VOL.
LVIII. July/August 1975 No. 4 Free Indeed
"If the Son therefore
shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." - John 8:36. THE
love of freedom is inherent in all of God's intelligent creatures. Moreover,
under certain limitations, it was manifestly his purpose that all enjoy
liberty-the limitations, in every case, being those of righteousness, of
respect of and submission to the divine law, and mutual love and respect for
the rights and liberties of fellow creatures. However,
many have very different ideas of freedom from this. One of the world's great
champions of human liberty -- Abraham Lincoln -- once said: We
all declare for liberty; but in using the same word, we do not all mean the same
thing. With some, the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases
with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same word
may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of
other men's labor." Again
he wrote: "The
shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep's throat, for which the sheep thanks
the shepherd as his liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act,
as the destroyer of liberty. Plainly, the sheep and the wolf are not agreed upon
a definition of the word liberty. " As
we look around us today, it seems evident that there are yet many men who have
not repudiated the wolf's dictionary. Such are anxious to cast off all
restraints of God and man, to pursue a selfish course, untrammeled, and without
regard to either their obligations to God, or the rights of their fellow-men.
Such ideas of freedom (2) lead only to anarchy and destruction. And those who
hold them look upon all wholesome restraints of law and order as infringements
of their rights, and consider themselves in bondage under them. This is the
rapidly growing sentiment all over the world today among the masses of
mankind. And this is what makes the outlook for the future so ominous, threatening
the utter wreck of the present social order in world-wide anarchy. THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLEThere
have been two main contributing causes which have operated to produce the
liberty known and experienced in the world to date. One of these is the Bible.
As we compare the various degrees of civilization throughout the world, and
note that the wisest and best laws and the wisest and best execution of them
and the greatest true liberty of the people within reasonable bounds are found
in those nations which have most reverenced the divine message, the Bible, it
is a strong argument that the Word of God has not only influenced the "little
flock," who take it most seriously, and who lay aside every weight and
hindrance and worldly ambition to run with patience in the footsteps of Jesus,
but it has influenced the minds of many who have never taken this step of full
consecration. In a word, the liberty wherewith Christ makes free is not the
liberty of license but the liberty of reason, of justice, of love; and in
proportion as any one has received the spirit of the divine teaching, in that
same proportion he is a free man. We thank God, therefore, for the measure of
national liberty which prevails throughout the world, even while we see
clearly from the prophecies of the Scriptures, as well as written on the pages
of the daily press, that a great misinterpretation of liberty is rapidly
spreading throughout the world, which will eventually wreck the present civilization
in anarchy. THE FIGHT FOR LIBERTYThe
second contributing cause of the liberty known and enjoyed by mankind up to the
present time is warfare. We think it is not an overstatement to say that all,
or nearly all, the liberty there is in the world today has been paid for;
practically none of it has been attained without sacrifices. Why? Because
selfishness is so entrenched in the race that those who possess power,
authority, privilege, opportunity, would hold these for themselves to the disadvantage
of others -- to the enslavement of others -- were not the rights and liberties
fought for. Looking back over the history of nations and, regardless of one's
views as to the propriety of a Christian engaging in warfare, every reasoning
mind can see that only through wars have liberties come to the human race. The
mistake that is being made by many today is the supposition that humanity
would ever be able to attain the condition of absolute equality and
unselfishness through wars or any other means within the power of Adam's race. The
Scriptures point out to us that there is a limit beyond which we must not
expect selfish humanity to make progress -- that any progress beyond that limit
must come from on High, through the establishment of the Kingdom of God's dear
Son; that while wealth and influence and tail ents will yield to the pressure
of the masses for their own protection and aggrandizement, they will not yield
everything, but would permit the entire social structure to dissolve rather
than to submit to a general equalization, such as is the aim of Socialism. Hence
Socialism, while not intending anarchy, will produce anarchy; while striving
for greater liberty and universality of blessings of earth, will effect a
wreck of all these. Thanks be to God that his program is that on the wreck of
present institutions he will establish the true reign of liberty on the plane
of love, under the guidance of the Master and his joint-heirs However,
while we await that kingdom let us not despise one present national liberty,
imperfect though it be. Usually blessings are valued rightly only when they are
taken from us. It is not long since we were doing some sober thinking as to the
possibility of losing our national liberty. Such thoughts should lead us to
very earnest thankfulness to God that this liberty has been preserved to us.
Nor should it be difficult for us to be grateful also to those who bore the
brunt of the sacrifice, many of whom laid down life itself in the cause of
freedom. LIBERTY TO BECOME SONS OF GODFrom
these reflections on the liberty known and experienced by mankind in general,
let us now turn to another phase of our subject: "The glorious liberty of
the children of God. " - Rom. 8:21. Our
Lord well knew that we might have all the inalienable rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence,
all the opportunities afforded by wealth, all the knowledge and skills
resulting from higher education, and yet not be really and truly free, in his
sense of the word. It was for this reason that he said to some who were
beginning to have faith in him: "If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed." - John 8:36. St.
Paul knew how true this was. He had the freedom which came as the result of
having been born a Roman citizen. And yet he tells us, in Romans 7:19, that
"the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I
do." Are
these the words of a free man? No, indeed! These are the words, not of a free
man, but of a slave. Dearly
as we may love liberty, there is no man who actually possesses it yet, for as
the result of the fall of Adam all men became the slaves of Sin and, to a great
extent, the tools of Satan; and never, until the promised restitution of all
things is completed, will men enjoy the precious boon of liberty in its full
sense. This is one of the elements of the Gospel, that Christ is to bring
liberty to the captives of sin and death, and to let all the oppressed go free.
- Isa. 61:1. Of
course, to those who believe that death itself is a great blessing, liberating
our spirits from their present bondage to earthly conditions, the Gospel
message is without meaning. But to us who have learned the true nature of man,
and who know that he is mortal, and not only mortal, but dying, this promise of
liberation from the prison-house of death, though stated centuries ago, holds
our interest with a stronger grip than would tomorrow's headlines, if we could
read them today. While,
however, the actual freedom or liberty of the children of God is not yet
enjoyed by any, the inheritance of it being lost by Adam's fall, a few have
regained their title
to that
inheritance. How did they do this? By faith in Christ, who, with his own
precious blood, purchased it for all who will accept it as the free gift of
God's grace. And these few have, by faith, already passed from death to life
(John 5:24; 1 John 3:14) and are now, therefore, reckoned free -- free from sin, and
its condemnation, death -- righteousness being imputed to them. Thus they hold
a sure title to this glorious liberty, which all the sons of God will possess
when fully restored to the mental and moral image of God. A ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESSAs
above indicated, the full liberty of the children of God is not yet ours,
except by faith. However, while realizing this, let us not fail to note the
measure of that liberty which is ours even now. It is very considerable. The
liberty of the Christian is stated by the Apostle John to be the liberty, power
or privilege, of becoming a son of God. "As many as received him [Jesus],
to them gave he the power [liberty] to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name." (John 1:12.) That is to say, our Savior offers
to all who accept him, and who desire to regain the mental and moral image of
God, lost by Adam, and who desire to return to the relationship of children of
God, a release from the sin which brought condemnation upon us all six thousand
years ago; it means also that over such he will throw a robe of righteousness,
which will cover all their present imperfections and unavoidable weaknesses.
Clothed thus, in this white raiment, they need not wait for the Millennial Age,
but may at once go to God, by faith, and find immediate acceptance in his presence,
and secure grace to help them in every time of need. Thus may they continue
under this precious robe of righteousness throughout their earthly career
until, having proved, by their obedience in the present life, the sincerity of
their consecration to God's will and service, they shall ultimately be delivered
from all the present weaknesses into grand, perfect, spiritual bodies, like
unto their Lord's. This is the promise to the overcomers, who thus will be
received into final and complete sonship as heirs of God and joint-heirs with
Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior. A
remarkably clear and, we believe Scriptural, presentation of the meaning of
the robe of righteousness, or "white raiment" as it applies to the
believer's standing in the present life, is found in the writings of Brother
Russell, under the caption: "WHITE RAIMENT LOANED TO US""The
Scriptures give us to understand that at the very beginning of our Christian
experience we, figuratively, are clothed in white raiment. This white raiment
represents justification -- we are justified freely from all things. It is a
robe without spot. It is sometimes spoken of a: Christ's robe of righteousness
because it comes to us through Christ. It is to be had only through him. He is
able to impute to us, to loan to us, grant to us temporarily, this robe. It is
spoken of as the wedding garment. At an oriental wedding, a wedding garment of
white linen was used to cover over the clothing worn by each guest. It was
loaned to the guest at the wedding by the host, when he appeared at the wedding
feast. White linen signifies purity. So when Christ gives us the use of his
merit, it is as a white garment to cover
our imperfections. It is an imputation of his righteousness which is to us
justification. We are exhorted to keep our garments unspotted from the world.
The imputation of righteousness given us we are to preserve, to maintain. But
we cannot fully maintain it of ourselves. Our tongues may sometimes say things
that we wish they had not said, and our hands may sometimes do things we would
not desire. Hence God has provided a way by which our blemishes or
transgressions may be eradicated-those not willful. This way is our daily
application for the cleansing of these unwilling transgressions through the
precious blood. Thus we keep our garments unspotted from the world. Thus our
justification, our white robe, is maintained -- should be maintained." White
raiment, however, is not only provided as a precious covering robe for the
believer to wear during this present life. It is stated as the reward of the
overcomer which he will realize in the future. "They shall walk with me in
white for they are worthy." "He that overcometh, the same shall be
clothed in white raiment." - Rev. 3:4, 5. The
significance of this figure of the white robe in the sense of a reward to be
granted the overcomer after he has successfully completed his trial and been
faithful unto death, is also most clearly unfolded by Brother Russell in
another article "THE WHITE RAIMENT OF THE KINGDOM""It
is not sufficient that we have the imputation
of our
Savior's righteousness. This imputation is only a temporary arrangement. We
need to come to, the place where we shall have a righteousness of our own. Our
flesh is imperfect. . . . In spite of our best endeavors, things are bound to
go more or less wrong. But we are to prove ourselves overcomers--more than
overcomers. The Lord has arranged that at the conclusion of our trial, at the
end of the present life, all the overcomers shall receive the new body. This
new body will be a body of actual purity. Thus, as the Apostle says, we shall
be 'clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.' So our raiment will be
changed from a garment of imputed perfection, our justification by faith, to
that which represents actual perfection. At the resurrection we shall receive
that body of inherent purity, without blemish, without spot, which is here
pictured as 'white raiment.'" What
a wonderful Gospel it is, and how little do we need to be ashamed of it! And
all this grace comes to us merely by believing in the name of Jesus, and all
that that name implies. The name of Jesus signifies Savior or Liberator, as indicated
in Matthew 1:21, which reads: "Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he
shall save his people from their sins." But
is it only to believers in his name that our Lord grants this privilege or
liberty of becoming sons of God? Yes, we answer, only to these. Belief in no
other person will do, nor will the acceptance of our Lord by any other name
than the one which acknowledges his ransom-sacrifice avail. He must be
recognized as Savior, not merely as Teacher or Guide. He saves his people from
sins that are past, as well as teaches and guides them to abhor and avoid sins
in the future. It
is worthy of notice, too, that this privilege of becoming sons of God was not
extended to the overcomers of the past ages, nor will it be offered to such as
prove faithful during the Millennial Age. These are represented in the
Scriptures as receiving their life from the Christ (Head and Body). They will
thus be not sons, but grandsons, if you please, of the Father. Though the race
in general will not become sons of God, they may secure, through the sons of
God, freedom from death, pain, etc. (Rom. 8:18-22.) The children of Christ--all
who receive the redemption life, will stand as dear and as close to the
Father, Jehovah, as sons, even as in the earthly family, the grandsons are as
dearly loved, and as kindly treated. But none of them can be made perfect,
without us, the sons and heirs, as the Apostle makes plain in Hebrews 11:40. The
manifestation of the sons of God is, therefore, the great event for which the
whole race of mankind waits and hopes and groans, even though most of them do
so in ignorance. Their hopes and expectations, not being clear, may be summed
up as a vague longing for a Golden Age, a good time by and by. Just
now we said that the privilege of becoming sons of God is extended, in this
Gospel Age, only to believers in Jesus as their Savior, their Liberator. Some
one has put this thought in a heart searching question and presented it in a
couple of verses which appeal very strongly. They read:
Brethren,
let us appreciate to the full Christ's offer of freedom--the glorious privilege
he extends to us of becoming sons of God. Let us be strong, acquitting
ourselves like men, receiving now by faith the special favor to be brought to
us at the appearing of our Lord Jesus, who will himself present us by his side
before the Father, unblamable and unreprovable in love. -
P. L. Read. Israel - The Burning Bush
"And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see
this great sight, ISRAEL,
that most remarkable people, must
hold I increasingly the rapt attention of all earnest Christians. It is
impossible, in following through the daily press the record of their rapid
expansion in Palestine, with the realization that our eyes are beholding the
fulfillment of possibly the most definite evidence promised of the proximity of
Christ's Kingdom, not to be stirred in one's innermost being. While it was not
ours to witness the marvelous works of
the Master's first presence, it is our privilege to behold the beginnings of
the "greater things than these," in the time of His invisible second
presence, a time of world-shaking events, the gradual restoration of Israel to
long-lost favor being amongst the most prominent of them. True,
humanity, including the Jewish people themselves, are as yet in ignorance as
to the far reaching significance of the "fig tree putting forth its
leaves," and that its full development will result in the resurrection of
the dead (Rom. 11:15); nevertheless signs are not wanting both from Christian
pulpits and from Israel that Zionism has begun to mean more than simply the
founding of a National home for the Jews. It is to be expected that the true
meaning of Israel's restoration will be grasped by more and more believers of
God's Word in the nominal church as the "winter" season of the
Gospel Age draws nigh, but not until the glorification of the true Church and
the subsequent entering in of the "virgins, her companions, who follow
her," will God's face again be fully turned to longsuffering Jacob as it
is written. (Rom. 11:26.) Would that the persecutors of the Jew today could
remember and repeat the words of the "mad" Prophet Balaam: "How
shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord:
hath not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I
behold him; lo, the people shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among
the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part
of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like
his." - Num. 23:8-10. From
the days of Moses to our time, the record of this people is probably the most remarkable
in the history o f nations, and if it be not acknowledged as a "sign"
by unbelievers, it is in reality as well as in appearance a "wonder."
Alone of all nations has their history, past, present, and future been recorded
in the most ancient of records, the Bible. The reverent contemplation of
these, with the corroborative evidence of history, cannot but strengthen
mightily the faith of the Christian in Him who knows the end from the beginning,
"in whose sight a thousand years are but as yesterday." A perusal of
some of these prophecies will prove a blessing. Foretold and FulfilledEre
they had yet entered the promised land, three thousand three hundred years ago,
Moses, as a divine legislator, while promising the Israelites that their prosperity,
happiness, and peace would all keep pace with their obedience, threatened them
with a gradation of punishments, rising in proportion to their impenitence and
iniquity. And neither in blessings nor in chastisements hath the Ruler among
the nations dealt in like manner with any people. But their wickedness and
consequent calamities, greatly preponderated, and are yet prolonged, although
the "time to favor Zion, yea, the set time" has approached. The
retrospect of the history of the Jews since their dispersion could not at the
present day be drawn in truer terms than in the unpropitious auguries of Moses
so many centuries ago.. Moses professed to look through the glass of ages, and
the astonishing fulfillment to the letter of his prophecies has been a stumbling-block
to infidels, and a tremendous strength imparting influence to Christians. Note
some of his wards, remembering that they were uttered before Israel had yet
entered the land of Canaan: "I
will scatter you among the heathen and will draw out a sword after you: and
your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. . . And upon them that are
left of you I will send a faintness into their hearts, in the lands of their
enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as
fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth. . . . And ye
shall have no power to stand before your enemies. And ye shall perish among the
heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. And they that are left
of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in
the iniquities of their fathers, shall they pine away with them. . . . And yet
for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them
away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly." - Lev. 26:33,
36-39, 44. "And
the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in
number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you." "The Lord
shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way
against them, and flee seven ways before them, and shalt be removed into all
the kingdoms of the earth." - Deut. 4:27; 28:25-46. "The Lord shall smite
thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: And thou shalt
grope at noonday as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper
in thy way: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man
shall save thee. Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people,
. . . there shall be no might in thine hand. The fruit of thy land, and all thy
labors, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only
oppressed and crushed alway: so that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine
eyes which thou shalt see. The Lord shall bring thee . . . unto a nation which
neither thou nor thy fathers have known; . . . and thou shalt become an
astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the nations whither the Lord
shall lead thee. . . . Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness,
and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore shalt
thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and
in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a
yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. . . . And the Lord
will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plague of thy seed, even great
plagues, and of long continuance." - Deut. 28:28-59. "All these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, . . and they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever. And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. And the Lord will scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; . . and among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest; but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall stand in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life. In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see." - Deut. 28:45, 63-67. "Ye Are My Witnesses"The
writings of all the succeeding Prophets, too numerous to be listed, abound
with similar predictions. All of them were delivered with the clearness of
history and the confidence of truth and all have been fulfilled marvelously in
every detail. The history of their sufferings is a continued tale of horror,
not exceeded even by the sufferings of the Christian martyrs. And through all
the terrible fulfillment of each prophetic statement, the Jewish peoples were
God's witnesses (Isa. 43:10, 12) to the immutability of His righteous
judgments, and are living evidences to the truthfulness of His Word. Though the
events, various and singular as they are, have been brought about by the
instrumentality of human means, and the agency of secondary causes, yet they
are equally prophetic and miraculous; for the means were as impossible to be
foreseen as the end, and the causes were as inscrutable as the event; and they
have been, and still in numberless instances are, accomplished by the
instrumentality of the enemies of Christianity. Whoever seeks a miracle, may
here behold a sign and a wonder, than which there cannot be a greater. And the
Christian may bid defiance to all the assaults of his enemies from this
stronghold of Christianity, impenetrable and impregnable on every side. Keith,
in his notable work on prophecy, over a century ago, has some inspiring words
in this connection: "These
prophecies concerning the Jews are as clear as a narrative of the events. They
are ancient as the oldest records in existence; and it has never been denied
that they were all delivered before the accomplishment of one of them. They
were so unimaginable by human wisdom, that the whole compass of nature has
never exhibited a parallel to the events. And the facts are visible, and
present, and applicable even to a hair's breadth. "Could
Moses, as an uninspired mortal, have described the history, the fate, the
dispersion, the treatment, the dispositions of the Israelites to the present
day, or for three thousand two hundred years, seeing that he was astonished and
amazed, on his descent from Sinai, at the change in their sentiments, and in
their conduct, in the space of forty days? Could various persons have
testified, in different ages, of the self-same and of similar facts, as
wonderful as they have proved to be true? Could they have divulged so many
secrets of futurity, when, of necessity, they were utterly ignorant of them
all? The probabilities were infinite against them. For the mind of man often
fluctuates in uncertainty over the nearest events, and the most probable
results; but, in regard to remote ages, when thousands of years shall have
elapsed-and to facts respecting them, contrary to all previous knowledge,
experience, analogy, or conception-it feels that they are dark as death to
mortal ken. "And,
in viewing only the dispersion of the Jews, and some of its attendant
circumstances-how their city was laid desolate -- their temple, which formed
the constant place of their resort before, leveled with the ground, and
ploughed over like a field -- their country ravaged, and themselves murdered in
mass -- falling before the sword, the famine, and the pestilence -- how a
remnant was left, but despoiled, persecuted, enslaved, and led into
captivity-driven from their own land, not to a mountainous retreat, where they
might subsist with safety, but dispersed among all nations and left to the
mercy of a world that everywhere hated and oppressed them-shattered in pieces
like the wreck of a vessel in a mighty storm -- scattered over the earth, like
fragments on the waters -- and, instead of disappearing, or mingling with the
nations, remaining a perfectly distinct people, in every kingdom the same,
retaining similar habits and customs, and creed, and manners, in every part of
the globe, though without ephod, teraphim, or sacrifice-meeting everywhere the
same insult, and mockery, and oppression -- finding no resting place without
an enemy soon to dispossess them -- multiplying amidst all their miseries --
surviving their enemies -- beholding, unchanged, the extinction of many
nations, and the convulsions of all -- robbed of their silver and of their
gold, though cleaving to the love of them still, as the stumbling-block of
their iniquity --often bereaved of their very children -- disjoined and
disorganized, but uniform, and unaltered --ever bruised, but never broken --
weak, fearful, sorrowful, and afflicted -- often driven to madness at the
spectacle of their own misery -- taken up in the lips of talkers -- the taunt
and hissing and infamy of all people, and continuing ever, what they are to
this day, the sole proverb common to the whole world,; -- how did every fact,
from its very nature, defy all conjecture, and how could mortal man overlooking
a hundred successive generations, have foretold any one of these wonders that
are now conspicuous in these latter times? "Who
but the Father of spirits, possessed of perfect prescience, even of the
knowledge of the will and of the actions of free, intelligent, and moral agents,
could have revealed their unbounded and yet unceasing wanderings -- unveiled
all their destiny -- and unmasked the minds of the Jews, and of their enemies,
in every age and in every clime? The creation of a world might as well be the
work of chance as the revelation of these things. It is a visible display of
the power and of the prescience of God-an accumulation of many miracles. And,
although it forms but a part of a small portion of the Christian evidence, it
lays not only a stone of stumbling such as infidels would try to cast in a
Christian's path -- but it fixes an insurmountable barrier at the very
threshold of infidelity, immovable by all human device, and impervious to every
attack." Predictions of Restoration"God's
judgment of Israel," said Hebrew Christian Schonberger long ago, "is
the most terrible thing in history -- yet they have been preserved to this very
day through the power of that very God who punished them so terribly. Here they
are, a monument of the truth of God's Word -- a monument also of God's
faithfulness. None of the persecutions which they have endured have availed to
destroy them, neither have they broken their energy, nor subdued their indomitable
will, nor crushed their power of mind; and no sooner was the great pressure
which the nations -- so-called Christian nations -- put upon them removed than
we see them prosper in every country, and take leading positions in every
sphere of life -- in commerce and politics as well as in literature and art,
showing that the Lord God has made them to be a peculiar people, a nation to be
perpetuated; and that it was He who gave them nerve to endure, in order that in
the future, when His grace shall melt their hearts, they may be a mighty
instrument to show forth His praise. "Behold
their zeal for God, their zeal for the Scriptures, their zeal for the Sabbath
Day; behold the sacrifices which they make in order to carry out the
injunctions of the Law! Yes, there are many features, in the Jewish character
which we cannot explain in any other way than this -- that there is still a
blessing resting on them; that the voice of God which was heard upon Sinai has
still its echo in their hearts and consciences; and that the prayers which have
been offered up
on their behalf,
by patriarchs, kings, prophets, and saints, are still held in remembrance
before the throne of God." And
just as the Scriptures have foretold the evil that was to come upon them, so
just as definitely have they spoken of their pardon and restoration. Hence the
predicted prayer of Israel's repentance to be (Micah 7:18-20): "Who
is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the
transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for
ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion
upon us; he will subdue Our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into
the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to
Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old." The
uniform experience of the literal truth of every prediction respecting their
past history may suffice to give assurance of the certainty of their predicted
restoration. Today we are witnessing the restoration of Israel, and well may
the Christian rejoice to see the fulfillment of God's promise which presages
the deliverance of all humanity also "The
Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will
return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath
scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven,
from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will He fetch
thee. And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers
possessed, and thou shalt possess it: and He will do thee good, and multiply
thee above thy fathers." - Deut. 30:3-5. The
consequence of Israel's wonderful restoration is, for suffering humanity,
summed up in the glorious words of Isaiah 27:6: "HE SHALL CAUSE THEM
THAT COME OF JACOB TO TAKE ROOT: ISRAEL SHALL BLOSSOM AND BUD, AND FILL THE
FACE OF THE WORLD WITH FRUIT." - W. J. Siekman "I, Too, Am a Christian"
"There is a way that seemeth right
unto a man; THE
MOST important of warnings is contained in this text. It is a solemn warning
against self-deception-against pursuing a course of conduct which is radically
wrong, being opposed to the spirit and intent of the divine law, and yet which
may be made to seem right by a line
of false reasoning, suggested by the will of the flesh and apparently founded
upon the Word of God, yet denying its fundamental principles of righteousness.
The delusions of Satan also greatly help along such deceptions, and thus the
blinded one is urged on in a course which seems to him to be right, but the end
of which is death. Christians
should above all things guard themselves against the folly of this way. To do
this, let us ever remember that, even though through Christ we have a reckoned
standing of justification before God, the human heart which we still have is
"deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" (Jer. 17:9), and
that it requires constant watching and purging to enable us to put into
practice the Apostle Paul's rule: in simplicity and godly sincerity have our
conversation in the world. (2 Cor. 1:12.) This requires humility, sobriety,
godliness. If the heart be puffed up with pride, or is ambitious for vainglory,
or if it be selfish, or in any measure intoxicated with the spirit of the
world, then beware; for there is great danger of getting into that way that
seemeth right to a man because blinded
by his own perverse will or fleshly mind. The
best safeguard a Christian can have against the snares of Satan is that
"understanding" referred to in the twenty-second verse of this
sixteenth chapter of Proverbs and there described as "a wellspring of
life unto him that bath it." Such understanding is not merely of the
head, but of the heart specially; for, "With the heart man believeth unto
righteousness," and "Out of the heart are the issues of life."
If the heart be wrong, the head will seek to justify it, and in so doing will
pervert judgment and truth. Therefore, take heed, and "keep thy heart with
all diligence." Not
only will the "wise and understanding heart" keep the feet in the
paths of righteousness, but also "the heart of the wise teacheth his
mouth, and addeth learning to his lips" (verse 23), so that he shall
speak forth "words of truth and soberness," words of wisdom, of
kindness, and of love. How important that the fountain should be sweet, that
thus the stream that issues from it may be healthful and refreshing to all
within the range of its current! Truly, "pleasant words [of wisdom, of counsel,
and loving-kindness] are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the
bones," in that they refresh and comfort and stimulate courage and thus
fortify the soul and strengthen it to noble deeds. - Ver. 24. How
different is the picture of the ungodly man! (Ver. 27-29. ) "An ungodly
man diggeth up evil [apparently finding a morbid satisfaction in searching for
it], and in his lips there is a burning fire. A froward man soweth strife, and
a whisperer separateth chief friends. A violent man enticeth his neighbor, and
leadeth him into the way that is not good. He shutteth his eyes to devise
froward things: moving his lips, he bringeth evil to pass." Thus, as
Isaiah says, "The wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest,
whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the
wicked." - Isa. 57:20, 21. But
blessed is the man that hath learned the right ways of the Lord, and walketh
therein with a perfect heart. Such a one, unlike the wicked who go about
digging up evil, delights himself in doing good and in speaking forth the words
of truth and soberness. He is slow to anger, and studies carefully how to rule
his own spirit, which is surely a great work and worthy of the ambition and
effort of every Christian. (Ver. 32.) How blessed (ver. 31) are the closing
years of a long life devoted to this most worthy end of ruling one's own spirit
in harmony with the principles and precepts of the Word of God; when, as Mr.
Whittier has beautifully expressed it
and
when the hallowed influences of ripened Christian graces are manifest to every
beholder. Truly, "the hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the
way of righteousness." But if not, it is but a monument of folly and its
ripened evil fruitage is most undesirable. In
2 Cor. 13:5, Paul says, "Try yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove
your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you,
except ye be reprobates?" Christ says (John 15:14), "Ye are my
friends if ye do whatsoever I command you." By such rules each of us may
know what the Lord requires of us. While our standing in justification is a
"hidden in Christ" provision of abounding grace, the possession of
"Christ formed in us" comes under the rule, "If any man have not
the spirit of Christ, he is none of His." (Rom. 8:9.) And putting on
Christ, and being made like Him is our true objective. It is said that one of
the gifted painters of the world stood before the masterpiece of the greatest
genius of the age. This he never hoped to rival, nor even to equal, yet the
infinite superiority did not rush him, nor cause him to despair. He saw
realized those conceptions that had long floated vaguely before him in
unsubstantial form; in every line and touch he felt a spirit immeasurably
superior. As he stood gazing at it, his heart swelled with emotion, his
feelings became elevated, and he turned away exclaiming, "And I, too, am a
painter." So we need to look on Christ and see in Him the embodiment of
the highest and holiest of all conceptions, until we know His touch and power
and until our walk speaks for us before the world, saying "I, too, am a
Christian." If
we be sincerely concerned to give such a testimony of the power of Christ and
the Word of truth in our lives, will it not be profitable to recall in a very
personal way some of the very important things we need to remember as requirements
of such as God will approve. Let us then, each for himself remember- That
my election to the high position to which I am called is not yet made sure-the
race for the prize of my high calling is still before me. That
I am yet in the enemy's country, surrounded by many subtle and powerful foes. That
if I would he successful I must fight the good fight of faith. That
the weapons of my warfare are not carnal,
but mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds of error, superstition
and inbred sin. - 2 Cor. 10:4. That
it is in view of the warfare before me the subtlety of my temptations, the
weaknesses of the flesh-that the faithful Peter urges all diligence in the
cultivation of the Christian graces, and a continual calling to remembrance of
the precious truths I have learned--that I may be strengthened for the
conflict, and thereby able to make my calling and election sure. That
faith is a good thing; yet faith without works is dead; and to hold the truth
in unrighteousness is worse than never to have received it. That
the truth is given to me for its sanctifying effect upon my heart and life --
it should have free course and be glorified -- its precious fruits should
appear more and more from day to day. That
I must add to my faith, virtue--true excellence of character that will mark me
as separated from the world and its spirit. That
I must add sterling honesty, truth and fair dealing in all business relations;
moral integrity in all social relations; manifestly clean hands and a pure
heart, and a bridled tongue that works no ill to a neighbor. That
if my heart be pure, it will not devise evil things, or harbor evil thoughts,
or plot mischief. That
if my tongue be bridled, it will not be given to evil-speaking, but will hold
its peace when it cannot speak well and wisely. That
the promptings of virtue go further than merely these negative features which
refuse to do anything which will work ill to a neighbor; they incite not only
to passive, but also to active goodness-in benevolent charity which seeks to
alleviate suffering; to sympathize with sorrow; to comfort those in distress,
and to elevate and bless others; to assist "all men" as I "have
opportunity." That
I must gain a knowledge of God's
character in order that I may the more thoroughly imitate it, and of His
truth, that I may more fully conform to its teachings. That
I must exercise temperance-or self-control-in all things, letting my moderation be known unto all men, and taking
care not to be hasty, hot tempered, rash or thoughtless; but endeavoring to be
evenly balanced, thoughtful and considerate. That
my whole manner should be characterized by that carefulness which would
indicate that I am ever mindful of the Lord's pleasure, of my responsibility to
Him as His representative, and of my influence upon my fellowmen to see that it
always be for good, never for evil. That
I must let "patience have her perfect work, that I may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing." That
this grace smoothes the way for every other, because all must be acquired under
the process of patient and continuous self-discipline; and that not a step of
progress can be gained without the exercise of this grace. That
not one of the graces more beautifully adorns the Christian character, wins the
approval of the world's conscience or glorifies the God of all grace, whose
truth inspires it. That
it is long-suffering meekness earnestly striving to stem the tide of human
imperfection and weakness, and endeavoring with painstaking care to regain the
divine likeness That
it is slow to wrath and plenteous in mercy; quick to perceive the paths of
truth and righteousness and prompt to walk in them; mindful of its own
imperfections, and sympathetic with the imperfections and shortcomings of
others. That
I must add to patience godliness--I must carefully study and imbibe the divine
character as presented in His Word That
I must exercise brotherly-kindness towards my fellowman. That
I must add to brotherly-kindness love. That
Peter describes a most amiable character -one which cannot be acquired in a
day, nor a year, but the whole life must be devoted to it. That
it is not enough that I know the truth-nor should I be content to hold it in
unrighteousness. I must see to it that the truth is having its legitimate and
designed effect upon the character. That
to be established in the faith is one thing, and to be established in Christian
character and in all the graces of the Spirit is quite another. If
I be true to my profession, I will daily strive to realize an increasing
mastery over sin in myself, and will be able from time to time to distinguish
some degree of advancement in this
direction. I will grow more like Christ -- more self possessed, more meek and
gentle, more disciplined and refined, more temperate in all things, and more
fully possessed of the mind that was in Christ Jesus. And thus the silent
example of a holy life will reflect honor upon that holy name which it is my
privilege to bear and to represent before the world, as a living epistle, known
and read of all men with whom I come in contact. I realize that the formation
of such a noble and pure character is the result of the reception of divine
truth into a good and honest heart. Or, rather, such is the transforming power
of divine truth upon the whole character, when it is heartily received and
fully submitted to. I
need the instruction and guidance and inspiration of the truth for holy
living; and our Lord's words imply that all the truth that is necessary to this
end is in the Word of God, and that, consequently, I am not looking for any
further revelations through visions or dreams or imaginations of myself or
others.. The Word of God, says the Apostle (2 Tim. 3:16, 17), is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (Heb.
4:10), that the man of. God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works. It reveals to me the spirit, mind, or disposition of God, and exhorts
me to let the same mind dwell richly in me; and in conjunction with the study
of the mind of God as revealed in His Word and communion with Him in prayer, I
receive the blessed influences of His Spirit, which brings me more and more
into conformity with His perfect will. I realize that to live a holy life is
not to do some great and wonderful things: it is to live from day to day a life
of quiet, unostentatious conformity to the will of God-of secret communion
with Him in my closet, devotions and daily walk, and of zealous activity to the
extent of my ability and opportunity in His service. As I have named the name
of Christ, it is my determination-God helping me-to depart more and more from
iniquity and apply my heart unto instruction, confident that I shall be led of
God into green pastures and beside still waters; my table will be richly and
bountifully spread, and my cup of blessing and joy and gladness will overflow. Surely
then, "He that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and
approved of men." "Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow
myself before the high God? shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with
calves of a year old? . . . He bath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what
doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God." - Micah 6:6, 8. -Selected from early Watch Towers. Transformed
The Question Box
"For this cause He is
the Mediator o f the New Testament {Covenant}, Question: To
whom does the deliverance here mentioned come, and when? Furthermore, 's the
deliverance effected through the Mediator of the New Covenant, or is it not? Answer: To
answer these questions satisfactorily it is necessary to keep in mind the fact
t at the Apostle, in this verse and its co text, is contrasting the Old Law
Covenant with the New Law Covenant, and is not discussing the Abrahamic
Covenant (or Promise) to the "seed" -- the Christ, Head and Body. -
Gal. 3. A
further point which should not be overlooked in any consideration given to this
subject is that both Old and New Covenants are made between the same parties,
the New displacing the Old. The Old was between God and the nation of Israel.
(Deut. 5:1-5.) The New also is between God and the nation of Israel. (Jer.
31:31-34.) Gentiles had no part in the Old Covenant except as they became
Jewish proselytes. The same olds true with regard to the New. With
the foregoing in mind, and with the Gentiles out of the discussion except as
the embrace Israel's faith and worship, we are better prepared to seek an
answer to the question, "To whom does the deliverance here mentioned come,
and when? The
first and obvious answer (but not the w pole answer) is that the deliverance
comes to Israel, and that it comes when he New Covenant goes into effect, and
when is that? According to Jeremiah 31:33, which may be regarded as the text on
which the Covenant discussion of the Epistle to the Hebrews is based, it is to
be "after those days." (Heb. 8:10.) After what days? After the days
of Israel's rejection, after the days when the Lord "regarded them
not." (Heb. 8:9.) Now, the days of Israel's disfavor extend over the long
period of Gentile Times, 2520 years. (See "Herald," December, 1954,
page 168.) If, therefore, the New Covenant is to go into effect "after
those days, it is to go into effect after the Gospel Age has ended, that is to
say, with the commencement of the Millennial Age. As
already indicated, while this is the first and obvious answer, it should not be
regarded as the whole answer. No, there is another feature, a secret feature,
having to do with but a "little flock." The original Covenant,
namely, that to Abraham (which the Old Law Covenant, superimposed as it was
years later, could not disannul (Gal. 3:17). I and which the New Law Covenant,
designed as it is to take the place of the Old Law Covenant, cannot disannul
either) -- that Abrahamic Covenant was not made with Israel, as were the other
two mentioned, but was made with Abraham and his "seed," namely,
Christ. (Gal. 3:16.) Moreover, if we be Christ's then are we Abraham's seed
(Gal. 3:29) and heirs (not according to the Old or New Covenants but) according
to that (Abrahamic) Covenant or Promise. In order to the development of this
"seed" class, all the blessings of the New Covenant are reckoned to them now, in advance of the Millennial
Age. These, though not now actually righteous, are counted righteous, that they may be
counted in with their Head as his Body members, to be "dead with
him," to "suffer with him," that they may also be
"glorified together" with him. (2 Tim. 2: 11; Rom. 8:17.) Now, since
some of this "little flock" are Jews according to the flesh, one of
the blessings these Jewish members of the Gospel Age Church receive now, in advance of the Millennial
Age, is deliverance from the transgressions which they had committed under their Old Law Covenant. Christ
being the end of the Law to them that believe (Rom. 10:4), it follows that
Hebrews 9:15 has reference to the deliverance already experienced by the
believing Jew, although it should not be understood as having exclusive reference to Jewish members
of the Gospel Age Church for, as we have seen, its first and obvious reference
is to Israel as a nation in the Millennium. We
come now to the second part of the question: "Is the deliverance effected
through the Mediator of the New Covenant?" Undoubtedly
Israel's deliverance under the New Covenant in the Millennial Age will be
effected through the Mediator of the New Covenant, but not so with regard to
that Jew who is of the "seed" class developed, as we have seen, in
connection with the Abrahamic Covenant. Let
me not be misunderstood here. Of course there is no question but that the
Gospel Age deliverance, the deliverance already experienced by the believing
Jew, is through the death of Jesus, and of course it is likewise true that
Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant, but the deliverance of the Jewish
members of the Gospel Age Church is not effected by Jesus acting in his capacity or office of mediator, To illustrate this point: Let
us suppose that in a corporation Mr. Smith holds office as Vice President. He
is also General Manager. The Vice-Presidential duties are nominal, and are
without compensation but for the duties of General Manager he receives a
salary of $10,000 a year. Now, perhaps it would not be an untruth to say that
Mr. Smith, Vice President of the XYZ Corporation, was in receipt of a salary of
$10,000, but it would be a misleading statement, for it would convey the
impression that such compensation was for the performance of Vice-Presidential
duties, when such was not, in fact, the case. Similarly, to speak of the
deliverance of any mem er of the Church as having been effected through Jesus the Mediator of
the New Covenant, while true, would be a misleading statement, for it is not as
Mediator of the New Covenant but as Advocate
they have with
the Father, that he effects this deliverance for the Church. Again,
it is not improper to speak of Jesus as the Mediator of the New Covenant now, even though the New Covenant
has not yet gone into operation. However, such a statement may be misunderstood.
A simple illustration may clarify the thought here. An American surgeon, let us
say, on the death of the Ambassador to Britain, is appointed to take his place.
Several weeks might pass before he crossed the ocean and took up his
Ambassadorial duties in London, but it would be quite proper through all these
weeks to speak of him as the Ambassador to Britain. Moreover, if, just prior
to sailing from New York, he saved some one's life by a skilful operation, his
action might be referred to as the act of the Ambassador to Britain. It would be
more exact though, to speak of it as the act of a surgeon. One
further point in connection with Hebrews 9:15, before closing these remarks.
In seeking to interpret this Scripture, we must seek an interpretation which
will harmonize with other Scriptures. With this thought in mind, let us glance
at a related passage, namely, Hebrews 8:7. Here the Apostle, having in view the
same contrast between the Old and the New Covenants, which he deals with in the
9th chapter, declares: " or if that first one were faultless, a place
would not be sought for a second." In examining this verse it will not
doubt be agreed, that there was no fault in the Old Covenant itself, but that
the fault was in the lack of mediatorial provisions sufficient to lift the
people out of their imperfection, so that they might be enabled to keep their
part of the agreement. The Covenant itself was not weak, although it is properly
stated by the Apostle to be "weak through the flesh." Doubtless,
too, it will also be agreed that the Apostle's words in Hebrews 8:7 may be
fairly understood to mean that if the Old had not been faultless it would have
accomplished the very things that are to be accomplished by the New, and in
that case the New would have been unnecessary. What then, it may be asked,
would that first covenant have accomplished had it been faultless? I answer: It
would have accomplished earthly blessings, not spiritual blessings; it would have brought in human perfection. It would have
accomplished sickness, pain, and death. In basket and in store, man would have
been blessed -- his home turned into a paradise like to that of Eden. But if
that Firs Covenant had been faultless, it would not have made any one living thereunder a
joint-heir with Jesus; it would have begotten none a divine nature, it would
have made none a sharer of immortality. It would have taken no one to heaven. On the contrary, it would
have brought in Restitution. So, if the New Covenant is to do what the first
or Old Covenant would have done had it been faultless, then that New Covenant
will bring in Restitution which, great and wondrous blessing though it will
be, is not the hope to which we, the Gospel Age Church, have been called. It
is certain that Restitution has not yet been accomplished for any one; it
follows, therefore that the operation of the Covenant which is to bring in
Restitution is yet future. Again, the Church's hopes are spiritual, while the
blessings under the New Covenant are to be earthly. Therefore, whatever
blessings the Church may receive, now or hereafter, proceed from another source, namely, the Abrahamic
Covenant, in which we, the Church, have strong consolation. - Heb. 6:19, 20. - P. L. Read. God's Will Is Best
Annual Report of Directors
"Stand upright and hold
your heads high, because your liberation is near." Recognizing
as we do the proximity of God's Kingdom and the fruition of our Heavenly Hope,
with what clarion voice ring these encouraging words of our beloved Master as
the Institute concludes its 57th year of ministry! For His words mean
release-the homegoing of home-sick Sons! For the pure of heart grow weary of
earth and turn with frequent wistfulness to the homestead of the saints;
longing to spread their wings like a dove and be at rest. For "so shall we
ever be with the Lord." Alleluia! In
such exaltation of spirit, assured of His ever presence and care, the seven
members of the Board report on their stewardship the past year, rejoicing for the
spirit of unity which has prevailed in their midst, and deeply grateful for the
privilege of collaboration with the Lord. THE INSTITUTE'S POLICYThe
Institute remains today what it was originally formed to be a group of brethren
voluntarily associated for mutual comfort and assistance, "Endeavouring
to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3). In accordance
with its charter, it continues "the dissemination of Bible truths by
means of the publication of tracts, pamphlets, papers, and other lawful means
which its Board of Directors, duly constituted, shall deem expedient for the
furtherance of the purposes stated." Not
being a church organization, it does not exercise, nor ever has exercised,
supervision over any Bible Class. Rather, it emphasizes the principles of
liberty, fellowship, and unity of all consecrated believers in Christ, thus
conforming, we believe, to the teaching of the Lord Jesus and his Apostles. It
rejoices to be the servant of the Lord's brethren in every privilege granted .
it, however minor it may be. THE HERALDOur
bimonthly magazine - "The Herald of Christ's Kingdom" continues to be the most
prominent branch of the Institute's ministry. We are grateful for the reports
which reach us of its spiritual value to many, even some in distant lands. We
desire to again urge upon all to take advantage of our offer to send a free
six-months' subscription to any names supplied to the office. We believe from
past experience that its "balanced" spiritual diet will prove a
blessed means of witness to the many hungry souls in our day. THE PILGRIM MINISTRYIn
this ministry the Institute has been active since its inception. From the
Annual Reports of the past several years, however, it has become evident that
such service has been much curtailed for several reasons. For one, because of
the passing of many brethren; ecclesias are now few and far between. For
another, our two full-time Pilgrims, Brothers Fred A. Essler and. John T. Read,
because of health reasons, have found it necessary to restrict their services
to local groups. With humble acceptance and submission to the Lord's will, the
Institute continues these dear brethren in part-time ministry, augmenting it
with the services of Brothers Alex Gonczewski, James Jordan, Loyal Petran, Will
Siekman, and James Webster. HELPS TO BIBLE STUDYInquiries
continue to be received regarding residence and correspondence courses in Bible
Study, neither of which are offered by our Institute. Instead it recommends
inquirers to consider, before other methods are adopted, an intensive personal
study of the Bible itself. To assist in such study, we do offer a number of
helps. Foremost among these we continue to rank the Divine Plan of the Ages, a volume unexcelled in the
presentation of the Bible's basic teachings. Other
helpful works such as Bible translations, concordances, etc., are in limited
supply for the benefit of Herald readers. PUBLIC WITNESSFor
this service, the Institute has prepared twenty-two free booklets on a variety
of Biblical subjects. These we consider ideal for witnessing to others and urge
all interested in this ministry to take advantage of their availability. How
blessed is the privilege of extending to anxious hearts all about us a
testimony to the amazing grace of God in prospect for all mankind. Our Herald also continues to be a useful
means of public witnessing. Free copies will be sent to all names and addresses
forwarded to the office. CORRESPONDENCESupplementing
the various branches of the ministry already mentioned, is contact with
individuals through the mails, especially with the isolated who have always
been a matter of special concern to us. While letters generally deal with
business matters, nevertheless each is an occasion for brief fellowship, and as
such is treasured, and any privilege of counsel, appreciated.. Encouraging
messages have been received even from far off foreign lands. That we are being
remembered at the throne of heavenly grace on behalf of the Institute's
ministry is most heartening, and we are deeply grateful to our brethren. SUMMARYMay
the new year of activity, perhaps most momentous, spur us all to larger
sacrifices and greater endeavors in behalf of Him who has so wonderfully
blessed us with a knowledge of "Present Truth." May we each have a
larger appreciation of our own responsibility as we strive to be faithful in
serving the Master by ministering to his brethren, for "Precious in the
sight of the Lord is the death of his, saints." Your
brethren in the Master s service, Board
of Directors The Annual Meeting
The
fifty-fifth Annual Meeting of the members of the Pastoral Bible Institute,
Inc., was held on Saturday, June 7, at 10:00 a.m. in the Masonic Temple, N.
Hartford and Ventnor Avenues, Atlantic City, New Jersey. After
the customary devotions, Brother J. B. Webster was elected chairman of the
meeting, and Brother W. J. Siekman, secretary. Next
followed the reading and approval of the minutes of the previous meeting, held
June 2, 1973. The
annual report of the Directors, for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1975, was
then presented. This, including the Treasurer's Financial Statements, is
published on pages 62 and 63. The
names of recently deceased members were next read-also of those brethren who
had become members of the Institute during the previous year; after which the
meeting proceeded with the election of a new Board. Sister A. Lange and
Brother L. Petran were appointed to act as tellers. While they were counting
the votes, the rest of the friends enjoyed a season of fellowship in praise and
testimony. At the conclusion of the count, the names of the following brethren were
announced as elected: F. A. Essler, A. Gonczewski, J. C. Jordan, J. T. Read, P.
L. Read, W. J. Siekman, and J. B. Webster. A
devotional service concluded the meeting. Following
the Annual Meeting, the new Board met. Among other actions taken, they elected
officers as follows: J. B. Webster, Chairman; A. Gonczewski, ViceChairman; P.
L. Read, SecretaryTreasurer; W. J. Siekman, Assistant Secretary; J. C.
Jordan, Assistant Treasurer; J. C. Jordan, L. Petran, P. L. Read, W. J.
Siekman, J. B. Webster, Editorial Committee. Entered Into Rest
FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFISCAL YEAR ENDED APRIL 30, 1975 (1) Balance Sheet as of April 30, 1975 Assets Cash in Bank $19,653.57 (2) Statement of Income and Expense and Analysis of Net WorthFiscal Year Ended April 30, 1975 Income Contributions $11,836.31 Operating Expense Pilgrim Expense $ 5,265.26 |
