Vou. XXNT BROOKLYN, N. ¥., JUNE 1, 1910 No. 11 BROTHER RUSSELL’S FOREIGN TOUR [LETTER DELAYED EN ROUTE] To tHe FAMILY oF Gop At BROOKLYN BETHEL AND SCATTERED ABROAD EVERYWHERP:— When the announcement of our proposed tour of Great Britain, and, incidentally, to Palestine, was published, some of the friends inferred that it signified that there was something further to be brought out respecting the Great Pyramid and its teachings. Others tiought that our purpose was some special effort to reach the Jews in connection with the return of divine favor to them and their land. However, we set these speculations at rest at once by stating that we went in the interest of the newspapers which are publishing our sermons— that the interest in the sermons might thereby be increased and the interest in the good tidings deepened. But our special object, as stated, was to visit and encourage and strengthen the Bible Students, especially of Great Britain. Our hope is that all of these objects will be accomplished—that the Lord will so supervise and direct and order our goings that his name may have praise and that his people may have refreshment and blessing. Upon seeing the announcement a number of friends in different parts of the country advised us of their desire to make the journey at the same time, if we were willing. We assured them that all had the same opportunity, and that we would be glad of their company, if the Lord’s providences seemed to open the way for them. Thus it happened that our company leaving New York numbered twenty-one, seventeen in addition to our own party, which consisted of Brother Driscoll, representative of the Press Association; Brother L, W. Jones, who served us as stenographer on the Atlantic, and Brother Rutherford, who served as stenographer on the Mediterranean. and who will visit the friends in Denmark, Sweden and Norway while we are in Great Britain and who will follow us in Great Britain, reaching home about a month or so later than we. The friends who accompanied us were Brother and Sister Davault, of Illinois; Brother and Sister Ward and son, of Maryland; Brother and Nister Owens, and Sisters Cobb and Noble, of New York; Sisters Frost. Paschal and Houston, of Texas; Brother Pierson, of Connecticut; Brothers Wilson and Young, of Oklahoma; Sister Jackson, of Canada; Brother Koetitz, of Germany, the latter joining our party in Switzerland, where, and subsequently, he served as our interpreter. We had the pleasure also of Sister Rutherford’s company as far as Paris, As our vessel left her dock at New York upwards of one hundred and fifty of the New York church waved us good-bye and sang for us several of the precious Hymns of Dawn. The incident was very impressive for us, as well as for others, and surely served to tighten the bonds of Christian love which unite all of our hearts. The upturned faces of the friends evidenced their love and zeal, their fellowship with the Master and with us. Our hearts were made glad by this manifestation of Christian fellowship, and we assure them all that not only they who wete at the shore were remembered in our prayers, but all of the dear ones everywhere, for we well knew that our itinerary having been published in THE WatcH TowFR, prayers would be ascending for us and for God’s blessing upon our journey—from many hearts, from many fands. “Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds, Is like to that above.” Our journey was uneventful to Cherbourg, except that we had a little fog part of the way and a little rough weather. However, God graciously preserved us from any serious illness and we landed happy and well, a day later than anticipated, spending the night on the boat instead of in Paris. However, Paris had few attractions for us. Here, and to the end of our journey, We were rendered valuable assistance by the Tourist Ageney of T. Cook & Son, through whom our tickets were purchased, At Berne we met some of the French and German friends, to whom we spoke of the gracious things of the divine plan. We noted the Covenant of Grace, under which the church is being developed as the body of Christ, the spiritual seed of Abraham, and Israel’s Law Covenant, and also the New Covenant which will succeed it in due time for the blessing of Tsrac] and through Israel all the families of the earth. After speaking to the friends for nearly four hours, and we trust proving of some assistance to them and comfort and joy in the Lord, we departed for Zurich, where we had a very pleas Vv-—59 [4621] ant season of fellowship with about sixty or more of GermanSwiss triends, to whom we spoke for about two hours. We departed from them with many remembrances of their loving attention and kind words, which we understood through the interpreter, but read still more particularly in their eyes and general deportment. OUR VISIT TO THE PYRAMID On Wednesday we hastened through beautiful Italy to Naples and on board our ship. We had a delightful season of rest and refreshment on the sea before reaching Alexandria and then Cairo. The chief interest of the latter place centered in the Pyramid. Since we visited it eighteen years ago several of the casing stones have been found at the base of the Pyramid by the removal of the rubbish which had covered them for centuries. Inside the Pyramid there was also a change. The Brothers Edgar, of Scotland, visited the Pyramid last year to go over the measurements of its passageways, and incidentally they had the downward passage cleared of the rubbish which had accumulated in its mouth, entirely hiding it. The downward passage from its juncture with the ascending passage is now closed with an iron gate for the safety of those who enter the Pyramid. By the kindness of Dr, Edgar, who introduced us to an Arab Sheik (Judah Fide) of the vicinity, we were privileged to have the gate opened and through it to enter the subterranean chamber. We went all over the structure again—not, however, with the view of taking measurements, for these, we believe, have already been taken more accurately than instruments then at our command would permit. We merely reviewed this Great Witness to the Lord of hosts and recalled to mind its testimony, which we have already presented to our readers in the last chapter of the third volume of STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES. We again noted with admiration the exactness of the construction of this wonderful “pillar in the land of Egypt.” In many places immense stones are so neatly joined together as to make it difficult to find the joint. The quarry from which these large lime-stones were evidently taken has been located to the southeast of the city of Cairo near the old city and citadel. But as for the immense red granite blocks used for the King’s chamber and above it, no such stones are found within hundreds of miles—up the Nile. There was nothing else of special interest to us in that vieinity, except a trip a little further south in the vicinity of ancient Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, the ruins of which have been partially uncovered. There we were in the vicinity of the city of On, from which Joseph got his wife, and near the place of his severe trial, testing and exaltation. We called to mind the fact of his being a type of the sufferings of Christ and the coming exaltation of Head and members in the kingdom of the Father. Embarking at Alexandria again, our thoughts preceded us to Jaffa, ancient Joppa, and to Jerusalem, But arriving at Jaffa we met with a great disappointment, ‘The wind of the night before caused great swells of the sea toward the shore, which made it perilous for the launching of the landing boats for the passengers. The rockiness of the shore also added to the danger. The strength of the waves seemed likely to dash the boats against the rocks regardless of the skill of the boatmen, and the Jaffa boatmen are noted as being amongst the most skillful in the world. Arriving hefore noon we waited and waited, but no boats ventured out. The signals from the shore indicated that the Government would not permit the risk of life in landing the passengers. The captain of our vessel stated that he could not possibly delay his sailing for the next port hevond 6 p. m., and there were no signs that the weather would improve in the interim. Of course, this caused considerable disappointment, as we had earnestly desired. and surely expected, that we would celebrate the Lord’s Memorial supper in the Holy City in which the Master first broke the bread and drank the cup and gave to his disciples. As we thought the matter over, we concluded that the Lord was giving us a test of faith, and particularly a test of obedience. Would we murmur or complain if he should hinder us from landing, or would we be content with whatever we should see and realize as his guiding hand? Would we learn the lesson which he would teach us? We passed the word around amongst our company of nineteen, increased to twenty by Brother Hall, of the Oriental Commerce Company, who met us and greatly assisted in our journey at the suggestion of some of our mutual friends at London who (179-180)
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