public—‘‘To Hell and Back,’’ ete. About 500 heard for the first time and very attentively. The friends believe that a favorable impression was made for the truth. The meeting on the 14th was at Brother Young’s home. About 125 were present and we had a very enjoyable time for three hours. A portion of the time was devoted to answering questions and the remainder to the discussion of Baptism. In the afternoon eleven were immersed in the White Temple Baptist church, while others who would have been glad to do so, were prevented by our lack of time, but will be immersed later on the occasion of a pilgrim’s [4220]
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