Vol. XXXLX
BROOKLYN, N. Y., MARCH 1, 1918
No.
'This do
in remembrance of me.
IN MEMORY OF OUR KING
For ax oft a* ye eat this bread, and drink this cwp t ye do show the Lord's death till he
come" — 1 Corinthians 11:25,26.
The truly consecrated Christian, walking in the light of
present truth, looks forward with the keenest interest to the
approaching Memorial celebration. This Passover season holds
a peculiar interest, because it may mark the last for the
church on earth and may mark the drinking of the wine anew
with the Lord in glory. Sint:e Pentecost the followers of the
Lord have been waiting with joyful expectancy for his return
ns the King of glory. For many years the best-informed of his
followers have known that he is present and that he will soon
be fully revealed to all who are his. Soon ho will take unto
himself his completed bride and reign in glory. It was his expressed
desire that the bride class should have him in memory
until he call for her. Whether the coming Memorial will be the
last on earth, we do not. of course, know; but we do know that
we are one year nearer the full consummation of our hopes. If
it please the Lord to have us celebrate this Memorial other
years, then we shall do so gladly. If it please him to take all
the members of the church home this year, then our joy will be
full and we shall have pleasures for evermore. His will, not
ours, be done. Glad we are to assemble together again to remind
each other of that wonderful event that transpired so many
centuries past.
When a man of the world has risen to fame, he desires to
leave a monument, so that future generations may know of his
greatness. Of course there is selfishness in this desire. Jesus
of Nazareth, the greatest man that lived on earth, when he
approached the time of his crucifixion, prepared a monument
that will endure forever. Unselfishly ho acted in this regard,
as he did in all others. He was about to perform the greatest
work of the ages— to make himself an offering for sin on
bnhaJf of the human rare. T9iis Memorial wa.s a means whereby
his followers should remember him until they should see him
again. He knew that the fully consecrated would appreciate
this more than anything e se. He knew that the world would
not appreciate it; and therefore his death would be sweetly
kept in the memory of those who had received the benefit of
his great ransom-sacrifice. None but the truly consecrated
have ever appreciated the Lord's death and its meaning. The
time is near at hand, however, when even the world will begin
to understand why he suffered and why he died. The Lord
Jesus knew that the time from Pentecost until his kingdom is
established would lx> occupied in the selection of his bride
and he desired that she should keep fresh in mind the importance
of the great sin-ofTuring and likewise approbate
tier privilege- of participating in his sufferings, in order
that she might reign with him in glory, for the regeneration
and reconstruction of the world.
Many of the members of the bride class are already with
the Lord. Those remaining this side are eager to be with,
him, yet biding his own good time. It is reasonable, then,
that as we approach each Memorial season, as we come nearer
to the time of seeing our great King and Lord, our hearts are
thrilled with the prospect that this is perhaps the last this
side the vail and that soon we may see him face to face.
"LOUD, IS IT I?"
When Jesus was about to take leave of his disciples, his
associates for three and a half years, he marked that they
were troubled, and said: "Let not your heart be troubled.
.... I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go and prepare
a place for you. I will come again and receive you unto
myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." And now
the day draws near when this sweet promise from the Master's
lips will have complete fulfilment. Is it any wonder, then,
that the truly eon^eking forward with great
desire to the approaching Memorial and to that which may
follow after!
It was after Jesns and his disciples had eaten the Passover
according to the Jewish Law, that he instituted the Memorial
Supper as a reminder of his death. Judas was present at that
time and was given a sop and went out from the others before
the supper was ended, fully bent upon betraying the
Master; and this he did. This incident may represent the
fact that in the close of this age, and just before the bride is
completed, the sop of truth will become so strong that it shall
drive forth from the company and communion of the faithful
all those who do not have a full and proper appreciation of
the blood of Jesus, shed by the Lamb of God for the taking
away of the sin of the world. It -'m not for anyone ihi« «hlr. tin*
vail to judge who may be of that class. It is sufficient that
each one carefully examine himself or herself, saying, "Is it
I?" Truly this is a time for careful self-examination, for seeing
to it that we are pure in heart toward all.
That we may more fully appreciate the importance of
that great event which transpired at Calvary, we do well to
remind ourselves again of the events that took place just
preceding that time.
THE OBIGINAL PASSOVER
The Hebrew year begins on the day of the first new moon
nearest the Spring equinox. The Hebrew Passover marked a
wonderful event in Jewish history and foreshadowed the death
of the great Ransomer of humankind. St. Paul tells us that
the things pertaining to the Law were shadows of greater
things to come. (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1) Looking,
then, from the type to the antitype, we find much food for
thought. The Israelites had been held in bondage to the
Egyptians for years. From time to time their tasks were increased
and their burdens made grievous to be borne. God
sent Moses to deliver them and sent Aaron with him as his
mouthpiece. They appeared before Pharaoh and requested
him to permit the children of Israel to leave Egypt. This
Pharaoh denied. God sent punishment upon him for refusing
to let them go. Time and time again he promised to let
them depart from Egypt; time and time again he broke his
promise.
Nine times had the Lord sent plagues upon the Egyptians
and as many times, at the instance of Moses, had relieved
Pharaoh and his people therefrom. Then the tenth plague was
sent — the death of the first-born. Pharaoh was devoted to his
son, his first-born ; and the smiting of him would touch Pharaoh
's heart as nothing else could do. God informed Moses
that at midnight of the fourteenth of Nisan the death messenger
of the Lord would pass through Egypt and every firstborn
of every family should die. He then directed Moses to
make provision for the saving of the first-born of Israel. The
arrangement was that each family or household should, on the
tenth day of Nisan, take a lamb into the house ; that the lamb
should be a male of the first year and without blemish; that \x>
should be kept in the house" until the fourteenth day of the
same month, when it should be killed and the blood sprinkled
upon the door-posts and upon the lintel; that the lamb should
then be roasted with fire ; that no bones of it should be broken ;
that it should be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs,
and that those eating it should do so with their loins girded,
their shoes on their feet and their staves in hand, and that
they should eat with baste ; that when the messenger of the
Lord should pass through Egypt the first-born of each household
would be spared where the blood of the lamb appeared on
the door. Moses carried out these instructions and the faithful
Jews acted upon his advice. They killed the lamb, sprinkled
its blood as directed and, in due season, ate it. At midnight
of the fourteenth of Nisan, all the first-born of Egypt died,
including Pharaoh's beloved son. Great consternation followed
and Pharaoh immediately summoned Moses and Aaron. He
now not only promised that they should go, but thrust them
out, and Moses led the children of Israel to the Red Sea, across
it and on to Mount Sinai.
TYPE AND ANTITYPE
In this picture the first-born represent the church of the
first born whoso names are written in heaven. These are the
heirs of the exceeding great and precious promises of Jehovah
. Like the first-born in Egypt, they are subject to the
second death, but escape from it by complying with the Lord's
fixed rules. All who during the Gospel age come under the
protection of the blood of Jesus, and there remain, are safe
from this great penalty.
In this picture the lamb represented Jesus, slain for the
cancellation of the Bin of mankind. (John 1:29) A door is
a place of entrance. Hence the blood sprinkled upon the doorposts
of the Israelitish homes signifies the fact that the way
to safety and life is through faith in the blood of Jesus, who
declared: "I am the door." The Passover night pictured the
Gospel age when sin and darkness prevail, and during which
time the bride of Christ is gathered out from mankind. And
now we see this time of suffering drawing to an end and
amidst a time of great confusion. Loth political and ecclesiastical
; and soon the sufferings of the Christ will end.
No animal could more fitly represent the lowly Nazarene
than could the lamb. It is noted for its defenselessness and
its innocence. The antitypieal Lamb, tin- Man Jesus, true to
the picture, was "holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from
sinners." (Hebrews 7:^6) "A lamb without blemish and
without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation
of the ^vorld, but was manifested in the last times." "He
(67-68)
T6218]
March 1, 1918
THE WATCH TOWER
(69 f>6}
was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before
her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth."
Born under the Law, Jesus must fulfil its terms; and since
the Passover was a part of the Law arrangement, he must
eat it at the appointed time; viz., the fourteenth of Nisan.
As he was the great antitypieal Lamb* now to be slain, be must
eat this Passover just preceding his death. It must be apparent
to all that it would be inappropriate to celebrate the
Lord's death more than once a year, and that the time of this
celebration should, as nearly as possible, correspond with the
date at which he instituted the Memorial.
THE PURPOSE OF THE MEMORIAL
After eating the Passover Supper, Jesus instituted the
Memorial. This he did that his followers might remember
him until he come again. "And as they were eating, Jesus
took bread and blessed it and brake it, and gave it to his
disciples and said, Take, eat; this is my body." That is to
say, the bread represented his flesh, his humanity, which was
broken on behalf of mankind. "And he took the cup and
gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, All ye drink of it;
for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for the
remission of sins." The cup there represented the pouring out
of his life blood as the great sacrifice on behalf of all who
s-hall accept the benefits of the ransom.
It was the will of God that the members of the bride of
Christ should fill up that which is behind of the sufferings of
Christ Jesus. Hence those who will compose the bride are
privileged to suffer with him. The celebration of the Memorial
once each year not only reminds the celebraters of the
death of their great Master, but also brings vividly to mind
that each member of the body has covenanted to be dead with
him. Clearly the Apostle expresses this thought when he says:
"The cup of blessing for which we bless God, is it not the
participation of the blood of the Anointed One; the loaf which
we break, is it not the participation of the body of the Anointed
One; because there is one loaf, we the many are one
body, for we all partake of the one loaf," — 1 Cor. 10:16, 17,
Diaglott.
Coming, then, to the celebration this year, let each one have
in mind the privilege of suffering with Christ Jesus. Whatever
may be our experiences, however joyful or however trying, all
shall come to us by the Lord's permission and as a great favor.
"For unto you it "is given in behalf of Christ not only to believe
on him, but also to saifTer for his sake." (PHiilippians
1:29) We know not what awaits us; but we do know that all
who are abiding in the shadow of God's wing are safe and
that no evil shall befall the new creature in Christ. Whatever
anyone may do to us in the way of persecution, it is of the
utmost importance to see to it that we ourselves do no persecuting
. It is vital to us that we keep a pure heart. We do
well personally to examine self as we approach the hour of the
celebration of the Memorial. Let us remember the words of
Brother Paul, "Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the
whole lump? Purge out, therefore, the old leaven, that ye
may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ
our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the
feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice
and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity."
Leaven is a symbol of sin and old leaven signifies sins of long
standing. Malice means ill will, hatred and a wrong condition
of heart. These should all be put away and each one,
upon self-examination, see to it that he has clean hands and a
pure heart. "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of
the flesh and mind, perfecting holiness in the fear of the
Lord."
LET US EXAMINE OUBSELVES
It was jealousy, ill will and malice that led Judas into his
wrongful course in betraying the Lord to the ecclesiastics of
that time. Judas knew that the ecclesiastics were anxious, to
destroy Jesus; hence he betrayed the Master into their hands.
The civil powers saw the innocence of the Lord, but permitted
their scruples to be overruled by the clergy and thus falsely
and without just cause or excuse convicted the Son of Man
and sent him to an ignominious death. It is not at all improbable
that the very closing scenes of the Gospel age shall
witness something of a similar kind. He whose zeal and faithfulness
and loyalty to the Master brings him to the point of
persecution because of such faithfulness will be greatly favored
. No one should act foolishly nor put himself in a way
to be persecuted, but with calmness of mind and sobriety of
heart should diligently and faithfully represent the Lord, trusting
him fully as to the results.
If there be strife among any of the Lord's people (and
such there is among some of the classes), this is the time
above all times to cease such strife and to seek diligently to
establish peace and harmony. It has been the rule that such
strife is usually caused by the desire of a few to be more
highly honored than others. And such it was in the Lord's
time. ''And there' was also strife among them, which one of
them should be counted the greatest. And he said unto them,
The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and
they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors ;
but ye shall not be so. But he that is greatest among you let
him be as the younger; and lie that is chief, as he that doth
serve." If we find that injustice has been heaped upon us,
that we have not been favored in the cede si a as much as we,
in our judgment, should have been; if we feel that wo should
have been more highly honored, let us remember the danger of
insisting on what we believe are our rights and the great privilege
of humbly submitting to the Lord's will. No trial could
come without his permission, and the one which hurts us most
has probably come to test the faith and love of those involved
. "By love serve one another.'* May we, then, be able
to see through our trying experiences that all of these things
are evidences that the Lord is still dealing with us, and may
we appreciate the privilege of overcoming them and manifesting
our unselfish love for the brethren and therefore for the
Lord and his cause by serving in a humble and Moving manner
in whatsoever place the Lord puts us. Our great desire is and
should be to see the King of glory. Everything else should
be made subservient to that. Let us have in mind that the
eating of the Passover lamb was with bitter herbs and that
this sharpened the appetite and created a greater desire for
more of the flesh to remove that bitter taste. This fitly illustrates
tthat the bitter experiences and trials that come to in.
if we are properly exercised thereby, cause us to flee to the
Master that we might partake of more of his merit and his
loving-kindness. Feeding, then, upon our precious God-given
promises and upon the prospects of soon seeing the King and
being with him in glory, will make us forget the bitter trials
and we shall rejoice with great joy, giving thanks that we
are permitted to have such trials as make sweeter our joys.
One may ask: "Shall I decline to partake of this Memorial
because of some difficulty T have had with a brother?"
Our answer would be, if possible try to bring about a reconciliation
by talking over the differences in the spirit of love.
Effect a reconciliation, if possible; but if not, examine your
own heart and see to it that there is no bitterness there. If
you have been wronged, then see that you freely forgive, even
as the Lord forgives us; and then go and keep the feast.
All who have made a full consecration to the Lord should
partake. If some have made a consecration and have not
symbolized this consecration by water immersion, such should
be done, if possible, before* partaking. But the mere fact that
one has not been baptized since making a consecration should
not preclude him from partaking of the Memorial.
Let us all have in mind that "the end of all things is
at hand; be of sober mind and watch unto prayer." How
glad should be our hearts that we have come to the end of
this dark night and that soon the light of the Lord shall fill
the earth! Having in mind our great desire to see our King,
let us also remember the admonition of the Apostle, "Above
all things have fervent love among yourselves." Having this
love, we will cover each other's defects; and nothing enables
us so much to have this love as looking with expectant joy
to seeing the Lord and our beloved brethren who have gone
before.
DEMONS TO WRECK SOCIETY
Psychic phenomena are attracting the attention of some of
the greatest men of the land. These men claim that they are
able to communicate with the dead. That they receive messages
from some hidden source cannot be questioned. This
psychic science is called Immortalism. In truth and fact it
is deraonism. And these demons, exercising greater power
over the human mind, will, as the Scriptures foreshow, soon
wreck all society. It is of great importance that every person
acquaint himself with the Scriptural teaching upon the subject
. We issue a little book, "What say the Scriptures About
Spiritism V* that, throws a flood of light upon this occult science
. Everybody should read it. Postpaid, 10c. But if any
one who desires to read it will send us a post card stating he
is too poor to purchase, we will mail him a copy free.
[6219]
QUALIFICATIONS OF ELDERS
Some of the ecclesias at recent elections have declined to
elect anyone to the otfice of elder or deacon until such an
one answered in the affirmative questions of the following import
: (1) Have you answered the V. D. M. questions and
have you passed that examination! (2) Are you in harmony
with the Watch Tower Bible attd Tkact Society and the
work in which it is engaged? (3) Do you accept "The Finished
Mystery" as the Seventh Volume of Studies in the
Scriptures, and are you willing to teach the same?
Some have raised objection to these questions, insisting
that they require an additional qualification for one to be an
elder or 'a deacon, and are therefore contrary to the Scriptures
. In our judgment such contention is without merit. The
Apostle Paul set forth what are the qualifications of an elder.
(1 Timothy 3:2-6; Titus 1:6-10) There is nothing in the
above questions that is in any manner out of harmony with
the requirements announced by the Apostle. On the contrary,
they are exactly in harmony with the qualifications there
named.
The first question relates particularly to one's knowledge
of the Truth, such knowledge as would modestly qualify one
to teach. St. Paul says an elder must be "apt to teach." "In
addition to the foregoing limitations,, it is required that an
elder shall be apt to teach; that is to say, he must have ability
as a teacher, explainer, expounder, of the divine plan, and
thus be. able to assist the Lord's flock in word and in doctrine."
(Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. Six, page 249) The V. D.
M. questions relate to doctrinal matters and are intended to
indicate the process of determining one's aptness to teach. One
who is unable to answer them would demonstrate that he did
not have a sufficiently accurate knowledge of the divine plan
to teach a class. Any ecclesia must be the judge of who shall
be its elders and it is clearly within the province of oa^b such
ecclesia to require them to show that they are qualified and
are apt to teach, before electing them to office.
As to the second question: the Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society has long been used of the Lord. Clearly it is
the messenger mentioned in "Revelation 14:18. It has been the
channel for the dispensing of the harvest message. The various
ecclesias have long since adopted its publications as helps
to study the Bible. Any one, therefore, out of harmony with
the Society would hardly be a proper person to be a leader
or teacher of an ecclesia which uses the publications of the
Society as its helps to Bible study. The Apostle is emphatic
in his statement as to what is the proper relationship between
class and teacher, declaring that "if any man teach otherwise
and consent not to sound words, the words of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,"
such is not a proper teacher and from such the others should
withdraw. {1 Timothy 6:8-5) A leader of a class who is
openly opposed to the work in which the Society is engaged
would tend to cause dissension and trouble, instead of peace
and harmony. Hence it becomes the reasonable duty of the
class to know the attitude of its teachers.
As to the third question: the Society has published and is
widely distributing "The Finished Mystery" — Volume Seven
of Studies in tiie Scriptures. There is nothing in it out
of harmony with the divine plan as revealed. The doctrines
there taught are wholesome and clearly in harmony with that
of the Lord Jesus Christ and the other six volumes of Studies
in the Sckiptukes. It is a part of the work of the Society
to give this volume a wide distribution, because it is believed
the duo time has come for the message to be given against
Babylon. A teacher that is opposed to the Seventh Volume,
therefore, would be opposed to the Society's work, out of
harmony with the Society; and, as a leader, such an one
would breed discontent and trouble, rather than establish harmony
and peace and development among those of the Lord's
people who had already expressed themselves as being in harmony
with such Seventh .Volume. Hence such an one should
not stand for election to the position of elder.
This does not mean that such persons who would not answer
the foregoing questions in the affirmative should be disfellowshiped
. On the contrary, they should be encouraged to study
the Lord's Word and grow in knowledge and the fruits and
graces of the Spirit.
We remember when the Vow was promulgated by Brother
Russell through the Society, there was some decided opposition
to it. Brother Russell then held that any one out of
sympathy with the Vow and the work of the Society in general
should not be elected as an elder of the class. Concerning this
subject he said:
"Question : Is it proper or wise for a Pilgrim en route
to be entertained by those who are out of sympathy with the
Vow and with the work of the Society in general, even though
he be an elder of the classf"
"Answer: Most decidedly not. Furthermore, the Pilgrim
should make clear to the class that they had greatly erred in
selecting such an one for an elder, and should help them to
rectify the matter as quickly as possible. If the class likes
the elder who is out of accord with the Society's work, it
should not make a request for Pilgrim service. Some of the
Lord's dear sheep are very stupid. Meekness and gentleness
are commendable, but there are times when they would mourn
disloyalty to God."— Z. '13-14.
The above quotation from the pen of Brother Russell puts
the matter in clear, terse language, about which there can
be no doubt. It will be noticed especially that he said that
one who is out of accord with the Society's work should not
be elected an elder, and a class which would not follow that
rule should not even request the Society to send Pilgrims.
The purpose of Brother Russell and the Society clearly was
and is not to lay burdens upon the brethren, but to point out
the privilege of the various ecclesias in determining whether
their elders possess the qualifications, and furthermore emphasizing
the importance and necessity of working together in
harmony. By way of illustration: Suppose the general of an
army should give an order to be executed, the colonel should
pass it on to his sub -officers and each one would decide to
execute the order according to his own ideas. The result
would be disorganization of the worst kind. We recognize the
Lord Jesus as the great General and Director of the harvest
work, and his people as workers together with him, some occupying
one position and some another. Then all who have his
spirit will desire to work in harmony with him and his approved
way of putting forth the message. Any one, then, who
would refuse to answer in the affirmative that he accepts "The
Finished Mystery" and that he will teach it would thereby
declare himself out of harmony and opposed to the Society's
work, and any one opposed to the work of the Society would
hardly be qualified to be a teacher of a class which by its
request for Pilgrim visits, or otherwise, had indicated its desire
to cooperate with the Society. We believe that wi.en the
dear friends see the principle here involved they will readily
agree that the questions that some of the ecclesias have adopted
and required to be answered by those standing for election as
elders and deacons are entirely right and proper and in full
harmony with the Scriptures.
WAIT ON THE LORD
f Reprint of poem in issue of September, 1882, which please see.]
JESUS REQUIRES CONFESSION AND LOYALTY
[This article was a reprint of that entitled, "Good Confessions and Later Trials," published in issue of June 1, 1906,
which please see.]
JESUS TRANSFIGURED
["The first paragraph of this article was reprinted from article Acts 23:5) The law of
the land recognizes that there are Christian people who cannot
engage in military service without doing violence to their
conscience. Hence the Congress of the United States, in
passing the Selective Draft Act of May 18, 1917, inserted a
clause providing that certain ones, under certain conditions,
should not be compelled to engage in combatant military
service. We hold that the members of our Society come
within the purvue of this section of the law and are entitled
to its protection. And none of our members, so far as we
know, have done more than to claim the benefit of the provisions
of this Act of Congress.
For forty years the attention of the people has been called
to the unrighteous practices of the ecclesiastical systems and
how they have kept the people in ignorance. In that time the
clergy- have been called upon repeatedly to explain to the
people the Scriptures, and they have industriously avoided
making either answer or explanation. The Lord long ago,
through his prophet, foretold that this would be their course,
and that, refusing themselves to answer the people, the clergy
would attempt to shield themselves behind the civil powers
and, if possible, induce the latter to prevent a free and uninterrupted
proclamation of the message of the Lord. The
Scriptures designate these ecclesiastical systems as Babylon.
The Lord says: "The mighty men of Babylon [the clergy J
have forborne to fight; they have remained in their holds
[shielding themselves behind civil officers] ; their might hath
failed; they became as women." — Jeremiah 51:30.
Plainly and clearly, then, our position is: We would not
do injury to any one, not even the clergy; and certainly not
to the Government. Our mission is to preach the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and his kingdom. Jesus taught that when the
Gospel age ended, present institutions would go to pieces
and that upon the ruins thereof his kingdom would be established
. He taught his followers to pray, "Thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. 51 If, then,
it is disloyal to call attention to the unrighteous ecclesiastical
systems that have been blinding the peoples of earth for so
long, it is disloyal to repeat the Lord's prayer. We are convinced
that all difficulty which has arisen has been local, and
instigated by those clergymen who could not answer the great
truths set forth against them in the Bible and who have sought
to stir up the civil authorities against others who are meekly
and earnestly preaching the Gospel with malice toward none
and with love toward all.
As consecrated Christians, we must, in obedience to the
Lord, call attention to the great truths he has recorded in the
Bible and which he has commissioned us to tell others. (Isaiah
61:1-3; Luke 4:18-21) It is the duty of every one to be
obedient to the law. The fundamental law guarantees that
every one shall worship God according to the dictates of his
own conscience and speak the truth with freedom. There is
no disposition on the part of any Christian to do violence to
the laws of the land.
A WARNING TO THE CHURCH
What we are about to write is not written with pleasure,
but from a sense of duty to the church. St. Paul prophetically
wrote, "For I know this, that after my departing shall
grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse
things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch."
(Acts 20:29-31} Tfiie words of St. Paul are now having their
fulfilment.
The Watch Towek of November 1, MHO, published an
article from the pen of Brother Eussell, whose words likewise
seem prophetic and are now having a fulfilment. He quotes
the Apostle's words above mentioned and shows how they will
specially apply in the closing days of the church's earthly
journey. Amongst other thiugs, he said:
"We have already alluded to the ambitious and selfish spirit
in the world leading on to anarchy; and we have just pointed
out how the same selfish, ambitious spirit is leading on to
anarchy in the church. We foresee a time of trouble for the
world upon this score, and a time of trouble also for the
church. The world cannot purge itself of this class; for
the leaders and the led have the worldly spirit, which is sure
to wax worse and worse. But not so in the church of Christ.
Ours is the spirit of the Master, the spirit of loyalty to truth,
the spirit of the golden rule, the spirit of brotherly love, the
spirit of liberty and helpfulness, the spirit of fidelity to what
we believe to be the truth."
ANABCHY IN THE OHUECH
The persons hereinafter mentioned participated in the referendum
vote relating to the Society and its management;
they likewise participated in the shareholders' annual meeting
, and at each place diligently endeavored to carry the
election their way. The result has been heretofore reported in
The Watch Tower, showing the overwhelming expressions of
opinion from the Lord's people. At the Pittsburgh annual
meeting, amongst the shareholders represented, about 83 per
cent was in favor of the present management, as against 12
per cent opposed. Having participated in these elections, the
spirit of loyalty and obedience to the Lord's arrangements
would require all such to abide by the result until another
similar election. Any other spirit is the spirit of anarchy
described by Brother Russell in the preceding paragraph.
It is with pain that we mention the names of some individuals
, but we do this in the interest of the church at large.
The Apostle Paul gives us the precedent for this; and we feel
fully justified in mentioning the matter, that the friends may
not be further deceived. "This thou knowest. that all they
which are in Asia be turned away from me: of whom are
Phygellus and Hermogenes." (2 Timothy 1:15) "And their
word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymenseus and
Philetus." (2 Timothy 2:17) "Alexander the coppersmith
did me much evil; the Lord reward him according to his
works."— 2 Timothy 4:14.
A wolf in sheep's clothing pictures the disposition of one
who appears as a friend and yet is ready to do injury. Several
of tiie Iriends report the method that is being pursued by I\
S. L. Johnson and R. G. Jolly. The practise is along the following
line: They appear at a class of the brethren and, by
their words and conduct, make it appear as though they are in
complete harmony with the Society and its work ; but after
they have ingratiated themselves into the confidence of a
number, seeds of doubt are sown. They stay in a community
for several days or longer. They advise the friends to hold
cottage meetings to be addressed by themselves. They then
go about and call on all the consecrated. If any one suggests
a break with the Society, they discourage this for a time
until they finish their campaign and thoroughly sow their seeds
of discord; and then they have a resolution offered by some
one, withdrawing support from the Society and its work.
We publish below a letter from one of the brethren of the
Philadelphia Ecclesia, which discloses the method of operation
:
"Dear Brethren:
"We are constrained to drop you a note at this time in
order that, should you think wise, the Class might be
warned.
"Brother Jolly, an able assistant of the Johnson propaganda
., will go to for three weeks, lxvjuise of his su> -
cess here in gaining so many over on the side of the opposition
that he might try the same methods there. They are similar
to those stated in The Watch Tower recently.
"Kindly accept this as a warning. Things are said and
done to make it appear as though the brother is in complete
harmony with the Bible House; then, after he has. gained the
confidence of a number, seeds of doubt are subtly sown. This
is accomplished at little gatherings during the week. Attempts
of an open break are discouraged and prevented, if possible,
until the entire class is thoroughly saturated with seeds of disloyalty
; then an open break is forced. This method has
proven very successful here.
"Experience has taught me the necessity of an uncompromisingly
strong stand against all such subtlety immediately
when attempted, What would I not do if I could but spare
any ecclesia the sad experience here encountered! But the
lessons to be learned were helpful, and perhaps our experience
may assist the friends elsewhere. We suggest that one rotten
apple in a barrel will make all the apples in the barrel rotten
if not removed.
""Realizing that all the attempts of the adversary will
come to naught and desiring to do our little part and trust in
the Lord, we leave this matter with you, as we do not know
who are loyal and who are not at ."
"MARK THEM WHICH CAUSE DIVISION"
Wo"~take this occasion to call attention of the brethren
everywhere to the fact that P. 8. L. Johnson and R. G. Jolly
do not represent the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
in any manner whatsoever, and are wholly unauthorized to
[6222]
March 1, 1918
THE WATCH TOWER
(?<*- 84)
represent it or the International Bible Students Association
or the Peoples Pulpit Association. The evident purpose of
the two named and those associated with them is to cause division
amongst the brethren. "Now I beseech you, brethren,
mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they
that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own
belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts
of the simple." (Romans 16:17, .18) "These six things doth
the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A
proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent
blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that
be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh
lies, and lie that so wet h discord among brethren."
To avoid such does not mean to treat them unkindly, but
it does mean to refuse to fellowship such in the spirit of the
Lord. Leave their judgment entirely to him who judgeth all
things righteously. Again Brother Russell's words in the
article above mentioned are applicable:
"If he has different views, do not persecute him — do not
follow the style of the dark ages, but follow the proper
course of letting him 'flock to himself/ or with as many as
prefer to view matters as he views them. We have not given
such strong advice heretofore; but we perceive that many of
the dear sheep are being troubled, hindered of development,
and imposed upon. Wo see that proportionately such elders
and deacons are growing more bold, and hence the need is the
greater that ail who have the right spirit, and who realize that
under the Lord's guidance in our study of the 'Divine Plan
of the Ages/ we have not been following 'cunningly devised
fables/ should now take a positive stand for the good of
themselves, far the good of the leaders who manifest a wrong
spirit, and for the good of the public, who are inquiring for
the way of the Lord as never before."