INTERESTING LETTERS FIERY TRIALS IN BRITAIN EASING Dear GRoTHER RUSSELL: — Greetings and fond love in the Lord! It is now some little time since last we wrote you with respect to those of our dear brethren who are affected by the Military Service Act in this country. We are glad now to report some slight Improvements in the situation. From the very beginning our brethren have claimed exemption from the provisions of the Act as Conscientious Objectors, but for a long time the Tribunals before which their eases came were not prepared to acknowledge their conscientious objection, one difficulty being that the I. B. S. A. was not known to them. But things have changed now and our brethren are finding it less hard to secure—as an alternative to Military Service— some work of National Importance. At the present time five of our brethren have been given absolute exemption, twenty-three are in a Non-combatant Corps, one hundred and fifty-four have been given work of National Importance, and eighty-two have been handed over to the Military and have suffered various punishments rather than obey Military orders. With reference to this latter number the Government put into operation a scheme whereby these men are to be released from Prison and-—-as State servants—be employed in work of National Importance, such as road-making, quarrying, ete. About thirty of the eighty-two mentioned are already thus engaged and about twelve others are at home on parole waiting for work to be found for them. You will be interested to know that the War Office officials have kindly consented to cancel the papers calling to the colors all those brethren who are elders, pending the decision of the High Court as to the proper status of our elders under the Act. This decision we expect to receive about the middle of November. This means, of course, that various classes are to receive the benefit of their elders’ services meantime. We are gratetul to the Lord for this evidence of his loving care for his dear ones in this hour of need. We need hardly say how keenly we are anticipating further opportunities of service that the Lord in his gracious purposes may have this side of the veil; and we are looking to you as his faithful servant to point out to us such further privileges of witness as it may be his good pleasure to provide. We believe that the trials through which our heloved brethren here have been called upon to pass of late have had a mighty, sanctifying influence and have helped us all to be still more devoted to our Lord, and prepared to spend and be spent in his service—realizing the privileze of being his witnesses and suffering, if it be his will. for his name’s soke. We pray for you, dear Prother, and all our beloved brethren associated with you in service for the Jord, thot he grant you all heavenly wisdom and grace sufficient cach and every day, so that your labors may ever be to his praise and glory. With much fervent love in him to yourself and all the dear colaborers with you. we are, Your brethren and servants in the Lord, I. B. S. An—London, Eng. Vou. NXNVIT BROOKLYN, N. Y., NOVEMBER 1, 1916 REJOICING AGAIN IN THE LORD Deak Pastor RusseLi :— Some twenty-five years ago I read Vols. I. and II. of STuDIES IN THE ScrirpruREsS. I found them very interesting, but to me at that time not spiritually helpful, so I read only part of Vol. III. Of late years I have been greatly oppressed by the growing powers of evil in every denomination, and I felt a withdrawing of the holy Spirit from me. I prayerfully sought to know the reason, and my only answer was a direction to study the book of Revelation. I tried to do so several times, but even with the help of a commentary, I could not understand it. Finally, I thought that if I carefully and prayerfully read your books they could not harm me. I did so, and looked up every reference and the context, and also the history of the world. The dates from the Bible seemed very conclusive; but the Pyramid chapter convinced me, and [ resolved that I would be guided in the future according to the Srunies, I belonged to the Anglican Church, and had a fair knowledge of its doctrines and those of several denominations; and I thought you belonged to one that I did not know about. While trying in St. John to get other volumes of your books, I met with some people who believed as you do. I bought the whole set of books and subscribed for THe Watcn TowER. I rejoice now again in the Lord, and in our dear Savior’s second presence. I have not yet finished all the volumes, but I have taken the Vow. and I mean to follow on in the way that God may guide. Praise hig name! I wish to thank you for the help I have received through your writings, and I mean to do all I can to spread them, and speak about the truth. Your sister in Christ, ELIZABETH WETMORE. HOLDING TO FAITH’S ANCHOR VENERATED BROTHER IN THE LoRD:— While renewing my subscription to THE Warcu Tower, I avail myself of the opportunity to tell you how much its semi-monthly calls gladden us. We ever find therein, abundantly given, the strong meat necessary to properly maintain us as new creatures, that we may grow in all the graces and fruits of the spirit. In spite of the trials and difficulties abounding in these perilous times, the condition of our little class is very satisfactory. Each of us is holding firmly to the anchor of faith— the precious promises of our Heavenly Father, which alone can protect us against the waves already foaming, roaring and threatening to engulf the “mountains.” We make Psalm 46 ours, In behalf of the whole ecclesia here and vicinity, I present to you, beloved Brother Russell, this expression of the sincere sentiments of our love in the Lord. Your humble brother in the one hope, Err THERONN. No. 21 HOW WE MAY GROW UP INTO CHRIST “Speaking the truth in love, In proportion as any who seek to know God are led to see his true character, they have confidence in him. After such have come to the point of full consecration to the Lord, they reerive the begetting of the holy Spirit, and become of the church class, the sanctified in Christ Jesus, the set apart ones -—set apart by the holy Spirit. Of these the Apostle Paul says, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear.” The new creature must repel every attack of servile fear—-which belongs to the flesh, the fallen condition. The new mind must triumph over this natural tendency, must cultivate trust in the Lord. No man could do more than take away our earthly life. No man can take away our future life. “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body.” So the child of God is to be very courageous, knowing that no one can do him harm, knowing that God will not permit anything to come to him that will not be for his good. The enlightened child of God would have no fear, or dread, of eternal torment. He would still have proper fear such as a husband would have toward a wife, or a wife toward a husband—-a fear of displeasing or disappointing, and thus losing the esteem and confidence of the companion. In respect to all the brethren we should have such fear. [5977] ++. grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ.”—Ephesians 4:15. We should have a filial fear toward God, but not with the thought that he would harm us or torment us or do us violence of any kind, but fear lest we should lose our fellowship with him, So, then, whatever fear we have of a slavish kind is not from God. Such fear brings a snare. But love, inspired by a true knowledge of God, and begotten of his Spirit, delivers us also from the fear of man, in proportion as this love abounds in us. God has given us the spirit of love, the spirit of a sound mind, the spirit of power. The Ohristian knows that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” This is to him a source of power, of strength. Circumstances and conditions which would quite overwhelm others, he may expect to have. This spirit is not only a spirit of power, but a spirit of love—a spirit of kindness and gentlencss. It is a spirit that loves to do good, to do right, to be helpful. And so the Christian with this spirit of love and of a sound mind becomes more and more Godlike. This enables him to have more and more compassion for those who are out of the way. And as God sent his Son, and as the Son came and provided the blessing of life for all at such a great cost to himself, so all who have his spirit will strive to bless others. EVIDENCES OF A SOUND MIND The fall of Adam has worked ruin to mankind, so that from (319-323)
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