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OMY 2=i, leii
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lUDOE J. F. RUTKRRFORD
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PREFACE
iHANKS be to God that His grace has preserved us,
"kept us from falling," through another year — that
so many of us are still of one heart and of one mind
in respect to His Word, and its service !
"Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts,
if I tviil not open you the windows of heaven and pour
you out a blessing, that tliere shall not be room
enough to contain it." Malachi 3:10.
Considering the helpful and inspiring messages presented by
the dear Pilgrim Brethren at the CONVENTION and ANNUAL
ELECTION of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT
SOCIETY, assembled at Pittsburgh, January 2-5, 1919, we have
been moved to publish this Verbatim Report. We wish to thank
the brethren for their assistance in this connection.
In sending out this SOUVENIR CONVENTION RE
PORT, we do so with the prayer that the Lord's People will re-
ceive as great spiritual benefit from its perusal as we have in its
preparation.
Yours in the Master's Service,
GEO. A. GLENDON, Jr.,
1265 Broadway (Suite 611),
New York City, N. Y.
INTRODUCTION
'Thou crownest the year with thy goodness." Psa. 65:11
iHE opening of a most significant New Year found several hundred
friends assembled at the Bethel Chapel in Pittsburgh, Wednesday
night, January 1st, reviewing in testimony the leadings of Divine
Providence during the past year. The joy and rejoicing in the
Lord knew no bounds. Many of the friends found it a special
occasion to make plenty of good resolves, respecting what we shall be willing to
be, to do, to suffer, in fellowship with our Lord.
The keynote of the meeting was based upon the Prayer Meeting text: "Be
thou strong and very courageous." (Josh. 1 :7.) One brother testified that he was
glad that he could stand up for Jesus and. hold high the banner of Truth. Others
testified that they, as followers of the Lord, stood firmly for the truth: not fear-
ing what man might do unto them, but trusted in the Lord, and in the power of
Ilis might, with the promise that by so doing, they will be with Him in Glory.
Another brother voiced the sentiments of all in the following words: "How
appropriate is this keynote in connection with our Text for the year: '.Vo -u.-eapon
tluit is formed against thee shall prosper.' (Isa, 54:17.) I am perfectly wilting
to give and sacrifice everything to gain this assurance. The only injury these
weapon.s c^n do is to the old creature, which we have already consecrated to
death. Therefore, God uses the 'wraih of man to praise Him/ — by turning what
seems to harm us into everlasting joy and blessing."
At the conclusion of the service. Brother Wise requested all to join in silent
prayer asking the Lord to direct their everv' word, thought and action during
the succeeding four days, to the end that "the Love of God might rule in every
heart" : that nil things be avoided which would aid the enemy.
■ It tras good to be there! And as we wended our way to our respective rooms
we were confident that the opening of the Convention on the morrow would
manifest more of the spirit of the Psalmist's words:
"Behold, how good, and hovv pleasant
it is for brethren to dwell
together in unitv."
WATCH TOWER OFFICE
"THE OLD QUAKER SHOP"
Brother Kuitcll's Firit Haberdashery Stcre
SOLDIERS ME^JORI.VL itALL
ANiNUAL CONVENTION AND ELECTION
W. T. B. & T. SOCIETY
PITTSBURGH, pliNN., JANUARY 2-Si 1919
'^■[ENLP.V PARK. Pittsliur!;h's ^n.tXHJ,-
Cn» Beamy Ciritt,-r. jiryvctl to be an
ideal place for a convciitiun ol die;
Watch Tuwet Bibk & Tiacl Suckly
during tlic period of Its Aiimial Kkc-
lion — the first Satiirttav iit the new
year. The location u-asa ileliffliTEiil uiii:.
Memorial Hal], doiUcaTcd in the
memory of the heroes oi another
cau&e< was appropriatel^v' the meciing
p\L c oj the soldiers of the "Cross of Cliriif who, to<i.
n;l:^l die to win.
Oti the morning of January '2d the Convention opened
according to pru{;rain, aiul trom that timt: to ihc im
reluctant farewells at the dose of the Coiivtntion. Sunday
cvciiing, January oth* with a Love Feast, vve who were
present considered tliis Convention the mo^t beneficial
ever hcUL .\pproximarely one thousand attemkd. Brother
C. .'\^ Wise served a!> chairman thruitghout the en:ir<:
icsfion.
Brother K. G> Walters, of Tamaqna, Pa., was the
musical djrecior. AW mingled in "^ong of tiiispeakable
$weciEies5 to the praise of Cod," The inspiration derived
from the music and words contained in "Hytnns ot DauTi"
caused us to sympathijzc with our l>elovcd Brother J. I-.
Rtithcrfornl :
"Often I !oHK to hear some of our hymns?
Then I conlemi;>late the music of ihe Heavenly
courts, aiid long for that, and am ihriUed with
the prospect that in the chorus will brt the
beautiful, wonderful, angelic hosts, the innu-
merable company of honored ser^-anis before
the throne, the Bride in all her u^ory and bean-
ly and the majestic Bridegroom, all mingling
iheir perfect voices in music and song of un-
speakable sweetness to the praise of God. And
Jehovah Himself wj]] for joy sing over alL
(Zcph. 3:17.) "The Lord thy God in the midst
of thee is mishlyi He will rest in His lo^'e.
He wil] joy over thee with singing.* How
glorious to be there, and (here I want to be,
and want you to be. Let ttothin^ be done that
win lessen our prospect. Let brotherly love
abound and be faithful unto death."
After experiencing bitter trials during the year past.
our apjjetites were whetted to parukc of the spiritual footi
so bountifully provided for this occasion, to increase onr
hopes, even as the Lord promised that He wouM "prepare
a table in the midst of our enemies" that we might be
able to hear present cspericnccs.
Probably never before in the Clirlalian era have ^ucb
earnest and fervent prayers been offered as those on behaU
of the Convention, and our BRETHREN' who are now
serving God while in prison: '^FillitiR up that which is
behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body's sake,
which is the Church." (Cul. 1 :24,) With eagerness
every otie luoked forwjtid tu the events that would [ran'
spire there, that the will of the Lord might he known.
Their prsycrs were answered, even as our President and
Brother J. F. Rutherford expressed the desire "that the
spirit of Christ fill the heart of every attendant, drawing
all of you closer together. Let every otic have in mind
that we are in the final contlict of Rcvciaiion 1" ;H —
'These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb
shall overcome them, for He is Lord of lords, and i-Cing
of kings.' It is the finale of the conflict between the
Serpent and the Seed of Promise. Let all read KING-
DOM NEWS No. 3 A'Orr; Wc must overcome or bt:
overcome— there is no middle ground. Concerning: you
and all, my sentiments are exisressed in I Cor. l:lii.
'Now I beseech you. brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye ail speak the same thing, and that
there he no divisions among you: but that ye be perfectly
joine<l together in the same mind, and in the same jud^-
menl'."
Nevertheless,
THE KEYNOTE
It was clearly manifest tfiat the sentiment throughout
all stcssions centered around the yearly text: 'Wo lift'ttf'on
tirai U fitrmt'd atjainst thin: shall pro^pi-r" (Isa. .>lj",)
One brother said; "Since it is im|>ossib]e that they CaU
do anything against the truths it is likewise inn:K>sf^tbic
for anything tu hurt that oi... who is under the shadow
of die ;\hnight}'. "Nothing shall by any means hurl joUi'
the New Creature, for ^^-our life is hid with Lhri^t iu
The keynote of the Convention was in main along
advanced tines, encoursetng all lo abound in tlu: hope ot
bringing tlic Elijah and HIisha ly|}cs (also dial of Jezebel)
to a compScte tultlllment, even as Brother Herr suggested
that
Whereas,
Enemies have striven to injure (and suc-
ceeded in a measure to suppress)^
And Satan all his arts employ;
God has turned ivhat s«cmcO to harm ui
Into Everlasting Joyf
And before the Conveulion came to a climax we lost
sight of all opposition, calling to mind the Scripture, "If
God Iw for uSi who can be agiiinsl ns?" V\ c determined
to heed ihc admonition of the Apostle Paul to chug to
the old ship Zion, and to partake heartily of ihe good
nourishing food that our Master is providing through the
same channel used during (he Harvest — the \Vatch Tower
Bible & Tract Society — in order that we may be able to
go forth and labor while wc have the opportunity by
iriving the final witness for the truth. We realized more
Uian e^'e^ before there is much wijrk to be done, and we
were determined thpt no matter how stormy and trouble-
some the condition of the times may be. we would not
fi-ar, but stand by the old Ship of Zion until the very last.
INTERESTING NOTES
In accordance with an invitation extended by the Bible
House family, several hundred friends made a special
visit to the Watch Tower office at Allegheny — directly
across the .Mletjhany River from Pittsburgh, Wc were
entertained and granted the privilege o*" fellowship Jii the
targe parlor, tastily arranged with fumiiHrc and mcnfcutocs
of Hrother RusselVs study at the Bethel Home.
Upon inquiry we were directed over to Brother Rujsell's
first hubi^rdiishcry stare, "The Old Quaker Shop/' diag-
Dimlly across the slreetfrom the Watch Tower office.
It was here that, Charles Tazc Russell, at the age of
eleven, formed a business parinership with his father,
hiinscH writing the articles of agreement under which they
trauihactcd business. Here it was that at the age of twelve
years. Charles' father found him one lime at 2 A. .M.
|>orin^ over a eoneordancc, uoconscious of the lapse of
timCr
Within a few doors of this place, we were directed to
a dusty, dingy hall where our dear Brother Russell first
"stumbled upon Adventism," Ouoting his own words, he
says: "Seemingly by accident, one evening I dropped into
a dusty, dingj- hall in Allegheny, Pa., where 1 had heard
that religious services were held, to see if the handful who
met there had anything more sensible lo oflfcr than the
creeds of the great churches. There, for the first time, I
heard something of the views of Second .■Vdvenlisra, by
Jonas VVendcll, long since deceased. Thua f confess in*
debiedness to Adventists as well as to other Bible students.
Though his Scriptural exposition was nut entirely citar
and though it was very far from what wc now rejoice in.
it was sul?icient, under God. to re-cslablish my wavering
faith in the Divine inspiration of the Rible, and to *how
that the records of the Apoitkis and the Prophets are
indissolubly linked,"
/. B. S. A, CONVENTION
AT THE GRAVE
On ^[oilday, a party oi about i50 was conducted by
Brother Boliiiet to ill* grave of Brother Russell. Upon
a hillside. slophiS towards the south, we joiiitd hands
around the grave and sang;
"Bl«3l be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like u> ihit above.
^'Our glorious hope revives
Our courage eveiy day,
While eaci] with expectation strives
To run the Heavenly way."
One last lingering look upon the scene recalled the
peaceful manner of our Pastor's "passing beyond the vail."
Brother Kuthcrford's words came to mintl: "I aiii glad
this prisott experience was reserved tor us, rather than
for our dear Brotlter Russell."
We visited the marble works and there watched the
workmen slowly but surely chisel out the motiument to
be erectetl as a memorial to [he Society.
Tlie Watch Tower Society burial lots in Rosttiiont
United Ccrneterics. five miles due north of Pittsburgh City,
contain ample grave space for all the members of the
Bethel family, and the Pilgrims and their wives— in all
more than 275 adult graves. In the exact centtr of the
Bethel lot will be erected diagonilly the Pyramid Shape
Monument as designed by Broilur ^BaSmit, and acreptcd
by Brother Rmscil as the most fitting emblem for an
enduring monument on the Society's burial space. The
size of this structure is nine fett across the base, and its
apex stotte is exactly seven feet above the ground surface
level. It rests upon a concrete foundation five feet deep
and hpavily reinforced whh l>srln-d wire, the work of
Brother Eohnct, who would not entrust this important
task to anyone else, so we are assured the job was well
done. The' brother gave a full deicripUon of the securing
of the rock material (after fruitless attempts extending
over a period of about five years) at the time he piloted
tire convention ists to the cemetery and urged us to help
Ourselves to sottvcnir chips in tbe shop of the granite
worker near by.
These monster blocks of pink (Brother Rtisscll's favor-
ite tint) granite were brought all the way from Granite
Aiountain Quarries, near Marble Falls City in Texas, upon
a special Hat car, and are said to be about 95 per cent
flint rock.
Each slope of the pyramid will face one of the large
lots and on each of these slopes is cut in four-inch
embossment a. Teacher's Bible, on the pages of which will
appeir the names of the ones buried there. The burial
space for Brother Rutherford was indicated and his name,
like that of Brother Russell, will be at the top of opposite
Bible pages. A Bible space being set apart for the Pilgrims
— all in one lot of forty-eight grave space, so all their names
will appear on the same Bible.
Above the Bibles are spaces for inscriptions In full,
W. T. B. &. T, S., I. B. S. A., "Dead with Christ," "Risen
with Christ," etc. And above these the Cross and Crown
and Wreath, and the wliolc capped with the apex stone,
highly polished— its shape of course beins pyramidal.
Witiiin the slnictvire, incased in a block of griinltc.
will be a sealed raetal box in which is a complete set of
Karatol Scripture Studies, the Memorial Tower, and one
of every tract, photographs of Pastor Russell, a copy of
the Society's charter, and many other things to interest
the people who at some future date may open the pyramid
and find them.
Brother \Vm. U. Hurst, of Pittsburgh, who was assist-
ant stiperintendent of the United Cemeteries under Brother
Bohnet's general charge, will hare the care of Brother Rus-
sel's grave in the pilgrimage absence of Brother Bohnet.
It is c:<pected the monument Avill be in place beforft the
next Decoration Bay. Any tnith people desiring i chip of
the stone may send postage enough to carry a piece about
the size of an z%^. WNth enough additional to pay the
Society for the trouble of having it wrapped for the mail.
Best for class members to order eollectively.
^'Long, long be my heart
With such memories it! led.
Like the vase in which roses
Have once been distilled,
"Yon may break, you ma:if shatter
^ The vase if you will.
But the scent of the roses
Will cling to it still."
11:00 A. M., Brother A. M. Graham
Tbursday, January 2, 1919, Fellowship Day
Subject, "OUR FELLOWSHIP"
OUR prograro announces thai this is "Fellowship Day."
In thinkirg about this matter of Fellowship, we may
think of it from a variety of standpoints. Looking
back over the past, we notice how God's people have had
fellowship.
Away back in the very beginning Abel had fellowship
with God because he was in harmony with God's arrange-
ment. He was all alone in this fellowship because there
was no one else who could share it with him. Still later
on, Noah had fellowship with God because he was in
harmony with the Divine arrangement. He had, however,
some associates with him who could share the_ fellowship —
his sons and their wives, also his own wife. Thus he
had fellowship not only with God: his family shared this
fellowship with him.
And that is the standpoint we propose to take this
morning. We jump way down from \'oah'$ day to our
own day^lDin — and seek to know and understand what
God is now doing; come into harmony with it, and thus
have fellowship with one another and with God.
_We notice that previous to 1S14 we had some fellow-
ship with God and with one another. Some of us had
some fellowship while in Babylon perhaps: we had fellow-
ship with one another and with the Lord to the extent
that we were in harmony with the Lord's arrangement
as we understood it In 1871, however, there came a
change in the Lord's arrangements, and from that time
forward we, who have learned of these changed arrange-
ments, have been having fellowship in a broader and
fuller and more complete setise than formerly because we
understand the Divine arrangement better, and have tome
into harrnony with it.
We notice, too, some little distinctions in respect to
this fellowship which we have had since 18T4. When
we first came to know about this "prtsmi fdiotiisksp"
we have had with the Father, and with one another, we
were talking chiefly about the Plan of the Ages, about
the three worlds and their subdivisions, and about what
God was purposing to do in these ages and their sub-
divisions. Later on we studied Tabernacle Shadow's, then
Chronology, and the Great P;,Tamid received our careful
attention. ^ Yet more recently it was the wonderful events
relating to the end of Gentile power in ISI-i. In all this
we observe a progressive fellowship : we had fellowship
together in all these things.
Since October, IHIJ. we have been watching the trend
of events in the world with increasing interest, and we
have been having fellowship along other lines. We do
/. B, S. A. CONVENTION
nor study so much about the thrtc ag^s and their sub-
divisions nosv as formerly, but we arc ihinking, talking
and having fellowihip respecting otlier titiLii,'^^: the fall
of Babylon, and ihc establishment of the Kingdom of
God, and the climax of cosufic forces taking; pLice in our
own day. We have h^d sweet felloivship in respect to all
ihcse matters. W'c could not have had that kind of fel-
lowship away hack in 1374^ <ivtn as Abel could not liavc
had lelE^wiiVLii) witli Noah hcc:iusc: lie kticw nothing of
the events of Noah's day, the flood, etc So, then, wc
see we cait have a fellowship now respectlitg present
events, we cotild not have had in 1S74, or even ten or
fifteen years aj^o— no, not cv*n five years ago. Ent we
can aud do h^vt it now.
\\'e have fellowship together at the present time becaits*:
we arc in harmony with the Divine arratigeinent as it
is fulfiUing now ri^ht before us at ihc present moment.
\V'e need tiot think so much about what has taken place
in the past. That is past, \\'e do not forj^ct the pa^t.
or set it aside; what wc learned then is still wSth its in
our hearts and mind s— part of our life. We must, how-
evcTf live in the present and act in the present. Therefore,
the present has much more of interest for us than that
which is past, no matter how imfjoriaiu and interesting.
Our Lord was born two thousand years ago. We just
celebrated the birth of our Lord about a week ago. and
have begun a new year™ A, D. W\^. There probaltly
ne^er was a New Year in al! the historj- of the human
family so remarkable in every respect as this one we are
passing into. In fact, there has never been a New Year
in the history of the humari family so wonderful. Poi-
sibly there may be more wonderful New Year Days in
[he futurcr ^ut there certainly has never been such a one as
this in all the past.
^^ hat a remarkable condition ol things there is in the
world at the present time. For four years the nations of
earth have been fighting: the most remarkable war that
ever was wa^jed on this planet. And now we have PEACE.
I don't knoAv whether we are living in that day when the
Scripture is beinfj fulfilled that says: "They will say.
'Peace. Peace,' and there will be no pcace.'^ That day,
when they will say: "Peace, and sudden ctest ruction shall
come upon them,"^ These Scriptures must certainly have
a fulfillment and it does not quite seem that ihcy have
yet been fulfilled* Doubtless they are being fulfilktl.
Truly there is "no Peace." No matter where you look,
there is unrest. Not a nation on earth feels sure and
safe, each distrusts the others. Along social and financial
lines; also everywhere there is a feeling of unrest — a lack
of peace. You remember that little message the angels
brought: "Peace on earth, good will towards men." Look-
ing over this Gospel Age, it is a remarkable fact that it
has been the most bloody period of all human history.
There have been more wars fought in this Gospel Aj*e
than in any other; notwithstanding that it is called the
Chr i St tan ei' a and p r < ^ui nably dom i natcd by wha t is
termed the Christian Chtirch, Truly did our Master say
of it: "There shall be wars and rumors of wars.*'
Look for instance *it western Europe. It is simply one
vast, groat gravej-ard, where the dead from countless
battlefields have been buried. There is scarcely a town
or hamlet ibat Is worth mentioning on the map of western
Europe where there has not been at some time or other
a great battle fought and thousands of Etves lost. Most
of these battles^ not all, but many of thein, have been
fought to establish in the earth some ecclesiastical system
or other. Yet we call it the Christian era, the Christian
Age, and it is undoubtedly the most remarkable of all
ages: but it has not been a period of peace. "Peace on
earth" has not yet eome to poor mankind. \Vi are still
looking in the future for the time of Jesus' reign, when
He will rule in peace— The Prince of Peace.
Now. the Scriptures tell ug all about these Avondtrful
things transpiring in our day. They clearly point out
what is taking place at the present moment^ and those of
God*s people who understand and are in full harmony
with God's ar range rnent arc permitted to know and under-
stand what these remarkable Scriptures mean, and how
to apply them. We may not appiy them absolutely cf^r-
rectly. We maVn perhaps, in some details fail to get jUiit
exactly the thought, bm in their general outline T am sure
we can come very close to a proper, a correct interpre-
tation of prophetic Scripture fulfiihrtg in this our day*
Wc have had now for four years a great war in
progress. It stopped a little while ago. In November
the war came to an end. Now then, the question is: IVhoi
nozu is ffijinf; oni^ What is God doing now? To my
mind, dear friends, there is a little pieture given to us in
the \Yord of the Lord that illiEStrates very clearly what God
has to do with present events. You are all familiar with
it. It has been talked of and ej:plaincd many, many times,
but you know every time we look at a beaistlful work of
art» the more beauty we can see in El. The oftener we
view a l>eautiful picture the more beaatv we discover in
it. 1 am rcferrinjj now to the image of Daniel. (Dan.
2:3L) The oftener we look at that imajre the more
remarkable it becomes. It was a GR1L\T IMAGE that
reached up unto Heaven. This great image, whose bright-
ness was excellent, and the form thereof tcrribEe, repre-
sented fonr great Unhfrsdl Entpifis. Its head was of
gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass,
legs of iron, the feet part iron attd part of clay. This
great image, therefore, pictured the political liislory of
the human family from D.-tnicl's day down to the present
time,
Daniel is the most remarkahte of all the prophets in
many respects. He scanned the history of the human race
from his own day down to our day— touching the salient
points, but dwelling specially on the events at the close
of the Gospel .-^ge. [s It strange then that our great
adversary, the devil, should be very desirous indeed of
lessenmi^ the influence oi that prophecy? Is it any wonder
that he has done all he could do to cast discredit on that
particular prophet? And so we find it. They have done
e^'ery thing they could to weaken the force of the prophecy
of Daniei.
Nevertheless, Daniel's prophecy still stands there. The
prophet tells us what these things mean. The head of gold
represented Babylon, the breast and arms of silver rep-
resented Medo-Pcrsia, the belly and (highs represented
Grecia, whereas the legs of iron represented Rome, and the
feet and toes Rome divided into the nations of Europe,
The smearing with clay represented the mixture of the
ecclesiastical systems wilSt the nations of earth during
the past ten centuries. ■ Everybody knows that these four
world dominions have come into being, and GONE, No
man can say that this testimony of the Prophet Daniel
is not true. Babylon has come and .ijflfji^. Ifedo-Pcrsia
has come and gofn: Greece has come and j^on^*. Rome
has come aitd Kovn; Has goftf. too. Tl^ese are the facts
of history that no man can gain-,say.
The next thing: that the prophet records is that a stone
was "cut out of mouutatn without hands," This stone,
we understand, is the Heavenly Kingdom of Qirist. the
stone Kingdom, for which yoii attd I and all Christian
people were taught to pray; '*Thy Kingdom comcn Thy
will be done on earth even as it is done in lieaven," Xow
notice, the prophet said the "stoi^e smote the image on
its feet, etc." (Verse 'M,) Looking from the type down
to the anti-type. I think w<: will pretty generally agree
that that stone has Ixreu smiting that imase for the last
tour years on its feet, vii., the Roman Empire, divided
into Small kingdoms.
Now then, wc will notice some other tilings about that
Image, We notice that it had two legs and stood on two
feet. Well, you remember that Rome originally was a
united emjjire, and conli[iucd fflr a few hundred vears
as a united empire, but finally was split up and divided
into two empires, known in history as the ^Vestern Empire
and Eastern Empire. About the same time the political
division took place there was also , a religious division.
The Roman Catholic Churcii was also divided into two
parts— an Eastern Church and a Western Church t the
Greek Catholic Church and ihe Roman Catholic Church.
The Eastern Church had its headquarters originally at
Constantinople, afterwards when the Turks got posses-
sion of that city and drove the Christians out. the seat of
power was finally transferred to ^Toscow in Ru$sia and
became associated with tlie Russian peoples so tha; the
largest number of adherents of the Greek Catholic Church
/. E. S. A. CONVENTION
Is found amongst the Russian people, and it is frequently
called the Russia It Church. Now then, this Eastern
Empire, together with the Greek or Eastern Church, rep-
rcscnts'one of the legs of Daniel's image.
The Etonian Cathotic Church has always been associated
-^vith the k*ings of \\'e stern Europe and together with ihcrn
constitutes the Western Umpire—the other teg of Dantel's
Imagen Now then, would it not be a reasonable deduction
that if one or the other of these legs would fall, or be
broken, the image necessarily must fall? That ^vould be
a reasonable deduction surely.
You just think a moment or two; what do w*e see
be I ore our eyes? Not verv long ago— a little over a year
jisc^-Russia fell. There 'is no RL^SSIA. Russia ha$
absolutely gone to pieces. When Russia fell the Russian
or Greek Church fell with her. T lie re is now no Russian
Ciiureh.
Cons tan tinople^ too» has fallen. The Turks who have
held it for six hundred years have lost it. It is now in
the possessioit of the Allies, hut it is a bone of contention
with them. They don't know what to do with it Greece
savs she wants It, "It ought to belong to us." they say,
because two-thirds of the people living there speak the
Greek langiiage. But the allied nations are not disposed
to give it to them. It is best, they think, to havft it con-
trolled by fill the nations. It is very clear, ihenn that the
Eastern Empire, boih in its political and its religious aspect,
has fallen. This means that one leg of Daniel's image
has been "tjroken to pieces," as the prophet terms It, and
the image itself has fallen to the ground.
What, we ask, is the ne.\t thiug in order? If it is
true that one leg of that ima^c has been broken and the
image has fallen, what would be the next thing to tran-
spire? The nc^t thinfj ■would be tfie br^akijiff in pieces
of she iviarfc Useif. Wc will keep in mind that the one
foot of the image rests at Rome, and the other toot at
Constantinople. When one leg is broken the image neces-
sarily falls. 'The next thing that we will notice in respect
to this record, is this: Daniel says, ''Thou sawest that a
stone was cut out without hands which smote the image
on the feet, which were of iron and clay, and break them
■in pieces. Then was the iron, the brass, the silver, and
gold broken in pieces together. (Chapter "2:55,) Yon see^
the next thing after the image had fallen was to BREAK
IT TO PIECES.
Is anything taking place at the present time that looks
as though this is having a fulfillment? We answer, "Yes,
assuredly." Russia, for example, has been broken into
five or six smaller states, and the division still goes on!
Nobody knows just how many pieces there arc yet to be.
Russia in 19M was one vast, great, united empire. Today
it is divided into many ''pieces.'^ We do not know exactly
what is taking pla.cc in Russia, or indeed in any part of
Europe. We may not be too sure, but it looks as though
there were two great g;iants in this country. Two great
newspaper syndicates striving for mastery. One probably
headed hy J. P. Mgrgan, and the other headed by William
Randolph Hearst; and they are fighting one another, and
between the two we don't get the exact truth. But we
do know enough to see that Russia has gone to piccesn
divided into a number of small states — "broken to pieces/'
Now then, take another Instance: Austria also a little
while ago was a united empire. It was called a dual
monarchy, Austria and Hungarj\ but it was unitc<I. Lloyd
George called it the ^'Hamshadrle Empire," but neverthe-
less ft v^as united, and a master mind— Emperor Pranz
Joseph— held it together for a long time. But Austria,
too. has fallen. It has been divided into at least five
pieces— five small states. She, too, has been "broken to
pieces."
Furthermore, if we are to believe what wc hear in the
newspapers we may understand that Germany at tiie
present titne is divided into at least two pans, and we
do not know how many more. Germany is .comprised
of about twenty-five states, some smaller and some larger.
^Vc do not know how many "pieces" she will yet be
broken into; how many small states will be made out
of her.
Now. we step over into another realm. Here is the
great British Empire— a great and mighty empire, T want
to tell you, 1! hope this isn't an unusual thing to say, but
I think that of all the great empires that have spnmg
up on the face of the earth, the British Einpirc is the
most remarkable. This little ^'Island Empire" has doml-*
nated the earth for four hundred years and still hopes
to dominate it. Notice that this great and mighty empire
is comprised of man3' parts, all over the world— India,
Australia, Canada, and South Africa. And these parts
are held together with cords or ties so slight that it will
require very little to break them. She feels that she must,
therefore, have almighty navy -with which to hold these
far of^ parts in Kne, If she should fail in any way to
have a mighty navy, she could not hold these far dtiit^nt
empires. It is not going to take verv much to separate
and <Uvide, "break in pieces," the mighty British limpire.
That is what was next in order; breaking the image
in pieces. How long is it going to be before Caiiada
will want "self -de termination^'? And how long is it
going to he before Australia will want self-determination;
and before India, too. will ivanr it And who are we, this
GREAT AMERICAlSr PEOPLE, WHO SHALL SAY
TIIEY SHALL NOT BAVE IT. A hundred and forty
years ago we concluded to have "self-determination," and
we threvi' off the British yoke. We kicked our old King
George III, that "stuffy old drone from the German hive.
Dr. Holmes called him. If the people of India, Australia,
and Canada want sclf-dcterminationf shall they not have
it? How easy it will be then to sever the ties tha^ binds
the mighty British Empire together.
Wc have, therefore, in the breaking of Danicrs image
a picture of what is taking place today. These great,
mighty empires arc bein;^ '^broken to pieces." That is the
prophet's declarattonn Our president, Woodrow Wilson,
also agrees that this must he so. He savs, "All these
people shall have the PRIVILEGE OF DETERMTKIN'G
FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEIR GOVERN Mf^XT
SHALL BE AXO SHALL DO." And iUat is -whtji is
breaking ihts^ kingdotn^s to Pieecj, preparatory' to their
being ground to powder and "become like chaff," and
blown hither and thither and no more place to be found
for kin^s, emperors, popes, etc,, crowned or uncrowned
powers-
I thitik wc can all agree that there are some powers
that are veiy potent and hiflucLitial that liave never been
crowned. We have them in our own land— very many of
them I We have railroad kings, or used to have. We
have telephone kings, and telegraph kings, and coal kings,
steel kings, and wheat kings, and all kinds of industrial
kings that never have been crowned, but they need to be
"ground to powder," i. e., stripped of their power like
all the otherSn Thus we are having fellowship with one
another as we observe the fulfilling of the Divine prophecy
at the present time.
I would like to call your attention to another little
picture in this same connection, of a similar character*
This picture is found in the book of Kings. N'ow, in
speaking about this matter I don't wish you to understand
that I have found the solution of this thing, and that it
is just so and no other way. I am suggestiiig something
merely to stir up your thoughts. That is all, nothing
more. It is good to have as many miniJs probing into
these things as possible. That is what has marked our
Age, the people are thinking. Before 1709 nobody thought,
scarcely. There was no thinking done except by a very
few — the learned. The farmer went to work at sunrise,
and came hack at sunset, and scratched the mud off his
shoes before he went into the mud floor of his cabin, and
that wa$ all he thought he had to do, and he seemed to
be contented and happy, tf he did slart to thinking about
his hard lot it wasn't very long before some gentleman
who buttoned his coat way up to the collar and tied his
collar at the back, and to him said, "Don't you feel bad
alxmt this matter at all. You. of coiirse, are having your
hard time now; but yon just be patient, when you die you
will get your reward in Heaven, That rich man. your
master '^vho owns the farm, is having his goo^l Lime new,
but when he dies he will have his hard time. He will get
it then.'* And that thought contented them.
Now* since they have begun to think, they say: Away
with this good time that you are talking about after I
10
n.
A.
CONVENTION
die. I want the good time now, and will h^va h, I will
use a slacig word they arc saying now, "Yon can't bam-
boo;:! q us any more. " So then, since 17^9 there have been
A thousand tnjnds thinking upon every thing that you can
possibly bring to your mind. That \& why so maiiv wlih-
derful, remarkable things are taking place in the' world
today.
So, in respect to the Bible pictures^ the more peoijlc
who consider Ihem the mom we will get out of them.
However, wc do not want to be foolish and tuiwise about
the matter. We do not want 60 do as some brethreii do.
There are some brethren who think they see a vision and
they want to write a book or a tract about it. The
chatTCes are, dear friends, they did not see a vision at all.
Ali they saw was a ^host, a phamtom merely. If you do
sec somethtng, and if ytm ihink it is worthy of being put
m writing, Avrile it out, use the very best English you
have, and the best information obtainaiile^ and when you
have written it out send it down to the '"EdiEorial Com-
mutec" that the Lord God in His arrangement provided for
the spreading of present trulh and if they think it is
Vl'ui Ih [jrinting you will thus have the privilege of serving
the Truth. But don't take the matter into your ovjit hands.
TS'ow Eheti, this other matter is the story of King Jehu,
found in II Kings, chapters 9 and 10, remarkable work
you remember, and only one, so far as we have any knowl-
edge. He destroyed the family of Ahab, Jezeljel* Ahab's
wife, and their sevetity sons. Every male that belonged
to the family of Ahab was absoluteiy destroyed. And
when he had accomplished that we hear nothing more
about Jchn. My memory is that the record savs, "And
Jehu reigned twenty^eight years, and ail the deeds which
he did are they not recorded in the chronicles of the kins:?."
And that is the end of the matter.
Now, we will point out some things that make the
story of Jehu important. He certainly did a great work.
Anybody who would destroy the wicked Jezebel would
indeed be great. Jehu was anointed by one of the "sons
of the prophets" fch. 9:1-7) to be king of Israel. You
ktiow at that time Israel was divided into t^vo parts —
Judah and Israel. Now then^ these two divisions repre-
sent the two divisions of Christendom— Judahism 35 a
whole represents Christendom. The northern portion-
Israel, the ten tribes, the larger portion— represents the
Catholic division of Christendom, in both its parts— both
the Greek Church and Roman Church. There arc very
httlc differences in these two Churches after all. One
permits their priesthood to marry and the other forbids
them, and a few little things like that. They originally
were one and so they come in with that class and that
dr'i'ision-
The other division— Judah, the two tribes— represents
the Protestant side of Christendom. We wil] try to keep
that in mind. Jehu was anointed king oi Israel and he
was told that his duty was to destroy Jezebel and the
family of Ahab. (Ch. 9, v, 7.) >7ow then, looking from the
type to the antitype, we know tliat Jeicbel represents
the Roman Catholic sysicjtt; the Roman hierarchy. Not the
Roman Catholic people, but the great sysiem ilsdf. We
make that distinction. You remember Lhat when the
United States went into this war our President saidi "We
are not fighting the German pcoffU, we are fighting
Gi^rmaii uutttcracy." Wc make the JiiiJTf distinfiion be-
hecrn ihe Papal system and the people coniroUed by U.
Jezebel had a husband — Ahab, Me represenls the *'Holy
Roman Empire." And ptrhaps we might stop here to
notice something about that great "Holy Roman Empire."
You know the pagan Roman Empire was very powerful
m the days of Christ and the earlv Church. It wa$ not
the "Hols- Roman Empire," however. The liolv Roman
Empire came into beinij later on during the reign of
Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, about the year 300
At D,
The circumstances which brought this Holv Roman
Empire into being were something like this. This great
emperor went to Rome to visit the pope, and while there
and while he engaged in his religious devotion upon his
knees m one of the churches at Rome, it is said that the
pope came up behind him and placed a crown upon his
head, and when he looked in surprific that- such should
be done the pope assured him that it was the will of
Heaven that he should wear this crown and assist the
Unurch ]n an her undertakings. This began the Holy
i&Aft ^"^P^'"^' ^^^ a thousand years from SOO A. D,
^u 2-1^" ^' ^'^^^ empire exristed i]] Europe. It was called
ru ^^ Roman Empire because united to the Roman
Church. When Chariemagtie died his empire was divided
mto three pans, but the portion comprising the western
part of present Germany and the northern portion of
present Austria continued to be recognized as the Holy
Roman Empire.
At this point, in the year 800, or thereabouts, the antl-
typical Jezebel, the Papal Church, was married to the
antit^-pical A hah, the Holy Koman Empire. Here the
union of Church and State began. There had been :i
courtship, too. Tbey had been courting for a few hundred
ycars^ from about the year 3S0 A. D, They were very
timid at hrst, but became bolder^ and tn SW A. D. they
w^jc ni^t^ried; Church and State were united. There Aliab
and Jezebel in antitype were married.
They did not live very happily together. You know
that IS frequently the case in married life. Married people
live sometimes a whole lifetime and never spend a single
day peaceably. They usually qnarre! about who will be
^bos5." Now that is Just the kind of marriage this was.
From the \*ery beginning of the union of Church and
State ihe.rn was a constant contest between these two
mighty powers. The Papal Qiurch (Jezebel in the type)
and the Empires of Europe (Ahab in the type) as to
which was supreme- Church or State. This contest con-
tinued during the entire period, from Charlemagne to
Napoleon (800 A, D. to 1 800 A. D.), who ended it by
bringmg the Holy Roman Empire to an end.
As the giving of the Goiden Crown to Charlemagne
represented the marriage of Jezebel and Ahab, so the
ending of the Holy Rotnan Empire represents the death
of Ahab.
This occurred in 180fi. At that time Austria and
Russia entered in a "coalitiun" to destroy Napoleon.
Learning: of this fact. Napoleon executed otic of his rapid
marches, and before the Russian army could unite with
that of the Emperor he crossed the .Mps and dealt the
Austrian power a deadly blow in two great battles. The
last one, Austerlitz, said to be one of the fifteen decisive
battles of the world, ended forever the power of the
Emperor and at the treaty signed later the Holy Roman
Empire was dissolved and came to an end. It does not
now exist. There is no Holv Roman Empire, Thus in
antitype Ahab died and Jesebel became a widow.
Since that time, ISOS, Papacy has been a widow, vii.,
s^eparated from the civil power. She shortly denies this
however, and says: "I am no widow, T sit a queen and
shall see no sorrow." (Is a. 47:7-11; Rev. 18:7,)
After Ahab's death, two of his sons rcif^ned over
Israel (Aha?;iah and Joram, who were living when Jehu
was anointed)- As Ahab typed the Holv Roman Empire.
so we believe the reigns of those two sons of Ahab typed
two nations in Europe who supported and aided to some
extent the Papacy since 1S06. Ahaziah, who reigned firsts
typed Italy, who lent some slight assistance until 1870
When Victor Emmanuel deprived the Church of the ''Papal
States, ' a gift of Charlemagne in 800 A. D. Since that
time they have been bitter enemies. Then in 1S70 Italy
died as a supporter of the Church. Joram, the second
s^, we believe typed Austria, the only State that since
IS70 could and did give assistance to Fapacv. Germany
and England were Protestant; Russia, Greek Catholic:
France and Italy efitran^ed from the Cliurch: leaving
Austria, a stronj^ Catholic country, the only nation in
Europe who could help her.
It tiiight be remarked here that while a woman's hus-
band lives she receives from hiiB many favors: but when
her husband dies she receives hut little, and that frequently
^nidpintrly given, from her sons. So si nee 1S06 Papacy
has had Imt few favors from the civil powers.
Keeping these matters in mind we return to Jehu, who
was hastening up to Jeered, the summer capita], where
Jezebel. Kins: Joram and Kitiff .Aha^iah (King of Judah)
trom Jerusalem were residing. Joram was there, being
healed of wounds received in a battle with ihc Syrians,
/. B. S. A. CONVENTION
11
Ahaziah from Jerusalem, King of Judah, had assisted
Joram in this battle and returned with him to Jezreeh
Aha^iah was Jezebel's son-in-law. Vou see, therefore,
these three were bound by common ties and illustrates
the very close relations between Papacy, Austria, and
Germany.
As Jehu drew near to the city, he was observed by
the watchmen from the citadeij who promptly notified
King Joram of the approach of a troop. The King sent
out a mounted messenger to ascertain who this might be.
He was not permitted to return, however, and a second
mounted messenger was dispatched. He, too, did not
return. This alarmed Joram, who then inquired of the
watchmeti ir they could tell who this was who was ap-
proachiiij* and would have the temerity to treat the King's
messengers in this manner. The watchtnen promptly re-
plied, "It looks like the driving; of Jehu, the son of Mimshi,
for he driveth furiously."
This information aroused Joram to quick action, Jehu
was his generalissimo, head of his army, and had been
led ftr Rnmoth-Gilead to \%'atch the border lest the Syrians
returned. It was treason, disobedience of orders, for him
to be here in Jetreel — or. mayhap there was trouble at
Ramoth-Gilcad and Jehu had come to report. They would
go out and see,
Jorain ordered the chariots and the two kings, Joram
and .'\hazijh, rode out and met Jehu, "'is it pence, Jchnr"
Has the war broken out again? "Is it well?" Is every-
thing all right on the border? Jehu answered promptly,
"What peace so long as the whoredoms of your mother
Jczcliel, and her witchcrafts are so many?" (Ch. 0,\\ 21,)
Thoroughly alarmed the King shouted to Ahaiiah, "It
is treachery. Flee. O Ah:iiiahl'' They fled, but Jehu drew
s bow "with his full strength,'* which struck Joram "be-
tween the arms" and came out at the heart and he sunk
down and died — he died instantly. (Ch. 9, v. 24.) They
then chased .Ahaziah and mortally wounded him at "Gur,
which is by tbleam, and he died at Megiddo,'' (Ch. 9, v.
37,) He did not die instantly as did Joram. but lingered
for some time; dying at Megiddo,
We observed that Joram typed Austria, His death,
therefore, would mean the end of the Austrian Empire
in October last. This was brought about by the with-
drawal from the war of Bulgaria and Turkey, which broke
the long strained relations between Austrta and Hungary,
the two "arms" or powers that constituted that empire.
Austria there died. There is now no Au>stria and never
will he again. She died instantly.
Similarly the wounding and death of Ahaziah, King
of Jndah, represents the fall of Germany. She has been
"chased up" from the Marne River to the Hhine, until
November II, l&lS. Avhen she received her mortal wound.
She is not yet dead, but the death throes can distinctly be
seen, the death stru^5:lcs have already begun in the unrest —
Socialistic, Bolshevistioi etc.
It might be well to remember that Joram reigned oyer
Israel, typing; the Catholic portion of Christendom, so
Austria was connected with that portion. Ahaziah reigned
over Judah, typing the Protestant portion of Christendom,
so Germany Is joined to Protestantism.
Having dispatched the two kings, Jehu resumed his
journey towards Jezreel, where Jezebel, well aware no
doubt of what had taken place— the death of Joram and
Ahaziah — awaited him. She could not flee, but what would
she do? How couEd she expect to stand before this
mighty warrior before whom two kings fell?
Notwidistanding the fact that she was full of "witch-
crafts," as Jehu had said, she was a very resourceful old
lady; very cunning and deceitful and withal a famous
beauty in her day. She would charm Jehu, she promptly
decided. Let him sec how charming, lovely and really
desirable she was and perhaps he would not kill her. She
was concerned only in saving her life. It was her only
chance and she determined to attempt it. She went up
into her chamber, where she "tied" her hair most bewitch-
ingly and painted her face and arrayed herself in her
<lueenly attsre, and sal in the window posing herself and
an.'^iously hoping that a smile and a glance or two of her
eyes would charm lehu and he would spare her life at
least.
Jehu rolled into the court}'ard, heading his troop of
chariots and horsemen. Spying Jezebel, the object ol his
search, then in the upper window, and scorning all her
attempts to charm Eiimi drove right up to the window. She
smiled down upon him. He shouted. "Who is on my
side? Who?" (Ch. 0, v. 32.) Some eunuchs looked out
the chamber and quickly observing Jehu and his warriors
there, concluded it was their safest plan to side with Jehu,
and deserted their old mistress. "Throw her down.** coni-
manded Jehu, and ihey instantly threw the frightened and
struggling Queen Jezebel out the window. She fell with a
thud and her blood spattered upon the wail and the horses.
Thus perished that wicked Jezebel, the first person in
history who persecuted anyone for religious belief.
Looking now from type to antitype, what may we hnd
in this picture? We remitul you that Jezebel types Papacy,
The fact that she was posing in that upper chamber would
indicate that the Papacy has for some time past been
striving to exhibit all her charms, her beauty. She loves
all. hates none, she never persecuted. That is a myth of
a darker day merely. She is the champion of liberty and
freedom, also. The pope can cure all earth's woes. If he
were only permitted to sit at the peace ta])le he could
authoritatively settle all national differences, etc. The only
one in the world who has the authority to speak the very
power given him by God-
Thc faet that it was an upper chamber would imply
that she is lifted up and frorn^ a superior position looks
down on all others. So Papacy is now "exalted to Heaven"
in a place of power as high as she ever will be — has^ indeed,
reached her highest elevation and doubtless thinks she is
on the crest of the wave> and on the morn of a glorious
victory for the Church.
And those two or three eunuchs (Matt, 19:12). who
are they? We answer: Rome's celibate priesthood, for-
bidden to marry; many of whom will, when the hour of
her doom arrives, through fear or because they realize the
impossibility of longer perpetuating this anchicnt camou-
flage, will assist in ^'throwing her down," destroy her,
hoping to set up a new and better "Jezebel" more in
harmony with the spirit of modern ideals.
The splashing ot the bloody on the walls and the horses
show that hy her death the civil power (walls) that pro-
tected her and the doctrine (horses) of Divine right of
kings, ^pes, which niiide it possible to rule the world,
will be polluted and become repugnant to the people, the
soldiers, etc,
Jehu ordered her to be buried. "Shu Is a king's
d,^ughter." (Ch. 9, v. 35.) But when the undertakers
sought her out all that could be found of her body was
the hands, feet and skull. The dogs had torn the flesh
from her hones, leaving only the skeleton. This shows
that when the antitypical Jehu is through with Papacy
there will be only the memor>- of her doings (hands), the
crooked walk during the 1000 years of her triumph, and
(her feet) the plots, plans, etc., "witchcrafts'* Jehu termed
them, (the skull) once guarded so successfully hut now
made known "from the housetops," The dogs doubtless
refer to the T, W, W., Bolshcviki, radical Socialists, etc.,
etc.
We now recall to mind Jehu's reply to Joram, ' (Qu 9.
V. 22,) "What peace when the whoredoms of your mother,
Jesebel. and her witchcrafts are so many?" We suggest
that this may refer to Papacy's vaeillatinf^ course, especially
during the present war. First siding with Germany, then
straddling the fence; was sometimes on one side^ some-
times on the other, but always leaning German -ward, until
it became evident Gcrrnany would be defeated, and then
she has strenuously striven to show she was neutral, "It
is monstrous to say that the pope has ever been anything
hut neutral," Catholic papers have said, both in the United
States and Great Britain^ This is the whoredoms.
The witchcrafts refer to the cunning craft by which
she hss aided and abetted the tTaiser while eiaimtnf^
neutrality, etc. Evidences of this are by no means wanting.
Jehu may type socialized Great Britain and United
States, the two great democracies of earth, or socialized
Italy, that is, after those nations come to be controlled by
these radical elements.
In the foregoing we have been noticing what is taking
12
/. B. S. A. CONVENTION
jiics among llic naiionJ (Dinicl's rmage), ind Ihe destruc-
tion of Papal power at the hands of the antilypical Jehu.
Now, it might be asked where do the Mints o( God-
Elijah or Elisha — fit in these wonderful i)icltirc$? We
ansiver: Jeremiah seems to typify the experiences of the
true Qiurch in these last days, evetv as Eiekiel. Tlicse (wo
propiiecies seem to be two pictures of the same events
taking place at the dose of the Gospel Ase, Eieicicl
pictures the doom of the false Churdi. Babylon, ecclesi-
asticism. While Jeremiah pictures the experiences of the
true Church while Babylon is falling.
Rcfcring briefly to Jeremiah's experiences we note that
after writing a book (ch. 36, v. 2) he was cast into prison
at the behest of the princes of the realm »nd she mitilary
aulhoritics. (Ch. 3S, v. 6.) While there in prison the
Ethiopian eunuch with the jsw-breaJttng name, Ebed-
melecli, on his tonr of inspection at the prison found
Jeremiah, not in a cell, but in an unused reservoir full
of mire and sunk up to his ann pits, and there likely to
die. Ebed-inekth reported the matter to the king. The
king, not wishing Jereniiah to perish, ordered his release.
(Ch. 3S, V. 10.) Evidently Jeremiah was put into the pit of
fnirc without the king's knowledge, supposing he was to be
merely restrained of his liljcrties, but not destroyed. This
is implied in the reply of Ebed-melech. "It is an evil
(wrong, contrary to orders) thing they have done to
Jeremiah." (Ch. 38, v. 9.)
This pit of mire very well illustrates the mud slinging
tactics of our enemies who have sought to destroy our
work and influence (kill us antitypically) by making us
appear disreputable, unpatriotic, pro-German, etc. We are
just noiv emerging from tltis condition, still somewhat
mussed up in the public estimation, but freed from any
present danger of being destroyed, no longer "likely to
die,"
Jeremiah remained "in the court of the prison" (ch.
.TTi'l and '■iH-.H') until the city fell. This seems to imply
that the antitypical Jeremiah, while being released from
Vrisotl awiiiting a re-lrial, will continue under bonds until
the city (Babylon) falls and possibly a re-trial will be
avoided, postponed, because to rc-tr>- this case novtf that
war restraints arc removed, would lay bare all Jezebel's
(Papacy*s) witclicrafts : how and why she was able to
hinder tlie5c men from having their constitutional rights
Hentefl them. This she will not pertnit. Thus (hey may
go beyond the vail into the Heavenly KinRdom while still
"in the court of the prison" with the stigma of arrest and
incarceration still resting upon them.
"WHY STAND WE HERE IDLE?"
WKy stand wc idle? Has the ringing Word,
"The Ktn^om is at liaiiU." now lost its worth?
The hearts of eager audiences stirred
At welcome tidings of the Kingdom's birth
But for a little time. O'er all the eartJi
Think you, so soon, the listening peoples heard .'
Or have we lost our zeal? In times of old
"Thy Word," the Prophet said, "was in my heart
Like to a burning flame I cotild not hold
Till the glad Word fiew speeding like a dart.
Shall it be said it had no power to start
Consuming zeal in our hearts blunt and cold?
Great men of God have labored for His cause,
Have suffered, and have died, and known no fear.
So that the knnwledge of His holy laws
Should be proclaimed. Today stands very near
A prison "sepulchre" which, "garnished" here
With honeyed words, yet no like witness draws!
What shall we answer to these righteous men
When we account for silent week on week?
Wiat shall we answer to the -Master when
He comes His faithful servants again to seek.
And finds the Word He gave to us to SPEAK
Lay buried in a napkin until then ?
— Marx Bnrher.
I. B. S. A. CONVENTION
3:30 P. M. — Discourse by Brother W. J. Thorne
Subject: "FELLOWSHIP AND LOYALTY"
13
WE direct your attention, dear friends, to the words
o^' the .Apostle John. 1 John 1 :3. .Vnd tlicre he
says: "That which we have seen and heard declare
wc iinio you, that ye also may have fellowship with us,
and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with Ills
Sun Jesiis Christ." . . , , . . .
This world's fellowship, dear friends, may be con-
sidered in tile light of partnership. I believe the Greek
gives that thought, and therefore we could read it like
this '*fof we have partnership with the Father and with
His' Son, JcsHS Qirisl, our Lord."
The thousht seems to be that during the last six
thousand vcars there has been extensive business on the
earth. The name of that firm is "Satan and Sons." And
I am sure you will all agree, dear friends, that they have
been doing a ilourishing business. They have been stih-
slituttng the counterfeit for the real thing. They have
watched very carefully the workings out of Gods plan
and especially along the lines of God's dealings with the
Church. Sut it seems that now. especially since 187j, that
Satan begins to rcaliie, as well as those with him, that
there is a new firm coming into cstistencc, and the name
of this firm is to he "Jehovah and Son." And they are
goinfr to deal with the things that are true, and arc going
to estahlisli the world on a firm basis. There is a great
deal ot opposition between these two firms, and evidences
are that odds arc very greatly against the old tirm, atid
the new firm will become citahlisbed in buiincsi and will
never go out of business. The other, hoivever, will have
to go completely out of business. We are very glad to
see and to know that this is true. Jehovah tells us that
at that time "Righteousness will encircle the whole earth,
and the "judgments of the Lord will he abroad throughout
the wliolc earth, and the pcupic will learn righteousness."
Now. dear friends, in a partnership such as sujt^ested
in the Bible, we can see how necessary it is that those
who are taken into this business with Jehovah and with
His dear Son must meet certain requirements. One of
the requirements will be lo>'ally to the firm, and to its
interests. And if there is any quality that is appreciated
by men of the world, it is the quality of lovalty; and we
helieve Jehovah and His beloved Son also appreciate
loj'alty- "That is what God is looking for in those who
are endeavoring, or striving to be members in that won-
derful firm which is going to do business on the earth
for a thousand years.
"Obeiiaicc" then, in the Bible, is made a very importatit
matter. Indeed the Bible even indicates that in God's
estimation it is more important than "sacrifice," ^ You
know sometimes we are apt lo go to an exlrerne in thinking
that God is looking for sacrifice. That is true, dear
friends, but the Lord also tells us that "obedience is
better than sacrifice." And we have no more faithful
e.tample or pattern than our Lord Jesus Himself : and you
remember the Apostle, speaking of Jesus, uses these words :
"That though He were a son. yet learned he obedience
by the thing! which Ho suffered." Isn't that a wonderful
statement? Does that statement suggest that at any lime
in our Lord Jesus' experience — either in His_ prehuman
existence or earthly existence — fie w-as disobedient? No!
But it docs suggest the thought that when Jesus was in
His pre-cxislcnt state with the Father, it was easy to be
obedient because the conditions were perfectly satisfactory".
But Ihe Ihouglit of the Apostle here seems to be that it
would be harder to tic obedient in the earthly experience
when every condition of life was against our Lord: even
His dear .\posilcs could not understand Hitn.
Wc find also that on one occasion the Lord even
tested their !oy.iky and obedience by saiing something
vcrj' sirangc to tbctn. He began to talk to them on one
occasion about eating "His flcsli" and "drinking His
blood," and He said to them "except ye eat My flesh and
drink My blood, ye liave no life in you." We are told
that "many ot tile disciples no longer walked with Jcjui."
The thought seemed to be in their minds: "We liave
heard enough ! We propose to go no further with you."
We think that it affected their materialistic minds, Itclievtng
Jesus was teaciun;; them somcihinji iKirti of a cannibalism,
"Eat His blood, and eat the flesh? Tliat is enough, we
don't wartl to hear any more." So many ceased to "walk
with Him." But the ".-Vpostles turned not back." .^nd
Jesus turned to ihem and said: "Do ye abo turn away?"
They said, "To whom shalt we no. .Master? Tlion Uait
tile words of Eternal Life." And altliough they didn't
understand any more than the others what His words
signified, they stayed by the Lord, and after Pentecost,
when the Spirit came lo them and illuminated their minds
and gave the significance to the Lord's words, they said
they Wfre glad to stay with the Master, They were
rew.irded. And so llic Holy Spirit came upon them, and
it says they caught the true meaning. And except ii-e
appropriate the merit of the sacrifice -inc have no life, nor
wit! anyone have any life.
But what a wonderful truth that was! Jesus then was
obedient under the adverse conditions, and He learned
"obedience by the things which He suffered." He was
always lojal lo the Heavenly Father, even unto death, —
even the death of the cross. "Wherefore, God hath liiglih-
exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every
name: that at the name of Jesus, cs'ery knee sliould bow
of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under
the earth, and that every tongue confess the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ." (Phil. 2:9, 10.)
Dear friends, we will have to learn that same lesson.
Every one of Christ's followers and disciples must learn
the lesson of implicit obedience to God's will. And when
tjod asks fur Ujc human will to be obedient to His laws,
He is not asking any more of us than He would require
of Himself. What a wonderful God we have! And then
you remember, too, that Jesus in the eleventh chapter of
Matthew, verses twenty*eight and nine, gives us a vcr>"
wonderful lesson when He says: "Learn of me." for I
am proud and haughty? No ! It doesn't say anything like
that. He says : "Learn of Me for I ara meek and lowly
of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
Arc you ever troubled with pride, dear friends ? Per-
haps nearly everj' one of us are troubled with this quality,
Perliaps there may be one or two who are not, but I
would like to get acquainted with you and find out what
you look like. I am ashamed to tell you that I have a
good bit of it sometimes. Brother Russell told us at
one time that whenever you find that your backbone is
straightened out, and you are walking up and down the
streets thinkinn you, own the place, then place yostr«icU
in a corner and give yourself a good talking to. Did you
ever talk to yourself? Try that!
I talk to myself a good many times just as a father
would talk to his boy: "Look here, young man, I want
10 have a talk with you. What are you getting proud
fthont^ Are you getting to the point that you are so
important in God's plan that He can't get along without
you? Don't you make any mistake about that. The Lj^rd
will carry out His plans just as well without you, and
really better, perhaps. You arc really in His way, but He
just permits you to have these privileges, not that it helps
Him out, but it gi\ei you an opportunity to show your
love and zeal,'*
How many mistakes we make! Most everything wc
do has so be done over again. When I reason with myself
like that I have two ".erscs in Isaiah 40:1.> 17. You wilt
find them reading something like this; (Tiic Lord tells
us how He regards the nations) "Behotd, the nations arc
as a drop in the bucket, and are counted as the small
dost of the balance: behold. He takcth up the isles as a
very little thing. All nations before Him are as nothing;
and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity."
14
1. B. S. A. CONVENTION
I thought t coiilit dcscrilw "nothing," hut if I attempt
to describe somctliing "Icsi than nothinfi" that would be
Fretty hard. And so I say to myself: "Young nun, if the
.nrd louks at the nations that way. and regards ihcm a5
sinall dust, etc, then what are yon? You must be a speck
of dust." And I say, "You Httlc speck of dust, don't
forKCt that." When I get out of that corner, I feel pretty
small. Let us remember that I (Laughter.)
Someone says, "Now, Brother, of course those words
apply to Jesus when He was on earth. Tlicy were so
appropriate to Him, because He was not exalted at thai
time, hut do you suppose that ie is just true of Hiqi today—
'meek and lowly ol heart'?" Tlie Apostle answers the
question in these words; "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday,
today and forever." (Heb. 13:3,) He is just as meek
today. Jesus in His j^lorified state would not think of
having His will done in anything. It is not tl>c will of
Jesus which is done In Heaven. It is the will of the
Heavenly Father.
What did Jesus say? Did He say: "Learn of Mc for
I try to please all with whom I come in contact"? Oh. not
Jesus could not please even His disciples. And you know
that at one time t made a great mistake along that line. I
ysed to try to please llie brethren, but I got in bad, and
I tried 10 please the sisters, too. and I got in bad. Attd
I found out. after careful consideration, that the Lord
Himself could not please all the Bible Students. I said
to myself. "I( the Lord cannot please them, I don't see
how I can." And did Jesus say: "I do always those things
pleasing to the disciples"? Oil. no! Jesus did not make
any mistake about that. He did some things very dis-
pleasinti to them. On one occasion, when He was going
up to Jerusalem, He talked about the thinss He was going
to suffer, and one of the disciples said ; "Lord, be it far
from Thee." What did Jesus say to this man? Did He
say, '*! will be very frank with you, you are certainly very
wise. I will follow your directions, thank you"? Oh, no!
He gave him a very sharp reproof, and said, "Get thee
behind me. .Adversar>'." He did not say "satan." That
IS a bad translation. And do you know, dear friends, that
if our Lord had followed St. Peter's advice, it would have
led Him into the Second Death? I think that if some of
the advice which is often given by the Bible Students was
always followed, would frequently lead to the same place.
And therefore, when the friends rome to me for advice
i give them as little as I can, I say, "Weil, you will have
to think that tnatter over for yourself; you will have to
come to your own decision." The time has come when
you and I cannot go to the brethren any longer and say,
"Brother, whst would you do?" Because after they have
told you what they would do, you find out that you will
havc^ to do just the way you think best after very careful
consideration. The time has come for faith to be estcr-
cised. If you go to a brother or sister all the time and
follow the advice of each one you are goinjf to be in bad
most of the time. More than that, if you followed Brother
Smith's advice all the time you would be following
Brother Smith instead of the Lord, and you would not
be developing the character pleasing to the Lord. You
would be another Brother Smith. THAT IS WHAT
YOU WOULD BE.
The Lord trants you to be yourself. He does not want
you to be any different from what you arc, so far as
your individuality is concerned. He wants a variety. He
does not want everyone to be the same. By way of
illustration; Supposing the Pilgrim brethren were all alike,
the friends would get so tired, they would say, 'They are
ail alike ; they have the same mannerisms, the same phrase-
ology-, etc." But is it not nicer, dear friends, when the
Pilgrim brethren are all so dilTerenl? One has one way
of presenting the matter, another has still another way,
and thus the variety is so pleasing; and that, too, is
pleasing to the Father. God wants yoa to he yonrstlf*.
not Brother Smith, or Sister Jones.— but YOURSELF.
Kceo your own individuality.
Now to show how difficult it is to please the Bible
Students, we note the Lord is not trying to do so. You
remember the case of 1914: We. as the Lord's people,
were expecting the Church to be glorified and the Gentile
Times to close. The latter was fulfilled, for in 19U the
Gentile Times did close; but the Church did not pass
beyond the vail as expected. Then we also expected that
there would be a great deal of persecution on account of
the Truth, but that did not occur. And some became dis-
appointed, and when 11)18 came, and the very things we
were looking for did come to pass, those same Bible
Students became disappointed because they did come to
pass. Therefore, I have learned this lesson. 'Try to please
the Lord just as Jesus did, and then we will have no
trouble to please those Bible Students in harmony with
the Lord. I can't even please myself. Sometimes I am
so disgusted with the things I do; I don't feel able to
please myself. I think we all feel that way. The great
lesson is, as the Bible says, "God resisteth the proud."
'They are an abomination unto the Lord." (Jas. 4:6;
Prov. 16 :5,) .i^nd so we want to be very wise alone these
lines.
Speaking of the matter of loyally, our Lord Jesus
followed the course outlined for Him. He pursued that
course to the very endl He followed the Father's will,
and came out all right. So the Lord has given to you
and to me a certain course, and if we follow that wc are
going to come out all right. We are going to notice, dear
friends, that dear Brother Russell, under the Lord's guid-
ance and providence, was permitted to organiie the Watch
Tower Bible & Tract Society. This organization has been
in existence for over forty years and has accomplished
the work up to the present time. We do not think or
share the opinions with some that the Society is going to
be smashed to pieces. We believe there are indications
that the Society is going to continue its worlj throughout
the .MilEcnnial Age, and wc think there are some Scriptural
proofs which will be found in the thirty-eighth anil forty-
second chapters 01 Jeremiah. And if you will just study
those chapters you will lind that the word "Miipah" occurs
there. And it means "WATCH TOWER." It goes on
to say, "And they came to Mizpah." If we read the
Scriptures aright, we believe there is yet a tremendous
work to do for the Church this side the vail. But I think
the Lord will not trust us with the great work yet, because
if the Truth were to become popular and the millions of
people (of the Great Company class) would say, "We
find that you have the Truth now. and tlie clergy is
wrong." If this iverc to happen, I think Bible Students
would get proud abuut it. "We are the only people who
are right after all." I suppose not one of us could be
touched with a fifty foot pole, if that were to happen
now. So the Lord is permitting all ihcsc humiliating
experiences to remove from our hearts all pride. There
is a lot of it in us yet. It is going on.
Dear friends, the Watch Tower Bible & Tr.-vcl Society
is going to be the means or channel the Lord will probably
use during the Millennial Age. 1 think it is good enough
for us to work on. and il Pastor Rus.scll founded the
work under its auspices, I think we can do the same.
You remember the Lord permitted us to undergo a
tremendous trial to test our loyalty. When Brother Russell
was alive he was so strong that wc would naturally lean
upon him. And alt with him were pretty strong char-
acters. You would rub up against one another, and say
sometimes, "It does hurt, doesn't it?" But the Lord
permits these things just to see if wc arc patient And
the thought seems to be in our hearts, as wc express it
sometimes, "W'htle Pastor Russell was alive everything
went along all right." And everything did go along alt
right, for he was a very able man and a righteous man,
indeed. As we come to understand the Scriptures, dear
friends, wc are beginning to recogni:'e this fact.
And lo. and behold, about October 31, IBlfi. the great
newspapers of the world annoimccd the fact that Pastor
Russell had died- Pastor Russell gone' What will it
mean? It will mean that the work will not progress.
The Watch Tower will no longer be as it has been in
the past. "What shall we do?" We did get disheartened,
more or less. Well now, dear friends, have you missed
a copy of the Watch Tower yet' No! It is just the
same. And then the work continued, loo, and there were
some wonderful things done after our dear pastor left
us. God raised tjp those noble brethren who came along
to eonduct the Society's affairs. Once more we felt en-
/. B. S. A. CONVENTION
15
couraged. and said. "We are all right." But the Lord
permitted somethint; to come to us apin, and these dear
brethren have been taken away, and m more or less dis-
may, the cry went up, "Now what is going to happen?
What arc we going to do?" Dear friends, the work went
on. The Watch "Tower publications continued and you
have not missed a number yet. .Are they not even getting
better all the time? Yes, ittdecd! And we wondered what
the lesson was! [ believe, dear friends, if I can read the
lesson aright, it is this : that God w^ints to teach us that
this great work which the Society is doing is not man's
work at a!!. It is not Pastor Russell's work. It is the
work of the Lord: and the Lord could use anyone whom
He is pleased to raise up. ^„„-,^^ . ,
Tlicrc is an invisible presence. It is CHRIST. And
He has been appointed hy Jehovah as the Head over all
ihe Cliurch. which is His body, and the Lord would have
us remember this more and more, that He i* at the helm
directing the affairs of the Society- When our dear
brethren were taken away, they went in such a hurry that
those who were left in charge said. "It is difficult to
bring the ends together." They said to themselves that
they were "greenhorns." Wc marvel at the Lord's won-
derful providences and arrangements. We are teaming
the lesson that she PILOT is our Ijwd, and the good old
Ship Zion is not going to be wrecked on the rocks; but
rather, that with its pilot on board, it will he hrnnght to its
"desired haven." So it is all a lest of our faith.
For my part I have been connected with the Society
and its great work for about thirty years and I have not
gotten tired yet. And when dear Pastor Russell was alive. I
endeavored under the Lord's blessing to he just as obedi-
ent to the arrangement as I possibly could tor I recogniied
the Lord was back of it all. And then when Brother
Russell passed away and the other brethren came in, then
I said I am going to be just as obedient and loyal
to the Society as when Pastor Russell was here, because
ihat would be showing loyalty to the Lord and the friends.
Then when they were taken away. 1 said : "I am going
to show the same spirit to the other brethren who are
put in there, and give them no trouble, or as little trouble
as possible. I am going to fall in line with iheir arrange-
ments and work with the Society, because it is still the
Lord's arrangement," Therefore, I have received a bless-
ing. Likewise, if you have done the same thing, yuu have
received blessings.
Now wc find that after a while some dear brethren
were not pleased with what was going on, so they formed
a new society. We are not going to condemn them. This
is a free country and there is plenty of room for them,
and for all, God forbid that wc condemn. They have
ihit privilege if they want to do so, but I for one would
not have dared to do anything like that. It is a very
daring thing to do. For we know of incidents where men
were not pleased with God's arrangements. You remember
that it was so with Korah, Dathan and Abiram and his
company, "They gathered themselves together against
Moses and af^ainst .^aron, and said unto dtem. Ye take
too much upon you." And so they rebelled. Y'ou know
what became of (hem. You notice how these dear brethren
formed this new society and issued a new paper which
is very much like the Watch Tow'cr, very deceptive
indeed. There is very good reading in it too, but the
front of it is not the Watch Tower. It has a very pretty
front. It represents a man blowing his horn: and there
are several spirits around that also are blowing their horns.
It is very suggestive! But if you look at the Watch
Tower, you ^vill find there that beautilul illustration of
the INVISIBLE PRESENCE. And it tells us plainly
it is the Lord behind it .til. I could not think ot a better
design than that which wc have on the front page of the
Watch Tower,
Dear friends, the Lord is looking for loyalty. Are we
going 10 be loyal to Him? As our Morning Resolve sug-
gests. "I will neither murmur nor complain at what the
Lord's providence may permit, because faith can firmly
trust Him come what may." H we remember that
Morning Resolve daily, dear (riends, I am sure we will
get a great blessing out of il.
In Zech. 1.^:7 we read, "Awake, Oh sworti, against
My shepherd and against the war, saycth Ihe Lord of hosts,
smile the shepherd and I will turn My hand upon the
little ones," Who are the Lord's humble followers?
Those who do not think themselves great in their minds,
but who like Jesus arc learning more and more to be meek
and lowly of heart. Has the Lord turned His hand upon
His little ones? Dear friends. duriitK the last year I
suppose there never has been in all the history of the
Society so many conventions ; nor have the Lord's dear
saints been so refreshed before the year 1018,— in spite
of the trials and tribulations.
All these persecutions arc for what purpose? To
make you and I take deeper root so that we may become
grounded in the Truth; so that we will get to the point
where the .Xposile intimates wc should : "Be ye steadfast
in the Lord, immovable, abounding always." Dear friends,
all these things, if rightly experienced, are designed by
the Lord for oar hi^tiest good,— for the estaWishmenl in
character, and God is going to make us partners to [he
fullest extent. God wants those who will stick. He wants
those to be loyal : and not be moved. The Apostle warns
us in I Cor. 1-1 :20, and also gives us some very good
advice. I am going to read it from the Weymouth trans-
lation. "Brethren, do not prove yourselves to be children
in your minds." What does that mean? The Lord
reminds us thai for forty years He has been dealing with
us as people, and the Lord would seem to speak to us
like this: "My dear people, don't be children any longer,
but more matured. Don't be moved about with what one
brother suggests to your mind. Come to the point where
you may be matured men. Do not prove yourselves to
be children in your minds." "As regards evil, indeed, be
utter babes, but as regards your minds, prove yourselves
to be men of ripe years." "In understanding be men,"^
as Ibe other versions render it. The Lord would have
us go over His leadings and providences in the past; and
learn to think for ourselves, learn to be men, and under-
stand things. Then, dear friends, if wc think for ouisclvcs
and go to the Lord prayerfully and commit our ways
unto Him, He says He will direct our path and then we
won't be shifted about from pillar to post We will think
for ourselves.
We want to notice, too, that today Satan, realizing
that tlie Xxird's dear people have a better understanding
of God's plan than they ever had, is trying to work upon
the emotions of the dear friends: and if diey are guided
by their feelings on any matter, he will work upon their
passions; and then judgment will go, and justice also.
We cannot a^ord lo do this. Do yoM remember any'oody
who went by their feelings and got left? You will tind
that in the Bible. When Ismc went to bless one of his
sons, he was guided by feelings to such an e:^tent that
he didn't seem lo regard the Lord's dealings. Feeling
favoritism toward his elder son, he was going lo grant
the blessing handed down from .Abraham. He told Esau to
go and prepare him some venison. And in the meantime
Jacob and his mother got their heads together and il was
suggested that Jacob knew something that would get him
the blessing. And so, yon remember how- Jacob was
brought into Isaac's presence by Rebecca. She had been
careful beforehand to take the skin of the goat and put
it around Jacob's neck and around his hands, and then
when he came his father said; "Att you Esau?" He sas-s.
"Y'es." "It is the voice of Jacob, but the hands of Esati."
So the went by feelings and got left. (Laughter.)
You see, it is a very easy thing to go by feeling. The
religion of (Thrist is not the religion of feeling. God
would have us to use our heads, and common sense.' As
the Bible tells us in Isaiah 1:18; "Come let us reason
together." What does that mean? Some call it gray
matter. Others call il brains- The Lord wants us to use
our brains. "Be no longer children, but be men."
Now then, dear friends, if we are not very careful,
wc will go by our feelings, and the next thing, we will
be trying to steady the ark. Some of the brethren feel
titat way about the Watch Tower Bible h Tract Society.
Like the literal ark, when they were taking it to its
destination it so happened that it tipped a bit as they were
transferrins it over the road. There was one instance
16
/. E. S, A. CONVENTION
when it actmcd as thoujih it i,vould Sail. Someone aaid,
"I vi]]] go and steady h." He did and we know wha.t
happened. He wns struck dead. If you and I iraerfcrc
witli God's matters to steady ihn arrangements unduly^
wc arc sosng io sufTcr^ pcrh^iljs it will bu an etcrfial loss.
We watit to remember the lesson that God impressed
upon Moses' micid when he came to the bnrnins^ bush.
Brother Russell suggests the first thing that Jehovah had
to do with the man of whom ihe Efbie tells tis was the
meekest man of all the earth. Jehovah had to remiuci
AEoses ul the necessity of humility by telling him to take
off his shoes: *Take off thy shoes from off thy tcct, for
the place whtrcon thou stand est Is holy ground." Dc^1^
friends, that is the lesson for you. We are standing on
ho\y groncid. and it is well for us to retntmber that. In
the Watch Toucr of recent date wt notice the "burning
bush" is used to represent God's people in their present
earthly e:<perieiices. The bush was not consumed: and
the fire would represent the greit tribulations, and great
trials through which the Church is passing today. And
still it isn't consuTned. Why? Because "God is in the
Ttiidsl oi her" i-Vnd so ihu rnort wc realize that, dear
friends, the belter Avili it be for us, indeed. Do you not
think so? I certainly do.
As we study the matter further wc will get sotnc more
help. You rememl^r in Matt. 24:19 we read these words:
(I will read from Weymouth) "Many false prophets will
rise up and lead rc5ultitu4cs sistray (a$ the Apostle says,
"men from amonRSt yoursdves"), because of the preva-
lent disregard of God's law, the love of the great majority
will gro'iv cold; but those who stand firm to the end shall
be saved." In other woi'ds, the Lord suggests Ihat there
will come a spirit of lawlcssttcss amongst God's peopEe—
that some of the dear brethren would manifrist the spirit
of anarchy. Isn't that a sullen test? — That God's people
eogld manifest the spirit of anarchy? And any brother
or sister who fails to recognise the headship of Christy
and who docs not liold to the head, has the spirit of
lawlessness; and such individuals, the Bible informs us,
will never he. rsn the ni'vine piano with the dear Redeemer.
Tt is absolutely necessary that we all act in harmony and
thus recognise the prayer of our dear Redeemer: "I pray
that they all may be one in us," (St Johit 17:2L) Where
does the Lord manifest Hi& headship? At headquarters.
And you remember when the Seventh Volume was banned,
we were all perplexed whit to doi but the Society said
"Stop! We see that this is the voice of the Lordi and
find that it is very wise/' So we believe the Lord is still
leading the Society and directing in all His afTairs, and
we may trust Him implicitly.
Next, we will ttotice Psalms 33;5-[). There the Lord
teaches us llic ^rcat lesson of reverence, ",And
the Heavens shall praise Thy wonders. Lord: Thy
faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For
who in the Heaven can ije compared unto Jehovah, who
among the sons of the niigbty can be likened unto the
Lord." Yoii knoWj dear friends, \vhcn I read anything
like this it makes mc tremblCr I tremble at God's VVord.
And do you not* Yes! "God is greatly to be feared in
the assembly of His saints." fPsa. 89:7.) It is a very
solemn hour. You and I are making headway, and later
OJi the world is eoitis to look into your history, and
going to find out everything ;/ou do. You arc making
and determinidg your own destiny. Think before you act
to do a thing. Oh, we cannot be too careful, Wc ought
to tretnble indeed at God's words^ "for who in the Hea^vens
can compart Jehovah/' "God is ffreatly to be feared in
the assembly of His peopl*!/' If there wtre more of
this there would not be so much electioneering going on.
Some of the dear saints are afraid. They haven't learned
the lesson yet. T am afraid I haven't learned it as I
otiijht. I atn trying lo have the reverence tor God more
deeply implanted in my heart. This is my earnest prayer
for you and myself.
I think, dear friends, that one of the things that will
help us more than anythinj? eUe will bt Co see to it
daily that our wills arc completely dead. How important
it is! How easy it is aiti>r wc have once made a con-
secration to the Lord and submitted our wills, to taike
up the will of another. Don't you notice that is illus-
trated in the pvramid-' It suggests the individual passes
under the granite leaf in order to get into the ante-room
and into the King's Chamber, The granite leaf looks
as though It were going to fall right down. And our
dear Pastor suggests that e\'en iifter we have done that.
there may be a time when you and I will take up the
will of somebody else. Perhaps we will be tollowint
Brother Smith, or some Pilgi-im Brother instead of
following the Lord. Oh, how careful wc should bc^
And then, as Joshua aaid in his closing days: *'Qioose
ye this day whom ye will serve, — but as for me and my
house we will serve the Lord." (Josh. 24 :h^.) So let
us suggest^ dear friends, that we renew our consecratio[i
to the Lord dail^. 1 so often say this. Perhaps sottie
of the friends think I have got it on the brain. Eut I
see the necessity of the daily renewal of tjonsecration.
I have it on the brain, indeed.
Jesus followed the Father's teadingrs. No matter whsfe
the Father led he foUowtd. 1-Ie said, "I dqtight to do
Thy will, O My God. Yea, Thy law is within My
heart." How sweet. No wonder the Father loved Him.
and honored Him so greatly. And if you and I will
so do the same thin^. do you know, dear friends, the
Lord Will honor us, too? J
Won't it be wonderful when the guardian angel intro-
duces us to the Master, and to the Holy mgels? Oh,
that will be a wonderfu] things !
May the Lord help us all to he faithful and earnest and
loyal to the Lord that we will not turn to the right or to
the left, but go straight ahead as did Jesus ; and then wc
will be £^vfrd, it we endure to the end. May the Lord bless
these suggestions to our hearts. \
Brother O. Magnus on
THURSDAY, Fellowship Day, Jan. 2d, 7.30 P, M.
Subject: "GOD'S PRECIOUS JEWELS'*
I AM very plea&ed- indeed to sec so many happy faces
here this evening. It gives evidence that you are
ImviiiH fellowship, and that fellowship is sweet, because
you arq of one mind: For how gan two walk together
unless they agree, and the better they agree the better or
sweeter the fellowshtn. IVe wish to direct vour attenttoct
tonight to God's "PRECIOUS JEWELS"— their Crystalli-
sation and God's plan, outlined in the wonderful feature of
His purposes therein displayed- You remember John the
Revelator was privileged to have a vision of the entire
Gospel and Millennial -Vges— the shifting scenes of Church
and Slate; and then he pictured at the conclusion of this
age that wonderful Heavenly City, that New Jerusalem,
which is so perfect in all its workings — Just like a Hoyai
Bride ready to be presented before the altar. And we
know nothing could be missing at such an tvent as that,
Soj as John on the Isle of Fatmos was privileged to see
in vision these things on the Lord's Day, the John Class.
Iking at the time of our Lord^s Second Presence, would
he privileged to understand the meaninjj of what John saw
then. He tells n<: whai he saw hack there, and if you and
r bclonpf to the John Class we will Itavc the sweet privilege
of understanding the tilings therein written.
The Jirst thinsj the Lord did was to invite St. John to
come up on a, high mountain^ aione with the Lord, and
to view malters from God's standpoint. If yon and I were
/. R. S. A. CONVENTION
17
privileged to l>e on a high mountain^ how woukl earthly
things appear to us? Would they be very great and en-
ticing? Not at lin The higher we would climb on the
mountain the srnnller rhe things be"eath -ivould appoar^.
Rivers would appear just like httle rlpijlea, and trees like
patches of green; men and women would look like toys.
Well, if you and I have taken that high and elevated
standpoint, the earthly things will be jltst as little in our
estimation as things would appear to those high up on the
mount:tin top. But if the earthl>- things seem enticing
and have a great de^l of tullueiice over us (.b^ks large
and great), we are not very high ibp the mountain. We
are pretty close to the base because they look so big and
so real. But to ihe extentj then, that we are living in the
Spirit and have the mind of the Lord, ihe earthly things
will app4^ar like soap bubbles— hke toys — which amount to
nothing. "Tor (he things seen" the Apostle says, "arc
temporal"— they arc transitory, they pass away — but the
unseen things tby the literal eye) arc the real things
because they are eternal iu duration. He pictures
this great Bride class under th« symbol of a city sur-
rouLided by a wall having twelve foundations. '*And the
foundations of tiic wall of the city H'e^^; garnished with
all manner of precious stoneg." "ihe way and order in
which they are mentioned illustrates to our mind their
importance from God's standpoitit.
Thefts arc. two standpoints, ami unless we get the proper
focus on these things wc are apt to miss the lesson. I'or
instance, when the Tabernacle was erected they started
with the Most Holy first* They covered the Ark within
and without with gold, and put it in' then ihe Vail; the
Table of Shew Bread; the Candlestick; the Incense Altar
and the Vail again. Then they reared up the Court; placed
nest the Altar, then the Laver; and last, the Gate. So
God started from within, working Out. We start from
wJthouT, working in, Xow we wiih to view this from
Cod's standpoint
We read that
the first stone in
this wonderful
foundation was
jASPF.a> Why 50?
What is the first
and most impor-
^ — ^ tant thing for tis
to know? It 15
' about God, Con-
sequently the
Revelator in the
4th chapter of
Revelations pic-
tures Jehovah
God and likens
Him unto a. /bj-
pcr sioy.i. ''And He that sat (upon the throne) was to look
upon like a jasper stone/' and the light of that wonderful
Being whs like the light ot a jasper stone most precious.
Then Jtihqvah God \s the ttiost imiiortanx Being in the uni-
verse. "God first T That is what wc have learned I That is
the foundation of everythitig; because if we would omit
God from the plan there would not be anything to it. So
God is "first.-^ and He is like unto a jasper stone. Xoi that
Jehovah God literally looks like a jasper stone, but there is
something about ^bat stone that reminds the John Class of
God. Now luT us see to what extent that is true. W'e have
been told that the jasper stone crystalliies if properly cut to
a shape of a pyramid— as it one is standing on top of the
other— base to base. It is a green tinted diamond— the
hardest substance known. It has eight sides, but four arc
visible ai all times : no matter how you turn that stone you
can sec four sides. But whiever one o\ tkese sides appears
the laTL'est depends upon how you liold the stone. It says,
this looks like Jehovah to the John Class in that this stone
had us own l>ase. And it suggests to our minds that Jeho-
vah IS sell -sustaining. He does not depend upon any one for
Mis e.tistencc- He is the Great "I Am"l~rurtherrnore it is
a j?rcen-tinted diamond— the hardest substance known— His
Iiie IS what? Inherent life! The highest: kind of everlast-
mg hte kniJWn. which ■^vc term immortality "green" — ever-
lasting liiul Jehovah God has four attributes prominently
brougVn to our attention in His Word: Justice, Wisdom^
Love and Power. .-Vnd otie of these attributes when it takes
the lead seems greater and larger; whereas the other three
are merely in uciison,— 'backirtj? the other up, m it were.
Let us sec: For instance, when God condemned Adam to
death the prominent side of God which was brought to our
view was justice. Justice condemned man to death; but did
love oppose? .\o ! Did wisdom or power oppose? No I
They were in unison. However, justice took the leading
part. The others were passive.
You turn the stone again and you see God from another
standpoint of His attributes: What do we find? His love
is more extensive than his justice, for He brings to our
attention that "He so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Sott." Do we find justice in that attribute of
love? Yes E Power!* Ves! Wisdom? Yes !: But love seemed
the greatest at lliat time, and the other three seemed to be
passive, — not doing anything. We realize what a wonderful
love that was; — th* unspeakable gilt! X'ow then, God did
not spare His only begotten Soui but gave Hitti freely for
us all; and therefore love was very prominent at that time
—the most prominent of all. His love was just as great as
His justice. Love trinmphcd over justice! It found out
how God could maiTitain His just decree and at the same
time do someihing for His creatures.
We turn the stone again and have another side just as
grt.'?it : Here we have power brought to our attention. And
sure enough, friends, we realize and appreciate that won-
derful power when God took that glorious Being, the
Logos, and transferred Hitn from the spiritual plane to
the human plane, and then allowed Him to grow up to
manhood, consecrate Himself; and then translcrrcd Him
from the human plane to the Divine plane aiid never lose
His identity. That took a woi^derful power. But then He
tells us He will remember all the human race who, have
died from Adam down to the present time, every one oi
these, except the witfuUy wicked, He will reproduce:
some on the spiritual plane, some on the Divine pbiie and
some on the perfect human plane. He will resuscitate
them all and never niakc a tni stake. Isn't that wonderful?
tn that act of His power ihein^ do we sec justice, love and
wisdom.? Ind<ied we doE But tiot until the end of the
millennial age, when God has been made known to His
creatures, will His wisdom shine forth. And at what time
from Creation will that be' That Aviil be on the eighth day.
Oh, yes.f that 5tone did have BICHT SIDES i Therefore
On the eighth day Jehovah will have displayed all His lov-
ing attributes to His creatures, and all will know Him as
tie really should be known,
A s that ston e had t wen ty- f ^u r angi e s — i o te rsecting
perfectly — so therefore, God is pleased to make Himself
known to His creatures through twentj'-four prophets and
their particular utterances. And as these angles intersect
perfectly, likirwise these twenty-four prophecies are in
perfect harmony. That is a description of Jehovah God,—
that Grtat "I Am 1" No wonder thtu, that that should be
the foundation of that wonderful wall of the new Jerusa-
lem. "Jehovah First?"
^'aturally we would
expect that the next
stone should bring to
our attention the next
thing in order. And so
it does ! After we
learned about Jehovah
Go[l, we say where does
that K^cat BeirtR: live.^
^Vhere is His abode?
So then the next stone
brings that thought to
OEir attention. The sec-
ond foundation stone
wfls a sapphire. It is
blue sprinkled with
gold dus^T and crys-
tallizes on twelve sides, You look at that stone and
see that it is hltie, sprinkled with gold: It invites com-
parison to the heavens, Atid sure enough, you remember
"God brought him forth abroad, ai^d said. Look now to-
m
J, B. S. A. CONTENTION
ward heaven, and tell the stars, tf (hou he able to number
them: and He said unso him, so shall thy se^rd be." Let
us see if the Bible speaks of this. In Exo. 24 :10 we read:
"And they saw the Uod of Israel; and Uie place under Bis
feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it
were the body of heaven in clearness." There he briiijis to
our attention that fael ! And in Eztk. 10 :1 we read : "Then,
I looked, and behold, m the firmament that was above the
head of the cherubim there appca,red over them as it were
a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a
throne/' Also in Exek. 1:36, we read: "And above the
firmament that was over their heads was ihc likeness ot a
throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon
the likeness of the throne wag the likeness of the appear-
ance of a man above upon it/*
These Scriptures are ample proof to us that as this
stone was second in order in this great and wonderful
wall of Jerusalem, it brings to our attention Jehovah's
abo^e- His thron^c is ruling over His creatures, and these
stars represent wliat? The heavenly bcinffS. And twelve
sides: Oh yesj the muUiplc of twelve is the Little Flock.
Yes, it is just composed of a multiple of twelve heavenly
beings. Is God faithful to that class? "God is faithftil!"
Not that He was, or will be faithful, but it is always in the
presenl tense. Has He been faithful to you and me? Oh yes!
wc can, like Joshua, look back and say, "Not one of all
God's promises have failed." And now remember that this
class^ the little fiock, is represented as having the same
characteristics as that stone. So that the same faithfulness
that Jehovah has towards all His heavenly beings wUl like-
wise be manifested to all olh^rSn You remember Abraliam's
seed was to he all those who will eventually receive life
on any plane. So then, "twelve" represents also the earthly
seed, the twelve tribes of Israel. In Psalm 47 :9t wc read:
''The nobles of the people arc gathered together, to be with
the people of the God of Abraham, (Leeser's translation.)
Then we all arc accounted as children of Abraham, It
means what? Faithfulness. Isn't that a charatterlstic that
He wants you and me to develop? Oh yes. If you are ever
to be in that class, that is one of the things we nmst de-
velop more and more— full of faith; be wtlling to trust
Him where we camiot trace Him. To know God's wiH !
What does that mean? U I want to find God's will, friends.
I can never find that out as long as my will is running
strong, because then if I want something myself, I never
can mid out GckI's wilt. I will have to be passive first and
then watch the Lord's leading, and by so doing, I will fmd
out the Lord's will. But if I am determined to have a
thing myself^ all I am looking for then is to have the Lord
put His O. K. on my will, and then wy, "Lord, that ta your
will," and you know vtc are so apt to do that. Let us re-
member the Lord is guiding; His people today just as surely
as He has done in the past. Just look for the Lord's prov-
idetitial leadings, and we don't need to he concerned or
worried about God's purposes and plans ; not for one
minute. We can fully trust In the Divine providences in all
our affairs.
If we have learned
about that — (God's
glorious throne ruling
over all), the next
thought will be God's
kingdom- OK "f that
same kind of rule wilt
bK manifest on earth
(because wc learned
about His wonderful
home) we would like
to have him dwell
here. Why then all this
exertion? Why, away
back there He told us
about the time when all
the lamtlics of the earih would be blessed by the means of
that wonderful kingdom* and tils disciples were tctught to
pray, '^Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it
IB done in heaven,** And do you know that is just exactly
what the next sione brings to our attention? Chaki'douy!
h also rrystallixe* very- peculiarly. It is green in color and
it has twelve^ as well as twenty-four sides, and each side
has five angles— ^twelve, twenty-four, five— blending in
color. You see we are getttn;; our graduation lessons now.
Wc should get away from our A, B, C*s. We have learned
from God's glorious plan tha( it i$ going to be a kingdom
composed of two phases. Two kinds of seed — one like unto
the stars, and the other like unto the sands of the seashore,
(Twelve here and twelve there.) And then what kind of
a kingdom is it goinc to he? Why the color is green. Wkit
does that stand for? Everlasting life. It is going to be an
everlasting ksngtlom. How? Well, there were four uni-
versal empires: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome,
and the ncNt will be the fiitli empire. Sure cnoush it has
five angles. So as you look at it from each phase, it was five
in number. And it was green I And it had twelve and
twenty-four sides. So in that way He is silently telling His
children — the John Class — there is going to be a two-phased
kingdom working in perfect unison. It is going to be
established under the whole heavens for the purpose of
blessing all the families of the earth. And it is not going
to pass away liki: the foitnLT ones, but is guin^ to be »n
everlasting kingdom, and it is going to continue, for the
race is goinR to be brought to perfection, and Jehovah, and
His representatives — the Christ — will have full charge of
the heavenly phase of the kingdom, and full charge of the
earthly pbase of the kingdom, for the purpose of extending
blessings to all. And this is to last in duration— everSasting.
Never again will it be necessary to review ihe past and
present scenes of earth. So 'we are glad to know of that
wonderful kingdom.
Next in order will be what? Well now, how is this
class going to get their development. Who are they?
Where do they come from? Ob, the stones tell us God's
eternal parpose. He purposed to have what? A reigning
and ruling class for the purpose of bringing to perfection
out of this condition of affairs the whole human family.
And He calls our attention to the class of people from
which He is griing to r.ill rh<'fn and the steps rhey must take
in order to gain that position. And then, when they get
There what arc they going to do? Well, the next stone is
an emerald. You re-
member in the fourth
chapter of Revelations
Jehovah is sp'okcn of a.s
being encircled by a
rainbow* round about
the throne, in sight like
unto an emerald. And
the general color was
ijrEen^ If you and I
were up in an airplane
when a rainbow was
visible, we would find a
Dcrfect circle. And you
know that a rainbow
was a guarantee to
Xoah and his family
that another flood
would never appear.
God's covenant Jo them
by means oi the bow
was a guarantee of the
blessings to follow, God covenanted what? To have
a seedj so perfect that He will be able to accomplish
all that He covenanted to do. As that rainbow had
seven colors, and in general color was green, what
docs that mean? Well now, here it was an emblem of
peice. What kind of peace does God have? W'hy He had
no beginning, and no end, consequently His peace had no
beginning and no end. It was a perfect peace, and ever-
lasting in duration. Now that i^ what is going to be brought
about. The nations today are looking for peace, but wc are
vcO' much afraid they will have a grtoti many pieces be-
fore peace will come. (Laughter.) \\'bcn Cod's Kingdom
comes, it will be an everlasting, perfect j^ace for all His
creatures.
Now this class is going to be tried in everv" way. You
look at that stone and yoti will find it crystallizes on six
sides. It was six-sided, Vou lay the stone down (long
/. B. S. A. CONVENTION
m
wnys) : what do yoa find? Four lines. Set those lines like
the chart, and they line up perfectly: Mankind is standing
on the plane of eon dem nation. The first step is justifica-
tion by faith. Tlie second step is vitalized consecration —
or spirit bcKftting, The third step is spirit birth. The
fourth step is glorification. Sure enough, there is going to
be four steps through which this class is to pass.
As this stone has six sides, it brings to our attention
that ihii class has come from an imiierfcct race six - the
number sue standing for impericction— incotnpletencss. And
by means of four steps (divinely arranged), they will be
able to reach the top of the ladder— "glory, honor and itn-
You turn the stone up and down: What do you find?
Tbrct: sections t The chart brings to our attention three
worlds: ^^Tlie world that tvas. The present evil world. And
the world to ionu\" In the "world to come" this class,
havinti rt-achcd that glorious condition^hoscn from that
imperfect race, will be able to extend blessings to all the
fcimilJcs of the earth, because they are taking the same
vjewtioinl as God. They have the same kind of peace that
the Heavenly Father has : To the extent that you and I
can fully and truly believe God and enter into lus promises,
to that extent will we have perfect peace' for he says. *'l
will keep him iti perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee,
because he trusteth in thee." (Isa. 2li :3.) So then to the
extent of our trust, to that same extent will he our peace.
When wc have lost our peace you see we. have been looking
at something else — haven't wc? Yes! He says: "I will
keep him m perfect peace ■ ■ ■ bi^ausc he trustclh in
thee." Therefore, if we 'are not kept in perfect peace it is
l>ccau&c our mind* have been elsewhere. We have been
disturlicd alwut something else. You should not look at
the elements as St. Peter did. because that is the time
wlicn wc beRJn to sink. Wc look at the present ditficuUies
in the wortd, atid the Church* ctc,» and say: "What does
this mean?" Satan says; "You >ec that great big cloud
over there I That is coming fur youT* Yes* but it is goini;
to break blessings over your head. That is the way it is if
we just trust God.
Now this ston^/was inclined to cling tenaciously to the
dross while undeJthe cutting process. It would, therefore,
require a great ffeal o^ heating in order to remove that
dross; which shows that if we tenaciously hold on to
these earthly natures and desires it may spoil us as stones
in that wall, and we will have to take a Ics-^cr place or go
with a greater company. So then. He brings to our atten-
tion the class He is choosing and the steps that must he
taken to obtain the prize.
In the next stone He brills something else to our at-
tention: The filth stone was a Jiardtinyx. This illustrates
the cardinal virtues necessary in order to be able to be
fitted for that place in the Kingdom. The ancients claim
that the true sardonyx stone was straight, with a black
base, a white centre, aud a red surface. Black represcnia
what? Humility] Do you think we need that? Well, i( wc
do not have humility as the very foundation of our car-
dinal virtues we will become tophea-^-y and lose out. Humil-
ity is the essential principle, and Brother Russell has called
pur atttniion to this; Tiut it is more necessary than "abil-
ity. ■ Tt matters not how well wc arc able to express Ood*s
fnirpQscs and plans, if we have not the proper kind of bu-
mihty It is troing to take us somewhere before God gets
LhrouRh with us. But humilitv must have another virtue,
ind that is purity. Why? (Chastity!! They must alt be
rirgms at heart, .^nd not only that. He brings the fed to
fiur attention, which represents sacriHee! Martyred: willing
lo spend and be spent in Gods service. Those are the three
cardmal virtues, .^nd this sardonyx stone ivas used for
Signets and cameos. Oh yes, inscriptions were made on this
fctone and various imaecs were engraved upon it. What
^°" V 1"'* stiRKest? The character development of this
class. The l^utd is working on that class whom He is m-
kfiting to 3 hiKh station and if we have these three virtues
horoughly ir^ heart and mind He will be able to carve the
nscriptinn-His own— and the image of our T-ord. So
Ihcn, It js not only putting it into the heart, but cutting tt
riRht in. It IS not as if vou would write something on a
itouc which might be easily rubbed olT. Xo, it is cut in !
It will stay! So wc have the image of our Lord and otir
Heavenly Father cttl into our very actions, so that wc
might say, like D.ivid; "My hrart is fivrd," U otir heart
fixed — determined, that "come what may," we will be loyal
to the Lord? Whatever cutting there is to he done, it is
going to bring out the image of our Lord: so "wc are be-
holding as it were in a glass the JmaiiC of the I^rd," we
are changed from glory to glory, as by the spirit of the
Lord,"
After this class has reached its perfection of character
what arc they going to do when they get up there? Well,
we used to think we were going to sit on a cloutl and play
a harp throughout all eternity. We wondered sometimes
how monotonous that would be. But we thought of others
that would share the same thing, and concluded we could
stand it if they conld, and it would be aH right. But the
next stone shows what they are there for. .\nd it says,
the sixth stone is a sardius. That was the ancient precious
stone— the stone upon which they did all their engraving.
It looks like raw Aesh! And Jehovah is likened unto the
sardiifs stone. Whyi* He has the human family here to whom
f'^e made promises too. They were smitten in Adam, and
nearly everything which originally existed was wiped ouL
Kow, He says, there is going to be a day when that class is
going to have that image put in their heart, and written in
their very being. The class who have gone through the very
same experiences would be the most suitable ones to assist
the human family in restoring that image back again. So,
then. He is not going to forget His earthly creatures. No
indeed! He says, "Can a woman forget her sudcing child,
that she should not have compassion on the son of her
womb? Yes. they may forget, yrt will T nnt mrget thei-,**
He will never fofgcl those lost in Adam but redeemed by
Christ. He is going to show in that WORLD'S BIRTH-
D.AY how the original image will be put back into their
hearts and make the very character that .-Vdam had before
the fall. That will keep us busy, won't it? Yes! Let us be
faithful. This Is what John saw!
The seventh stone would also briiirc to our attention the
next thing in order. .After wc have learticd about Jehovah's
wonderful character and His universe: His kingdom; the
development and call of this class; and their character de-
velopment, and the human race perfected what would we
next sec? We would see God's wonderful wisdoni theieiu
displayed. How?' Sure enough the dtrysolyic stone (the
seventh in order) which was a golden stone, tinted with
green, and ver>' transparent. We read in James ,1:17, "But
the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
wiUiout partiality, and without hjijocrisy." And you re*'
member in Ezek. 1:IC, it reads: "The appearance of the
wheels and their work was like unto the color of a beryi**
lio-wcvci'y this should read; "the (hrysotyif." because the
description ol that stone answers perfectly, arKl **they four
had one likeness and ibeir appearance anti their work were
as it were a wheel within a wheel." In other words. G&d's
wisdom is displayed in that wonderful plan; Age lapping
over age — perfectly showing His wonderful wisdom: "that
known unto God arc all f-lis works, from the foundation of
the world.'* So that is the iiofdi-n stone, showing God's mar-
velous wisdom displayed in His wonderful character which
He has shown forth.
After we sec these wonderful things, lie ffocs over the
ground more thorous^bly as to how the world of mankind
will reach human perfection! .-Vnd by what means' Or,
what is going to l>e use<l?
The cigh.^h stone was a beryl. That is a wonderful stone
loo; It is also of a blnish green color. It has sixty-iis sides
— two ends and six larger si^cs around the stone — on each
end there are four diamond points: four on this end and
four on the other end. and alternating throughout the stone.
Five diamond points on one side, next eight, and next five,
2n<l next eieht, etc, — sfoincr around that stom^. Thjit illus-
trates what? God's Word. For what does the Revelator
say? "In that day the books are jioing to be opened." To
whom? The world of mankind. They a'rc going to be on
trial for life ! Xot the kind of a book you and I were form-
erly told would be opened to the world, i. c, when the
Churrh is glorified they are going to heaven for a thoniand
y*an and arc going to open the books to sec whether they
20
/. B. S. A. CONVENTION
wCrs kept straightn and while the wotIiI is in that chaotic
condition^ and Sats" strolling around (nol a living thing on
tht cartii for a thousand years )j at the ciiid oi that lime they
will liive finished look-
ing over the books atiil
of course they will put
their 0. Vi upon tht^m
and call forth billions
and EyII them that God
kept His books straijjht
and "you must go back
to where you came
from," That was man's
llieory, X'ay, it was a
theory o£ a svoman and
not of a man. But thai
is not chc ki(id oi a
book that is to be
opened. It is God's
books that will be
optncd. AI! of them
in fact I Yfts, siKty-siic
books of the BibEeJ
And when those books
are opened to the world
of mankind, wh^t will
they learn? They will find it has two Testaments: the Old
and the New. Yon will find God's four attributes mentioned
in the Old Testament and the same in the New Testament.
So» therefore^ each cad had four diatnojid points: It illus-
trates that God's attributes will be displayed to mankind
through the Old and New Testament. And as we study
alongr what do we find? There were six thousand vears of
man's suffering:, and during; this time God, in Kis Wordf has
promised a Kingdom^ Fine! And by means of that King~
dom the whole race of mankind is going to be made per-
fect. When? In the eighth day. For in the type you remem-
ber they were circumcised on the eighth day — representing
the circumcision of the heart — pertcetionn So by means of
the Kinsfdoni the human family will reach perfection in the
eighth thousand year day, and God's attributes will be dis-
played to them. They will understand! Yes^ indeed! And
they will discover that just like the Color of the stone,
which wa-S blue and green, representing faithfulness — from
first to last; and also everlasting perfection— brought about
beeause of that, not that the Bible will be the entire source
of information, but it wil[ verify the liistor>' of the six
thousand years. For instancei it says: "Ji»Ioreover the
light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the
light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the itght of seven
days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breech of His
people, and healeth the stroke ol their wound." What does
He mean by that? At that time the Old Testament Scrip-
tures will be just as plain to mankind as the plain state-
ments of the Gospel. "And the Gospel light," will be just
like "seven suns'* — perfect life. Why? Because of the light
of the seven days— seven thousand years. And if they
question anything^ they have the living actors here atid can
find out just eisactly what these things meann Thereforeh
they will not need to read and ponder about Enoch. Some
one says: *'Enoch, 1 want to know where you have been]
I don't believe that statement in that book." And Enoch
will be right on the scene, and will ?ay, ''I can tell you
where I have been." Which would they rather do, read
the record about him or have a talk with him? Well. I
would rather |iave a talk with him. Furthermore, "how
about Xoah and the ark? We have been reading about
that," but when they have a talk with Noah it will he made
perfectly plain, won^t it? Yes E Also about Jonah and tiic
whale. Some one will say, "1 don't believe that, Jonah!
Tell us about that: Did you swallow the Avhale. or did the
whale swallow you?" So it will be opened up so perfectly E
Why? Because there are the living actors corroborating
the Scriptures, How many mftdels will there be then?
None] How many higher critics? None! They will l>e
lower critics then. But in studying God's Word, what wilt
they find? They will discover that there is a solution. Ami
in this they will discover also God's benevolence to His
creatures.
The next and ninth stone—a topaa— was also green. It
tiad twcnty-si.'; sidesi Well now, the two pliases of the
kingdom atid the whole earth will be perfected under the
figure of twelve — heavenly, and twelve earilily: But here
we have twenty-six? Yes, but there is goin^ lo be a class
that has been ruiming for the high calling who will lose
out in the second death. And you will alsn find a class
among the human race who will go into everlasting death—
destruction— for in the sixty-sixth chapter of Isaiah and
twenty-loitrth verse, we read: "v\nd tliey shall go torth.
and look upon the carcasses of tho men that have trans-
gressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither
shall tlietr fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring
unto all flesh." They will recogciize the justice in God's
plan, and also God's benevoles^ce even towards these: Yes!
So the plan will reveal to them that there will be some that
Mrsit bt: lost.
.'\nd after we see that, next in order, would come the
tench stOEie, the cftrysapmsus, \\b3t does that illustrate?
Constant^ cheerful endurance. That stotie is yellow and
green, and it has a cloudy c^ect. It is very hard and in
trcquetitly cloudy^ due to microscopic cavities. What
does that mean? The stone is hard and is capable oi en-
during hardtK'SS. It wit! show God's cheerful endurance.
He never lost His temper once- That will reveal God to
ihem as they never have had God revealed to them be-
fore. They will $ee in it all God's long suffering — His
endurance — and also that class will have that same char-
acteristic. When the clouds of trouble come, it will onl.
make them more firm, more determined to do the Lord's
wiEL
So, then, dear frietidSj it isn't ^e trials that you and I
have, but it is the way we meet our trials, that will deter-
mine where we are going to be. For the same trial that will
make one fit for the kiiigdont, will make another one sub-
ject to the second death. Would you say the trial did it?
Not at all [ It is the way they met the trials. They both
grow: That is true! And one grows sweet and the other
sour. They both grow you see, Due to what? One class,
in every experience in life is endeavoring to learn the les-
son in the trial, and the other class is looking for somebody
for which to shift the blame. And the one who looks for
the lesson^ the trials become stepping stones all the way
along: but the one who looks for some one to shift the
blame upon, the trials become stumbling stones all the way
along. That is just exactly what Adaicc did. You remem-
ber God said: "Adam, why did you take of the forbidden
fruit :'^ Adam said' "I am sorry but the woman you gave
me asked me to do so. You know I got along very nicelyL
and by the way she is a gift from you — consequently it is
really yotir fault." So you see he shifted the blame on hij
wife and God. God turned to Eve and said, "Why did you
do that? I told you to be a help-mate to .\dam." Did
she say, "i am sorry"? No] She said, "The serpent be-
guiled me," But the serpent could not ,speak for himself^
and had to take all the blatne. It takes more courage V
say, "that was my fault" than it would to jive a wonder-
fu! discourse. Why: Becau.ic of self I So in these trials
they will either fit us for the Kingdom or make us un*
suitable for the Kingdom — cither one or the other. You
cannot blame the trial on your wife neither Can she blame
the husband. You cannot blame anybody but yourself.
We don't want to do like the little school boy. Th«
teacher found that some of the scholars were inattenti
to their lessons. Therefore, she ihoughtn "Now, I will 5«
if I cannot in some way direct them." And so she said,
"Now children, if you find anybody looking oft the book^
I will be very pleased indeed if you will tell me about thai
boy or girl." And so there wa* a little fellow who said to
himself r "1 don't like Johnny Smith very well; if I see him
look off his book I will tell the teaclicr/* And sure enoui^h
John Smith looked off his book^ and the little fellow
marched up to the teacher' and said: 'Teacher, Johnny
Smith looked ofl his hook f" The teacher replied: ''Indeed!
And were your eyes on your book when you saw him?"
So they all had a laugh on him. and he hannched his head
and marched hack to his desk, disappointed. So then when
we are attending to somebody else's affairs remember \y
are neglecting our own every time. And I tell you. tViends.
the more we learn to attend to our o^vci affairs, the hettei
/. B. S. A. CO.V FZIA^r/O.V
21
for all conecrned. Tell your troubles to Headquarters. Von
can put all the complaints you want there, aud tell the
good things to the irieodsr That is a good rule by winch
to follow, Vou will never have any trouble tiie]i, and no
misunderstaiidiiiLf will occur if you do that.
So then in all these various exncrjences this class Is
doing w[i:iir Enduring hardness as good soldiers of Jesus
Christ.
The next and eleventh stone is the
jacinth: That is a wonderful stone:
It crystallizes in many wutiderfnl
ways. The stone itself is colorless,
but the blue is distributed in patcnes.
And it looks like — you might say —
sonietliing round-poisitcd at each end.
It is a sjx-sided pyramid. So there is
a pyramid at each end. It has insets
just like the shape of the stone. That
stone has been called "uiKhaniEfeable-
ness." Why? Well, let us see : After
the world has learned about God's
wonderful character, and all L4is
creatures have been brought to per-
fection^ they are to liave what? They
are gomR to have a grand review of
the pian: All heaven and earth — all
His creatures are ^oing to be brought
[offether iit one. fherc will then be
a great rehearsal. A first drama: and
j;ou will eJipect to find somethini^
like that in that stone. And that is
just what we find. If you lay the
stone down this way (long ways) it
arches from point to point, it has J pyramid at each end.
\ye thus learn what? In God's tyeat purpose from the
time of Adam's creation to the en f of the millennial age,
ymi wi[E find the drsma of enrth. You will find a
pyramid in one end at that time — the man Adam. And you
will find another one at the other end — the -Man Christ
Jesus. As Adam brought imperfection— sin^ sLs-sided
through his disobedience — Christ Jesus^ by means of His
loyalty blotted this imperfection out of existence* And you
will find the three worlds pictured there; three tngets and
three harbors. You turn the stone up this way (lonjcr ways)
you will have the same four steps to glory as you found in
the other stone.
And these patches of blue in the 5tone> when properly
cut, ^ive Color to the whole stone. So likewise, in prop-
erly mtcrpreting the ages and purposes of God^ it brings
harmony out of al! these wonderful things which seem to
indicare, for the time beings that God was changeable Kim-
self. However, God is unchangeable if we properly inter-
pret the matter. It brings out God's glorious plan from start
to finish, and you see then what a wonderful Being our
God is,
\\t\\, now we have the grand review — remembering this
is just the way St. John sees it. This is what the John
class see. You say: "Well, where did you get it from?
Did you get it up here (pointing to bis head) r" Not a bit
ot jr. The Lord had a servant hcr^, who w.^s faith fnl in
S'^''"S (5ut the proper allowance of food at the right time.
Therefore, the twelfth stone was the amethv-st. It was
J"^^ I>H^ The Jasper stone, having a base to base: but it was
three-Sided, instead of four-sided, ft is called a royal stone.
There is a legend
about the amethyst, that
if any one drank wine
from an amethyst cup
they would not become
intoxicated. We do not
know if that is true, but
we do know this: that
ihts cup which that
servant poured — six
volumes of Scriprurc
J , ,. Studies— did not make
us drtmk. did It. ^ Vou can drink all vou hkc from
tnat cup and [ leU you it kept us sober all right. It
15 a royal stone. It is, in color, violet bordering on pur-
ple; composed of a strong bine and a deep red: So the:i
it is that royal color— loyalty to tlic ransom. Oli yes, we
used to think we were only hobbyists on the ransom, but
that is our iiixTin doctrine, and like a scarlet thread, it runs
through ail the doctrines: Loyalty to Christ and the
heavenly Father, and otie another, and loyalty to Uod's
purposes and plans, and to His children atid all.
Now noie: Who was it that showed the Jolm class these
things? Rev, 21:^1; "And there came onto me one of the
seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven
last plagues, and lalked with me, saying. Come hither, I will
shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." Then He showed
him a beautiful woman? Oh tio ! He showed him that new
Jerusalem. Which volume was it? It was one of those
seven. It was the seventh volume which was used to ex-
plain that cit^ to you and me, the details of whieh we now
have the privilege of understanding. Don't you sec that it
was that stone— the summary of all contained in those
volumes put toseth^r, which is the cup? Yes I
^\ c want to talk to yon about the pcari. It is a devel-
oped stone. The pearl is unlike all other Jewels. But this
pearl was developed. Now^ we sec the reason why the
little flock in a particular sense is likened unto the jewels:
In Matt, l3:4o, 46; "The Kingdom of Heaven is likened
unto a merchant man seeking goodly pcarl,'^, who, when he
had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he
had, attd bought It/' We al! recognize who that was f Our
Lord Jesus came down here on carih and sold all He had
to piirclrase the pearl— the pearl being the Church. Yes,
thrLt is iSe most precious of all. Now you know the heav-
enly beings are like these precious stones, for even Lucifer
in his perfection is said to be a preciou$ stone of "thin
covering."
What about the pearl? Are they made that way? No,
tliey arc developed. How? In the oyster shelly by means
of a foreign substance coming into that shell the oyster
is throwing one coat or layer over this foreign substance:
Thus layer aftef la}'er is put on, and it is so thin that it
cannot be discovered by the naked eye. and these layers
with thousands of angles: and with all the colors of the
rainbow. As a result of the oyster putting on layer after
layer, the pearl is developed, until it is just simply reflecting
all the rays of the sun^ the rainbow and the light. As the
rays oi Hght surround it, it transmits a marvelous beauty.
You sec the picture: If wc think we are somebody, just
remember we are likened in this picture to an oyster, and
it has about as little brain as anything alive. But this
foreign substance Uiat conies into contact with the oyster
is what? The new creature— the new mind. It is not
something of the old mind at all. It is the new mind, and
what are wc to do with this new mind? Develop it. HowP
"Precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and
there a little." (Isa. ^;I3.) And just put one layer on
after another: What for? That we might get the knowl-
edge, and thus have wisdom. And since the Lord has fur-
nished us with the knowledge and we arc feasting upon
God's wonderful promises and it develops in us rightly we
will receive of that pearl-like quality. Do we see then the
reason why the great company class could not be likened
to pearls? They fail to apply what the Lord has provided
in the way of food. They are not putting over the layers.
but are allowing something else to take their attention and
thus do not become pearls.
Now then the gates of that wonderful wall of the city
you remember was jost pearls. We sec then why the little
fiock IS likened unto pearls, and likened unto gates. And
the great company shall enter through the gates. They will
not become gates. Why? Because they will not become
pearls, Tlierefore, if you and I hope to be of that pearl
class, you see what wc need to do. We must make use of
all the good things the Lord has provided in His Word for
that class; and if we do so, friends, wc will develop that
pearl-like ([uality. If we do not, and eat only of the leaner
foods we will he lean in character. Therefore, may the
Lord bk-rs us with a gr^iter defermination that we will
have all those quaEities '.ere pictured as being in that wall
in that new Jerusalem class, and thus hear, eventually, the
"Well done." Amen!
n
L B. S. A. CONVENTION
Friday, 2:30 P- M., Discourse by Brother T. Toujian
Subjects "CHRISTIAN UNITY''
WE art very ebd ta Ijc with you, dear brctliren. Wc
t>ntig Id you the greetings of iht; friends ol n^aiiy
phtt^s ori the way. They wanted to be with you.
Tlicy all iiiay lliat Uiij couvcutton may bft a success.
And wc btlitve it is, l\\ harmony with our subject we
call your atlcntSon to ?S£Lhn \2ti: "Eehold how good and
how pleasant it [s for brethren to dwell together in uttity.
It is like t!ie predous ointment uyon the hcad^ that ran
down upon the beard, even Aaron's begird: that went
down to the skirts of his garment. As the dew o^ Hermou,
and as the dew tiiat descended lEpoit the mauntains o^
Zionj for ihcre the Lord commaitdcd the blessing — even
life for evermore.''
In the midst of this great comnrotion, tribii Litton, dta-
trcsSj revolution^ war, unrest, indeed it is the hardest
proposition to "dwell logether in unily." However, it is
possible if wc have the power. What power? "Not by
might, nor by (human) power, bnt by My spirit, saith the
Lord o( hosts." (Zeth. 3:4.) It is by the power of the
Holy Spirit that we can dwell in unity; and those who
remain faithful to the end. keeping tiie Christian unity,
arc moro than conquerors ► They will shine mosl briiliantly
in the Kingdom,
The Lord has a wonderful place for those who will
remain faithful to the end and become the last members
of the body of Christ, Otir Lord Jesus said^ "He that
reapeth, receivqth W3}*es/' (John i'MJ)
Now, dear friends, that we have gone so far in this
narrow wayt shall we stop, or go ahead? I say, by God's
grace we wi31 ^o ahead. "Wc arc not of them who draw
hack unlo pordction, but of them that believe to the saving
of the soul/' (Heb. 10:39.) That is what wt expect of
each one this afternoon. We expect that every consecrated
dbild of God will strive to make his calling and election
stire, and attain that wonderful Kingdom which the Lord
promised on^y to ihc ovtrcomers.
Oh, what a "hi^h calling" we have. How high?
"Higher than the heavens." "Eye hath not seen, nor car
heard ', neither have entered in the heart oF man tht things
which God hath pr^^pared for them that love Him." (Tsa.
64:4; I Cor, S, 9.)
Do you think for a moment that wc will draw back?
■^'o, wc will not. However, as today is a day of "exami-
nation/' we want to examine ourselves to see if we have
in our hearts the spirit of Christian unity or not.
You know people at large are governed by sentiment,
Thfi world is guided by leaders, by influences. Tliercforc,
today they are for, and tomorrow they are against certain
propositions. You know how it was a little while ago;
when you talked about "peace" they put you in jail. Now^
whiirt ^ou talk about T.var, they will put you in jail. WhaL
is the matter? You know why! Why? Because they
are governed by seiitiment»—*'wi shy-washy," that is aEI.
But to us, there is one God; one Christ; one baptism:
one principle. War or no war, it doesn't make a bit of
difference. You cannot change a man who is governed
by printiplCr
^tow there are principles that under tie "Christian
Un ity .^ ' I f u*e I earn these princ i files, we will rema i n
faithful to the end. If not. we might just as well get
outr Therefore^ the Lord is proving you, proving mc,
to sec if wc are governed by certain principles of the
doctrines of Christ, What do \ve learn about the prin-
ciples of Christ? Oh. dear friends, we learn certain laws:
certain regulations that will govern our conduct, and our
thoughts, and our actions. If wc do not learn these prin-
ciples wclK and put thetn into operation, we will never
get there at all. Tf we are not united here, we will never
be unhed there. There is a separation or division of mind.
It Implies, thcreforcn dear friends, that one party is wrong,
somewhere.
I^t ns realtie the imuortance of "ChristiFiii Unity,"
Let the dear friends sacrifice everi^thing which is not a
principle : Your opinions, your likes and dtsHkcsH your
sentiment, your reputation, j^our pocketbook.
Yon know that is a hard proposilioti for some. I was
it) T^^as, meeting with a congregation (20 strong L B.
S. A. members), atid they hired a place, and only had to
pay $S.O0 per month. And yet they were two months
behind the rent. I told them, "You will never be in the
Kingdom." (Laughter.) i said^ "If you haven't any oi
the spirit of sacrifice, as much as a common ordinary
church member, you better quit." For pity's sakci a
church of twenty members must support a reverend gen-
tleman; and besides that, seiid eggs atid milk, and 1 don't
kncv/ what else. But, dear friends, when wc come to the
Lord and ntake a full consecration of ourselves* we say,
'*Ail for ^esus ! AH for Jesus, but not a cent to Him.
I won't give my money/' I am ciot taking any collectiotis
this afternoon. So don't worry about that. (Lauj^hter.)
Hut 1 tell you. dear friends, when the Holy Spirit gets
into our heads and hearts, it goes into the pocketboak as
well, and I Would be ashamed to go to a congregation
where they can't pay their rent for a meeting place. I
think they will learn their lesson later.
But, my friends, here is the thoujrhtt When we sivc
our hearts to God, we give all. That inchides everything.
I am sorry many of us are governed by this idea that the
"money that I have is mine J My wife is mine, and my
children are mine." They are noT' Don't you remember
the text yesterday morning? "Yc are bi>uijht wtth i price:
therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit,
which are God's." You are purchased! If this body
belongs to somebody else, then that wdnich belongs to this
body belongs to somebody else, too. It includes your
pocketbook and everything else. Let us live the true
Cliristlike life- Give ail to the Father, rcaliiing whatever
we have. We arc simply stewards over God's jffoods. That
is all: we are His by creation. Wc are His by justiS-
cation. We are His by consecration. We arc His in every
l^'ay. Our bodies arc His, and also as New Creatures,
wc are the sons of God. We have nothing to our name:
all belotics to T-fim. i
The Psalmist evidently here in this Psalm paiJiled a'
wonderful picture of the unity of Christians— the unity
of the Gospel Age. You know the very wortl '^David."
means Beloved, And Jesus received that name at His con-
secration. The Lord says, "This is My only begotten Soil
in whom I am well pleascdn" "My beloved Son," or "My
David." Jesus received the name Davidn Therefore,
David was a xy^f, of the Christ— the head: and the Church
which is His body; and as we well know today. David is a
man of war: so the Church Mihtant is a man (if w^ar. And
in these daj's they do lots of fighting, and they put them in
jail because they fight too much. You cannot call them'
paci^stA. but thr::y fiffht tins man here — the ylU mmi, Thtj
fight the world, the flesh and the devil. Tt is a fight, friends,
in which no common, ordinary man. or general on earth
can participate. It is impossible that any human being on
earth can fight the good "fight of failh," eitcept one who
has the power of the Holy Spirit in his heart.
Therefore. David iays, "How good, and how pleasant
it is for brethren to dwell together in unity," How sweet 1
You know that for yourself. If there is no inharmony,
oh. ho^v sweet it is. We want to come to the meetingn
and after the meeting is over we go home, about twelve
o'clock midnight, and after we go home we think about
the brethren you know% "How good and how sweet it ts,"
Isn't it remarkable. You have had the experience, and have
it yet.
"How good and how sweet it is for the dear brethren
to dwell toffether in unity." How good! Dear friends,
the illustration ts a grand one. "It is like a precious oint-
ment," What is the precious ointment that was poured
on Aaron at the time of consecration? It was poured
upon the head and came to the neck, then to the shoulders.
then to the bod3% and then to the feet; and the whole oil
went to the feet. ^?o wonder the feet class are '^oily,"
There is plenty of it- No ivonder that we have so much
of it. I tell you we need it too, so that wc will not scratch
L B, S.
CONVENTION
23
one another, We need to be lubricated well to keep the
spirit of utiityn Atid wc will need a lot of oil before we
get through.' You take a piece uf m^ichinery and run it
without oil, and it will have a "hot box."
And so. my frtciids, if we don't have plenty of oil, we
will have a i^oi box" too. Tt will show tomorrow how
much oil we have in our oil boxes v Are we of the class
who reeeivcJ very much oil in our vcsseEs? Or are we
of the Sooliih virgin class? It is onCf or the other. May
the Lord help us show the spirit of Christ, and show really
and truly that we are of the ciass spoken of here! "Plow
good, and how pleasant it is for the (dear) brethren to
dwell together in unity."
Xow< friends, we see Aaron there, and when the oil WhIS
poured upon tils head, it lubricated all his body for it
went way down his garment. There he stood, as the
Advocate of the Je^vish people. There he realized he had
a verj* important mission to make good the broken cove-
nant. .-Vs he stood there he was lifted in the spirit, and
he said "what a grand, and glorious office I have that I
am a Hi^jh Priest over the people of God," and when
Aarott on the Atonement Day, came and made "at-one-
mcnt" between God and man. he satd; "Oh, God, how
thankftd I am for this olTice! What a high calling this
is I" (This is ordy typical you know.) It was indeed a
"his;h calling." Hc was called of God, St. Paul says,
"N'o man can take this honor unto himself, except he that
is called of God," CHeb, n'?:'tO And he was called of
God. And it \vas a rcmarkabk call at that. N'ot only
that. Aaron's sons received the same anointing that he
received. They did not receive an individual anointing.
Xo. even as we did not receive an individual anointing.
We received the anointing which is in Christ Jesus. We
arc anointed as we become part of Him. Therefore, his
sons received the same unctjon from the Holy One; and
consequetiily they were ^lad. Oh, they were happy that
they were also under-pr tests. And again, dear frieaids.
the perfume of the oil was so soothing to smell the
fragrance. Ok how sweet! "How good it isl"
Nosv, dear friends, in this picture this is a type of what?
"Christian Unity." The oil anti-typical was poured on our
Lord Jesus at Jordan. There He received the whole, great
amount of oil^ without measure, because He had a very
larjje vessel. He had a perfect vessel. He could have
plenty of it. Tltcn, dear friends, for three yeari and a
half the oil Came down and ran below the head. Then,
after His ascension on high, the oil dropped upon the neck.
The apostles receivc^the holy anointinjf oil, and dien it
came to the shoulders, ^^ow, if there was no neckj there
wcuhl be no oil there^ and so, dear friends, the apoaties
were the connecting link between the head and the body.
They h?j tweh-e places if you please in the body, — as
if thcviVcre immersed into the neck of the Christ, from
whicV^ ' they received the anointing. Therefore, we tan
understand the thought of the Apostle Paul *'Fil] tap
that which la Ijchind of ihc afnictjoiia cf Qiii^L Eii my Uqih
(not for the head's sake but) for His bodv's sake* which
is the Church." (CoL I'M.) And the oil ran down all
during the ages and saturated the body. Suppose a person
became a rib member, the oil went right over it. But tf
it were not there, the oil conid not go over it. If wc
have not Eht; spirit of Christ, we are ''none of His," and
if you are not in the body, the oil will not go over you.
Then later on, when due time came Chinee 1S7S) the Lord
bcRan to deal with what is called in the Bible the "feet
m-cmbcrs"— the last members. We have come to the ex-
treme time of the feet members. In fact the heel members,
if you please. Now, dear friends, as tong as wc, as mem-
bers of Christ, remain in this great body wc will receive
the hoty anointing oil. We will have the spirit of unitv.
Or, reversing it, if we have the spirit of Christian unity
we are members in His body now, prospectively; and.
thank G od, bye a nd bye we wil I have a gtor i ous body
which ihe Lord promised to the faithful.
'^^ remarkable thought, dear friends, that our dear
Heavenly Father does place each one in the body as it
plcaseth Him," You remember that it was the dear
mother of John and James who came to our Lord and
"^^kV^^^i^^ that her two sons (nice looking and certainly
noble boys) might have a prominent place in the kingdom.
one on the right side and the otiier on the left side, and
Jesus asked the question; "Are yc able to drink of the
cup that J liiiall drink of?" Oh, yes, "we are abEe." So
they knew what He meant. "But so far as placing you in
tiie body is concerned that is not My prerogative, but
Jeiiovah God Himself is the one who does the placing.
But if you eat of My body (in mind) and masticate it
well, — digest it well, you will be perfectly contented with
your place in the body of Christ." What a glorious thing
It is that the Lord has passed thousands and millions ol
people, and has given to you and to me the privilege of
becoming members En the body oi Christ.
If we come to the Lord in prayer and supplication^
asking Him that He may guide and direct us, thai impEies
that He will hear our prayers. If we pray^ the Lord will
guide tis in the important work we are about ready to
enter into. After you go to Him m prayer, and then use
your common sense (if we have any, and I think wc have
some), wc Can leave the thing in the Lord's hands and
say, "Amen."
There is one lesson I learned during 1915: it took me
fourteen years to learn it— some of us have thick brains.
I was with a large coiigrcgation [n tha West, and a ques-
tion of great importance came up, whicii resulted in a
great amount of trouble. I was on the minority sidCr
Sometimes they call it the "G" side, because tiiat means
the Seventh Book. I was on the minority side and wc feit
we must do our duty, and tell the friends that if they
took a certain course it would be detrimental lo the
interests of the congregation. We put the matter Just as
strong as we knew how. Later, however, the matter went
the other way. It was a hard test, because it meant a
great amount of suffering. However, I made up my mind
once and for all that I would abide by the decision, and
if the congregation made a mistake they have to suffer,
and not I, because I told them not to do that. By the
way. since theti I found I was wroEig. But I kept my
mouth shut. Some brother said, "Well, how do you stand ?
Have you changed your mind?" I said, "No, I believe I am
right, but I am keeping my mouth shut, I am in harmony
with you to the extent that I close my eyes. I will act
as though everything is fine. Brcdircn, God bless you^
wc will unitedly co-operate." And as the result, we are
before yo;! here this afternoon trj'ing to talk. The Lord
gave us the priviitg^e and blessed us abundanJly, bec3.uEc
we were governed by a wonderful principle. But if I.
would raise trouble after the decision, I would be in the
depths of outer darkness. [ was not governed by senti-
ment. No, by God's ^acc, I was governed by principle.
In many congTC^ations, I find they eat the food, but
they cannot talk until after the matter is decided. Then
the steam goes out. And the first thing you know there
is confusion. Well, what is the matter? Let the steam
out. Punch the steam out before it is decided. Go ahead and
put it as strong as ;you can — then keep your mouth shut
That i^ the Way I vtiM da. It ETii^^lit tumc uut in hancjuiiy
with my views, or it might not. As a brother said, ''Why,
there is a man who had ears that long (three inches), but
he had sense. He was riding on a creature with ears only
about one foot long. And the time came that the Lord
used the one that went on four legs. The Lord asked:
\\'hy do you whip him so hard? What is the matter*
don't you see the angel before him?" I tell you, my
friends, the I^rd can use anyone. If the Lord's people
toll us that they want it this way. and [ say I want my
way, too. — who is boss? The Lord^s people.
I find, too. many kinds of people. In one congregation
three brethren couldn't agree vvith the Seventh Hook. X
said, "What is the matter with you?" Well, we had a
question meeting, and it lasted for about three hours.
And we talked pro and con. and then these brethren began
to talk ahout different things, and I caught on to where
the trouble ^vas. I made a suggestion, something to the
effect that those elders in the Church were "not supposed
to be bosses"; they must not rule the congregation, for
they were servants. They said, "St. Paul states, "Let those
who rule get the greater proportion of honor," "Oh/*
I said. "I sfie the point now. You want a double portion
of the honor before you work like him. then get the
proportion." Hoav is that? Oh, he worked himself to
u
I. B, s. A. coNv a .V no n
death. HerCp brother, you ought lo do just as Pastor
Rus&cll (lid {yau dccted him 3S elder or pastor). When
he wrote a tetter to you brethren, tlii^ is wliai I think
he u^Ui^lly wrote, "If yoii don't Mke it, put it in ihc vva^tc
basket.'' He did not say, "Here, you have got to do so
and so/* Ob, no! I tell you, dear friends, many people
ha^'c the wron^: idea of witac it mcins to rule the Church.
If there arc several hobbyisis (you know some people
have hobbies: Some look at the sturs, and ajc always
talking about the Great Company. One pJace I visited
they didii'L talk of anything else for six months but
"Great Company") I would stigscst, iriends, why can i
you do this way: "The Sixth Volume says if a brother
h4& a hobby, lee him let out the Aieam for haif an hour
and let him talic all he wants to. Then say to the class:
"Do you want iliis horrible ituff any more? Those in favor
of it kindly manitcst same by a right hand vote'.'* These
things are slopped like that [snapping thumb], but the
trouble is this, we don't read or study the truth. We
talk about tlie thrice double sword, and tiie point (you have
heard itui: ^Thrice double"^ — three times two makes what?
Six), but most of the friends don't know anything ahont it.
They try to get the "point" without having the stock.
You can't do that. If a brother has a knowledge of that
Sixth Book— the encyclopedia of the New Creation, he
can cut out rhe hobbyist. You can fix everything so nicely
and beautifully. VVhy, friends, the study of ihe-ie thing*;
win cause you to increase and abound in grace and love
and knowledge.
In connection with this thought we would like to
emphasijEe one point, i. e., this mailer of ruling. I find
that there is danger for us to go into the nominal condi-
tion. You knovi- what that is. It means just camouflage —
something that isn't there, iVow the tendency for us is
to slack our energy and say^ easy now: "1 believe in the
ransom. I am saved.'* However, the apostle said, *'I
brow-beat my body> I keep my body under." Wc roust
strive^ and try hard to do this every day. ^Ve should
improve or develop. Which way? Every' way, not only
the Christian way, but even in otjr appcarajice, in otir
expressions. Improvement must be the watchword of the
Christian in every respect. You must not pass one thing
without examining yourself to see if you arc in the faith;
to see if you are making progresSr "Be ye clean that bear
the vessels of the Lord/' {Isa. o2;ll.) Wc muai do that
in order to get into the kingdom.
I find that some of the friends have the idea that we
Pilgrims are just about two and one-half feet hif;her than
others. Some of the friends are inclined to look at it
like wc did before our eyes were opened, (They arc
opened now for good.) VVc used to say, "Who is that
coming?" The answer was, "Reverend Smith.'* "Oh,
Reverend Smith? He is of the Divine or Apostolic ordin-
ation." I donl mean to say our Pilgrim brethren are
doing that now. I have seen them in the past write their
name "S&-aud-So, FUgritu,^ in the manna. Oh, isn't it
uict! But why should we put i\ that way? Alter you
write your name, nothing more is essential. What is the
difference between a Pilgrim and a Brother? No differ-
ence, except that the Pilgrim has to work harder than the
other brethren. Th^ have to preach five hours. One
time I preached for five hours. 1 don't know whether I
reported it to the Watch lower; for I was afraid. There
was a reverend gentleman at the meeting and I talked for
a long time and after we finished what we had to say^ the
gentleman went hnmc—fifleen minutes after twelve, mid-
night That is the difference. Sometimes the Pilgrims
preach eight hours a day; sometimes six. Any^vay, that
is the difference. Like St. Paul, they must be overworked.
The Brother who is not a Pilgrim carries a lighter satchel,
while the Pilgrim carries a very heavy one. The thought
we have in our minds is for us not to make that great
difl'crence, or contrast. When a Pilgrim talks to you, don't
think they arc entirely the words of the lord. Of course,
they are supposed to tell the plan, but if they say some-
thing di(!crcnt from what yon have read before, lake that
and put soap on it and weigh it until that soap soaks tn.
We should honor and respect it. but at the same time,
let us not make such a vast contrast. Clergj'^ Laity!
"One is your master, even Christ, and all ye are
brethren." Our dear Pastor surely manifested that spirit.
Let us take the Scriptures and see the importance of
Christian unity. We turn to John 1* ;21 to J3. jesus
said in that wonderful prayer, "1 pray not for these alone
(.which refers to the twelve apostles), but for them also
which shall t>elieve on me/' Jesus prayed, dtar friends,
for the friends meeting here to<iay. Why did He pray*
He is emphasizing one point especially' "I pray for tlicm."
Why? "'rhal they all may t>c on^. r»s Tlioti, Father, art
in %lc^ and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us,
that the world may believe that Tliou hast sent Me. "
Do we have a clear understanding of the height of
Girislian unity? What is Christian utiity? Jesus says
it is the unity whicti exists between Jesus and God. j3o
you think that Jesus ever uttered a cross word to the
Father? Can you imagine that Jeliovah God scolded Him
because lie did someiliiiig wrong? The imity is so won-
derful that wc, with our finite minds, cannot comprehend
-such innnile unity. In other words, if wc want to keep
the spirit of unity, we cannot utter one cross word. Well,
we '^ny, we have done this in the past. Yea, and we are
sorry we did. But, dear friends, wc can have the spirit
of unit3- if we so wisfv Vou might say "we are imperfect.'^
Even St. Paul says, "Jesus was tested in all points tike as
wc arc, yet He was without 'sin.*' Wc arc sinners. Well,
shall we lower the standard? No! It is not our business
to do aji>thjng with the siandord. Cod se'.s die statidiird.
You just do the trying. Don't lower anything. You caEt't
do it if you try. If you try to lower it you will be lowered
yourself^ and you will be out of the race.
Let us keep the height of Christian unity^ which implies
thai unity existing between the Father and Son,— that we
may be in mind, m thought, in puipoiiie, and even as far
as possible, in doctrine and also in relation to each other,
that our unity nlay be like unto God and Christ.
Then what? "That the world may know'— Do you
want to show tile world who you are? The sons of God!
Our Lord Jesus is emphasizing this thought. We should
demonstrate that unity to the people of the world of man*
kind, *'that the world may believe that Thou hssl sent Mc."
Therefore, if we have Christian uuity and because of our
faithfulness to Him, the Lord in the age to come^ will
bring millions of people into the truth, in other words,
our actions, our words, and conduct, our spirit of Christian
unity will bring millions into the truth. It is remarkable
when wc think about that! Let them "see your good
works" so that they might glorify God. When? In the
"Day of His Visitation"— when He visits the earth atid
makes His footstool glorious.
**And the glory which Thou gavest Me. I have given
them, that they ma^ he one, as we are one," Again He is
crnphasizing the pomE. U hat is the glory given us? Well,
primarily speatiing. it is the "Glorious Hope"; also the
begetting or the anointing. That is primary, but bye and
bye it will be the wonderful privilege of^ shanng with
Him in the Kingdom, "And the ulory which Thon gavest
Ale, I have given them.'* \Vhat "glory" did He have? It
was the opening of His vision, the "heavens were opened
unto Him." He saw the antitypical things. "I have given
it to them." He says. "I have given them the under-
standing of the Tahernacle in the wilderness, and those
Seven Books. Also, the Temple of God, and I don't know
what alL" There is just oji^ purpose, and what is tliat?
"That tkey way he one."
If we don't have the unity, it means we don't have the
truth. Is tJjal possible? Tliat is what the Lord says: '*I
have given My glory to them, that they may be one" How
remarkable! "I in them, and Thou in Me/' Indeed, it
is remarkable that our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus
is in us, "That they may l* made perfect in one," Dear
friends, we cauuat be in the kingdom if we arc not one
here. If we are {wo here, we -will be two some\^'hcre else.
If one here, wc will he one there.
You remember, dear fricndi, what wc learned about
the construction of the great piramid. that cxtry course
of that wonderful structure was pEaced and fitted together
before it was laid upon the next layer, or the next course.
Therefore, all (he congregations in di^ercnt places are
certain layers in that wonderful structure of /orr— "living
atones." They must now be chiseled and fitted. This
!. B. S. A. COMyENTION
25
ni„<t lit tluLic Iters, because they will never lake a liamniEr
1 1.1 lit vo» in tlic kingrfom. Tlicrc must be "no iwiic ot
hitiiiiKT" in the tiiujdam. "bilente prevails in the
'"""I'llrav Ili.it they mav be perfect in one. that tlie world
mav know that Tlioii hast sctit Me, and loic them as
Tli;,ii lust lovetl Me." Tliat is one ot the inost precious
icri .mrts in the Bihie. "Thai the Heavenly 1-ather loved
TllL- Guirch as lie loved Christ Jcsua." Cliniltan unity is
one of the' remarkable evidences that the Father loved
the Oiurch as well as He loved His only begotten Son.
Wc have several Scripttires in this connection. Phil.
■I- 13- "K there l>e. titereforc, any consolation in Christ,
\i aiiy comfort of love, if any fe1lowshi)> of the spirit,
it any Uoivels atid mercici. Fultill ye my joy, that ye may
In; like minded." St. Paul is telling the Church. "It you
luie mc. and want me to joy forever more: fullill ye my
jov"- till it full. overltewtiiBly; that ye be like minded!
W'ell, Paul, what can we do to have the spirit oi unity?
lie tells us. dear friends, "let nothing be done through
strife or «itislory." "As the body is one and hath many
members—" It makes no difference, for "the body is one."
W hen you look at a person, you don't think of him as
many members; you say he is "Mr, Jones." That is all.
So ''also is Christ"— One I Let "nothing be done through
strife or vailiKlory." No partisan spirit should be 'al-
lowed in the Church. Yon remember St. Paul said. "It
is a spirit of the .Adversary to say 'I am of Apollos'. etc. '
Some sav, "I am a Baptist," or "[ am a .Methodist."
Sectarianism implies the spirit of division.— tarnal-mind-
cdncss. I don't care whether it is inside or outside. Then
he KOes on to imply I "Don't be called Russellite." Whai
is the difference between a Lutheran and a Russellite? We
belong to Christ and God, We love our dear Pastor more
than any saints now livinB, but, my friends, wc don't want
to take the name ot any human being. I will never do it.
[ am a Bible Student. I am not a teacher! .Not a
prophet, bul a Bible Student,— studying always until 1
graduate and receive my diplomi. ,'\nd in the Kingdom
He will say, "Go ahead and teaeh." Then I will be a
Bible teieher— hyc and bye. You can't graduate from the
Bible school until you are dead. ,\ wonderful graduation,
isn't it.' (.Laughter.)
"But in lowhncsi of mind." Not through strife or
vainglory. What is vainglory? It is that glory that
you intercept or slop before it goes to God. riui is a
plain way of putting it, isn't iir In other words, public
speakers arc iti ilie Breatcst danger of losing their reward
liecausc they are in the liinc-lisht,;aiid they shine. Vou
know when the trouble cotties up it is the big man who
goes out. it is ihe little man who stays in. So we appeal
to you — especially to the public speakers— that by God's
grace, when you serve the trulh— besorc you serve and alter
vou serve- tell the Lord, ".Now. Lord, you get all the
glory and I get nothing but the peace of heart." Thank
God (or that, because bye and bye He will (jive lis c.ish.
We want to work on credit; but it is cash on credit. We
have so much faith in the Lord and His power, that when
trouble comes we thank God for it. When we are alive,
we say "all things work together for good," and when
wc are dead, we can say the same thing. Surely, dear
friends, it is a grind compensation for what Utile we do.
Therefore, let us have the spirit of Christ, as He said,
"I take no glory from any one." "Let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory, but (in humility) in lowli-
ness of mind, let eacli esteem the other belter than
himself." .
"Look not every man to hjs own things, but every
man also on the things of others." Look to the interest
of the brethren; try to serve the brethren. Don't look
to your own personal interests. "I.el this mind be in you
which was also in Oirist Jesus, who being in the form of
God, did not meditate a usurpation." He left the Heavenly
glorv, anil became a inli, (a perfect man. holy, harm'eii.
undcfiled, separate from sinners), and then He was put
to death. — even the ignominious death of the cross.
"Therefore, God has highly cialted Him, and given Him
a name above every name."
My dear friends, let us follow m our dear Master a
footsteps; let us keep the spirit of t'niry, as lie so prayed
for us, and surely when we finish our course tn sacrihcial
death, by God's grace we -w-ill have that wonderful place
in the Kingdom.
Discourse by Pilgrim Brother M. L. Herr
Fridny Afternoon^ Jiin, 3, 1919
Subject: "U>T3ER HIS WINGS"
WE will take for our
text the well-known
words of Psalms 91 ;
4 ;_ "lie shall covci Llice
with His feathers, and un-
der His wings shah thou
trust. His truth shall be thy
shield and buckler." Not
only do wc recognize the
heauly of this picture but
we perceive that the Lord
has given us in this text
something specially needed
for the present time. The
Lord always provides for
our needs as He promised.
"-My Goil shall supply all
your need, according to His
riches^ in glory by Christ
Jesus," Phil. -1:19. Wc believe Ihat there is in this verse
and in other ScHptnres. which wc shall examine together,
a present moment message.
Both beautiful and tender feelings are awakened by the
picture of the bird-mother and her little ones. When she
™'*" '*'em with her feathers she takes them very close to
her heart just as the Lord at the present lime is taking His
lanliful children very near to His heart, into His verv
close confidence. In Rev. 13 :U the two wings of a great
eagle are mentioned as provided for the Church during
her wilderness e.>ipericnce and the Scriptures tell us that
it rcprcsenli the Old and the New Tcslamcnta provided by
the Lord for her during the period represented by Elijah's
three and a half years in the wilderness. Sec G comment
also on Rev. 2.20. In G comment on Kzek. 1:11 we are
told that the two wings with which the living ones cov-
ered their bodies represent the Word of God, one function
of which is to cover and protect.
What thoughts of warmth and comfort are suggested
by the word "cover" so expressively symhoHierl by a bird's
two wings. The wee birdies under the mother's Iwo wings
are shielded from danger and from cold. The more we
obser^'e how our loving Creator has employed this pro-
tecting, covering principle the more we appreciate this
element of His character. The roots of tender herbage are
covered in winter with a coverlet of snow. Every organ of
our bodies is protected by a covering encasement. The
beings higher iian angels arc commissioned to act as pro*
tcctors for other beings of a lower order as we read Ezek.
'J8 :14, "Thou art the annointed cherub that covereth."
.\s we examine the Scripture testimony wc will not
fail to see how- like the little ones close to the mother^s
heart are God's little ones whom He covers with His
feathers.
fn this 01st Psalm how expressively the Lord pictures
the present hour. .\ time when we need refuge from a
26
S', A. CONVENTION
storni. A [line when there would be liatigtr from snares
set by the fowltr. A time of attack when poison td arroivs
oi-sn bitter \vortls would enclatiKCr our spiritual safety.
Even m ancient time tliev ttiicw how to spread contieioua
w^'j^^ by infected arrows. How effective is our Father's
Word as a shield against the poison of fear and doiibt.
His truth snail be ihy shield and buckler." If once the
poiaoi! of tear gams entrance disease is introduced Ihst
iweomes cotitagious. How important that we provide our-
selves ivith the antiseptic protection of the truth
,„7,h ''.^'■^-"'o^cr gives a signal of danger to her brood
and that 15 her method oi protecting them, What a sensible
rnetliod It ts for she merely calls, "cluck, cluck, duck," and
titey know that means come to the saie-nlace under my
wings, and without asking for other ijiforniation thev obev
the stgnll and are safe and warm wi.ere no harm can come
d,™w I \%f "^^ P'""'-e 'he.Lofd uses to teil i,s how ™
should do. When the Lord calls us to the wings of His
iy th!'r. "i"'' ''"'/ \".'',P™t=='i''"- How difleremly son,e
01 the Lord s people think that ive should do. These seem
ur s'o^f ' l" ?'f"yj<""" *-■<"" fiffi^e t!"= mind with p™
tures of dangers, H;tve we not heard sonic brother say
wlien convention is closing: "Now, friends, we have had i
inah will begin, and the way the brother savs it makes
you teel as it you (i-cre beiiiR giien a cold shower-bath I
don t believe that is pictut:ed here. We do not hsve a oic-
ture of the bird-mother telling her chicks : "See what terri-
ble cla V5 the hawk has. If the hawk ever gets hold of vou
ho will crush you trightfully. Look at his sharp hooked
peak. I lunk ot how you would feel to have him tear you
to small pieces with his sharp bea.k." Tha; is one wav of
causing the iiltle birds to flee to the shelter of her wines
But with their poor little hearts throbbing with terror In
their agitation they cannot bo well enjov her cover as hv
the way nature provides for them. How much better th'e
simple danger-signal "cluck, cluck, cluck." Come to safety
Ao terror, no alarm. That is the Lord's wav and the other
way IS not of the Lord.
How slow have some of the Lord's pcoole been to dis-
card some kind of lingering fear. Before "the truth came
the bugaboo was that awful, terrible PLACE, I remember
how grandmother used to hide behind the door and making
|r^P'"Sn'"5e would groan in a deep voice: "I am the
IT J , ' T ' ^^'"=" ''°>'^ *''= *>"<' ' 8=' ^heTii. There is a
bad boy I am going to get soon." What a terror it was,
just to think of It, We got iwav from that bugaboo when
the truth came. But we didn't get away from recry buga-
boo. There were a lot of truth-people who put the same
hell -fire fear into the things they would teil about 1914 and
the awiut ihiiigj tjiat woalil happen in 151-!. O what horrors
hung around those awful figures "lOU." Time has dis-
illusioned us and we discover that our fears were in our
disordered imagination and while some still attach a certain
horror to terrible experiences that they imagine in connec-
tion with "The Image of the Eeast" we are coming to the
conclusion that there is something seriouslv wrong with
this whole system of fcar-thouglil and we conclude that it
15 no more wholesome to entertain than to frighten diildrcn
with the goblins'li ketch you if you don't watch out."
Let us ask ourselves : is the Lord holding before our
.iBinds Oiese terrible pictures of awful things? St. Paul
says: That I might finisli my course with joy!" Paul was
en route lor Jerusalem and they cried, "Paul, don't go don-n
to Jerusalem. Youwillhavealotoftroublc, Paul,don'tgo"
He said : "I am willing to meet any trouble the Lord may
permit to come, I wish to do the Lord's will. I am willing
to die when that is the Lord's will. I expect to finish my
course with joy," That is the thought we are to have con-
cerning the future. The /oy set before us.
I think of a story that illustrates how we have been
feeling. You will not mistake the nationality of this gentle-
man. He valued his property very highly. In the middle of
the night he found a burglar in his aparlments. Before he
could protect himself a revolver was thrust into his face
riic burglar said : "You had better give me that silverware
and be quick about it or you will die by a bullet." Our
friend replied ; " Mine fricntjt, I would far rather die py
a bullet ridt avay qvwick, than to vaid und dii py mdas
L B. S. A. CONVENTION
27
vatching you take avay my solid silverware." 0 yes, soms
of us liave been dying by inches imagining terrible thingj
we are yet to go through. When IDH did not end th,
T -"^mo .^"'S?*^ °!' '""'' ^^'^ 5='''' '■ "We had the date wront-
Jt IS i!JlS, r/in( u Ike date. And so in the spring of ISIS the
t,,iurch niust go beyond the vail. A certain Roman Cath-
olic bccret Order will see to it that wc go. We pictured
ourselves m line before a firing-squad and shot at sunrise
^ow wasn t It a terrible thing for the Lord's people them-
selves to plan worse things for us than our enemies could
hink of.' I believe it is. lime for us to conclude that we will
let the adversary make his own program and we will
offer liim no suggestions. Wc will earnestly consult the
program the Lord has made for us knoiving that the adver-
sary Ins had to inake a new program over and over again
J he reason for this is found in our text: "He shall cover
thee with His feathers and under His -joings shalt thou
trust. Hti truth shall be thy shield and buckler "
_ Probably the very greatest bugaboo held before the
minds ot the Lord's people in recent time is the fear .
papacy. History records the fact ihat the Heavcnlv Fathi
permitted this wicked religious system to accomplish
against some of the Lord's holiest children painful and
prolonged persecution. Her spirit remaining unchanged
It IS but reasonable that were she permitted the power she
would again delight in the suffering of His saints, W^hat
*,'=Sl'f',"? "Earns t our logical fear is the positive assurance
of His Word.
When Satan heard the Divine pronouncement, "The
seed of the woman shall bruise thy head, thou shalt bruise
His heel. Gen. ,T:15, Satan was fiJled with a paroxysm of
tear. He knew it was a serious thing to him to have his
head bruised. In hij wickedness he seems to have greatly
exaggerated the part relating to the Christ. "Thou shall
briiisc His heel," He has sought to innocuiate tlie Lord's
people with the same fear that terrifies himself, leading
some to anticipate things that will never occur according
to the Lord' program. This picture of bruising the heel
has been made to mean a lot of terrible things the l^rd
never intended that it should he made to picture, TJie
heel IS not a vital part of the bodv and it would seem more
reasonable to take from this picture the thought that the
worst injury Satan could inflict upon the Christ— the seed
of the woman— would result in no serious injury It is
Satan who will suffer serious injury, "f/i jhall bruise tfiv
head.
Stop and think who is interested in having the Lord's
people fear, the Lord or Satan? When we put it that way
ive have no trouble to easily decide. It is Satan Let us
then put fear aside. I believe the time has come that we
should sec from (he Word of God what the Scriptures so
clearly and plainly point out that this false religious system
IS soon to perish from the earth in order that the remain-
ing features of the Han-est work might be accomplished,
Notice how forcefully Daniel pictures it: "And I looked
until the Heast was slain, and his body destroyed and given
to the burning ikme," Dan. T :il. I wonder i£ we can get
that divinely provided picture into its proper place 1
believe the Lord expects us to do so.
There are many things which wc expected to occur that
have rievcr come to pass. No power on earth can cause the
Uiurch to so beyond the vail before she has finished the
work the Lord has given the Church to do. Why do we
conclude that the Church must die by violence? Couldn't
we get into the Kingdom were we to die by inlluenia? We
do not have to wait for this wicked religious system to give
us our passports into the Kingdom. We have been making
a lot of needless inferences. Wc are learning to more iullv
trust the Word of the Lord. (Ai;bie.n'ce— "Good,")
, X!""^*,,"^^ certain Scriptures brought to our attention
by The Watch Tower of August I, ISIS, relating to tlie
service of the Church toward the great company and other
believers as pictured in Joseph and his brethren. Which
clearly show that the Christ still in the flesh has an im-
portant sen' ice still future. Joseph was king, but a peculiar
kind of king. Hq told bis brethren to tell his fat her about
his great ghry in Egi-pt. The Christ is to be glorified while
vet this side of the vail. The glory will be like the glory of
Joseph. The glory of providing food in a lime ot famine,
for bis brethren who except for his provision would perish,
I vvish everybody had a Bible with them this afternoon.
,\s I wish some readings I have asked a brother to read
from tlie comments of the Bible and another to read cer-
tain Scriptures that I shall cite. We will notice how posi-
tively the Scriptures indicate the complete downfall of our
great enemy. Babylon, We will go back in the Bible history
to the time when in Old Testament pictures she was repre-
sented by Jcjebel. Our dear Brother Graham gave us
some suggestions as to the present-hour fulfillment of these
types. .\hab was the King of Israel and Jeiebel, his wife,
daughler of a heathen king introduced Baal-worship
amongst the Lord's people. Elijah u'as the prophet of the
Lord, EEiiah told .Miab that there would be no rain for
three and one-half years. During this time of famine the
Lord provided for Elijah. "And the Word of the Lord
came unto him saying, get thee hence and turn thee east-
ward, mid hide thyself by the brook Chcrith, that is before
Jonbn, .And it shall be that thou shalt drink of the brook
and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. . . .
AlKl the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morn-
ing and hrerid and flesh in the evening, and he drank of
the brook," 1 Kings 17 :2-S.
(Reading of Bible Comments by Brother Hazlett) ;
1 Kings lf>:-0, .-Vnd .^hab. Type of the Roman Empire.
B:2aG.
1 Kings Id:31, His wife Jeacbel, Typi; of the .Apostate
Church of Rome, BBo6,
1 Kings 17:1, And Hij ah. Type of the true Church in
the fiesh, B256.
I Kings 17:16, Bread and flesh. Typifying the Lord's
care of ttie true Ciiurcb during the time she was hiding
from Papacy. ZS)S-19L The ravens probably took these from
the bazaars of Jerusalem or Jericho.
I Kings 17:17, No rain in the land. Typifying the lack
of truth, the living water, during 1260 years C3Mi times) of
papal persecution. E256,
Here we have the Lord's care over his people manifest
both in Elijah the type and in the true Churcii in the ftesli
in the [intilype,
1 Kings IS :ili Abundance of rain. Typifying the mil-
lions of BiWes published and issued shortly after the end
of the papal power in 1799, B2,5S,
1 Kings 19:1, And Abah. Type of the Tinman F.mpire,
B356.
1 Kings ID :!, Told Jerebel. Type of lite Apostate
Giurch of Rome and of the so-called Protestant sects im-
bued ivith her false spirit since the year ITflS. B2S6.
We notice that after 1709 Jezebel pictures more than
i^c^ Apostate Church of Rome and includes in the type the
entire system, of Babylon, including Protestantism, so-
called. We all remember what happened to Jezebel or if
we do not we will know by the time we are through with
this discourse. I will ask Brother Payne to read 1 Kings
13:1-3, "And ,\hab told Jeiehcl all that Elijah had done
and ivitlml how he had slain all the prophets with the
sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah t So let
the gods do to me and more also if I make not thy life as
the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. And
when he saw that he arose and went for his life and came
to Becrsheha."
After 1T[I3 the truth went forth with power. Uibles by
inilhons were scattered everywhere. Previous lo this time
the great Heformation movement occurred which seems to
have been forshadowed by Elijah's experience with the
prophets ot Baal, Through Ahab all the prophets of Baal
were assembled at Mt. Carmcl. Eliiah and the Baal
prophets each provided a sacrifice of a bullock. The test
was to prove who was the true Cod, for no fire was to be
put under the sacrifice and the god answering by fire
would he recognized as the true God. All day long the Baal
prophets besought their god to vindicate himself and to
answer by lire, hut no fire came. Provokingly Elijah derided
them. Having become hoarse with their loud crying it was
no little aggravation to be told : "Cry a little louder. Baal
may be sleeping or possibly he may be on a journev'.'*
Elijah had a deep trench dug around his altar. He had
twelve barrels of water poured over the sacrifice and the
wood, "Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the
burnt sacrifice and the wood, and the stones, and the dust,
and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when
all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and lliey said,
the Lord He is the God; the Lord He is the God " And
Elijah said unto them. Take the prophets of Baal ; let not
one of them escape. And they took them. And Elisha
brought them down to the brook Kishon and slew them
there 1 Kings 13:38-10.
Cot»uii:nt on 1 Kings lS:-iO:
1 Kings IS:10: ".And slew them there. Representing the
punishments visited upon the Papacy at the end of the
three and one-half symbolic times." (1260 literal years.")
B350.
Beersheba, to which Elijah tied from Jeiebcl, is the
southern extremity of the land of Israel as Dan is the
norchcrii extremity, hence the cTtpression "from Dan to
Beersheba." But Elijah seeking more complete isolation
went a day's jourtioy into the wilderness. "And as he lay
and slept under a juniper tree behold an angel touched
him, and said unto him, AHm and eat, Aad he looked, and
behold there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of
water at his head. . . . And he arose and did eat and
drink and went in lite strength of that meat forty days and
forty nights unto Horcb the Mount of God." 1 Kings
ig :o-S.
We have learned who was the angel of the Laodicean
period of the Church. We also know something of the
ready-to-eat f ood which that angel showed the Church.
[ have no difficulty in identifying the forty day period as
in antitype being the period lf>73 to I&13~the period of the
Harvest. I also believe that J would receive a uniform reply
were I to ask who was represented in the angel who showed
Elijah the cake all nicely baked ready to eat. (Audiekce,
enthusiastically: "Pastor RUSSELL.") Yes, he was the
messenger (angel) who provided the cake or truth in the
strength of which the Elijah journeyed from 187S to 1013,
,Aiid 1918 found us in the very condition which Mt, Horeb
pictured,
Ccunili^'iit Rcndulgt
1 Kings lO-%. Unto Horeb, Mt. Sinai, tjpe of the King-
dom of God, Z04-23>,
Elijah went from Beersheba to lit Sinai (the place
where Moses' face was transformed and shone radiantly).
Elijah high up on the mountain -was very lonely. Did we
not have a sense of isolation spring and summer of 1018?
"And he came thither unto a cave and lodged there; and,
behold the Word of the Lord came to him and he said
unto him Whot doest tlivn here, Elijah? .\nd he said, I
have been very jealous for the I-ord God of hosts : for the
children of Israel have forsaken thy coi-enant, thrown
down thine altars and slain thy prophets with the sword :
and I, even 1 only, am left ; and they seek my life lo lake
it away. And he said. Go forth and stand upon the Mount
before Uic Lord. And behold the Lord passed by and a
great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in
pieces the rocks before the Lord ; but the Lord was nut in
the wintiE; and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord
was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire:
but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still
small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it that he
wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in
the entering in of the cave. .And behold, there came a voice
unto him, and said, WHAT DO EST THOU HERE,
ELIJAH?"
We cannot fail to note that under the peculiar circum-
stances surrounding Elijah he could hardly be expected to
obtain a correct view of matters until informed by the
Lord, We c^n easily trace a correspondence between our
expcriencc^'^918, and the experiences of Elijah. Like Elijah
we were expecting to die and like Elijah we saw little to
live for since to everj- appearance our work in the flesh
was done. But today the Lord asks us the same question,
"What are you able to do in the place you now find your-
self?" Elijah could well have said that in this place of
isolation there w^s nothing one coiitd do. But the X^rd
was leading Elijah to discover that there were still im-
portant matters that only the Church in the flesh could do.
Let us bring before our mind Elijah's surroundings when
he stood in the entering in to the cave. Nothing but dark-
m
I. B. S. A. CONVEN TIO N
nesi around iurn :iml ilaDip cold rocky sides of lite cave,
SiiaiEs, lizards and bats the only living ihrngs in si^EiL I
believe we can appreciate ElijaVi's surtotmiiiiigs as wc re-
cal[ how wz £gIl Ui stimmer, liilS, We felt very- much like
Elijah and out sufroundings seeined very liard and coiil
and we felt very mudi shut in with our liberiics of public
uneraiicc grenily restrained.
Did you ever sec a wittd so powerful ihat broke into
pieces the rocks of tlie mouitiainsj' Tlion Elijali saw some-
tiling tliai you atid I ncv'tr saw. For t!ns is what Elijah
saw when he Avas in that i$otatc place cm the moiiiiilain.
Orice whefi standing on a ki^h motintain, Mount Tom in
Massachusetts, observing the mighty rocks that project
from the sides of titat moui^iain, I tried to pielure a \vi]nl
powerful enouc;]] to break tiiese rock-s iutrt piece-j. I coulc!
not imagine so strong a wind and you coaid not imagine
it citlier. But RIEjaEi: saiv a ivind rend (lie niountaicis ajid
faTcak itte rocks jtito pitcei. Our BrotEtcr Graiiam toid m
chat the iriDuniaitis represented the strong autocratic em-
pircs of Europe. Tliat the wind represented The war lOU-
lOlS and that the stpfl ration ot tlia rent empires into
smaller republics was chc /ulfilmetiE of this prophetic pic-
ture. Now Itt Lis see what we iiave learned irocn our Bible
commetits; Elifah represcnis (Audiexce "The Qurch in
the flesh) ; Moumains represent (Audience "KiugdoEn*") ;
Wind represents (AuorFycE "War'),
So ihff prophetic pieEure represents %hs Church in ihe
fl«^ witness a division of some of the autocratic empires
01 Europe into smaller government with a popular forri
<jf govyrivmenl. Did we see this iu 19IS? "Why, yes/' you
say, "we witnessed this very thin:Sr" Now what does the
ear!.hquake represent? (Au&itSCE "Revolution"). That ;s
jutE what Etijfih saw, "Ami after the ■iiihid QU eanhquuk*:,"
*'£arth" in Scripture {anguage rtpt^esei^ts society aud
earthquake reptcseniS great social chan;^c5* The Elijah class
are witness to this also. But we are \viinc5s to eveti more
than this. A nitasurc of anarchy has already appeared hut
cvi*iently not the prophetic /i'nffd of artaichy. In V8S8 oar
paiior gave US the wonderful exposition oi this Scripture
given in the preface of Su^dles 7.
Twice the Lord asks or Elijah, "What doest thou here,
Elijah?*' We slop to think what are we now doing. Some
one says: "We are sladying; but there is nothing to do''
Elijah could have said the same thinj^, **Lord, I am doin^
nothing/' But Elijah in hii loneliness gave expression lo
that which was directly on his niind, "And I alone am leit."
But the Lord more correctly informed EJijah. "I hive left
me T&Oi) in Israel who have not bowed the knee unto Baal."
I Kings 13:18.
1 King 19:18, "^QOO itt hracl. T^eprcstniing thousands in
the nominal systems today who are not in sympathy with
the errors there taught but are merely confused and
blinded.
1 Kings 19:9, IVkai doe^i thou. The Lord's people are
not to be idle. Z9g-^07.
1 Kings 19 :9, here. The Lord's people are not to stay in
a place where they cannot do anything^ ^93-207^
Do you tliiuk we are going to stai^ in a. place of isola-
tion forever? Some one say*: *'Our work is over and
thevc is nothins more for u& to do." Yes, brother, the
vrork wc once did Is over, but let us not hastily conclude
tha,t the Lord h^s nothing mt>re that wc 0.re to do. How
about those thousands in Babylon who have not bowed the
knee to B^al ? Do we notice what the Lord said to Eiiiah.
"And the Lord said unto Elijah. GO." Has the Lord not
ffiven us this Scripture to indicate His commission to the
Church in the flesh? When Eiijah learned that the Lorfi
had something for him to do it did not take Elijah long to
GO from Ins isolation. Three things were given Elijah to
Ao; "And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy Avay
to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest,
snoitit Ha^ael to be ki;ig ov^r Ryria. .And Jehu the 5on of
Sfimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and
Ehsha the son of Shaphot of Abclmehota shah thou anoint
to be prophet in thy rooiti." I Kings lO:lo, 16.
J^et us now note what Fastor Russell says about the
work of Elijah. We quote from Vol. 2, i^ges ^i5l-2-^3 :
"And thus Jolin Uie Baptist and hia disciples engaged in
/. B, S, A. CONyEiVTlON
W^
ihe same work ^^iih and under liinjj in attempting to cojv
vert Israel and to prepare ihi:ni to receive Messiah^ repre
scntcd the real Bijah (ihe true Christiaa Church/, whose
work hai becit to attempE the conversion ot the world be-
fore the cflming of ilessiah to the worlds the spiritual
Xj^rd of glory and Kiisg of kings. John the Initnerser, in
this spirit :yid power of EUjahj tailed lo reform Israel, and,
ds a coiiseqiieuec (Matt, yi .V^) Israel rejected Jesus in the
flesh and brought upon theniiylves a greaE day of ven-
geance' trouble; and wrath. (Lukg .Il-.^il.) So likewise,
only on the larger scale, the real and greater Elijah has
failed lo convert and prepare the world to receive the King
ot Glory, asid now coiissqueutly, the great day of wrath
trnist come upon the world, to melt and mdlow ind humble
8nid preijarc uM ro cry out from the heart, Hosannahl
Blessed is lie that cometh in the naintj of ihq Jehovah.
John, at the first advetit was really a finishing out of the
lype begnu in the person and %vork of Elijah."
Both [he Johu and the Elijah ivork was a work for the
people. It ended with John's beheading. It did not con-
liuutt iiftcr rhc beheading of JohEi the Baptist. A careful
reading ot the foregoing quotation will leave no question
as to the meaning ot the picture of the beheading of John
the Baptist, JohiiV work was a ptibttc service to the entire
nation. It completely ended with his beheading. It ne vet-
was resumed by his Eiteral body reanimated ^.nd acting as.
a headless body; on the contrary (Matt 14:12) ''and his
disctpks came and took up the body atid buried it," John's
Kork like the publicity ivork of the Christ in the flesh of
which his p\iblic service \va^ a type closed with three dis-
tinctly marked episodes: (1) Its gradual decrease. {2)
John's imprisoniTtent. (S) John'j bftheading on the king's
birthday. It is not di^eult to ra^rk three correspondinL^
epiioJes in the close of the pubtkity work of tl^e Church
in ihc flesh— tile Elijah; (1) A gradual decrease i^i pnb-
hc activity. (9) Great restraint in liberty to prodaim pub-
licly, (S) Absolute eeasin;;: of the public message after
Ju3y V 1913- It took both the John tjpc and the Elijah lype
to picture the Church's experience Spring of IfflS.
A feature ot the experience that does not appear in the
John picture is shown when Elijaii is carried aloft i^y ct
cychne. We all know that a cyclone struck us tn IJJIS, For
a time we imagined it would be the end of our stay on
earth. Our aupposiiion was that this was the only possible
interprcEaiion of the whirlwind that took Elijah to Heaven.
When wc received iVugust I Watch Tower and we saw the
Church as the Joseph class, food-provider for the Great
Company ^iid. for the other believcrSf we perceived the
sense in which Joseph was to be king, Jehovah's representa-
tive in matters spiritual. King over the food provisions and
their dispenser to the tamily. We iaw that the faithful
witness for the truth acnomplished by the Church in the
flesh (Elijah) when we declared that great iudgmeuls from
the Lard were about to come upon Christendom wonid
indeed be generaJly recognized after those indgments bad
actnaily been visited upon Babylon. We also saw that the
persecution heaped upon the Elijah (John the Baptist).
espccialliy upon the executive head of this class, woulcj in
time rtict to the esteem and recognition of these as true
servants of the Lord. Even though these are not all ac-
cofflplished facts as yet befom it has actually been accom-
plished the^ Christ in the flesh "See" Elijah aloft- With
thii the Elijah picture ends and, "£h'j/ia sa-jj hi%iv no mflrf ."
Elisha in this thought does not picture a different class but
a different office (service) for the Christ in the flesh after
the Elijah work is doner
A short lime since I saw a picture oi Irvin, GiEtettc in
an Edison Phonograph record catalogue. I recognized it
as the same isce marked Henry Burr in the Columbia
catalogue. He is the geutleman who sang the artgelophone
hymns. I noticed that the Gillette records were secular
while the Burr records were sacred music. ^1 observe,"
I said, "he is the same soloist acting i]^ different service,
just like Elijah when declaring the judgments upon Baby-
lon and Eliiha when giving food to Benjamin and the rest
of Joseph's breEhren. Both sen-ices done by the Christ in
the ficsh " Wc shared in the Elijah work when we assisted
in the publicity service Spring oi IJJUS and we are hoping to
have a share in the Elisha work of niaktng the poisoned
- . . nni-i- > Kinss 2.10 ^'i. U will iirobably lake twice
1^'nS o ih^ lister's si^irit to do the Elisha work as it
to.k todo the Elijah work. This is made ev;idciit by the
f^t 1 rn Jon e counted worthy to do the Elijah work seem
to have s:ncTlost m'ch of the spirit of the truth and arc
"^'^^'^^V"^''^ ^Kat Eli.h. d^s what the
1 Jl coZti^nded Elijah to do. This is not difficult to nu-
de rlnTXn we take the pomtoii that both type the
rhrlst ifl the flesh. So the command oi the Lord givgn
J S s El tlie Elijah work was benig done is earned into
^ieut on After Ihat work was competed and during the
l^^^ldm the work pictured by Elisha .vas due to he doije
Sisha anoints jehn and da.h[ug, impetuous Captain Jehu
Womes Ikry fearless King Jehti who was informed at the
^«o that hf was anointed that he wis commtsstpncd of
HeLord to avenge the blood of Ood's servants who suf-
feted at th« hand of Jezebel. He was also to d ihat the
whnk iiousc of Ahab nmst perish. Joram son of Ahab and
j\lz'bet7s the reigning king ot Israel whom Jehu is to dis^
place.
pL. 30a, Vol. 7, we read, "The Hebrews ware dii-idtd
imo tcii irilies (Israsl) thorouEiilj- Mmcd bv pjK^n bc-
Utis and (tudah) holding mors ciosEly to Jeliovali. In
a»tiiync when both Israci and Judah are ractiUcmeri and
the proplvccy is intended for an ant.-typical £"lfii™<;»j
Israel s anu'ics ihc papacy and Judah sign.:«s established
p"tcsti?«Um." This furnishes us with a k=)- to the cor-
recranli-typkal significance of ihtr two knijri of £ Kijigs
S-n-"i Joram, king of Israel, and AhJiiah, king oj Judah,
iv'ho in' a war-alliance came out to attack Jeha, W= have
no diiftculty to liHcover iti the autocraUc govcrnnients of
Europe two nations both successors to the old Roman
EmiHiewho were iti a war-alliiii« ; une suviJorttna '-^"?'
oliclsm and the other supporling Protestatism Austria
corresponds to Israel and Certnany to Judah. Kor is it
difficult in the least to trace in the exjietitnces of Austria
that which corrcsijonds in a rtttiarkable degree to the ex-
periences of Joram king of Israel. .i.,. i,„
-Anii it came to pass when Joritn saw Jehu that he
said : 'is it peace. Jehu ?' and he answered, nV hat peaco so
lonii as the iviioredoms oi thy mother, Jeichel and her
witchcrafts are so many?' And Joram turned his bands
and fled and said to Ahaziall, 'There is treachery, O Aha-
liah ' And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength and
smote Jorani between his arms and the arrow went out it
his heart and he sank down in his chariot. 3 Kings J i^'^-
24 Who couid tail to see in the complete collapse cf the
Austro-Hungarian Empire a remarkable correspondence to
this record? Kor is the record less remarkable ivhen ap-
plied in Germany. "And whm Abaii;ih, the King of Jii.ish,
saw this he fled by the way of the garden house and J eta
folloived after him and said: 'Sinitc him also in the
chariot.' And he did so at the going up to Sur which ts by
Ibleam, and he fled to MtRiddo ind died there. It is quite
within probability that ivoimded Germany will come to a
coifllilelt end in Armageddon. i .,i i
When Jcjcbel learned thai her 5on Joram was killed
and his ally Ahaziah she well knew she had good reason to
fear Jehu, . ,, ^
PaiminLr her face and tiring her hair was an expsdietit
as was also her act ot Jookins out of a window. We coiiKi
not possibly think of a window wiihooi taking into account
the wall in which the window is placed. Jeiebel has sought
to make for herself a conspicuous niche in the ™->II ?' ™
defen.^cs in non-autocratic governments. Wall signincs
KOvernmetisal dcfraisc. See comment on Jcr. al :W.
It eon id not be the wall of Germany or Austria for the
avails nf these autocritii: governments have talleti as Jcr.
51:4-1 predicted thcv would fall. It must there! ore he in
non-aiitotratlc war-defenses that Jeiebel has sought to
shew her painted face and her queenly head-display. But
can autocratic Babylon be really at 'i«art interested -.n the
support of democratic pritieiples" This attempt to deceive
is represented in her painted face and it requires a ot ot
paint to mike the old ladv even appear to be beautitul. bhe
is not tjeautiftii. Those who see her before she is painted
I: II an 5hc Ls JijK Iieautiiul. Those who assist her put on the
paint and see the ludicrous make-up tittu;- zJiat ii a'ifl'.'a
t/tciyfiuii it is and in Ifltir hearts cannot but loalhc her.
The eunuchs represent those who assisted her hs tier
hair and put on lier paint. Tlicy coiiid not have esteem tor
her for no one who knew the utter wickedness and cor-
rupt seiiishness they must sec at dose range, coiild other
than thoronslily despise so corrupt a system, iso when Jehu
called from below "Who is on my side, who?' they looked
out to to hiin so as to say; "VVe know what she really is,
command us." So lie coranianded. ■'Throw her down ! And
tlicy threw her down as though they were glad lor the op-
porttinity. having doubtless suffered from her tyranny.
"And when he was conic in lie did eat and drink, and
said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: lor
she is a king's daughter. And they went to bury her: but
they tciiiid no more of iter than the skull and the icet, and
the pahns of her hands. Whcrifoce they came again and
told him. Ar.d he said, This is the Word of the Lord whicli
lie spake by his servant Elijah, the Tishbile, saying, In the
coition of Jetiecl sliall (togs eat the Hesh o[ Jeiebel. And
the oarcass of Jciebcl shall be as dung upon the tace ot the
field in the portion of Jcrrecl. So that they shall not say,
This is Jeiebel." Kings 9 M-il. 1 Kings 21 :2a records this
prophecy that Jehu now recognizes as not only uttered by
£liiati but now actually fultillcd to the letter. V^ hen the
anti-typical Jeiebel is throwiv down and eaten up by tBe
radical cleiiJcnts thousands beside the anti-type ot Jehu
will recognine that the Bible students long since foresaw and
foretold from Scripture prophecy tint while the wall (civil
authority) is intact Babylon will tall not at the hands Of
the radical elements, only too glad lo eat her up alter she
has fallen, but at the hand oi her own caretakers, repre-
sented by the eunuchs. It is intereitmg to note hovv this
picture harmoniies with Ihe picture siveii. Rev. 1() :1 J, And
oreat Babylon came in remembrance before tjud to give
unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness ot tiis
wrath." -Notice also that this was necessary beiorc the
great hail of U21. Hitherto Babylon his prevented the
putting forth of the "hail." Rev. 17:12-16 tells, how a
short "hour" of reigning with the beast wi 1 be too intimate
an acquaintsnee with the corrupt system to endure these
ihall hate the whore and shall make her desolate aiid naked,
and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire. Kev. IS -.41
tells how the conunon people at fir.st believed her claim to
be a friend of popular interests so they hit her to heights
of popular esteem. They too discover her real self-inter-
ested corrupt character and from the heights of popular
favor to which they have lifted her they hurl her to de-
struetioii. "Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon
be THROWN DOW^', ("itf shall be fotind no more st all.
We must net overlook the completeness of Jehu's work
nor how thoroughly he accomplished all assigned him by
the Lord when through tlie Lord's commission he was
given office for this designed purpose. Chap. 10 tells how
jusliy he dealt wish the hou5e of -Aliab, oBenng to Jorani s
successor opportunity for defense. There were seventy
prospective kings— Ahab's sons. The persons who had these
princes in charsc well knew tliat ihey could not maintain
1 defense, "Two kings stood not before you." Autocracy
must utterly perish. The entire seventy princes were he-
headed and the house of .Abab, all that rtmained to rcarc-
sent Oie old Roman Empire, was destroyed. Autocracy
ceased all claims to power on the earth. Who Can taiLJo
see earth's new king preparing for the establishment ot
/•'principles of righteousness?
a Kings 10;18, Baal, or Bel. Type of the God of Baby-
lon the Pope, D40.
Sec also comment Jer. 51 :44.
lehu directs his efforts against Baal worship by assum-
ing great respect for Bial. He assembles all the prophets
of Bail bat specifies tliat they see that there be none ot the
prophets of the Lord amongst them. All the Baal prophets
were present. He stationed his eighty captains outside as-
suring them that if one escaped his life would go lor the
one that he let escape. He issued orders, "Slay every
prophet of Baal" and every prophet of Baal was siain.
Bring forth the images of Baal and destroy them and the
images were destroyed. Dishonor the house oi Baal, and
30
/• B. S. A. CONVENTION
ihcT dcfiltd the house oi Bail. So the worshin of BmI
cciiicil f r«n ilie pcuiile Di the Lord.
The Word of God is amizinsly specife in its uttcr-
a.Kts concerning Liabyjor. Not onI.v in Ibe prophecy of
Isauh but in the tuinor prophfts. as m Jonah, the Lord in-
structs cor.cCTn.ns- Babjion. In yincvch and in i.he with-
nowmg of judgment after fcptntaticc wc have pictured
ti ,; *'^^"l'; '^ n" ^^". "" "f^"'"" Md BaWon repented,
ftlatt U-Al. But Babylon did not repent as did Xineveh
iNovY nothing can prevest the coming of Divine jndement
upon her. I,a. 2C .20-21 informs us: "Come, my people,
entr- thou into thy chambers and shut !hv rfoorj about
Ui«: hide thyself as it fere for a little moment, until Ihc
indisnation be overpast. For deliold the Lord coraeih out
of his plate to punish the inhabitants of the earth for
their init)uity. Ihe earth also shall disclose her blood and
shall no mare corer her slain.' It is only ^eai Babylon
tnoush that III the- Scripture has sucli an enormity of inlQUltl-
that Jehovah has sudi an account asainst her, "In her ivas
found the blood of proiifiets and of saints and of all thai
were sJain on the earth," Rev. 13:21, This is ih<? l.Ic«d thai
she jliall disclose when judsments come upon her "Re-
»-ard her even as she reivaraeff yau. and aouhk unto her
fi»" ;' fiH?'^**"5 \^" '^^^^^■J" *' ^^ "Wch she hath
fitted (ill to her double. Rev, ig;(S.
The prcaehmg of Jesus immediately foilowincr the Iw-
htading of John the Baptist seems to parallel the experi-
ence ol [he Church m the period corresponding. "And the
arostlcs OTthererl themselves logeiter unto Jciui and told
rum all thmss both what they hid done and wha: they had
Uiitrhr, Anti he said unto ttcm coMie w yaiiridvi:! aiart
into a desert pliee, ar.d rest awhile: tor there were mjny
com, OH and going. a..d they had im tcimrc jo ,mch ai lo
tit. Hark b:30, 31. Kow won.krftlly is here pi«v.red our
cxiierirnccs when engascd in our active PHblidty wnrlt.
.^0 leisure so much as to eat." Now in the desert pljce
apart we have time to eat the rich ipirilual food the Lord
IS Drovidjn? anrl by this we are Wmg prepared for the
lUttire service. An unnumbered host hungrv to be led
came to Jesus and the disciples in this desert place. The
supply or hand was anpliiied and »W0 me:i V>iii« women
auil children wia-e fed. The Great Company and manv he-
side are to be ie<l with the food the Christ in the flesh have
I" supply- What gloricB! work this side of the vail iwaits
the Christ when hindtriug Babylon is no longer in the
way to hinder. How corafortms to everv true child of thn
Lord to rcalke "He slisll cover thee with His feathers and
under His wingi shalt thou trust. His truth shall be thy
shield and buckler. <ArpL.ti:sE,)
MINUTES OF THE .\NNUAL ELECTION
OP THE
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
January 4, 1919
1^' """I*^,"" "i* '!« CH.^RTEJt of the \V. T, B
'-.^iKicty, ihe shareholders and proxy-holders as-
setnbiea Saturday noming. January 4 191" and
awaited the call to order. Utheri were stationed at
each lisle to permit onlv those who had their -.-otini! shares
with tnem to enter the first floor of tlic auditotium: several
hundred others were directed to the bilcoiiv. The chair-
inan. Brother C A, AndtTsuii, of Baltimore, Md.. called
the mectinii to order at 11 a, m
f\-iDTE: SPECIAt. ATTENTION' IS CALLED TCI
THE FACT THAT SPACE WILL XOT PERJIIT US
TO REPORT THE ENTifiE ACCOUNT OVLY THE
We report the chairman's opcaiiig remarks as toliows'
fte want to say we are very glad indeed to meet you
.... ;. ■ k' !,' ''""= ■* P'''^"«8t- I assure yoj. and I am
ture we have all mci toKetaer with one heart and mind in
respect to the Lord's Word, and His Truth, and Service
^.M^J"!* "' "* *" r^ioicinr in the ureal privilege
which He has granted you and 1 in having a part in this
work. I am jure we ar* ill seeUng the Ijjrd'j guidance
and direction ; and to this end we want to open our sen-ices
6y slandmtr ami ofTFerinu a jitcnt prayer -each one seekiuK
whoT h"" "-?■'"*■ ^tV' ^■'"- '^ "" remember aS
Who are His, >nd especially let us remember the rlear ones
I.VP rV- '■^" ''"'f '"' y*^'- ^"' '^'■■o ^' "O"'
■n bonds of slUiciiuns— suffermB for righlcouiness' sake
I atr. sure we will all agree that the condition which
^uLTh f"^ "• "'l "J^?"™' *="« '^ ™<= 'h=' ''3= never
ecrstcrf before in the history of (he Sodety, I am sure
i.d nr.Ji^^n*'' '"'" *'''"*i"K '*« "*"" 0^"=^ carefully
f„ F.">^|"H"'' '" your minds, 03 to wliat would be best
i^r the Society, and a so for those who represent the
Society m eonneetton with this election and this meelinR
^JvT,"' *'?'' 'K'/'*, ""' yo" * '"'" f'Uf or i5vo
. . "i?' ""'' P"''«l»'y know that it was thiucht he«
T ?-,?,' V" "«^"'"^- ^ ""'« '»'" '"' ^-^ r^ceivfd f?=m
ana )ou also received your proxies, I am sure that it
caused you (o think. Your board did not know just how
to act. or what would be best. When the time tame to
consider an election the SociV'y thought it adviiibic to
call a tneclmg of the Pilqrims— in order to know their
sentiment. It developed that they were in favor ol havinr
an dection, Very shortly after that (when I got back to
Baltimore) Brother Work 'phoned me. stating that he had
had an mterview with the attorneys: that it was their
opiiiiuii (hat It would work probably to some disadvantage
towards gelliny the brethren out. This is Ike reascrn why
that Idler was sent out by Brother Sexton. He was sent
to Brooklj-a to consult with the attomei-s >nd aljo with
some of the rest of the friends there, and that letter you
receu-ed was the result of this trip.
The following week ic went to Pittsburgh and held a
boarri meetinir. and it wm sgreed upon that n-c should
not have an election. Brother Sexton was sent South the
folIowmR week. When he came back he had received
information that he thoajht it .vas wise and b<>st and ih*
only ordinary course for iis to have an election, '\ftcr
viewing the matter from all angles, we conduded it wsa
best to have an tlcttion. You are here, therefore to
hold 111 elccuon.
Xow it iias caused a division in your lioard. and a
division among, 1 prcsm-ne, mnny of ,vou — ^as to tvhether
II would be best lo hold an election' or to postpone it
It IS for this reason Iha; vie have in/ited cur attorneys
here that they may give you the legal status of the affairs
I am luri: we all .v^ni to do the Lord's will in the matter
Let us took to Hint and ask for His CTiidante
We will now have the treasurer's retJort,
It ^vas then moved, seconded and unanimouslv cirHcd
that this report, as read, be accepted.
Before the election of officen, the Socictv look action
on some changes in the by-laws, as offered bvi committee
the chairman of wlich wis Brodrer E, H. Tilompson, of
W ashington. D, C ■- . "•
•S'"''--' liujjhfji. Chairman ant dear friends, I
would like to make a motion in view of the peculiar liiua-
tion which now esists. and our hope that our present
oftieers who are now in bonds tnay be rettimcJ to us v«rv
shortly. '
/. B. S. A. CONVENTION
31
Sr£ilAi;r Viomfsm: I ask for the nnotion to be rtiad.
llfalli.-' /■(ii-(yi"0.r.' I will rp;id the mritinn. "In view
of die fact that our president and secretary- treasurer—
bolh raonlKrl of our Board of Directors, are now being
h,kl in the federal prison at AtLiiila. and llial iheit appeal
i< now pending; and we believe llicm to be innocent; and
i.it ttcV will be vindicated and returned to us wiihm a
frf weeks or months, and that an election oi other officers
ill directors at this time— under these peculiar circuni-
Winces-might and would undoubtedly be misconstrued by
,h', r;.,vi'rnmi'iit us a reijiulialioii of t,icse brcilireii. .mil
mieht therefore prove to be detrimental to their case.
I tWefnre llOVf^ that we take a recess ol the annual
meetiniT. so far as an election of officers is concerned,
Vor a period of six months, or until the first Saturday in
]a\\- 11 *e interest of these brcihrcn and m the interests
if the Society as a wliote," . , ■ j ^
fMotion seconded niid tlie ([ucstion submitted,)
Bntlu-T Hudgiitji: In explanation of this motion I
wish 10 siv ( a™ '"■■': ""' a" ^" cog^n'.ant of the very
oeculiar situation that confronts us at this timt ni conncc-
lion with our dear brethren who are now in bonds lor
Christ's sake. It seems to me thii there are a great many
aucstiens enlerins jiio Ihe dcliberaiior oi skn day that
would niakc it practically necessary that an adjournment
of this raecliiig be taken, . , u • „,! .
I might mention a few Ihinss that I have m mmd-
1 believe that the majnriiy who are present here, '>["er
personally or by proxy, agree that there is undoubtedly a
oreat work for this Society to do wiihm possibly the nest
f,w mwths. Perhaps the greatest work that this Society
has ever undertaken will be undertaken withm a short
lime We have seen tho h»ri-ftt work profressing for
forty years, but now we expect to wiinst a gieat awafcen-
itiB on the part of the foolish virgin class, and perhaps
millions will soon come to a recognition ot tlie truth
Ihroucli the iiistrumciualiiy nf Ihos-e who ate iio>i ac-
ouabited with the great Divine Plan. It stands to rcasoii
that in such a work of this kind and character, we wouW
be expected by the Lord lo act very cautiously m respect
to the selection of our ofBccrs to direct that work. It
also stands to reason that we would need to put loflh
the best man for the place th?' the Ch!>;rfi c-u'd nos-
jihlv nroduie. We would need hrethren nt couraEe^men
who are fearless; men who would not lake a comproniis-
mi; sund. And it is my belief, d«ir fiicnds, that it n
the sentiment of this assembly, and the friends throughout
the whole United States, and llie length and btcadlb oi the
world that the one and only person Ihit is best qualihed
to direct sucii a stupendous work is cur dear pres.tlent,
now ill bonds for Christ's sake (Applause.) .
The question before us, therefore, at this time is . Sliaii
we the ■shareholders, here aisemhled in person, atd Cry
proxy, «cek to jeopardije the best interests ot this worl;
by rushing forward and hastily installing mto office a set
of new oflicers, adcnittedtv weak in coinparison to those
selected here last year, in the very face ol the aptKJl Ol
the case of our breihrcti, which we have evcr.v conhdcncc
will restore dicm to us, completely vindicated in the eyes
of the Government, and in the eyes of the world: Ur
shall vie make the mistake of closing our eyes to^lje true
situation simply because of sotne smaHer ^';'' "V"'f ,, '
tails of the work which some may suppose mifiht be better
tak™ care oi by- a full set of officers than hy the pre'cnt
arrangement? We thereby would, perhaps, miice the grave
misL-ike of jeopardising the best internts ol the ^iKiiety
as a whole, which mistake we would recogniie when these
dear kelhrcn walk out (roni behind their prison bars:
and which we trust ihcv will do, withn a comijara-.ivelv
short time (applause)— but then it would be too late,
I have a commarication in my pocket which I trust
to be privilejed to read at the close ot this discussion,
which IS the expression of our dear president. respecting
the situation that now confronts us, I was prtvilegcd to
visit him In file Atlanta prf«nn a few days afro, »""."'
the presence oi a guard the liberty was given him to dic-
tate i rather lengthy interview touching upon the points
that are so perplexing to you and to me— to all ot us at
this time. But before reading tlial c^lJression from our
president himself, 1 think it will be well lor us all to
Uke into consideration the Ucts and circumslliiccs in
which we would be placed, and would he obli,ecd to con-
front if we should take the action today ot clcetiiig a
full s<it of new officers and directors of this S.v:iet.v in
the absence of those who are now suffering bcliind prison
walls for you and mc. , , . ,
I say for yoii and itic because o! the tact that it was ottr
action here jne year ago that resulted in ilic imiinsoiyneiu
of Brother Rutherford, Broilitr Van Ambargn and the
other members of our Hoard of Directors. The.i' hive
Imcn imprisoned, nut for anydiiig die/ did persona.ly and
on their own initiative, but they have bcc:i imprisoned
because ihcv faithfully carried out the poUcy that i^ou and
I advoc.itcrt when we iilaced them in office. Tljey Hare
been imprisoned, rlear friends, because they fulfilled, con-
scicnliousiy and properly, the duties that jou and I as
members of iho Society hid fifo" Hiffnl U ihey had been
imprisoned tor something they individjaily did apart front
their work as our oflicers, the sitiiauon would have been
entirely different. But not so ! You and I to this extent
are responsibit; (or their imprisonment; and they are at
this moment in the Atlanta prison as your jv/rwciilJlii-t-J
and mine. (Applause.; , , /.
It might have been argueil on the part ol the (jovern- •
menl that since the actvitici of the Society were con-
sidered to he improper during the period of die war, every
member who participated in thai actisity should be i.idicted
and called into court, and conrictcd and put into prison
for that activitv. But the Goiernment did not do that.
They merely selected SEVEN or EIGHT representatives
of you and me, and wc cannot get jw«y from the fact
that the Society's interesis are ■.■italiy linked with the case
of these brethren, onr officers and directors., dotvn there
in Atlanta at this time; and ihc condemnation of these
men was a condemnation of Ibe whole Society. The in-
teresis of the Society therefore stand vitally luiked with
their intereitl in this connection.
It seems to me that from a business standpoint alone —
leaving sentiment out of the matter attogcllicr— it is your
duty and mine to uphold and rciain the situation, exactly
as it existed at the lime of the iiidictnient of these omccrs.
Furthermore, whca wc look fcirard to the work that we
expect the Society to accomplish in the near future, from
the business stanSpoint t believe it would be the greatest
mistake that we as a Society could possiblj' make to drop
these breihren ant! install a ne»- set itl offirerf— especially
when we believe their rindiciiion is near through their
appeal which is pending.
You and I. perhaps, would not mean such action as a
repudiation of them, Wc do not have the i(ioiis|n that
we want to repudiate our brethren, who are suffering for
us. Of course not ! But we mast look at the matter^ from
Ihe standpoint ol how the Government will view it. Il
is a reasonable assumption that in tomorrow morning s
press the newspapers will caro' a dispatch of the deliliera-
tions and action taken by this Societi; todav. \\ e might
pass a resolution, of course, eommenjing these brethren;
but they won't print the resciution. \Vhai they would
print would be our action In connection with the elec-
tion ; and so surely as we proceed and elect iica' officers
of itiis SiKieiy. wtitii wc are all cossiiiaiit oi tlic fact that
the appeal mav Ije argued in the Circuit Court within
the next thirty days, they would say that Ihe KusselliM
organiitation, at their annual meeting yesterday in the
city of Pittsbursh. dropped the otticerj indicted and found
guilty by the Eastern District Court of \'ew York, and
by tKs action they indicated that they believed those men
guilty. Or they will «ay by this action we hive shown
that we had no confidence that the men vi-ould 'je vin-
dicated in the Court of .Appeals, EitHer one would work
a detriment, and it would undoubtedly have a great in-
fluence on the minds of ihe judncs of the .\ppcllatc Coutt,
if the matter was thus stated in no uncertain terms by
the counsel tor the Covernment, _ -r j j
Of course the Lord is tnana^in? his affairs. The Lord
is able lo raise tip men to direct His work, ^o one
disputes that! The Lord his all power to pertorro
miracles. But wg do not believe that is the vv^y He usually
works. Wc know that it ij no:. Wo thereiore are al«°
upon, in view of the fact that we have a great work ahead
32
5. A. CONVENTION
of us, to use Iktt best judgment wa have, dear brethren;
and io long 'as wc recognize that qtr brethren in bonds
arc specially qmlified far the work, and liiat their present
experiences are further training iheni for that work, we
have s fespoiisibility hefote the Lord, We should not
make tlic mistake of piiLtiii^ into office those admittedly
wesJc in compirison to them, when we believe tlicy wiil
soon be returned to us.
I have thus far speciaily dwelt upon the subject from
the standpoint of the business interests of the Society and
our restmnsibility ia connection with the case of our
brethren — Icaviiisj ijut the question of seiitimeiil. But 1
do not knoiv why sentiment should not also enter into
the problem. Suppose it was Brother Russell who was
in prison at this time instead of Brother Rutlieri'ord ! Do
yon suppose wc would meet hero todiy, if the conditions
were exactly tlie sattie, and talte hasty action, electim; new
otTiccrs— especially when we believed that Brother Russell
■would be returned to us from prison within a short time?
And let me tell you, dear friends, if Brother Russell had
remained alive with ns in the flesh dawn to the year ISIIS,
he wouW undoubtedly be behind prison bars at this moment
with our dear Brother Rutherford. We would not make
this mistake if Brother Russell was in prison, however.
Well, you say, "Brother Russell was the Seventh -Messenger
of tlie Churcli!" That is trne. But since our dear Brother
Russell has passed beyond the vail, we have had many evi-
dences, have we [tot, that Brother Rtitherford is the next
best quail Bed to carry on the work] I do not believe there
is a dissenting voice.
The whole question is whether wc shall do a little
sacrificing now, for a short period of time, and incur the
srrtall petty annoyances iji connection with the work under
present conditions; or shall we. because oi a few minor
questions that enter into the affairs of the Society which
might make it somewhat advantageous to have a full set
of officers and directors, rush ahead and elect weaker
officers ill their place? It seems to me that the tatter
would be a great mistake. The other course open to us
js Ihc one that we as a Society should take, i. e., adjourn
this meeting now unless we intend (o re-elect our im-
prisoned bretliren.
THE JEREMIAH PICTURE
There is just one more point that I would like to
mention, and that is the situation as it seems to be out-
lined by the T,ord in the IlGth chapter of Jeremiah. We
believe that the Lord has there made a very wonderful
picture oE tlie activities of the Lord's people down here
in this end of the age. In this chapter we see tltc activities
of the Society pictured, in connection with the Seventh
Volume— even to the removal of the three or four leaves
of the hook which we were required to do last spring —
nine (Tj months after the book made its advent into the
worldn
Then, in the 37th chapter, Jeremiah was accused of
falling away to the Dialdeans," which, of course, he
denied. Then hs was specifically charged with weakening
the morale of the men of ivar, and on that point he was
apprehended and placed into the dungeon. The account
ejss, o". to say, that after a while he was brought out
of the dutiKcon for an interview with the king (the last
king of Israel), and the result was, of course, that the king
did not follow his advice and his kingdom was taken away
The point is that Jeremiah was given liberty at the
hand of the Chaldeans and was given the privilege of
choosing to remain in the land or go elsewhere. We be-
lieve that this also is s part of the picture, and it is a
picture that the Lord has drawn.
Jeremiah, we believe, is a picture of the Lord's people
at this Lime. The Society, of which ycu and I arc mem-
bers, stands in relation to the whole body, at this time
as Its head, so to speak. The head of this Societj- is in
the dungeon—in exict accordance with this picture of
Jeremiah 36:37, 33.
The remainder of the picture will be carried out. I
firmly believe that we will see that as the head of the
Jeremiah class (the Society— i-epresentcd in its president^
is noiv in the dungeon, even so, he will be called forth
from the dungeon, and will appear before kings, and we
will find in connection therewith that there will go forth
the greatest work the Church has ever done, and ever
will do, on this side of the vaii. So surely as the head
of the Jeremiah class went into the dungeon, so surely he
will come out of the dungeon; and he will appear before
kings, just exactly as it is shown in other parts of Scrip-
tures, in Revelation IT, and Psairas 143— showing a great
work (not yet fully accompHslied, but will yet be ac-
complished)-— "the binding of their kings with chains and
their nobles witfi fetters of iron."
Our dear Brother Russell, always expected that there
would be a great work to be accomplished in the flesh,
and that the truth friends would come into great promi-
nence. I believe that will be accomplished. And I, for
one, believe that the Lord has permitted the imprison-
ment of our brethren for a special purpose in connection
with fiitnrc witnessing to tlie world. I want to tell yoil
something: If we proceed with the election today, and
it is construed in the press reports as a repudiation of
these brethren (as it undoubtedly will be), we are going
to jeopardize, in the very beginning, one of the most int-
portant features of the work just before us- Some of
you perhaps know that the Society is atranging for some
great activity— publicity— in connection with the ease, that
we may let the world know why these men are in prison,
and why they have been denied bail! While they have
been kept in prison, the worst scditionists in the country
have been given bail. When the facts are ill pnhlished
they will come to recognue that there has been a hand
behind the scenes, and that hand is Papacy — the great
ecclesiaslicil system, which is headed bv Papacy— and it
is that system which has been so immensely pleased
over the imprisonment of our breliiren. It is that system,
I verily believe, that has been largely responsible for their
having been denied bail pending their appeal. Those facts
shall he made known in the Lord's providence. (Applanse.)
That will mean that an agitation will be started respect-
ing this matter. People will begin to talk about it just
as they were talking all over this country about another
case of considerable importance a few weeks aRo. i. e., the
case of Tom Mooiiey in California. N'ow we have no
particular interest in ihat case, bill the point is you can'!
mention Tom Mooney's name on the streets today but
everybody knows_wiio he is, yet he was not known a
short time igo. The time is coming— and we believe it is
not many months off— perhaps not manv afeii, until you
wtll not be able to mention the name of J. F, Rutherford
and the other convicted leaders of the I. B. S. A. without
nearly everybody knowing who you are talking about.
Tlicy will know why those men are in prison and un-
justly held and that they have been even denied the right
to baill (Applause.)
It is the thought to have various brethren who are
specially qualified for such a work to interview the editors
of the newspapers throughout the country respecting this '
°2"=r. Now then, it we take action today and elect new '
officer!, and the press reports go out through the country '
tomorrow that "the Russidlite organ iiiti on elected new
officers yesterday, even in the face of the appeal of the
case of their leaders, iliereby repudbiting ilirm, showing
that they had no confidence that the appeal would result
m their vindication; showing that they did- not believe
in tlie activities of those men and were nut willing to
back them -up in Ihe.r activities which got tbcni into
trouble, then how do you suppose the editors of this
country will answer these brethren when thev go to them
and ask for publicity in this case? They "will answer,
\\hy, we_ had a dispatch from the Associated Press on
January ath, saying that the action taken by their oivn
organization down there in Pittaburgh on the 4th of
January, IfllU. dropped them from the Society, even though
their appeal was pending, and was to be argued within
thirty days I How is it that you come and ask me to give
publicity and aid in connection with this case when tlieir
ov,iv organiiation would not lift their finger to aid them?"
Now, dear brethren, one more point: Wc have lieard
brethren here and there say many times, "Ob, I would
do anything for those brethren in bonds. I would gladly
go down there and exchange places with them!" (Amen!)
But the brethren have not asked us to do that. Thev
/. B. S. A. CONVENTION
33
have not asked any of us to exchange places with tlienij
eicii for one day! But they do ask that, on advice of
counsel, the election here today be postponed for a limited
period, so that nothing may be done by the Society to
unfavorably affect the appeal.
Now, since we know tiiat it is legal to do so, and can
undoubtedly sec that it will be advisable from numerous
standpoints to do so, and when we know that the brethren
thcinselvcs have requested and advised it, as the proper
course, if wc then deliberately shut our eyes to the situa-
tion and go ahead and elect new officers, I for one would
not want anyorre who so votes to say in my presence, "I
would do anything for those brethren in bonds. I would
go down and cschangc places with them if I could," if you
would not even raise your hand to yield to their simplest
reqiiest. backed up by sound reason, shown to have a very
vital effect upon their case and upon the future activities
of the Society.
Someone may say; "^Vell, of course we know that
Brother Rutherford is the best qualified to be the head
of the Society, and we would therefore assunit that wiio-
ever is elected (if we do carry out t!ic election today)
would be glad to yield to Brother Rutherford when he
comes out of prison ; that he would be glad to resign,"
But his resignation would not install Brother Rutherford
back into office. It would lake an action of the share-
holders to do that. We would need to call another meet-
ing if anything like ihnt was sttlcmiited. Why not set the
date of that meeting at this time. Postpone it for a while
and follow ,the advice of this morning's Manna le,Kt, if
you please, and "VVait upon the Lord." (Applause,)
Why not, dear friends, take these matters into con-
sideration and not make the mistake that some of us are
inclined to make, because we feel wc are at present
jeopardized a little in respect to some routine work of
the Society, Let us wait upon the Lord, and Me will direct
our paths. Let us not tie our hands today for the work
that we expect to do tomorrow. Let us co-operate^ in
this matter^ and we will see the Lord's purpose ripening
into fruition in a few months, Wc will then be glad that
we did "Wait upon the Lord" this time. As we see the
grand work accomplished in the hands of those whom the
Lord undoubtedly would be best pleased to use— -the head
of the Jeremiah class, who is shortly to come out of the
dungeon for the very purpose of directing that great work,
, , , We will all be glad Aj hear Brother Ruther-
ford's voice from the prison walis, after a silence of six
months ; (Applause,)
'To the Dear Friends ; — Since the opportunity^ is
kindly afforded me to dictate to a stenographer for
a few moirients, I am pleased to take this occasion
to send a message to the friends, I send love and
greetings to one and all. Except for the fact that I
am unlawfully held in bonds, I would be with you
in person at this time, but let us consider the bondage
of myself and brethren one of the things which the
Lord permits the enemy to do, and which He will
overrule for good, and to His glory. When I say
tin! aw fully in prison I speak advisedly. Never before
have men been imprisoned in America for preaclitng
the truth, and then denied bail while their case is
pending "an appeal. Concerning the legality of this,
1 quote from a decision of the United -States Supreme
Court, which says; 'THE STATUTES OF THE
UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN FRA.MED UPON
THE THEORY THAT A PERSON ACCUSED OF
CRIME SHALL NOT, UNTIL HE HAS BEEN
FINALLY ADJUDGED GUILTY IN THE COURT,
BE AB.WLUTELY COMPELLED TO UNDERGO
IMPRISO:s"MENT OR PUNISHMENT, BUT MAY
BE ADMITTED TO BAIL. NOT ONLY AFTER
ARREST AND BEFORE TRIAL, BUT AFTF-R
CONVICTION AND PENDING A WRIT OF
ERROR.' IN ADDITION TO DENYIMG US OUR
LIBERTY, WE have been deprived of the opportunity
of counsel with our lawyers as the Constitution guar-
antees.
"Brothers Van Amburgh, Fisher, Robinson and my-
self are slill the editors of the "Watch Tower, having
never resigned, and yet we are precluded front com-
municating with the Church through tfiis dtannel.
Even in the times of the religious persecution in
the dark days of England the conditions were better.
John Eunyan, although a prisoner for twelve years,
was granteil the privilege of communicating freely
with the memlicrs of his Church on religious matters,
which he did regularly, I mention this to again re-
mind you, my dear bretiircn, of the perilous times in
whjclt tve are living, and the adversaries that are ar-
1-ayed against us. We are not warring merely against
Hesh, but with spiritual enemies arrayed against the
Church in the final conflict which has beeiin. REVE-
■ LAI ION 17 : 14— 'Tlie beast shall make war with the
lamb.' There is no warfare amongst the members
of tlie body of Clirist, as indeed there cannot he ; but
the adversary is on the alert to try to cause strife bi
the ranks of his enemies. Let everyone look well to
himself to see that the adversary does not succeed a$
to any of us. Remember," above all things, 'THE
KI\'GDO-\l OF HEAVEN IS .AT H-'UND.' THE
L,A.M!i WILL SHORTLY PREVAIL IN THIS
CONFLICT, and only the called, chosen and faith-
ful will be with Him in glory. This is the crucial
hour for those who are now in the race course.
Satan's chief weapons arc PRIDE, AMBITION and
FBAR. If we find either of these in us and at work,
wc may know that the enemy is advatidng upon" us.
If we see the enemy working in a brother, for his
sake and the sake of the body, wc should discourage
and not render aid to his development. The qties-
lioh is not who shall fill the official positions, but
what is for the best interests of the body. Pride,
ambition and fear, necessarily in a combat, lead to
a coinpromise -with the enemy and any kind of com-
promise leads to disaster in the ranks. Remember
that since jesus came forth from the wilderness,
Satan and his emissaries have warred against the
Christ, and that now, and to the end, the conflict will
be more subtle and desperate than ever before. Be
assured then that whatever the beast says or intimates
that we should do. that is the very thing that we
should not do. Let our watchword always be, "WHAT
WOULD OUR LORD HAVE US TO DO? AND
ASCERTAINKVG THE MIMD OF THE LORD,
DO IT," and He will take care of the result because
this is the fight of Revelation 17 ;14, between the lamb
and the beast, and it is no individual light.
"Oh, my brethren, how I long to he with you and
speak with you face to face. For six months to this
day i have not been permitted -to speak. How thank-
ful I am that our Lord has permitted me to send this
message to you now. Having a desire to be with
you, that we might be of mutual help to each other
in the narrow way, and believing the Lord would be
pleased to help us to make effort to that end, we
have urged counsel to do all that could be legitimately
done for our needs. We knew* the adversary would
put it into the minds of our enemies to keep us from
being with you at this time. He has succeeded- We
knew this upon genera! t<nowledge of his methods,
and we 'had also the following direct and significant
inforrtiation, to-wit;
"About the time of the arrest of my fellow prisoners
and myself, one who icpiescnted himself as an ofiicial
of the department of our vicious prosecutors said
in substance to Brother , of Harrisburg, Pa.,
as follows 1 'We are goitvg io put those leaders of
yoitr sect behind the bars and keep than there. Then
if your Society wants to redeem itself it jiiii.rf elect
men to jlii its offices that will eonduet the Society alon^
more cQitservalive lines than did Rutherford.' They
succeeded in rushing us behind the bars, and prevented
bail in order to keep us here, l^ow v;ill they be able
to fntl the Soeieiy jnto hands that wtit work to their
pieasiire, or will they be able to use today's aetiOH of
the Society to thtir disadvaniaijcf Let there be no
cotnproinisc, dear brethren, between the seed of the
Serpent and the Lord of Glory-^between the Beast
and the £.fliii£i.
^'Having on two separate occasions been tlectetl as
3+
I. B. S. A. CONVENTION
prefident, whidi oiTtce I still hold, I feel at liberty
W write yuu fritikty. Individual in this conllkt
do not coiitit, because all are one in GtrisE Jesus,
therefore we need not hesitate to mention one in-
dividuAl and without reflection upon others. For ^
number o£ years the brother I am about to mtntion
worked ntidei' Brother Russell's pcrsoiial supervision
as a Pilgrim, and also later as having charge ex-
clusively of the work in the West indies and countries
of South America. He is calnt, sober in mind, dis-
creet and ffiars only God. He possesses ejiecutive
ability, ami that L mow. He is able to present the
truth, and is consecrated to the Lord and the promul-
gation oi His message, and would not compromise for
a sinElt instant^ I am pcrstiadcd- I hutttbly suggest,
therefore, as tjic most available man for president of
our Society in the event election is held, the name of .
our dear BrntKer E, J. Co^ward, and for vice-president.
Brother C- H. Anderson, or Eroitier C. A, Wise, and
for secretary treasurer I would suggest Brother Hugo
H, Reitner.
"Some time ago, however, counsel advised that
because of the importance oj our case that the aujiuat
election should be deferred for a time until they
could have liad the case heard in the .appellate Court ;
and that an election of officers now would seem to
indicate that the Society was not in harmony with
the position which we took as officers and directors i
and that they^ would he confronted in court by counsel
for prosecution with the assertion that the Society
35 itot morally supporting us because we are wrong*
They reasoti and claim such as sound reasoning that
the brethren at the office could continue the manage-
ment for a few months longer as at present without
disturbirtg anyone ; and that qui case would then
appear to a better advanta^, from every standpoint.
The Society as an entity would have absolutely noth-
ing to lose by siich a course ; licnte it was not thougiit
unwise to a$k that a recess of the annual i^ieeting
be taken for a time. Hence some of the friends on
advice of counsel asked that such recess be taken,
"Now we learn that some have t^onsidered this as
wire pulling and electioneering. We are exceedingly
sorry that anyone should have such a thought. Not
one of us now behind tlie bars is asking for of^ce, or'
seefeins for office. No One has asked on our per^onai
behaU, so far as wc know, but some have asked that
the enemy be not deliberately handed a ctub with vfhich
to mangle us further, We, brctitren, while deprived
of our liberty illegally gained, persortaliy desire only
the Lord's will to be done — \ have every confidence
that it will be done, but I feel I would be derelict
of t^Y duty to you, my brethren, if I failed to ^ve
warning and give yon this message at this time.
Let it be clearly understood that we (as a follower
of the Lamb) stand firmly for the truth as the Lord
wrote it by the prophet against Satan's empire and
as He caused it to be interpreted in the .Seventh
Volume as well as in the preceding jiV and for
which testimony we are now in bonds. Let ua not
fear, but trust Eiim and doing so wc will be with
Him in glory shortly. It seems too bad to me that
SO much ado has been ijiade about this election. Vet
let us not say too bad, hut smilingly 5ay, the I-ord will
overrule it Cor good if we keep our hearts right.
We all know it is the province of the vice-president in
this instance to publish the notice of the election, and
his duty in that connection, of course, ends there. The
voters determine all else. Members of the Board of
Directors, as such, have absolutely nothing to do with
the selection of their successors or the election itself.
The discussion pro and con, therefore, dear brethren,
I think has been out of place, but let us not say any-
thing harshly about each other. If a brother over-
steps the bounds of ethics, let it be considered an
error of judgment and not of heart, 'Let brotherly
love contintie,'
"Much may depend upon what is done on January
4lh. When we come to render an account to the
Lord may no one have occasion to regret wltaE he
has said or done here. Therefore let each one before
speaking or acting solemnly ask the Lord to help him
in every word and act. Let the love of God rule in
every heart, and vvitatcver you may decide to do, dear
bretliicn, know this, that I love each and every one of
you very dearly, My_ great desire for you and for
myself and my associates is that -we may soon be
ushered into the glories of the Lord. Anything that
would hinder the consummation of such a hope should
be strenuously avoided. The kingdom and its bless-
ing is the only thing worth while. The approval of
men is a snare. The approval of the Lord is So be
desired above all else. To have His approval now may
cost us much pain and sutTerinjj, but soon such" will
be ended forever. *By love serve one another.'
*"Lct each esteem the other better than himself,'
and count it a privilege to make a sacrifice for tbe
other. Let us avoid all things that would aid our great
enemy — Satan— nar tend towards division, or jeopardize
us in our future work. Unfei^ed love will bind to-
gether the hearts of His people. 1 will be with you
in spirit and vjill remember you cspecitilly during your
deliberations on the ^th of January.
"MANY OF OUR YOUKG BRETHREN KRE
IN PRISON AS WE ARE, BECAUSE THEV DE-
CLINED MIUTARY SERVICE. I WOULD
THEREFORE SUGGEST THAT SOMEONE
SHOULD SEE TO IT THAT THIS MATTER IS
BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF CON-
GRESS AND THE EXECUTIVE, BY MOTION
OR OTHERWISE, THAT THEV M.AY BE RE-
LEASED.
"Very lovingly your brotber and servant in bonds
for Christ's sake,
"J. F. RvtiiEHVoMi."
(Applause.)
After Brother Plaenker offered a few comments.
Brother C. A. Wise presented a motion (which was
carried) that a recess be taken for one hour. Upon betn^
reconverted it was moved and seconded and unanimously
carried that the remarks of all the speakers be limited
to five minutes. Brother C. E. Stewart, ot St. Paul, iWinn,,
said in part; ". , . With respect to the remarks of our
Brother Hudgings (not being acquainted with him per-
sonally, but speaking front the standpoint of principle)
three times our dear brother referred to tliose who carried
the resporisibility for the past three or four months as
weakling,'!. I desire to say, oil behalf of myself and
Brother Spill (as his associate in years pa.'it), I know that
he has borne responsibility. , . , Did it require cour-
age of Brother Rutherford? Did it require courage of
Brother Spill Jo step in at a time he did? Yes I Brother
Rutherford was fearless! Indeed] Can we not equally
say of the one who has taken the responsibility tailing
from Brother Rutherford's shoulders that he was alsa
fearless? He has exhibited before all the world, and
the friends of spirit of fearlessness, both to know and to
do the will of the Lord."
The election at this time is the step immediately before
us, and tve can cover the point of repudiation by such
means as this ; To elect seven directors — tv.-o of whom
would be Brothers Rutherford and Van Ambiireh (which
I understand is entirely legal). By doing this, brethren,
wc wuuld not be repudiating befote the world these dear
breihi-cn; but t rather think we would stand for them.
We would place in the hands of six brethren the work
of the present time so that the Lord's work shall go for-
ward. It seems to me that it is the Society's v.'ork that
we want to take care of at this time. (Applause.)
Brother Geo. !i. KfndaU, ^ajftington, Pa.: I voice
very strongly the sentiments of our dear Brother Stewart,
Smlker 1-Vise: I move that we proceed to cast our
vote on the motion. (.Re-fojtponimcni .}
Brgtiier Wcfk: J second the motion.
Brother Miikr: T move that we have counsel with our
attorneys at this time.
Brother Thotuffsen: Arc the counsel members of ihfr
Society? Have the lawyers any voice on the floor at this.
|3articuJar meeting ? If they have, we -would, of course,
like to hear from them. If not — ittterrtiptcd by
;jP-W^jj^
;. B. S. A. CONVENTION
35
Brother Milkr: That is what they were invited licre
Sroihcr Thompson; No one has authority to invite
them except the Society. , . ., j u
Clmirnmn: It is our impression ihey were invited here
for the purpose of hearing from ihcm, therefore I think
we ought to hear from our attorneys beiore we proceed
with Brother Wise's motion.
Brslhcr thempsim: I will have to ask the chair to
nut the matter to a vote of tlie shareholders of the
Society— whether or not they shall hear from (he lawyers.
1 move that the sharehoUltrs decide whether the lawyers ■
shall be heard from in answer to any q.uest[on put forth.
Brsther Pagi: I move we substitute tliat with ' Meet-
ing, as assembled, request the aitotneys to give us their
judgment on this matter."
BrolUer Thompson: The motion cannot be substituted
without the withdrawal of the first motion just made and
secoiKlod, . . As a matter of principle, I would say the
lawyers have no right to speak, i would think that what-
ever they have to say should he said through our chairman.
The chairman is the speaker of the house. The chairman
is the one who can tell us what the lawyers tells him.
What they have already told us can be summed up in a
few words. I could say it in about ten words; and this
would likewise be true of the chairman. Therefore, I
ask that the chair state whatever the lawyers have told
roe ; that ought to be sufficient lor us all. (.Applause.)
C/iotniiaii: The chair cannot present the matter beiore
you as the attorneys can. We have no one else to do u
like they can. . , .
Brotiicr Thompson: ... I am raising a point of
principle. They have no right to speak on the floor, and
unless the gathering defeats my motion they can't speak
on the floor. That is settled by the motion. Wc can very
readily ask the chair a certain question, and the chair
could answer it "yes" or "no," because the lawyers told
us very plainly last night (the meeting asserablcd at Bethel
office, at which the Pilgrims, etc., were present). , . -"
C/iairtiifln.- Wc have been instructed by the lawyers
that we will have to vote on the substitutionary motion
which is before the house. .As I stated in the beginning,
I have had no experience in conducting such a large meet-
ing, and therefore in order to carry it on orderly wc have
Mr. Sparks and Mc. Fuller — our aiioi iicys-.|-w advise roe
in the matter. (Applause.) Now the substitutionary mo-
tion is in order.
Brother Page: I niake that a term of an amendment,
therefore this will avoid objection.
Brother Tfmmlrsois: I take exception.
C^iairfittm; (After consultation with lawyers.) A sttb-
stitutioniry motion as an amendment is proper. Now flie
motion is— interrupted by
Broiher Thovtpsim: The tnotioti. Brother .Anderson,
need not be put. , . . My motion is really on a point
of order (which action is right at any time). If the chair
wants to put It to the friends, he may. It is simply this :
1 inove that no one shall speak on the floor of this meet-
ing, except he be one of the voters or proxy holders of
the Society.
Cliniriiifltt." Tliat motion has been amended.
Brother Jhoiapion: I wish to submit that.no amend-
ment that completely nullifies another motion is in order.
CdoiDiimi,- In this case you are wrong.
, , . ClMsirman: Our attorneys say they will not
address the audience until they are requested to do so by
the audience. Now Brother Page's motion is in order,
firofil*r Fags: My motion vjas as a substitute that
the shareholders and proxy holders invite the attorneys
to give us the information that we may ask.
(THE VOTE SHO^VED that 112 were against 60.)
. . Brother TliompsoH: The motion that is still
before the house is that we postpone the election m
montlis. 1 have now received word .ihont this matter ot
having the Eawyers speak. . . , There are no motions
enferiaiiiable now until we take Brother Hudging's mo-
tion and tabic it or act upon it. Anyone can speak who
is a shareholder. In addition to that the ludience here
have requested certaitl information from the lawyers.
Nothing else is pertinent now. . . ,
Brother Huigims: I move that we take a recess of
about twenty minutes in order to give the tellers time to
arrange for the counting of the proxies, etc,
(The vote indicated that tile majority opposed the
motion.) . . ...
(The meeting was then thrown open for the privilege
of astins questions of the attorneys.}
JJrolJuT Faije: I am led to understand that we arc not
in a position at present to lesally transact tha financial
necessity of the business; that there is no one legally
qualified in power to carry on the financial end ot this
work. Am 1 right in this understanding?
Altoriiiy Sparks: Brothel Page, the Society is operat-
ing with a Board of Directors, hiving full power to act
for the Socicly in every legal way.
BmtlKr Tliviiipsmi: I respectfully submit that the law-
yers are wrong. .N'obody now is legally authorized to sign
a check. They arc liable to go to the penitentiary.
. . Audience: Certain conimunieations have gone
forth, over the signature of "Sparks and Fuller and
.Strieker," indicating that certain things were udmissibk
in connection with the election, etc. The question is: Do
you therein express your best judgment lu connectiOtt
therewith; Tlie letters read as follows:
"D.=t. L. C Work, 1-13 Montague St., Brooklyn,
N. Y.— Dear Sir ; Wc beg to advise that if it appear
to the members of the W, T, D. & T. Society, assembled
at the annual mectiog at Pittsburgh on the first Satur-
day of January, ISIH, that it is inadvisable at that time
to elect officers tor the year, it will be within the law-
hil rights and powers at such meeting to declare a
recess, until such time as such meeting deems wise,
for the completion of the work of such meeting and
the electioii of officers ; and that a resoUition to tins
effect will be a valid execution of the powers of said
meeting, to determine when and how the election of
officers should proceed. Wc are o£ the opinion that
an adioumment without election of , officers will be
quite legal and proper. We would advise, however,
the taking of a recess so that the annual meeting shall
remain unadjourned until reconvened at the time ap-
pointed, will be a more satisfactory way of deferring
action upon the matter of electing ofiicers— Very li^fy
yours, (signed) Sparks, Fuller & Steickek. Per
Jesse Fuller. Jr. Dated L>ec. 7, 1B18. "
"Dk, L. C. Work, 143 Montague St, Brooklyn,
N. Y.— Dear Sir: We wiiie in reply to your inquiry
as to whether or not the conviction last June in the
Federal Court under the espionage act of Messrs. J,
F, Rutherford, W, E, Van Amburgh, R, J. Martin,
F H. Robinson, G, H. Fisher, C. J, Woodivorth, A H.
MacMillan, G. De Cecca. affects the legal right of the
members of the W. T. B. S: T. Society to re-elect any
of these genlkmcn to the position of officer or direc-
tor of the Society, now held by some of them-— or
their leual right to eontiniir to hold such positions.
Having examined ,inio the question, we beg to advise
that we arc of th'e opinion that the members of the
W. T. B. & T. Society have an unquestionable legal
right to re-elect any of these gentlemen to the posi-
tions whicii they now hold at the annual meeting
which we understand is to be held In Jeuuary; and
that upon election they can hold such positions wholly
free from any disquatiftcations in law by reason of
the judgment of conviction. Yours very truly [signed)
F. H. Sf.iEKS, Jesse Ft/UES, Ju.— Dec. 6, 1918."
Anornei' Sfarks: That expresses our opinion.
Brother Page: Would it not vindicate our brethren
in bonds it they were re-elected as members of the board
fully as much as to pass tliem over without an election?
Attorney Sparks: Only having been invited to answer
legal questions, my answer cannot be given to that as a
legal answeri since it is not a legal question (.Applause.)
Brother Tho^npsQii: May I ask whether an election,
if held toda;^, of the directors and officers, would have
any legal effect upon the appeal now pending?
j^ltijrijcy Sparkf: No, 1 do not believe a strict matter
of law would be effected by any action that this assembly
takes today: either to recess or to elect officers or direc-
tors, 'Tiiis from this standpoint would not cficct the ap-
.^^^^
36
;. B. S, A. CONVENTION
peal which is nuw pcndiiig^as a legal proposition. (Ap-
plause.)
. , . Brother Planksr: If Brothers Ruihcrj'ord and
Van Aniburgb were elected today as officers of ilie Asso-
cLatiOEi, could they, duriiig^ the term of thsir imprison-
mentj dischacgc fhe duties of that oflict?
Attorney sparks: If ihey are legally elected they eait
legally discharge the dutici of office. I suppose vou refer
to whuther they can hai-e pliysical ability lo sign certain
documents. That is purely a inaUcr or a prison tcgHla-
don, 1 am noi familiar with the prison regulations at
Atlanta. But from a legal staridpgint, ihe legally elected
off.cer5 of your Socleiy earn legally do anything that Elic
law provides, providing the legal authortLiej at tlic prison
will let them do so.
Audience: Would the tlcttion of our Brothers J. F.
Rutilerfnr^i and \V. E. Van AmbursU tnakc it possible
for the officers of the Society, as representing the Society,
to be held as joint congpira:ors, contiuuing a conspiracy,
this malting them liable for prosecution as joint coii-
spirators ?
Attorney FitUer: Not unless the courts were to hold
thit the W, T. E. & T, Society is i conspiracy. (Lauiihiyr.)
. . , Brother Ncison: What altitude would the Gov-
ernm&Jit take on having an election at the present time
(leaving out the friends at ^vlanu) ?
Attorney Sparks: If you mean thti effect the election
wouEd have upon the Government ia releasing them, I
would say that in the firat placfi the Govertiment has no
right to release them, They are uitdcr the sentence of
Court. The Government has no right, ftKccpt through
pardoning them, ^ind only E>y relea.sc of judsment of the
higher court.
Brothir Flanker: I would like to- ask whether the
present Board of Directors has any kg^l autViurny to
appoint representativfi to act for them during the com-
ing year, utiiess they a^rtr re-elected today?
Attorney Sl*ark$: So loi:g as the present Board of
Directors hold over (£f this assembly should decide :o
adjourn ihe election) the directors wilt have tlie same
riyhi to appoint acting representatives as they did last
year.
Brother 7'hoitipson; Brother Andersori, will you please
ask Mr. Spatks under what authority oi the hy-la-ws of
the Society can any officer or director of the Society
delesaie iiis authority to another?
Ailorney Sp<jrks: 1 have not said that any director has
the right to dElegatc his authority to another— as a di-
rector. He has no right to step down and say I appoint
and Order so and 50 in my place ; but the Bgard of
Directors— or a tnajority— have the right to delegate cer-
tain officials to incidental powers for the carrying otit of
the work of the Sodety.
Audience: Would it be correct, proper or legal for
this conver^tion hsre assembled ta appoint proxies to act
for the present board— those who may be restrained of
their liberty —until such recess ccmts to a conclusion?
AStontcy Sfftirks: No, it wniild not.
Attdicuec: I would like to ask if those who have been
actinf as officers wcrt appotntcd by the mafority of the
board? if so, could they legally act?
Aiiorjiey Sparks: Certainly. The vice-president^ Mr.
Anderson, has been acting according to the by-laws.
CJiairwaii; Those who wcr? appointed to- take the
place of those wlici resided were elected by tiie majority
of the board. In fact, xi was unanimous.
Aitdscncc: I may be wrong in my understanding of
the statement made irom the iloor that there exists no
one at the present time as an ofEcer of the Society who
is qualified to sign a check, i would like to ask out at-
Eorneys if this is correct.
Aiii^rney Sparks: I can't answer that question directly.
But presupposing the fact that the treasurer of the Society,
who was elected at the last meeting^ is one of your mein-
bcrs nov'^ in ti\e South, under such circutnstincw and
for prfLctical purpoies the Boii^d of Directors would have
a right to appoint a person and designate him as they
see fit m sign cheeks for the Society. Von could not
deprive a corporation or an as^octatiou of its power to
act and live by incarcerating four officers ol the company
in Jail. Thai \% an apparent and reasonable proposition
ttiat no one could dissent fi-om.
Attorney PuIUt: I would like to say in further answer
to the question that the amendment oi the by-laws you
adopted today introduces the assistant treasurer, who is
direcily empowered by the by-laws lo perform action with
the consent of the Board of Directors of the Society,
so that the (iviestton cowtd Jiol possibly arise under the
by-laws ag aincnded and accepted today.
Chairman: Ttiat was done at a fiill mcetmg of the
Board oi Directors. Brother Stevenson was elected assis-
tant secretary with all ttic powers that the secretary and
treasurer had.
Brother Graham: is it the legal opinion of our attor-
neys that the best interests of tlie dear brethren confined
at Atlanta would be served E>y a L^ostponement or recess
Uikeii ai this time ?
Mr. Sparks: That is not a legal question and 'will
QtiEy be answered in view of the wording of the resolu-
tion which iivas passed, and under which I am speaking
to you upon request of the entire board. (Applause.)
Aitdienee: We want that question answered. We want
to vole that the lawyers answt-r Eroihcr Graham's ijues-
lion.
Brother Graham: I n]Ove that our attorneys be given
tht privilege ci esprcssing their legal opimon.
Brother Thoinpsoit: We have already decided upon
that matter.
Chairman: Don't get us mixed up.
Brother Thompson: The motion that we all decided
on \v3.i that we would permit the lawyers to answer ques-
tions bearing on the legal phase of the situation from our
dear friends the attorneys. This \$ not a legal questiori.
Mr. Sparks: There can be nn either motion come be-
fore thu chair until other motions already made are
acted upon.
Audiffnee: I am wondering whether such technical
points of order and legal rules is the Lord's will. It
seems to me that anything ^vhich miy be put in our pos-
session to help us decjrto the Lord's will is proper bcfoTC
the convention, and that is the vital question to the con-
ventiontfs* I would like to hive the questions answered.
AtlarJiey Sparks: It has to be done by amendment to
the motion undei which ^vft are speaking.
Brother Graham: 1 make an antendnienC to EroiJier
Page's inorinn that the attorneys he permitted lo aiiMver
that qtiestion.
Brother Thompson: How can tliat be put?
Chairma}i: 1 don't know, (Laughter.)
Brother fttffc: We have iiever gone through these
meetings before with such quibbles about that which is
"parliamiintary'^ and what is not. Wc never liave had it
aLt any other election. Not,v if the friends want to know
an answer, let them have it t Applause.)
(Uppn vote the motion was carried unanifuously,)
Chairfftan: . . ♦ We will have Mr, Sparks or Mr.
Fuller answer the Qticstion.
Attorney Puller: Yeji, it ivill unquestionably be for
their best interests; and we Avill invite any cross-examina-
tion or question that anyone desires to put to us a; to
why we entertain that opinion.
Brother Hndymgs: I would like to know why the ad-
journment of this election would be of benefit to the
brethren in bonds?
AUor}%ey Fiilhr^ U will ftrit of all dishearten the men
to know that the Society has declined to change its reta-
tion to the eight men while they were in prison. It will
show the people of the United States that the Society
has said that if these men are guilty the Society is guilty,
Tice reason for the incarceration of these eight men was
summarised by the Court, and it is a. condemnation 01
the religious doctrities of the Soctely as mtich as It is a
condtmnaiion of the tneii ■'ivhQ ofStially represented the
Society :
"THE COURT: In the optntan o?' the Court, the
religious propaganda which these defendants vigor-
ously advocated and spread throughout the nation, as
well 3s among our lives, is a greater danger thati a
division of the German army. If they had taken guns
and swords and joined together the Germany army,
/, B. S. A. CON t^ EN no N
37
the l)arm they couUl liavc done wowUl have been in-
significant comijared with the results of their prop-
aganda.
Iheat cncii received a twenty year sentence and they
were stamped as dangerous to this cou[ttry. That is cither
trye or falst!. If it is false ihity will be released.^ If it
is true it is a condemnation of the religious doctrines of
your Socieiy. If yon do not cliange the leaders oi your
Society while in jail under an unjust condemnation, you
are tdcmitying yourselves with them, and ihe pulfJic—the
oeoplc of the b'nited States— will so construe your miction.
It %vould be an expression oi confidence in the proprii^ty
and truthluhiess of your beliefs not at this time to force
ihc&e mtn. frow their relation to your Society. When the
judgniienT is reversed and they come back . , . and if
you believe they were false exponents of your doctrine,
it is your duty to express that belief. It is the belief of
^^ur counsel that your aciEoit upon this question will be
the determining factor wiih the sentiment of this country
in their conclusion as to whether truly or falsely cJi-
prcsscs the doctrines ot the Bible students, for which the>
have been convicted, and it is to this extent that public
semimeut supports the proposition that it ^vas an ouirage,
to the extent that sentiment of the country supports the
conviction that that action of yours— inducing that senti-
ment— will favor the welfare of the defendant s, (Ap-
plause,)
AnoieMce: Suppose that this assembly today elects
Brother Rutherford and _ Brother Van Amburgh, would
that not OTncrcome the objection?
Attorney P idler: If the only question that you are
considering was. the welfare of eIvc eight men, I should say
yes. But you also have to consider the welfare^ of your
Society. You must contemplate the possibiliiy of this re-
markable judgment In this trial, and contemplate the pos-
sibility that it might not be reversed and the possibility
that these men might serve twenty years in jail. If they
did serve twenty years in jail, or even one full yearj the
exigenr-ies which cc^n^ront youf Sociciy %wo«!d demand that
you" deal with the validity of th<; |udgmertt of conviction.
At the present it expresses the legal viei.^^ of but one man
in the hundred million dtiwns^udge Hariand B. Howe.
When it comes to the Appellate Court and afiirmed there,
and perhaps afiirmed in the United States Supreme Court
(Avhich is a possibility you mnat conceive) it might be
absolutely essential that you elect officials to that extem.
... So tliat pending the appeal iE the Society did
not act but left itself present to act after the appeal, this
would Ie:ivc the situation in a coitdition whereby you
%v^ere demonstrating your continued loyihy attd expressing
your view that they were sound exp'J^cnts of your reli-
gious doctrines and those doctrines were proper. And
at the same time yon would be preserving freedom which
might, during the coming year, have to be exercised for
the benefit of the Society.
Brother Sexton: I just arrived. My train was forty-
eight huuis late, having been snowbound. 1 have some-
thing to 5ay and for my own comfort T better say it now.
My dear brethren, I have come here, as the batance of
you have, with certain ideas in mind^pro and con. \Vc
might say, with all due respect 10 our legal friends, that
we have been talking to some other lawyers, f tind they
are very much like doctors. They disagree sometimes.
But I presume what I say will be in perfect agreement
with what they have said. There is no legal obstacle in
the way. It we desire to re-elect our brelhren in the
South to any office they can hold, I cannot see. or find
from any advice I liavc received, how this witi, in any
sh ape or : orm, inte r f e re wi th t he a spec t 0 f the ir case
before the Federal Court or before the public
I believe that the ^reate^t comjiliment we can pay to
our dear brother Rutherford would be to re-elect him as
president of the VV. T. E. & T. Society. I do not think
there is any <itiestion in the mind of the public as to
where we stand on the proposition. If our brethren, in any
way technically violated a law they did not understand,
we know their motives are good. And before Alinighr;-
they have neither violated any law of God or of man.
We could manifest the greatest confidctice if we re-elected
Brother Rutherford as president of the Association.
I am not a lawyer, but when it comes to the legality of
the situation I hnow something about the hzv of the hy^iL
Loyalty is what God demands.. I canuos imagitit any
greater confidence we could manifest than to have an
election AND ISE^ELECT BROTHER RUTHERFORD
AS PRESIDENT.
A f ter recess Erot he r W, F. Hudgin cfs wiihd re w his
motion for a sis months* recess, in that tt was clear that
a vasi majiirisy favored an electioti and that there was
not the SLIGHTEST DOCRT AS TO THE RE-ELKC-
TION OF OUR DEAR BROTHER AND PRESIDENT,
J. F. RUTHERFORD, in the minds of the shareholders-
The shareholders then proceeded with the nominations
for directors.
Brother Str'xt^n-' It gives mc g;reaE pIcAsisrt in pre-
sentiiig lb your attention as nominees for the ofTicers:
Brother J. F. Rutherford, l^rother W. F, Hudgings.
Brother Van Amburgh. Brother E. J. Coward.
Brother C H, Anderson. Brother R- H. Barber.
Brother Bohitit: I want to suggest to the dear friends
that I tookud over thti suggested list and heartily endorse
the same, I w^ouid esteem it a pleasure and gratification
on my part that if there were any votes intended for mc
I would be very glad if they were ihro^yn over to Brother
Rutherford instead of my place*
Other nominations :
Brother SpilU Brother G. S. Kendall.
Brother Thompson. Brother H. Rcimer.
Brother Stevenson. Brother Crist
Nominations closed by unanimous vote.
AFTER RECESS
Brother Thompson ttien presented report of tellers:
The seven highest were as fol low's;
J. F. Rutherford. 112,000
C. A. Wise lU.7f£
R. H. Barber 97,828
W. E, Van Ambutgh 68,^07
W. E. Spill. 84.145
W. Ft Hudgings - 75,043
C. H. Anderson ,. 70,113
Brother Se-rton: 1 was appointed as chairman of the
nominating committee, and as such i wish to hand in, or
put in. the following names for officers of our Society,
Tutyraiiy beli^iving in my heart that tht: best interests of
the Society would be preserved by the selection;
President — Brother J. F, Rytherford.
Vice-president— Brother C A. Wise.
Secrctarj'-Trea surer — Brother W. E, Van Amburgh.
Brother Ft^^e: I don't know that it \s necessary"i but
I had the pleasure last year of nominating Brother Ruther-
ford as president. It gives me great pleasure to secohd
this nonunation^as well as the others.
Unanimously voted that the nomination be dosed.
The ballot was then cast by Brniher Thompson.
Brother Anderfifn: I am certainly delighted'. And
r am sure you are, too ! We believe it to he fully the
Lord's wit! l Brother Russell, you remember, always said,
in taking the vote— and after the niajority had decided
upon which way the matter should run— tliat ^ve always
make It imRnimous Let us take a rising vote, making
the present elected ones — as officers — a unanin^ous one.
(Unanimous.)
yicc-presiaejit. Bra. C. A. Wise: Beloved, I appreciate
the privilege and honor placed upon me. I assure you
that anything that I might say would be expressed in
a Tnaniier that wowld fall far short of what I desire to
express. -And for anyone to enter upon the duties that
evolve upon the vice-president, uiidcr titis particular
timc^ it would, It seems to mc, be the hi^ight of folly.
\\^e could ojjf)' enter upon these duties on the assitrance
that eiferyotte here ifilt agree eoeh day io rcunftjbcr us
fiil at the Threnic of Heaven iy Graec. How many agree lo
that? (Unanimous.)
So we promise, by the assisting grace of our Heavenly
Father, and ovtr dear Lofd aiid Savior Jesus Christ and
your prayers in co-operatiotij that we shall endeavor to
carry out the wishes at our dear pa.stor so far as it lies
without our p^jwcr^ (Ai^plause.)
liiSt^^
3S
/. B. S. A. CONVENTION
8 P- M* Sunday — Discourse by Bro. C A. Wise
Sub}eet: "THH VALLEY OF HUMILIATION"
WE thought \vc would use tli^ UMi verse of the 21 st
uliipter of Lulte as a basis tor a few remarks.
"And when ihcse ihisigs bc^fih to come to pass,
lhc» Euijk up, '-xtid lilt up your hcs,ds, ic>r your tadampuoa
drawelh nigit."
Throuyliout the whole Gospel Age the Church of
Christ has been walkitig in th^ Valti^y of HuTuiliation.
The Oiurdi ai Christ has betn debasetl ti bas not been
exallcd. Shi: has hcen going down in tht Narrow 'Way
tiiai leads to death and lias not Jstted up her liead antl
rejoicedj btcaiist; tach member oi ihc Body of Christ has
made a Covena]il with the Lord by sacrihcci and it has
been sacrificine from the begJEining to the end, and our
text brings out the thought of the "ddiverancc" and
CNalt^tion of the Chwrdu
\\ t: bchc^e that no thought that iias come to the minds
of any of the Church is draught with such great joy and
great anKtety as the coiripEction and deliverance o£ the
Church of Jesus Christ, because tliis is our hope, our aiiTif
our ambition, and our great desire. We arc anxious that
the last or finishing touches of iht character shall all be
made. \Vc arc anxious that our great .Master VVorkman
luight look into the charicttr attd see all the dross con-
sumed and the gold refined. We are aii.'cious to hear the
"\\'en dont, enter into the Joys of thy Lordn" We are
anxious lo have all Ihc aches and pains; all tlie discour-
agements, and all of those thitigs laid asidp. We are
wailinji, yea, we are longing for the change of mind and
lou^ng for the new bodies, free from pain, free from
all the present erivironment. We art longisig for the time
to come when we can behold the King in all II is beauty
and glory and grandeur.
Rm\ before cV\om tlmigs cau be realized the completio"
of the offering, which all the membi;rs of the Body of
Christ have laid upon the altar of sacrifice, must be
finished. The last vestige of the offering must be con-
sumed. And beloved, I understand that you and I can
increase the flames, thus consuming the offering; or
decreasing the Batn^^s, lengthen out the period of the time
for the consunimalton of the ofFerinf^+ My understanding
is that the offering will be consumed- If we fully appre-
ciate our privilege in sacrificing it means to us the great
Rest of mind we enjoy in the edifying and building up
of the various members of the body of Christ with Psalms
and hj'mti^ and spirit uat Psahns. And so this picture
sho^vs that the event in which our text takes place witl
take place down at this great Rest day. and you know
we have entered that great Rest day. By fai;h, beloved,
through our consecration to otjr Ileavenly Fathern we have
entered the great Rest that remains for God's people, and
ii you tfiid I aic Tjot rc^tln^, then viV iirc not aypicciating
our privileflfe, or our consecration. Surely we did not
make a full consecration of ourselves ii we are not fully
resting in Christ Jesus.
Present Status AU Important
1 like to bring these things down to our present e;tpe-
Tience. The Lord is not dealiiig ivhh us tike He did
twenty j'Cars ago. Do not boast of the fact tliat wc made
a consecration thirty years ago. but what is our spiritual
state tonight!* It i$ true, we have now the spirit whose
eJfer^'escence helps us Co stand on the moutuain top, dear
friends, but each of us will soon be going to our several
ho [Ties a lid avocations, and we will have to come do^vn
to the natural experiences, and so we have verily fortified
ourselves by the indwelling of the spirit and love of the
Father, — putting on, as it were, the whole armor of God,
and buckling on evtry feature of that armor^ in order
that wc may firmly go forth and thus hold high the banner
of King Emmanuel. We trust that all the experiences
of the past four days have led to that cxuberattcc of mind.
And Thus ^ve find, accor<lin^ to God'& i^eat plan, that in
the Kingdom the great Christ gf God shaiE reign, and He
has arranged that as soon as the Christ of God is all
comp[cte there will l>e no failure there. It is trtie Moses
faiEed as a mediator because he was an imperfect mediator,
and all under hitn were likewise imperfect, and thus not
one of the nation of Israel, except our dear Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, could meet the requirentcnts of the
Jewish Ijw. But not so with the great Prophet, Priest
and Kins,^ the great Mediator, for He will be perfect.
You and i are privileged xa be in the School of Clirist
for the very purpose of learning the lessons that shall
enable ug to be "able nunistcr oE the .New [Law) Covc-
]iant," because God has so designed that there is lo be no
failures amotig that Clirist company, ai^d so oar training
will be accomplished by some of the experiences, trials
and sorrows, and also by some of those depressing expe-
riences which come to us as we walk in the "vat ley o£
the shadow of death." All through the church's experi-
ences the condition of sadness and humitiatton has pre-
vailed. 0 n the oth er hand , ho wcver, the re has been
s^,vect; peace and joy in the imierinuit hearts and lives of
all those, satisfynag to hearts and souls, beloved, amid
all the experiences which come to us. What lies before,
no one knows but the Lord. He who has led thus far
will lead tis on. Victory is ours, beloved, if we hotd fast
our "faith." He that endureth unto the end is the one
to be saved, and he who has full assurance of faith that
takes hold of the promises of God and lives a whole-
hearted life, is the one who wenrs the virrorious crown,
and the one who will come off more than conqueror
through Him that loveth us and bought us with His
own preciotjs blood-
W^ Know Deliverance Is Nigh
We have come \o the time of action and recogmiC ihc
"feet" members and know it is the time for you and me
to look up and lift up our heads and rejoice. Why?
All the evidences the Lord has given oi the presence
of our Lord Jesus and the near approach of His Kingdom
manifests to ns now that we ou^ht to hft up our heads
and rejoice in as much as we know our redemption
drawcth nifth.
While the great Ciiurch of Christ is composed of many
members, it is but one body, and the Apostle says, "as the
body is one, and hath many members atid all the members
of that one body being many arc one body, so also is the
Christ." Jesus the head and we all the various members
of the body oi Christ! And "God has set the members
in the body as it hath pleased Him." And how glad wc
arc ! Aren't you?
tie doesn't need you and mfi. But you and I need
him. Now we ought to render heartfelt devotion to our
Heavenly Father that He has opened the eyes of our
understanding, and now we believe we comprehend some-
thing of the lengths and breadths and heights and depths
of God's great character and realise that He, our Heavenly
Father, is indeed a God of Love.
We are developing the same kind of character. We
are all in tlie great runibtttig blocks of the world and
polishing and sha.ping goes on of these blocks and will
go on until the character is complete in all its beauty,
glory and grandeur. And so our text reads, "When ye
see these things be^in to come to pass" — Who is He
talking to? I understand He is talking to the last members
of the Body of Christ, because wc have reached a period
of time when all the events as recorded in the 2-1 ih
Chapter of Matthew^ which is positive evidence of the
Second Coming of our dear Lor^l, have all been fulfilled,
hut one — and that is the Great Time of Trouble, and wc
know we are e:<periencing it, but not reached all the furies
yet
The Heart Sealing Necessary
So we find that Gyd intends that His Church, durirtsj
this great time of trouble shall he protected. Some arc
being taken home to glory, and others by being so fortified
/. B. S. ./. CONI'ISNTION
39
through the Word of God arc protected. "He ihat dweUeth
in tht: secret place of the Alost High shall abide (.or lodge)
under the shadow of the Alnughiy."
The Scriptures show us that before the close of the
Age in all its fuhiess the Second sealing, referred to in
Revelation, must be complete through the Sounding of the
Seventh Trumpet and the mystery Of God, the plan made
known to the last members and thus sealed in their fore-
heads with the full conceptiou of God's great plsn, and
then the second sealing upon the heart. \\c have reason
to believe that this has almost, if not already, been accom-
plished. Beloved, have you thai full assurance of faith,
that you have been sealed by the second sealing? Can
we assure ourseives that the sealing has reached its com-
pleteness? We trust everyone is able to say that it h.
Rev, T;4 tells us the number of those sealed: *'And
I heard the number of them that were sealed and there
were sealed 114,000 of all the tribes of the Children of
IsraeL" As the Revelator shows us at that time the
scaling will be completed and deliverance of the Church
at hand. "And I looked, and lo, a Ljmb stood upon Mount
^ion and with Him 144,000 having the Father's name
written in their foreheads." These were the only ones
that were able to sinff the sons of Moses and the Lamb,
But I can hear someone say. Well can't all Christians sing
the song of Moses and the Lamb? Oh, nof That is why
we have seen such great discord throughout the Age.
Only the true consecrated child of the Ij^rd, those who
have made a covenant of sacrifice, and whose consecrations
have been accepted by the Lord, arc the only ones who
are able to sing the great song of Moses and the Lamb.
We trust that we are able to sing that song. *'And they
sang as it were before the four beasts and ciders, and no
man could learn that song but the 144,000^ which were
redeemed from the e3.rth."
All FulfiUec] Save One
NoWj beloved, the accounts of Luke 31 and Matthew
24, 'Which bring out sisch a great collection of tite tacts
or events that ure transpiring in the second presence of
our Lord, have practically all been fulfilled. The Lord
said; "This generation shall not pass away until all these
things have been fulfilled," Only Bible Students can glv^
a reasonable solution of that text It must be the gener-
ation living at the present time when these events are
taking place. So In our hfetime we have seen these great
marvelous events taking place and now having been ful-
filled, but one.
You recall as the Lord spoke of these great events;
two days before His crucifiNionj as he sat upon the hill
that overlooked the city of Jerusalem, he said, "O Jeru-
salem, Jertlsalem, thou that kjUcst the prophets, and stonest
them which are sent unto thee, ho\V often would T have
gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth
her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Verily
I say unto you. All these things shall come upon this
generation. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
For I say unto \qu^ Ye shall not see me henceforth, till
ye shall say^ Blessed is he that cometh in the name of
the Lord,"^
It was immediately after that that the Disciples came
to Him asking for the sign of His Second Coming, and
then the Lord goes on raking the hypocrisies of the
Scribes and the Pharisees, and telJs His disciples that the
temple will be thrown down. So history reveals that every
stone of those marvelous buildings was thrown oven even
the foundation stone was upturned, thus fulfilling the
statement of our Lord and Saviour; and then Re goes on
to speak about wars and rumors of wars: famine and
pestilences, and all those ihin^rs you and T have f;een:
which all tht world has seen: This was to be the evidence
of something still greater — ^'a Time of Trouble, such as
never was since there was a N'adon." And then, our te^t
says, that we should, havintr leen the "distress of nations/'
look up and "lift up our heads and rejoice/'
The Glpry oE Resurrection
Beloved, are we rejoicing in the Prosoect of the near
approach of the establishment nf the Kingdom of our
dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Ah. yes, because
one by one the dear members of the Body of Christ arc
padding beyond the vail. The number beyond ts large in
proportion to those thl^ side the vail, and soon, wc btlicve,
the last one will pass beyond. Ob, the scene that will
take place in the Heavenly glory, when the last member
of the Body of Christ passes beyond ! We sometimes let
our minds run out, and yet we know that the wildest
imaginations of our minds sinks way beneath the reahty
of that grand sptjctaclc which Heaven ^vjll witness by and
by — and we trust — in the '^'cry near future. Someone has
said they thought they would like to be the last member
of the Body ot Christ. But later on they said, "Oh, what
a privilege and an honor it will be to think that in the
Spiritual realm there will be 143,539 redeemed souls waiting
for the last one." Ob, fric:nds, what a scene that will be J
It seems to me the guardian angels, our dear Lord, and
all the hosts of Heaven will throw protection around the
last one in order that the offering may be consumed, and
as they watch the fire consuming the offering gladness
will fill them, and so when they sec the last vestige of
the last rnuuber of the Body of Christ being fully con-
sumed, it seems to me that wafted upon the wings of love,
accompanied by the guardian angrel, the 143,1)99 redeemed
soqIs wiEl lift the one up;— up — and up they will go; — not
up where they have been. N'o, oh no 1 For I understand
[hat since the ftrst resurrection began to take place our
Lord lias hcEd the members of the Body of Christ some-
where in the Heavenly condition, I ktiow not where. It
matters not, but we know they are some place in the
condition of Heavenly glory, waiting until the last member
of the Body of Christ is prejsared.
Then this class, complete in all its beauty and glory,
the Lord will take on up, dear friends, into the very Court
of Glory and there in Hcavcn, in all beauty and glory and
grandeur we will meet our Heavenly Father upon His
great Throne, and T can sec our dear Lord ascending
there— Tic presents this great Church,— the Body of Christ
in a wave-offering as h werc^the first-fruits of the field.
Beloved, we trust soon you and I may bring our wave-
offering as it were™tbe 'first-fruits of the field— and add
to that collectioTi. Then the dear Lord and all ^vith PTim
shall he exuhant with joy as He presents them before
the Throne without 5pot or wrinkle or any such thinrr.
Then, beloved, the grandest event in all the Universe will
have taken place.
The Earthly Resurrection Grand
The Prophet Job tells us that when God laid tlie
foundation of the earth the sons of God shouted for joy.
Ob, dear friends, I understand diere are to be two other
shouts '. One witl be when Christ presents the Bride before
the Throne and when the Bride and Bridegroom are made
one. All Heaven will rejoice then, and shout for joy.
I think this third shout will be when "He whose right it
is" to reign, returns and establishes His great Kingdom
on earth ±nd bt^^ins lo unlock the prison ha(j:;c of death
and when the dead come forth and find they have not been
down in eternal torment, suffering agony, but will be back
on earth hearing the grand song of the Redeeming Love*
the grand tidings of great joy, etc I believe there will
be a shout of vtctory,"-a shout of triumph, and 1 think
it will cover the whole world. The Prophet says tliat in
that grand day "no one shall say, 'know thou the Lord,'
for all shall know Him from the least unto the fjrcatcst."
Then "every knee shall bow and every tongue sball confess
the glory of God, the Father,"
Biit( beloved, return to the I^eavcnly scenes. W"c say.
Heaven is bedecked with grands glorious scenes — sublime
beyond mortal conception. The clitnas of the waiting
period of over IfOO years Is come. We see our dear Lord
present His Bride before our Heavenly Father, and then
before the Throne will be that great innumerable company
atid who will say with one grand anthem, "Let us be glad
and rejoice atid j^ive honor to Uim. for the I^farriatie of
the Lamb is come, (the day has finally arrived) and His
wife has made herself ready." Think ye not, Ijclovcd,
there will be joy in Heaven? Oh, yes, because it shows
us that then the great attributes of our Heavenly Father^ —
Wisdom, Justice. I^ove and Power—will say, "Holy. Holy*
Lord God Almighty," and then John says, "I heard tlie
\^ll^.^!|jf .^^J^Wi^^f l^'?r?^fl^''^'>' ■ " ' -^" '■' ' 'V'.-'. - Wi^WjBfgiiJtJk j.f i-'^Aijitj, 'jyit^gg^ii^yu^ fv .' s g^---^'.^*!H^
■ ■F'-^^'--^^_
40
/, B. s. A, conve:^tion
four and tvreiaiy dOers singing Halklujah, Ameo." Why?
The ciilnutiaiion tti all the icetie^fr, the conip1e]:£nf:$$ of the
fottr attributes of our Heavenly Faih<:r Ims been mani-
fested in the Diarrbge of the Lamb. Think y« not that
Heaven rejoices? Oh, yes I
Desirability of Unshakable Faith
W* say the Selection and Election of the Church of
Oirisf has be«n such a precious work ths^t Goti could not
trust this in your liaiid or my hand. "Ye liave not chosen
mc" the Lord says^ "but 1 liave chosen you," Oh, ycg,
■*! have ordained you that ye should go and brinnj forth
fruit abundantly and that your fruit shall remain, " Oh»
beloved, are we among the chosen ones? Do yott know
you have been chosen of the Lord? l-iave you that positive
evidence now? God is dealing with us as Xew Creatures
now. Have we that full assur:ince of faith? Do you
know that God accepts your sacrii^ce now? Make it real,
bcluvcd, because tliat is one of the ernnd things about
the truth— its simplicily, Something you can see! Some-
thing you can feci and there must be the transformation,
the washing, the cleansing, the purification, and ultinutely
the Lord will say to you and me. "now yc are clean
through the Word which ! ha\'e spoken unto you."
In my own Christian experience (I have told this slory
before, but I want to tell it again!) I was honestly
seeking lor '^holiness" and seeking for di-at gieat blessing
which I understood someone else had. I have always been
very peculiar about that. Even during the years which tl
has been my privilege to know the ^rand message oi
Redeeming Love, if there is amy special blesstng going
around t fia'^'e always wanted it. I am selfish along that
lint*. If I fuid sumtrone else has some spiritual blessing
J have not received. I wilt seek for them until I Dbtain
them,— tf it is at all the Lord's will.
The Hocus-Pocus of **Hohness**
And so someone moved in our section of the city —
Rev. bmith, who was affUJated with the church I wa:$
connected with, and he sotMt begaii a series of Ht^Itness
meetings. I was honestly seeking for holiness, and became
intensely interested in the senices, seeking for the "Second
Blessing." The dear brother knewmy desire and so on
one occasion when we were having a snowstorm, and as
Brother Barton would say, everything "warmed up/' Rev.
Smith thought it was about time I should get the "Second
Blessing." So he tried to help me: He said, "Brother
Wise, come through, come through." But I couldn't
"come through." There was no place to come to. And
so that failed. So 1 tried other times. He told me lo
say, "I got it, I got it/' ■ But I couldn't say it, because
I didn't have it.
The Truth That Sanctifies
So, beloved, whatever amount of s a notification or holi-
ness that you and I pns^ipss. it is nnt hrrattse we arc a
goody goody sort of a person. No^ it is because we have
brought ourselves into conformily with the Truth- The
Truth has come into our mindu,— into our hearts, — the
cleansing, purification, and washing is taking place; and
so this experience will continue to go on, if we stay by
the Truth until eventually the dear Lord will say, now
"Ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken
unto you."
So this sanctifying influence of God's Truth has been
applied because of the Prayer of our dear Lord, as
recorded in the iTth chapter of John, where He prayed,
"Sanctify them through Thy Truth, Thy Word Es Truth/'
This is the sanctifying influence. We find during these
strenuous experiences (particularly during the past j*ear),
and_ during which period, it seems a thousand have been
falling on our side, and ten thousand at our right hand. —
wc find the two great texts which are so frequently quoted
by our dear Pastor have come to my mind: "Let him
that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall/' And
the other one is: "Everything that my Father hath not
planted shall be rooted up/' If we have not got the
Lord's planting, there will come into our lives sometime
experiences that will pluck us out of the Camp of the
Lord. But if we are the Lord's planting — if we really
I I. I'uu^l IHH.IWHW^IWPWPWI^
have been plaiitcil by the Lord — if our feet are upon the
solid rock — ^Llinst Jesus — if wc arc building upon this
foundation stone, using the gold, silver and precious stones
(material of the Word of iiod)* tlicrc i$ no influence in
all the Universe that will pluck us out of ihe hand of
GocL Why? Wc have been planted by the Lord, and the
Lord intends that none oi His seed tlut He plants which
bears fruit shall be plucked up, but He will nurture and
water it and it will grnw up m maturity.
Melchizedek Priest, the Blesser
So I tru^t that day by day in all our experiences, which
come to us, that wc all are growing up in Christ and by
and by we shall all become, as it were, full grown men
in Qirist Jesus. But you and t are still wearii^ the
sacrificial rubes, the High Priest has not raised his hands
for the world*s blessing. Has the High Priest come forth
with garments of beauty' and grandeur? Oh, no, not yet.
Sacrilicing is going on in connection with the last "feet"
members of the Body of Christ. In the case of Solomon's
Temple, the glory ot the Lord was revealed, and the High
Priest came forth and raised his hand and blessing went
to the i>6t>plc, and so in the great anti-typical temph: which
our Heavenly Father is now building and in which you
and L we trust, are to be living stones, — when that temple
b complete in all its beauty and glory and grandeur, then,
we will have a King and a Pric$t after the order oi
Melchiiedek, and He comes forth and raises his hands
and the blessing follows.
But there must needs be, beloved, a little more of the
polishing, a little more pruning, a little more taking off
of this and of that. We must drop everyThing that is
contrary to God's Will, And then, do all those things
pleasing in His sight and by this meanst^using all the
agencies at our command,— by feeding upon the Word of
God,--we shall grow up into Christ and wc trust the time
is not far distant when each of us will become a full-
grown man in Clirist Jesus.
Oh, beloved, the "stones" all through the lasc forty
years ha\'c been placed in the variotis pans of this great
Building, anti 1 understand the experiences that we are
having today, just [ircpares us for a character that will
fit us just exactly in a place the Lord designs for us.
Mo Atone too long I No stone too short T As all the
material was in Solomon'^ Temple, and this grand building
was constructed without even the sound of a hammer,
so no polishing will be done over there. All the work
must be done this side the ^'ail, and so wc say there will
be no disappointments there. You will feel perfectly at
home there. Hecause you are developing a cbsiractcr for
a particular place there and that accounts for the peculiar
trials that come to you— 'to all of us — in this evil day.
Faith Demonstrated by Works
Every n^'s work shall be made manifest Your faith
and my faith; your work and my work is being made
manifest. The fire of this present time is trying every
man's work of what sort it is. Your faith has been
attacked, and mine has been. There has crept into our
hearts possibly a shadow of doubt because of the insinu-
ations of the Adversary during the last stx months. Lo,
as we enter upon the blessings and privileges and sacri-
fices and labors for the New Year, beloved, let us determine
by God's grace that wc shall put on tlic whole armor and
kcip on the whole armor of God, and then go forth as
valiant soldiers of the Cross of Christ, witnessing for
Him, laying down our liv^s, if necr^nari'. sacrificing, in
order that the w*ork which the Lord has tcit for the feet or
last members of the Body of Christy shall be accomplished.
Mention has been made in this Convention of the
possibility of the great work that lies. before us. Beloved,
that being true, let us unite in prayer and prepare our
hearts and mhids and bodies that we may go forth. I
was glad to have gone through the various parts ot the
Soulh, meeting so many of the dear Colporteur friends,
who have been in the work previous to this* who arc
preparing themselves for further activities subsequent to
the signing of peace that they may the more fully enter
into the work.
v^fmrmmim iL'>*f"'iJ
/. B. S. A. CONTENTION
41
Colporteurs Returninjg to Work
I am inclined to think tliai in about one week after
peace ha:i been signed, ^ve will Itiid abjui six. or seven
hundred on thi; Coiimrteur list, dciutiug their time to the
work. God is so pleaded to permit ua to liave a parL
Let us lay all carts aside- Wluit for? For the privtiege
of having a part in tins great work which our Heavenly
Father has entrusted lo us. In the trying experiences
dial come to U!>, He will help us to appreciate that the
Eternal God is our Salvation and underneath is the ever-
lasting arms, and so He who has led us thus far will
never forsake us. God doesn't need you and me to carry
on His work. This work will go on regardless of whethcr
we appreciate the work or not; regardless of whether we
have any part in it whatever. God intends the witnessing
to go on and God will raise up messengers— those who
appreciate the privileges and who will sacriBce; and thus
the grand and glorious work shall be completed to its
fulness. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in time of trouble. Therefore shall we not fear."
i-'ear not* beloved, because he who fnrs will falter. Let
us determine by God^s Grace, to uphold each other, daily,
hourly— as far as possible, come to the Throne of Heavenly
Grace, and then shoulder to shoulder face the battle, and
Anally come off victors.
Personal Opinions Laid Aside
le is a difBcult time now that all these little differences
arise. These are only matters of opinion, because we find
very few instances where principle is at slake— n^nty a little
difference of opinion. It is time wc laid aside all these
things because you agreed to sacrifice and so did L And
we who presented ourselves to Him arc dead. "Ye are
dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God/' Now,
beloved, having laid that offering upon the altar of Con-
secration, shall we draw back, and take the offering off,
when certain little tilings arise in life which do not please
tis?
It is true none of us reali^te the full depths of conse-
cration. Oh, no! But the Lord said, "As thy days io
shall thy strength be." "I will never leave lliee, nor for-
sake thee"; anq so wc can say the Heavenly Father's srace
has been sufficient for us for evcr>' time of need. Trust
in Him, hrlovcrl. 'Mid all thf trying scpnirs. lay hold upon
the Word of God. Have that full assurance of faith that
takes hold of the promises of God and applies them to our
hearts and lives, and thu3 get the necessary strength and
sustenance. "God is in the midst of her" (ye daughters
of 7Aon), "God is in the midst of hen She (Zion) shall
not be moved.'' Why^ "God shall help her — (and thai
right now)— early in the morning": and that is why the
Lord said, "Look up, lift up your heads and rejoice, for
your Redemption draweth nigh.*' and so we praise and
magnify our Heavenly Father for the grand privileges of
service, and for these grand and glorious things, and He
tells us that having finished the work which He has given
us to do, — having done all, to '*stand."
Oh. beloved, we have not reached the "standing" posi-
tion yet. We thought so for a while back, but wc ucrt;
mistaken. We have not reached that condition yet There
may come a time in our life when all opportunity of
service may be denied, but not now. He has been i us t
giving you and me a quiet season for the purpose of
preparation: He expects you and me so thoroushlv
cxammed, and fortified by the Word of God that wi' icill
b€ quoUfiffd for the inork he has given its to da in thi: near
M«r''- WE ARE DHTEKMINED BY GOD S GRACE
AKO ASSTST.ANXE THAT WHATEVER HE MAy
H,-VVE lOR US WE WILL DO WITH OUR MIGHT —
and do everything in fact with our might "what our hands
find to do/'
The closing days, wc believe, of John the Baptist and
Elijah, were typical ot the cb»ing ilays of ttie last or feet
members of the Body of Christ. The beheading of the
one and the whirlwind experiences and fiery chariot expe-
riences of the other, would indicate, we behcve, the bst
experiences of the Church of Oirist, Beloved, as "the
Disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above
h[s Loid" (but Ziun need not fear, for God is in the midst
of her), so wc find Matt. 25:10 shows us the change will
come when, as soon as the last member of the Christ is
passed over and the door is closed. We must all be
changed, for the .apostle says, "For this corruption must
put on tncorruption and this mortal must put on immor-
Uilily," and so be changed in a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, from earthly conditions to Heavenly conditions,
from weakness to power. Then also the Prophet showj
us. "Thy watchmen shall li/t up the voice, with the voice
together shall they sing, for they shall see eye to eye when
the Lord returns to Zion." (Isa. 52 tS.) As our Lotd wa»
despised, and rejected* and convicted of men. so all the
experiences of the Church have been. As the finger of
scorn and ignominy and shame was pointed at Him, so the
finger of scorn, and ignominy is pointed at us. And so,
aj one sit^cred. aii suffer u-ilh Him. As due nKUiber is
hannred so all rcjaicc. There has been an opportunity for
suffering, friends. When our dear leaders were cast into
prison there was suffering throughout the lengths and
breadths of the land, and when the prison doors are opened
there will be rcioicing throughout the lengths and breadths
of the land. ^ we say, if one suffers we all suffer with
htm. If one member is honored, wr ari* nil honorrd.
Now, beloved, let us see that this sacrifice (which we
placed on the altar at consecration) is bound with cords
to the horns of tlie altar, and then, dear friends, having
placed the offering upon the altar, let us sec tliat the offer-
ing may soon be consumed. Then, we understand, that
when the dross has been consumed, and the gold refined,
the dear Heavenly Father c;in look into our hearts and
see the reflection of His own image, then He will say, "It
is enough, come up higher." Beloved, let me say in con-
clusion. When ye see all those things, which the Lord
mentions, begin to come to pass, then look up, beloved, and
lift up your head, and rejoice, inasmuch as your redemp-
tion "drawcth nigh,"
NoTEI<^e« la£C page for news regarding our brethren.
:a
SUPPLEMENT
3:00 P. M., Discourse by Brother Wm. F. Hudgings
SuDduy Afternoon, Feb. 3, 1919, Academy Hull, New York Ciiy
Subject: "WHY I ACCEPT THE SEVENTH VOLUME"
OUR lesson this afternoon will be based upon the
ivords of the Ri^vclator in the lijih diapier, verses
17 to 21, in part. We read, "And the scveiiiti augel
pourcJ out Wis vial into the air; aiitl there came a great
voice out of the temple of Heaven, front the throne,
saying. It is done . . . And great Bibylon came in
remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of
the tune of the fierceness of His wrath . , . And there
iell upcm tiien a great liail out of Heaiien, every stone
about the weight of a talent; and men blasphemed God
beeame of ilie plague of the hail; for tfie piasue thereof
ivas cxccedins grtat."
Now ive are going to talk this sfscrnoon about those
verses; our topic will be "WHY I ACCEPT TtiE
SEVEiS'TH VOLUME," It would be very difficult for
me, dear friends, to stand here and enumerate all of tJie
reasons that come to my mind 'for accciHing this book
as not only the seventh of the series oi iicrijjture Studies,
but as the particular message which the Lord had designed
to be poured out for tlic Churdi and others at this
particular juncture in the earth's history, tiowtvcr, a
iew weeks ago when I had more time upon my haods than
anything else (laughter), I enjoyed, fflore fhan at any
ether time in my Christian espericnct, a cartful study
ef the Lord's plans and purposes and particularty a study
of Volume Soveii. I made a list of a few of tiie more
prominent reasons that catne to my niitid which wtm
absolutely convincing to mc ttiat this hook was irom the
Lord ; and I will endeavor lo give you the benefit of tliem
at this time.
Of course these tacts naturally classify tBcm selves
uibJcr two heads, viz., EXTERN.'IL and iNTERi\'AL
reasons. By exlcriiat reasons we sntan those reasons
which hive nothing to do with the contents of the book
itself; but rather those tilings which relate to its compil-
ation, publication, etc The fiilfriiof reasons would of
course cotirme themselves to the contents of the book—
the things that arc therein Kiught; the explanations of
Scriptures which prove themselves correct, and thercliy
indicate that the book is filled, from beginning to end. with
"meat in due season for the Ilquseliold of Faith.' We
will be brief in respect to the esliriiai nasoiis, because
we deiire to devote most of our time to the consideration
of the icarhi!Si/s of the book. But, briefly speak ins, we
will enumerate seven eKternat reasons that would be the
first perhaps to come to the ininds of any of the Lord's
people in their acceptance of the book.
Tlie firjt external reason would be the fact that the
Lord's people have been led to beliere from the depth oi
their hearts, that the Church would receiTC a seventh vol-
ume in the series of Scripture Sludits, which book would
expSaifi Kevelation and Eiekiel, We all know that it
was our dear Brother Kusseil's thought from the very
beginning of his work that ilie Church would receive
a seventh volume, and in the early ediiions of the first
volume of Scripture Studies, "Tlic Divine Plan of the
Ages," he set forth the tact, more than thiny years ago,
that there would be seven volumes in the series. It
was not racrciv a thought that he once had. and later
discar&d, but it was the thought that he carried with him
throughout the forty years of his ministry. On every
possible occasion he encouraged the Otureti to believe
there ivould be a Seventh Volume which wonW explain
Eiekiei and Rcvelatian ; and when we come down to the
very last day of his human existence, standing there upon
the verv threshold of the Kingdom, and in the jaws of
death, this saint of God, tliis wise and faithful servant,
to whom the Loid hiitl cotnmiited al! His store of harvest
truths, pissed from this life into the life beyond with the
thought in Ms mind mid lite mords upait liii iifs, that the
Church should csfs^t and wouliS rcrcitie the Seventh
Volume !
The Mcofd external reason as to why I believe the
book aulhcntic is that it does treat those very portions of
tlie Bible which our dear Pastor said that it would treat,
vii., Ezckiel and Revelation ; and it explains them thor-
oughly, not omitting a single verse, and !L-iplaiivs them in
harmony with all the other features ,of God's great plan.
The third external reason relates to the (itte of the
book itself. I recall when Brother VVoodworth and myself
journeyed to Hammond, Ind., in June, 191T, to read the
proof, then in the printers' hands, that the title of the
book had not been t'lnallj- decided upon. Thtrs had been
many titles suggested, but 1 recall the very last words
of our dear Brother Rutherford as I left his study on
that da7 were these, "Tell Brother Woodworth that of
all the titles which have been suggested, I have concluded
that the most suitable one is 'The Fall of Babyloti. I
arrived in Scranton and gave Brother Woodworth the
message, and he responded: "Well, 1 have been praying
over the matter and thinking very seriously and have con-
sidered every title that I have heard suggested, and the
most appropriate one to my mind is 'The Winepress of
God's Wrath',"
We started to Hammond! Nobody knew what the
book would ullinialely he calltdl \Vc arrived there and
through a very peculiar circnmslancf, respecting which
ivc will not go into details, they finalty decided on a third
title which neither of the brethren who had direct charge
of the naming of the book favored. Thus they fuially
decided, by compromise, upon this other title, suggested
by the words ot our test, which say "the seventh angel
poured oul his vial inlo the air; and there came a great
voice out of the temple oJ Heaven, from the thront, saying,
'It is FINISHED'." So tliey agreed, at the last moment,
to call it "The Finished Mystery," and furtlierfflore, as
a compromise they concluded to use the two other titles
suRgcsted as subtitles-, and you will see on the litlc page
of The book in large iyi>^:"TNB PIN/SHED MYSTEHf!
and down underneath it says in smaller type Thf ba\i
flf 5o&j(o)i," or the "Winepress of Gad's Wrath. So,
you see, we finally got them all in there. (Laughter.)
But here Is the point I am making: the "Finished
Mvstery" is not the title they specially preferred; they
had not intended to use that as llic title; and yet, the
Lord seemed to force Ihc iiiKC and they liai U call ti
fhai-' Now a little later it was learned that Bt^other
Russell, many years ago, in talking- with one of the friends,
disclosed the fact that he had in mind that when the
seventh volume would be puhUshed i.'J title would be Tin
finished Mysleiy" I lake that, dear friends, as a strong
external reason why this book is the book the Lord in-
tended to give to the Qiurch.
The foiirili external reason is that it is published by the
same auspices under which the preceding six volumes of
the series were pnUished ! and that to you aorl me coli-
itilutcs a very excsUent reason, does it not-' We all
know how the Lord has used the Watch Tower Bible &
Tract Socttiy, and is stil! using that Society tor the
dispensing of His meat in due season— and no other,
Tlte fifth external reason wliv 1 accept the Seventh
Volume is this: That in the Lord's providence, the circu-
43
SUPFLEMBNT
A2>
laiion of this book — up to tlie time lliat it ivas banned—
had attained the same water-mark as the preceding volutnes
of the scries. Volume Four came onr over hfteeii years
ago. A few years after that Volume I^ive was published;
and sometime after that. Volume Six. They were not
published in the same year, but at vastly different times,
and with the colporteurs working with those books from
the time of their publication we would naturally expect
Volume Four would have a greater circulation tjiaii any
other. Volumes Five, Sis and Seven would therefore be
the least. But wiien wc got down to the end of the
Harvest, in tiie final tabulation of the output of these
books we found to our astonishment that the circulation
of Volume Four, Volume I-^ivc and Volume Six stood
almost exactly it th** same watcr-niark, i. c.. 500,000 copies
each. 'They all had the i<imc outf^ut, with the cKCeption
of just a few thousand copies, although they were pub-
lished years apart. Now Volume Seven was published
in July, 1317, and within the eight or nine months which
it was circulated, to our amazement we find that under
the Lord's providence it attained exactly the same circu-
lation is the preceding books of the series, viz., SM,000
copies. There were S50,O0O copies of it ordered altogether.
but the last edition was not cothpletcd, and there were also
many copies held in storage, not going into circulation.
But f am talking about the actual number of books oul
in circulation, and it is cKacily the same as the preceding
volumes of the series. Tliey all came, under the Lord's
providence, to exactly the same water-mark, and I ask
you, "How, except under the Lord's special providence,
was it possible for Volume Seven to attain a circulation
in eight months equal to Volumes Four, Five and Six,
which took them over fifteen years to attain ? 1 consider
this a very good external reason v/hy the book has had
the blessing of the Lord, and that it is the seventh in the
series of Scripture Studies, as the Lord intended.
The sixth external reason is that it has caused stich
a furor in Christendom— exactly what the Scriptures
pointed out it would cause. That, we will deal with in
more detail a little later on.
The seventh e.'cternal reason is best of all, viz., the book
had brought such a blessing to the hearts of the Lord's
people! Speaking personally, dear friends. I remember
that when I began to read that book in the summer of
IP17, I received the same joy that I had experienced when
I began to read the Divine flan of the .\gc,s — tleven years
ago. The same Joy and gratitude filled my heart as I
experienced when I was just coming into the truth. It
was the same feeling. There was no mistake about that,
dear friends, T know that this has also been true with
thousands and thousands of the Lord's people throughout
the earth. \ assume that the vast majority of you here
this afternoon know exactly what I am talking about,
for your experience has been similar. The fact that the
Lord's people showed sui:h zeal and earnestness, and mani-
fested it in the most practical way possible, during the
latter part of 1917 and the early part of 1313, indicates
that the book was a blessing to them, just as the Lord
has been pouring out upon us throughout the Harvest
period.
Now we come to the seven internal reasons as to "why
I accept the Seventh Volume.'* It is hard to confine our-
selves to seven of these internal reasons, for if I gave \-ou
all the reasons that came to mind. I would have to .starid
here and read to you the whole book : and that of course
is nuitc too great a task for one hour's performance. We
will therefore menlton seven of the most prominent reasons
which come to our minds, based upon the contents and
teaching! of the book, that lead us to conclude that it is
truly the Seventh Volume of Scripture Studies which the
Lord intended that His people should receive in the end
of this aRC.
The first internal reason is this: That the message
which the hook contains Is the same message which the
Lord in His Word declarerj He would send at this time.
If is the messace proclaimed in the svords of our text,
when it says : 'The seventh angel would pour out his vial,
and great Bahylon would come inlo remembrance before
God. to give unto her the fierceness of His ivrath." Did
it do that? I think it did very thoroughly. And then it
says, "there fell upon men a great hail"— hard, cutting,
distressing truths. And that has been a fact I
I .ilso refer you to the words of the Psalmist in the
Second Psalm (1-4), a message pcctiliarly applicable to
this time, especially since the etid of the Gentile Times
in the autumn of iSl-l. It says, "the nations rage, and the
people imagine vain schemes." ^Vc have seen the raging
tor the past four years ; and then it says that "the kings
ot the earth set themselves, and the rulers"— the great
ones of earth, and the great ones of ecclesiasttcism^-wouEd
"take counsii t&gctlicr against the Lord, and againsi His
anoinicd." We know what th.it refers to : taking counsel
together against the Lord'i people who are yet on this side
of the vail — the anointed of the Lord, ■ the anointed body
of Clirist, the feet rncmbers in particular. ,^nd since the
end of the Gentile Times, after the beginning of the raging
of the nations, which commenced in 1814, ivc see this ful-
filled—the "taking of counsel together h)f tlie rulerships
of earth and the rulerships of ecdesiasiicism, against the
Lord and against His anoitiled": and then the Lor<l says
that He irould do something. What is it He was going to
do? He says: "I shall /loW ^/leiii fn (fer'fjf<?H." How could
He do that ? We know of no way in wliicll He could hold
them in derision unless it be through the proclamation of
a niessage that would be fdled with "derision" against those
who had "taken counsel to^jether against the Lord and
agaiEist His anointed." This Scripture conclusively shows
that in the end of the age— since the autunm of 1914 —
the Lord would cause to he sent out into the earth, a mes-.
sage which would be filled with "derision" against the
ecclesiastical system, artd it shows here that the message
would necessarily be written in tlic very style in which
Volume Seven is written. Have you heard any of the
friends say that it has been a trial to them to accept the
Seventh Volume because if contains such irony and sar-
castic phrases, that if it was written like Volume One they
would like it? I have heard statements like that. Now,
I ask you, dear friends, why should we thus complain
against the doings of God? Such persons are not com-
plaining against the brethren who compiled it. .Thty are
not .complaining against the Society. They arc actually
complaining against Gad every time Ihe.v make a statement
of that kind, because the Lord has said that that is the
message he would scud forth since the autumn of 1911,
when the nations would begin to rage. He has done that,
and I for otie believe that He is going to continue it before
long. We have made only one squeeze of the winepress
as yet. The Lord, wf believe, intends after this season
of rest to let the winepress give another squeeze, and an-
other, until all the juice in that great vine of the earth
has been squeezed out. He is not through yet. f Applause.)
The scroHii internal reason why I accept Voluine_ Seven
as from the Lord is that it does explain the Scriptures
which we did not previously understand, and it explains
them in a way we can prove they are correct. Take for
inatarttc the identification of the Seven Mc-Ssengers to-
the Church. I ask you, how many in this audience knew
who the Seven Messengers were prior to the pubUcation
of the Seventh Volume^ Kow I am going to show you
that Volume Seven has identified every one of those Seven
Messengers, and identified them correctly. Take, tor
liistance, the First Messenger, the messenger to the Church
of Ephesus, which is said to be St. Paul. How do we
know that St. Paul was the messenger to the Church ot
Ephesus ? You turn to the second chapter of Revelation
and you read the message there which would be given
"by the messenger to the Church of Ephpsns." You turn
then to your concordance and you see where in the Bible
you can locate such a message as is there described. You
will find in every instance, that the message that is there
described is found in the Epistles of St. Paul. He is the
one that gave, through his fourteen epistles to the Church,
the very message, almost word for word, which the
Revelalor there said would be given "by tlie Angel of the
Church of Ephesus." Here is positive evidence that St.
Paul was the messenger to the Cliurch of Ephesus.
The Second ^fcssenger is said to be St. John. How
do we know? Sonic say, "Why should we not think he
vvas the First Messeng<^r. since he wns an apostle scveriil
i'ears before Paul was made an apostle,* Why not reverse
KffWgA<«^f,lWt|Wi-^^J^^l!-*'-"^*'
u
SUPPLEMENT
It and say St, Paul wis tlie Second Messenger lo tbe
Oiiird)?" I will tell j'ou Ehe rcasou. If jou will turn to
the lUtli ver.^i^ of rhc Ist Chapter of Revebtion, you will
Uii;rc fintl where St. John reccivcvl his commission to
vitilis to the Chtirch^ and it there jhows in tio unetii statable
terms thai hti was the messenger to write during the second
epoch, and not die first epoch. Here is the Unguag^:
" IV rite the things whicli thuu Uast smii, and the thinas
TL'/iii'/f nrt-j and the things whicii shail be" What does il
mean.'^ It means: "John^ you arc now rtccivitig i^our
commission to write to tht Ciinrch, atid your cotntnission
pertains to the second epueh. ^krift- of the things wliidi
you hi^vc sctin (which are past). And then wria of the
things which itQiij are. Von are living in the second epoeh
of the Churchy and tllercforc write of Lheie things. Then,
also writii of the thiiri^s which shall be in the succeeding
epochs — the things whicit shall be hereafter," Jahn was
giving a history of the thtircli iti Kevelitioii: and this
text shows lifs particular message pertains to the things
that theti were : not the tilings that had him because that
epoch wai passed, lie wroie^ therefore, in tEie second
epoch of tlie Churcli.
Volume Stjven says .Arius was the Third Messenger.
How do we kstoM'? if you will turn to Rev. 2:M^ you
will read the message gifeii by the Third Messenger, and
tlierc ill that message is the firit rcb'tkc to Christendom
far iJic farmalitiii of creeds. You will find there in the
comtnents in Volume 5cveEi that the message that would
be given by this Third Angel to the Church was a message
of "rebuke" because they had starte<i to form creeds, aud
it wss tile firit rebuke that had been adtniiiistercd. The
two preceding niessengcrs had said nothing about creed
idols, but the Third -Messenger specially reliukeil them
because of their creed idols. Now we know when the
creed idols began. We know when the lirst onc_ was
formed — in the year 32a A. D,, at the Council of Meea,
Turn to history, and yon will find who it was that the
Lord first used to rebuke Chrisiendotn because of the
formation of that first creed* and yovi will find That It is
none other than faithful Arius ivho stood forth in the
Kicene Council and rebuked the 33;^ bishops assembled at
the direction of Constantine, He rebuked them in plain
terms because of their fortnation of that Trinitarian Creed
which was not according to the Bible, and the restjlt was
that he was cast out, and had to fiee to the Balkan
^fountains, — ^wherc ht died. But Arianism continued to
spread throughout the earth, and became the very back-
bone of the lieformation which followed several centuries
later. Here is the identification of the Third Messenger,
because he was the first one who rebulced the formation
of creeds, and the Revelator says that the Third Angel to
the Churtli would be the first one to adrainister just such
a rebuke.
I'lic F0Mrih Messenger of the Church is said to be
Waldo- tfow do we know? You will h:id him identified
in the 21st verse of the 2nd Chapter of Revelation. TEiere
the Scriptures say that this Fourth Angel to the Church
would tell C^ristctidom— Papacy — "1 will give you a ^pace
to repent," And Volume Seven e:c plains that that word
'^space" is translated from the Greek word "Cbronos,"
which means ONE YE.AR, And Bible Students know,
according to symbolic reckoning, that it means 36t} years.
Therefore^ according to this statement, the Fourth Mes-
senger to the Church would say "t will give you ,'JtJO years
to repent. If you do not reform within that lime, I will
send the reformation movement in full force," The Lord
performed that very thing, and we know when he fulfilled
that statement- The great Rcforniiiiofi be^aii in the year
1521 when liartin Luther was e.'ccommunicated by the
pope on the 25tli day of June; and SK'J years before, that
brings us to llfiO. It was in the year lUiO tliat Peter
\\'aido began the Waldeitsian movemetit, and he pro-
claimed the truth then due. That was the first or early
reformation, and it began exactly ,%0 years before Martin
Luthcr*s time. Here Is positive identification oi Peter
'Waldo as the Fourth Messenger of the Church. Further-
more, tiie same text that identifies Peter Waldo would
identify Martin Luther, because they were exactly SGO
years apart, Peter Waldo stood forth at the he!}iiimns
oi the "space" of repentance, while -Martin Lutiier began
his work at tiie end of the "space" of repentance ; and
both were in iulfillnieiit of Rev, 'l-.-A, Between these two
there was to be anotiter messenger.
The Fifth Messeugilr was tlie ai^gcl of the Church of
"Sardis.'* Sardis means "tliat zuhiek remtiiits." in other
words, when the iiesscuger of tiie Ciitirch of Sardis would
begin his work tliere would still be some time "which
remains" of this JUU years of repentance. We look at
history to hnd out who was prominent in Keforniation
work during that time, and lind that it was John WyclifE,
because it was he who camu upon the scene in ISTft^—
exactly 213 years after tlie beginning of this "s(iacc" of
repentance. There was still l-l:i years runninj^ before the
■'space" of repentance would e-\pirc. And Sardiii means
"that whitli reniains" — locating that epoch of the Church
in bct^veen U aido and Lutiier, during the "space of re-
pentance," and before it has expired. This is John
vv'yciifr, for tlie reason that he was tlie only one dtiring
that period prominent in the dissemination of the truth
then diic- and it is to him that the Lord gave the privilege
of translating the Bible into the English language,
Martin Luther was the Sixth Messenger who stood
forth at the end of "the space oi repentance," as we have
already seen.
Pastor Russell was the Seventh Messenger. I am sure
that this feature does not ret^uire discussion iti an audietiec
of this kind. We all know so many evidences indicating
that our dear Brother Russell i^'as the Sevcnlh Messenger,
tiiat there could be absolutely no doubt in our minds in
accepting that statement in the Seventh Volume as correct.
1 also 3ay tiiere is just as niucli reason for accept ing die
other six incsscngcrs as there is to accept the seventh.
Noiv the fact that the Seventh Volume is the first and
only work ever published that identifies all seven messen-
gers, and identities them in such a reasonable way that
we can prove the interpretation is correct, that iti itself is
positive proof that Volume Seven contains meat in due
season for tlic houseiiold of faitli, and is the message
whicli the Lord wanted you and me to receive at this
time.
The Ihird internal reason why I accept the Seventh
Volume as authentic and from the Lord^ is its interpre-
tation of the Seven Seats, which can also be proven as
absolutely correct. We used to read, dear friends, about
the ''First seal, and the whiie horse" ; the "second seal
and the red horse"; the ^ihird seal and the hhe^ horse";
the "fourth seal and the paie horse," etc. But what did
we know about them? \Vc didn't know anything about
them. But now how plain! And alt the time we knew,
or should have known, from the writings of Brother Russell
that a "horse " in prophecy is a symbol of dacirine. But
we did not think of applying it. However, Voluttic Seven
applied it, and applied it properly, so that we can see it.
N'ow, if a horse refers to a doctrine, then a tuiiite
horse would refer to a yure doctrine. How did the Chtirch
begin ? It be^an with the "Faith that was once delivered
unto the saints" — the pure doctrines from the Lord and
the Apostles. Thus the Revelator, picturing in symbol
the history of the Church, shows the first period of the
Church was likened to a white horse — possessed of true
and pure doctrines. But later the Church began to corrupt
the doctrines by the formation of creeds, and therefore
when we get down to the operiing of the Second Seal it
says that the rider had transferred his seat from the
white horse and was now Tiding a red horse, which would
mean impure doctrines. They had begun to corruiit those
originally pure doctrines, Thus they went on for a time,
attd the Third Seal was opened, and there that rider had
now again tnnsfcr red his seat — this time from the red
horse unto a coal black horse. Now if a white horse
represents true doctrines, then a black horse would rep-
resent doctrines that were absolutely devoid aj truih,
I'his Third seal pictures the history of Papacy during
those dark ages wiien they ivere forming creeds. They
did not have one vestige of truth and 1 ask you when
you go home, if you will look in Volume Seven and read
over one of those creeds therein printed, you will lind
absolutely no truth, — none whatever. Not one sentence
from beginning to end in those creeds contains any truth-
SUPPLEMENT
Tliere we have the picture oi Papacy riding upon the
back or a black horse.
And then the Fonrtts Seal was opened, and it sairl there
went forth a ghastly psU horse and the rider thereon was
death. And death and hell followed him." What does
it mean? It means that after I lie formation of creeds that
was pictured by the black horse, there would go forth
that ghastly death-dealing doctrine from the Catholic
Church which was this, i. c.. during the period of the
Crusades the doctrine would be diat no one who rebelled
agamst the teachings of the Papal Church should live.
By lilts sign, conquer" was their battle crv in those'
terrible days of persecution. How better could tlio Revela-
tor have pictatcd the leaching.t ot that particul.ir period of
the Crusades than by Papacy riding upon a ghastly
deathly pale horse?
Kow that brings us down to the Reformation period
3".st following the Crusades, and it savs that then the
Fifth Seal was opened, ".^nd t saw underneith the altar
the souls of them that were beheaded for the testimony
Of Jesus, and they said 'how long. Oh Lord, lioly and
true, wilt Tliou not judge and avenge our blood on iliem
that dwell on the earth?'" And then it says in the 6fh
chapter oi Revelation, and the llth verse: "--^nd white
robes were given unco every one of them," and ''it was
said unto them, thst they should rest yet for a little
siasmi. uittit ihek itllow servants also and their brethren,
that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled,"
What does that mean' Let us see how accurately the
Seventh Volume has not only explained these seals, bat
shown us conclusively the time in which each one of them
was opened,
Voliinie Seven says that the Fifth Seal followed the
Crusades, and that it applied to the Reformation period
beginning with Martin Luther's message in the year lolS.
Hoiv do we know? The Ecveiator says those there in
that period who were beheaded for the testimony of
Jesu.! — those faithful ones who had sacrificed themselves
that they mishl attain the fCingdom— it was promised that
they should wear whits robes, but that they mtist "rest for
a little season," How long? That word season is trans-
lated from the same Greek word "Chronos," which means
"a year," or, as Bible Students know, it refers to a period
of 380 literal years. It means this: "You have been faith-
ful, and therefore you shall wear white robes, but before
you wear your white robes you must rest for 3S0 vea.rs-"
Rest where? Rest in death, 330 years, and then voii shall
wear white robes, Martin Lutlier began his work in the
year 1518 A, D, Now then, 3R0 years from that very date
brings us to the spring of 1878, which. Volume Two says
was the date of the beginning of the "resurrection of the
sleeping saints,**
Could anything be clearer than that? Do you accept
that message as from the Lord? Did you know it before
Volume Seven was published? Or did yon only come
to understand it since? Then dnes Volume Seven contain
"meat m due season for the household of faith"? It
certainly does.
The next, at Si-'tth Sea], was opened and it savs there
was a "great earthquake," That refers to revolution,
and that would identify it with the time of the great
earthquake between Jtarlin Luther's day and the procla-
mation of present truth— which was the Seventh Seal.
Thus, the Six 111 Seal comes in between .Martin Luther and
Pastor Eusscll. And there would be an earthquake
between that lirae says the Revelator, showing that it
would refer to that period of general enlightenment about
the time ot the great .American Revolution, ITTG, or the
great French Revolution which fallosved a few years
later. But of course the French Revolution reallv' had
lis beginning with the American Revolution— as cause and
effect.
Then the Seventh Seal opened, and Brotlier Russell
shows that refers to the prociamation of "Present Truth,"
We need not go into detail on that. But can we not sec.
dear friends, that if Volume Seven thus properly inicr-
prois these Seven Seals, then it is from the Lord— "meat
in dMe season" to His household.
The fcnrth Internal reason why I accept Volume Scveil
is that it accurately interprets the Seven Trumpets. "What
did we know about these before Volume Seven came o
Nothing! i\ow ivc can understand them, and see t"
the interpretations given here are correct- Tliey can
Pfoveii. Brother Russell says that the Lord, when
would descend from Heaven with a shout and with
Trump of God in His hand {referring to the lene
trump), that it alludes to tiic prodimaiion of the Tr-
Message in the Harvest of this -Age. That being tr
accordiiie to the same logic, tiie preceding six truniii
would also reter to prociatiiations of truth, or eftc
toward perpctuative truths in llic Chtircli. These trumi>
would not ht with those creeds ot the Dark Ages becai
they were devoid of truth. But they do fit e-\aetiy w
the prodamatioii of truth by the mouth of tlie varii
reformers. Therefore, Volume Seven says the Fi
Trumpet refers to the jiroclamation of Truth by .Mar
Luther when he nailed his ninety-five theses to the chui
door at Wittenberg and we can see that is rcasoiial
Alartin Luther did proclaim Truth. He riidn't have
much as we have today, but he had a little, anil he pi
claimed "meat in due season." He gave tiic message Ih
Juo, and it was a truthful messige. There we have t
hirst Reformation Trump,
The Anglican movement in England was the Seco:
Keformation Trumpet, even as the Third Trumpet refi
to the (jIvinisLc movement in France. Ygu will noti
how these are identified in the Scriptures we read th
the First was sounded and a third part of the earth w
burned up; the Second was sounded and another thi
part was consumed; then the Third Trumpet was sound
and the other thirrl part was burned up. Now we mere
have to reter to history and we will find that tack
those days the three dominating nations of she earth Tl
wiiole earth was practically dominated by these thr,
potential powers. Tliereforc, when these three Reform
tion movements started in those three countries, and whv
the first one was sounded all of Germany was turne
from Papist to Protestant, and therefore as Papists tht
ceased to be. The third of the earth was consumed t
'*'' as being jiapal was concerned. A few years later tl-
Anghcan movement started and Britain was converte
from Papacy to Protestantism, and there another thir
part was enniiimed. Then, down in France two or thrc
j'ears later, John Calvin started the next movement, Ther
xht Third Trumpet sounded, and that last diird part o
the earth was consumed. Thus those three art idcnlifiei
1 lien the next reformation message went forth in th
hands of the Baptists, about the year lo33, by Mennor
and the Mennonites and other "ites" have sprung from tha
movement, but essentially the Baptist tnovemeni whicl
began about the year 1S;J2 constituted the Fourth 'Trumpe
of Truth in the hands of that reformer.
And then by that time the reformation movement had
practically died. The whole spirit of the Reformatioi;
was dead. And they began to affiliate with the variou^
pov/ers just as Papacy had been doing before. And it
ivas two centuries before we see any other particular effor-
put forth along the line of the Reforination, But in tht
seventeen hundreds we find that the Methodist moveiaoit
began, and it became a very great movement; but it was
peculiar from others in this respect, that Methodism did
not bring forward any iicai truth. It merely took tlic
truths taught by the previous reformers and mixed them
up so that it confused the minds of the Lord's people
searching for the truth, rather tiian clarifying matters.
.Methodism said: "Why yes. Free Grace is taught in the
Bible, and of course there arc certain texts there that
seem to set forth the idea of John Calvin along the line
of election, but ^ve won't p^y much attention to them,"
Thus they smeared it over with confusion. And then
what about baptism? "Yes, that is taught in the Scrip-
tures, but it doesn't make very much diftereiwe how you
perform tiie cereitiony. You may use your own judgment.
Sprinkle, Pour, Dip, — anything!" So they smeared over
the truth on that also, and Methodism did not bring forth
one iota of truth on anything. This is accurately described
in the 5th chapter of Revelation. . It says the Fifth
Trumpet would be sounded and there would arise a blind-
ing haae, a smoke as the smoke oi a great furnace; that
it would confuse the minds of the Lord's people, and
.
46
SUPPLEMENT
instead cf idvincing tUc troths of the Reformation move-
retut, it woulJ railicc ri:ia:a Oicm. Atid, ilicreiore, ii is
dejcribcd as the firsS tum.
Tilings went on, sllliough il>c spirit of Ihe Keioraia-
lioii liad died down, and it was ininossibic to resurrect
it, until in the ycir ISlti there \ras one more edori iriatlc
lo keep tlie Reformation alive. Tlic preachers Gaid: "VVe
will get togctlier and form a union or irusi. We will
call It the Erangclicol Alliance" and liy iM bolster up
this losing cause of llic Reiormitiun, and keep other sects
rroiii splitting off, and not let inytiody teadi or prcacli
the trail! unless thej have an ordination ord. and come
into harmony with us; if we wilt combine we will keep
the Reiormation goifie" And this wai ihe Sixth Trump
of the Reformation, but it was also a mne, because ot
the fact that it did more harm than good to the Retor-
ijiaiion movement. Then, m the year \e<i, the Lord sent
the lUird and ^1 -Mt, which wis effective, which sealed
the doom of Protesiinism and Papacy by procliimmK me
true message of the Lord and tehii.cini! the ecclesiastical
systems for their unlaithfulness. 1 sjy. ihfretore, dear
friends, that the fsct thii these Seven Trumpets arc
accurately explained in Vaumc Seven, and no p-aec eUc,
this is conclusive evidence that Volume Seven contaiiis
meal in due season (ur tile huasehoW of faith. Iiid IS
from the Lord. , ,, ,
The ffllt internal reasoa why I accept the Volume as
authentic is that it (iroscriv explains the Seven PIsit.im.
We have overran oar allcied tiaic already and we will
not have time to explain them in detail; Ijut we wdl
briefly »>' that if anyone will read the explanation of
these Seven Plagues in Volume Seven and cannot see
that they are properly explained, even as the Seals and
the Trumpets. I canrot understand the reasoning oi their
minds. Vou take for instince the reference in the I4th
chapter of Revelation, verses 6 and i. That chapter
relates to the Harvest periods. No one can doubt that,
if they will read the chapltr over. It says tie Lord wdl
come with a aliarp sickle in His hand and Jo tlic Harvest
work as the Oiief Reaper. We know that that diopter
f ekics tn the Harvest which is the end of the age. 1 hen
it -ells of the message that would be proclaimed Jurina
the Harvest, and there describes it m the Ibth chapter,
in different languaES. as Seven Plaguei upon Ecclesiasti-
cisui; and here we see that the Volumes of Scripture
Studies are accurately dcacribid. You take, for injliiii.c,
the one ihai refers to Volame One. It says that durmg
thij Harvest period, "I saw an angel fly through the niidst
of Heaven, having the everlasting gospel lo preach to
every nation and fmdred and people oi earth, and saying
the hour of his judiment has cornel" £ atfc you. dear
friends, where have we seen during die ciilire Harvest
period anythins that would fulfill that picture, except
the publication and dissemination of the "Divine Plan of
the .\gcs," which Iwj cairied iliat very gospel there men-
tioned—"the everlasting gospel," the true explanatkin of
food's plan— to every nation and kindred and peoples,
tiaiisIatcJ ill twenty-two IsimuaBcs and circulated to an
extent even surpassin:? the circulation of any book known,
except the Bible ilseli ? It also ciiried the message, "The
Hour of His judijinciil is seme," in the next to tlie last
diapter, entitled "The Day ot Jchovali," and sliowmj Chat
we have corae down to the .WiiftjiiiioJ flamii— which Uic
book itself was called. I do not know how anyone could
doubt that that verse relates to the publication of Voluine
One when vve see that the whole chapter refers 10 the
Harvest work; and isn't it reasonable that the Lord would
describe the instrtunents He would in accomplishing that
work? It seems to roc the most rcasoniiblc thing iiaaRiu-
Tlie ntit ■ messenger was to proclaim "Babylon is
fallen 1" And would show the time for Babylon to fall.
The book is called "Tnt Time is at Hind," and the last
chapter dc^rrihes ih*' "Man of Sin"— Papacy, also called
by the Revclator "tlic greil harlot." and the Protestant
ChurchM as her daoghicra. Volume Two shows clirono-
logically that the time has come lor Babylon 10 tall.
The Third Volume was to proclaim a message which
is Indeed first given in Vclume Three, namely, that the
time is come for the resurrection of Lhc sleeping samts
in JST3, and that "U'csscd are they that die in the Lord
from henceforth." that is the message thit the third
messenger carried, and that is gi'.en in Volume Three of
Scripture Studies, llicn in boili chapters 14 and lo. when
it jets lo that rhird Plajue it say« dief* would he a
"tTKSsenger come out from the aitar and say. Even so!
We lurn to the Third Volume, Slid over lo the cliaptcr
wluch deals with tlist ".^tliar" oi the Lord in the midst
of ilic land o( ligypi, it says "corrolioranvc testimony.
In other words thii Treatise on this alur of the Lord in
the midst of the land oi Egj-pt is not dcsigticd to teach
atlT new truth. !>ut mtrely to say "liven sol" lo corroborate
whit yoa have already learned, and both chapters in
Revelation, when dcalinB with the Third Plague or Jiiei-
seiiger, identifies it positively by that statement that
Volume Three would carry a corrohnraiive message, say-
ing, "Even so!' . ,, ,
So it is in respect to all the others, until we get down
to the seventh, and x% we read in the words of our text,
"The seventh angel" would bring great Batylon into
reniembrance befor. God, and u(KJM Hit men, tlie elcrgy-
meii of Babylon, "a great hail"— hard, distrcsjing truths
would fall. Volume Sever, has done iliat. If we have
any doubt about it, suppose wc ask some of the dergy-
mea! (Laughter.}
Wc will hardly have time to rcier to the ta« two
external reasons as lo why I accept Volume Seven, but
they alhidn to the iook of E»ehi«l,— the sixth reaion
referring particularly to that wonderful e-nplanation of
the svmbols in the first eUptci of Enckicl, whitli none
of the Lord's people, to my knowledge, had iny compre-
hension of until Volume Seven was ptblished; and now
it is all cleared up aed we can see it ii in liarmory with
all the symbols oi the Bible. - r- , ■ .
My i(«ii/)i reasoa relates to the Temple ot tzcfciel,
and it seems to me, dear friends, that if there was nothing
else in Volume Seven that wc could actcpl tlliil when we
get to that Temple of Ezekiel chapter we would go on
our knees and say, "This ii from the Lord' (audience—
"Amen"), because it sels foiili llie iilan in all of its clear-
ness, ifid all oi its details are tn exact accordance with
the teachings of the Tabernacle Shadows, and ^ho^^•s a
great deal more light from die Scriptures than Tabernacle
Shadows could show. Not one of us. t dare say, bad ailj"
coitiprehension of the teachings oi the last nine chapters
uf Eickict uniil Volume Seven was publislied. 1 atn
amazed when 1 read that chapter now lo think how it
was possible lor the brother who compiled the book lo
come to a clear comprchention of thos* d*ep statements
of the last chapters of Ezekiel,— and yet he has cleared
the wiiole matter up. How could he have doac it except
through the blessing ot the 1/jrd ?
We will dose with one diougli!. VVc desire to answer
briefly a criticism that is mere commonly brought apinst
the Seventh Volume than any other which I have heard.
and that is. "Why call il the posthumous wcirir of Pastor
Russell ?" I have heard some of the fiiends say, "I get
a great bleising out of the bcok, but still 1 can t understand
why thev use that term, because it seems to be used wrong-
fully." "I answer. "No, dear iticnis, U is used properly."
And it is according to the literary usage ; and jet we have
a deeper meaning, which we will endeavor to e.tplain.
Some have said, "Well, .the mere fact that there it lo
much in the bock which is tiot written by Erodier Russell
would militate asainst using the term "posthumouJ." Wo
answer, "So." When we recognize the fact that the book
was dcilgitcd by our dear Tailor, that l.c really began lo
write or publish Volume Seven of the series, and when he
said the seventh book wouli rxplim Revelation, and ex-
plain Ezekiel, and whea he said the Seventh Volnnii:.
which he already annouaced viquA be pufalis.hed by the
Watrh Tnwcr Bible & Tract Society; and the book was
merely completed after his death according to the iiuMr
Unci ■a-Mch ht dcsigiicil, and it was jjubllshcd properly
as liii work. I will give you a prccedeat. You lake the
last hook of fiction of Charles Dickens. There is i great
deal in the book which Charles Dickens never wrote, and
probably things he never ihought oi. because he died
before he finished the work The work was finished by 3
friend of Dickens and was ptMished after Charles Dickens
SU PPLEMENT
death. The story was eompleied by this other man, and
published as the fostliumovn ziari of Chcrks Dickens,
and I nev«rr have heart! aay criticism on that point by any
me. It is generally accepted as the posthumous work of
Charles Dickens. Cut yod Can Itcar a great deal of criti-
cism about using the same term in connection with Volume
Seven. Some say, "Well, that may be true, but the matter
from Brother Russell's pen hac been publijlicd prior to
his death in The Watch Tower, etc., and this would mili-
tate aeainst th« usage of the term "poiihiarnQtis." \Ve
answer, "No." Take for instance the posthumous work
ot Martin Luihet. Tlte things lie said and did were col-
lertcd by his friends and published subsnjuent to his
death. I'lacticaJly every one of tliem appeared in maga-
aioes before his death. The matter was compiled and
broiielit together in iooi /una which had never been done
prior (0 his death, ind it was properly published as his
■■posthumous work"; and not only the publishers call it
■'post humour," but also literary men like Thomas Carlyle
in liis ovn writings have referred to the book ss Martin
Luther's "posthumous worfc.'^ shewing :hat it is a correct
nS2ge of the term in the literary world, — and yet we will
find plenty to criticize Volume Seven en that very .score.
But there is .1 deeper reason to our minds why Volume
Seven should be considered as the posthumcus work of
Brother Ruisell. The very opening Chapter and verse of
Revelation says "that these thuigs were shown unto John
by Hie .nsel,"— iij die Lords angel. Brother Russell in
commenting upon this matter sa>s that John is a picture
of ihc Qiurch in the Harvest period, and the things which
John there saw— literally, in vision- the John dais down
here would be made to understand in all their reality. In
other wofds. the symbols ivould lie c,\pUlneri rn the John
class; and when John said these things were shown unto
him by the Lord's angel, lit was speaking for you and
tne— the John class. By Ihe annel of the lord, to the
John stage of the Church, these things would be made
clear. In the Isth and 39ntl chapters vou will finii John
speaking if these things again. .And he savs. '.And when
I saw. and undtrstnotl, then I fell before tlie feet of Him
that had ihown these things to me, and He said, see that
thou tlo it not, tor I iiii diy felloivservant— of thy breth-
ren, one o( the prophets worshipped God." Has it been
true, dear friends? You and I oE the John class, when
we have come to timjerstand the great bcauiies ui the
Lord's plan, haven't we almost felt tike worshipping
Brother Russell : hm lias it not been ilwavs his spirit to
potn; us to the iorii.- "See thou do it not." 'Don't worship
Brother RusselL worship Oud. I am raerelv thv fellow-
servant, one of the prc^hets of the Lord." pVophei means
one who proclaims the truth. And that is vvlui he was,
and he was an honorej protJtet of the Lord, an honored
servant— a fellow-servant indeed— of which vou and I are
scarcely worthy. \ow it isys ihit dicjc things would
be shown nnto John, and the John class would see these
things and unJtrsiariJ them. There is the key lo the
whole situation. John saw ihcm bick ihcre. hut literally
he did not understand them. But to you and me these
things became meat in due season. Now we have come
to understand the . things which John literally saw back
there m vision, Tliey were shown to John by the angel
and they would be shown by the Ijjrd's angel 'to the johii
class. There is no <juc9tion dial Fislor Kussai -dias lite
mgd It Ihc Mm tfoch of Jfic Churck-lo Uie last mem-
ters oi the body of Christ, the Laodicean Church iVow
if these things were to be shoivu to the John class by the
angel, and the John class would feel almost like wor-
slitppmg the Lord's servant for having ted thcni thus
With the meat in due season, can we not see the picture
complcle? And when dii this angel to the Laodicean
period snow these things lo us? Before he died? Som»
of the thinjis, ycj. But wc did not come to an under-
standing of an the i>™bols of Revelation from Srst to
last un 111 aficr Ais death; and kov? Tiirough Ihe medium
of the Seventh Volume of Scriptnre Studies. I sav, thcrc-
toic, that not only from the literary usage of tlie terra
but according to (Iw Book of Eev-elatior, the Lord's people'
are justified in considering il as the posthumous work of
Brother Sits?ell._the servant la uliom :he Lord had com-
mitted all His store of present iritlh. (Rev. 1.1; in-.io.)
,n,y'J'"\'^ ''■'"" ^'* '*'"^* "" "'« ^''t <^^y of October
lUlb, but 'his works did follow on." and he himself m
comineiiuiig upon that te.tt says that the words indicate
that since 1878 those who would die would merely rest
from the laborious features of the Harrest work, but the
wo,'K which they were 6oins on this lidc the vail they
would continue to do on ilis attur sidi: On the strength
ot ihis tcit he Mid repeatedly in THE W.-VTCH TOWER
and elioivjtcre, that the saints on the other tide of the vaii
"• co-u^ciiting with us on this side" Do you think
th,il has been true? If that is trne witli ihe saints from
lSi« down 10 the present, it i.s sureiy true with ihe greatest
servant 01 the Lord in this Harvest time, our dear Pastor.
1 say. He rested from the laborious feature but con-
tinued Ihe Harvest work right on. and coatimjed to co-
opciate with the Harvest workers from the other tide,
and I believe in some way the Lord has honored him to
bring to your altention and mine an e.^planaiion of ihosc
sytnjols which John literally saw in vision. Therefore,
the Words of the Revelator, as txplaired by our dear
Pastor, have coroe true.- they havr been fulfilled.
In conclusion, done friends, when jou hear anyone
speaking of Volume Seven, I hoje yon will encourage
them to reahtc that it is just as much a message from
the Lord IS arc the preceding six votunes Personally,
I do not like to hear any of the truth friends, when they
are addressed about Ihe "leventh VclufTK. aav, "Oh yes
I accept it It is a good book, but of course there are
lots of mi!Uakes m it." t don't like to hear that 1 would
just as soon hear such a remark made when we would
asit a brother ii, i|,c ttuili, "V\ hat do you think of
Volume iJr.e? \ow suppose he would answer you, 'Oh
It is a good book. I accept it, but of course there arc
lots of mistakes in it." You wotiid say that Ijrotlier is
Bot wry ckar iii the truth. I would say the same thing
It he made such a remark about Volume Seven, When
we hear anyone l>egin to set forth the mistakes in any
of the b.3oks and overlook the good things there, they are
discounting ihe messages the Lord has given them at thin
time ; and I say such an individual does not have a proper
appreciation of vvliat the Lord has given him. There is
no mere reason -jihy -J!e slwutd reject the Seventh Volume
beiOlttc of same statements tliert abaal Ihc eildifa of the
war tH October, tpr. 'Jihich did nsl corns Irue. than there
u thai ?u^ thttuU thr^isf t-'atmme TWO atmy beeavtse we
wercH'l all slorificd in October, rg 14.
February 2, 1919, 8 P. M., Discourse by Bro. Wra. F. Hudgings
Academj- Hail, .New York iSity
Subject: "PRISON EXPERIENCES" ^^^"^
OUR icat for this evening, dear friends, is found in
the ls> Chapter of Philitnians. versei 57. 23 and 29,
in part; "Stand fist in one swrit, with one mind!
striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in
nothing terrified by your adversaries, whic'n is to them an
evident token of perdition, but to }T)u of salvation, and
that 01 God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of
Lhnst, not only to believe on Him, tut also to sager for
Ha sake.
I believe I voice the sentiment oi all when I say that
ihis tect has been one of the most comforting to the
Cnurcli as a whole that we h»vc had before our muidi
durmK the past year. We have a!! been called upon to
suffer much. Perhaps we may have some further privi-
kges along that l:nc. But it isn't the snfferinj, ij it,
dear iricnds, that specially concerns us when wt realize
the great tavor that has b*en b»t<rwcd iip,an ua lo be
ambassadors for Ihe great Kingdom, which is now being
4S
SUPPLEMENT
est.iWisficiJ upon llie tuins of the old srtlcr ; wlieii we
rcaiia: tlui the Lord las pcroiiued us to have an iiisijt
uuilffaUiidiiig «I His great plans and purjioics iii uKaiicc
oi liic «orld' Can we mil apprcciite it is a jirivileyt
ind«J, 10 sutlei i liulc in cuiinculiim with the diisemr-
mwn lit Ihat mtisaac? I believe that is the S()iril oi
the Lord's people generally. That was the spint oi the
Apo^itlc ; and wImo kn penned these words he was uudcr-
guiiig crucial triili aiitl tests, when he was ui priion aQd
wo* culled upuil to sulicr considcrahlj because of the (atl
tiiit !ie was taithfulls- upholding the bannef oi truth amidst
that crooked and ijervene ijeneratiotr. It is even so today!
Atid in our text he calls attention to the tact tliat the
truth is not imparted lo you and to roe tor Ihc ,™rpose
merely of our own benclit— our own eixjoymciit. He
indiailcs that tte Lord is not noir disseminati^ig His
iticssaKC simply that you and 1 miifht told our hunts and
say. "Isn't this ivonderf iil '." Aiid then put forth no cftorl
in carrying on tlw hlessinss to olhifrs. He indicaics thai
unto us it is given not only to believe (enjoy) the tnitk
but a/io to itigcr lor llis soke. '■Hcrcmito were ye tailed ;
and wc shall be partakers of the Divine nature ; we shall
share with the Lord as joint heirs with Uira in tlic King-
dom "it so be tint we iiiffir with Him that wc .iiay be
gtoriricd tenjelher" That is the spirit o( the Apostle, IS
shonii throush all his writinss. Tliat is die true spin:
of Jisciplcsliip 1 Anil 1 believe we will find that spirit
still prevailing imonKst the members of the Chtirdi.
Tlic Lord's people, durinj; the past six months, have
been called upon to undergo some very peculiar trials
and tests. W c have had trials from ilic very beginning
of our consecration, to be sure; but not in luch a public
way have we been held up to scorn and ridicule as has
hese true durlnj thr pasi f'w mrmifis. But even '™ "
a blessing '. And when wc come to view it ia that light,
dear friends, we tan reiliio that we hove the blessing oi
Ihe Lord and that we are followius the Apostle— even as
he ioUoweJ Christ, and so he asked us to du 1
Xow in the opening clause of this text whidi wc have
read there .is a sugsesrjon (hat seems lo me peMliarlj
appticable to this time, and one which we should follow
very literally, just as it reads: "Stand fast inaiif spirit,
with one tiiiiid, ilrivia} teacihtr for the faith of the
gosfel. Mow complete and succinct are the Apost es
words in this connection'. He leaves nothing out \\t
find a teiv today who are advocating very icatously the
first tuo words of this text. They lay ihit wt> mus:
"staiid fasi," But they utterly ignore the ijalance of the
Apostle's advice. He didn't say tnercly to "slani fait,
' and then dose the adinonition; but he emphasiHS /Ar«
(iiiiM in ihis one smtcxcc the importance of the Lurd's
people *iu(iHs (ojelJier,— standing together, wluie they
"staud fasi." "Siand fast in tine minti; sinvina together
for the faith of the Gospel." That is the argtitirent ol
the Apostle in this connection; and some are preaching
and advocitins that the friends should "stand last," but
insttad ol "striving together" in one spirit, in am mmd.
Ihev are jiullinif apart and 3epar,itin(r themselves from
others and starting various sects and schisms in tb: body,
just exactly contrary to the Apostle's ativice. Let tis,
deal frier.ds, follow the admonition ot the .'yposllc.
"Stand flit in one spirit— with one mind; slrivinE to
gelher" to carrv forward the message that the Lord has
^vcn to yon o'nti me, &3 ambasiadon oS His Kingdom,
to proclaim. .
Well, you aay. "Tliat may cost us sortieihiHS.' Yes, it
will cost us soiiMthiitg. It has cost us something in the
past, and will cost us something in the future, and if
we ihink we can stand as ambassadors of this Rrcai King-
dom which is to supplant the present earthlif oruei with-
out opposition we are figuring wroag. The Sciiplurcs
clearly indicate Ili,it everyone who seeks to hold lorth
this message of truth amidst this croolsrd and perverse
generation will meet with opposition. It is going to mean
sufjtrinjj and trills and tests, iuit is we have seen in
the past, and will probably see in the future.
I have heard some of the friend! make itatements
respecting our dear brethren who are now suffering in
bonds tor Christ's sake, and some have even gone so
far as to say the brethren "are suffering because oi
indiscretion ; that if they had been careful they could have
avaid,d tkeir experience" .And t sgroe. Vie ail agree
that they could have avoided it. So cov.ld Jesus, bo
could the Apostle Paul, and Ihe other faithful martyrs
of the past. Tliej' all could have avoided their experiences
o( sufterinB in tonncclion with disseiiiinating the truth
message. But why are we talking about ttioidim these
c.tijci ientcs, ivlicji tile Lord's Word dearly Indicates that
"hereunto were vc called,'" and that wc "shall be joint
heirs with the Lord, if so be that vie siigcr will: Hint,
,\nd svhy did Me suffer? Because of holdiiiE forth the
message oi trnth; becanse He pointed the linger of deri-
sion at the Pharisees— the clergy of that lime; ber.iuse
He went into the Temple antl drm'e out the money
chani4ers: because He tvent against the common thoughl
of the dav. That is the reason He sutTerfd. "If so be
that you sulTer sviili Him, you shall 'dc giorincd icgcther"
with Him,
some lay. "Well, we should prcclaim the truth, but
whv stir lip strife? Why not merely preach Ihc 'Divine
Plii oi ihc .\scs.' and leave out this other feature about
'The Day of God's Wr»ih,' and The Day of His Venge-
ance upon Ecclcsiastlcism'? Why say anything about that"
Why featcre thai part of the message?" [ will lell you
whj: Because the Lord lias commissioned us to do so.
Do you recall that on one Sabbath morning the tjiril
stood in the synagogue of His home ci^— ■NaJarcth—
and read a propheCT from the Bl<f of Isai'aK and He said,
"■These words arc fulfilled in your hearing. What were
the words? He said. "1 am anointed to pleach the glad
tidings unto the meek, lo bind up the brokenhearted, etc.
etc.'* And Hu closed the book, and aal down. W'heil
we read those words loday we are naturally interested
m the jiatemcnt of ihc Pruplict Isaiah whidi thus applied
to tile Lord, and [hereby applies to every member of His
anointed body. S'uw when we open the book of Isaiah
and we read the original prophecy which ilie Lord quoted
we find Ke only quoted it in fiort. He must have had
some reason tor so doing. We find the balance of the
projhecy which He did not quote says Ihis ; ".\nd to
proclaim the day of vengeance of our Gni." Why did
the Lord not quote diat part of the statement of Isaiaii
when He read it in His home iynagogue at Kaiareth?
The answer must be this: that pa.T of the prophecy did
not relate to the Lord at the time Ihat He read this itt
tlic sj-nagoKue on that Sabbath morning, but that the
whcie pro^tccv applies to the anointed body of Christ,
of which Jesus is the Held. He, therefore, qutxcd the
part dial applied 10 I I'm personally; the message that
w-as due at that lime. But the message of proclaiming
"die veiigeince of our God" was not then due; thi: "Day
of Vengeance" was then eighteen centuries off. But now.
how is it? We ire standing right at that very time I II
that prophecy of Isaiah is true, it must apply to you and
to me, iie-at; and that is the reason wc understand the
Lord did not quote it then.— because He left it for you
and me to fulfill. He laiew that the feet members of use
body wouitt courageously go forward and they would
proclaim the meisage vihich the Prophet Isaiah foretold
(hey should, "riiereiore, the peculiar tncssase oi today is
the message that the Lorii has here put into your mouth and
mint— to proclaim the "Day of die Veageatice of our God,"
■Vengeance upon vbom? Upon the nation? Ifes, hut how
and why? \\ c invesii;;aic the Scriptures and see the
reason for it. Principally, it is because of the unfiithful-
nesi o( the clcrg'j class: and Hence especially upon Hirin
God's vengeance is now directed.
Therefore, dear friends, if I understand anyihin? about
this orophecv of Isaiah, if I understand anything ahout
the Scriptures applicable to the feet members of tlie boay
of Christ now lising on the earth, it is this : That the
Lord expects us to carry forward the message that is
ppei^h'irlv applica'ote at this time, ajid to lelt the people
that Babylon is going to fall; that it is already tosiernig.
It has not yet finally g-nne down to destruction, but it
will go shortlv. There are no doubt thousands upon
thou.sanda of the foolish virgin class that arc still in
darlness ia those systems and they must come to know
the iruth, , , , ,
N'oiv, dear friends, it seems to me that those of tis
SUi'PLEME.S- r
who have folded our hands and said, "Well now, there
IS hardly anything else to do on Utis »ide the vail, e.^cept
tfie dcidopment of character— no opportunity to procJaiin
tbe messauc" -I tlliiik lbe» are mak-mg tile miiltakc of
theit lives : I believe the Lord is going to show to every
one Ol Dj bcfoe long ihat instead ot Kie.'c being nolliing
10 do, tlic very greatest work that wc have tver heen
called uiiou to perform is just before us I Whcreis,
during me foriy years bancst period we have had die
privilege of btingmg one another to the knowledge of
tlie truth; and there arc about fifty or sevcniy-Hvc thou-
sand re)oicing in the truth,— and many of these conse-
crated to Ihc Lord. Kevertheless, 1 belitvc thai we arc
going to see, within tile immediate future, such a privi-
lege extended its the Lorti's people as nc^er before, i, c,
the bringing ol the .Message of fruth to the thousands
upon thosivands, and possibly hundreds of tttou^ands, of
the foolish Virgin Class who are still slumbering and
sleeping itid who do not know of the Divine FUn, You
and I have already been made acquainted with ihe mes.
• age. Wc arc standing upon the very threshold of the
Ki.imSom, TbeSE people arc still in darkness 1
'1 lie Lord intends to ^t^iiid up earth's affairs, ghrify
till Chunk, bring the Great Cainpany lo c imira/eiise cf
the Trtilh, and ilien install titese as servants of the Bride
on the olaer side of the fail— and this is alt to take place
within a toraparatively short time. If that be true, dear
friends, ti'tio 2vill the Lord wae to bring the MtUtlt/e of
Tnth to those Foolisti yirgiisf Do you think He wi.I
use some tine who does not hnow the Divine Ftanf He
tiioMu't use anyone to teach the plan unliss tliej uisder-
sfood the plan t/ietiisctt/es. Who in all the earth is
tquipped to carry for-jurd ihis message to these brelhrea
in darUncia unless it he tlic rCWiaiHlM^ mtmbsrS of tilt
Church m this side tits vail? Some of us have beeo
disappoinicd bcciiusc wc have not been glorified sooner.
1 believe, dear friends, that we will come to realize thai
the Lord knew exactly what He was doing and kept ta
here for a purpose, and now He is going to extend a
great privilege to tliuse who are desirous of having a
share in His service: anrl I think that time is Hearing,
Thinking of how the Lord may bring about corditions
by which we will see thousands upon tiiuusands coming
to a knowledge of the truth and coming with a desire
to know the Divine Plan, I Iwvc coiac to the COUciusion.
M no douLii you have, that the Lord will undoabiedly
me lome one, apcclacular thing to rouse the attention of
these who are now slumbering and sleeping and who do
not rcalicc the presence of the Lord and the nearness of
His iCiogdcm. I lelieve as surely as I know I am standing
here tonigh: that the suffering experiences that the Church
has passed through during the past six months may be
the pivot m which public sentiment will turn; that the
tacts wc make known respecting the imprisonment of
our brethren who at this moment arc suffer:ng in prison
bonds without being adTnitled to bail will prove of such
interest thi: we will find multitude! of people desiring
to know all about the ease. I shuuld not be surprises
that wc will come to realize before long, dear friends,
that the Lord's hand lias been in this whole experience-
not merely for the good of the Church in the way of
character development; not merely for the good cl the
brethren themselves in bonds; but for the good oi His
cause ill connection with the carrying forward of the
Kingtiom Message to those now slumbering in darhness.
I scarcely nted to refer to the facts in connection with
the brethren's experience in order for you to appreciate
the I,ord's provide:ice in it all. But we will mention a
few things which were disensced by U3 during that blessetl
week m Raymond Street jail before they were taken away
from me to .Atlanta.
As you kaow, it wai my privilege to precede them in
bond^ about ten days. On the 2lst ot June Ihcy were
brought into that place where I was being held, and
during the daily recreation periods (three tunes a dav,
of aliout an hour each) wc had Ihe privileite of fellow-
shipping and discussing some very interesting things in
connection with their experience. I tell you. dear fritnds,
it lifted the burden, and we could hardly see anvthing
hut i<iy in connection with the whole experience, and
ooulu reahio vividly ihe words ol the Apostle that we
should rejox^i ui tnouiation And ivc were able to do it '
Uoulrllesi many ol these facts have .tiready come to
your attcmton, but they were so iiliercsting to us that
we have feasted upuit iliciii ever since, t-irst of all, we
mght menljoii lioiv tlic Lord has set tJiis- experience ot
the brethren before the Lhttrch as a most representative
one and has pointed an index hiigcr to it so that you
and 1 can realue viVKliy that the Ijird lias a grand par-
pose in conneoton with the whole atrair. h'oT instaiKc
tlic prominence of tlic figure seven in connection with the
whole trial has so prutruded itself upon our aiteaiiuu ihat
wo cannot mistake thai it is more than merely a set oi
coincidences, For instance, the trial itself covered ctaClly
tuurtccn court days— .scjifK of those days were devoted
to the prclimtnancs and the prosecution, whereas seven
days were devoted to the defense. At ihe conclusion of
that period the brethren were sentenced and Convicted
ei(;ht of Ihem— aitd then in die musi remarkable way the
ei(jhtli was scp«rntcd from the others and the sentence
caiue upon only seven, on the sist day of Juue. The
eighth was sentenced c.-iactly sttie >ily-oiu days later — Ihree
times seven.
Then they were u'len down to Raymond Street jail.
None of us knew how long they would be there. They
keft them there exactly sevn days, and while there, the
othcers of the .Society and Hoih compilers of the ^'eventti-
Vdumc were placed on a Iter of eeiis known as Number
ici'CH on the North side.
At the end of the sevtn days they were removed to
Queen's County jail.
Nobody knew how long they would be kept there.
Th^S' w.Te kept tlicre ejiaclly seven days.
.■\nd OB the seventh day they were removed from Iheie
and taken to Atlanta on tlie .|ir/> day of July (the itvtntk
moaihj, which day was being celebrated by exactly sevn
nations tor the first time in history.
These things are more than coincidences, an5 serve
as io many index fingers pointing to the importance of
the drcumstancei. and saying in no uncertain matuier,
to jou and to mc: This is one of the most reimrkable
occi:rrcnces in the history of the Church, and these brethren
are representatives of the Church in suffering; and that
instead of the Lord permitting us all to go 10 jail He
has taken stven rcprcsentativs there and their sentence
(resting upon them) rest also upon you and upon me
bctause of the fact that the court in pronouncmg the
sentence said;
"In the opinion of the Court, the religious proptioanda
which ihtK defendants vigorously advocated and spread
throughout the nation, as well as among our allieB. is a
greater danger than a division of the German array. If
they had taken guns and swords and joined together the
German array, the harm they could have done would have
been insigi;ifi{:ant compared with the results of their
propiganiia. A person preaching religion usually has
M>uic_ influence, ard if he is sincere he is all die more
effective. This aggravates, rather than mitigates the
WTORg they have done, etc" Indicating in clear cut terms
that it was because of the iocijines that they were being
sent to prison.
Xow, dear friends, where does your responsibilitv and
mine come in? Are we standing by those doctrines? If
we are, then we are involved in ;haj sentence, are we not?
If we arc not, dear friends, I ihink we are missing some-
thing. I like to think of the brethren as not only them-
selves suffeiing tor Christ's sake, but you and I are
companions svith them in trlhnbiion, and die 3Ciiteiii;c
that rested upon them rests upon you and me ; and I am
glad to assume a share in the responsibility.
Lei me tell you, dear friends, just somethttig in tfti'j
connection, f happened to kncsv that at least otie of
those dear brethren Could have avoided his sentence by
just remain IRT silent. One oi those brethren who is now
It) prison at .\tlanta was going to have the case dismissed
against him ^causc of itisulncicnt evidence. I will tell
you his name: It was B.-other .Mac.Millan. At the end
ot the govcr-imcni's case, the Court indicated he would
probabJy dismiss Brother .'dacMiilan from the indictment
because of insufficient evidence offered. That night
mm^^w^^fffff^^^T'.. II iJi-aii ijflsii mi
50
s u pp LE ^rr E n t
Brother MacMillati wcht to the attorneys oftice and said.
"I want you to with<Iraiv your motion for the dismissal
qf my share in this indianicnt^ \i Brother Ritiherford
and brother Van Amhurgh and ihe<;e ottit;r brtrihren are
going to prison because of Volume Seven I wani to go^
too/' anti he sal down and wrote out a statement uking
hii share of thu responsibiEEty, signed his name to it, and
nanded it to the attorneys, and (be ca^e went on; aitd he,
as a voluntary sufferer, is there now in Allama pemcon-
liary, and 1 ihink that the Lord loves inm for «. And
you love him ior it, for we like to see such a spirit as
that.
N'ow, dear friends, are we not ashamed? Some are
trying to sidc-iitt-'p the responsibility that is restinjj upon
us, and say, "It is not because Ot the doctrines thtse
brethren disseminated, but because of their o\vn irtdiscrc-
tion." Ohf dear trieudSj kc us ask the Lord to forgive
US if we have e^'er had such a thought m our miadsl
Now, dear frictids^ the words of the Apostle here come
very dose to our minds; ""Unto you is given not only to
believe tlie truth, but aisa to sa^iir for [(j jakc." Are
we williiEg to do the iaiter? Wc arc wiMing to di> the
former J \\c are willing to believe the truth! \Vc are
glad to believe the trLuh ! Eut are we willing to take
thfc rest of the statement: We are, dear friends, art we
not? Oh, I hate the spirit of fear that is sometimes
sho^^n by a few. We are g]ad that it is a few.
I remember the case o^ Ode biolhcr who was arrested
and put into a hhhy prison and the time came for his
trial, and he said to his atlornevj "It will not be neces-
sary for you to subpoena any of the witnesses in my case,
I am a Bible Student, and I will find plenty witnesses
in the class who will be ;ust anxiotis^and giad to testify
OIL my bchal[, you won't need to subpoena any of
thern," But that brother waj disappointed: he foutid aE
least two or three in that class— consecrated and promi-
nent in the class^ too — who hesitated or refused to appear
as witnesses because they were afraid they might get into
trouble thtmselvcs. They would not volunteer their serv-
ice to sit upon the witness stand for a halt hour, and
answer truthfully questions which might be asked them
by an attorney, because they feared they might he put
in prison for conlempt oi courts or somethin^f like that-
Gh. dear friends, isn't it enough to make us ashamed?
I recall Brother Rutherford speaking one day, just
before the distribution of the Kail of Babylon tracts. Lven
then there were some who were afraid! There was one
brother who wrote in and said, "I want you to send me
a copy of the paper, and I will look it over, and tell you
whether I will be willing to co-operate with the Society
in distributing them." And that brother was supposed lo
be in heart harmony with the Truth. Brother Rutherford
wrote back .and said; ''I do not believe the Society would
want yoti to co-optTate in the distribution of any of its
literature, if you watit to first examine and look it over
and then decide. I do not behevt that shows a very
appreciative spirit of the aifencv the Lord has been plea ftp ri
to use for more than forty years," I believe he answered
the brother properly.
I think that the ones who are going to follow the
admonition of the Apostle,— not only to "stand last in
the faith," — but to strive together in one spirit and in one
mind; co-operating for ihe artvancement of the faith of
the gospel; and we know, dear friends, that the great work
that is before us is one which the Lord has dearly out-
lined.
The Fall of Babylon is near, and there is undoubtedly
a ffreat inessaf;^ that is yet to go forth in connection with
its accomplishment. The Lord is able to bring about the
conditions, and He wijl bring about the conditions so chat
His work will be effective. I believe that He is doing it
Moit', and that we will we before long that instead of our
having to hammer and drive to get anybody to listen to
the truth. Wis will Iind a great many hungry hearts yearn-
ing; for it. And as we intimated a while ai^, it may b^
the piibliihjjiff of ihc facts in coHnettion with the case of
Oitr brethren thai may be the ejiiering -iuedgc. But that
we 'oAl! wait and sec.
In addition to the proininencc of the figure jfVf" in
connection with their case, I wish to also mention some
parallelisms suggested during the: blessed week we were
in l^aymond Street jail togettter. First one brother would
suggest something and then aEiothqr^ and by the end of
1 he Wf:ek we had some very i [Ue resting dat a comp 1 1 ed
that 1 think has gJaddetied the hearts of the friends who
ha^c heard it- The Lord, in a most remarkable way, has
shown a direct relationship between liic experience of
the feet inembL^rs of the body and the experience which
came upon the iiead of the body nineteen centuries ago.
We know that iht moon was pictoriul of the Jewish
dispensation, which came to a close in the days oi our
Lord, iiven as the sun is a picture of the Gospel dispen-
sation. There were ijireat privileges that had been extended
to the nominal Jewish house that pai^^ed away bc;cause
they did not appreciate the Lord from Heaven, who had
come. Evan now wc sec that the Lord has cast aside
the great nominal spiritual Israel because of the fact that
they have not ajjpreciated the Lord's Second Preience
and co-operated in the carrying lonvard of the message
now due. Kather, they have totight against it; even as
they fotight ayainst our Lord and persecuted tiiin to His
death. iSow let us note sotne pavallcls.
Onee a year the sun reaches its ::cnith in the heavens-
Brother llussell su^ests that the zvaniitc/ oi the waoti at
the time of our Lord's cnuifijrion was suggestive of the
pas^iiii/ aztjaj? oi the privikges that had been eit tended to
that itominai Je-:iA^h house back there. Our Lard was
crittifitid when the uttjttn was at its ^acttith in the heaven.
He was crucified on the ijf/i of jVijon at high nooitt
according to Matthew's account, "There was darkness
over the earth from the sixth hour." That would be
nooUt because the Jews reckoned daylight fro en about
6 A. M. It was apparently at high noon^ therefore, that
our Lord's aai-uitiej on t'flrf/i were cut short, on tlie l&th
of Nisan when the moon was at it$ monthEy zenith in
the heavens.
These scvch representatives of titc Lord's people, and
you and I, and all of us as feet members, had our
acii-L'ities in coiitnection with the harvest cut short on the
pist day of June, i^lH, the toti^cst day of the year, when
the sun wag at its lenith in the heavens. It was at diat
hotir that the setitjuee was pronounced upoti our seven
representatives.
This. matter is further tinphasiied when we look into
the details of the circumstances as ti^ey occurred. Our
brethren were CQHvicted the day previous (June 20th), and
the Court had aitnouneed that at iwoft on the following
day he would pronoutice sentence. About U A, M. the
officers came to Raymond Street jail and took our breth-
roti to the courthouse. Everything was arranged just
before Vi o'clock for the judge to make his appearance
in the court room and pronounce the sentence according to
schedule. But 12 o clock came, then 12 ;10, 12 rSO, 12^45, and
the judge had not yet put in his appcarancen He did not
arrive and impose sentence tiutU 1 P. M.
"Oh," you say, *'I am sorry he spoiled the picture.
Why cnulftn'r he have gotten there on tim*?'^ I do not
know why. He did not explain, but merely apologized
for having been delayed an hour; and then he pronounced
the sentence at I P, iL instead of 12 o'clock,— as an-
nounced. But, isn't it a fact, that all the docks were
runuinff one hour fast all last summer? Cl^ughter.)
And if he had pronounced that sentence at 12, it would
have been one hour before the sun reached its cenith in
the hcavetis, on this longest day in the year. The Lord
pertnitted him to be one hour iate in order that the sen-
tence might come upon the seven representatives of the
fEct members of the body at exactly hiffh noon, when the
sun was at its very highest point in the heavens.
And then the sun began to wane, even as the moon
waned back there at the crucifixion of our Lord, and
showed the passing aivay oi the privileges upon the nomi-
nal Jewish house. Just so, this pictures the passing aivay
of the privileges of nominal Lhristeiidoiin down here. The
picture is complete.
l^t us see further; the i-^th of Xisan back there when
the Lord was crucified occurred on Friday. You look at
the calendar and you will find the ^ist day of June in the
year I0I3 came upon a Friday.
Furthermore , the Lord was found fj n ill y the n ifjh (
SUPPLEMENT
51
previous, — Thursday, at a iate hour. Our brethren, the
seven representatives of the Feet Members of Christ, were
found i^uitty the nitjht previous, at a iate hour,
I tclJ you wc cannot say that tliese are merely eoinci-
deuces and that the hand of God has not been in the
whole circumstances ; we eamtot shut our eyes • and say
this is merely an incident in which seven or eight men
were involved. It is something in which you and / and
everyone as mccnbers of the feet of Christ are involved.
Now, dear friends, in view of the fact that thu L^ord
has thus so peculiarly and particularly set forth this
circumstance before Onr minds leads me to the conclusion
that He is not through with the circumstances; that He
intends to use the case of our brethren for bringing the
truth to the attention of the world, and especially the
Foolish Virgin Lbss, with such telling force that it will
arouse them from their slucnbers. Many will %^y^ "Why
did these seven Christians have to go to prison on a
twenty-year sentence, and why were they denied bad
pending the appeal of their casci when real out-and-out
seditionists the country over were freely admitted to
bail?" We are not finding faulty We are merely stating ,
the facts as they existn But the Lord in His own due
time will make manifest the answer to these questions.
'I he people will want to kno w the ans wer, they wi I L
demand the answer^ I believe! Then they ^viII say: "What
were these men teaching? What was that book?" And
the Lord in His providence may give us the privilege of
answering Iheir further questions,
1 had a talk with an editor in St. Louis the other day.
I merely alluded lo the bookn I \vas talking about the case
in genera], and I was struck with the interest that was
aroused in his mitid^not merely the fact of those men
being in bonds— but his interest was in what they were
teaching that sent tht^m to jaiL 1 was telling him about
the case, and he wouM bring me back to the point. "But —
what is that book they were publishing?'* And after
awhile he said: "Say, can you send me a copy?" I said,
"N'o, I cannot, the book is under the ban." After a while
he mentioned the book againn and just as I was leaving,
as he shook my hand, he said, "Say, young man. will you
promise me one thing? Will you promise to mail me a
copy of that book tho very day that the ban is lifted?"
(Laughter.) And so I promised! and t am going to keep
my promise. (Applause.)
1 think, dear friends, that sentiment is rapidly chatig-
ing, and I believe that it will not be very long before the
people will be hungerittg for the truth. It seems- that"
^\QTy picture in the Scriptures relating to these things
sets forth that very fact. You recall that beautiful and
wonderful article in the Watch Tower about "J^s^^ph and
His Brethren"? Our dear Pastor has written upon the
subject at various times, treating Joseph and Benjamin as
t^Tcal characters, and Benjamin as a type of the Great
Company class. If that picture means anything, it un-
doubtedly shows that there is a great work to take place
suutii th[il there wilt bg a.\\ of this Benjaniin class hun-
gering for the truth before long, and you and I apparently
arc the only ones in the world who can give it lo them.
Of course, the Lord could give the blessing of truth by
the angels of Heaven if He wanted lo, but He has kept
you and me on this side of the vail — For what reason?
I think wc v/ill see the reason before long. Wc know that
our dear Pastor always e:!pected a literal fulfillment of
the H&th Psalm on a scale that we have thus far never
witnessed. "Let the saints be joyful in glory, and sing
aloud upon their beds," "Sing aloud — " Do yoti get
that? *'Sing aloud on their beds with the two-edged
sword in their hands," and [)e says that that refers to
this side the vail. You remember that article in the Watcli
Tower from our dear Pastor regarding that applying to
this side the vail; that the saints wouid have a glorious
privilef^e of wieldicig that two-edg:cd sword on this side
the vail, "crj'inij atoud upon their beds, and binding the
kings with chains, and the nobles fof Babylon) with
fetters of iron"? This honor hath all the saints.
We have had some privileges along that line already.
But r believe the greater part of those privileges are in
the future. No doubt we will soon see ,the message of
truth brought to the attention of kings, and rulers and
great ones of earthy even as Revelation 10:11 shows. I
think that we will hnd that the Lord has not put these
statements In the Scriptures as mere idle words, but that
He intends that before the Church on thiii side the vail
have accomplished their mission tiiey will have so success-
fully and thoroughly spread the truth from one end of
the earth to the other that it will not be true, as it is
today, that you can go right out in this city and find
peoi^le who have never heard of Brother Russell or Brother
Rutherford- 1 dare say that already more people have
beeonie acquainted with the L E. S. .\. through last year's
experiences than through any other one thing that has
ever occurred in the history of the Church, If this he
true even noWj what will it be when the Lord's time
comes for us to send forth the message and tell these
facts before all the world? Whh sentimi^nt rapidly
chaetging %ve will probably enjoy before long ttie greatest
privjieges that you and I have ever had,— and perliaps
have ever dreamed of.
Frobably most everyone here has had some privilege
along the line of bringing somebody into the truth, if
so, you know the joy it brought to your heart as you
went to your neigEibor, day by day, evening after eveiung^
and brought them to the class meetings and to Sunday
lectures. Vou gave them tractsj and you gave them books,
and you nourished them along and, oh, the joy that filled
your heart when you r^atUed the fruits of your labors I
How will you feel, dear friends, if the Lord gives you
the privilege before long of not only bringing one indi-
vidual to a knowledge of the truth, but probably letting
you bring into the truth tens or hundreds of tho^c who are
yet in darkness— real Virgins, even though foohsh? Oh,
the joy that will come to your heart if the Lord gives you
that privilege! It will be a glorious privilege indeed, and we
can see we would be "joyiul in gloo'i singing aloud upon
our beds," wielding this two-edged sword of truth, binding
the kings (of ecclesiasticism, as well as otherwise) with
chains, and the nobles with fetters of iron — ^the strong
words of the gospel^ Let us bold ourselves in readinest
and if the Lord extends any privileges like that to us
before long, let us take hold of them and leave the results
to the Lord, realising that "hereunto we have bceii called.'^
It is not for us merely to believe the fruth, but also to
su§€r for its sake.
\\*c will now devote five or ten minutes to the discus^
sion of our recent prison c?rperietices, inasmuch as several
of you have requested that 1 do so tonight, i do not
consider these as matters of so much importance. In fact,
there is not very much to tell, so far as my own experiences
are concerned; but I believe if all the interesting facts
in coiimtciion with the case of the other brethren were
made known, you wo u Ed appreciate that a great deal.
I was in prison for six months to a day. I was three
months in Raymond Street jail^ BrookljTi. and then was
transferred to the >rassau County jail at Miticohj N. V.
I found conditions there very different from what they
were here Jn the Brooklyn jail. They always searched
the prisoners at Raymond Street jail every time they
came back from court, and even hteraturo, books, papers,
etc., are taken away from them. When I entered I had
a copy of the Bible, a copy of the Seventh Volume and
a AVatch Tower. Tliey look the Watch Tower away from
me, but let me have the Seventh Volume and the Bible.
I think they thought both of them were Bibles. (Laughter.)
And isn't it a fact? Volume Seven is merely part of the
Bible, U is two books of the Bible with a few notes and
comments upon those books. I asked the guard why he
took the Watch Tower away from me. I explained that
it was a religious magazine^ and presumed he would be
glad to have the prisoners surrounded with all the religious
reading possible. He said, "Yes, but not that kind."
(Laughter.) He muttered something as he threw it over
into the Avaste hasketn and I kindly asked him what it
was he said. He responded. "1 said, if it wasn't for that
stuff you wouldn't have been here." (Laughter.) I guess
he was right.
At the Raymond Street jail, the conditions arc very
different from what they are at llineola. At the former
pbce the prisoners are locked up twenty-four hours a
day, with the exception of three recreation periods of one
52
SUPPLEMENT
hour each, with only one recrcitioii period on Sundays
and liolidays. But I had Much opportucity Sor study, and
I api)r«ia[i;d that viry much, indeed.
l^iiially I was traKsfcrred tc lltneali.— much lo my
iclic:. ll seems tint aU the officials at tlie Raymond
Street jail arc Catholic— from the watdcn down—and I
was surprised lo Snd ou: that it Mineola evcryihmg >s
Protestant— from <hrriff dnvvn. And 1 had the privikBC
oj rtining to tlie Mineola keepers some of my experiences.
TTiey t^tenAtrd a vtry sirnipalhctic «ir and I wis jriviksed
to talk with the prisoners tiicre, too. Some oi thCEu showed
lome interest in ths tnlLh. One or two read she First
Volume almost through white I was there. One of thetn
had jlmoJt finished Volume Two at the time I left. After
I had been there about three day», they ceased locking
me up. I was plated amung tlie "trusties."
On Thanksgiving Day (indicative o! the kindness ot
the uflTicials there) the sheriff and the warden and keepers,
al their own expense, gave a turkey dinner to every ins-
oner in both the mate and female part of the institution.
Leartiing tliat I was a minister, as Ihey called me, they
asked me it 1 wculd ofler thiaks at Ihc Ihankspiine
meal This I did ! Then the shtriff asked me to go into
the female prbon and speak a tew words to the women.
It was my prjvilcRc to fivt a short discourse to the female
prisoners about the Kingdom; which seemed to be very
much appreciated by the tiniortunaies.
It was wondettul how the Lord seemed to prejiare
circumstances for rae so f could do a greit deal of itudying
there at Mineola. But I regretted very much there was
no light in my cell It was iKvayj very dark during Ihc
evenings. There was only a faint glimmer that entered
the eclls from the outsi.le of she tier But one mijht
wher l came down to my cell one of the prisoners fol-
lowed mc in nnd said, "Why don't yuu turn an your
light'" I said. "I wish 1 had one," and he immediaicly
readied up and tattled on a light. The prisoners there
bad jone to the trouble of procuring a cord which gave
ibera liglu, and n.-) it into my cell that 1 might have a
li^ht. And thty had done it entirely unknown to me, and
with (he consent and approval of tlw keepers I From that
lime on I had the privilege of studying as looj as I
wantpd to eacii evening- I tried to use this added blcssitij;
lo the glory of the Lord as much as possible, because I
considered that as aootlier *lircct evidence of the Lord's
t'avor upon one of His children.
The time came for me to leave. It was through habeas
corpus proceedings in the Soprcmc Court that I was re-
leased. When :hc ijctition for the writ was granted. Chief
justice White of the Li. S. Supreme Court at Washington
iaid he cuiisidcied my imprisonment one of the greatest
outrages upon justice whic'ti had come before the court,
and for this reason Ihe petition was granted in a most
unusual manner. It was granted by a means which never
occurred bctort in the history of the Sunremc Court.
The proceedure first of ill is this: Vou file a copy
of Ihe testimony and a preliminary brief, and if the
Supreme Couri sees any merit in the c:tse they will then
notify your attorney to file an application for the writ,
which will he considered But that does nut moan the
writ wiSI he g-anted. Bat in this ease, they didn't even
wait for the artorncyj to file an application. As soon a»
we filed the preliminary brief and they read over the
lestimnny and found I had been held for contempt oi
court (or six months for such truthful testimony as there
given, they went rigiit ahead and granted die writ befi/rt
forvtai afifilication ivits even viadc.
The result was that I was out on bail within about twc
weeks from the beginning of the proceedings, whereas
ordinnrilv it nuKht have taken four or five months. 1
am veo' ihankiulto the Lord for that! But I am specially
iliankiul from this standpoint: that if Chief Justice White
would characterize my imprisonment (whidi was merely
an incident in the case of the other brethren) as one of
the "greatest outrages on justice his mind could conceive
of," what do yoo suppose the Supreme Court may say
when they find that 125 other errors occur in the record
oi our brelhreii's case?
BRO. CLAYTON WOODWORTII
Delivered Several D«ys Before Triil, BrgoklyB Tabernacle
STKC^ ihr opp<.irlunily has been afforded me to address
j-oii once more I think yon probably have been ex-
pecting to hear something in connection with the
Book of Revelation. The whole of God's Word is
equally precious to me; but you know I have given special
itudy to one particular book in ihc last year and a half.
Therefore, I iliouglu we would have a little Kevelation.
Some of you know wlial 1 am going to talk about tonight.
I iliought if you were going to have a lesson in revelation
we better have just as hard a one as we knew how; the
bardtr the better, ind so the te-tt whic'a I picked oul is
■what is admitted to be one of the most difficult passanes
in the bookt (Chapter U.)
1 will read frcm the 15th verse on: "And another
angel came out of the temple, crjing with a loud voice to
him itiat sat on the cloud. Thrust in thy sickle, and reipt
for the time is come for thee to reap ; for the harvest of
the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud rhruil in his
sickle on the earth; and the carlh was reaped.^ ,\nd an-
other annel came oat of the temple which ia in heaven, he
also having a sharii sickle. Aa4 anothe.- angel came out
from the altar, which had power over fire ; a.nd cried with
a loud cry to him tliat had the shirp sickle, saving, Thrusl
in thy sharp sickle, and gather ihr rhmers of the vine of
the eajth: for her grapes are fulfy ript. And the angel
thrust in his sickle into the earth and gatfiered the vine of
the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the
wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without
the citv, and blood came out of the winepress, evetj
unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and
six hundred furlonts." „ , ,- u
I am snre we will all agree tirat our Heavenly father
must have hid some defmis; reason for putting this in His
Word. Ko one can accuse m of hiv-ing it put in ourselves.
It has been there about tii-n ihoiltand years. If anybody
had any very dear idea as lo what this was Intended to
teach, it has not been disclosed only up until recently. The
' various cuuiniciitators are all at jca as to what tlie pas-
sage might mean, and if I can judge from al! the infor-
mation that caitie into my possession, tlie dear truth friends
themselves don't seem lo be in any very different fr.ime
of mind.
Before the Seventh Volume ot Scripture Studies was
published, I had heard two explanations of the measure-
ment. One was many times rffrrred to hy Brother Russell
in his discourse on the "Battle of Armjggcdon." He
said in that discourse, you rememh^r. that "w&rldly editors
teve called attention to the fact that the battle tine m
Europe was approximately 18ftO milK long." It was no-
ticed that the Greek word here rendered "furlonjs" refers
to a Greek unit of irwasure. And so these tditors have
suggested that perhaps these 1600 units of measurement
reprosenl 1600 milcj of the great battle front in Europe
and .\sia. That was the view that I had accepted tenta-
tively as beinu the correct cxpIaiiaiiDii because Brother
Russell had referred to it. He did not indorse it I but he
nietcly said, "WoriJfy edituri liavc referred lo this." After
working upon the manuscript of this book, a »cry intelligent
brother who had made a catcful study of the book for
many years, sajgested that this was 1600 mi.nntes o£
longitude between the East and West, within which limits
the great conflict is rasing." .
Subsequently after the book was pubhshsd there came
a number of suggestions from brothers and tiiiers who
would have been glad lo fnid a tetter c.'cplaiiation than we
offered- I gave close attention to every suBgestion which
came to mc. One was that if 1600 furlongs were thrown
into a jijuare^ — 10 furlongs each way- we might see that
it referred to the harvest. Another brother suggested that
1800 had been thrown into a square; and made a city in
SU PPLEUENT
5,J
area about tht size iii uiicicui .\iuevcli, and that wai, in
some respects a type of mystic Babylon; thus vse ini(jht
see a reference Co tlie overthiovv of Jiabyloii. AuoUier
brother suggested tfiai the units of measure would be
L800 years from the council of Aries, which met .Vugust
1st, in die year 30U, therefore lUPiJ years would bring us
iluwn to August 1, IDII; which statement was, that this
council at Aries was the first council to suggest or bciuK
hiio cliect a union o! Qiuidi and State: tliat there the
horse bridles were put on. so to speak, liicrc were some
good thoughts connected with this brother's intcrprelation,
and he labored earnestly to get mc lo accept it. 1 am going
10 refer to this several times later.
.Another brother iLggcsiol (iiai iiWO units of Bieasure
was merely intended as a symbolical number of dOO; which
is. in some respects a very sisuilican; number of "wisdom,
justice, love and power"; the "four beasts," many times
referred to in tlic Bcrjk .of Revelation — lutj times a hun-
dred. And then a sister noted that the Siiiiatic manuscript
docs not jpLih ut iliis as ttiUO units of measure, hut 12ut>
unitSf tills sister has received a good deal af respect for
her knuTvlcUgc of the Bible as written before, and not
during the Dark .Ages, So they suggested that we sund
by ilic Siliiatic Manuscript which is the most raluabic
wo have. Brother Russell used it as an autliorityj it is
tt.e olde^ and most reliable ar.d complete copy of ^e New
Testament that we have. The sister suggested that this
12U0 units of measure he tracslated in Sabbath day jour-
neys. Kaw then eight goes into JWO I'M times, Tfiat
would be 150 units of measure. She said this was a pos-
sible reference to five moulht: November and December
oi ISn, and January, February and .March ot itUB; it was
within each of these tr.cnths that the Lord's Church was
privileged to engage ia the last feature of the haniist
wark.
1 gave a good deal of attention to all the suggestions,
as I was bound lo do, and as you would wish mc, or any-
body, to do who is trying to deal wi;h the Loid's Word,
btsausc vre al! want the Truth, if we make a mistake in
anylhitig we wan! to find whete it is, and rectify it, if we
have nut iiMile any mistakes then we want to know that.
So the object of this address is try to show, if 1 can, from
tlte Scripuires that there haven't been any mistakes nude in
the treatment of this matter in the ScvcMifi Volume: That
it could col possibly refer to anything else, but a book.
In order to study this passage properly let us consider tlie
1-llh chapter :
"And 1 jookcd and lo a LanSb stood on the ilcmnt 5ion,
and with him an hundred forty and four Ihousaiid, hiving
His Father's name written in dicir fofcliciitls." You flavc
ni> diBieuiiy lo understand who is the Lamb 1 That is our
Lord Jesus Christ : our Passover Lamb. That is the Lamb
widtout spot or blemish: slain irom the foundation oi the
world on our behalf. Oil, how beautifully the Apostle
speiks of Itim as "the Power of the Flock." It also speaks
about the sheep ; Uiwjc why arc not powers : merely ^little
sheep" who are with Him. We are glad to be counted in
WILT the Lord 43 liulc sheep. Glad that -Jic Lord recognizes
us at all! I can never forget die lesson Brother Barton
presented at the Toronto Convention : Yon want to realize
just how cnportant your sacrifice is in the sisht af Cad;
compared wiih one complete and perfect bullock in the
complete picture. So there are I44,0«» sheep; and oar
Lord is the central figure of the picture. This evidently
was fulfilled ia the Lord's plan : about April 1, IKS. At
that time there were evidently enough in the anli-chanber
lo have made up the entire Churdi of Christ i but tiie
Lord knew that many of them would aoE prove faithful,
and so he allowed ihe general call to cuniinuc for three and
one-half years longer, and it lasted (as we know) until
October 1, tSSl. Since that time it fias not been proper
for US to say to anybody : "If you make your consecration
to the Lord, and cany out your consecration faithttiUy
you shall be privileged to sit down with Christ on the
Throne." No. we can merely say "that is our hope; ;hat
ii oar expectation." On this basis we have made our
coiisecraiioij. and it is on that basis that we still continue
to serve the Lord as we have opportunity Most of us liivc
come Into the truth since 1881,
I might mention an authority for ihii itaieroeni that
the wlioU: iM.WW were standing on Mount Zion ia the
tpntig of ISrd, Brother Kusscll, in hi$ comments in
Kevelation d, referred to this m an article in the Watch
Ton-cr on the Parable «f the W eddhig Feast, "The king
came m to sec the gusstj, "-Implying that the full nu,„t,ej
was ilitre, 3mcc tliat time the Lord and His little com-
pany have been standing upon .Mount Zion in the spirit ot
their minds— whether on tliat side of tlic vail) or on this
side. And in the spirit of our minds wc sec the Lord as
an all-powerful king working out His good will and
pleasure ; and tn the spirit oi our mindi, wc ate associated
witli ilim although still on this side the vail.
Kow. those who are associated with die Lord on Mcmnt
Zioo, have in their hands "harps." "Have you heard the
new song; the song which the jaiiiis now may sing? How
tilt old liitp of Moses, snd the sweet tlute of John, with
harmoniout melody ring> It will Iloat o'er the world in
rapturous strain of glory and jeace and good will." A
song IS something iiaimonlous and pleasing to the ear. The
Gospel IS referred to as a song, lor David says. "Thou
hast put a new song into my month, even the loving kind-
ness of our God," \Ve continually sing this song We could
not ling it when we were in Babylon, Wc could not har-
moniie tlie law with the Gospel. They would liavc been
glad to have had us bring t'orth the pleasing things out
of Gjd's word, if we just kept still. \^'c could have stayed
in the Churches if we were only willing to retrain from
telling ell the plan. There have been some who liave tried
that, but I don't think the Lord is pleased witK that kind
of a character.
"And they sang a new song." When I heard Brother
Sampson tlie first time, I said, "I never heard anything;
like ihat before in my life," And the more I have hearl
of It Mnce, the better it sounds. Another thing about it
too: The more you tell and siag about that song, the:
tjetter 11 sounds to .yoursdf. Ttit truth is iCmitkuig tliat
we keep by giving it o-jray. and ihi mare a-c liiiv auiay,
the more breiiom it is to aJ.
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel lo preach unto them that
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tonsue. and people, baying with a loud voice. Fear God,
and give glory to him: for the hour of his judgment is
come; and worship him that made heaven, and canh, and
the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Ch, H 6 7 ) The
word -angel" is a broad word; In the Greek ii means a
messenger. God may use any Idnd of a messenger in
prescr.ting the Everlasting Gospel to every nation and
kindrtrl and tonsua and people. Who? Or wliat is that
angel.' Volume I of Scripture Studies, Jnst thine it over!
It docs contain the "EverUjiiug Gospel," That is the
one that God is going to preach b? and by lo every land,
kindred and tongue and people.
Was it circulated through the heavens? "He saw an
an^el rty.ng through the midst ot Hcjven." Powers t
Spiritual control: Did this message go into the Baptist
heaven? Or ibe Lutheran heaven? It did! It went back
and forth through the ecclesiastical firmament and aceom-
plished a purpose in "saying wiih a loud voice";— Did it
have a low voice,' Kol There were over a million copies
published and circulated in something like twenty-two lan-
guages. Some of the literature is in ihirtv four languages
That is a "loud voice" I It says : "Fea'r God, and give
glory to him. ' Is there anything in Volume I that makes
you feel like referencing God? After you were fod on the
creeds ihat were mamifactured during the f>ark .Ages, and
then suddenly God held this volume before your eyes, clid
it not make you have a different idea vi Gtxl ?
"Fear God and give glory to Him for die hour of his
Judgment is c^me." Is there anytliiog in Volume I about
Jlidgment? Yes I The title of the hook originallv was
^Millennial Da^vn — the dniiu of the milUnniuni: and tltt
JazLit of the thousand year iudgmeni Jay of Christ Is al
hand,
I consider, therefore, that is a well proven noin; » A^'D
AS FAST AS WE PROVE A POINT JliST TAKE A
TACK AND DRIVE IT t.V. Yon kttow how it is to
stretch a carpet: Yoii pull up a little piece, and try to
tack it down. Of course you usually have (a repeat it
because the first time it gets twisted.
54
SUPPLEMENT
And it says the SECOND aiigct followed ihe first one,
and its message was "Bal>y]ojt is fatieti." Vou reiiienibcr
the dispeiisitions contained it) the second volume! An(l
you know how sigatftcatttly they point to tht: date ISttJ;
and ho\v that chronoloijically Babylon was due to begin
to fall April 1st of that year (18'6J ; and she has been
falling ever since. She is in a pretty bad condjtioti new.
And as proof that Bah^'bn the great is in a fallen condi^
tion thtre is an interesting chapter in the end ci the book.
The last chapter is devoted to "Tlie Men of Sin/* It shows
there how the "Man of Sin'* is Papacy — the Attti-Christ :
That Papal System is Babylon the Great.
Concerning the THIRD angel there arc a tiurr^her of
statements made. The third angel speaks of the harvest.
The- third vohnite of Scripture Studies speaks of the har-
vest. It shows that durinff the harvest tirrtc the kind of
work the Lord weald have ua do was the harvest work.
There is also the jtatemeiit, "Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord frotn now^ and henceforth. They rest from
their labors, but their worki do follow thtm." That ap-
pears for the first time in Volntne III. Now 1 sitggesE
something that will sho^v you whether a person is riead
or not. Jf a person is really dead, you can step on his
toes and he won't say a thing ; you can walk all over them,
they won't object. Vou can scold at them, and they will not
scold back. Yott can flatter them, but it is like water rolling
off a diick/s back. You can think these things over aitd you
will he able to decide whether yott belong to tht dead
class or not. (Laughter.)
*'And another augtl came out of the temple, sayiitg to
hirn that sat upon the clouds, thrust in thy sickle and reap
the vine of the earth (harvest), and the angel thrust in
his sickle on tlic earth." This refers to the reaping of
Uic wheat front the tares; gathering the wheat in to the
Lord's garner. Rovi could this iitgel be that came out of
this peculiar temple (as though it was a tentple different
from any other) ? It secros to ine that plainly refers to the
Great Pyramid of Egypt, which is a peculiar temple of its
OAvn; and there is something which came out of that tem-
ple that has taught God's peopU a great many lessons.
All the lessons taught by this Temple are in harmony svith
the other lessons. .\nd the third voEume of Scripttare
Sttidies, in which this appears as the last chapter, sets this
off as though it wen; a separate book. It has a little pref-
ace, and a title page, and some introductory remarks ; but
it is hound in the third volume. And still it comes out of a
special place! ft comes out of the "temple." You remem-
ber that message which came to us itt hook form regard-
ing God^s Pyramid in the Land of EgjTJt — the great "altar" !
"And he cried like a lion" (Isa, Jl)^which looks like
the devil — the clergy, I am pretty sure. ''My Lord I stand
upon the Watch Tott'cr atid behold here cometh a ci>artot
of men . , , Coiue, Babylon is fallcnt and the great
image is broken on the ground." This picture here is
illustrating to ray mind the way the seven volumes of
Scripture Studies appears to the clergy. Thty appeared as
Ulagltes to them : "And 1 saw these seven angels come
forth, clothed in white litten, and having their breasts
girded with golden girdles." In preparing the manuscript
for the large portion of the seventh volume I noticed that
the word here rendered Utten is a different word than any
otiier rendered in the Bible ; and I merely noted that it was
not the kind of linen from which the robe of the Briile of
Christ is wovctt. I wonder how many of you remember
seeing that," (Three hands indicated they saw it,) Well, it
is there just the same! Here is a peculiar word, and I
thought God must have had some special reason for so
statitig this matter; and I did not knotv what it was then,
but 1 do now. It has reteientc to stie ^act that these
nsessenj^ers who came forth are printed upon white paper —
white linen : clean aitfl white. Linen is one of the finest
kinds of paper known, "And girded with gold." How
much value would a book be to you if it consisted of 600
pages but not pasted together. Where could I read page
4To? You ivoui<l l>e continually fussing atjout for the
thing. This should he bound !o be of any use to you. You
have to "gird" them lopether, Vou ask : "What about the
golden girdle? You will see the golden girdles: Seven
books would he printed on white paper ; well bound and
stamped in gold.
Then it says : "They carne forth out of the Tabernacle."
VOH have all studied Tabcriracle Shadows. (Laughter,)
The i:ntir<: j^Vi'u i'otufiicj of S*:n^lHfc Studies came forth
from Tab-rrutitli: Shttda-.v's, Here it was that Brother Rus-
sell saw- clearly the philosophy of God's plan.
After introducing the third plague it says: "And I
heard the Ahar say. Even so, Lord God .'Almighty." This
"altar" is the altar to the Lord in the midst of the land
of Egypt,
Conceruijig the FOURTH angel: "tie poured out his
vial upon Uie sun," The fourth volume was sent to the
ckrgy. Brother Russell sent (Ills volume to all the clergy
■whose addresses could Le procured. And St says: "The
men cursed God*' because of these things, II" was about
that time tiiat they began to accuse Brother Russell as
being uiitruthtul and evil ; and so they continued dowit to
the time of his death.
In connection with the FIRTH angel it says, "He
poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast," (Siniatic
MMS,) The beast is papacy: attd the seat of the beast
is the placti where it rests ; presumably the doctrines. And
the fundamental doctrines of papacy are the Trinity ; the
immortality of man ; and the doctrine oi eternal torment.
Those questions are thoroughly discussed in tht lifth
volume of Scripture Studies,
And after introducing the sixth volume it also intro-
duces a verse or two that would he jtist as well for me
if it had not been iu the Bible. It says : "I saw three un-
clean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the
dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the
mouth of the false prophet . , , which go forth unto
the kjtigs of the earth and of the whole world, to gather
them to tite battle of that great day of God Almighty," I
am not going to explain that now — for reasons that I
expect to explain it to a scUcicd audience later in the
week. (This tnattcr was thoroughly comnjentcd on at the
trial^ of our brethren— as drawn out through cross-exam-
ination of Brother Woodworth.)
However, all this is aside from the point which I want
to bring out, i. tf,, the meaning of the last four verses
of the Hth chapter. You see, dear friends, that through-
out these chapters it has been discussing books— the har-
vest liierattire. What would be the most reasonable thvHg
to find "after noting that all the rest of the chapters were
talking about books? I think you would say with me that
tlie most reasonable thing to anticipate would be that it
refers to a book.
■*And another aitgcl came out of heaven, he also having
a sharp sickle." "Who is that "other angel"? I know of
one "who has great power on the other side of the vail.
That is Brother Kussell ! "Blessed is that servant whom
you find so doing. Verily I say he will make hiin ruler
over all the truth." I don't find any place where the Lord
limited that to Brother Russelfs period on this side the
vail; and we note that it says in this very same chapter
that rest in their labors, but their works follo-^f after thcrn.
Drothti Russell has more power there than he had on this
side, Wliat do you think about that?
"And another angei came out of the temple: he had a
sharp sickle ; aitd another t;amc out of the altar, which
had power over fire." W'ho ts this angel? This angel is
mentioned four times in the IJook of Revelation. It is
mentioned in the seventh chapter (Srd to the 5th verses) :
and there it seems to me very clearly refers to the Watch
Tower Bible & Tract Society, Vou liavc the cKplanation
in the seventh volume. The angel had power over the
hrc and gathered these coals of fire and scattered them
through the earth literally. After (he seventh volume of
Scripture Studies was issued it -vvas suddenly sent out, or
hurled deliberately broadcast amongst the readers of the
Tower. .\nd it is referred to again ui the t8lh chapter
as an "angel standinjf in the sun." ^ the second verse it
speaks about otle tnighty voice saying, "mighty Babyloti is
fallen and has become the habitation of demons, and un-
clean and hateful birds. And attother voice said 'come out
of her, my people.' " Noxv the truth people have backed up
the message by distributing the literature which cs to
tEH"ite lire people to come out. That h another voice which
is here referred to: Here. I tvas prepared to see that the
other angel which came out of the altar was the society—
SVPPLEME .V T
after Brother Rttssell s deatti. Tlicti wo get the thought too
fiat thi.s other aiigel, coming out of the aliar, represents
the fact that the society is supported by the sacrifices of
the Lords httle ones. It is kept up by cotitributions
litt'le '^''"' ^°^' ^"'' ^'""' """" " '''"'^' ^"'' '''"'= *
..ji'^'''t ''^ '■""*, "'™='s fulfill Ihe latter part of this verse'
Another angel came out oi the altar which had power
over the fire! "And they cried with a loud ™iee: thrust
m a sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of
the earth! Was there anything like that happened' 1 will
ask you a question When you heard Brother Kussell was
uead (alter you thought ot your own personal loss) did
you not think ot what an unspeakable loss it was to the
cfinrch; just at this time when the world was passine
through new, strange and terrible experiences.' Did it not
seem to be a great pity that he was taken away without
iurnishmg the seventh volume? Did you not fee! dis-
appointed? I did! I thought; "Oh, dear Brother Russell,
why did you go away without do ine what you c^peeted
you would do througliout the entire harvest time I We
looked to yoii! You promised' And we understood your
mention! Why did you go away?" That is the way I
tclt! Iherc you see was that cry. Don't you see? It was
IL'^rsT ,°"'>'""=' ^l'. '' '*■?= '" ■"'>'^'"<5 "'y- They cried
with a loud cry lo him saying, "thru.!! in tiiy sharp sickle
and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth" The
statement is that the "angel thrust in his sickle and
galhered Ihe vmc oi the earth. It into the great wine-
press of the wrath of God. And the ivinepress was trodden
ti5t-1^' JV«-^^^'',^"i.'''°'«' =s™^ ""' "f 'he winepress
ll't,^^ U^'TO THE HORSE BRIDLES, BY "THE
luELONGS"'^ THOL-SA^-D ond SIX HUNDRED
That rneans the book was prepared outside of head-
ttuarters—in Scranlon, at a certain distance from Bethel
anti the Lord had his own reasons to thus have it pre-
pared outside Bethel. And Babylon began to fall
You know what happened on the Ifith of March ! If you
dont I do! (Laughter.) I believe the book has accom-
p ished God s purpose i and if it has then surely we arc
This brings us down to the last clause: And it says ■ "-Vt
a tiislancc IKOO furlongs." It In ";ao« furlongs" in the
Siniatfc Manuscript. You know what the seventh volume
has to say about that. Perhaps you would like to know
how that came to he there, [n the first pi ace it was because
I ctjuld not thmk of anything else. Had I been able lo
» J , !t"Otiiep explanation I would have put it there
And I did not think of that one directly. Here is the
way I came to think of it, I was specially interested in
the explanation Brother Hussell referred to. But 1 did
not know how to identify it with the great European war
for I noticed the European battle line was 2100 miles long
"'S'ead of ItiOO, That was my first disappointment. Then
when I found out the measurement had shrunken to 1200
1 cMld not see how any one could coiiscientiouslv stretch
It. The truth tnends are pretty sharp vou know! One hun-
dred for()--seven miles was the distance from the city.
What city? It could hardly mean Babylon, because that is
down through the middle of Europe. That don't mean
Home I could not think of anything that was hlT miles
away from Rome, This is ivhat went through my mind ■ The
word cily means Ecclesiastical Go>-ernment. I thought of
Betliel. "lere is the Lord's Truth ilovemem. I wonder.,
that could be the city. I went out through .\cw Engbi,
a tour-having a map i„ „i„<i-i (h^u^,,, that would
somewhere around Hartford. Then I can,e do vn"he c.
Lai caster, I could not try going down that way I ita
norih; and then west. I could not see how Albany "
com,: _m in that it was about 130 miles away fr^,m
city, riten I came to Scraiitou. But this was a v.,
thought I thought that ,0 l>c absurd for I knew
ime table did not indicate this distance. I was a tout
by he matter aside and go to ihe Lord. 1 did not k,
^ff 1 v'^i '''i- 1"= ^ i>^mn^'i to Ihink about the gr«t
off by the Laek.„.ani,a R. R, where they run righV [1,™
the mountains; and there you go along abouf 'we ™
fifteen miles on the most wonderful road bed in the wo.
Sometimes you find yourself as high as lweu"y!fo J°'
in the iir; down below you see the farms, etc I ca
«l> the railroad office to find out abour tbe disunee 'T
^ifl f fT" h"" '» =°?"™ .™" k"«v very well (a go
taiiliful brother, who is an old farmer and accustor^
M passing upon land:i .nd requesting hit^ to c^refu
measure the distance between Bethel and HoboSn J
measured it twice and the measurements were put iu
^■^fT J'^T""'^\ '*'^='"'? "^ S''"'" I' =^'"<^ out with
P t^, H° ^ ""'*=■ .^.^"* "'" 1"<^'-. I told Broil
lishcr. He vvas surprised. On the first of April Bro b
,f:^' ,T''f' ^"^ '" ''"= '"■'" °* moving'^ forgo"
about the distance matter and thought of nothing b
acklug down carpets etc. He moved n number uf bloc
further away from the railway station. I went down ai
asked h.m, "Why did you mover" He said, '■Eeruse
found rents were cheaper." t asked him. "Do you thin
that was Ihe reason you moved? You are getting x'o"
blocks larther away from the Lackawanna. TTiere Is on
f^rX-^^llr ?. rfr'!"''' "' » ""'«• Thus it came out a.
cording to God s Word,
The Lord put that in the book. First, to make th
book appear fodish in the eyes of those that do not bdic^■
H^ ,■, 1 ," ^r "i" ''=°P'=- ^"^ >"=>'■='' "5 to know tha
He would jclcct His own tools to do the work. Thri^r,
purposed to show the Church that the book would b
written in such a place and in such a way, tbat none of th,
truth friends need to stumble. Those who have since som
out from us and made all these statements about V
seventh volume never tell yen about the fact tha! tlie hook
was written before they started this. The manuserip?, t
hJi^X r h"' S^^^"'""^"' -"^^ =1". finished and in the hook
KBtore f heard of even a suspicion, or difficulty of any
kind, w e were too busy to know what was going on We
were working for our worldly employers during the day
,^nd we were working earnestly on the book early in the
morning, and late at night.
You can evidently sec that passage could not refer to
anything eke bui this book. And the Lord wanted us to
unow .that he is minagmg this whole affair ; and we are
right in His hand, Wc don't care what happens. We be-
long to the Li.id, and if He is tkrcwjh with us— fl/r."r,/i(
It nat, we are reads. If «c wants to pitt lu in cold
storage and save us for something He has yet to do, then
let us be willing!
IT seems as though now at the close of the Age. lomj
after rhe Master has knocked at the heart of each o'f
His followers, that a muilitude. manv thousands, yet
a little number comparatively, the remainder of the 14-1 000
are yet to enter the gate of Heaven, and it seems that
the door ofHeaven opens a little ivider and the Lord gives
us a little oelter glimpse of things beyond the vail and
things beyond the trouble than we have ever had before.
"THE EZEKIEL TEMPLE"
By Bro. Geo. H. Fisher
At Brooklyn Tabernacle, Oct. 14, 1517, 3 ;00 P. ,\I.
PART I
This is just what we might expect of one so loving and
kintl as our :ilaster. "We love Him, but our love for Him
IS not to lie compared with His loic for us. .And so
as we stand upon the threshold of this dooi- (the Temple
door), he has opened it perhaps a little wider to let the
crowd m that is cominff and as we ^tand before the
portals prepared ro go in the Master opens the door a
hltle more and gives us this wonderful picture, which is
36
SUPPLEMENT
SUPPLEMENT
[)tii:ips n plainer visiQii of some things that iic beyond
tliait we have ever had before.
One of the dear friends wis up there at Scrajiton,—
Sister Slebert. Soii^ebcw or oxher, because I \\iA betu over
Eiekiel it got around that I knew some thing about EzekicJ»
but I didn'tn Brother Woodwqrch knew a grtat deal about
ReveUiion. Siiier Sieben said xo rne, "Sit down and
explain Ezekiel to me." li siic had asked me to do any
other impossible thinff I could not have started with any
greater misgivings. 1 opened tlie back of the Bible and
Siert something Brother Russdl said opened up that first
chapter and it was that comment which said the great
cloud enfolding itself was the time of trouble. As often
as E had looked it over 1 itad never noticed that. At any
rate, it was a suggestion stid enough. I sat down atid
explained the chapter then as it appears in the book.
Eelorc that I had never understood it. Nothing suptr-
na tu r al abo ut tt'.at , S omc th i ng B rother Russ el I had
written was enough to throw light on the whole chapter*
TIhs is the way it was ah through the book.
At every point where diHicuUtes seumcd insurmountable
something Brother RusscU had written threw eiiouifh light
on that section to make it tindtirstandable. // BTotimr
Kii^S^li fmd 'o/ritten less than he did I Aoticc Brother
Fisher ccuiii fiol have midcntaod ii. So we attribute the
work to Brother Russell, and I think we do so justly.
because the Lord iUuminatcd tht points thraugb Brother
Russell's writings, which perhaps no other man could have
explainedf which threw light on the whole thing.
The way it was started was like this. Sister Siebert
came to Brooklyn and told the Executive Commtltee that
two brethren krtcw something about Revclatiori and
Eiekiel and the Executive Committee requested Brother
Woodworth and Brother Fisher to present such matter
a£ they might leql able, that it might be considered with
other matter. That tyoj the cammissioti.
NoWt this chart represents the finished work of God-
It also represents the steps toward that finished work.
In Ephesians 1:8-11 the Apostle speaks about "God
hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
havinLi made known unto us the secret of His will (this
is what we see before us), that in the dispensation of the
fullness of times He might gather together in one (under
one) all things in Christ, both which are iu Heaven and
on earth, even in Him." He speaks of the same thing in
CoL 1:19, "For it pleased the Father that in Him should
all fulness dwell. And having made ^eace through the
blood of His cross (by Christ) reconciling all things to
Himself, whether they be in Heaven or on earth."
This is what is pictured in Ezekiel 40:14, and our
attitude of mind toward this wonderful temple is expressed
by the Prophtt, who was a type of our beloved Pa$tor
Russelt, "And the man said unto me." You know in
prophecy in the case of the man in iiuen and the six others
which Ezekiel saw, the man represented Pastor Rus^elli.
We know that Brother Russell saw that man was himself-
*'Tht man said tinto me, Son of Man, behold with thine eyes
and hear with thine cars (Spiritual ears unstopped. Doa^t
treat it lightly, don't pass it over), set thine heart upon all
that I shall show you.*' Why are we brought this far
along the N'arrow Way? Why do we see the gales o£
Htaven throwing such a light upon our way? "It is to
the intent that I might show them unto thee that thou
art brought hither/' thus far along the way, that they
might he shown unto us, that they might be opened unto
Uit the vision seen of men of old time, which holy men
of God desired to look into and had not been able. And
as we see it, what are we to do? Shut it up in dark
closetSn It might get us into trouble ! "Declare all that
thou scest to the house of Israel (Christendom)." Every-
one must have a chance to see it.
Eick. 4,^:10, "Thou son of man show the great
sanctuary (the plan) unto the house of Isr5;el (tell about
the great plan of GQd)i that they m^y be ashamed of
their iniquities" And surely there is a showdown now
of Christendom's iniquities. Who ever dreamed that that
book contains the denunciations it does of the house of
Israel. "That they nay be ashamed of their iniquities."
I should think they would be ashamed, wouldn't you?
Any Christian man that taVif.a that he has been a partner
ill these practices should be ashacned^ and alt meti having
the Holy Spirit will be ashamed. "That tliey may be
ashamed of their iniquities, and let them measure the
paUcrn,' Let them take tlie word oi God and take their
measure.
EieL 43:11. "If they are ashamed of all that they have
done, then simw them the form of the house," TcEl
dtem all they will hear. '^Shtjw tiujm the form of the
house and the fashion thereof, and all the ordidances
thereof and all the [aws thereof and write it down in
their sight." They will read that Seventh Volume. "Write
it in their sight that they may keep the form and all (he
ordinances thereof and do them."
You see this man Eackicl going into the temple. It
shows hitn at the East Gate. We first see the Teniple
as though it was like a dream, and there is a lack of
connectedness in it. It looks as though it was on the top of
a mountain and on the slopes o£ the moutitatu was the
frame of a city below. The city would refer to the civil
government of the Age and the Temple the religious
organization.
There stood the man with the measure. "Behold there
was the tnan" — Pastor RusseEl — ^"whose appearance was
like the appearuncu of brass/' or copper, a priest justified
by faith in the merit of Christ imputed to him, "with a
line of flax in bis hand." Flax is linen. In his power
was linen to measure with, "and a rccd to measure with^"
In liev, 14 :i it says, "There was given me a reed like
a rod, and the angel stood saying. Rise and measure the
Temple of God." This measurement of a reed six cubits
long applied to any object means the full measure of the
Word of God relating to that object. So we would under-
stand. Willi the reed he uccasurcd the Temple, Sanctuary,
and the whole building, with the Jlax he measured only
one thing. That measurement was that of the life-giving
stream tjtat flowed out from the Temple, past the ahar,
through the East Gate and thence through successive
depths of one thousand to four thousand cubits respect-
ively, thence to the Dead Sea. The world lies in the
valley and shadow of death. The water of life flowed
into the Dead I^ea for its cleansing and re\'ivifying.
Pastor Russell said something about four, vis., the
four quafters of the race course. That was it* wasn't it?
The waters gave life. "He that loveth is begotten of
God.'* So with life, there is no life withotit love. Where
love comes in there is life. So it was plain that the first
thousand cubits meant measuring up to the extreme com-
pleteness of obedience to the I^rd in duty love. The
second thousand cubits meant measuring to the fulness
of the Divine standard with reference to love for God's
glorious character. The third thousand cubits meant meas-
uring up to the standard of love for the brethren. The
fourth thousand, measuring up to the full standard of
Divine love in loving our enemies.
You will notice that anyone in that stream who
possessed duty love only was paddling around in the
water up to his ankles. No tuari has fully gotten into the
stream oi Divine Love until he attains the Fourth Degree.
We will first compare the Temple with the Tabernacle.
The Temple is simply the Tabernacle with additions. It
is the Tabernacle over again. Instead of having a will
around the Tabemaclei it had a ciirtatn, and a ctirtain Is.
not made up of one, but many luembers^ many fibres^
many strings put together. When you think of it^ the
curtain around the Tabernacle represented Christ, Christ's
righteousness, and those to whom it was imputed. Here
in the Temple wc find a. wall around the court. It is
built of stones. These walls around the Courts and
around the Temple arc built of large stones.
Some a.re going to be stones in the Temple^ That is
where you want to be. You all want to be stones in the
Temple. You have no invitation to be a part of the Inner
Court wall or of the Outer Court wall. Why try to
qualify for the Great Company wall when yo;i might as
well be in the Temple? %Vhy be living stones not cut
specificallv to pattern?
There is a measurement for the ouler wall. It was
one rtdd thick. That is one of the: first things mcasur«d.
It i$ called a building. "The building was siac cubits higb
and six cubits thick." That wasn't a vtry large building.
What ksnd ot a building wa.4 it? A building is a structure,
anytlung built. This struciure htrq. this wail here, ihat
which was built here, this building was six by six cubits,
^ow remcniher the reed was six cubits long. The
reed is the full measure of tlie Word of God. It rep-
resents that this class represented in this wall measured
up to the ful[ measure oi the Word of God relating to
It, and stands as a wall in advance of whatever is indi-
cated by this OuLer Court plane here.
This Outer Court plane represtctts human perfection.
it represents tentative justification for those who had not
received the Holy Spirit. Those who did receive the Holy
spirit receive actual justification^ i. e., the priests anil
the threat Company^ So this Outer Court wall represents
tentative justification during the millennium, during the
tliousand years when the hosts of mankind are struggling
to nse up the seven steps to the Outer Court phne.
One class will already have qualified for it. That class
IS spoken of m Hcb. Il, which endured incredible suf-
teniigs and trials that they might have a better resur-
rection, Elijah, Elisha, Efavid, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and
the other Ancient Worthies, Avho were living stones cut
out and laid away, waiting to be built into this Outer
t^ourt walh In the future we hope to he the ones who
will be patterns to the great hordes of twenty billions of
people now in the grave.
The Temple wall is also six cubits thick. The Temple
has double walls, the inner is six cubits thick. What does
It tnean? It means it is to be made up of living stones,
*u ^1?"^*^**^^^*^^ ^^^ Pleasured to the full measure of
the Word oi God for that plane indicated by its location,
i> e., the Divme nature. One hundred and forty-iour
thousand stones in that wall. One reed tjiick, si^t cubits
thcck, they will have measured up fully to every require-
ment of the Word of God before they pass beyond the
vail.
,n F°;Sil'''^J^ '^ ""* ^'*^' Company wall? Turn to Ezek.
4U to •mm chapters and find it if you can. It isn't there.
It just says It is a wall. Does it say it is six cubits thick?
It isn t siK culiits thick. Those Vfho go into that ivail are
stones cut ill manner of shanes and sizes. This is the
class which is spoken of in 1 Cor. 3:10-15, in which the
Apostle Paul speaks of himself as liic mister builder,
laying tlie foundation. Paul lays the foundation, ivhich is
t,hriEt, and everyone who has the Holy Spirit is on thit
foundation. Does tht Great Company measure to the full
stature of Chri.it, or the full requirements of the Word
at Gpdf They measure all the way from (as Job says it)
getting through by the skin of their teeth," to just coming
a shivin^ short ot the six cubits of the full measure of
the Word ot Cod. So there is no measure spoken of for
the Inner Court wall.
This Inner Court types those in the Tabernacle Court
after the Church has passed beyond the vail. You know
what class will be livinjir there when those tenia lively
justified who h^vo fled from tht Cgui t through persecu-
tions coming upon the world, and all Christian people, in
the near future. In the French Revolution if any man
happened to call himself a Christian, you know what hap-
»"="=" 'o him. I don't need to tetl the dreadful -itovv.
When persecutions get severe, every man will say, "This
IS too warm for me, I ain no Christian." Those who are
tentatively ;iistirieri and not on this strong foundation
will be swept hy the fire of that day and leave in there
the Great Company only. They are the only ones left
there after the Church is KOne and they are the class that
steps, as It were, from this life to the next to be on the
Inner Court plane.
And so this inner place, the Most Holv, is called the
Word of God, called under another word which means
the same thing,— the Oracle. That word has two meanings.
In ancient superstitions, when Alexander was startine on
his world-wide conquest he went to the Oracle of Delphi
and Dierc received the oracle of the gods The Qracic
means the place, and also the message from the place The
LoEOi also means the word that proceeds from Him or
in Him.
Our place is in the Temple, We can't stop in the Outer
Lour I. You can stop in the Inner Cou-t here if ynu
want to. You would have breathing space you -hink
iou would be a servant 1 That is where you are called u
the femple itself, "Few there be that rind i?" You%r,
not some to stop on these steiis of the gate to the Inne
Court, but you are Soing to stop in ihe "Oracle" of Gor
the great Word ot Cod, a member of it
lliediffcreiit sjates have ditlereut mtaninss dilTcren
usages ,n the Temple. The East Gate is colored red! th.
sane as tire altar, I'.^ek J3, -Afterward he brouJh m
R-iw ''?"'• *™ 'Ijat gate that looks toward the east "
Bel old, he saw something there. Turn back to Ejekie'
first chapter, and see Uiat wonder/ ul vision. When firs
hcgimimg to understand that we didn't sec as clcarlv l
now what that glory was. We first thought it was Go,
Hmiself. No, It was not. Eroth<ir Russell threw ifeh
on that tou. He made all things plain There isn't "
thinK that he didn't make plain if^e'm^^e a ,t e ^ efui
application of what he said. This is the place ivher.
Pastor Russell makes this plain. Ejek. «:l~t "Xftenvarc
he brought me ;o the gate, even the jjate that looketl
oward the east, and behold the glor/ of the God o>
Israel catne from the way o£ the east, and His voice wa'
Ills glory, .^nd It was according to the appearance of the
vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw
when I came to destroy the city, and the visions were like
^e vision t^iat I saw by the liver Chcbar, and I fell upon
my face. And the glory ot the Lord came into the house
by the way ot the east.
!:Jy"A f .T"?,' ^f ",'■ ^"?==" '"^'^ «* "'hat it was,
Eiek, 44 :1, a, "Then he brought me back the way of the
gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the
III: ^["^i,".:'""^''"'-- ^h"^. '='* '*"= ■-°'"^ ""'0 '"<-'. This
gate slial be shut, ,t shall not be opened, because the
^ u hi. ° .■ ''H 'A^* emend in hy it. therefore it
shall be shut And Pastor Russell said the door would
( ?i'"i' .u'"' " "'?'"' ^^h" '' ">""' 's *at the glory
^umn S'^' ,y''" '" X'^^ '''^ =''"™l'' "" l'«l': Aodc of
J 44,0(10 s.uall m number but great in glory. When you
read the vision read this into it. Where you sec the great
four living attributes. Wisdom, Justice. Love and Power
each combining the others, and see the great wheels the
great plan, whirling wheels it calls them in the Hebrew
m constant operation, and see the firmament above,' thi^
soldcn globe, reaching up to the throne, it represents the
Ciirist, head and body, and so when the glory of God went
in at the east gate the Christ went in; and when they
have gone in, according to another picture when the
virgins have gone in the door is to be shut. So when [he
glory of God went through the door was shut and the
Oreat Company couM not come in that wav The only
ones that can come in that way are those com'ing in by the
blood, those that suflfer with Him,
The wonderful glory of God is the Church How
harmoniie It, because it doesn't say the church entered in,
but that Jenovah entered in? How ahnnt the Church'
You know that little Tabernacle, the small room is called
the Most Holy. It is made of gold. Gold types the Divine
nature. What metal is the Holy made of? Gold too
Have you got the Divine nature? What is Divine about
"!v-J-?"" had the mind of God and we have the mind
OJ Christ. You have the mind of God. There are some
things you can't understand this side the vaiL It seems
that God in a certain sense identifies Himself with His
own word. I say His word, for anyone's mind is made
up of a collection of ideas and thoughts. And so here,
you speak of the mind of God and you speak of the Word
of God. How bpaiitiful it is to sec clearly how those
thmgs all mean the Word of God. So when the mind of
God IS m us it Is the same mind of God that was in the
Apostles and the Lord Jesus. When God. the mind of
God, in His humble children, beginning with the Lord
Jesus, down to the lowest child, when the mind of God
goes in — in the Church, God .?ocs in because Cod identifies
HimscH with the Church. Christ said, "if my words abids
m you, I and -My Father abide in you."
This East Gate is the same color as the altar. The
gate is peculiarly made, fn our land when going into a
house, there is usually a simple door or gateway. In
Oriental countries it was (and still is, I believe) a custom
on account of the enemies and robbers, to make the door
.L
ss
SUPPLEMENT
SUPPLEMENT
in the fcrm of a t(?fridor with dark cliambers on eUlier
aitle and no nun could pass that gate without saiisfying
the gtiircis that he would fulfill the cotiditiiiiu ticcesiary
CO pais. And so thcjc gates rcimjicUL Chriat, the outer
otic CEirisl in the ficsh, the one on Chc Inner Court, Christ
&s a New Crcaiure.
There are seven diamliers, and seven steps lo p^5s>
the fuU rtitasorc of the Word oi Gad to be met, seven
chambers to go by. A place typifies a condition. The tuU
measure of the Wort! uf Gad hai to be met by those
passJEig through tbis gate and this is the gate oi justifi-
cation by faith, beitjg justified by the blood of Christ.
Now notice this Inner Court gate here represents the
same thittg on the spirit pUnc. Instead oi seveii sieps
there arc eitjbt stc^>s. Seven is easy to undcr$^and. Seven
is -^ symbol of completcneiS4 There is nothing symbolical
aboiit eight until ypu think that cijht is nnade up of one
pEti5 seven. The first step is the change from human to
sptritLialH of the mind, the heart, the wit!. You can call
that, if you so desire^ the resurrection,' It is called a
resurrection, because vre are now spoken of as being raised
to sir with Christ iti. heavenly places. That has happened.
That is step number one.
Vou and I arc jjoisig up those steps no^v. This puts
you on the lomidation of being hi Chrislp anointedn having
the Holy Spirit, Paui says something about that founda-
tion. He speaks about the only loundatiou which is laid,
which is Christ, and then you are building something on
it. If you arc building with wood, liay and stubbie you
are stoppiflg on this Imter Court plane-
There won't be much breathing jpacc there because of
the great multitude of people on it. All who haven't
measured to the full measure of the Word of Gnri after
begetting are on the Inner Court plane. Here in the
Temple is where the brealhinij space is, and here only,
because there arc so few in there. Like the big jobs, the
fellow at the topj earning ^Sf^OOO doesn^t need to worry
50 much ag the man down the ladder earning two dgllars
3 day.
Pant says this, "At the last day the fire shail try every
tnan's work of what sort tt is." (1 Cor. 3:1.) The ftrt
shall try your work and mine and before we get through
everything that can be destroyed AviJl be wiped off.
The 1^4,000 and one will have built with gold, silver
and precioiii: *:to»fS. Perhapii you are building- with gold,
siivec and precloits stones, then you are groing up those
golden steps of the Temple. How much higher? This
Outer Court gate has seven slcps^ the inner eight. How
much higher 15 the TetnpEc. You will ftr.d it stated in
chapters -ly to JS* You will find nothing stated about
how many steps there are from the Inner Court plane to
the luiniple plane. Why not? Who can mea.'iurc the
difference between the rinite and the infinitCf the dif-
ference between the alary of the Grfiat Company and the
Little Floek, being of like subMance with the Father- It
can't be expressed In number of steps, so the number is
not given. But those who progress up those steps there,
many of you are dotn^ it, are on tliosc steps, and will he
raised to ihc plane of the Temple.
Its heig;ht was six cubits above tht Inner Court plane*
That familiar old measurtment, which meaiia the full
measure of the Word of God, Those ou the Temple plane
have nicasured uy to the full measure of iVw: WorJ of
God. Can you measure perfect love? It is immeasurable.
Here is a love that is like light. Some have dark hair
and some while hair. The Tight shines on botii black and
white. The Divine love frotn the Temple^ that wonderful
Jove tight chines upon all. He gives His Eospel of love
lo all. The love light of that GospcE shines on the jtist
and the unjust. No diffcrencre. TJm 1 (4,OOf3 love tliat way.
Are you one of them? That is the standard.
Uhat steps are you axi? Those steps lead to gl&ry,
honor and im^nortaltty All ^vho remaiii on those Inner
Court steps gel the place of servants. Do you want to be
a servant when yon could be a king?
"And they shall not come near unto me to do the office
of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy
things in the most holy place, but they shalE bear their
shame and their abominations which they have committed.^'
(Ezek. Ai:i3.) II you are going to be of the Great
Company give up all idea 01 direct service to God, and
be prcps^red to take a lower place.
Do you want to be ashamed to look the Lord in the
face? They shall bear their shame and be on the Inner
Court plane where they might have been in the Temple.
"And they shall bear their shine and the abominations
which ihcy have committed."
God is good, I cannot exhort anybody too much.
There is one place to which we are called. We are called
to go thvough the gale of Juslification, and up the steps
of spirit begetting, and through our course of preparation,
just for one purpose, that we might participate in the
blood. This is aB done in order that we might liave some-
thing to of!er, >Jom- aren't we going to ofifer that which
is gjveti us to oiTer? It is all given to us that we might
build on the foundation of Jesus Christ, gold, silver, and
precious stones, that when the fire comes, and the nrc is
bunding now, our butEding might not be swept away.
"THE EZEKIEL TEMPLE"
By Bro. Geo. H. Fisher
Ai Bi-ooklvii Tabernoclc, Oct. 14, 1917. SitIO P. M.
PART II
THE Apostle Paul tells us in Eph. SilS-^i. "Through
Him W'i boih (Jtw5 and Gcti tiles) have access by
one spirit utito the Father." Think of iti Access
to the Father J "Now, therefore, ye are tio more strangers
and foreigners." Which we were^strangers. "But fel-
low citizens with th* saints atid of tht Uouichold of God.
.And are built upon the fotindation of th^ apostles and
prophets. Jesu! Christ Himself being the chief corner
stone, in wlioni all the building ttlie Sanctuiry, the
Templet fitly framed togeti^er growetll unto a lioly temple
in the Txird. In whom we ire also huilded together lor
an habitation of God Throuijh the Spirit." ^ So. friends,
we will look It this great Teniple tonight, ^vhich represents
the liahitalion of God throueU the Spirit.
Our Saviour told us this, speakiitj; in dark bn^iajte,
"Destroy this temple and in three dsys I will raise it np
asain." They knctv not that He spoke of the tentple of
His body. Ue are all familiar with the idea of the
teniplc ot Hi5 hody Ijting destroyed and raised up in tftree
tliousand I'car dai*s. \Ve have seen in addition to tliis
body of Christ a company wlio ar^ not *?niircEi- faithful.
other inembers of His body, in a larger sense. And so irt
this sanctuary of God, this great sanctuary to be the
dwelling place of Gnd Through th* spirit, we have the
ingathering of the whpic family of God, all the Tvandering,
sinful children of Adam, ad t;3lhcrcd into this Outer
Court, which represents restitntroti for the whole race of
mankind. On a higher plane th« Inner Court, tinted in
blue, represents the elevation of some of the children of
Adam, who leave their father s house to be oa the angelic
piaite. anrl a few of them ott this Temple foundation,
which builded belter than the others, tvho build not of
^rood, hay and stubbie, but ot gold, silver and preeious
stones, and they are represented by <he Temple, tinted in
cf^ld. They arc raised to the nature of God Himself,
Tiicse receive the eNeecdingi great and precious promises
whereby they are made of the nature of Jehovah, with
like substance of Cod and of Jesns Girist, So this great
Temple which Ezekiel saw in vision represents the in-
[jatherinff of the whole family of God.
l"n at tlie lop here is a little buildini; tailed the ivcstem
Tinilding, iveat of the Temple. Isi looking up the various
pictures of Temiitc built liv Solomon, Zerubhibel, atid
Werod, we could lind only one sketch showing a buildms^
tike this and we couldn't fmd out the use of it. Here is
a building not in line with the ransora. They do not come
by the blood, it answers in some respects to the position
of the atigels. You know the Bible says the Church shall
(udKe and rule the angels. We might e.>:pecE to find some-
where represented the angelic hosts, those faithful and
those not failiiful. and thus it seems as tfiough this western
building, as it is called, may be considered as picturing the
position of [lie augeU, subject to the Temple, but not
connected with the ransom.
There is a difference between the inner and outer gales.
Tlic pucnltarity is that the construction is reversed The
Totch of the Outer Court is passed last on gettttig into tlie
Court, and for the Inner Court it is passed first. You
come by all the requirements first and the Porch last on
getting into the Outer Court, and for the Inner Court
you come by the Pordi tirst and all ilie renuirenienls last,
Tlie difference is the difference between being resurrected
on the human, or Ihe spirit plane, sayinj nothing of tiic
Divmc plane. On the human plane a human being has to
make all the conditions of the Word cf God before lie is
resurrected. That is true, isn't it? So the Porch ri^pre-
sents resurrection. Conditions all met, first progress made,
and resurrection finally attained. Now on the spirit plane
God reverses things.
As one brother pot it. "God reverses the process on
the natural and spiritual planes, A child has no mind
when it is born. lis miiHl comes by use of the five senses
and by storing nerve centers of the brain. So in the
natural world or natural birth, body comes first and mind
iccond. In the spiritual birth, mind comes first and body
afterward."
That is a wise provision. Consider something like this.
There arc going to be 144.000 fortunate happy beings raised
to the flivine, itnmortil plane. One hundred antl forty- four
thousand and one. Suppose God gave U«m the immortal
nature first, then developed mind in them. They might
go wrong. So God reverses the process on the spirit
plane, He gives them mind first, that is called spirit
begetting, and body afterward— spirit birth.
There is no candlestick, or no table of shewbrcad in
the T(*mple, Instead of the golden Altar for sacrifice.
there IS a wooden table. "This is the table before Jehovah."
(Eiek. 41:22.) It is one of the privileges of the priests
that they should be at God's table." It is something like
what the Lord said, "Ye cannot eat at the table of the
Lord and the tables of devils," It means the condition
in which you eat of spiritual food. It is possible that
Ibts is the (able a round which the tnarriagc feast will
gather.
At any rate it looks as though those in that chamber
were members of the body of (he Christ, from whom will
flow the word, as though this whole Temple represents
them tn the glorified cotidittOEl. represents their mmds. as
It were the new mind enclosed in the Divine body. This
will be the memorial of the sacrifices gone through, rep-
resented in the table, those sacrifices and that period of
enlightenment at the golden candlestick and the feeding
on the Word of God and ofTering of their best heart
endeavors on the golden Altar, Everyone will remember
all those things.
We might mention some things about these gates. Red
represents, in a general way, the ransom, not eiitirelv 50,
because the .\ncient Worthies are pictured as coming from
the East Gate. While not partaking of the sufJcrings of
CliriBt, ihey had sufferings like thcra. '.Moses preferred
the reproach of Otrist to the treasures of Egypt. \'ow
first you come right in to the altar. The altar is the
mathematical center of the Temple It you take the plan
of the division of the land amone the tribes, and the holy
oftertng of the tribes, the ahir is the ccwer. "This place
is so near to the Great Pyramid that it could be called
the earth's geographical center. The Ancient Worthies
are partners in the sufferings oi Christ. Thcv gome in
at the East Gate, Others rcceivinst the application of the
ransom are pictured by the pink color. Wherever vou see
the pink color on this chni-t it represents the application
of the ransom. The color we took for restitution is green.
!( is a good color for a chart. The Outer Court coi
be colored a green tinl. representing the enjoyments ■
restitution.
An \n come into the Inner Court we see two lit!
chatntjcrs called the singers' cliamljers, Tiiey are intCTid
not to show Divine nature, hut that the priests, those
tiie Divine nature, function or do something here, as th.
do ui tlie Teinjjlc a«d chambers. What do they do her-
The ones who attain the Divine nature will be fond .
singing. We learn about a song in Rev. U:X "And
heard as it were a new song, and no man could sins th
song but the W.m.- \\c believe that the two chambe
represent the royal priesthood singing the song of .Mos.'
and the Lamb tliroughout eternity, tlie eternal song i
the priests, singing the blessings of restitution for tl,
people. Here they are near the Inner Couf c, their sineir
can be heard by all the people gathered In the Outer Com
This 13 represented by the chamber at the .\'orih Gate wi'
Its aspect toward the South, Then there will be a rhstnti.
alonsside the East Gate with its aspect toward the Nortl
which represents the priests singing the song of the Lam
that came from Heaven, singing the praises of that Lam
and the praises of the Heavenly Kingdotn, because th
Lamb ot God is spoken ot 15 supreme in the Kingdon
We find that the Levitcs had land given them 0
Che chart iti the Seventh Volume, you will find a squar
piece of land with the upper portion for the priests th
middle for the Levitcs, and the lower for the secular 0
civil government, the city. The land for the priests type
the condition ot the Little Flock, types the same thing a
the Temple plane. The land for the Levites tiT>es th.
Court, and the land for the city types the Chiter Cour;
It is said that the Levitcs would have land for thirf.
chambers. Nor star difiereth from star in glory, Amon'
those raised to this plane of being ive expect there wii
be thirtj; grades of glory ami honor, because a place type-
a condition, and those chambers or villages, or places, wi
might ejtptct to symboliie the thirtj' conditions or degree:
of honor among the Great Company, because the Grea"
Company will consist of people on the spirit plane whi
have been faithful all the way from just a little bit jus;
cnoush faithfulness not to be called unfaithful, up lo thost
that just miss going up the steps of the Temple and
attaining the perfection oi the Divine life.
How about the priests? We find that the land given
'"li ."" '■*'"^' '''^ condition of the nature of God. We are
told ' star differeth from star in glory, so also is the resur-
rection of the dead," (1 Cor, 16;41, 42,) That resurrcc-
''?"J* so K"at that tile .Apostle calls it "the Resurrection
of the Dead." We think the priests' dv«lling places type
glory and honor among ttiem. One brother might have
tnade a greater exertion than another. All on the Divine
plane will be equal as respects the attainment of Divine
love, but there will be diifcicutcs in other rcspecEs. I
wouldn't say it would be in the use of our talents. We
find that the reward is one reward for all,— "enter into
the joy of the Lord," Tlierc are going to he diiTcrences.
One brother could attain Divine love and another might
have more Divine love than he. ft might be that. It might
be that is the explanation. It is the best l could offer.
It is sorneihing that can only be seen darkly now.
There is an interesting class here, the Princes. They
represent the Ancient VVotlhies. They were allowed to
operate in the Outer Court, The East Door was closed
because the glory of God had gone through it, yet that
Gate the Princes could use. During Ihc period when the
great Kingdom of God is being established, the Princes
shall sit in Ihe East Gate and eat their "food. The food
the Princes will cat of, might be considered as using the
Word of Cod relating to the blood of Christ, to be applied
for the world.
Brother Russell has indicated at different times, rather
obscurely, that people in this life, who lived up to their
consciences fairly ivell. even if they did not get the Holy
Spirit, tvould be henefitted by it in the resurrection. Vou
know he has made such statements and teachings.
We will take for example a Roman Catholic that lived
a thousand years ago, .^!1 llie teachings he received were
teachings, nothing about which were spiritual. He couldn't
SU PP LE il ENT
61
60
SUPPLEMENT
have a Bible, for a Bible cost a iortuiie. Tliis brother,
a tiiciiibtr oi th^; household oi faiih, btlicvins i^iat thai
whicli was taught liim was the truth, did liis level best
to live up to it, would have an Ativamast; in ihu resurrec-
tiun. SliouUf he have an iiflvaniagt:? 1 believe he should.
Here ivf have it in Ezek. K-Ai. re/crriiia lu ihq land that
belQiiued tci the Princes, tht Ancient Worthies, it says, "U
the prince give a giit uitlo his suns, tht inheritance thereoi
shall be his salts', it shall be thtit jiosscssioii hv- biheri-
Laiice." A ill ace types 1 coiidiiioii. The land t>pilies the
bener icivirtecuon of the .'Vncknt Worthies. 1 cannot see
but that it means that it will be one oi the jcys and pleas-
ures of tlie Ancient Worthies to lake tliose who by God's
grace lived good, conscientious lives, ho{ kiiDmiig ipiritual
Ihiiiffj, and eicviting them to the condition oi human
ptirfectioti enrlier than the close oi the millenHium. It they
have a loyal spirit and love the Ancient Worthies they will
be called sons. .
Eict -itfilT. "If he (the Prince) give a Eiit oi his
inheritance to one of his servants traised to the better
resurrection) then it shall be the servatii's to the year of
liberty (that year when Christ shall deliver tlic llillcnnial
Kingdom over to God by givins it to the children oi
Adam) after it shall return to the prince." I£ anyone has
a mental attitude of a servant, to da Ihnigs simply because
it pays to serve, or something like iliat, although he my
get a reward he will lose it at the end oi the millennium,
because there will be somebody aiound to see that the
people are separated from everything they can be sepa-
rated from. Satan will be loosed to see if some cannoi be
deceived. Possibly means some will have a servile attitude,
not that of a son. They will lose their inhtfitance, they
will liasj into the Second Death po.^sihly.
Our Lord in speaking of i good deed done by some
Jew, said, "Thou shall be recompensed in the resurrection
a( the Just," He will be benefitted by his good deeds. I
believe a heathen tnan who hss tried as Paul says to do
by nature the things contained in the law, if he try by
■.trnng effort and a resolute gosd wiU to live a good tue,
his conscience escusiiig him cotitinualiy, should be beoe-
ftttcd in the resurrection of the dead. 1 believe he might
be one of those, who, when he coffles to a knowledge of
thv Son a£ God and the Kingdom in operation, the Ancient
Worthies will be glad to honor with the same condition as
themselves- ,,,-,. ,
l-Jcrc is the Temple, "Ye grow into an Holy 1 emple oi
the Lord," It has a double wall with a space between.
The space hetiveeii these double wralls is not a characa-nstic
of the Esekiei Temple alone. If you read over carefully
the description of the Tcmuits erected by Zerubbabet and
Solomon you will find it speaks in similar knguase tlal
those temples ha-vu double walls. It seems as thotigh the
platform represents the plane of being, the nature, and the
building represents the US'*' mind in that nature. Ynn
kno'jj ail there is thai -s imd: of us no'ji lliat u 6ii)tu
faihiBr.cd !iO~j! alU'r llie fashian o/ Clirijt, is ihe wmtt.
ffe an Irtinifofwli liy 'he rclteaiing "/ our miltis. fVe
tliiiilt till TsMplc reftiscnti the Miiuii of Ihc New CrmlttTi
mi the Divine pknc. That is hovi tuc M« jay '*of the
Hot}) ■mmild typify the msmorial of the Ikings of s«r pro-
bationary or ientotim spirit liom coKdition i" ihis life.
What use was made oi these little chambers here? We
read thw between the inner and the outer walls of the
Temple were little chambers or rooms. What does it
mean? A place typiftcs a condition. Those rooms typtfy
a condition. Those rooms were in three stories. Accord-
ing to the plan given us, the bottom story was four cubits,
or six feet wide. ,
As the wall vfent tip to the second story they made the
wall thinner. It went to the third story and fot still
thinner, and the third was bigger than the first. The
language is hard to re id, but that is what it means, These
side chambers were in three stories. What does that
mean ? A place typifies a condition. As these stories were
one hitjher than the other, and as you know a place typifies
a contliiion, the differences of height typifies differences
of planes of being or condition. As this Court is higher
than the outside ground, and the Inner Court higher than
the Outer Court, and the Pavement or Platform of the
TtropU higher than the Inner Court, so in these chambers
ive have three stories or levels. II. is more glorious to be
in she Great Company than in the restilutiQii class, I hey
wiJl see GotI, hut not serve Him.
\\ e read of tlic Levites that liie people were told to
love litem. 5o, friends, if any of us happen to fall into
the condition of the Great Company, while we may liive
a certain memory of shame to bear, yet we will have the
heartfelt love oi the whole world of mankind. That
makes us feel better. God is good, no matter where we are.
These three chambers represent memories oi the Christ,
head and body, memories of the things done on the three
planes of being, memories of tilings done on the plane of
lustificatioii, on the spirit begoucn plane, and on the
highest, the Divine plane.
Our Lord tells tint there is something better than a
bank account, something better than all the money in the
.Sational Bank of New Vork. I£ we had the money in
the Bank of iNew Vork we could move mottntaiiis. There
is something better liian treasure. The Lord says we are
to lay up treasures in Heaven. I think this heathen inau
whom we spoke of, or the Jew of whom the Lord said
"Thou shah be recompensed in tlie resurrection of the
jusi," have laid up treasure in the mind of the Lord,
treasures on the human plane. The Lord will not forget
it. So we read that if anyone does a good deed to a
prophet he will receive the reward of a prophet. The
heathen m3il wh^n his eonseienCG excuses him, is laying
up treasure in the lower chamber.
Some won't reach the highest nature, yet have striven,
they have just coniii short of perfect love. They have
laid up treasure in Heaven on the second story, 1 know
there are thousands oi good men have laid a good deal ot
trcisure in itie first story and many have laid up treasure
in the second story, but the greatest treasure; is in she top
story, treasures of gold, silver, and precious stones of
character development, of true treasttrc in our minds and
hearts, treasures of love. Divine love, represented by the
gold, which typifies the love part of the Word oi God,
"He that love 111 is begotten of God and is hi ilic light.
The light is the Word of God, and the Word of God
is represented by the gold. So, friends, when somebody
does vou a bad turn in or out of the Truth, and you lovt;
them,' you are like the electric light, your love is shining
upon all. If, no matter what a person does to or says
about you, you love Ihein )ust the same, you have laid up
treasures of gold. In laying up treasures like that you
arc developing a character jeivel, maybe a diainond. It
may be that God deposits a diamond and gold for you.
Wlicn you learn more and more about the Truth and your
mind becomes more and more filled with the transforming
lull ue rite of the Word of God, tlic Lord lays up treasures
of silver for you. Treasures of gold, silver, and precious
stones. How big is your pile up there? Have you any kind
of a pile up there?
Each of these stories had thirty chambers. There is
that thirty again. We wilt know what thirty means as
a symbol when we get beyond the vail. It this chart
TVMC drawn to represent those little chambers we would
have little cross lines indicating thirty conditions, and
little staircases leading to each floor. If you are living
in a house, which rooms would you lilte the best, front
or back? Here are the front rooms, and here art; the
back rooms, way back here to the West. A place typifies
a condition. Thirty rooms, thirty conditions, thirty planes
of glory,
Why, these little chambers in the front ot this great
house are to be packed full of treasure, while the back
ones will have just enough to let tlie occupant through
on the Divine plane, each star differing from star in glory.
Has your chamber a fulness of treasure, or is it empty?
Are you going to be a front room or a hack room over-
comer?. How are you overcoming? Are you piling the back
room with a little treasure once in a while? Our Saviour
will say, "Put down on the credit side one jewel for John
Smith." Or are you piling them in so fast that Shcy can
hardly be counted? I want my treasure on the top Hoor,
front. Where do you want yours? It is the same on each
story, rooms on each floor.
There is a beautiful picture In Ezek. M 1I6-IS of the
purpose of the great sanctuary. It is the interior decora-
tive scheme. Perhaps some of die friends have been
interior decorators, so they will want to know something
abotit the inleriur decorative sclieme. The ticcorations
were on e.ieh one of the i^atcs and the podts. l hey were
decorated witli patni trees, Vou wouldn't call that very
beautiful. Palm trees arc good enough for God. "The
righteous is as the palm tree," If a man have the benelits
of the ransom applied 10 him, the picture of perfect
htimaniiy will be held before him continually, Tha picture
is itupressed upon him that the purpose of this sanctuary
is for the development and preservation of perfect human-
ity, and so these palm trees occur 50 often, thai wherever
a man turns he will see palm trees and the lesson is that
of perfect humanity. The great sanctuary is for the pur-
pose of blessing all the families and kindreds of earth with
the blessings of perfect humanity, and as they come in
here inside the porch they will see tlie palm tree deco-
rations. There will be palm trees at the gates ; and cheru-
bim and palm tree decorations in the Temple.
Those cherubini itt Ezekiel typify ciualtties of God
embodied in the Church, in you and in all of us, all the
faithful Ll.l,CKtO, v;hcthtti- thc>" be Methodists, Catholics, or
Baptists, wliatever name they were called in past ages.
Some overcome without shaking off the shackles of Baby-
lon. No doubt about that. Of course, everybody now has
the chance to get out of Babylon, and it would he difficult
to overcome in Babylon now.
Twenty billioiii, when reanimated and when con-
secrating themselves here to God, do not consecrate direct
to God, but to the one to whom they belong. They con-
secrate themselves to Christ, Head and Body, and the
priests receive the consecrations in the side chambers
here. The Litde I^lock; the Christ Head and Body, receiv-
ing the consecrations of the people is pictured by the
priest receiving the flesh of these sacrifices.
Now the priest wouldn't eat them raw. These buildings
\tfere called side chambers. Before the priest wo-jM eat
the oSering, something wot:ld be done. These corner
chambers are called boiling places where the flesh was
boiled. When a man offered an animal, it was taken by
the priests to these boiling places. There were chitnneys
in them. I know this, that when Ezekiel comes back he
will know how to build the Sanctuary if it is ever to be
built. I think he will laugh at our plan, but it was the
best we could do.
Here is a man coming from the dead. We will select
some man whose name we know. We will say he has
been reanimated and cotisecrates himself. W''c will say
It is a man who never claimed to be a Christian, a man
Mho could hardly have lived a better lite in many respects,
and wasn't an angel cither. .Abraham Lincoln never pro-
fessed Christianity, We will treat of him as one case.
Here is the Little Flock, represented in die side chambers
here. Tlie word conaes up that Lincoln is back and has
consecrated himsftlf. AVon't they feel good when .Abraham
Lincoln comes back? Thar noble man, one ot the noblest
men that ever iv;ilWed the soil of America ! Or wc have
word that Edison is back from the dead. Hoiv useful
he may be. how useful he is now. They lake him and
bring him in here.
Abraham Lincoln told stories that the ladies couldn't
be around when he told tliern. Abraham Lincoln starts
to tell a story. He is told, ".\bratiam, those stoi ies don't
go now." He starts another again, for nothing ever hap-
pened before trora telling stories. Instead of being laughed
at they take him up here and boil him a little bit, for the
meat must be boiled before it tan be eaten and assimilated.
Boiling is the application of heat tempered with water.
It means the .ipplication of stripes tempered with Divine
\o\-t^ the water of die Word of God, Each man like him
coming up. not knowing the blaster's will, will be boiled
a little. He wiii have to undergo a few stripes, a little
boiling.
Then out here somebody else comes up. Say it is,
well, perhaps some of your neighbors that wasn't qnitc
what he ought to have been. U"e all knoiv people that
are not real good. Some men steal and some cheat.
women gossip and things like tliat. This man comes u|
from the dead atid starts to steal. Well, you must no
steal. lie yets boiled a little. The Levites boil him a
little this time. He is tlie Judas kind. Tlie characteristii
of Jud.^s was that he took money and kept on takin;.
what was in the bag. He was a willful thief. This ttiat
says, "1 don't care if 1 did get hurt a little. " "He tha
kiioweih the Master's v.-ill and doetli it not shall be bcatei;
with many stripes." Tlie word tells that these cornel
places are boiling and baking places. They will bakt
hira. He will get some pretty sharp and severe trials
many stripes — baked.
You and I have experiences like that. We suffer
things, we have been boiled and roasted some tiines. Wc
get into hot water vvhcn wc get boiled. \>e do something
we know we should not have done, then we are baked.
We have fiery trials as a correction to teacli us not to
do that again- We arc baked too.
-As .-Xbraham Lincoln makes progress and Edison comes
up and turns from making plowsh.nres into sword?, to
turning battleships into mowing niacliities, how they will
rejoice at the progress 01 these great men. If there is
joy in Heaven over one sinner that repeiiieibi think of
the joy svhen twenty-two billions repent. Do you want
to be there to enjoy these feasts, to enjoy forever that
great love feast? To all pternity there will be stories,
they will talk over the glorious stories of consecration,
not only for the thousand years, but year by year. As
Brother John Edgar said, "Day by day renew your con-
secration, and daily seek to carry it out." Day by day
people of the world will consecrate at this Temple and
the priests forever will feast with joy and gladness over
the billions that have repented and are making progress
on diis earth.
We see Heavenly- things plainer now. Do you want
to he up there or down here? Is there any comparison?
Do you want to be there standing before God with the
privileges of the whole sanctuary area? You can go any-
where if you are up there. The priests went anywhere.
They can mingle with the people invisibly, as Christ did
with the Apostles after His resurrection. By God's grace
let us renew our consecration, and let us daily seek to
carry it out and let our cotisecration be to the very best
things. If the wealthiest man on earth ^ offered you or
sent you an invitation and you looked him up in Brad-
street^s or Dun's and find out that his offer is bona fide,
he invites you to li^i with him and lie will treat you like
a son, give you money, and you can live on Fifth Avenue,
atid you can have a country hottic, and hfty automobiles,
would you tell him, "^Ir. Jones, 1 think you have a beau-
tiful, house. I like the looks of your automobiles and 1
know that the invitation is bona fidt;, but 1 like Child's
restaurants. Ciiild's is good enough. They niako such
good pies"? Why not live with the millionaire? Are
your ambitions cheap or great? \Vill you be content, do
you wane to bear shame and disgrace, and at tlie satnc
time be loved and blessed of the people, or do you want
to have the love of the people without shame and disgrace
of having everybody know just how you failed, and it
wasn't necessary, because you attempted to defend human
rights? Brother Russell said of himself, "I have no
humati rights that anybody has to respect." Arc we any
greater than this great teacher? Have we got to fight
for rights when Pastor RusscU set this example?
Let us so participrtte in the blood that when wc pa5S
through here we will not be putting our treasures in sha
second story or third story rear, but in the top story front.
Let us be one of that company through whom Christ will
bring back from the dead all the billions of mankind. If
you want to bless your sons, your father, your mother,
your brothers, your sisters, and' want to be in a position
to pour blessings on them all, then by God's grace renew
your consecration tonight right h^re now, that you may
lay up treasure in tfeaven, that you might be in that
eternal love feast of the priests! Aineni
62
SUFFLBM ENT
SEVEN BRETHREN IMPRISONED
SUFPLEM E .V T
63
In a testimony oi Sister MacAlitUn, the Eollowm^ ex-
ccrpu were rciid from a tcticr rcceistd from 9rot!icr Mac-
Milbn ;
"Dec. 28, 1913. My Dear MolJic:— I am writing to
you at Pittsburgh this week, as you ^vill no doubt be
there at tht annventton in a lew days. Well, Chrl&tmafi
ha^ come atiiJ is gont. Wc have a. real good time.
Friends from all over the country scat lu good [liiii^^i
to eat, or cards. U was i real Chri$imas. Brother
\Voodworih would get as much excitement and joy out
of each package as a 10-ytar-old boy; and I enjoyed
seeiug him.
'^I will not attempt to answer all the kind remem-
brances nor burden you to Ao so. however, yon wilt t;o
doubt sec many at Pittsburgh, Tell them all that the
gifts and cards made us glad and that we were able
(through the kindness of the ofEcials) to share our
ffood ihiiiij> with oihers, so instead of reaching eight,
they reached over 150. I am enclosing a few letters
from friends, but cannot st[id you all of them. . . .
I hop^: you will have a good time at the convention.
Please tell everyone tiiat 1 am well and as happy as a
man or New Creature can be in jail, and that I am
looking forward to the happy day when wc all will
not only be free from prison, but also free from The
old fallen bodies and forever united with the Lord
and all Hit faithful. Had a tpitndid time in Sunday
School today. We have united our class with the Jews,
and I spoke today, while Brother Rutherford spoke to
the Christian Scientists* "So on we go, no knowing,"
etc.
"With heaps of love to you and all, as ever,
•A. H. MACMIUUVK."
In a testimony, Sister Van.\mburgh said^ "Brother
VanAmburgh wanted to write a letter but was not per-
mitted to do so, but desired iliat his testimony be given."
She said, "Our brethren were quite well, rejoicing in all
their experiences, knowing divine providence is over all.
Shut up irt ibeir little 5x0 roomi for fourte*u hours_ a da/,
they think of the Lord's goodnMS, the love nf the friends,
their desire to serve them, and how much they will enjoy
their freedom when in the Lord's due time. He says. 'It is
enough. Come, I have other service now for you to per-
form." Bro. VanAmburgh said:
""Assure the dear friends of our great love and fer-
vent prayers that the Lord will continue to bleas them
richly with grace for vvtry timc; of need. No doubt
the new year has as many surprises and blessings as
the past one. so we need to search our hearts carcfuily
lest any root of bitterness start and we stumble. WE
WAXT THAT CROWN. Assure them of my deep
luvc tvi all. A:)k lUciii lu plcttlse sin^ Itj^tnu ^23 as
part of my testimony.*"
She said further: "It would make you glad, indeed, to
know how their hearts were wirmed, cheered and touched
b>' the shower oi Christmas remembrances from the dear
friends. They would like to thank all."
BROTHER RUTHERFORD
"i am now rejoicing in the sufferings on your account,
snd I am Tilling up the remainder of the afflictions of the
Anointed One^ in mv flesh, on behalf of his borly, which is
the conKrcgation." Col. 1 :'J4, Diaglott.
VVhat couM brinf greater joy to the Oiriatiati here on
earth than to have the Lord's favor clearly made manifest
to him? The Apostle Paul who had such experience, wrote:
"It is given unto you as a privilege, not only to believe on
the Lord Jesus, but also to suffer on his account." (Phi!,
1 :2D.) There arc probably no men on earth today who are
more hii;hly favored and \vho are happier Iban tlie brethren
now in prison. They are conscious of their entire inno-
cence of intentional wrong-doing, and rejoice to be suf-
fering with Christ for ]o>'a]ly serving Him.
On the 6th day of Jlay an indictroent was returned by
the Federal Grand Jury for tlie Astern District of Xew
York at Brooklyn asattist the following: J. F. Rutherford.
W, E, VanAmburgh. A. H. MacMillsn. F. H. Robison, C J.
Woodworth. Geo. K. Fiiher, R. J. Martin, G. Dc Cccca and
R. H, Mirsh, charging them with conspiracy !0 obstruct the
United States in ihi^ prosecutinn of the war. (Jcr. 3S:l,)
TIte indictment was in four counts, each charging a sepa-
rate and distinct offence under different parts of the
statute. This statnie, known as the Espionage Law, was
erucied June lb, 1917. and is striedy a war measure. It
waild be impossible to violate it when the country is at
pcjce.
The indictment as originally returned charged that the
conspiracy was entered into some lime between April fl,
191? (the date when the United Slates declared war) and
May G. 1918. Upon motion, the Government specified the
date of the alleged offense as between June 15. iUlT, and
May G. lOlS. Tlie taic was called for trial on June 3, and
the Government dismissed as to R. H-. Hirsh-
The jury that was to try the case was impaneled June
4, <ind the taking of tcbliinony began June 5, The trial
progressed until June 21, when sentence was pronounced.
Throughout the entire time the defendants were calm and
serenely happy» conscious that the Lord was with them and
that he was permitting the experiei^ces for his own wise
purpose. One spectator referred to them as "dignified, pale-
tared Ruesellites." Another saidt "Those fellows always
have a smile. -They will be smihng when they get behind
th<: bars, and when they go to the gillows," Ljttle docs the
world realise why the Christian smiles,
A conspiracy is an agreement between two or more per-
sons to comtnit an unlawful act. At the trial the Govern-
ment contended that "The Fnishcd Mystery" was written
and published designedly to hinder the United States in
raisins an army and prosecuting the war, and that the
defendants had written to raembert of the International
Bible Students Association within drait age letters that
interfered with the raising of an army. "The Finished
Mystery" was offered in evidence by the Government and
poftions of it read, particularly the prcfaec» puges 24T-35S,
40$, 107 and 469. The Government's counsel contended that
these pages were designedly hidden in different parts of
the book for the purpose of first getting a person interested
in some other part of the bM>ok and then he would be in-
fluenced by the statements concerning war; that the pub*
JishinCT of the book. The Bible Students' Monthly and The
Watch Tower, and the writing of letters to coiiscictiitious
objectors were overt acts in carrying out the conspiracy.
Defendants denied all such, and proved clearly and sub-
stantially the following facts:
Synopsis of Argument
That the International Bible Students n-Vssociation Is
wholly a religious organization; that the members accept
as their principles of be!ief the Holy Bible, as expounded
by Pastor Russell; that Pastor Russell in his lifetime
wrote and published six volumes of Studies in the Scrip-
ture>« and as earlv as ISOC promised the Seventh Volume,
and that it would treat the prophecies oi Eiekiel and
Revelation; that on his deathbed he stated some tme eise
would write the Seventh Volume; that shonly after his
deaih the Executive Committee of the Watch Tower Bible
and Tract Society autliorixccl Brother.^ Clayton J. Wood-
worth and George H- Fisher to write and submit manu-
script for consideration, witinout any pfiJiiiiae btant iiiddc
concerning publication : that all the manuscript on Revcla-
tiort. except the extract from an article by the Rev. John
HajTics Holmes, was completed bcfoi-e the United States
got into the war, and that all the manuscript of the entire
boflk, except the "Temple" chapter tn liKckiel. was in the
hands nf the printer lie tore the enactment of the E^pionaijo
Law. hence the impossibility of any such conspiracy as
charged having been entered into witli intentions to violate
that law. Xot one of the defendants saw or even knew of
the existence of the Espionage Law until March, 1018;
but the Court held this fact to be immaterial and ruled it
out. even on the [pic:Jtion of intent.
The evidctice further showed that the letters written by
the defendants were replies to inquiries made by brethren
of the International Bitsle Stiitlfiit^ Astoctation, for idvice
under the law governing the selective draft.
Brother De Cccd did not take the witness stand, Each
of ihc other seven testified tliat they never at any titnc liad
combined, agreed or conspired to do anything whatsoever
to alTcet tlie draft or to intcifere wiili the Government in
the prosecution of the war, nor did they have any tiiought
of so doing; that they never had any intention oJ interter-
ing in any manner with the war; that their work was
wholly religious and not at all political; tfiat they did not
solicit members, and never aivised or encom'aged any one
to resist the draft: that the letters written were sent to
those whom they knew to be consecrated Giristians who.
uiid«r the law, were entitled to advice; fliiil ihat (hey wqrt
not opposed to the Nation's going to war. but that as con-
secrated Christians they themselves could not engage in
mortal combat.
'l"he law requires that before one can he convicted the
proof must show that he wilfully committed the act with
the intent to interfere with gr obstruct the Govrrntnent in
its prosecution of the war. The defendants testified that
they never at any time entertained such an intent and had
no desire whatsoever to impede the rio^'eTnTnoni in any
manner. They further testified that their lives for years
past had been devoted exclusively to religious work —
telling the divine plan for the blessing of mankind ; that the
Lurd bad foretold the war, and that for them lo be against
the war would inc»ii to be agsiinst that which the l-ord has
permitted; hence all their efforts were confined crcclusively
to religious work.
Chrisrians Always MistJtiderstood
Vcrtlj- die uiicuiisccraied cannot undersund the conse-
crated Christian. It was so with the Master: and it is
c<tually so with his followers. As an example, the Gov-
ernment put in evidence a letter written by a brother to
some brethren in camp. sa>-ing; "Wc rejoice with you.
dear brethren, that you are having opportunities of study
and fell(>wshi[i tn^cthpr. Be of good courage and hold fasi ;
a little while aiut the fight will be nver. and ihen you will
be glad that you bare stood for the Lord and righteous-
ness." This ^e prosecution construed as an overt act to
resist the draft and encourage insubordination, whereas
all Christian brethren understand the words to apply en-
tirely to the Christian warfare and as having no applica-
tion TO worldly matters. To be misunderstood is a part of
the sulTcringsi for Christ's sake. Some day all wilt be made
clear. What a happy day that will be!
The summing up by counsel occupied the greater part
of two days. Counsel for the defense^ Mr. Sparks and Mr,
Fuller, Rtade splendid addresses, which were both eloquent
nnd forceful, «nd wbicli btvuK^tl fuidj many expressions
of commendation from their auditors. These are both
noble men, and God will resvard them in His due lime.
Sentence Imposed
The case went to the jury 3.bout o P. \L cm June '20. and
at 10:20 the sacnc night a verdict of "Gudty" on all four
counts was returned against all the defendants. They
were sent away to jaii at midnight and returned into court
for sentence the day following, w'hen seven of them were
sentenced to twenty years imprisonment at Atlanta^ Ga., on
each count, the setitcticc to commence atui riui concur-
. rently on each of the four counts, Tlie lircthrcn were not
at all dislnrE)ed, knowing themselves to be in the Lord's
hands. Theii serene calunsess was astounding to the large
crowd g:itlii;rcd i" the Court room, and oftiecr* were heard
to say ; "Wc never before saw men like those,"
Our brethren were then taken to a private room, where
their vifi\es and other friends were kindly permitted to
scri'e a bountiful lunciieon; and several hours were spent
in sweet fellowship together. The bystanders looked on
i^ilh amazement at the liaiJpy faces of all these Christian
brethren. Again the testimony was given that these have
ivalked with Jesus and learned of tdim.
It was exactly high noon (sun lime) Friday^ June 21,
when the Judge pronounced sentence against the seven
brethren. Brother De Cecca's sentence being deferred for
further investigation. This was the longest day of the
vcar, and ju»t at nooii the &un Tcachcd Its zenith.
\VlH'n called upon by the Court to state whether they
had atiything to say why sentence should not be passe<l
upon them, the detend.ints remained silent. The Judge =aid
in part: "Durhig the trial cour.sel for the defense at*
tempted to impeach the law officers of the Government,
the Army Intelliy«'nf<: Bureau, and all the ministerj
throughout the land. The religious propaganda which
these defendants have vigorously advocated and spread
throughout the nation as well as among our allies is a
greater danger than a division of the German army^ and a
person preaching religion usually has much influence and
if he is sincere he is all the more effective. This afirgra-
vates rather than mitigates the wron^ they have done.
Therefore, as the only prudent thing to do with such per-
sons, the Court has coucltided that the punishment should
be severe/'
The ecclesiastics slirred up the people against Stephen
because "they were not able to resist the w]3dom and the
spirit by which be spake." They chaigcd tl^at "this man
ceaseth not to speak blasphemous word^^ against this holy
place (church system) and the law," (.Acts tliS-lo) A
number of clcrg\nnen were in the court room whea the
stntencc was imposed. Some of them had attended
throughout the entire trial.
Some Comparisons
just a moment before the Judge pronounced sentence
Brother Woodworth leaned over and whispered in Brother
Rutherford's ear the following:
"Imagine yourself in the place of the dear Redeemer,
or of one of the martyrs of Uuth whose hlood staiui
the pages of history. See yourself in the midst of
your enemies — persecuted, hated, reviled— conscious of
your innocence, of the singleness of your purpose and
the righteousness of your cause. Sec yourself with
hands lied, your accusers clamoring for your life, your
judge unable to stem the tide of human ignorance and
pftSAiou. RciiU^t: tliai Ll]vii(£li tliey may take your ItfCp
they can not injure the new creature, nor force you to
renounce your faith* nor be unfaithful to yourself or
to your cause."
"'A better day is coming, a morning promised long,
V'l.'hcn truth and riKht widi holy miiCht
Shall overthrow the wrong;
When Christ the Lord shall listen to every plaintive
sigh.
And stretch his band o'er sea and land
With justice, by and bye,"*
The folbwmg comparisons will be of interest to many;
1. Jesus, the perfect one Head of tlie church, was without
fault and was wrongftilly accused.
2. Jesiis offended the clergj'; and they stirred up the people
against Him. He was broQgbt before the civil powers
and charged with sedition as an enemy of Rome.
L Seven brethren were sentenced. The number symbolizes
perfection, hence represents all of the Sew Creation on
earth, wrongfully accused.
2. His tireihren offended tlieclergj'. who stirred up the peo-
ple against them, sending petiticais to the oj^cers oi the
law and causing the brethren to be arrested, charged
with scdiiion and hindering the Government in the war.
64
SUPPLEMENT
3. Tlie moon symbolizes the law dispensation.
A. Once each month the moon is full, or at iti zentth, and
immediately besini to wane.
5. Jesus was tried and condemned on Thursday pight.
6. Jesus was dying on the cross at high noon, Friday, at
full moon.— Matt. 27 :46.
7. The moon immediately Iwgaii to wane after the crud-
fixion of our Lord Jesus, tkus signifyiag the fall of
Judai&m.
Immediately following the sentence, counsel appealed
the case and asked the Court to admit the defendants to
bail pending the presentation of their case to the Appellate
Court. Tn support of the applica:ion. counsel staled in sub-
stance : "These men immediately stopped the publication of
'The Finished Mystery' when they learned of the Govern-
ment's objection to it, and before the finding of the indict-
ment. This seems to be the best evidence of good citizen-
ship and th^t they are bw-abidicg; and they should be ad-
tnitted to reasoEiablc bait. They are engaged in a great and
good religious work, and it is of the greatest importance to
others that they be permitted to return to that work." The
Judge replied; "If they are out of their activities the
Court should sec that they stay out of them, and do not
return to them for some months. They arc worse than
traitors. Ko greater harm cotitd be done than to admit
them to bail." ThuB were the names of the Lord's children
cast out as evil. Truly, all of our brethren present became
a gazing stodc to others. Hebn 10r33.
Among the tltings Jesus said to his disciples were the
swett words : "In the world ye shall have tribulation ; but
be of ^ood cheer, I have ovctuotnc the world." How con-
soling it is to know that he marks out onr experiences for
us that we may be overcomersi Shortly after the arrest
two of the defendants were wallcing together, and one of
them remarked to his brother in bonds: "Brntlier. I wonld
not want to go right from enthusiasm of a big public
meeting to the kingdom wlicii I remember the didicult ex-
periences through which our Master passed." How truly
3. The sun symbolizes the Gospel dispensation.
4. Once each year (June 21) the sun readies its zenith, and
immediately begins to wane.
5. The brethren were tried and condemned at 19:29
Thursday night.
6. Seven of His brethren were sentenced exactly at high
noon (sun time) on the longest day of the year CJunc
31), when the sun was at its zenith,
T. The sun immediately began to wane at the hour the
seven were sentenced, signifying the fall of Ecdesiai-
ticism.
that statement expresses the sentiments of a consecrated
heart! "It is enough for the servant that he be as his
Lord," It is a blessed privilege to be companions in suf-
fering with die Master. St. Stephen and "ax, Paul, all of
whom were charged with sedition, Jesns trod the wine-
press alone. _ How sweet (o let seven brethren have the
companionship of each other in the trying orde^il !
Long have we expected severe trials to be upon the
church, and now they luive come. Ilie nails pierced the
hands and feci of Jesus. The hands very filly represent the
apostles and early martyrs. The "feet members" are the
bst members of the body of Christ on earth, and these may
expect similar treatment. Let not one of the dear friends
be discouraged by reason of the imprisonment of our
seven brethren. They are in the Lord's hands ; and proba-
bly the Lord will see to it that their imiiri^onment will
speak more e'oqucntly than their voices to the public Let
us all rejoice and be glad of the increased evidences that
the kingdom drawcth nigh,
(Since the writing of the above arlicle Brother De
Cecca has be<n sentenced by the Judge to ten years in the
Federal Penitentiary at AtbnU.) THE WATCH TOWER
will continue as long as the Lord permits. The editorial
committee will remain the same, each having a proxy to
act for him at the oflice. Considerahle manuscript i« on
hand and ready for publication. The vice president and
bi>ard of directors are managing the work at Pittsburgh.
BRO. J. F. RUTHERFORD. •
The Following Letter Wa.s Forwarded to Messrs. Sparks, Fuller & Striker
(Counsel for the Society), bxiion^ Judge Harland B. Howe
THE HONORABLE ATTORNEY GENERAL. WASIUNGTON. D. C.
SIR:^Ansu>ering your telegram of the 1st insl., I wired gou last evening as
follows:
"Recommend immediate commutation for Joseph Rutherford, N. Fisher, Clay-
ton J. Woodworlh, Gioifnnni Dececca, A. Hugh MacMillan. Thctj are all defendants
ill same case in Eastern District of New York. Mg position is to be generous now
that the war is over. They did much damage by preaching and publishing their re-
ligious doctrines.
"The sei/ere sentence of twenty gears was imposed upon each of the defendants
except Dececca, His was ten gears. My principal purpose was to make an example,
a.i a warning to others, and I believed that the President would relieve litem after
the war was over. As 1 said in my telegram, they did much damage and it mag well
be claimed that they ought not to be set at liberty so soon, but as they cannot do
any more here now, I am in favor of being as lenient as I was severe in imposing
sentence. I believe most of them were sincere, if not all, and I am not in favor of
keeping such persons in confinement after their opportunity for making trouble is
Their case has not get been heard in the Circuit Court of Appeals."
past.
Respectfulhr,
(Signed) HARLAND B. HOWE.
United Stales District Jiiflge.
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