May 1, 1915 sure that the prayers of the dear friends throughout the world had much to do with the success of these debates. I wish I might express to every one of our brethren my great appreciation of their fervent prayers on my behalf. Hourly I felt that these were a strength to me. I shall never be able to thank you as I would like for the letter which was signed by yourself and all the Bethel family, assuring me of your united and continued prayers in my behalf. The Lord reward all of you. This is but a reminder-of the unity of the body and the sweet relationship we are privileged to enjoy here. How much sweeter it will be in the kingdom! Brother Woodworth suggested that there must be great interest in heaven in this debate. The Lord be praised for it all. I am thankful indeed that he was pleased to use me to glorify his dear name in any manner, Brothers Woodworth and MacMillan sat with me on the platform as counsel, and my son was by my side to take anything quickly that I desired and to prepare the copy for me without delay. All rendered valuable service. The Lord arranged it all. There was never a moment after the debate began that we did not have the sympathy of a majority of the great audience; and when the debate concluded, there could be no doubt about the fact that a large majority of the audience was with us. My room in this hotel looks out facing the main entrance to THE WATCH TOWER (143-130) Trinity Auditorium, and each evening I could see the crowds gather. For more than two hours before the debate began the people were standing at the door waiting to get in. Each evening the gates were closed and locked by 7 o’clock, and after that hundreds were turned away. It is estimated that from 10,000 to 15,000 persons were turned away during the four nights, unable to gain entrance. Over the entrance to the Trinity Auditorium appear these words cut in the stone: “The Gates Shall Never Be Closed”; but they had to close for the four sessions of the debate. Please express my love to all the dear Bethel family, reserving a large portion for yourself. Please continue to remember me at the throne of heavenly grace. Yours in the service of the dear Redeemer, J. F. RUTHERFORD. * * * [We rejoice greatly that the blessing of the Lord was so richly with our dear Brother Rutherford on the occasion of the debates referred to above. Apparently the Lord guided these debates and blessed the outcome. However, we still feel a pre-judice against public debates of religious questions, and have elsewhere expressed our reasons. } ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DEBATES Although the Lord’s providence did seem to open up the way for the “Eaton-Russell Debate” and later, for the “WhiteRussell Debate,” and through these Debates led the way on to the publication of the Sermons in hundreds of newspapers throughout the world, nevertheless the Editor is not and never was, much of a believer in the advantages of debating. The Debates mentioned were valuable chiefly as entering-wedges for the newspaper work. On the surface, it might at first appear as though a debate would be an excellent method of presenting the Truth to the public. Let it not, however, be forgotten that it is also an excellent method of presenting the error to the public. While it is true that Truth is mighty and will prevail, nevertheless “the god of this world” has blinded the eyes of men for eighteen centuries so thoroughly that remarkably few even yet see the beauty and force of the great divine plan of salvation as presented by Jesus and the Apostles. On the contrary, the great mass of mankind have had thoroughly drilled into them heathen philosophy—carefully concocted theories and superstitions—and these are well riveted and fastened from childhood’s hour. An audience hearing a debate have the same difficulty that a jury has when hearing the opposing attorneys discussing the merits of a case. Each speaker has certain talent and ability, and each makes a certain amount of impression. It is the same with the general readers when these debates go before them. Those who have the truth will enjoy the presentation of it, while those who have been schcoled and prejudiced in favor of the error from childhood will rejoice in its presentation. Added to this is the fact that the debates in general are in the nature of a war of words, the disputants each seeking to undo the other’s arguments and to prove his own. In such a war of words the truth is at a disadvantage. Why, do you ask? We answer, Because those who are of the truth are bound by the Golden Rule, not only in its letter, but also in its spirit; and their presentation of the Truth must be along absolutely fair lines that take in the context and the spirit thereof. On, the other hand, our opponents seem to have no restrictions nor restraints. Any kind of argument, regardless of the context, regardless of the Golden Rule, regardless of everything, is considered permissible. Indeed they do not even stop to consider such a trifling (?) matter as the Golden Rule or to exact allegiance to the letter and spirit of the inspired Word. Thus our opponents always have the advantage, not because they are intellectually brighter, but because they can and do use means to bamboozle the minds of the hearers and readers. This the advocates of the truth dare not do—have not the desire to do, so surely as they have the Spirit of Christ. So far as the Editor is concerned, he has no desire for further debates. He does not favor debating, believing that it rarely accomplishes good and often arouses anger, malice, bitterness, etc., in both speakers and hearers. Rather he sets before those who desire to hear it, orally and in print, the message of the Lord’s Word and leaves to opponents such presentations of the error as they sce fit to make and find opportunity to exploit.—Hebrews 4:12. This should not be understood to mean that the Editor would never again engage in a public debate, but merely that in order to induce him to debate, his opponent would need to be a person of so great prominence as to bring the matter to the attention of everybody. Only such a consideration would be a proper offset to the wide presentation of error thus accomplished. Otherwise we prefer merely to present the truth as the Lord opens the way and to leave the presentation of error and its circulation entirely in the hands of others. JUDGE RUTHERFORD’S SPICY DEFENSE Brother Rutherford, grieved by the various untruthful, slanderous attacks upon the Editor, has prepared a pamphilet in my defense. A copy of it has just been handed me. I have not yet read it, though, of course, I knew of its preparation and in a general way of its contents. I prefer not to have anything to do with its publication. It explains Brother Rutherford’s views as a lawyer, as a brother, and as a man who most fully understands the entire situation. It contains some interesting illustrations and is priced at ten cents per copy, or eight dollars per hundred copies, postpaid. It is not unreasonable to ex pect that nearly all of our readers will be very glad to have this pamphlet, as it will furnish them with evidence on every point thus far brought forward by my maligners. Orders for the pamphlets should be addressed to Judge Rutherford, New York City, P. 0. Box 51. However, we will have a supply at Tue Watcn Tower Office, and, if one is ordering other things, this pamphlet can be supplied also. It is entitled, “A GREAT BATTLE IN THE ECCLESIASTICAL HEAVENS.” VoL. XXXVI BROOKLYN, N. Y., MAY 15, 1915 No. 10 THE NEW CREATURE’S CONQUEST OF HIS FLESH “Ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.”—Colossians 3:9, 10. Development is necessary to the life of the new creation. In our text the term “old man” stands for the human will, which once dominated the being. All who become Christians in the Bible sense of the term not only accept Christ and trust in him as their Savior, but devote their old will, their old nature, to death. Thenceforth that old nature is repudiated, and is no longer to control the life of the individual. But the body of the “old man’—the fleshly tabernacle—is still retained after the old will has been discharged and the new will has come in. The new creature, with new impulses, a new purpose, uses the mortal body as its servant. ‘The new will is now master. This new will is the will of God, or in other words, it is a will to do God’s will. Our consecration is a consecration [5685]
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