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Vol. XXXJX BROOKLYN, N. Y., FEBRUARY 1, 1918 No. 3 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER When asked what would be the evidence of the end of the world ( age ) , the great Master Teacher enumerated many things that would come to pass at that time, proving that we had reached the end of the world. He admonished his followers to watch the development of these evidences, telling them, "When these things begin to come to pass then look up, lift up your heads, for your deliverance draweth nigh." It seems fitting that we here, from time to time, make note of these events as they transpire, which were foretold by the Lord Jesus, that we might be strengthened in faith and hold fast that which Ave have received and be better prepared to enter into the kingdom. Through a number of the prophets God long aforetime called attention to events corroborating the testimony given by the Lord Jesus, events which are now being fulfilled before our eyes. The prophet Elijah, in the mountain, saw a great wind and then an earthquake, that was followed by a fire, and then heard the still, small voice. (I Kings 19*: 11, 12} Elijah in the mount, it seems, represented the church of God, who, on this side the vail, are privileged to see and to understand events due which are happening at this time. Thus seeing and understanding and appreciating their privilege, they are further blessed with the opportunity of binding the religio-political "kings" with chains of restraining truth; and the "nobles" with fetters of iron — the beginning of the restraints of the coming iron rule of the kingdom of God. As another evidence that the Lord used Pastor Russell ns liis messenger to the Laodicean period of the church's development , we note that he wrote twenty years ago foretelling events now transpiring. He said: ''The four exhibitions of the Lord given to Elijah represent , we believe, four manifestations in which the Lord is a>bout to reveal himself to mankind, the fiTst three of which will prepare men for the final one in which will come the desired blessing to all the families of the earth. The first was the blowing of the -winds, which seem to be used in the Scriptures for wars. Second, an earthquake. Throughout the Scriptures an earthquake seems always to represent revolution , and it is not unreasonable to expect that an era of general warfare would so arouse the lower classes of Europe and so discontent them with their lot (especially with the conditions which would follow such a war) that revolution would be the next thing in order. (Rev. 16:18) But severe though those revolutionary experiences will be to the world, they are not sufficient to prepare men to hear the voice of God. It will require fire from Heaven." The Watch Tower, July 1st, 1898, Page 208. Already we witness the nations passing to the second stage foretold by Elijah's experience, namely, revolution. Already revolution has its grip upon Russia and threatens all the other kingdoms. Revolutionists have control in Russia and a reign of tyranny and crime is the result. Famine adds to the terror, and many are robbed and maltreated. The press despatches, on January 7th, state: "The new masters of the situation are laborers, factory hands, shop men, waiters and domestic servants, while their former masters have to sing small and listen to their employes . All relationships are reversed. Socialist decrees are rapidly issued for this purpose every day. "The food situation is critical, owing to the suspension of railway communication. Many trainloads of food for Petrograd have been looted by soldiers and peasants while on the way. Starvation seems to stare us in the face. We receive a small quantity — three quarters of a pound — of black bread per head for two days. The black, sometimes dark brown, bread, doled out by a card system, is sticky, gritty stuff, only half baked, composed of millers* refuse with mixed straw and of the consistency of putty. Meat is a rare luxury. Home flesh is in common use. "Petrograd is full of dirt, disorder and crime. There has been no cleaning since the beginning of the war. Burglary, robbery and murder in audacious forms prevail to an extent hitherto unknown. There are no police and no authority one van appeal to. Men and women are stripped of overcoats and shoes in the streets at night, and armed marauders, in military uniform, enter houses under a pretext of official searches. Thieves in stolen motor ears hold up persons driving sledges. Nobody knows where to put money and valuables safely, since even private safes and banks are subjected to revision by government agents." AFTER THE WIND THE EARTHQUAKE The Bolshevik i threaten to carry the revolution to every country on earth. A press despatch from London, dated January ]2th, reads as follows: '"The call of Ensign Krylenko, the Bolshevik Commanderin -Chief, for volunteers for a Russian army, was issued in the form of an appeal to the soldiers and workmen and aB a reply to the German peace proposals. [6206] FEBRUARY 1, 1918 THE WA TCH TOWER (35-36) "In the event of a separate peace between Germany and Russia, the call declares the Russian republic and its councils will be surrounded on all sides by enemies. Krylenko contin ues : " 'American and French financiers are lending money to provide war material for Kaledin. The German bourgeoisie are quite prepared to use them as allies for stifling the Russian revolution. " 'These are conditions which raise for the Russian peasants and workmen the whole question of the defense of the conquest achieved by the revolution and of the holy war against the bourgeoisie, not only of Russia, but of Germany, France and Great Britain. " 'Should the bourgeoisie be victorious they will take vengeance in the shape of the most cruel terror and torture, drenching the land with blood, and which would put in the shade the torments inflicted by the satellites of the Czar. " 'It may be that a holy war on the fronts as well aa behind the lines s-t nnds before us as a terrible and unavoidable fate.' 'The appeal concludes by declaring that there will be no compulsion in recruiting." Nicholas Lenine, the Bolshevik Dictator and Prime Minister of Russia, answers: "What are the Bolsheviks, and what do they want? The Bolsheviks are a communistic party representing first the day laborers; secondly, all such workmen as are, as Russians say, 'Soznatelniye,' that is, such as have a full class and political consciousness; and finally, the landless or nearly landless peasants. "These classes stand for immediate Socialism. Their notion of Socialism is a republic ruled by the Councils of Work men* s, Soldiers' and Peasants* Deputies. They are against every form of monarchy and every form of political power except such as reposes in the hands of the Councils of Deputies. They are against all governments of the type of the governments of LvofT and Kerensky. They intend to prepare our two hundred million Russians for government by the Councils of Deputies." Others, too, see and dread the wind, earthquake and fire, not discerning behind it all the wonders of the kingdom of God. Blinded by the god of this world and by his angels (messengers — clergymen — 2 Corinthians 11:15) who have for centuries posed as messengers of light, they see the events but do not understand their significance. Prominent clergymen, with ears fairly itching to know what the people want to hear {2 Timothy 4:3), tell their deluded flocks that there is no trouble ahead, more than ordinary; tint if the people will only trust the (blind) guides they will all land in the Elysian fields of a better age, not realizing that they are on the very brink of anarohy. When the people wake up to the truth of the situation, they will have no pity on those trusted servants who lulled them to sleep on the verge of the precipice. — 2 Chronicles 36:14-19. MEK'S HBAETS FAILING THEM TOR TEAB There are some watchers who are not clericals who warn drowsy Christendom in vain. Winston Churchill, in the "New York Times" of December 2nd, 1917, says: "The more one sees of this war, the more one is inclined to the belief that its real significance lies behind the battle lines rather than on them. Like the great war that followed the French Revolution, it has two aspects, the military and the social, and of these the social is the more serious of the two, as far as the future of the world U concerned. A process of ferment betokening profound social changes had for some time been going on with more or less intensity in various countries before the war'ibegan; and, contrary to certain prophecies , the war tended to hasten rather than retard the process. "The keynote of what is likely to happen in other allied countries in case of a German victory, or of even a pronounced German success, has been struck in Russia, That ferment has been seething for a long time. Since 1905 Russia has been waiting to overthrow a bureaucracy upheld by a mystical and fanatical Czar; the peasants, the* army, from an outraged sense of betrayal, supported the revolution, whereupon the revolt at once took on the true evolutionary colors of the time. The inner significance of this war has to "do with the emancipation of labor, just as the inner significance of that of a hundred years ago had to do with the emancipation of the shopkeeper — who has since become a plutocrat! We not only have to reconcile ourselves to that idea, but we have the immediate task before us of guiding this evolutionary tendency by using all our intelligence on the problem, otherwise we shall have portions of the world given over to anarchy and chaos. [We would have healed Babylon. — Jeremiah 51:9, Eds.] "Russia has had her revolution. And it is safe to say that in all the nations of the Western World something like a revolution is due: call it if you like, a profound change in the social fabric that will probably take place peacefully in all countries save Germany, where* there is no constitutional outlet for the people's will. "So far as the Allies are concerned, the probability of a social turnover that would paralyze a nation for the proper prosecution of the war is not unlikely to happen in Italy, France, and even in Britain, provided the w^r continues to drag on and on and no more reverses are experienced. The peace propaganda is mostly among the working classes, but it must be remembered that the working classes have a potential , an economic power today far beyond the political power represented by their votes. 'They have a leverage of which they are becoming more and more aware. A great many of them are syndicalists. Like the Junkers — and this is not said detrimentally, ^ but impartially — they deem their first loyalty to t>e to their class, they are not inclined to reorganize national boundaries; they argue that the more revolutions take place outside of Germany the more likelihood of a revolution inside of Germany; that the way to stop the war is by revolution — peaceful if possible. "This may or may not be true. The question for the responsible Governments of the nations concerned is whether it is worth while to take such a chance. Wouldn't it be better by military means to force Germany to have her revolution first? That is exactly what, with her cleverness, Junker Germany is trying to do Avith the allies; she is sowing peace propaganda among their armies and their populations — now that Russia can no longer be kept an absolute monarchy, ■which would have suited her better. She has done a great deal of that sowing in Italy. "The -situation, then, regarded as judicially as possible, appears to be this: Can we of the Entente, including America, 'beat' Germany to the social upheaval? — to use a slang expression. Can we force her, by properly co-ordinated military operations and the realization of a common purpose, to have her revolution first? If we can do this, we shall be in a position to guide witn more wisdom and less haste the evolutionary changes that are coming in our own nations." RESTLESS LABOR Pastor Russell long ago foretold the failure of the trade union as a bulwark for labor and the breakdown of Socialism as a national cure for the ills of discontent. How it is working out is described editorially in a recent issue of the "Saturday Evening Post": "All observers bear witness to a deep undercurrent of dissatisfaction among industrial wage-earners in England. We get glimpses of the same thing in France, Italy and Germany. Conservative organs like the London Times talk darkly about 'the ferment of revolution.' "Workers are experiencing an extensive application of state socialism. The plant is controlled by the state now, and operated not primarily for the profit of its private owners, but for state service. "And workers find this state control something much more formidable and intractable than the old private control was. Being the -state, it changes laws at will, and a vast body of public opinion is unquestionably at its command. "Formerly the worker depended upon his trade-union; but that reliance is pretty largely broken down. The overwhelming state demands an extensive dilution of skilled labor — meaning that a great number of unskilled workers shall be admitted to the shop and taught the trade, though they have little or no attachment to the union and are but slightly amenable to its discipline. "The right to strike is rather effectually suspended; for striking against the state comes close to treason. Even the worker's ancient right to better his condition by leaving one employer and going to another is restricted. In some cases he is the state's industrial conscript and must have the state's permission before he can leave. "Wages have advanced greatly; but so has the cost of living. The worker has less effectual voice in the industry than ever. The new 2 Peter 3:6) There are giants in the earth (human society) today, just before the present evil order of things is to be drowned in a flood of man-made trouble. TheTe are several families of these giants: business giants, known as trusts, corporations, syndicates and cartels; financial giants, such as magnates of great wealth, banks, trust companies and investment bankers; religious giants, great denominations, church trusts and federations, and religious organizations; giant political parties and organizations, and giant societies of every description. All of these giants agree in trying, with cynical disregard of innate truth and fair dealing, to grasp all possible power, no matter at whose expense, and with the ultimate subserviance or enslavement of the common people in view. Employers are concerned not a little at the rise to power of the labor giant s^ Says The Iron Age, the great journal of the iron, steel and machinery interests, in its issue for November 15, last: "Judging from the attitude of organized labor shown in various strike outbreaks and in reported utterances of union leaders, there is a labor element in the United States that could even view with indifference the conclusion of a disgraceful peace between the United States and Germany. "The counsel of some labor leaders to their followers sounds fair enough, but there is much that is disquieting in current labor developments, but in actual practice the attitude of many representatives of organized labor has been far from keeping faith. "The spirit of many leaders has been far from the wholehearted support of the pledges given the President. Witness this from the address of the president of the metal trades department of the American Federation of Labor, before the convention of the Boilermakers* Union at Kansas City: " 'In our country, we took advantage of the situation as we found it abroad, and before the waT was declared by the United States we saw to it that organized labor was going to get proper recognition. Nothing can take place, nothing can be done, unless we are consulted and practically give our consent to it.' "Such utterances and the tactics in line with them which have been all too large a factor in current labor news suggest a day of reckoning for men who are thinking of everything but' their country's welfare in the gravest crisis in its history. Or is there ahead a fearful reckoning for the whole country as the result of such disloyalty as exists in the ranks of organized labor?" I( THE EVIL ARROWS OT FAMINE" From the front pn^e of the New York American under date of January 10 we clip the following items: "A spirit of angry and violent unrest prevails all over Europe. It springs from food shortage and deferred peace. It manifests itself in strikes, rioting, brigandage and clamor. "Austria is chiefly malcontent over Germany's persistent annexation policy. Germany's main cause of unease is a continued state of semi^starvation. Kussia is overrun with hiiH'jQTTy and angry workmen and soldiers who have turned bandits. England is disturbed over diminishing food supplies and favoritism in their distribution." That much on European conditions. Another article gives us the following on the situation in America: "Dr. Garfield's statement [in part] follows: 'Industry is in an unbalanced condition. We lack many essentials — food, clothing, fuel. We have piled up enormous stores of things not essential to life, but very essential to war. We have piled up so high on our docks and in our storehouses that the ships available cannot carry them away as fast as they pile up. For lack of bunker coal, held back by traffic congestion, the number of ships in our harbors increases menacingly. " 'The food supply is threatened to an even greater degree than the fuel supply. This condition is in large part due to the congestion that at many points holds the loaded cars in its grip.' " HEAVENS ROLLING TOGETHER From "The Monitor," a Roman Catholic journal, we take the following brief extract of a rather extended article dealing with the co-labors of the Y. M. C. A. and the Knights of Columbus in army camps — particularly in Camp Dix, N. J. It will be borne in maud that the Young Men's Christian Association has worked among all denominations of men, but that it is a strictly Protestant organization, in that only Protestants can be elected to office in the organization. On the other hand, the Knights of Columbus has worked mostly among CathoMc men, and is a Catholic organization in which only Catholics can hold office. The frequent and rather pronounced attendance of Protestant soldiers at the mass is one of the subjects taken up in this article. We read: "Ten masses are said every Sunday in the Y. M. C. A. and K. of C. buildings (the Y. M. C. A. permit the use of their building.) The bunumgs are overfilled at each mass. The men kneel in the aisle, on the door-steeps, and even outside on the ground. Protestants marvel at this. They can't understand it." The 'Hudson Dispatch" (N. J.) ran the following twocolumn heading: "Rev. Rollins and Gowen will talk tonight to boom K. of 0. Campaign. What the Catholics did in the Y. M. C. A. campaign' will be the topic of an address that will be made thd3 evening by Rev. R. H. Rollins, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Union Bill, at an open meeting of the K. of C. War Camp Oomimittee. Dr. Rollins was chairman of the recent Y. M. C. A. war work fund in North Budson, when Catholics worked side by side with non-Catholics to put North Budson well 'over the top/ helping to go far beyond the allotment in the national campaign. "Another non-Catholic speaker tonight will be Rev. I. W. Gowen, D. D., pastor of Grove Reformed Church." "THE FOOT STAIN DISHONORING GOD'S HOLT NAME" Should anyone be in doubt as to the propriety of still vindicating the divine name and character from the foul charges of eternal torment, which have made our God of Love into a demon of inexorable cruelty, we suggest consideration of the following letter, taken, not from a monastery of the middle ages but from a modern church paper which incorporates in its heading the name of Christ and which bears the date of January 1, 1918. A minister had been obliged to quit preaching and go to work in the log woods in the hope of dissolving some debts which had accumulated during his ministry. Be could not tell how long it would take "to raise the $200 above living expenses, but long enough to leave a number of good men and women out of the kingdom, no doubt." The correspondent then adds his own plea: "Brethren and sisters, will w r e wake up now, or will we wait till it is too late and wake up in hell? Think of it! A brother forced to quit the field because we do not give as we should. Would you deliberately send a soul into endless torment ? No. In effect you are doing that very thing when you shut up your -bowels of compassion." We must at least admire the consistency here shown; even if one is amazed at the ignorance of the Gospel and of the disposition of Jehovah and his faithful son, Jesus. We must bear in mind that it is not long since God was pleased to illumine our minds respecting his character and plan and that we therefore have nothing of which we can boast. "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy." Blasphemy in the case of eternal torment preaching lies in ascribing to God what should be ascribed to the devil. FUEL HOLIDAYS OPPORTUNE FOR SERVICE Fuel Administrator Garfield's order constituting every Monday until April 1st a legal holiday for all industries east of the Mississippi River, for the conservation of the nation's coal supply, will £ive splendid opportunities to the friends in genoml to do effective harvest work on those days. Many have advised us that thev intend to use each Monday for volunteering and for distributing Volume VII, thereby having a share in reaping "the vine of the earth." It may be in the Lord's providence that thousands of additional "sharpshooters" may thus be put into the field for at least one day per week during the remainder of the winter and early spring. Surely "all things work together for good" to those who love the Lord. Let us labor while it is yet day for the "night" cometh quickly. [6208] JESUS BRINGING PEACE [The first two paragraphs of this article were reprinted from article entitled, "A Legion of Demons," published in issue of July 1, 1912. Paragraphs 3 to 11 were reprinted from article entitled, "He Maketh the Storm a Calm," publishod in issue of February 15, 1904. The remainder was reprinted from article entitled, "Clothed and In His Right Mind," published in issue of May 1, 1906. Please see the articles named.] JESUS RESTORING LIFE AND HEALTH [This article was a reprint of that entitled, "Christ the First to Rise From the Dead," published in issue of April 15, 1900, which please see.] A SONG OF TRIUMPH Standing at the portal of the opening year, Words of comfort meet us, hushing every fear; Tender, strong and faithful, making us rejoice, Spoken through the silence by our Father's voic Onward, then, and fear not, children of the Day; For His Word shall never, never pass away. He will never fail us, He will not forsake; His eternal covenant He will never break; Renting on His promise, what have we to fear? God ir* all-PufficieHt for the coming year. Onward, then, and fear not, children of the Day; For His Word shall never, never pass away. JESUS SENDING FORTH THE TWELVE [This article was a reprint of that entitled, "The Harvest Plenteous — The Laborers Few," published in issue of May 15, 1900, which please see.] "GO YE ALSO INTO THE VINEYARD" [This article was a reprint of that published in issue of August 15, 1910, which please see,] SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS TWO KITOS OF LIFE AT ONCE? Question. — -Is it possible to have two kinds of life at the same time? Answer, — The word life may be used in different ways. No one but our Lord ever had a right to two kinds of life at once. He had a right to human life; for having been made flesh, he committed no sin and never violated or forfeited his ri^ht to life. He was always fully obedient to the divine law. His life was not taken from him; as he declared he laid it down of himself. (John 10:17, 18) The Father's reward gave to him a new life, on the divine plane. Hence he had the right also to the divine life. He therefore had a right to two lives. Our Lord is to give his human life to the world of mankind , and the offer or gift of this life will he made during the thousand years of his reign on earth. If he were still a man, and should give that human life away, he would have no life for himself; for when he would apply his life for Adam, he would lose life altogether. But this right to life on two planes of being has never been ours, as disciples of Christ. We were born under sentence of death. We had no right to life on any plane. God never recognized us as having even earthly rights. The* Apostle Paul says, "The life that I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God." Before this, he was in a dyine condition, and the whole world is dead in trespasses and in sins. The only life-right the Lord's people have is spiritual, although actually they still have a measure of human life. Our work now is the laying down of the earthly life with Christ. Our human body is being sacrificed. It is reckoned dead, but is really dying daily. As new creatures we have life and right to life, as recognized by God. The apostle says, "The world knoweth us not. even as it knew him not." So, then, we are dual beings while in ibhe flesh, though we are not dual-minded. The world does not understand this. The world did not know that Christ Jesus was a dual being when here on earth, after his consecration and baptism in Jordan. They knew not that he had a right to two lives, and really had two lives — the one which he had not yet fully laid down and the one which he had not yet fully assumed. THE "HEAVENLY THINGS" THAT ARE PURGED Question. — The apostle says, "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should he purged with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these." (Hebrews 0:23} What are these "heavenly things*' thus purged? Answer. — The Apostle's thought evidently seems to be that under the Law Covenant there was a series of types which all co-operated. There were the animals, the Court, the Holy, the Most Holy, the sacrificing of the animals by the priest, etc. All these things were necessary, and the blood was necessary , to the cleansing, the purifying, which was there typically accomplished. Now the apostle says that the heavenly things, that is, the higher things, the antitypes (the word "heavens" meaning high, or heaved up), are purged with better sacrifices than these. These "better sacrifices" we understand to be the sacrifice of Jesus and that of the church which is his body; and these sacrifices purge these higher, or antitypical things typified by the Court, the Holy, the Camp, etc. — making atonement for sin as respects the church and as respects the world, making full reconciliation for iniquity, providing for the bringing in of the everlasting condition which God has promised. The words "heavens" and "heavenly ," used here have no reference to spiritual things. It is not spiritual things that are purged, but natural things — human nature. The sacrifice of Jesus purges the church, and the sacrifice of the body members with their Head purges the world, the imputed merit of Jesus making possible the acceptance of the sacrifice of the members of the church which is his body. SEVENTH VOLUME IN GERMAN WATCH TOWER Our German-reading brethren will doubtless be pleased to know that the Seventh Volume of Scripture Studies is being translated into German and published in monthly installment's in the German Watch Tower. This does not interfere with the sixteen page regular Watch Tower, which is made up of articles previously appearing in the English edition. Subscribers to the German Watch Tower receive this supplemental matter ot> their regular subscription, but to other than subscribers this extra edition each month is sold for ten cents, singly, or five cents in lots of fifty or more. We are printing an extra supply for such orders. There are many elderly people of German extraction in this country who read little or no English and who might be reached in "this way with the message of the Seventh Volume. It is expected that' not less than 32 Watch Toweb pages will appear with each issue — over and above the regular 16 pages. VOLUME VII IN GREEK AND POLISH Greek and Polish-reading brethren are receiving the Seventh Volume piecemeal in their respective Watch Towers. If you have acquaintances or neighbors who read either of [6209] these languages in preference to English, we suggest such as a favorable means for conveying to them the message of "The Finished Mystery." (38-45) LETTERS FROM THE INTERESTED SPECIAL CLASSES FOB CHILDREN Dear Brethren; — One of the perplexing problems confronting many of the larger classes, for which a solution seems generally difficult, is what disposition to make of the children during certain periods of the Sunday services. Frequently the themes treated are too abstruse for the children to grasp, and they are seldom if ever permitted to ask even a question in the Berean studies. To my personal knowledge many children are anxious to inform themselves along the lines of the truth but are hindered and discouraged by arbitrary opposition by some of the elders. On my own part I cannot see any grounds for objecting to a special Berean First Volume study for children from eight to fifteen years of age, if properly eond noted by a qualified elder. Such an arrangement in my judgment would he muoh better and far more helpful than" the present practice by many classes of allowing the children to run loose or have a season of play during services. What helpful course of action could best be suggested under such conditions? Your servant in him, Wm. A. Baker, — Ore. OTJB REPLY Having in mind the period in which Ave are living, it would seem that to neglect the children of the consecrated at this time would not be wholly pleasing to the Lord. The prophet of the Lord says concerning this time: "Seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." (Zephaniah 2:3) Our thought is that it would be well for the classes to arrange for one meeting for the children from eight to fifteen years of age, and have this meeting led by a competent elder, or other brother who possesses the qualifications to teach, and that the children be taught concerning the present-day events and the cause, and particularly concerning the kingdom of the Lord that shall soon be established ; and generally an outline of the divine plan in so far as they can understand it. They should be specially instructed to lead a meek and quiet life and walk humbly before the Lord, avoiding all troubles and difficulties and seeking to deal justly with every one and to be obedient to those to whom they are subject. Nothing , however, in these suggestions should be understood to minimize the responsibility of the parents. CLASS SINGING, PKAYING CUSTOMS, ETC. Dear Brethren; — I find various customs prevailing amongst the brethren in respect to worship. Some sit when they sing and stand when they pray; others seem to have no regular custom. Have you any suggestion ? Another matter: What i-i your thought respecting class meetings — how should the different members of the class be called upon by the leader? Very truly yours, J. A. B. OUB REPLY Kvery class has, of course, the right to regulate its own methods of worship, since the Bible does not give any particular direction on the subject. Unless the class votes to the contrary , the Society recommends that all classes rise to sing, because thus the lungs can have better exercise and the singing is apt to be the better, and it would be a restful change from the sitting posture. We advise that at prayer all sit with bowed heads, this being a reverential attitude and one conducive to thought on the prayer. Where the meetings are very small and held in a private room, kneeling would be appropriate, or whore the prayer is the closing one in the nature of a benediction and after the friends have been sitting for a good while, it would be desirable to stand. In respect to the lending of classes: We feel that we cannot do better than to direct attention afresh to the very particular suggestion along this line provided for all in Volume Vf. of Studies ix the Scriptures. The class leader should not ask each question of each one present, but merely of one or two or three, if necessary, until a full, proper answer has been heard; and then throw the question open, paying: Does any one have a different thought on this question? Then briefly, the leader might give his own expression, buttressed with Scripture, if possible, and read a confirmation from the Volume of Studies. GLORIOUS VOLUNTEER WORK My I)k-\r Brethren" ix Christ: — Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to all the dear ones at the Bethel Home, whom, though we do not know all personally, yet we love for their work's sake and because they are our brethren in Christ. T know that you are all busy; but allow me, please, to (46-47) [6210] take just a few minutes of your valuable time to assure you that Sr. M and myself aire still loyal to the \V. T. B. & T. Society — which we have every reason to believe is the Lord's instrument in the harvest work — and to the officers who by the Lord's providence have been elected to serve in the various capacities. We thank the Lord daily for >c t(hat servant," our dear Brother Russell, and for his faithful ministry and for the example he set before us, that he has been called to his reward , and for the further provision of meat in due season he has made for us. We are rejoicing in the glorious truth. We also thank our heavenly Father for the many little privileges of spreading this glorious truth. Our part in the volunteer work is indeed a pleasure. We wish to relate a little experience we had this evening while putting out B. S. M., Vol 9, No. 5— "Why Do the Nations War?" A man to whom I had handed a paper while he was leisurely sitting on his porch stopped me on my way back, on the other side of the street. He said, "Where are you getting all these? Who is doing this?" I told him. He seemed to be very much worked up and angry about something. He then said, "You do not mean to tell me that God is responsible for this awful war and all these awful things that are going on now!" I told him he would have to admit that if God was all-powerful — as we all believe — he was in a way responsible in that he was permitting it to go on, and that he could stop it whenever he pleased. But the fact that he was permitting it showed that it must be for a wise and good purpose . He replied, "Well, yes; I guess that is so. But what is your object in putting these out now?" I said, "Why not? We are trying to enlighten the people along these lines. No better time! These are Bible truths now due to be understood ." He said, "Well, T do not want to argue along this line. I will investigate the thing further." I told him that was what we wanted him to do. I think we are going to have some grand opportunities to witness for the truth. People are beginning to want to know just what we have to tell them, and some are very glad to have these little papers. One lady met me half way when 1 was walking toward her house, and said, smiling, "It has been quite a while since we received one of these." Another lady told a brother that she was glad to get them, and that she wu*s saving all of them she could get, besides reading them. I want to do my part in putting the Seventh Volume into the hands of the people. Your brother in Christ, J. F. M. — Ind. HOW CAM THEY KEEP FROM SINGING! Dear Brother Rutherford: — Greetings in the name of him we love! Thanks for your loving letter. Have recently returned from another pilgrim tour. This time I visited one of the largest work-centres where about 110 of our brethren who are conscientious objectors to military service are confined. Though they are subjected to many indignities, experience much physical discomfort , and their liberty is restrained, you will be glad to know that they, one and all, glory in the privilege of suffering for righteousness' sake. Their joy in the Lord is grand to see. They spend much of their leisure time in united study, and embrace every opportunity to present the truth to their companions in affliction who belong to other religious bodies. The Lord has blessed their efforts, and some have been brought to a knowledge of the truth there, while several are now reading the volumes. Their favorite hymn is 179 — "My life flows on in endless song," and it is indeed a great treat to hear their hearty singing. I wish specially to thank you for Harvest Siftings No. II. It clears up some matters which were difficult to understand , and the spirit in which it is written should do much to comfort the brethren. The Glasgow church is loyal to you as their counsellor, and surely you have my own personal love. I greatly admire your devotion and self-sacrifice, as well as the gentleness, yet firmness, with whieh you set forth your position. It is my strong conviction that you have acted as the Lord would have you do. Your brother by his grace, Alex Tait, — Scotland. PRESIDENT'S REPLY My Dear Brother Tait: — Your very kind letter to hand. I am glad to hear also that you have visited our brethren who are incarcerated in prison. Surely these dear brethren are real martyrs. I am reminded of the experiences through which the dear ancient worthies passed, mentioned in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. They suffered all these indignities in order that they might have a better resurrection. Let us try to encourage the dear brethren, that, while they are suffering now, the Lord is permitting it, giving them a chance to witness by their lives February 1, 1918 THE WATCH TOWER (47-51) to his great plan, and of their privilege to fill up that which is hehind of the sufferings of Christ. And soon, by his grace, they shall enter into their everlasting reward, far beyond any other creatures of the world or in heaven. Please continue to encourage the dear brethren all you can. If there is anything that we can do for them here, kindly let me know. With miucth love to yo7i and all the- dear ones in Glasgow, 1 beg to remain, Your brother and servant by his grace, J. F. RUTHLRFOKl). AWAKENED BY VOLUME SEVEN Dkar Sirs: — Last week I purchased one of your books entitled "The Finished Mystery" — Series Vll of Studies in the Scriptures. I did 'not know what it was when I bought it, but I now thank God that it came into my possession. It is as a drink to one dying of thirst in a desert. For the past four years my heart has been full of unrest. I could not tell why, but I simply could not enjoy going to church. Try as I might, I could find no satisfaction and peace when I did go; finally I gave myself up as hopelessly lost and wondered why I had ever lived. But now I am awakened! I beg of you to tell me if there is time enough left for me to do anything in the service of our King whom I have always loved and longed to serve. I am sending for the other volumes of Studies in the Scriptures and for the booklet "About Hell" which you announce. I can distribute tracts if you have any and will send me some. I want to become one of you and work in the blaster's vineyard . Yours in need of Christian counsel, Mes. T. C. Clark,— Okla. CHURCHES LIKE OPEEA HOUSES Dear Sirs: — Some friend has sent me a copy of Volume Seven of your series of Studies in tjie Scriptures. I don't know who did it; but I have been praying God to give me more light on the Bible, and when I received this book it was surely a godsend . Our churches are getting like opera houses where people go just to have a good time. Six weeks ago I ceased going to church. I have quit ehurchianity. I told our minister that no church institution could serve two masters and spiritually prosper. Enclosed find Money Order for $4.60 for which please send me tlhe entire seven books by Pastor Russell and The Watch Tower for one year, as announced on the last page of this Seventh Volume. Respectfully, 1,. IT. Schulte, County Treas. — Iowa. WORDS INADEQUATE FOE EXPRESSION Dear Brethren in tiik Lord: — Words are totally inadequate to describe the feelings ol the brethren with regard to the Seventh Volume. We are unanimous in proclaiming it to be the work of those guided by God. It is really a wonderful book and, Like the Bible itself, there is nothing to be eliminated, nor can there be anything added; it is complete in itself. We join in praising the great Jehovah in giving us such a help through hie honored servants. Our prayer is that the heart of each one may be filled with a determination to continue faithful unto death. Your brother in Christ, A. Hunt, — Eng. VOLUME SEVEN JJJD HER TO CONSECRATION Dbar Brethren-: — I am truly grateful that our heavenly Father has placed the Seventh Volume in my hand. It has brought me out of darkness into the light. It has opened my eyes of understanding that 1 have been able to see more clearly God's wonderful plan. The first word of truth I received was in Octol >or when one of our dear sisters in the colporteur work askt'd me to buy Volume Vll. Since then I have bought the other six volumes and I study every spare moment. I am now one of the fully consecrated children of God and I pray and trust that 1 may continue to be until death. I ask you to pray for me. Your sister by his grace, Caroline Sciilichenmaier, — Pa. WHAT THE "PENNY" SIGNIFIES Dbar Brethren: — Greetings! Please permit me to draw your attention to an article from our dear Brother Russell's pen, found in The Watch Tower of Aug. 15, 1910, page 264, entitled "Go Ye Also into the Vineyard" — especially that portion under the subhead, /'Agreed for a Penny a Day." This seems to be very timely just now in settling the question of the "Penny"; and will you not, dear brethren, prayerfully take the matter to the Lord, for it seems to me it is indeed "meat in due season ," and would be his will that the article be republished in The Tower at the present time? How we rejoice in our privileges of service! "The Lord bless thee and keep thee" is my prayer continually. With love and best wishes, as ever, Your brother in the Lord, W. M. Hersee, — Pilgrim. [The artiole above referred to is reprinted in this issue. | "The Lord has indeed multiplied my blessings this day by the safe and unexpected arrival of the Seventh Volume, My joy was so evident when the post woman delivered it that she had to know about it and was glad to get Volume One for herself. *My cup runneth over.' "At our Praise meeting tonight the testimonies were full of thanksgiving for this very precious completing volume. The immediate effect of the short time already given to Volume Seven is a heart full of gratitude to God and a reiteration of my consecration to hdm; also deep thankfulness to our Lord Jesus, who has girded himself during this harvest period and is serving us with so rich a feast culminating in Volume Seven, through that 'faithful servant,' our beloved Brother Russell (who seems very near to us though parted from us for a brief while). The preceding six volumes are made still more precious by the possession of the Seventh. Truly we are thoroughly furnished." F. H- W., — Scotland.