SEMI-MONTHLY
VOL. XXIX.
SEPTEMBER 1 No. 17
A.D. 1908—A.M. 6036
Views from the Watch Tower........................259
Discouraged Preachers.........................259
Tolstoi and the Peasant.......................259
Mrs. Eddy's Ideas of the Bible................260
America Needs Piety More than Enterprises.....261
Put-in-Bay Convention.............................262
An Outline for Study of the Song of Solomon.......262
A Father's Letter to His Son......................263
King Saul's Ignominious End.......................264
Made Mad by Jealousy..........................265
David Attaining Kingship..........................266
Let Your Moderation be Known..................267
Our Consecration Vow Emphasized...................269
Berean Studies on the Atonement...................271
LETTERS FOR THE EDITOR SHOULD BE SENT TO ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS AND REMITTANCES
—ADDRESS TO—
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY,
"BIBLE HOUSE," 610, 612, 614 ARCH ST., ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
—OR TO—
BRITISH BRANCH—24 EVERSHOLT ST., LONDON, N.W.
GERMAN BRANCH—MIRKER STR., 45, ELBERFELD.
AUSTRALASIAN BRANCH—EQUITABLE BLDG., COLLINS ST., MELBOURNE
PRICE, $1.00 (4S.) A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
MONEY MAY BE SENT BY EXPRESS, BANK DRAFT, POSTAL ORDER, OR REGISTERED.
FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES BY FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS, ONLY.
TERMS TO THE LORD'S POOR AS FOLLOWS:—
All Bible Students who, by reason of old age, or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for this Journal, will be supplied FREE if they send a Postal Card each MAY stating their case and requesting its continuance. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually and in touch with the Studies, etc.
ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER AT ALLEGHENY, PA., POST OFFICE.
THIS JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED IN THE
FRENCH, GERMAN, SWEDISH, DANISH AND ITALIAN LANGUAGES.
SAMPLE COPIES FREE.
BROTHER RUSSELL'S PERSONAL MAIL
Announcements of having taken "the Vow" has swelled Brother Russell's mail greatly. All of your letters are very welcome; but he requests that you accept the WATCH TOWER articles and the DAWN-STUDIES as replies, except brief replies to special queries and then perhaps on post-cards.
Remember that during the nine days of the Put-in-Bay Convention the Society's workers will for the most part be absent from the office attending the Convention. Orders sent in then may be delayed. So far as possible send orders before or after the Convention dates.
The Colporteur Department will be transferred to the Convention and will give all attention to Colporteurs in attendance.
Rather than use hymn-slips at the Convention we will supply the Dawn Hymn Books at 25c each, with music; saving you 10c postage. Book is such as usually sells at $1 to $1.50.
SCRIPTURAL SOUVENIR POST-CARDS
We have a beautiful assortment, very choice; 20c per doz. postpaid; by the gross, by express collect, $1.80.
r4230 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWERFOR particulars we refer our readers to our issue of August 15th, with the following items of added information:—
The Pennsylvania Railroad Co. will run a special train for us from Pittsburg on Saturday, August 29th, at 6 a.m. (Allegheny 6.03 a.m. city time) to connect with the lake steamer at Cleveland, O. It will be run onto their lake dock, and the steamer will stop there to take our party aboard. The Washington and Baltimore friends will probably take a through sleeper on train No. 23, which will be attached to our "Special" at Pittsburg. The Philadelphia friends may do likewise.
Friends can board this train at Beaver Falls, Pa., at 5.30 a.m., or at Alliance, O., at 6.40, Central time.
Friends from nearby places who find 6 a.m. too early for their connections will do well to remember the Friday midnight sleeper from Pittsburg, which can be entered at 10 p.m., $1.50 extra for a berth for two.
Notify our "CONVENTION DEPT." at once which of these trains you decide to take, that provision may be made to avoid over-crowding and discomfort.
POSSIBLY OTHER EXCURSION RATES TO PUT-IN-BAY
Those who cannot purchase G.A.R. Toledo excursion tickets to advantage will do well to inquire for WATCH TOWER SOCIETY rates to Put-in-Bay, O., as the railroads may possibly yet make us a special rate via Cleveland, Detroit and Buffalo.
G.A.R. WESTERN EXCURSION ITEMS
DATES OF SALE.—From points in Missouri, Iowa and Omaha, Neb., tickets will be on sale August 27th to 30th, inclusive. From Mississippi River stations and East, tickets will be on sale August 28th to 31st, inclusive.
RETURN LIMIT.—Tickets good returning leaving destination on and including Sept. 15th.
DEPOSITING TICKETS.—It is NOT necessary to deposit ticket, unless you wish to remain longer than September 15th.
EXTENSION OF LIMIT.—By deposit of return portion of ticket by original purchaser in person with the Validating Agent not later than 12 o'clock midnight on September 15th, and on payment of $1.00 at the time of deposit, extension of return limit may be obtained to leave Toledo not later than October 15th. Tickets so deposited will be executed by Validating Agent when withdrawn from the agency and will be honored to commence continuous return passage only on date of execution.
St. Louis, Mo., rate, $16.50; Chicago, $8.25; Kansas City, Mo., $24.15; Omaha, Neb., $28.25.
But consult your own railway agent in good season.
r4232 AN OUTLINE FOR STUDY OF THE SONG OF SOLOMONr4232 A FATHER'S LETTER TO HIS SON
r4233 KING SAUL'S IGNOMINIOUS END
r4234 DAVID ATTAINING KINGSHIP
r4236 OUR CONSECRATION VOW EMPHASIZED
BEREAN STUDIES ON THE ATONEMENT
THE TEXT-BOOK USED FOR THIS COURSE
IS SCRIPTURE STUDIES, SERIES V. (E)*
Questions on Study V.—The Author of the Atonement.
(17) In what way may the mind of the mother affect her offspring before its birth, and how may the facts be seen to comport with the Scriptural declaration that our Lord Jesus was holy and separate from sinners, while his mother was imperfect like the remainder of the race? P.102, par. 3.
(18) What do we know in respect to Jesus' mother—her character, attitude towards God, etc., that would authorize the conclusion that she was holy-minded and that her influence upon her child would correspond to this? Quote and cite the Scriptures. P.102, par. 3.
(19) Whence came the perfect life principle, which resulted in the birth of Jesus—"holy, harmless, undefiled"? P.103, par. 1.
(20) If life proceeds from the father and nature from the mother, of what nature was the "man Christ Jesus"? P.103, par. 2.
(21) Is this same principle that the mother gives nature, the father life, borne out by the record of Gen. 6:1-5 ? If so, how? P.103, par. 3.
(22) What would have become of Adam's race had the fallen angels been permitted to continue the generation of a new race of humans, contrary to the divine arrangement and organization? P.104, par. 1.
(23) Did that new race of mental and physical giants dominate and intimidate humanity, and is it probable that their continuance in power and authority would eventually have crushed out Adam's race? P.104, par. 1,2.
(24) How is the principle we have discussed, namely, life from the father and form from the mother, illustrated in nature, by the fact that God is the great Father and Life-giver to angels of various grades, to man, to beasts and fowl and fishes? P.104, par. 3.
(25) The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ "hath begotten us as new creatures." Who was the mother in this case—mother of the New Creation? P.104, par. 3.
(26) What lesson can we draw from the fact that in the typical Jewish age each child ranked in favor and standing according to the dignity and rank of its mother rather than its father? P.105, par. 1.
(27) Is or is not this same principle illustrated in the birth of our Lord Jesus? If it is, show how. P.105, par. 2.
(28) In harmony with the foregoing, show how our Lord Jesus was a clean thing—a pure and holy being, undefiled by sin. P.105, par. 2.
(29) If our Lord Jesus is a new creature, spirit-begotten, and now highly exalted to the divine nature, and if it is declared that he will be the Father and Life-giver to humanity in its regeneration during the Millennium, what nature will the restored ones have—human or divine? P.105, par. 3.
(30) Show how this and related items are illustrated in the three wives of Abraham—Sarah, Hagar and Keturah. P.105, par. 3.
(31) Shall we not conclude that our Lord's birth was a miracle, wholly out of accord with Jehovah's usual procedures, or was it in harmony? P.106, par. 1.
(32) How was this illustrated in Adam? Who was his father and who his mother? P.106, par. 1.
(33) What is signified by the Apostle's statement that such an one "became us"—how and why? P.106, par. 1.
"MADE LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN" AND "TOUCHED
WITH A FEELING OF OUR INFIRMITIES"
(1) State briefly the two popular, erroneous views respecting his relations to God and to man. P.107, par. 1.
(2) State briefly the Scriptural view of Jesus' relationship to God and to man. P.107, par. 1.
(3) Would it have been possible for our Lord to keep the divine law and thus to inherit eternal life, if he had been a sinner, if his life had not come from above, but through Adam's line? P.108, par. 1.
(4) Since we were not by nature undefiled and separate from sinners, how can it be said that he was "made like unto his brethren"—in what respect was he made like us? P.108, par. 2.
(5) If we are not Jesus' "brethren"—in what respect was he made like us? P.108, par. 2.
(6) Cite seven Scriptures showing that we are Christ's brethren only after justification. P.109.
(7) Was our Lord tempted as the world is tempted in all points? P.110, par. 1.
(8) In our Lord's temptation in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry, what was the first suggestion made by the Adversary as recorded, and was this a temptation to him as a New Creature or as a man? P.110, par. 3.
(9) Do the Lord's "brethren" have similar temptations? If so, are these tempted as "New Creatures" or natural men, and what may be considered as some of the brethren's temptations? P.110, par. 3.
(10) Describe our Lord's second point of temptation from the Adversary in the wilderness. Show how it applied and whether it tested him as a "new creature" or as a man. P.111, par. 1.
(11) Are the Lord's "brethren" tempted in like manner? Give illustrations and show whether these affect them as men or as New Creatures. P.111, par. 2.
*Five years ago DAWN-STUDIES, VOL. V., was reset, and unfortunately the type was not exactly same size as before; and hence page for page they differ. The references given in these Berean Studies apply to the present edition, a copy of which postpaid will cost you but 30c. But keep your old edition, for unfortunately the New Bible helps refer to its pages.
SEMI-MONTHLY.
VOL. XXIX.
SEPTEMBER 15 No. 18
A.D. 1908—A.M. 6036
Halifax Convention Excursion......................274
"Pay Thy Vows Unto the Lord"......................274
The Put-in-Bay Convention.........................275
Brief Reports of Twenty-Six Discourses by
Various Pilgrim Brethren....................276
Group Portrait of About 2500..................280
Arrangements are being made with the Dominion Atlantic Steamship Line for a special return rate from Boston on account of the Halifax Convention. The boat will leave Long Wharf, Boston, at 1 p.m., Tuesday, October 13th. The round-trip rate will be about $10. For friends going by rail the Certificate Excursion has been arranged. Ask for "Certificate" for Watch Tower Convention.
A vow is a solemn promise, either to God or men. See any dictionary. It should not be followed by an oath, for the Christian's Yea should be Yea and his Nay should be Nay—as binding as though sworn to. Our Lord's words might be otherwise rendered, Let your a vow al be a sufficient a vow al and your disa vow al a sufficient disa vow al.
Our "Consecration Vow"—our "Baptismal Vow"—if a proper one—was all-comprehensive. It included the sacrifice of all that we possessed or ever would acquire. That all has continued to increase as the eyes of our understanding opened, and those who would "draw back" from the obligations of further light would thereby prove themselves not "more than conquerors." Those of us whose eyes of understanding discern the expediency of the Vow lately proposed in the TOWER, in taking it have certainly acted up to our original Consecration Vow. In it we promised that our human wills would be dead and that we would do everything in our power to assist ourselves and others in the "narrow way."
The few brethren who have expressed to us opposition to the Vow have all been married men, one of whom opposed merely the last clause, and intimated his pleasure in giving the "holy kiss" to sisters. We remind such as are living in wedlock that this matter is already covered by their "Marriage Vow," and besides that the Apostle referred to the "holy kiss" as being the Eastern custom of males kissing males. However, we do not claim that a kiss is sinful, but merely one of the things "not expedient" for us now.
In the past we have opposed "Clerical Vows" and "Church Vows." And these we still oppose: they are vows to men and constitute a bondage, a slavery very injurious. We have never opposed vows to the Lord; on the contrary, these we have urged and still urge. Our "Consecration Vow," all comprehensive from the first, should be kept alive daily and should be enlarged daily, to cover new features of duty or privilege, as we come to see them.
The Scriptures declare that it would be better that we should make no vow at all than that we should vow to the Lord and then break the Vow. (Eccl. 5:5.) Our Lord emphasized the same lesson. (Luke 14:28-34.) It is in harmony with this that we oppose so-called "Revival" methods and urge all to first "sit down and count the cost" before making the Consecration Vow—the Baptismal Vow. So now we are urging this further perception of the meaning of our Consecration Vow and the strength that will come to us all and to the cause by fully accepting it; and thus binding our sacrifices the more firmly to the altar on which they already are. To those who do see the Vow it is but a part of the original vow which MUST BE PAID. To those who do not so see we offer no condemnation. Each one is responsible to his own Master.
Nevertheless we have a warning to give: Do not oppose the Vow. Use your own liberty in the matter and let others use theirs. If it is of the Lord, as we believe, none can overthrow it and whosoever opposes it will do himself injury. If in your judgment no "evil day," no "hour of temptation," no "strange work," no "strong delusion" is impending, you should be wise enough and kind enough not to oppose those who do so believe and who are getting ready for the same. Remember the Lord's words on this subject, "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." (Acts 13:41.) "Now, therefore, be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong." (Isa. 28:22.) Those who once take a stand of opposition will have all the more to overcome; pride not fully dead will assert itself and blind them. Hence our urgent appeal: If you do not take the Vow at least do not set either your heart or your tongue against it or against those who have taken it. And, contrariwise, we admonish those who take the Vow to do so in humility, not boastfully; and that they refrain from casting any reflection upon those who do not take the Vow. Time will tell whether or not we are foolishly careful about our words, our thoughts, our avoidance of Occultism, Spiritism, etc., and in our particularity of conduct toward the opposite sex. Already many report rich added blessing through the making and keeping of the Vow. Have patience with those who make slower progress and let your advantage be manifested.
We have placed an order for 1909 Motto Cards. Some will have a calendar attached, others instead will have attached "the Vow" and an alphabetical list of names of those who have reported to us that they have taken the Vow. If your name is to appear it must reach us soon. We have ordered about twice as many with the Vow as without it, believing that your orders will be in such proportion.
Should any write us that they are still faithful to their "Baptismal Vow" to be "dead with Him," but that they are opposed to this Vow as not being a part of it, we will be pleased to add a separate list of all such opponents.
r4238 PUT-IN-BAY CONVENTION REPORT