PILGRIM Brother Henry Weber has passed beyond the vail, to be forever with the Lord. We rejoice on his behalf. He finished his earthly course on Thursday, January 21st, at 2.15 p.m., at his home—Oakland, Md.—and was buried on Saturday, the 23rd. A large gathering, composed of his family, friends and neighbors, was addressed by the Editor of this journal, from the text, "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, they shall rest from their labors, but their works shall follow them."—Rev. 14:13.
The dear Brother's faithfulness as a servant of the Lord and the Brethren and the Truth is too well known to our readers to require comment. He had been a true Christian for many years. At first an active Episcopalian and Y.M.C.A. worker, he was counted of the Lord worthy to know of Present Truth, and from then until the day of his death, he was "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Very many now rejoicing in the light of the divine plan of the ages have good cause for thanking God for the efficient services of this dear Brother,—either as the planter or the waterer of the good seed of the Kingdom.
As we believe that we are now living in the time indicated in the text by "henceforth"—the time of the Lord's second presence for the setting up of his Kingdom,—and as we believe that our dear Brother was one of the faithful of the Kingdom little flock, so let us believe that, his labors (toil and weariness) having ceased, his work nevertheless continues—beyond the vail.
We are not Scripturally informed what is the character of the work of the Church beyond the vail (the Lord and the risen and "changed" saints), but we may be certain that in some way it pertains to the "harvesting" of the "wheat" and the binding of the "tares," etc. Hence, although we will sadly miss our dear Brother, as a friend and as a Pilgrim and as Vice-President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, nevertheless we sorrow not as others who have less substantial hopes. Rather we rejoice with him and hope soon to see him and the dear Redeemer and all the Royal Priesthood, and to participate in the heavenly service. But meantime it behooves us to remember that our remaining days in the flesh are further opportunities for running toward the mark for the prize, or for standing fast thereat, that no man take our crown—but that we make our calling and election sure, so that an abundant entrance into the Kingdom may be granted us by our Lord, with the words, "Well done, good, faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things!"
Brother Weber left a very interesting family—his wife and one of his sons being confessors of the Lord and his Truth. For the remainder of the family we have strong hopes that the good influence of the father's character in daily life may be still stronger with them since his death—drawing them also to full consecration to the same Savior and his "reasonable service."