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Vol. XXXVIII BROOKLYN, N. Y., JUNE 1, 1917 No. 11 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER "THE HAOTWRITOTO OS THE WALL" We append an editorial from the New York American of May 18, which we believe sets forth without exaggeration present conditions throughout the world. After certain parts we have inserted some paragraphs from Vol. IV, "The Battle or Abmageddow," of the series of "Studies ra the Scriptubes . " The "Battle of Armageddon" was written twenty years ago, and so faithfully does it picture present events leading up to their climax, "The Battle of Armageddon," and the introduction of earth's new Government, the kingdom of God's dear Son, that we could wish a copy of it in every home throughout the whole earth. Truly there lived among us in these last days a prophet of the Lord; and although now he has passed from human sight, his works remain an enduring witness to his wisdom and his faithfulness! Following is the editorial referred to with the insertions from "The Battle of Armageddon": "BATTLE Or THE GREAT DAY OP GOD AUaOHTT" May 18, 1917, The A T . Y. American said: "The official mind seems to take it for granted that when the governments have made peace and have arranged the division of whatever spoils there may be, the peoples are going quietly back to work for their former masters, to live tinder the same institutions, to be, in short, the same nations, guided and controlled by the same financial, aristocratic and diplomatic castes that have ruled them for many centuries." Twenty years ago Pastor Russell said : "It it becoming more and more manifest to the masses of men that in the present order of things they are between a nether and upper millstone, whose rapid revolutions must eventually, and at no distant date, grind them down to a miserable and ignoble serfdom, unless interfered with in some way. Such indeed is the actual condition of things: human necessity is the feed-pipe which presses the masses between the millstones; the lower millstone is the fixed law of supply and demand which is crowding the rapidly increasing and growingly intelligent population of the world closer and closer to the pressure of the upper millstone of organized selfishness, driven by the giant power of mechanical slaves, assisted by the cogs and levers and pullevs of financial combinations , trusts and monopolies." — Vol. IV, p. 372, par. 2. May 18, 1917, The New York American said: "These seem to be also the views and conceptions of the public journals and of most private citizens, who naturally have no other sources of information and of opinion than the public journals. "We can excuse the private citizen, hut it is amazing that men who are hailed as statesmen cannot see what is going on before their eyes; cannot see that the Europe of 1913 has vanished as completely as the Europe of the dark ages ; cannot see that the proletariats have at last in their hands the weapons and in their minds the thousrht and in their hearts the resolve to do away with all the old distinctions and social inequalities; that the institutions of government and laws which still seem to be solid and enduring edifices are in reality only hollow shells, mined and ready to be blown to pieces when relief from the pressure of outside war gives [60»X] (163-164) THE WATCH TOWER Brooklyn, N, Y. the peoples time and opportunity to overthrow and to rebuild the fabrics of society." Twenty years ago Pastor Russell said: "It will be impossible to reestablish the present order, (1) because it has evidently outlived its usefulness, and is inequitable under present conditions; (2)' because of the general diffusion of secular knowledge; (3) because the discovery that priestcraft has long blinded and fettered the masses with error and fear will lead to a general disrespect for all religious claims and teachings as of a piece with the discovered frauds; (4) because religious people in general, not discerning that God's time has come for a change of dispensation , will ignore reason, logic, justice and Scripture in defending the present order of things." — Vol. IV, p. 551. May 18, 1917, The N. Y. American said: "This talk about autocracy still to be overthrown and democracy still to be saved and established is proof enough of the mental incapacity of so many men, esteemed wise, to realize what has happened in Europe. For the war has already achieved those two tremendous results. They are accomplished facts. "The basis of any government and of any institution is the state of mind of the masses and the inability of the masses or the ability of the masses to impose their desires upon government. "Now, any thinking mind must perceive that the masses in every "country in Europe have the ability to set up at any time any form of government or any institutions and laws they desire, because the masses of Europe, for the first time in history, are citizen soldiers, equipped with all the weapons and munitions of war and as able to subjugate their masters, to coerce their officers and to overthrow their governments as were the Russian citizen soldiers. Twenty years ago Pastor Russell said: "Where, then, we inquire, is there such an army, under present instruction and training? — an army before which the earth [society 1 shall quake and the heavens [ecclesiasticism ] shall tremble (Joel 2:10); which shall boldly array itself against the conservative forces of Christendom, both civil and ecclesiastical, and hope even to cope with its present strength? Where is the army that in the near future will dare deny Christendom's time-honored doctrines, its statecraft and priestcraft? that will sullenly ignore all its anathemas , spurn its orders, and hurl back its thunderbolts of authority and organized power? that will face the roar of its Vesuvian artillery, defy its missiles of shot and shell, plow through its fleets and naval armaments, And, snatching the diadems from crowned heads, topple the kingdoms into the midst of the Bea? that will set the heavens on fire, and melt the earth with fervent heat, thus making one vast universal wreck of the old order of things as predicted by the prophets? "That such an army is cexming into existence and preparing for the desperate conflict we are none the less forcibly assured by the signs of the times than by 'the sure word of prophecy. 5 And it is the recognition of this fact (without any reference or knowledge of the word of prophecy) that is now filling the heart of Christendom with fearful foreboding , and impelling statesmen everywhere to take extraordinary measures for protection and defense. "But in these very measures for self-defense devised by 'the powers that be/ there is probably a snare which they do not realize. The armies upon which they depend for defense , be it remembered, ahe the armies of the common people; these millions of disciplined warriors have wives and sons and daughters and brothers and sisters an2 Timothy 1:7) A little learning is indeed a dangerous thing." — Vol. IV, pp. 533, 534. May 18, 1U17, The N. Y. American said: "We should not commit the stupid blunder of looking upon these Russian revolutionists as a helpless, anarchic mob. They ake just that at present; and all their longings are for peace. But once let them resolve, in some tierce enthusiasm of new-found liberty, to carry the red flag to other countries, they would become an irresistible sturm, a rushing tempest of war and victory. "Nothing is easier than to underrate the weighty importance of this Stockholm conference, nothing more statesmanlike than to give it serious consideration. -'OUT OF THINE OWN MOUTH WILL I JUDGE THEE" "We hear here at home talk of war being carried on for another year, for two years more, for three years more. **We do not believe "it. "We do not believe that war can be carried on by any government on earth through another year. "If there were not famine to reckon with, the universal weariness of slaughter in Europe would end war, either by persuasion of by armed revolt. "We believe that unless the European Governments soon negotiate peace for Europe's suffering peoples, then Europe's suffering peoples will before long rise in mass and overthrow their governments in a common outburst of revolution and ruin. "We do not hazard this as prophecy. We simply state it as fact. "The truth is that the very situation we predicted, as you will remember, more than two years ago, and many times since, has now arisen — and Armed Socialism is marching steadily and rapidly to overthrow the institutions and governments of all Europe and to raise the red flag of internationalism over every capital of the Old World. "Because this is "so apparent, because this seems so inevitable and so near, we do not believe that the war in Europe will be prolonged over another year. "We believe that unless the governments of Europe soon make peace, the peoples of Europe will make peace by overthrowing all thrones, nobilities and privileged castes and classes; and in that case peace will come to us automatically. "We repeat that all calculations of prolonged warfare in Europe, based upon continued obedience of the masses to their present governments, are idle speculations, foolish calculations that will be blown to pieces by the storm and tempests of social revolutions unless the governments of Europe make peace before their peoples rise against war and against their governments. "The signs of these troublous and momentous times could not be more plain to thinking men if they were written by some mighty angel's moving hand, in letters of fire, across the sky that domes the earth." Twenty years ago Pastor Russell said: 'Truly this is the predicted time of distress of nations with perplexity! The voice of the discontented masses is aptly symbolized by the roaring of the sea, and the hearts of thinking men are failing for fear of the dread calamity which all can see rapidly approaching; for the powers of heaven {the present ruling powers) are being terribly shaken. Indeed some, instructed by these signs, and calling to mind that Scripture, 'Behold, he cometh with clouds/ are already beginning to suggest the presence of the Son of Man [come as a thief, as foretold] although they greatly misapprehend the subject and God's remedy. "But amidst all the shaking of the earth (organized society ) and of the heavens {the ecclesiastical powers) those who discern in it the outworking of the divine plan of the ages rejoice in the assurance that this terrible shaking will be the last that the earth will ever have or need; for as the Apostle Paul assures us, it signifieth the removing of those tilings that are shaken — that those things which cannot be shaken — the kingdom of God, the kingdom of light and peace ■ — may remain. For our God is a consuming fire. In his wrath he will consume every system of evil and oppression, and he will firmly establish truth and righteousness in the earth.'*— Vol. IV, pp. 149, 150. HUMAN RACE TO BE KESTOEED TO PEEFEOTION As a sample of the Scriptural .Message oi ^weetne&s and comfort which Pastor Russell taught the people, we quote from Volume I of his Studies in the Scriptures, pages 19) and 192, written thirty-one years ago: "The Apostle Peter, our Lord, and all the prophets since the world began, declare that the human race is to be restored to glorious perfection, and is again to have dominion over earth, as its representative, Adam, had. "It is this portion that God has elected to give to the human race. And what a glorious portion! Close your eve« for a moment to the scenes of misery and woe, degradation and sorrow that yet prevail on account of sin, and picture before your mental vision the glory of the perfect earth. Not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace of a perfect society ; not a bitter thought, not an unkind look or word; love, welling up from every heart, meets a kindred response in every other heart, and benevolence marks every act. There sickness shall be no more; not an ache nor pain, nor any evidence of decay — not even the fear of such things. Think of all the pictures of comparative health and beauty of human form and feature that you have ever seen, and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing loveliness. The inward purity of mental and moral perfection will stamp and glorify every radiant countenance. Such will earth's society be; and weeping bereaved ones will have their tears all wiped away, when thus they realize the resurrection work complete. — Revelation 21:4." Arty thoughtful man can interpret prophecy after it has been fulfilled. Pastor Russell interpreted these prophecies twenty years ago, and the clergy scoffed and persecuted him because he told the people the truth. Truly, as was said of the Master, "They hated him without a cause!" Truly, 'The darkness hateth the light!" MORE ABOUT SELECTIVE DRAFT At the time of going to press with the last issue of The Watch Tower the Selective Draft Act was before the conferees of the House and the Senate. Some changes were made in the Bill, and the Act as finally passed by Congress on May 16th and approved by the President and relating to exemption is as follows: t "Sec. 4. That the Vice President of the United States, the officers, legislative, executive and judicial, of the United States and of the several States, Territories and the District of Columbia, regular or duly ordained ministers of religion, students, who at the time of the approval of this act are preparing for the ministry in recognized theological or divinity schools, and all persons in the military and naval service of the United States shall be exempt from the selective draft herein prescribed; and nothing in this act contained shall be construed to require or compel any person to serve in any of the forces herein provided for who is found to be a member of any well-recognized religious sect or organization at present organized and existing and whose existing creed or principles forbid its members to participate in war in any form and whose religious convictions are against war or participation therein in accordance with the creed or principles of said religious organizations, but no person so exempted shall be exempted from service in any capacity that the President shall declare to be noncombatant; and the President is hereby authorized to exclude or discharge from said selective draft and from the draft under the second paragraph of section one hereof, or to draft for partial military service only from those liable to draft as in this act provided, persons of the following classes: County and municipal officers; custom-house clerks; persons employed by the United States in the transmission of the mails; artificers and workmen employed in the armories, arsenals and navy yards of the United States ; and such other persons employed in the service of the United States as the President may designate ; pilots ; mariners actually employed in the sea service of any citizen or merchant within the United States; persons engaged in industries, including agriculture, found to be necessary to the maintenance of the Military Establishment or the effective operation of the military forces or the maintenance of national interest during the emergency; those in a status with respect to persons dependent upon them for support which renders their exclusion or discharge advisable; and those found to be physically or morally deficient . No exemption or exclusion shall continue when a cause therefor no longer exists; Provided, That notwithstanding the exemptions enumerated herein, each State, Territory, and the District of Columbia shall be required to supply its quota in the proportion that its population bears to the total population of the United States. "The President is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to create and establish throughout the several States and subdivisions thereof and in the territories and the District of Columbia local boards, and where, in his discretion, practicable and desirable, there shall be created and established one such local board in each county or similar subdivision in each State, and one for approximately each thirty VII— 18 [6093] (165-166) THE WATCH TOWER Brooklyn, N. Y. thousand of population in each city of thirty thousand population or over* according to the last census taken or estimates furnished hy the Bureau of Census of the Department of Commerce. Such boards shall he appointed by the President, and shall consist of three or more members, none of whom shall be connected with the Military Establishment, to be chosen from among the local authorities of such subdivisions or from other citizens residing in the subdivision or area in which the respective boards will have jurisdiction under the rules and regulations prescribed by the President. Such boards shall have power within their respective jurisdictions to hear and determine, subject to review as hereinafter provided , all questions of exemption under this act, and all questions of or claims for including or discharging individuals or classes of individuals from the selective draft, which shall be made under rules and regulations prescribed by the President , except, any and every question or claim for including or excluding or discharging persons or classes of persons from the selective draft under the provisions of this act authorizing the President to exclude or discharge from the selective draft 'Persons engaged in industries, including agriculture , found to be necessary to the maintenance of the Military Establishment, or the effective operation of the military forces, or the maintenance of national interest during the emergency.' "The President is hereby authorized to establish additional boards, one in each Federal judicial district of the United States, consisting of snrh number of citizens, not connected with the military establishment, as the President may determine , who shall be appointed by the President. The President is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to establish more than one such board in any Federal judicial district of the United States, or to establish one such board having jurisdiction of an area extending into more than one Federal judicial district, "Such district boards Bhall review on appeal and affirm, modify, or reverse any decision of any local board having jurisdiction" under the rules and regulations prescribed by the President, Such district boards shall have exclusive original jurisdiction within their respective areas to hear and determine all questions or claims for including or excluding or discharging persons or classes of persons from the selective draft, under the provisions of this act, not included within the original jurisdiction of such local boards. "The decisions of such district boards shall be final except that, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the President may prescribe, he may affirm, modify or reverse any such decision. "Any vacancy in any such local or district board shall be filled by the president, and -any member of any such local board or district board may be removed and another appointed in his place by the President, whenever he considers that the interest of the Nation demands it. "The President shall make rules and regulations governing the organization and procedure of such local boards and district boards, and providing for and governing appeals from such local boards to such district boards, arM reviews of the decisions of any local board by the district board having jurisdiction , and determining and prescribing the several areas in which the respective local boards and district boards shall have jurisdiction, and all other rules and regulations necessary to carry out the terms and provisions of this section, and shall provide for the issuance of certificates of exemption, or partial or limited exemptions, and for a system to exclude and discharge individuals from selective draft." The Act as originally passed granted absolute exemption to certain persona, but as finally passed and approved* by the President, no person will be exempt from service in any capacity that the President may declare noncombatant. REGISTRATION FIRST-^ EXEMPTION LATER On June 5 every male person and every alien who has declared his intention to become a citizen, who is 21 years old and who has not yet reached his 31st birthday, will be required to register at the voting precinct wherein he resides . At the same time 12 questions will be propounded to him, which he must answer and which are as follows: "1 Name in full Given name Family name 2 Ilome address No. Street City State 3 Date of birth Month Day Year 4 Are you (1) a natural-born citizen, (2) a naturalized citizen, (3) an alien, (4) or have you declared your intention (specify which) ? 5 Where were you born? Town State Nation 5 If not a citizen, of what country are you a citizen or subject ? 7 What is your present trade, occupation, or office! 8 By whom employed? Where employed? 9 Have you a father, mother, wife, child under 12, or a sister or brother under 12, solely dependent on you for support (specify which) ? 10 Married or single (which) ? Race (specify which) T 11 What military service have you had? Rank Branch Years Nation or State 12 Do you claim exemption from draft (specify grounds) ? I affirm that I have verified above answers and that they are true. " These questions must be answered. Any one refusing to answer them will be subject to fine and imprisonment. In answer to Question 7, Pilgrim Brethren and regularly elected Elders of Classes can answer, "Ordained Minister of Religion." If you claim exemption because of your religious conviction, then you should answer Question 12 merely by saying, "Because I am a member of the International Bible Students Association." The Government has been advised from this office of the reasons why members of the International Bible Students Association come within the terms of the law and should be granted exemption. After registration the Government will draw by lot the names of 500,000 of those who are registered j and all of that number who have stated at the time of registration, in answer to Question 12, that they claim exemption, will then be given an opportunity to be heard as to the reason or ground for exemption. The rules and regulations governing this part of the Act are now in course of construction under the direction of the President, and therefore cannot be given at this time, but we are advised that the Government will make wide publication thereof as soon as formulated. If you expect to claim exemption you should procure a copy of these rules as soon as published, read and carefully follow them. They will doubtless provide for the filing, before the Board constituted for that purpose, of a petition for exemption, which will be heard in due time by the Board. We stand ready to render any and all assistance we can to the brethren in this behalf. THE PASTORAL WORK There seems to be a misunderstanding in the minds of some with reference to the Pastoral Work. It has been suggested that the Soctett has changed the method of work since Brother Russell finished his course. Such is not the case, however! We here desire to consider some salient points with the hope of making clear the whole proposition and enabling all to have a better understanding of this excellent feature of the harvest work. We call attention to an article in the November 1 Watch Toweb, 1(116, page 331, under the caption of "World-Wide Pastoral Work." It will be observed there that Brother Russell stated that about 500 classes had voluntarily elected him as Pastor. Therein he states, "Only of late has the Lord deeply impressed upon our attention a considerable work in which the sisters might engage with profit both to themselves and to the cause." He further stated that, as Pastor, he was calling attention to this new field of service; hut that before calling the attention of the outside classes to it, he had first made a trial in N. Y. City, adding, "the resulting success was so pronounced that we felt justified in calling it to the attention of all the classes which have notified us of our election as their Pastor, sending to each class copies of the following letters." The letters were published in said article. It is readily to be seen that this work, begun with the sisters, was directly under the supervision of Brother Russell as Pastor. After Brother Russell had finished his course here, the church had no Pastor. It was deemed wise not to elect another, as we have heretofore stated in The Watch Toweb. Since this work, begun by him, was clearly a part of the harvest work, it was the privilege and the duty of the Society to continue it. When Brother Russell was here, the reports were made direct to him. After his decease it seemed proper that this work should be under the Society's direction. In the January 1,1917, issue of The Watch Toweb it was stated that Brother Sturgeon would have the oversight of the Pastoral Department at the Brooklyn office. In the adjustment of the office work it was afterwards deemed best that everything should be under the direct supervision of the Society, so that any one might be assigned to that work as occasion required. While it was proper for Brother Russell [6^4] Junk 1, m7 THE WATCH TOWER (166-167) to have the work under his direct supervision as the Pastor of the varioua Congregations, since his demise it seems that the only proper course would he to have this and all other branches of the work under the direct control, oversight and supervision of the Watch Toweb Bible and Tract Society, and not under the oversight of any individual.' The friends will no doubt recognize the wisdom of this course. Acting upon this thought, the Board of Directors rescinded its action taken in December, of placing the direct oversight of the Pastor Department under any one. Brother Sturgeon, therefore , is no longer in charge of that work. This does not mean, nor should it be interpreted to mean, that the Society is in anywise dissatisfied with the services of our dear Brother, but that its action has to do, solely and completely, with the matter of the best policy. Hereafter, therefore, all communications relating to the Pastoral Work should be addressed, "Watch Toweb Bible and Tract Society, Pastoral Dept" In the March 1, 1917, issue of The Watch Toweb we said: "We are convinced that it is now no longer wise to limit this work to the sisters, but rather that the responsibility should rest upon all the Congregation.'* We therein suggested that henceforth the Lieutenant and other officers to conduct the Pastoral Work should he elected by the vote of the entire class, adding, "The Pastoral work will then be carried on practically as before, with the exceptions herein stated." SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED Some of the questions that have arisen in the minds of a number since then are, Should brothers be elected to the office of Lieutenant, Secretary, etc.? and, Should they engage in the Pastoral Work? In answering these questions we quote Brother Russell's language in the November 1 Watch Tower, page 334, as follows : "We have not invited the brethren to engage in this work, because we believe that there are other things which they can do that sisters cannot do," The Society Btill adheres to this policy; viz., that all officers of the Pastoral Work, such as Lieutenant, Secretary, etc., should be sisters, and that these sisters should be elected by the entire congregation and not by the sisters alone. The only part that the brothers have in this work is that of giving Chart Talks after the sisters have made the calls and arranged for the meetings* The Brother to give the Chart Talks should be assigned by the congregation in its usual manner of assigning speakers. Frequently the congregation delegates to its Board of Elders, or to a committee, the duty of assigning the varioua speakers; and where the congregation has done this it would be proper for the elders or the committee designated by the congregation to- make such assignment of some suitable brother to give the Chart Talks. Such assignment should be made at the request of the Lieutenant, she having previously arranged for the Chart Talks. Some of the classes have informed us that a brother has been elected as Lieutenant, Thia was not the thought of Brother Russell, and the Society has made no change. At one of the last conventions that Brother Russell attended , this question was asked him: "Should the sisters start the Pastoral Work without consulting the elders and should they go ahead with it even though one of the elders is not in favor of it?" His reply was: "The elders have nothing to do with the Pastoral Work. The elders are elders, and should therefore attend to the work of the elders. The Pastoral Work is for the Pastor, and the Pastor should therefore attend to it. If any of the elders hinder or find fault with this work, our advice to the class would be that at the next election such elder he dropped from eldership. Each one should learn to attend to his own business, and not interfere with others ; and in this way the work will prosper." In relation to the Pastoral Work, the Society now takes the place of Pastor Russell, and of course some minor adjustments must be made to fit the conditions. The Pastoral Work is distinctly a work for the sisters; but the whole ecclesia, under the Society's direction, now has the responsibility of electing the officers. Question: Suppose there is a small class in a town, in which all the members of the class ai© brothers and not one a sister, what then should be done about the Pastoral Work? Answer: If it cannot be conveniently arranged for some sisters from another class to come and do the work, then rather than neglect it, our thought is that the brothers should do the work; but this is the exception to the rule. No rule can be made that will apply absolutely to every case. ASSIGNMENT OF TESKETOBY Where the Pastoral Work is in progress and there are no colporteurs in the town, Bhould the Pastoral Work be suspended until an assignment from the Society can be had for the Pastoral WorkT Certainly not! There should be no delay in or suspension of the work, but it should progress. In the meantime the Lieutenant should notify the Society of the situation; and if there are no colporteurs at work in that town, the Society will assign all the territory of that place to the Pastoral Workers* After receiving the assignment of territory, the Lieutenant will district the town or city for the work in the same manner pointed out in the November 1 issue of The Watch Toweb. Question: Should the work be going on in all the district at the same time? Answer: No arbitrary rule can be followed in this regard . Where it be found' to be to the best advantage to have the work progressing in several districts at the same time, that should be done; but if it be found best to pursue some other method, then that method should be adopted. In some of the larger cities the friends have found it very advantageous to work one district at a time. They do it somewhat in the following manner: The various District Workers go into one district, select a public hall centrally located, and engage it for a certain date. Then the District Workers canvass or call upon everybody in that district in the usual manner, loaning the books, etc., and inviting them to a Series of Chart Talks at the hall previously hired. One of the most competent brothers is selected to give the Chart Talks. This method has met with splendid success in somo places, and is worthy of serious consideration by others, we believe. After a district is thus finished, the entire force moves to another district and a similar course is pursued there. It will not be necessary to wait until the Series of Chart Talks have been completed in one district before the work begins in another. It should be kept in mind, however, that no fast or fixed rule can be laid down to be followed in every instance. The Lieutenant and her assistants must exercise some judgment in the matter and pursue the course that seems to be the best. In smaller cities and towns it would seem best to follow the method of having the Chart Talk in homes where a suitable room or rooms can be had for that purpose. Conditions differ in different places, and each place should govern itself accordingly. Because there is some slight deviation in working out the details of this matter let no one think that Brother Russell^ method has been changed. We wish here to state emphatically that the Society has made no change in the method adopted by Brother Russell for the Pastoral Work, and it has no intention of doing so, unless the Lord should direct some change. The change in the manner of election of officers has nothing to do with the method of the work. From time to time questions of minor details will arise which have not been covered in anything that has been written. Under such circumstances the Lieutenant should use her best judgment, in the meantime communicating with the Society for suggestions or advice. THE LOED HAS BLESSED THE BOOK LOANING In a recent issue of The Watch Toweb it was stated that "the book- loaning feature of the Pastoral Work, instituted by Brother Russell, was originally intended by him to be merely incidental and not to be a prominent part of the* work; the chief part of the work being to call on those who already have the books and encourage them to read, etc." Question: Is it the thought, then, that the Book-loaning feature should not be pushed? Answer: The matter was experimental, of course, to begin with. As the Pastoral Work has progressed, reports indicate that the Lord has especially blessed the loaning of the books ; it gives the sisters an opportunity to reach a class of people who have not heretofore considered the truth. It is in the nature of a Circulating Library, and many have been influenced thereby to read "The Divine Plan of the Ages" who subsequently became deeply interested in the truth. The loaning of books at once appeals to some as an entirely unselfish manner of presenting the message. The Lord's blessing upon this part of the work has been so marked that we believe we should take it as an indication that he is pleased to have the message put out in this manner. The amount of books loaned will depend largely upon the quantity desired to be supplied by the local Ecclesia. This is another reason why the entire class should have the responsibility of the Pastoral Work; for it is the class that supplies the books for loaning, the work being done particularly by the sisters, as heretofore suggested. We desire to encourage the bookloaning feature. [6095] VERBI DEI MINISTER 'Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." — Malachi 3:10, The V. D. M. Questions, under the Lord's guidance and blessing, have proven to be of such value to the church that they have been in the past, and continue to be in the present, recognized as one of the features of the harvest work which has a close relationship to all the other features of that work. They have emphasized in a particular way the third article of The Vow, which reads: Malachi 8:10. THE UNTRIED YEAR "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. " '■Lord, go before and point the road, "That which 1 see not, teach thou me; I know not whither it may lead, And that thy wisdom still withholds, ^or what the work thou hast decreed— Until thy patient love unfolds, Enough that thou wilt bear the load! In child-like trust I leave to thee "It is thy hand that stirs the nest, That sets these changeful tunes for me; But, Lord, there is no change with thee, And thou art my unfailing rest. "Oh, help me through the toil and heat, To follow closely by thy side, Ere yet the gracious dew has dried From off the treadings of thy feet. "Let thy sweet presence light my way, And hallow every cross I bear; Transmuting duty, conflict, care, Into love's service, day by day. "Whatever future lot be mine, My Savior, bless its good or ill; And let thy hand be with me still, And turn the water into wine." JESUS CRUCIFIED (This article, excepting the paragraphs below, was a reprint of issue of March 15, 1908, "A LOOK AT THE CRUCIFIED ONE" Comparing the details as given in the different Gospels, riome are inclined to think a difference exists between St. John's statement in 19:14 and St. Mark's in 15:25. We think both are correct- St. John evidently followed the Roman custom of reckoning from midnight to midnight. He does not mention the hour of the crucifixion, but the hour when Jesus was first presented before Pilate which, according to St. Matthew (27:1,2) was early in the morning, probably shortly after sunrise. St. John omits manv details; and, were it not for the other Gospels, we might infer that the crucifixion followed immediately. Note a similar abbreviation in Luke 24: 50-53 as compared with St. John 21 and ActB 1:1-10. The examination of Christ before Pilate, thence to Herod, thence back to Pilate, and the trip to Calvary, would surely article entitled "Why Our Lord Was Crucified," published in which please see.] occupy three hours. St. Mark states particularly that Christ was crucified at the third hour. If this were Roman reckoning , it would be three, o'clock in the morning, but the Jews frequently reckoned a twelve-hour day — sunrise to sunset. See Matthew 20:1-6; John 11:9. The third hour would, therefore , be about nine o'clock in the morning. Critical students agree that the expression, "from the sixth hour until the ninth hour" (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44), indicates from noon until three in the afternoon. According to the Jewish Baw, the body must be removed "before sunset. This would, therefore, give ample time for the removal of Christ's body from the cross to the tomb before the closing of the twelfth hour, which according to the Law, would he the last hour of the day. THE RISEN LORD [This article was a reprint of that entitled "He That Liveth and Was Dead/' published in issue of May 15, 1908, which please see.] SOME LETTERS OF INTEREST FORMER PILGRIM BEARD FROM DiCAB Brethren: — Although dear Brother Russell will he greatly missed by us all, he is greatly the gainer, having gone beyond the veil to be forever with the Lord. You may be assured that whatever influence I can exert in the interest of the Society and the work it is doing, I will be very glad to exert. My humble prayer is that all the dear brethren at the Headquarters and everywhere may work together most harmoniously and successfully . With much Christian love and very best wishes in which Sister Draper joins me, I am. Your brother in the Lord. Frank Drapes. — Mich. GOD WTXL GIVE NEEDED GRACE Dear Brethren: — We were blessed with the account of what took place at Brother Russell's funeral; also by one of the most beautiful , loving tributes possible for one man to pay to the memory of another, given the Detroit class by our dear Brother Wisdom. And the best of it is, 1 know all was true. I can say with dear Brother Wisdom, that I have lost my best earthly friend amongst men. I ltnow that is also true of all the dear Bethel family. Our prayer, dear Brethren, is that the dear Lord will give you the needed grace and strength to carry on the work that remains. Much love and best wishes. Your brother in Christ, Forrester H. Taylor. — Mich. ENDEAVOR TO FINISH OUR COURSE WITH JOT Beloved Brethren: — We are praying that the Lord's blessing may rest upon you, giving you more of that wisdom which comes from Above, that as a family we may still enjoy sweet communion with each other until our probation closes. We mourn with you the taking away from our midst of our dear Pastor, through whom we have been richly fed for these many .years. Although feeling . his loss, our hearts re- [6097] (163-179) THE WATCH TOWER liROOKtYW, N. Y joice to see that he was faithful unto death, instantaneously therefore entering into his great reward as promised. (Rev. 14:13) Let us continue to do the Lord's will so that we also may finish our course with joy. Yours in him, Cambebwell Class. — Jamaica, MEMORIAL TOWER PROVED GREAT BLESSING Deakly Beloved Brethkkn: — We wish to extend to you our love and best wishes, and to assure you that you may rely upon our cooperation in the Lord's work in this city, and in any other way in which we are privileged to serve. We have received a great blessing, from the reading of the Memorial Tower; and our earnest desire is to emulate our dearly beloved Pastor, as he so faithfully followed in the footsteps of our dear Master. We resolve to remember you daily at the throne of heavenly grace. Your Brethren in the dear Redeemer, Lowell Associated Bible Students. — Mass. A WORD OF WARNING! Sheep that browse in every pasture, measurably regardless sheep of this character prompts us to Bound a note of warn of the "green pastures and still waters" of truth of the Lord's ing at this time. Truly, "The hoi provision, are in constant danger of enemies lurking about. The increasing number of inquiries coming from frightened hour of temptation" is upon us, and the "strong delusions" abroad will be sure to Bift out all except those which Btray not from the fold of the Lord.