THE LAODICEAN MESSENGER

being the

MEMOIRS

of the Life, Works and Character

of That Faithful and Wise Servant

of the Most High God

Published by

The BIBLE STUDENTS BOOK STORE

Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.

Christ in you, the hope of glory Col 1:27 "EVERY true child of God must have a definite individual Christian character which is not dependent for its existence upon the spiritual life of any other Christian. He must from the Word of Truth, proclaimed, and exemplified by other Christians, draw those principles of life, which give him an established character, a spiritual individuality of his own. So positive and definite should be the spiritual individuality of every one, that, should even the beloved brother and sister whose spiritual life first nourished our and brought us forward to completeness of character fall away, we would still live, being able to appropriate for ourselves the Spirit of Truth." -Daily Heavenly Manna. September 17th.

COPYRIGHTED, 1923 By The BIBLE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE CHICAGO, ILL. ______

Printed in the United States of America

______

THIRD EDITION

DEDICATION The King of Kings and Lord of Lords IN THE INTEREST OF CONSECRATED SAINTS, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION.

This Work is Dedicated To the sacred memory of a wise and faithful servant of the most high God; and it is with a sincere hope and fervent prayer that it will be a great aid to all in reviving a Christian zeal, which, though painful to say, is gradually losing in "its first love" and eagerness to serve the Lord and His children, our Brethren.

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FOREWARD

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When the news was flashed over the wire soon after Oct. 31st, 1916, "Pastor Russell is Dead," the Truth Friends all over the world received the shock of their lives. Never did more unwelcome news reach loyal, loving Brethren; apparently, were there more heart-aches; never more sorrow; never did more hot tears of grief flow from human eyes than when this sad news was received. The writer believes that this grief was genuine, sincere, that the sorrow was from the heart. The Funeral Services in the New York Temple, the gloominess of the Bethel Home, left their impress upon his heart and brain. Time can never efface that memory; the lesson learned has been enduring: "It is the Lord; let Him do what seemeth Him good."

Since that date a cycle of seven years has been almost completed. With what sadness we note the change which a few short years have wrought in the attitude of so many of the dear Friends everywhere. The first glow of love is cooling to an alarming degree; devotion to the principles underlying the Divine law are being ignored to a great extent, while a wave of unrighteousness is rapidly sweeping over the Church, threatening to drive the Bark of faith on the Rock of Disaster.

For some time the writer has noted this growing tendency to lukewarmness, to indifference, to slackness amongst the truth people; and while saddened by this knowledge, he saw no way by which he could aid in turning back the waves which he realized were rising higher and higher as time passed, though he sought in prayer with "tears and strong crying" the Lord’s guidance, this "seemed to tarry;" hence he "waited for it."

Not from preference but from clearly marked Divine leadings in which his will was completely submerged into the will of The Head of The Church, he was finally impressed to undertake, under many disadvantages,

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the preparation and compilation of the matter for the Book now in your hands; and he might also add that, the Lord saw to it that he should have to face many discouraging experiences and surmount difficulties and overcome obstacles of which few knew and none could appreciate-but, "IT IS FINISHED."

Both the Author and the Publisher would express regret that many imperfections have been revealed to their minds, yet for these they offer no excuses and would make no apologies-for no perfect thing could come out of an imperfect one; and if this Work does not offend some, then, according to Saint James, the Book would be Perfect, the Author Perfect, and the Publisher Perfect--all of which are most emphatically disclaimed. Nevertheless the Book does represent their best combined efforts.

Now, then, what was the motive that prompted to this enterprise? From the very beginning both the Author and the Publisher realized that some with a hypercritical cast of mind would impugn their motives; for there are always those who oppose everything wherein they are not the guiding spirits and have not the controlling hand; but here is the book, look at it -yes, READ it thoughtfully and see if you can find anything therein out of harmony with The Truth as we all received it through "that faithful and wise Servant." If you can, then tell us frankly just wherein "we have come short." Some, though not many, we are glad to say, have overlooked entirely the Scripture which saith, "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is a folly and shame unto him."

Again there are some who claim to recognize the subject of this Book as "that Servant," while in reality they deny him, and make his writings in many respects of "none effect." How many overlooked this statement, sound principle, as expressed by the one whose memory we cherish: "We should not think that we alone have the privilege of engaging in His Work; that we have

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patent rights on His work, and can hinder others from doing what they may be able to do and take pleasure in doing." We have always respected this principle, and in the production of The Memoirs of the author of the statement quoted, we jointly feel that we have lived up to the Scriptural injunction of doing Good, "especially unto the (entire) Household of Faith."

So our motive has been to do GOOD, as God has given us to understand what that means; therefore, we have no further explanation to make or apology to offer; merely pleading that we have earnestly and consistently striven to absorb the Truth which was so beautifully exemplified in the life of the subject of this book—our beloved Brother Russell, who labored so hard and so earnestly to teach us how to walk as Christians should. God bless his memory!

The Bible is THE BOOK of books in every sense; first, there is no other book like it in the world-for it is God’s Book or Message to the human family; second, it is a Book of books for the reason that it is made up of many books, or portions, by many writers- sixty-six divisions.

In a complete and connected sense, this Book, though containing the great Author’s Wonderful Plan of the Ages, was sealed to human understanding until our Lord’s Parousia in 1874, when it was given Him to ‘loose the seals," using a human instrument, "a chosen vessel," for this purpose.

Charles Taze Russell was the one "chosen of God and faithful" to this end; so he, under the Lord’s guidance, gave us the "The Keys" to the Scriptures-and to all sincere Christians these "Keys" or Studies, have fulfilled the design of the author; for they have proved to be Helping Hands in the systematic study of the Bible. This Book—Memoirs--tells you something about how and under what difficulties "that Servant" attained the desired end-something of the discouragements he met and the obstacles he overcame.

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To understand the Bible, then, it is necessary to have these "Helping Hands" to Bible Study; and to understand the author of these Studies in the Scriptures it is important to read and ponder well the revealments herein given pertaining to the Life Works and Character of one of the greatest men the world has ever known.

The principal upon which the Memoirs was prepared and is issued is broad and comprehensive enough for all true Christians to stand upon; yet it is as narrow as the rules laid down for Christian conduct by our Lord and His Apostles.

To the true Christian we therefore need make no apology for the issuance of this Work; we have had from start to finish too many evidences of the Lord’s favor to doubt for a moment that He (not man) has guided in every step taken.

Manifestly, then, it is His wish that this Book of Memoirs of the Life, Works and Character of Charles Taze Russell should be placed in the hands of His Saints now and preserved for future generations.

May the blessings of the Lord go with the Book into the home of all who love the Lord and are striving to serve Him in sincerity and in truth.

THE AUTHOR.

CHAPTER I-THE BOY-THE MAN THE BIBLE STUDENT

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PASTOR RUSSELL, the greatest expounder of Biblical truths since the days of Saint Paul, the twelfth and greatest of the Apostles of the Lamb, and the staunchest defender of "the faith once delivered to the saints" since Luther, was born Charles Taze Russell, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1852, of consecrated parents who were of Scotch- Irish descent. The circumstances connected with his birth, together with the environment of his early life, no doubt had much to do with his subsequent course and usefulness in the Lord’s cause, as in the case of Samuel, who was given to the Lord before he was born; { 1Sa 1:11} and of Saint Paul, who tells us he was chosen from his birth. { Ga 1:15} In private Pastor Russell admitted his belief that he had been chosen for the great work he had accomplished, as "that Servant," from before his birth.

Having come of such parentage and being reared under the influence of a Christian home, he necessarily developed at an early age, a mind that incited him to "feel after God," a desire to KNOW Him in the true sense, and so to worship Him accordingly. Being, therefore, of a naturally reverential trend of mind he early showed a tendency to worship a GOD of LOVE; for his own heart,

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warm and loving, rebelled at the thought of revering a "God who would torture throughout eternity" His helpless creatures when they were sinners by heredity.

Hence, as he grew older and became more mature of thought, he began to see how discordant are the teachings of all the creeds of "Christendom": that these were not only in sharp conflict among themselves but in many fundamentals are wholly irreconcilable with reason, therefore in violent opposition to a proper concept of a just, wise and loving God; such indeed as the Scriptures show our Heavenly Father.

Therefore, what was young Russell to believe? How could he determine assuredly which of these conflicting teachings was right and which was wrong? These questions continually intruded themselves upon his inquiring mind; but where to find satisfactory answers was the perplexity with which he was confronted. He reasoned, however, that there must be solutions to such problems and he resolved upon finding them. His struggles, his defeats and his final success are told in the succeeding chapters.

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Once in all history we meet a being who never did an injury, and never resented one done to him, never uttered an untruth, never practised a deception, and never lost an opportunity of doing good; generous in the midst of the selfish, upright in the midst of the sensual and wise far above the wisest of earth’s sages and prophets, loving and gentle, yet immovable, resolute; and whose illimitable meekness and patience never once forsook him in a vexatious, ungrateful and cruel world."

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A PASTOR IN THE MAKING

The strong resemblance between the portraits of Pastor Russell at sixty and Charles Taze at four is unusual, and the character lines indicating determination rather suggest the explanation for his subsequent independent evangelistic work.

Up to the age of fifteen he believed as gospel truth all and only such doctrines as had been taught him. To learn to understand doctrines at that period was very difficult, as the clergy usually discouraged individual Bible research, and the asking of questions on doctrines was considered equivalent to doubting and "to doubt was to be damned." The dissipation of this superstitious reverence and fear only awaited such time as he could attempt to defend by the Scriptures his particular sectarian views, and subsequent events justify the thought of Providence had decreed that at just this juncture young Russell should attempt to reclaim an infidel.

By skillful questions, which were unanswerable by either minister or layman from their sectarian standpoints and by the maneuvering of many seemingly paradoxical Scriptures, the infidel completely routed young Russell, who within a few months became an admitted skeptic. Here, as in nearly ever similar case, the Bible was discarded together with the doctrines of the creeds. Few indeed under such circumstances study the Scriptures to see whether they have been properly interpreted, and up to this time Charles Taze Russell was no exception.

As he desired to learn the truth concerning the hereafter, the next few years were devoted to the investigation of the claims of the leading oriental religions, all of which

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he found to be unworthy of credence, hence we see him arriving at manhood’s estate with a mind unsatisfied, a mind which, despite all efforts to the contrary, was still subject to its occasional bad hours on account of its "first impression" on the eternal torment theory.

At twenty-one Mr. Russell was possessed of much knowledge and voluminous data religion as believed and practiced in all parts of the world. Apparently these were to become of no value to himself or others, because of large business responsibilities that were placed upon him at this time. Days grew into weeks, and weeks into months, and he found less and less time to devote to theological research, and the solace for heart and head so diligently sought for seemed as remote as ever. The question here that confronted him was, "Shall I try longer to find the truth on religion? Or, shall I smother the hope of finding it and strive for fame and fortune among the financial and commercial captains of the time? The latter he was about to do, but fortunately he decided first to search the Scriptures from a skeptic’s standpoint, for its own answer on hell-fire and brimstone.

Amazed at the harmonious testimony, providing an unexpected but satisfactory answer, he undertook systematic Bible research and was brought to a complete confidence in the Bible as being inspired by an all-wise, powerful, just and loving Creator, worthy of adoration and worship. Thus a sure anchor for a fainting hope was found, and an honest, truth-seeking heart was made glad.

An obituary writer had this to say of this grand man of God:

"In 1877 Pastor Russell called a meeting of all the ministers of Allegheny and Pittsburgh, showed them the

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Scriptures which indicated our Lord’s presence and urged them to investigate and proclaim the message. All the ministers of two cities were present and all of the ministers of the two cities refused to believe. In the same year he gave up his secular work to devote his entire time and fortune to the work indicated in the Scriptures as incident to the close of the Gospel Age and the change of Dispensations impending. As a means of determining whether his purposed course was in harmony with the Scriptures, and also as a means of demonstrating his own sincerity, he decided to test the Lord’s approval, as follows:

"(1) Devote his life to the cause; (2) invest his private fortune (about 350,000.00) in the promulgation of the work; (3) prohibit collection at all meetings; (4) depend on unsolicited contributions (which must be wholly voluntary) to continue the work after his own fortune was exhausted. Furthermore, in 1881 there were distributed free 1,400,000 copies of Food for Thinking Christians to the Protestant Churches in the United States, Canada and Great Britain, on three consecutive Sundays, by A. D. T. messenger boys." This was said to have been at a cost of $40,000.00.

A MAN OF ENDURING FAME

A well known writer, a student of history and the Bible, therefore a man who always has a clear, firm grasp of every subject that he handles, a few years ago wrote the following clear and comprehensive analysis of Charles Taze Russell, the same appearing in print:

"Many have long regarded Charles Taze Russell as their leader and friend; while others with open minds have come to be enlightened as to the claims of this man to enduring fame. Silently these ask, What monument has he reared to cause his memory to live in our admiration?

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"Charles Taze Russell enjoyed the immeasurable advantages of good birth. His parents were Christian people of marked intelligence and refinement. His father was a successful retail merchant of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. His mother died when he was about eight years of age, leaving him to be thereafter the boon companion of his father. As such, he learned to keep the rooms in which the father and son lived, and developed the traits of neatness and precision so marked in after life.

"He began at a very early age to take great interest in his father’s store. At the age of fifteen, so great was his sagacity as a wholesale buyer of merchandise that his father often sent him alone on purchasing tours to Philadelphia. A young man of such commercial talents would not long be working for others. He soon started a store of his own; this rapidly increased to a chain of stores. He was one of the pioneers in the development of the marvelously successful idea of the chain-stores, and idea which has since enriched many men.

"It soon enriched him, and before he was well past the year of his majority, he was worth a quarter million dollars. His wealth increased by leaps and bounds. This was in the early seventies of the nineteenth century. Rockfeller was then unknown, nationally. The known millionaires of that day have been counted on one’s fingers.

"Had he pursued the allurements of fortune with the same ability which he displayed at the start, with the same sagacity for management and leadership which he manifested at every turn of his life to the day of his death; had he stayed in the race for commercial supremacy, no one acquainted with the facts could reasonably doubt that he would have been the rival of John D. Rockfeller for the title as earth’s richest man. This was his legitimate prospect at the age of less than twenty-five.

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"Jesus said to His disciples, ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.’ If this saying of the Son of God was true, it was true of Charles Taze Russell. This test came to him; and it was not an easy one, for it tested every fiber of his being. He had been a student of the Bible from his youth up; but he was not satisfied. Taught by the Calvinistic doctrine to believe in an austere God showed partiality by electing a few to be saved, and dooming the remainder to eternal suffering, while he read in the Bible that God is full of loving kindness and tender mercy; hence he was confused and distressed. As a result at eighteen he became an infidel. Still he yearned to know God; but the creeds of Christendom only confused him.

"He once again turned his attention to the Bible, searching the Scriptures for himself, divesting his mind of all prejudice. God rewarded the earnest endeavors of this brilliant, independent mind by illuminating His Word to him. The young man began to see what all the theologians of the ages had failed to see-the harmony of the Word of God and the beauty of His Plan.

"At the age of twenty-four this young Bible Student became aware of the time features of the Scriptures. It was at this age that he began to see the end of the Gospel Dispensation would be marked by a great world war. It was the unfolding of these features of the truth that swept his earthly goods onto the altar of burnt-offering and took him out into the campaign of preaching which ended only with his death.

"At the age of twenty he had independently discovered the truth that the Ransom Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary, as a substitute for Adam, and all his race, is the foundation stone of Christianity. In the same early year of his life he discovered the importance of the Restitution Doctrine. Thus he was enabled to proclaim these two great truths for a period of forty-four years. It was indeed remarkable that so

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young a man should see for himself truths, so long appreciated by the scholars of the centuries. These truths led logically to others, and made it possible for him to become recognized as the only theologian of the Gospel Age who had been able to demonstrate the harmony of the Bible with itself."

"Unto the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write: These things, saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness"-and the angel did as commanded, and long since "reported the matter."

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season.

"Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

"Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods."-Matthew 24: 45, 46, 47.

CLOSE YOUR EYES

"Close your eyes for a moment to the scenes of misery and woe, degradation and sorrow, that yet prevail on account of sin, and picture before your mental vision the glory of the perfect earth! Not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace of a perfect society; not a bitter thought, not an unkind look or word; love welling up from every heart meets a kindred response in every other heart, and benevolence marks every act, There sickness shall be no more; not an ache, nor a pain, nor any evidence of decay-not even the fear of such things. "Think of all the pictures of comparative health and beauty of human form and features that you have ever seen, and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing loveliness. The inward purity and mental and moral perfection will stamp and glorify every radiant countenance. Such will earth’s society be; and weeping bereaved ones will have their tears all wiped away, when thus the realize the resurrection work complete."- PASTOR RUSSELL LM9

CHAPTER II-AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

A CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE BEGINNING AND PROGRESSION OF THE HARVEST WORK

The following condensed though comprehensive history of the way in which the Lord opened up to the mind of young Russell the truth respecting His Plan, as emphatically shown in the Scriptures, together with some of the discouragements which beset him and the difficulties he had to overcome in his earnest endeavors to follow the Lord’s leadings, to the accomplishment of the Divine purpose, are best told in Pastor Russell’s own words:

"Many are the inquiries relative to the truths presented in the Scripture Studies and Watch Tower, as to whence they came and how they developed to their present symmetrical and beautiful proportions: Were they the results of visions? Did God in any supernatural way grant the solution of these hitherto mysteries of His plan? Are the writers more than ordinary beings? Do they claim any supernatural wisdom or power? Or how comes this revelation of God’s truth?

"No, dear friends, I claim nothing of superiority, nor of supernatural power, dignity or authority; nor do I desire to exalt myself in the estimation of my brethren of the Household of faith, except in the sense the Master urged, saying, ‘Let him who would be great among you be your servant.’ And my position among men of the world and of the nominal church is certainly far from exalted, being ‘everywhere evil spoken against.’ I am fully contented, however, to wait for exaltation until the Lord’s due time. In the Apostle’s

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words, I therefore answer, ‘Why look ye upon us, as though by our power we had done these things?’ We also are men of like passions with yourselves-of like infirmities and frailties, earnestly striving, by overcoming many besetments, discouragements, etc., to press along the line toward the mark of the prize of our high calling, and claiming only, as a faithful student of the Word of god, to be an index finger, as I have previously expressed it, to help you trace for yourselves, on the Sacred Page, the Wonderful Plan of God-no less wonderful to me, I assure you, than to you, dearly beloved sharers of my faith and joy.

"No, the truths I present as God’s mouthpiece, were not revealed in visions or dreams, nor by God’s audible voice, nor all at once, but gradually, especially since 1870 and particularly since 1880. Neither is this clear unfolding of the truth due to human ingenuity or acuteness of perception, but to the simple fact that God’s due time has come; and if I did not speak, and no other agent could be found, the very stones would cry out.

"The following history is given, not merely because I have been urged to give a review of God’s leadings in the path of light, but especially because I believe it to be needful that the truth be modestly told, that misapprehensions and prejudicial mis-statements may be disarmed, and that our readers may see how hitherto the Lord has helped and guided. In so far as the names and views of others who may be associated with this history are concerned, I shall endeavor to bring forward only such points as are necessary to an understanding of our position and the Lord’s leadings. Nor can I name all the little points of Divine Favor in which faith was tested, prayers were answered, etc., remembering that our Master and the early Church left no such example of boasting faith, but rather admonished otherwise, saying, Hast thou faith? have it to thyself!’ Some of the most precious experiences of faith and prayer are those which are too sacred for public display.

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" I will not go back to tell how the light began to break through the clouds of prejudice and superstition which enveloped the world under Papacy’s rule in the Dark Ages. The reformation movement, or rather movements, from then until now, have all done their share in bringing light out of darkness. Let me here confine myself to the consideration of the Harvest Truths as set forth in the Studies in the Scriptures and the Watch Tower.

HOW YOUNG RUSSELL FELL A PREY TO INFIDELTY

"Let me begin the narrative at the year 1868, when the Editor, having been a consecrated child of God for some years, and a member of the Congregational Church and of the Young Men’s Christian Association, began to be shaken in faith regarding many long accepted doctrines. Brought up a Presbyterian, and indoctrined from the catechism and being naturally of an inquiring mind, I fell a ready prey to the logic of infidelity as soon as I began to think for myself. And in my endeavor to be faithful I was trying to convert an infidel, and I did not convert him, but while trying to do so, I got enough new thoughts into my head to give me a lot of trouble, for finally I became an infidel, and was about a year in that condition. I still worshipped God, but did not recognize the Bible; not knowing whether Christ were my redeemer or not. Nevertheless I went continually to God in prayer and asked for guidance and finally in God’s providence, I came to see the clear light on the Divine Word.

"But that which at first threatened to be the utter shipwreck[ of Faith in God and the Bible, was under God’s providence, overruled for good, and merely wrecked my confidence in human creeds and systems of misinterpretation of the Bible. Gradually I was lead to see that through each of the creeds contained some elements of truths, they were, on the whole, misleading

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and contradictory of God’s Word. Among other things, I stumbled upon Adventism. Seemingly by accident one evening I dropped into a dusty, dingy hall, where I had heard religious services were held, to see if the handful who met there had anything more sensible to offer than the creeds of the great churches. There, for the first time, I heard something of the views of Second Adventists, the preacher being Mr. Jonas Wendell, long since deceased. Thus I confess my indebtedness to Adventists, as well as to other denominations. Although his Scripture exposition was not entirely clear, and though it was very far from what we now rejoice in, it was sufficient, under God, to re-establish my wavering faith in the Divine inspiration of the Bible, and to show that the records of the Apostles and Prophets are indissolubly linked together. What I heard sent me to my Bible to study with more zeal and care than ever before, and I shall ever thank the Lord for that leading, for though Adventism helped me to no single truth, it helped me greatly in the unlearning of errors and thus prepared me for the truth.

PLAN BEGAN TO UNFOLD

"I soon began to see that we are living somewhere near the close of the Gospel Age and near the time when the Lord declared that the wise, the watching ones of His children, should understand-come to a clear knowledge of His Plan. At this time, myself and a few other truth-seekers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, formed a class for the Bible study and from 1870 to 1875 was a time of constant growth in grace and love of God and His Word. We came to see something of the love of god, how He had made provision for all mankind; how all must be awakened from the tomb in order that God’s loving plan might be testified to them; and how all who exercise faith in Christ’s Redemption Work and render obedience in harmony with the knowledge of God’s will which they will then receive, shall, through

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Christ’s merit, be brought into full harmony with God, and be granted everlasting life. This we saw to be Restitution Work foretold in Ac 3:21.

"But though seeing that the Church was called to joint heirship with the Lord in the Millennial Kingdom, up to that time we had failed to see clearly the great distinction between the reward of the Church, now on trial, and the reward of the faithful world, after its trial, at the close of the Millennial Age: that the reward of the former is to be the glory of the Spirit Nature, the Divine; while that of the Latter is to be perfection of the human nature once enjoyed in Eden by their progenitor, Adam.

A CLEAR VIEW OF THE RANSOM

"However, we were then merely getting the general outline of God’s plan, and unlearning many long-cherished errors, the time for a clear discernment of the minutiae having not yet fully come. And here I should and do gratefully mention assistance rendered by Brothers George Stetson and George Storrs, the latter the Editor of the Bible Examiner, both now deceased. The study of the Word of God with these dear brethren led, step by step, into greener pastures and brighter hopes for the world, though it was not until 1872, when I gained a clearer view of our Lord’s Work, as our ransom price, that I found the strength and foundation of all hope of restitution to be in that doctrine. Up to that time, when I read the testimony that all in their graves should come forth, etc., I yet doubted the full provision-whether it should be understood to include idiots or infants who had died without reaching any degree of understanding, beings to whom the present life and its experiences would seem to be of little or no advantage. But when in 1872 I came to examine the subject of restitution from the standpoint of the Ransom Price given by our Lord Jesus for Adam, and consequently for all lost in Adam, it settled

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the matter of restitution completely and gave me the fullest assurance that ALL must come forth from their graves and be brought to a clear knowledge of the truth and to a full opportunity to gain everlasting life in Christ.

"Thus passed the years 1869 to 1872. The years following, to 1876, were years of continued growth in grace and knowledge on the part of the handful of Bible Students with whom I met in Allegheny. We progressed from our first crude and indefinite ideas of restitution to a clearer understanding of the details; but God’s due time for revealing the clear light had not yet come.

"During this time, we came to recognize the difference between our Lord as ‘the man who gave Himself,’ and as the Lord who would come again, a Spirit Being. We saw that Spirit-beings can be present, and yet invisible to men. We greatly grieved at the error of Second Adventists, who were expecting Christ in the flesh, and teaching that the world and all in it, except Second Adventists, would be burned up in 1873 or 1874; their time settings and disappointments and crude ideas, brought more or less reproach upon us and upon all who longed for and proclaimed His coming Kingdom.

IMPORTANCE OF TIME PROPHECIES

"It was about January 1, 1876, that my attention was especially drawn to the subject of prophetic time as it relates to these doctrines and hopes. It came about in this way: I received a paper called The Herald of the Morning, sent by its editor, Mr. N. H. Barbour. When I opened it I at once identified it with Adventism from the picture on its cover, and examined it with curiosity to see what time they would next set for the burning up of the world. But judge my surprise and gratification when I learned from its contents that its

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editor was beginning to get his eyes open on the subject which for some years had so greatly rejoiced our hearts in Allegheny-that the object of our Lord’s return is not to destroy, but to bless all the families of the earth; and that His coming would be thief- like, and not in the flesh, but as a Spirit Being, invisible to men; and that the gathering of His Church and the separation of the wheat from the tares would progress in the end of this age without the world’s being aware of it.

"I rejoiced to find others coming to the same advanced position, but was astonished to find the statement very cautiously set forth that the editor believed the prophecies to indicate that the Lord was already present in the world (unseen and invisible) and that the Harvest Work of gathering the tares was already due; and that this view was warranted by the time prophecies, which but a few months before he supposed had failed.

"Here was a new thought; could it be that the Time Prophecies, which I had so long despised because of their misuse by Adventists, were really meant to indicate when the Lord would be invisibly present to set up His Kingdom-a thing which I saw could be known in no other way? It seemed to say the least, a very reasonable thing that the Lord would inform His people on the subject-especially as He promised that He would not leave them in darkness with the world, and that although the day of the Lord would come upon all others as a thief in the night, it should not be so to the watching, earnest Saints.

"I recalled certain arguments used by my friend, Jonas Wendell and other Adventists to prove that 1873 would witness the burning of the world, etc.-the chronology of the world showing 6,000 years from Adam ended with the beginning of 1873, and other arguments drawn from the Scriptures and supposed to coincide. Could it be that these time arguments, which I had passed by as unworthy of attention, really contained

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an important truth which they had misapplied?

"Anxious to learn from any quarter whatever God had to teach, I at once wrote to Mr. Barbour, informing him of my harmony on other points and desiring to know particulars why and upon what Scriptural evidences he held that Christ’s presence and the Harvesting of the Gospel Age dated from the Autumn of 1874.

"The answer showed that my surmise had been correct, namely, that the time prophecies—arguments-chronology, etc., were the same as used by Second Adventists in 1873, and explained how Mr. Barbour and Mr. J. H. Paton, of Michigan, a co-worker with him, had been regular Second Adventists up to that time; and that when the date 1874 had passed without the world being burned up, and without their seeing Christ in the flesh, they were for a time dumbfounded. They had examined the time prophecies, which seemingly passed unfulfilled, and had been unable to find any flaw, and had begun to wonder whether the time was right and their expectations wrong; whether the views of restitution and blessings to the world, which myself and others were teaching, might not be the things to look for. It seems that not long after their 1874 disappointment, a reader of the Herald of the Morning, who had a copy of the Diaglott, noticed something in it which he thought peculiar-that in Mt 24:27,37,39 , the word which in our Common Version is rendered coming is translated presence. This was the clue; and following it, they had been led through prophetic time toward proper views regarding the object and manner of our Lord’s return, I, on the contrary, was led first to proper views of the object and manner of our Lord’s return, and then to an examination of the time, indicated in God’s Word. Thus God leads His children from different starting points of truth; but when the heart is earnest and trustful the result must be to draw all such together.

"But there were no books or other publications at

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that time setting forth the time prophecies as then understood; so I paid Mr. Barbour’s expenses to come to see me in Philadelphia, to show me fully and Scripturally, if he could, that the prophecies indicated in 1874 as the date at which the Lord’s presence and the harvest began. This was in the summer of 1876. He came and the evidence satisfied me. Being a person of positive convictions and fully consecrated to the Lord, I at once saw that the special times in which we were living have an important bearing upon our work and duty as Christ’s disciples; that being in the time of the Harvest, the Harvest Work should be done; and that present truth was the sickle by which the Lord would have us to do a gathering and reaping work everywhere among His children.

BEGINNING OF THE HARVEST WORK

"I inquired of Mr. Barbour as to what was being done by him and the Herald. He replied that nothing was being done; that the readers of the Herald, being disappointed Adventists, had nearly all lost interest and stopped their subscriptions; and that thus, with money exhausted, the Herald might be said to be practically suspended. I said to him that instead of feeling discouraged and giving up the work since with his newly found light on restitution (for when we first met he had much to learn from me on the fullness of restitution, based upon sufficiency of the Ransom given for all, as I had much to learn from him concerning time), he should rather feel that now he had some good tidings to preach, such as he never had before, and that his zeal should be correspondingly increased. At the same time, the knowledge of the fact that we were already in the time of the Harvest gave to me impetus to spread the truth such as I never had before. I, therefore, resolved upon a vigorous campaign for the truth.

"So I determined to curtail my business cares and

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give my time, as well as my means, to the great harvest Work. Accordingly, I sent Mr. Barbour back to his home, with money and instructions to prepare in concise-book- form the good tidings, so far as then understood, including the time features, while I closed out my Philadelphia business, preparatory to engaging in the work, as I afterwards did, traveling and preaching.

"This little book of 196 pages thus prepared was entitled ‘The Three World’s’; and as I was enabled to give some time and thought to its preparation, it was issued by us both jointly, both names appearing on its title page, though it was mainly written by Mr. Barbour. While this was not the first book to teach a measure of restitution, nor the first to treat upon the time prophecies, it was, I believe, the first to combine the idea of restitution with time prophecy. From the sale of this book and from my purse, our traveling expenses, etc., were met. After a time I conceived of adding another harvest laborer to the force, so sent for Mr. Paton, who promptly responded and whose traveling expenses were met in the same manner.

"But noticing how quickly some people forget what they have heard, it soon became evident that while the meetings were useful in awakening interest, a monthly journal was needed to hold and develop that interest. It seemed, therefore, to be the Lord’s indication that one of our number should settle somewhere and begin again the regular issuing of the Herald of the Morning. I suggested that Mr. Barbour do this, as he had had experience as a typesetter and therefore could do it the most economically, while Mr. Paton and I would continue to travel and contribute to its columns, as we should find opportunity. To the objection that the type had been sold and that the few subscriptions which would come in would not, for a long time, make the journal self- sustaining, I replied that I would supply the money for purchasing the type, etc., and leave a few hundred dollars in the bank, subject to Mr. Barbour’s

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check, and that he would manage it as economically as possible, while Mr. Paton and I continued travel. This, which seemed to be the Lord’s will in the matter, was therefore done.

NEW ADHERENTS TO WORKING FORCE

"It was after this, while on a tour of the New England States, that I met Mr. A. P. Adams, a young Methodist minister, who became deeply interested, accepting the message heartily during the week that I preached to his congregation. Subsequently, I introduced him to little gatherings of interested one is neighboring towns, and assisted otherwise, as I could, rejoicing in another one who, with study, would soon be a co- laborer in the Harvest field. About this time too, I was much encouraged by the accession of Mr. A. D. Jones, then a clerk in my employ in Pittsburgh, who was a young man of activity and promise, one who soon developed into an active and appreciative co-laborer in the Harvest work. Mr. Jones ran well for a time, but ambition or something eventually made utter shipwreck of his faith, leaving us a painful illustration of the wisdom of the Apostle’s words, ‘My brethren, be not many of you teachers, knowing that we shall have the severer judgment.’

"Thus far all had gone smoothly and onward: we had been greatly blessed with the truth, but not specially tested in our love and fidelity to it. But the Spring of 1878, the parallel in time to our Lord’s crucifixion and of His statement to Peter, ‘Satan hath desired to have you, that he might sift you as wheat,’ the sifting began which has Continued Ever Since; and which must sooner or later, test every one who receives the light of present truth. For this fire shall try every man’s work, of what sort it is—whether he has built his faith flimsily of wood, hay and stubble, instead of valuable stones of God’s revealed truth; or whether he has built it upon the shifting sands of human theories,

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or upon the solid rock, the Ransom, the only foundation which God has provided.

"They who build upon that Rock shall be safe personally, even thought they have built up an illogical faith, which the fire and shaking of this day of trial will overthrow and utterly consume, but they who build upon any other foundation, whether they use good or bad materials, are sure of complete wreckage.

"The object of this trial and sifting evidently is to select all whose heart-desires are unselfish, who are fully and unreservedly consecrated to the Lord, who are anxious to have the Lord’s will done, and whose confidence in His wisdom, His way and His word is so great that they refuse to be led away from the Lord’s Word, either by the sophistries of others, or by plans and ideas of their own. These, in the sifting time, will be strengthened and shall increase their joy in the Lord and their knowledge of His plans, even while their faith is being tested by the falling into error of thousands on every hand.

FIRST HARVEST SIFTING BEGAN

"The sifting began thus: Regarding Saint Paul’s statement, ‘We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,’ etc., we still held the idea which Adventists, and indeed all Christians hold, that at some time the living saints would be suddenly and miraculously caught away bodily, thenceforth to be forever with the Lord. And now our acquaintance with the time prophecies led us to expect this translation of the saints at the point of time in this age parallel to the Lord’s resurrection; for many of the parallelisms between the Jewish and the Christian Dispensations were already seen by us, and the formed one of the features of the little book—The Three Worlds.

"We did not then see, as we do now, that the date, 1878, marked the date for the beginning of the establishment of the Kingdom of God, by the glorification

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of all who already slept in Christ (that is, the dead in Him), and the ‘change’ which Saint Paul mentions is to occur in the moment of death to all the class described, from that date onward through the Harvest period, until all the living members of the body of Christ’ shall have been changed to glorious Spirit-beings. When at that date (1878) nothing occurred, which we could see, a re-examination showed me that our mistake lay expecting to see all the loving saints changed at once, and without dying; an erroneous view shared in by the nominal Church, and one which we had not yet observed or discarded. Our present clear view was the result of the examination thus started.

"I soon saw that the Apostle’s words, ‘We shall not all sleep,’ that the word sleep was not synonymous with die, though generally so understood; but, on the contrary, the expression sleep, here used, represents unconsciousness; and that the Apostle wished us to understand, that from a certain time in the Lord’s presence, His saints, though they would die like other men, would not remain for any time unconscious, but in the moment of dying would be changed and would receive the Spirit bodies promised. Throughout this Gospel Age death of the Lord’s children has been followed by unconsciousness—’sleep.’ This continued true of all who ‘fell asleep in Jesus’ up to the timewhen He took the office of King, which we have shown was in 1878 (Volume 2, Studies in the Scriptures, pages 218-219).

"Not only did the King at that time ‘awaken in His likeness’ all the members of His body, the Church, who slept, but for the same reason (the time for establishing His Kingdom having come) it is no longer necessary that the ‘feet,’ or last remaining members should go into ‘sleep’ or unconsciousness. On the contrary, each now, as he finishes his course, faithful unto death, will at once receive the Crown of Life, and being changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, can

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not be said to sleep, or to be unconscious at all. Here, then, 1878 is applicable, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.’ So this re-examination showed further light upon the pathway and became a great cause for encouragement, as evidencing the Lord’s continued leading.

"But while I was thus helped to clearer views, and brighter hopes, and while I diligently endeavored to help others, the Spring of 1878 proved far from a blessing to Mr. Barbour and to many under his influence. Rejecting the plain, simple solution presented above, Mr. Barbour seemed to feel that he must of necessity get up something new to divert attention from the failure of the living saints to be caught away en masse.

"But, alas! how dangerous it is for any man to feel too much responsibility and attempt force new light. To our painful surprise, Mr. Barbour wrote an article for the Herald denying that the death of Christ was the ransom-price of Adam and his race, saying that the death of Christ was no more a settlement of the penalty of man’s sins than would the sticking of a pin through a fly and causing it suffering and death, be considered by an earthly patent as a just settlement for the misdemeanor in his child.

"I was astonished, supposing Mr. Barbour had a clearer understanding of the work of Christ, as our sin-offering, our willing Redeemer, who gladly co-operating in the Divine plan, gave Himself as the Ransom or corresponding price to meet the penalty on Adam, in order that Adam and all his posterity might in due time go free from sin and death. A totally different thing indeed was the willing, intelligent, loving offering of our Redeemer, according to the plan devised and revealed by the infinite wisdom, from the miserable caricature of it offered in the above illustration. I had either given Mr. Barbour credit for clearer views

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than he had ever had, or else he was deliberately taking off and casting away the ’wedding garment’ of Christ’s Righteousness; the latter was the only conclusion left, for he afterward stated that he had previously recognized the death of Christ as man’s ransom-price.

"Immediately I wrote an article for the Herald in contradiction of the error, showing the necessity that one die for all-the just for the unjust; that Christ fulfilled all this as it has been written; and that consequently God could be just and forgive and release the sinner from the penalty He had just imposed. I also wrote to Mr. Paton, calling attention to the fundamental character of the doctrine assailed, and pointing out how the time and circumstances all correspond with the parable of the one who took off the wedding garment when just about to partake of the wedding supper. He replied that he had not seen the ransom feature in so strong a light before; that Mr. Barbour had a strong, dogmatic way of putting things, which had for the time overbalanced him. I urged that, seeing now the importance of the doctrine of the ransom, he also write an article for the Herald, which in no uncertain tone, would give also his witness for the precious blood of Christ. These articles appeared in the issues of the Herald from July to December 1878.

"It now became clear to me that the Lord would no longer have me assist financially, or to be in any way identified with, anything which cast any influence in opposition to the fundamental principle of our holy Christian religion; and I, therefore, after a more careful though unavailing effort to reclaim the erring, with-drew entirely from the Herald of the Morning, and from further fellowship with Mr. Barbour. But a mere withdrawal I felt was not sufficient to show my continued loyalty to our Lord and redeemer, whose cause had thus been violently assailed by one in a position to lead the sheep astray-and in that position, too, very largely by my individual assistance and encouragement

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when I believed in him to be, in all sincerity, true to the Lord. I, therefore, understood it to be the Lord’s will that I should start another journal in which the standard of the cross should be lifted high, the doctrine of the Ransom defended, and the good tidings of great joy should be proclaimed as extensively as possible.

ZION’S WATCH TOWER, FIRST ISSUE JULY, 1879

"Acting upon this leading of the Lord, I gave up traveling, and in July, 1879, the first number of Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence made its appearance. From the first, it has been a special advocate of the ’Ransom for all’ and by the grace of God, we hope this will ever be so.

"For a time we had a most painful experience: the readers of the Tower and of the Herald were the same, and from the time the former started and the supply of funds from this quarter for the Herald ceased, Mr. Barbour not only withdrew from the bank the money deposited by me and treated all he had in his possession as his own, but poured upon the Editor of The Tower the vilest of personal abuse in order to prevent The Tower and the doctrine of the Ransom from having due influence upon its readers. This, of course, caused a division, as such things always do. The personal abuse, being regarded by some as true, had its intended effect of biasing the judgments of many on the subject of the Ransom; and many turned from us.

"But the Lord continued His favor, which I esteem of more value than the favor of the whole world. It was at this time that Mr. Adams espoused the views of Mr. Barbour, and likewise forsook the doctrine of the Ransom. And true to our interpretation of the parable of the Wedding garment, as given at the time, Mr. Barbour and Mr. Adams, having cast off the wedding garment of Christ Righteousness, went out of the light into the outer darkness of the world on the subject

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once so clearly seen-namely, the time and manner of our Lord’s presence; and since then they have been expecting Christ in the flesh every Spring or fall, and twisting the prophecies accordingly.

"During part of this ordeal, or we might truly call it, battle, we had the earnest co- operation of Mr. Paton, who, up to the Summer of 1881, was an appreciated co- laborer and defendant of the doctrine of coming blessings through Christ, based upon the ‘Ransom for all’ given at Calvary. The book, The Three Worlds, having been for some time out of print, it seemed as if either another edition of that, or else a new book covering the same features, should be gotten out. Mr. Paton agreed to get it ready for the press and Mr. Jones offered to pay all the expenses incident to its printing and binding and to give Mr. Paton as many copies of the book as he could sell, as remuneration for his time spent in preparing the matter, provided I would agree to advertise it liberally and gratuitously in The Tower—well knowing that there would be demand for it if I should recommend it, and that his outlay would be sure to return with a profit. I not only agreed to do this, but contributed to Mr. Paton’s personal expense in connection with the publishing, as well as paid part of the printer’s bill at his solicitation.

THE DAY DAWN

"In the end, I alone was at any financial loss in connection with the book called Day Dawn; the writer and the publisher both being gainers financially, while I did all the introducing by repeated advertisements. We need to give these particulars because of certain one-sided and only partial statements of facts and misrepresentations, which have recently been published and circulated in tract form by Mr. Paton, who is also now an advocate of that ‘other gospel’ of which the cross of Christ is not the center, and which denies that He ‘bought us with his own precious blood.’ Mr. Paton

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has since published another book, which though called by the same name, as the one we introduced, being on another and false foundation, I cannot recommend, but which I consider misleading sophistry, tending to undermine the whole structure of the Christian system, yet retaining a sufficiency of the truths which we once held in common to make it palatable and dangerous to all not rooted and grounded upon the ransom- rock.

"The false foundation which it presents is the old heathen doctrine of evolution revamped, which not only denies the fall of man, but as a consequence, all necessity for a redeemer. It claims, on the contrary, that not by redemption and restitution to a lost estate, but by progressive evolution or development man has risen and is still to rise from the lower condition in which he was created until, by his own good works, he ultimately reaches the Divine nature. It claims that our Lord Himself was a degraded and imperfect man, whose work on earth was to crucify a carnal nature, which it claims, He possessed; and thus to show all men how to crucify their carnal or sinful propensities.

"And here, we remark, that the darkness and degradation which came upon the world in its fallen, cast-off condition, and which was only intensified by Papacy’s priest- craft during the Dark Ages, when contrasted with the light of intelligence, which God is now letting in on the world, have gradually led men to esteem present intelligence as merely a part of a process of evolution. This view, though quite incorrect is, nevertheless, the occasion of the predicted great falling away from the faith of the Bible during the Harvest period. And few Christian people seem to be well enough grounded in the truth to be able to withstand this trial of the evil day, in which many will fall away, while only the few will stand. For this cause we use great plainness of speech.

"The little history of the way in which Mr. Paton came to turn from us and from the ransom, to oppose

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that which he once clearly saw and advocated, is important, as it became the occasion for another sifting or testing of the Watch Tower readers, by that time a great number; because Mr. Paton had been a respected brother and co-worker with us, and because as a traveling representative of the Watch Tower and its doctrines, his expenses being met in part by subscriptions and renewals, as well as by money from me, he was personally known to a larger number of the readers than was the Editor of The Tower.

"In the year 1881, Mr. Barbour, still publishing the Herald and still endeavoring to overthrow the Doctrine of the Ransom, finding that on a preaching tour I had used a diagram of the Tabernacle to illustrate how Christ’s sacrifice was typified in the sacrifices of the typical Israel’s, wrote an article on the Atonement, in which he undertook to show that the sacrifices of the Day of Atonement typified almost anything else than what they do typify. I could readily see through the fallacy of his presentations, which made of the bullock a type of one thing in one verse and another thing in each verse in which it was mentioned; and so, too, with the goat. But I well knew that the people in general are not close reasoners and that, with the cares of life upon them, they are to apt to accept a seeming interpretation without a critical examination of the words of the Scripture and the context.

STRUGGLING FOR LIGHT

"I thought the matter over. I examined the sixteenth chapter of Leviticus, , but while seeing the inconsistency and error of Mr. Barbour’s interpretation, I could only confess that I did not understand it and could not give a connected interpretation, which fits all the details so plainly stated, and all of which must have a particular meaning. What could I do? Those reading the Herald as well as The Tower would probably be mislead if not helped out of the difficulty; and to merely say that the

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Herald’s interpretation was inconsistent with itself and, therefore, a misinterpretation, would be misunderstood. Many would suppose I opposed that view from a spirit of rivalry; for there are always people with whom everything resolves itself into personality, rivalry and party spirit; and such cannot understand others who take a higher and nobler view and who think always and only of the truth, regardless of persons.

"I went to the Lord with this, as with every trial, and told His just how it seemed to me, how anxious IOUs I felt for His dear ‘sheep’ who having their appetites sharpened by some truth, were by their very hunger exposed to Satan’s deceptions. I told Him that I realized that He is the Shepherd, and not I, but I knew also that He would be pleased at my interest in the sheep and my desire to be His mouthpiece to declare the truth, the way and the life to them; that I felt deeply impressed that if the time had come for the permission of false views to deceive the unworthy, it must also be His due time to have the truth on the subject made clear, that the unworthy ones might be enabled to stand and not fall from the truth. Believing that the due time had come for the correct understanding of the Jewish sacrifices, which, in a general way, all Christians concede were typical of ‘better sacrifices’; and that the Lord, therefore, would grant the insight as soon as I got into the attitude of heart best suited to receive the light. I prayed with confidence that if His due time had come, and if He were willing to use me as His instrument to declare the message to His dear family, that I might be able to rid my heart and mind of any prejudice that might stand in the way and be led of His Spirit into proper understanding of the truth.

SHADOWS OF THE TABERNACLE REVEALED

"Believing that the Lord would answer my prayer affirmatively, I went into my study the next morning prepared to study and write. The forenoon I spent

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in scrutinizing the text and every other Scripture likely to shed light upon it, the Epistle of the Hebrews, and in looking to the Lord for wisdom and guidance; but no solution of the difficult passages came. The afternoon and evening were similarly spent, and all the next day. Everything else was neglected, and I wondered why the Lord had kept me so long; but on the third day, near noon, the whole matter came to me as clear as the noonday sun, so clear and convincing and so harmonious with the whole tenor of the Scriptures that I could not question its correctness; and no one has ever yet been able to find a flaw in it. This has been published in several editions in booklet form under the title, ’Tabernacle Shadows of the Better Sacrifices. ‘

"Then I knew why the Lord had led me so slowly and cautiously. I needed a special preparation of heart for the full appreciation of all it contained; and I was all the more sure it was not of my own wisdom; for if of my own, why had it not come at once?

"I found that the understanding of that subject was bound to have a wide influence upon all our hopes and views of all truth, not that it overlooked old truths or contradicted them, but, on the contrary, set them all in order and harmony and straightened out little knots and twists. For instance, the doctrine of ’Justification by Faith ‘ had always been more or less confused in my mind, as it is in every mind, with the doctrine of ‘Sanctification,’ which calls for sacrifice and works. This was all made clear and plain at once; for the types showed that we all, as sinners, needed, first of all, Christ’s ransom sacrifice that we appropriate its merits (justification which God grants) to ourselves by faith, that thus we are justified—reckoned free from sin. The type showed, too, that it is only after being thus cleansed in God’s sight-by an acceptance of Christ’s finished work as our ransom-sacrifice—that God is willing to accept us as joint-sacrificers with Christ, so that if faithful

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unto death, following in His footsteps, we should be granted the favor of joint heirship with Him.

"Here I first saw that the great privilege of becoming joint-heirs with Christ and partakers with Him of the Divine nature was confined exclusively to those who would share with Him in self-sacrifice in the service of the Truth. And here, too, I saw for the first time that our Lord was the first of these sacrifices in the Sin-Offering, consequently, that none of God’s servants, the prophets, who lived and died before Christ, were priests after this order, non sharers in sacrifice with Him, even though some of them were stoned, others sawn asunder, and others slain with the sword, for the cause of God; that though they would receive a good and great reward, they would belong to a separate class and order from those called to sacrifice and joint- heirship with Christ on and since Pentecost.

"Here, too, I firs saw that ’the acceptable day of the Lord’ signifies this Gospel Age-the time during which He will accept the sacrifice of any who come unto God through Christ, the Great Sin-Offering: that when this acceptable day ends, the reward of joint-heirship with Christ and prospect of change to the Divine nature ends. And that when this great day of sacrifice, the Gospel Age, the real day of Atonement, has closed, when all the members of the body of Christ have participated with Him in the sacrifice of their rights as justified, and been glorified, then the blessings will begin to come to the world-the Millennial blessings purchased for men by their Redeemer, according to the grace of God.

DISTINCTION IN NATURES RECOGNIZED

This first brought a clear recognition of the distinction in natures: of what constitutes human nature; what constitutes the angelic nature; and what constitutes the Divine nature. (See Volume 1, Chapter 10.) And whereas we formerly used the term Restitution in a

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general way to mean some sort of blessed change; but now, under the clearer light, we begin to see that the great work of restitution could only mean what the word implies, a restoration of that which was lost-a restoration of the original condition from which man fell.

"Then I saw God’s plan, when carried out, would NOT bring all His creatures to the one level of the Divine nature, but that He purposed to have an order of creatures called angels, who, though perfect, would always be a different order, or nature, from the Divine nature; and He likewise purposed to have a race of beings of the human nature, of whom Adam was a sample or pattern, and whose future earthly home, Paradise, Eden, was a sample or pattern. I also saw that God purposed that Christ and His joint-sacrificers and joint-heirs are to be God’s instrument for blessing the fallen race and restoring them to the condition of perfection enjoyed by Adam in Eden, a condition which God said was ‘very good,’ and an image of Himself.

"And these joint-heirs with Christ, I saw, were to be highly exalted to a nature higher than restored and perfected manhood, higher, too, than the angelic nature; even to be partakers of the Divine nature. When all these things so unexpectedly shone out so brightly and clearly, I did not wonder that the Lord gave me several days of waiting and preparation for the blessing, and to Him I rendered praise and thanks. All my faintness of heart and fear of the bad effects of the wrong view fled before this evidence of the Lord’s leadings in the pathway that ‘shines more and more unto the perfect day.’ I saw at once that these new developments would probably prove a stumbling block to some, as well as a great blessing to others who were ready for them. Instead, therefore, of publishing this in the next Tower, I determined to present the matter privately to the more prominent brethren, remembering

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Saint Paul’s course in a similar matter, as recorded in Ga 2:2.

"Accordingly, I sent invitations and the money necessary for traveling expenses to four of the more prominent brethren, requesting a conference. Mr. Paton, of Michigan, was one of the four, and the only one who rejected the first rays of light. Nor could he find any flaw with the exegesis, though urged, as all were, to state anything which might seem inconsistent, or quote any passages of Scripture thought to be in conflict. But there was none; and every question more fully demonstrated the strength of the position.

ADVANCING LIGHT REJECTED

"I, therefore, urged that that which was beyond the criticism of those most familiar with the plan of God, must be the truth, and ought to be confessed and taught at any cost, and especially when it arranged and ordered all the other features of the truth so beautifully. I pointed out, too, how necessary it is to a logical holding of the Ransom, to see first what this showed; namely, the distinction of natures; that our Lord left a higher nature and took a lower nature, when He was made flesh, and the object in that change of nature was, that He might, as a man, a perfect man, give Himself as a Ransom for the first perfect man, Adam, and thus redeem Adam, and all lost in him.

"I also showed how, as a reward for this great work, He was given the Divine nature in His resurrection, a nature that is still higher than the glorious one He had left, when He became a man. But either Mr. Paton’s mental vision or heart was weak, for he never took the step; and before long he too, forsook the doctrine of the Ransom. Yet he still used the word ‘ Ransom,’ while denying the idea conveyed by the word; nor can he give the word any other definition, or otherwise dispute the correctness of the meaning which I attach to it, and which may be found in any English dictionary,

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and it is true to the significance of the Greek word which it translates, anti-lutron, a price to correspond.

"Notwithstanding our best endeavors to save him he drifted farther and farther away, until I was obliged to refuse his articles for The Tower, for the same reason that obliged me to longer refuse to spend the Lord’s money entrusted to me to assist Mr. Barbour, to spread the same pernicious theory.

"It was about this time that Mr. Jones informed me that the copies of the book, Day Dawn, which I had purchased were all that were left; and, announcing it so that no more orders might come for it to The Tower Office, I took occasion to promise Millennial Dawn, which should present the Plan of the Ages in the clearer, more orderly way made possible by the new light shed upon every feature of it by the lessons from the Tabernacle. About this time Mr. Paton decided to publish another book under the name Day-Dawn, revised to harmonize with his changed views, which ignored the Ransom, ignored Justification, and the need of either, and taught, that all men will be everlasting saved; not in any sense of a result of any sacrifice for their sins by Christ, but as a result of each one’s crucifying sin in himself-the law under which the Jews tried to commend themselves to God, but which justified none. Many and severe were the calumnies heaped upon me, because I exposed this change, told that the original book was out of print and the new book was on a different foundation from the book of the same name, which I had commended.

"During this time I was busied by an immense work known to many of you: the issue and circulation of over 1,400,000 copies of two booklets, entitled Food for Thinking Christians and Tabernacle Teachings, whose united matter was about the same as that of Dawn, Volume 1. Besides this I was flooded with thousands of joyous and joy- giving letters, from those who had received and were reading the booklets thus distributed, LM34

and asking questions, and for more reading matter. To add to our throng, financial complications came; and thus for four years I was hindered from fulfilling my promise of Millennial Dawn.

SEVENTH VOLUME PROMISED

"Nor is our promise of the complete set yet fulfilled; for although Six Volumes are now (1910) issued, a Seventh on Revelation and Ezekiel is still future-delayed by the growth of the general work, doubtless in accord with the Lord’s due time. But during those four years I struggled through an immense amount of labor and many drawbacks; but all cheerfully undergone for the sake of the Lord and His saints, each year hoping to be able to gather the necessary hours to complete the first volume of Millennial Dawn.

"Some who may have The Three Worlds or the Old edition of Day Dawn would perhaps like to know my present view of them, whether I still think them suitable books to loan to truth-seekers. To this, I reply, Certainly Not! Because the very immature views of God’s truth therein presented fall far short of what we now see to be God’s wonderful plan. Things which are now as clear as noonday, were then cloudy and mixed. The distinctions between the perfect human nature, to which the obedient of the world will be restored during the Millennial Age, and the Divine nature to which the little flock, the sacrificing elect of the Gospel Age are soon to be exalted, were then unnoticed. All that is now so clear, was then blurred, mixed and indistinct. Neither had we then seen the steps or planes now shown upon the ‘Chart of the Ages,’ which have assisted so many to distinguish between Justification and Sanctification and to determine their present standing and relationship to God.

"Once I was much less careful about what I circulated or commanded, but I am learning every day

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to be more careful as to what sort of food I put before any of the Lord’s hungry sheep. The Lord has taught me that it is a responsible matter to be a teacher. Even Food for Thinking Christians, now also out of print, I no longer commend, because it is less systematic and therefore less clear than later publications.

"Another chapter in our experience needs to be told, as it marks another shaking and sifting. Mr. A. D. Jones proposed to start a paper on the same lines as the Watch Tower, to republish some of the simpler features of God’s plan and to be a sort of missionary and primary teacher. Knowing him to be clear on the subject of the Ransom, I bade him God speed and introduced a copy of his paper, Zion’s Day Star, to our nearly ten thousand readers, only, as it soon proved, to stumble some of them into rank infidelity and others into the rejection of the Ransom; for though the Day Star for a few months steered a straight course, and maintained the same position as The Tower with reference to the Ransom, and so for the same reason it refused the no-ransom articles sent for its columns by Mr. Paton; yet within one year it repudiated Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and within and another year it had gone boldly into infidelity and totally repudiated all the rest of the Bible, as well as those portions which teach the fall of Adam and the ransom therefrom in Christ.

"All this meant another strain, another sifting, another cutting loose of friends, who erroneously supposed that our criticism of false doctrines was prompted by a spirit of rivalry and who did not so soon see whither his teachings were drifting, nor how great the importance of holding fast the first principles of the doctrine of Christ-how Christ died for our sins and rose again for our justifications."

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Scientific Character Analyses

From a photo of a child of four years, I can give but little, and that in a general way only. I will first say, young Russell has the Three Temperaments evenly blended, which is in his favor to start life with; the picture shows him to be decidedly above the average; his head being well developed in every part, with fine organism, and abundance of real courage, energy and true independence of character, and its evidently cut out for a leader in life.

His physiognomy clearly shows that he is of an inquiring mind, anxious to analyze whatever he sees so as to know the component parts of the interior as well as the exterior, so as to know all about things in general; is inclined to ask perplexing questions, on subjects as well as articles; curiosity big.

AGE 4. PROF. C. A. HEWES.

Future Possibilities Shown at Age Four

Pastor C. T. Russell, at the age of four years, impressively foreshadows his later character and life. The facial expression is crowded with future possibilities, as if the child foreknew the seriousness of its future work. We have never seen a child’s face and head so indicative of mental maturity and character. From the ear opening to the top of the head is very high and full, indicative of strong religious organs and spiritual trend of mind. The organs of conscientiousness, hope, veneration and spirituality are so large as to compel a religious life. Then firmness and benevolence being equally as large would determine such an one to a sacrificial life in behalf of humanity. Very large human nature is in eveidence, which enables one to discern character and motives, having large faculties of agreeableness and veneration. They make for affability, deference and courtliness. Very large literary faculties which cross the central forehead are strongly in evidence and likewise the perceptive faculties which are some lower and just above the eyes. Language being also large, such an one would naturally become a speaker and writer on religious subjects, making it the paramount object of life. The side head is very full, indicating executive ability, thoroughness, and large practical business ability. The physiognomy shows much independence, force of character, and a spirit to stand alone if needs be, discernible in both the eyes and peculiarly shaped mouth.

PROF. EDMUND G. WALTERS.

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A Pastor in the Making

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CHAPTER III-PASTOR RUSSELL’S PERSONALITY

HIS WONDER SPEAKING EYES

To give anything like a satisfactory pen picture of this man of many sided qualities and amazing personality, is an undertaking of no mean proportions; hence it is with temerity that the writer approaches the subject at all, even though having had for many years an opportunity to study him at close range and from different angles. It is the writer’s confident belief that every one in Present Truth today-and this sketch is written primarily for such-will be pleased to have brought to his mental vision some such picture, though imperfect it must be; still it may prove refreshing to those who knew him personally; and possibly inspiring to those who did not; while having an altogether elevating and stimulating influence upon the finer emotions of all. The picture is at his closing years.

Pastor Russell was about five feet and eleven inches tall, weighing usually about one hundred and eighty-five pounds, apparently without an ounce of superfluous flesh on his body. His hair and beard were a beautiful white, the former he wore rather long-down to his coat collar. His skin was like alabaster for whiteness and for smoothness and freshness, like that of a child. You never touched a softer, more velvet-like hand, nor one which at the same time could give a firmer and more friendly grip, while the sensation resulting therefrom was electrifying. But his

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eyes-what shall we say of them? The poet’s lines would seem to most fittingly express the proper thought:

Lo! he turns and looks upon me, With those wonder speaking eyes, |Vain my soul essays to answer, | I am lost in sweet surprise.

Truly his were ‘wonder-speaking eyes" and surely every one who ever met their glance at close range must have appreciated this fact. When those "wonder-speaking" eyes were fastened on you and you met their penetrating glance, it seemed as if they were piercing your body, and being riveted on the other side. There were many wonderful things about the personality of this wonderful man, but nothing more wonderful than his "wonderful eyes." The descriptive pen of a dozen Dickens could not adequately describe them. Their color. Any one who would attempt to describe satisfactorily the color of a chameleon to a dozen different persons, who had seen one of these little animals under different lights and from different angles, would have an impossible task on his hands, for a chameleon is all colors, according to the light, and angle from which it is viewed! No matter what their color, they were the most piercing eyes I have ever seen, while the same time the most kindly, gentle and loving, and love inspiring. Yes, "wonder-speaking eyes" indeed!

His carriage and general bearing are also worthy of some note. Without question he was the most graceful man on his feet I have ever seen. He moved about with the grace of a Chesterfield, minus the air of self-consciousness which marks the purely superficial. Even this sight was pleasant to the eye: whether on a platform

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or off, it was just the same. The way he used to come into the Bethel dining-room, all the "family" being seated, bowing gracefully and with a cheery "Good morning all," turning to the right and to the left, and gliding between the tables and turning the corners with the grace of a nymph, was a mental picture once seen could never be entirely forgotten, even if by some ignored. As he thus entered and took his accustomed seat at the head of the table in the center of this great dining hall, a solemn silence would settle down upon the room, but this came not from fear of the man, but from reverential respect and affectionate love for the "head of the house of God." He was respectful to all, and so commanded respect from all with whom he came in contact. This was because he was a true Christian. Therefore, he shed about him an air of sanctity, which could be felt if not described. Truly he was a man of God in the strictest sense.

A little reminiscence may be of interest here. Soon after the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society moved its headquarters from Pittsburgh to Brooklyn, and at the time Pastor Russell was holding a series of public meetings at the Academy of Music in the latter city, a rather unusual incident occurred. These meetings were largely advertised, everybody in this great city had an opportunity to know about them. Before I recite this incident, let me say by way of explanation that, character is one thing; reputation quite another. Character is what a man really is; reputation is what people think him to be, based principally upon what is said of him. The Episcopalians above all others are very straight- laced people, as the writer has had good opportunity for knowing, and so are very particular about whom they meet on social

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terms, in whose company they may be seen, and what public functions they attend.

So like many others, no doubt, a lady of the Episcopalian faith knew of these lectures and had a great desire to go and hear Pastor Russell, and thus determine for herself what his doctrines were, just what he taught, besides satisfying her curiosity as to what he looked like—whether he looked like a very bad man, but she found her Episcopalian predictions were too strong to be set aside for a mere desire, so finally she dismissed the matter from her mind as "impossible." Having thus settled the matter in her mind, once and for all, as she supposed, one Sunday found her out for her accustomed walk in the afternoon. Without any premeditation her walk on this occasion took her past the Academy of Music, where Brother Russell was to speak that day. The hour for the lecture was approaching, so the doors were open. The temptation was too great-she could not resist. Pastor Russell always believed in giving to the sisters some part in the Lord’s Work—indeed, wherever this was consistent. Hence they were ushering at these lectures. This "stranger" was met at the door by a dear old Colporteur Sister, long since passed to her reward, who took the timid and "conscience stricken" one in charge and ushered her to one of the choicest seats, for both hearing and seeing, for the usher-sister had already been informed of the "stranger’s" dilemma.

At the close of the lecture our Colporteur Sister sought out the stiff and staid Episcopalian and questioned her as to how she had enjoyed what she heard. Here again formality had to give way to the reality of an honest heart’s emotions. for Sister Colporteur found Miss Episcopalian

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enraptured, delighted beyond measure. She said that when Pastor Russell stepped out upon the platform with the air of a true patriarch, she almost gasped as she looked upon that noble, benevolent, gracious face. Then quickly added, "I do not see how anyone could look upon that face without realizing that he is a man of God: I felt just like going up and throwing my arms around him." The stiffness of formality had broken under the weight of the reality of facts. Thus prejudice gave way to admiration, as must always be the case when the heart is honest. As it was said of our Lord Jesus, so in a secondary sense could it be said of Pastor Russell, "Behold! the man."

It is a noteworthy fact that wherever this man of such majestic appearance went, his native dignity and grace attracted attention-people were seen turning around to behold the man. He had a face and bearing that were peculiarly his own. Even when past the three-score margin, his figure was still as straight as an arrow, figuratively speaking; his carriage was dignified without stiffness or superficiality of any kind, while his step had the elasticity of a normal youth of sixteen. He was young in mind to the last of his earthly experiences, for his temperament was jovial, thus he was safeguarded from becoming gloomy, melancholic. Besides, his love for God and faith in His overruling providences, forbade his ever becoming heavy-hearted or dejected in spirits, because of the weight of his cross, which, as those who knew his inner life best, realized, was heavy enough to have crushed to the earth a man of less faith, endurance and strength of purpose.

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PROF. DAVID DALL’S CHARACTER SKETCH

Prof. Dall, a noted Mental Scientist of the British Institute of mental Science, for his own pleasure made the following character sketch of Pastor Russell, at Motherwell, Scotland, October 30, 1911:

"I have much pleasure in giving a sketch of the genial and fatherly head and physiognomy of Pastor Russell. He is just one of those men whose appearance, intelligence, suavity, wit, goodness of heart and soundness of head do credit to his profession. Well up in years, he has a youthful and sympathetic nature; fatherly and benign in council, moral and spiritual in his influence. In religion his day is broadened by the effulgent light of Bible Study. His temperamental development is very even. If there is a predominance of either, it is found in the motive, which supports and intense energy of mind that can not dream life away, but must be practical.

"I find the head of Pastor Russell to be a large one, and the brain gifted with an uncommon degree of activity. A full basilar region is accompanied by the powerful endowment of the moral intellectual and spiritual natures. His physiognomy gives a large face, a large, broad nose with ample nostrils, large mouth and chin-all that the face can indicate of a powerful constitution he has. The animal-vital nature, as a whole, is amply developed; his head also is broad, which indicates general force of mind, strength of feeling and stamina of character. His eyes are large and stand out fully, which indicates a communicative disposition.

"Benevolence is a leading faculty, manifesting itself in liberality of sentiment to all mankind, deep desire for the welfare of others, combining warmth of sympathy with rare simplicity of purpose. His -all that the face can indicate of a powerful constitution he has. The animal-vital nature, as a whole, is amply developed; his head also is broad, which indicates general force of mind, strength of feeling and stamina of character. His eyes are large and stand out fully, which indicates a communicative disposition. "Benevolence is a leading faculty, manifesting itself in liberality of sentiment to all mankind, deep desire for the welfare of others, combining warmth of sympathy with rare simplicity of purpose. His perceptive region, as a whole, is exceedingly active, an endowment rendering his range of observation extraordinary; while

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his memory of faces and forms is marvelous, as is his power to analyze, compare and draw rapid inferences.

"Here is a mind able to steel itself against difficulty or attack, yet full of gentleness and amiability. An intense sense of duty, together with the conviction that each moment is precious and of important value, seems to pervert his entire nature. In him dwells the soul of a patient, charitable, but equally determined reformer-a practical mind, seeing far ahead, possessing large stores of philanthropy, discernment, judgment, talent and efficiency, giving him gifts as a teacher, yet also prompting him to natural desire after self-improvement.

"His natural refinement, taste and imagination, with large language, qualify him to express himself in a free, easy, graceful style, enabling him to present many unpleasant truths in a pleasing and acceptable manner.

"As a preacher of the Gospel, his services have found a wide acceptance. As a lecturer he is especially successful. He is not a violent or enthusiastic orator. He is an effective, quiet, illustrative speaker-arresting and riveting the attention of children as well as adults. The young find in him a guide, a philosopher and friend-the old a sage counselor whose thoughts are tinctured by experience and perfected by principle.

"Under such a mentor souls grow and minds expand, observation becomes keener and the perceptions sharper. He has great magnetic force, is full of electricity, and consequently he imparts life and vivacity to every word he utters, whether in public or private.

"Pastor Russell impresses and controls the minds of his hearers without making an effort to do so, for his utterances are like sparks that kindle a fire in the souls of those who listen to him."

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WHO AM I?

I am a fountain of all business. I am the fount of all prosperity. I am the parent, most times, of genius.

I am the salt that gives life its savor.

I have laid the foundation of every fortune in America from Rockefeller’s down.

I must be loved before I can bestow my greatest blessings and achieve my greatest ends. Loved, I make life sweet and purposeful and fruitful.

I can do more to advance a youth than his own parents, be they ever so rich.

Fools hate me, wise men love me.

I am represented in every loaf of bread that comes from the oven, in every train that crosses the continent, in every ship that steams over the ocean, in every newspaper that comes from the press.

I am the mother of democracy.

All progress springs from me.

The man who is bad friends with me can never get very far—and stay there.

The man who is good friends with me can go—who can tell how far?

WHO am I? WHAT am I?

I AM WORK.

CHAPTER IV-PASTOR RUSSELL’S CHARACTERISTICS

A BORN DIPLOMAT WITH A PENCHANT FOR DETAILS

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Brother Russell was a born diplomat in the highest sense. He could parry any thrust of an opponent, sidestep any question he did not wish to answer directly, or administer a reproof without giving offense to the most sensitive, is such were sincere. He possessed that rare quality, if not genius, of saying, "No" when you desired "Yes," and causing you to feel almost thankful in your heart, at least fully resigned, because of the genial, pleasing way he had of doing and saying displeasing or undesirable things. While this resulted largely from the fact of his native tact in handling and dealing with others, nevertheless the outstanding fact of his powerful mind, quick intellect, and the over- powering Spirit of the Lord, which was always in evidence, gave fully consecrated child of the Lord unbounded confidence in his judgment.

Pastor Russell had a penchant for details. No proposition, no matter how monumental it may have appeared to others, seemed to arouse any doubts or create any misgivings in his mind; and no detail seemed too small for his mind to deal with. For illustration: Once after returning from a European tour he was going through the "Bethel," as was his custom, and while passing through the storeroom, his attention was arrested by a large quantity of potatoes there; turning to the Superintendent of

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the Home, he said: "Brother, how much did you pay for these potatoes?" "So much," he was told. "You paid too much," that wise stewart commented. How did he know what the potatoes were worth in New York, especially after an absence of three to four months in Europe? He had a mind for details, and so could grasp them quickly, whether pertaining to the Scriptures or temporal matters. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, is the Scriptural proposition. Brother Russell overlooked absolutely nothing-all things seemed to have been uncovered before his eyes. This is the way he once wrote about small things:

"Trifles of life have an important bearing upon our characters. Whosoever learns to be conscientious about everything is being properly exercised by the lessons of life. One who would take an umbrella for an hour without permission has not sufficient principle to be trusted with larger things." Again, "Where there is little honesty, there is little character."

WHO IS TOO BIG TO OBSERVE LITTLE THINGS?

"Whoever is careless and inattentive to little things is not fit for the great honor the Lord has in store for the wholly faithful; He is watching us closely but with a kindly eye; He wishes us to succeed; He gives us the necessary instruction and guidance, When we practice carefulness in little things, we are thereby developing our character along right lines. If we fail to do this, we shall never become fit to be entrusted with important matters. Let us each make this a personal question: What kind of a character am I developing as the days go by?"—PASTOR RUSSELL.

Another striking characteristic of this remarkable man of God was the fact of his being such a stickler for promptness

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in all things, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant it may have seemed to be. He required members of the Bethel family to be at their posts of duty right on time, to begin work at the sound of the gong, and then to quit as promptly when the gong sounded for that purpose. He was teaching promptness, you see. In order to give the workers relaxation in the middle of the forenoons and afternoons, all the workers would stand and sing a verse of some appropriate hymn-and this was done "right on time." Then every member who desired to eat at the first table would be required to be in his or her seat before Brother Russell entered, which he would do on the dot-the tick of the watch.

He seemed to be annoyed beyond measure by the friends coming late to the meetings. He did not hesitate to say such habits showed lack of consideration for others and was most harmful to any who indulged in them.. They tend to break the line of thought of the speaker and always distract the attention of the audience generally. For several Sundays after the Society’s Headquarters had been moved from Pittsburgh (Allegheny) to Brooklyn, Brother Russell spoke to this Congregation. Some of the friends had the habit of straggling into the afternoon meeting from five to twenty minutes late. He put up with this for about three Sundays without comment, until finally one Sunday when the clock stood at twenty minutes past the hour, and some straggled in, he turned to the ushers and gave them orders to close the doors and lock them in the future at three o’clock. His contention being it was just as easy for them to start early as late—it was only a habit some people have of being continually behind time, and a very bad habit too. Those doors were never locked, but the

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tardy ones learned an important lesson. You know it is the "foolish" ones who came after the "door was shut." That is what the parable teaches. We would not expect the Lord to stand at the Door to His Presence waiting our own convenience to step in. Certainly not! Should we not look well to this matter?

LOVING KINDNESS HIS OUTSTANDING GREATNESS

We recall how our Lord said, "God is kind to the unthankful." Kindness, we therefore see, is a Godlike quality, and to whatever extent anyone has this quality to that extent he has God-likeness in his heart; so likewise must the opposite of this statement be true. Our Lord said there are only two Masters, and that no one could serve both acceptably. Then again we have the great apostle’s injunction, "Be ye kind, one to another." Again he shows that, "Love is kind;" necessarily, then, where there is much love there must be much kindness, while the reverse of this statement must be correspondingly true. Since, then, there are but two masters, as our Lord Himself stated and two spirits, as Saint Paul mentions, every one should find it a comparatively easy matter to locate himself; but he should be extremely careful how he attempts to locate some one else—and this he will do in the exact ratio that he is serving the Good master, has His Spirit.

Pastor Russell was the kindest, the most gentle, the most considerate human being I ever knew: therefore the most God-like, the most like the dear Master. Thus he was a "living Epistle" of our beloved Lord. No matter how uncouth one may be by reason of heredity, lack of educational advantages or owing to environments, kindness

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and gentleness should be marked characteristics of the developed Christian character under all circumstances. Rudeness might result from lack of early training, but remember always, "Out of the heart the mouth speaketh." Bitter, unkind words would show, therefore, that there was a wrong heart condition; and this must be gotten rid of, or the Crown will never be won. "The Lord will not accept undeveloped sprouts for the Kingdom. He is seeking sturdy for the trees of righteousness," so stated "that wise Servant," who further said:

"We sometimes see Christians who have little knowledge of worldly things and yet have deep spirituality, very deeply rooted and grounded in Christ, a clear insight into the deep things of God, and altogether with a rich Christian experience. Perhaps their knowledge of the usages of polite society is less than that of many others of their brethren; they may have had fewer opportunities to learn these amenities; and yet their ripe attainments in Christ may shame some of the more outwardly correct according to the social standards of the world. How careful we should be that our standards of judgment and our estimate of character are fashioned after the pattern of the Master; that we look beneath the surface; that we note rather the real, the essential traits, than any outward peculiarities of the flesh, which in the sight of the Lord should have no weight in deciding the quality of character."-PASTOR RUSSELL.

The quickness and power of his intellect, together with the justness and firmness of his convictions, when once formed, were the factors which gave to those who knew him best, unbounded confidence in his decisions, for you remember how Saint James declares that a man lacking in firmness of decision is much like a ship at sea without a

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rudder-cast about by every wave and wind that blows. He will to do right, and keen perception and an educated conscience enabled him to determine what was right, just, proper; then no human influence could sway him from the course he was convinced would be pleasing to the Lord. If he changed from such convictions, than the Lord Himself would have to make it plain by His Word or providences.

The activity, alertness and quickness of his intellect gave him that power of vision and perception termed intuition, enabling him usually to arrive at satisfactory conclusions without the exception if inductive reasoning, tedious, laborious thought. An incident to point this conclusion. Quite a number of years before this man of wonders "finished his course with joy," the writer had occasion to seek an interview with him for counsel. It was a very complex matter, involving many conflicting details, yet withal of vital importance. Usually interviews were limited to five to ten minutes. My problems were trouble-some, perplexing, if not perilous. I sought the interview and asked for an hour, honestly believing it would take that long to place the matter before his mind in a comprehensive way, so that he could advise me intelligently. He set the time several days in advance when I should come to his study, In the meantime I got all the facts and details clearly in my mind and in the orderly way I thought they should be presented before him. I had them in order like the A B C’s, so could recite my "little piece" clearly and without loss of time, for I knew his time, as the servant of the Lord, was precious, hence none should be unnecessarily consumed. The time arrived and I was on time to the minute, for I well knew that anyone who kept

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Brother Russell waiting for even a minute beyond the appointed time would be told that he had "lost his chance," hence he would have to try again. This was one way he had of teaching us practical lessons along the line of the necessity or importance of promptness.

I had supposed it would take me fully fifteen minutes to place the matter before his mind, in order that he could properly advise me what to do. But I had not been talking more than three or four minutes at the most, laying down the foundation, as it were, preparatory to erecting the superstructure, Brother Russell the while sitting before me with his eyes closed, when suddenly he interrupted my speech by saying, "I see it all, Brother; it is thus and so, thus and so." Yes, it was truly "thus and so," as he had stated, though I had told him not a single fact. I had merely laid down the premises and he jumped over all the intervening facts and circumstances and lit right on the point I supposed it would take me at least fifteen minutes in which to lead his mind up to. In ten minutes I was out of his study with a satisfactory solution, for he promptly said, "I think if I were in your place, I would do thus and so." That was all I wished to know. Therefore, I quickly received the counsel and comfort I sought. Hence it was his quickness of intellect, ability to form decisions without tedious and laborious study that enabled him to accomplish much more than one with a less active brain could possibly have done.

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Solved Difficult Problems with Ease

Here allow me to state that it is quite impossible for one to avoid reading from personal acquaintance when one was intimately acquainted with another, as I was with Pastor Russell. For the same being I will try to disabuse my mind, so far as possible, that I ever met him, then proceed to do the best I can under the circumstances. From the ages of four to twenty-seven years there has been a marvelous change in the physiognomy of Charles Taze Russell. At twenty-seven I find the Mental Temperament predominating, giving a very quick, active brain, with fine organism, which is of first importance. He is a natural linguist; has fine memory of names and words; consequently is a fluent speaker and writer- in brief is a natural orator of rare ability. Is logical and sound reasoner; can solve difficult problems with ease; requires facts as evidence, or foundation principles, from which to draw conclusions; possess extra fine business abilities; can determine the intrinsic value of things at a glance, so can decide quickly and will act promptly. This would secure success as a rule. The moral faculties are in the ascendency and are apt to be the ruling element of his nature. AGE 27.%%%% PROF. C. A. HEWES.

Expectancy of Spiritual Unveiling

Pastor C. T. Russell, at twenty-seven, presents to us an open spiritual countenance, as of one who has long since left the world behind with all its allurements, and mentally dwells on an expectancy of spiritual unveiling. There is latency there yet to be developed and tested. The perceptive faculties located across the forehead and above the eyes are becoming strongly in evidence. This is conjunction with the "three-story" top head, indicative of very large religious organs, gives the owner a spiritual discerning eye and an interpretative talent of a high order. His very large individuality gives the power of very close discernment and discrimination, especially as regards the shades and meaning of words and in their relative bearing to the text and context under consideration. Very little ever escaped his keen observation. Large language, order, color, computation and constructive ability are in evidence. His memory of forms, designs and faces, indicated by the great width between the eyes, is extradordinary. The peculiarly shaped mouth which is large, implies a very generous heart and spirit utterly devoid of selfishness. The forehead at this age of twenty-seven has become somewhat sloping and higher, indicating more the interpreter, observer, classifier rather than the ordinary and logician. Having the motive- mental temperament in refinement, and coupled with large intuitive powers, spiritual truths would dawn upon such a mind rather than by a labored process of reasoning.

PROF. EDMUND G. WALTERS.

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The Young Theologian

CHAPTER V-PASTOR RUSSELL’S ORDINATION

HIS EDUCATION IN HEBREW AND GREEK- THOROUGHNESS AS A BIBLE STUDENT

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Many of his opponents have been very severe in their criticism of pastor Russell, because he was not a Hebrew and Greek Scholar, hence are very much like the Pharisees of Our Lord’s day who said of Him, "How hath this man learned letters?" Neither was a College graduate, you see! This class also perceived that the "Apostles were ignorant and unlearned men," therefore were not qualified to teach, to instruct those "wise in their own conceits." Let us quote again Pastor Russell’s own words, as they relate to this point:

"As respects my education in Greek and Hebrew, let me say, Not only do I not claim very special knowledge of either language, but I claim that not one minister in a thousand is either a Greek or Hebrew Scholar. To be able to spell out a few Greek words is of no earthly value. Nor is it necessary longer to study these languages in order to have a knowledge of the Bible. Our Presbyterian friends have gotten out at great cost Young’s Analytical Hebrew, Chaldaic, Greek and English Lexicon- Concordance, which anyone may procure. And our Methodists friends have issued a similar work, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and Lexicon. And there is still and older one entitled, Englishman’s Hebrew, Chaldaic, Greek and English Lexicon and Concordance. Additionally, Liddell and Scott’s Greek Lexicon is a standard authority. By the use of these works scholarlyinformation respecting the original text of the Bible is

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obtainable. I have all four of these works and have used them faithfully. Very few College Professors, even, would risk giving a critical translation of any text of Scripture without consulting these works of reference, which are standard. Additionally, I remind you of many translations of the Bible now extant-all of them very good. I have all these and find them useful in comparison and study of any text- one sometimes giving a thought which another does not. The other day for curiosity’s sake, I counted the Bibles in different translations, in my study, and found that I have thirty-two.

The whole nominal church system, without respect to the particular denomination, is honey-combed with error in practically all essentials respecting forms, as well as doctrines. For instance, they all err in respect to the matter of ordination of ministers, and their general belief is that those in higher-up positions must assemble themselves together in a sort of hierarchal cabal and after much flamboyant flourish proceed to the solemn hocus-pocus of transforming the subject of their mystical maneuvers from what he was—a layman in the Church—to what he is not, a "reverend," or perchance a "doctor of divinity," meaning, I presume, that Divinity is sick and needs "doctoring," consequently these gentlemen are qualified for the services; as a result we have the "Reverend Doctor So and So." Strange is the fact that these "wise gentlemen cannot see how absurd is their position respecting "ordination." The following lines gives the logic of the situation clearly:

So easily are Bishops made By man or woman’s whim; Wesley his hands on Coke hath laid, But who laid hands on him?

Thus did hocus-pocus, in Wesley’s day, enable him

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to "create" something superior to or greater than himself. As a result this man-made "ordination" has come to be generally recognized and practiced by all the systems of Christendom-so called. The delusion, therefore, has fastened itself so firmly on the minds of all-popes, priests and preachers as well as the laity-that without some such legerdemain no one should be regarded as qualified of God to expound His Divine Word of Truth, even though the Lord had absolutely nothing to do with the trickery these gentlemen thus practice upon themselves and others. Here again we hear Pastor Russell expounding the Scriptural view:

"There are two ordinations proper. One is of God; one of men. The ordination of God is the begetting of the Holy Spirit. If any are preaching without this ordination they are doing something they are not authorized to do. There comes, however, another special ordination of those who are called Ministers of the Gospel, in which class I count myself. This is the ordination by the Church, and is recognized everywhere. By some it is considered a mere form, by some it is performed with great ceremony, by others which less ceremony. But to our understanding each congregation should have those whom it has chosen in the Scriptural way-by the stretching forth of the hands- by a vote. as their ministers, preachers, elders. Whoever has not been ordained in these two ways is not an ordained minister of the Gospel in the Scriptural sense. First, the Divine ordination is necessary; second, the earthly ordination is necessary. By the grace of God I have both of these."

Once upon being asked from what Theological School he was graduated, he replied:

"I am still in the School of Christ, and so have not

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been graduated. We get our Theology from the Bible. Some of our friends have taken their Theology otherwise, have taken it from human instruction, and afterward found that they had wasted their time. Some things they were taught were Scriptural, while others were sectarian. We are simply trying to find out what the Bible teaches. As Saint Paul said to Timothy, so we too desire to do: ‘Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.’ The Apostle did not tell Timothy to go to some Theological School, or tell him which would be the proper one to attend if he wished to become confused. He merely told the young man to Study, then rightly divide the Word of Truth- to see what portions refer to natural Israel and which refer to Spiritual Israel; which are earthly promises, belonging to the Natural man, and which are Spiritual promises, belonging to the Christian; which belong to the present and which to the future. Some of our numbers have been graduated from a Theological Seminary. At the times of their graduation they thought their school was the best. But since they entered the School of Christ, they find they would have been much better off if they had not gone to the Seminary at all, for it took many months, and in some instances years, to get out of their heads the errors which were drilled into them."

MASTER OF THE BEST ENGLISH

An able critic and student of history and of the Bible once wrote of this remarkable man:

Pastor Russell’s style exhibits remarkable ability to condense great volume of thought into a small compass of words. Hundreds of paragraphs could be cited that are marvels for the number of important thoughts they contain. His writings and sayings abound with epigrams.

"Their exact conformity to all the rules of language to the demands of exact grammatical construction, to

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the finest points of punctuation, and other little details of precision, to the nicest requirements of rhetorical elegance, and to the strictest exactions of logic, stamp the author as a variable master of the best English spoken in his day. Many passages from his pen deserve to be handed down along with the words of such masters as Addison, De Quincy and Hawthorne as examples of excellence in the use of the mother-tongue.

"Nor should it be presumed that his style is too exalted to reach the common reader. Notwithstanding its elegance, it is plain, direct and simple. His strongest hold has been upon those who could be reached only by such methods. Whether as a writer or as platform speaker, he was always easy to comprehend. His sparkling and inexhaustible fund of wit and humor added to the charm of his elegance and simplicity. Especially in conversation his tendency to artless mirth gave an enlivening tone to the dignity that naturally attended his sacred mission.

HIS THOROUGHNESS AS A BIBLE STUDENT

"His habitual quotation or citation, whenever such became necessary, from authorities of the highest standing among scholars, proves that his library contained the very cream of gleanings from all the works of men, whether in history, science, philosophy, or whatever line. He did not ignore the authorities in these various lines; on the contrary, he was manifestly conversant with them. He knew which were the best in their line; he knew what they said on any point that came in contact with his own work; and he had their opinions at his finger-ends to use on the slightest requirement. An intelligent reading of his writings proves this to any careful analyst.

"And yet it is not strange to us that so bright a mind as he exhibited from earliest childhood, after devoting nearly half a century to the constant study and instruction of others, should have acquired such a grasp

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of the products of the best scholarship of his own other days.

"His frequent reference to the problems of proper translations of the Scriptures, so important a consideration in doctrinal studies, proves how faithful he was in the use of his library. Not himself a student of the classics in the original tongues, he is said to have had more than thirty translations of the Scriptures on his study table, and to have constantly used them; also all the standard concordances, best commentaries and other helps. As a result of his faithfulness and keen perception in the use of these, his writings abound in statements as to the proper translations from the Hebrew or the Greek; and his critics have likewise abounded, yet they have never been able to point us, with proofs, to any important particular in which he has misstated facts or drawn unwarrantable conclusions as to proper translations. It is manifest, therefore, that his knowledge of the Greek and the Hebrew was far greater than any acquired by any youth in a four years’ course at a college.

"His was a remarkable ability to adapt to his own uses all the knowledge of others. In pursuing this method, he was not peculiar; for it is the method of many of earth’s brightest minds. It is said of Edison, the wizard of invention, that in approaching any view problem, he first has his librarian bring him the subject, so that he need not waste his time in digging out any point that has already been brought out by others. He can then begin where they left off.

"That is what Pastor Russell did; and his particular genius lay in the fact that he was able to go on from where others stopped, and so blazed the trail of progress. Such work requires originality of the most striking type. And it is striking of these geniuses that they are humble enough to rely on their predecessors for whatever of good can thus be obtained.

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"His great success as a leader of progress was mainly due to his habit of thoroughness as a student. Therefore in his study of the Bible he was thorough. It was this very thoroughness that enabled him to discover the harmony of the Bible, where others had failed to see. His own experience led him to introduce his thorough method of Bible study to others. He thus revolutionized all existing ideas as to the proper methods of approaching the Bible in a way to understand its teachings."

DROP A PEBBLE IN THE WATER!

DROP a pebble in the water, just a splash and it is gone—But there’re half a hundred ripples, circling on and on and on, They are spreading, spreading, spreading, and the ripples and fall, While the music of their swelling brings a thought for one and all: As you watch the waves of water as they widen round and round, Think how simple were their starting—just a pebble from the ground!

DROP an unkind word or careless, in a second it is gone—But there’re half a hundred ripples, circling on and on and on, They are spreading, ever spreading, from the center as they go, And there’s not a way to stop them once you’ve started them to flow; And perhaps some sad heart, a mighty wave of tears you’ve stirred, And disturbed a life once happy—when you’ve dropped that unkind word.

DROP a word of cheer and kindness, in a moment it is gone—But there’re half a hundred ripples, circling on and on and on, Bearing songs of hope and gladness on each buoyant joyous wave, Till you’d not believe the volume from the little thought you gave; And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music may be heard Circling miles and miles around you-just by dropping that kind word!

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"Satisfied With Jesus"

by Ida Jubbard Riggs

I am satisfied with Jesus, But a question comes to me, |As I ponder on His goodness, Is He satisfied with me?

CHORUS: Is my Master satisfied? Is He satisfied with me? I am satisfied with Jesus, Is He satisfied with me?

Am I kind in word and action; Am I all I ought to be; Am I always His defender; Is He satisfied with me?

Do I tell the blessed story Of the Christ on Calvary; How He left His home in glory; Is He satisfied with me?

Grant me, lord, of Thy rich favor, To be more and more like Thee, Till I shall reflect Thy likeness, And Thou’rt satisfied with me.

CHORUS TO LAST VERSE: Till my Master’s satisfied, Till He’s satisfied with me, Till I shall reflect His likeness, And He’s satisfied with me.

CHAPTER VI-PASTOR RUSSELL’S DOCTRINES

RANSOM THE FOUNDATION—RESTITUTION THE RESULT

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When, in 1872, Pastor Russell came to examine the subject of restitution from the standpoint of the ransom-price given by our Lord Jesus for Adam, and consequently for all lost in Adam, it settled the matter of Restitution completely in his mind and gave him the fullest assurance that ALL must come forth from their graves and be brought to a clear knowledge of the Truth and to a full opportunity to gain everlasting life through Christ. He many times stated that the years following, on to 1876, were years of continued growth in grace and knowledge on the part of the handful of Bible Students with whom he met in Allegheny; and these gradually progressed from their first crude and indefinite ideas of Restitution to clearer understanding of the details; but God’s due time for clearer light had not come. During this time these Berean Bible Students came to recognize the difference between our Lord as the man who gave Himself, and the One who would come again as a Spirit Being. This was the clue: and following it, they were led through prophetic time to proper views regarding the Object and Manner of our Lord’s Return, and then to the examination of the time when the things indicated in God’s Word, as related to Christ’s Parousia, should take place. Thus God leads His children from different starting points of Truth. But

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where the heart is earnest and trustful, the result must be to draw all together.

We wish to quote the subject of this sketch again as to his doctrines:

"To us the Scriptures clearly teach that the Church is the Temple of the living God, peculiarly His workmanship. Its construction has been in progress throughout the Gospel Age-ever since Christ became the world’s Redeemer and Chief Corner Stone of His temple, through which, when finished, God’s blessings shall flow to all people who find access to him. That meantime the chiseling, shaping, polishing of consecrated believers in Christ’s Atonement for sin progresses, and when the last of these living stones, ‘elect and precious,’ shall have been made ready, the great Master Workman will bring all together in the First Resurrection. Then the Temple shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, and be the meeting place between God and men throughout the Millennium. We affirm the pre-existence of Jesus as the mighty Word of God, Logos or Spokesman, —’the beginning of the Creation of God,’ ‘the first born of every creature,’ the active agent of the Heavenly Father, in all His mighty creative works. ‘Without him was not anything made that was made.’ We affirm that the ‘Word—(Greek, Logos)—was made flesh, became the Babe of Bethlehem, and finally became the Man Jesus, ‘holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.’ As we thus affirm the humanity of Jesus, we equally affirm the Divinity of Christ, for ‘God hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name above every name.’

"We acknowledge that the personality of the Holy Spirit is the Father and the Son; that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both, and is manifested in all who receive the begetting of the Holy Spirit and thereby become sons of God. We affirm the resurrection of Christ—that he was put to death in the flesh but quickened

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in the Spirit. We deny that he was raised in the flesh and challenge any statement to that effect as being unscriptural. That the basis of hope, for the Church and for the world, lies in the fact that ‘Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man,’-‘gave Himself a Ransom for all,’ and will be the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.’ That the hope of the Church is that she may be like her Lord, ‘see Him as He is,’ be ‘partakers of the Divine nature,’ and share His glory as His joint-heir. That the present mission of the Church is the perfecting of the Saints for the future work of service; to develop in herself every grace; to be God’s witnesses to the World; to prepare themselves to be Kings and Priests in the next age. That the hope for the world lies in the blessings of knowledge and opportunity to be brought to all by Christ’s Millennial Kingdom—the Restitution of all that was lost in Adam to all the willing and obedient, at the hands of their redeemer and His glorified Church. Then all the wilfully wicked will be destroyed.

He clearly taught and proved his teachings by the citation of Scriptural authority—that man does not possess an immortal soul, that he is a soul and is mortal; that the wages of sin is death, not eternal torment; that death came upon man as the just penalty for the violation of God’s Law; that death mean the destruction of man; that God, in His goodness, has provided the great Ransom price whereby man may be delivered from the bondage of Sin and Death; that God’s beloved Son, Jesus, became a man and raised again from the dead a Spirit-being, possessing the Divine nature; that by His death and resurrection Christ Jesus provided and produced the Ransom price for man’s deliverance and restoration; that Jesus

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Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man; that every man in God’s due time must, therefore, have fair trial for life, and to this end there shall be a resurrection of all the dead; that Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven and must come the second time; that the period of time elapsing between the First and the Second Coming of the Lord is devoted to the election of the members of the Body of Christ, taken from amongst men; that the requirements for election to that exalted position are, full faith in the shed blood of Jesus as the ransom-price, a full consecration to do the Father’s will, and a faithful continuance in obedience to the father’s will even unto death; that all who thus are consecrated and begotten of the Holy Spirit and are overcomers shall have part in the Chief Resurrection, and be exalted to positions in the Heavenly Kingdom of God and participate with Christ Jesus in His Millennial Reign for the blessing of all the families of the earth; that during the thousand-year reign of Christ all of the dead shall be awakened, and given a fair and impartial trial for life or death; that under said reign the willfully disobedient shall be everlastingly destroyed, while those obedient to the righteous rule of Christ shall be fully restored to human perfection of body, mind and character; that during this Millennial Reign the earth shall be brought to an Edenic state-made fit as a place habitable for perfect man, that man, fully restored, will inhabit the beautiful earth in all the ages to come.

The fundamental error of all religious teachings of both Christendom (so-called), and of Heathendom, as generally recognized, has been, and is, that when a man is dead he is more alive than he was while living-a delusion based

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upon the first lie ever told-Satan himself being the author thereof. This great stronghold of error, the subject of this sketch, assaulted with all the fervor of his convictions, and this without compromise, neither asking nor giving quarters, his purpose having been to remove the foul stain that has been attached to the name of our loving Heavenly Father, by practically all the creeds of "Christendom" and which have been handed down to us from the Dark Ages, when the most atrocious things were done in the name of God, of Christ, of Christianity. His purpose ever was to assist mankind to a right understanding and proper appreciation of the Divine Character; and to this end he bent all the powers of his being.

Thus, he taught and encouraged all to eliminate from their minds every suggestion of the thought of a God of Vengeance, of Torment, of Hate; and to supplant these horrible demoniacal nightmares with the beautiful, soul-satisfying vision of a God of Love and of Justice, such indeed as an intelligent understanding of the Bible shows its Author to be. He pointed us to the way to worship God in sincerity and truth, and no other kind of worship is at all acceptable to Him. Formerly we stood in slavish fear of a God of hate, of vengeance, a mean God, who took delight in torturing His helpless creatures, a God whom no one in reality could possibly love in the true sense; but all who believed in such a God would necessarily fear Him with slavish fear; therefore, would seek to propitiate His wrath very much as the Chinese do their Joss (god) and the Moslems do Mohammed (god).

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SOMEWHERE THE LIGHT IS SHINING

SOMEWHERE the light is shining. Somewhere ‘tis always day. Cease then thy soul’s repining Where gleams of glory bright Pierce through the night clouds riven, Flooding thine eyes with light.

SOMEWHERE there are no shadows Somewhere there is no night, Somewhere there is no blindness, Somewhere ‘tis always light, After life’s span of sorrow, There’ll be glad to-morrow, There be life’s perfect day.

SOMEWHERE the cooling zephyrs Fan fevered, careworn brow; Somewhere delicious fragrance Floats from the blooming bough. Somewhere no storms are raging, Somewhere there’s sweet relief, Somewhere no tears are falling. Somewhere there is no grief.

SOMEWHERE the light we long for Conquers the cloud and gloom, Until the life we pray for Penetrates e’en the tomb. Faint not because the darkness Now settles dense and drear, |Beyond the cloud is sunshine Scale them and do not fear.

The Christianity which shines as brightly in the home and business as in the congregation of the Lord’s people

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The Father of Christianity

CHAPTER VII-PASTOR RUSSELL’S TEACHINGS

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN

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Naturally of a reverential mind, desiring to worship and serve the true God, he reasoned, "All the creeds of Christendom claim to be founded on the Bible, and these are conflicting. Is it possible that the Bible has been misrepresented? It may not teach the terrible doctrine of eternal torment." Turning again to the Bible he determined to make a careful, systematic study of it without reference to creeds of men. As a result the remainder of his life was wholly devoted to teaching the Bible, writing and publishing religious books and papers, lecturing and proclaiming the message of Messiah’s Kingdom. He was the greatest religious teacher since Saint Paul, and did more than any other man of modern times to establish the faith of the people in the Scriptures.

He was not the founder of a new religion, and never made such claim. He revived the great truths taught by Jesus and the Apostles, and turned the light of the twentieth century upon these. He made non claim of a special revelation from God, but held that it was God’s due time for the Bible to be understood; and that, being fully consecrated to the Lord and to His service, he was permitted to understand it. Because he devoted himself to the development of the fruits and graces of the Holy Spirit, the promise was fulfilled in him: "For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither

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be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

"We who have come to realize our Father’s unspeakable favor to us as better than this present life with all it could have or give, we who have joyfully laid upon His altar every earthly good thing, every hope and ambition, every power of our being, rejoice to tell the good tidings to others. We rejoice to sound forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His Marvelous light. The message is too good to keep! If we could not proclaim it, it would be as a burning fire shut up in our bones, so we must tell it. And we are willing that the telling of it should cost us something-cost us money, cost us the misunderstanding and persecution of former friends, and possibly the breaking of home ties. We are willing that it shall cost us the frown of the world and of organized Churchianity. So—

"Sun of my soul, my Father dear, I know no might when thou art near."

—PASTOR RUSSELL.

The prime object in the life of Pastor Russell was to honor and magnify the name of the Great Jehovah, the All-Wise Creator, and to assist use in preparing a people for His name by the consistent use of his versatile talents, with which by nature he was richly endowed. Day and night he labored to this end without desiring the praise and approbation of men seeking no personal advancements in any sense whatsoever. To spend and be spent, was the impelling theme of his life, as well as all who knew him best can testify. He would never ask another to do what he himself would be unwilling to do. In these respects, as in many others, he was a notable example of what a footstep follower of the humble lowly Nazarene, who sought not to please Himself

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should be. Verily he practiced what he preached to the minutest detail. Truly he was a living, breathing Epistle of Christ. Few indeed could enter his presence without being conscious of the fact that they were in communication or touch with a most unusual person, verily "a man of God," as many were heard to exclaim after meeting him if only for the first-time. He not only gave us the "Keys to the Scriptures," but stood by like a faithful, loving shepherd and instructed us how to use these. But sad to say, all have not profited by the knowledge gained respecting these "Keys," for many have failed to put into practice the instruction given them as to the proper uses. Some have grown "wise in their own conceits," so think they know more than "that wise Servant," to whom God revealed these wonderful truths, through which they were led to a full consecration and intelligent worship of Him and service of His cause. While on the other hand many have "grown weary in well-doing," grown tired of their contract, indifferent to their covenant by sacrifice, so are losing the joy that at one time was so enrapturing. How easily it seems for some to lose their first glow of love for the Lord and the truth as he was pleased to give it to us through "that wise Servant."

We here give a few of his cogent, pungent statements, as they relate to the New Creature: "The Bible clearly indicates that there will come a time when we shall find it necessary to stand fast for Principle, from which we should never depart. Whoever violates this principle will surely do himself a great injury, no matter how well intentioned he may be." Further, "There never was a time when more courage and strength were needed than now." And again, " The Lord will not

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accept undeveloped sprouts for the Kingdom. He is seeking for strong oaks, sturdy trees of Righteousness." Result: There may be times when even the brethren will be grieved, rather than pleased, in respect to our efforts to serve them."

"Many of the Lord’s children, after years of labor in seeking to cleanse themselves of the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, now alas! see more of their own blemishes than they discerned at first, even though they have gotten rid of much of this natural filthiness, selfishness, etc. This would make the work of cleansing a very discouraging one if it were not for the assurance of the Lord’s Word that He regards us, not according to the flesh, but according to our intentions, our desires, our endeavors. He reckons us as overcomers, because of our good endeavors, good warfare against the natural blemishes, whatever may be the measure of our success.

"There are certain principles laid down in God’s Word. We need to get a grasp of these principles and apply them in our daily lives. For instance, there is the Principle of Justice -a foundation principle. And this must be recognized and practiced before we are in a proper condition to build upon this foundation (Justice) the principle of love, mercy, gentleness, etc., all of which must be incorporated into our lives, and characters as children of God. We need to learn what Justice means, what true Love means. We should be able to distinguish between truth and error on this and every other important point."—PASTOR RUSSELL.

Let this thought stand out, stand fast and so never be forgotten: "The only things what may not be yielded to the Majority, are matters of conscience. No one is to do what he believes to be wrong, even if all the brethren think it to be right. Conscience is never to be throttled or violated; nor is one who stands faithful to his conscience

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to be disesteemed. On the contrary his courage should be considered estimable."

"Courage, fortitude, persistence in the service of the Lord are very necessary to the child of God. Whoever lacks these traits of character is pretty sure to make poor success. Lack of courage, lack of hope, is one of the chief causes of failure in life.

"The Lord is seeking people of strong wills, strong characters. Therefore, there must be a positive turning to the Lord and a definite covenant made with Him at the first, or else we are not acceptable to the Father. Then after we come into His family we find that some things that we thought were all right were all wrong, and must be corrected. And in proportion as we have in our past life ruled our minds, controlled our fleshly appetites and impulses, in that proportion we shall make slow or rapid progress in the new way." —PASTOR RUSSELL.

HE TAUGHT THE TRUE MEANING OF THE TERM CHRISTIAN

Here again we have "that Servant’s" further exposition respecting Christian character:

"The qualities of meekness, gentleness, patience, etc., are qualities that belonged to the first man when he was created in the image and likeness of God. They are, therefore, human qualities that may be cultivated to a certain extent by any human being, and should be striven for by all. But as a matter of fact, as a result of the fall, selfishness and general meanness have depraved the appetites and ways of all mankind to so great an extent that, ‘there is none righteous.’ Hence, no natural man would have these glorious traits of character fully developed, though there is certainly a difference between the development of some and that of others.

"We see, however, that aside from these natural

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graces, some worldly people have assumed something of the various graces of the spirit? In their business they attempt to be gentle, and properly so. It is considered a part of the proper conduct of colleges and especially female seminaries, to instruct the young in politeness, in what to say and what not to say; in how to say things and how not to say things; and all of this brings an outward smoothness to these persons in their general deportment. In such cases, however, the smoothness is cultivated because of the idea this constitutes ‘good breeding’; that is what any lady or gentleman should do or say; and thus it may be a mere veneer, not really affecting the sentiments of the heart. The person may be outwardly very calm and smooth and pleasant, and yet at heart feel very sour and envious and mean.

"Those who are merely outward observers might not be able to discern whether that man or woman was actuated by the proper spirit or not. They might not be able to know whether these evidences were the ‘fruits of the spirit’ or fruits of a good education, but anyone knowing well the private life of such persons would be sure to discern the facts, because, as the old expression has it, ‘murder will out,’ and these persons while the might preserve a smooth outward demeanor, would occasionally, in private at least, demonstrate that they at heart were not in sympathy with their outward demeanor, but that it was merely a veneer, and to that extent, hypocrisy. Perhaps a measure of hypocrisy in that sense would be advisable for some people; it might be better for them to put on a little veneer if they can not have the genuine article; better that they should appear smooth, rather than appear rough; it would at least help the world along a little for them to be as smooth as they are able in their general dealings.

"With the Christian these graces are developed from within. Whatever he may have been naturally, smooth or rough, the New Creature approves and cultivates

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these graces in the heart, and they reach from the heart all the way to the surface. It is the New Mind that is regulating the New Creature; and the New Creature instead of having smoothness merely on the outside, has it running clear through the grain to the very core. This New Creature, thus developing, may not at all times have as smooth an outward exterior as some of the old creatures who have the veneer for sake of money or for other reasons. They may have worse natural dispositions; they may have naturally less patience or less sympathy, or may be moved by such honesty as would lead them to avoid saying anything different from what they thought or would feel, anything different from what would be their true sentiments; and their sentiments not having reached the right point, sometimes might impel them to say the wrong thing. These, of course, should learn to govern the outward man even before all their sentiments have come into fullest sympathy with the spirit of the Lord. They should recognize the proprieties of outward conduct, and speedily get into line with these proprieties, and as rapidly as possible bring every sentiment into full accord with the spirit of the Lord; that they may become more and more kind and loving and helpful to others, and thus ‘show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light."

As this Godly man taught, so he lived—lived according to the Spirit.

Pastor Russell consistently taught his readers what it meant to be a Christian and how to really become such—a true follower of the lowly and humble Nazarene, who gave up all the joys of the Heavenly realm and came down to the sin-cursed earth in order to do the will of His Father in Heaven. This was the delight of the Son’s heart; so all who would be joint-heirs with him in His inheritance must likewise find delight in doing God’s

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will. A solemn suggestion: " Has reaction followed the glowing enthusiasm of our first love? Has the feeble flesh grown weary in the difficult journey? Do temptations all around us call us away from the course of sacrifice to present gratification?" Surely it is a test of endurance! Who shall be able to stand against the wiles of the devil?

WHAT IS VICTORY

When you are disappointed, your tastes offended, your advise disregarded, set at nought, your wishes crossed, and you take it all in patience,

THIS IS VICTORY!

When you will not approve by word or silent acquiescence, exaggeration, evil speaking, vain imaginations, or perverse conduct,

THIS IS VICTORY!

When you do not love to refer to yourself in conversation, nor glory in your own pious deeds, when you can in honor prefer others,

THIS IS VICTORY!

When you can be conscientious under all conditions, when you can be faithful in things small and great, when you can practice true Christianity equally in your home as in public life,

THIS IS VICTORY!

When you have stumbled into error, weakness or sin, or seem overwhelmed by discouragement, suffering or wrong, and you thereafter grasp more firmly the hand of the Lord,

THIS IS VICTORY!

When you can count all earthly desires and ambitions as loss and dross compared to the full approval of the heavenly King,

THIS IS VICTORY!

When you can stand face to face with the opponents of truth, and righteousness, who misunderstand, hate, and persecute you; and you faithfully endure it all as Jesus did,

THIS IS VICTORY!

CHAPTER VIII-HIS OFFICE, WORK AND SERVICE

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As elsewhere shown, I think it is conclusively established from direct and indisputable Scriptural evidence that the office of "that servant" was to be filled by an individual, and not by a collective number of individuals, as some contend, and was so filled; generally speaking, I believe Bible Students are of one mind respecting this point: herein at least they "see eye to eye," however diverse their views may be on some other matters. I say, therefore, with confidence, that any individual or aggregation of individuals who assume a position divergent from this, are doing so at the cost of their "reputation" among Bible Students; for before the affairs of the Church upon earth are wound up they will undoubtedly find themselves in a most embarrassing position. I trust, then, that we can all heartily endorse the following statement from the "Memorial" number of The Watch Tower of December 1, 1916: "Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell’s writings believe that he filled the office of "that faithful and wise Servant,’ and that his great work was given to the household of faith the meat in due season."

It is confidently asserted that no individual, nor aggregation of individuals, has ever brought forth such meat for the entire "household"; though it is quite true that many have assisted in keeping the "household fires burning" by "stirring up our pure minds by way of remembrance," and by stimulating our faith in various other ways. The "meat is the plan of God," as so clearly and

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vigorously set forth in the Studies in the Scriptures, reinforced and amplified from time to time through the columns of The Watch Tower—the vehicle the Lord, through "that Servant," devised and established for carrying the amplified message, which, however, was to always be according to our Lord’s provision and purpose, in harmony with the Studies in the Scriptures, and therefore to have the very same flavor of delectable sweetness-truly a "sweetsavor" to the palate of the entire household." As "that Servant" wisely said, there are general "principles laid down in the Scriptures, and we are privileged to follow these closely or loosely, as we prefer, for God has a liberal way of dealing with us," saying additionally, "We should know what we believe and why we believe it; then be courageous and uncompromising in declaring the Truth. Some have neglected the plain statements of God’s Word and as a result have suffered spiritually for their disobedience."

SIFTINGS TO CONTINUE UNTIL ALL ARE TRIED

"We want to put you all on notice that the shaking and sifting process, so far from being over and past, is bound to progress more and more until all have been tried and tested thoroughly. It is not a question of who may fall; but of ‘Who shall be able to stand?’ as the Apostle puts it. And we have need of the admonition, ‘Let him who thinketh he standeth—who feels very confident, as did Saint Peter-take heed lest he fall.’ This doctrine of another way of salvation than by the Cross of Christ, is not only the error which is, and has been, since 1874, sifting all who come into light of Present truth, but it is to come upon the whole of so-called Christendom to try them. It is already spreading among all classes of Christian people,

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especially among ministers of all denominations. The number who believe that Christ’s death paid our sin-penalty is daily getting smaller, and before very long there will be a regular stampede from the doctrine of man’s fall in Adam and his ransom from that fall by the Man Christ-Jesus. As the Psalmist prophetically pictured it, a thousand shall fall to one who will stand.

The time has come for each to declare himself boldly. He who is not for the Cross, the Ransom, is against it! He that gathereth not, scattereth abroad! He who is silent on this subject when it is being assailed by foes on every hand, whether it be the silence of fear, or of shame, or indifference, is not worthy of the Truth, and will surely be one to stumble quickly. He who from any cause sits idly by, while the banner of the Cross is being assailed, is not a soldier of the Cross worthy of the name, and will not be reckoned among the overcomers who shall inherit all things.

"And God is permitting these siftings, in order to sift out all who are not overcomers, and to test and manifest the little flock, who, like Gideon’s final army, will, though few, share the victory and honors of their Captain in glory.

"Are you prepared for the issues, dear brethren and sisters? The armor of truth has been given you for some time in the past. Have you put it on? Have you made it your shield and buckler? your defense against all the wily arts of the evil one?

"Do not be deceived by the agents Satan often makes use of. In this he will be as cunning as in his presentation of the deceptive misrepresentations of the truth, making unwilling use of many a weaker brother, and to some extent of every stumbling and deceived one. And while every child of God should take earnest heed, that he prove not an occasion of stumbling to any, we can not doubt that every one, through some instrumentality, will be assailed.

"Aptly indeed did the prophet liken it to a pestilence.

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A pestilence spreads, because people are in a physical condition which renders them susceptible to the disease. Physicians say that those systems are in good, healthy order, are in little danger of any disease. So it is with a spiritual pestilence: it will flourish not only because all will be exposed to it who have not a clear intellectual appreciation of the doctrines of Christ, but from another cause also. Out of the heart are the issues of life, and most needful of all to be in the right condition, is the heart, self-conscious, self-willed? If so, TAKE CARE: You will be very liable to this epidemic, no matter how far from it you say seem to be. Therefore pray for

A heart resigned, submissive, meek, The dear Redeemer’s throne, Where only Christ is heard to speak, Where Jesus reigns alone.

"With such a heart you are safe. In meekness and lowliness you will never think of redeeming yourself from the condemnation inherited from Adam, by sacrificing present sinful desires, but you will flee to the Cross, where God Himself opened the Foundation for cleansing.

"We presume this statement of facts will offend some, though it is not designed to offend any. It is written for the defense of the meek against the sophistries of error. ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord (into the kingdom)? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hand and a pure heart. (Who is diligently fashioning himself after the principles of holiness); who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (who cultivates no earthly ambitions or pride, but patiently waits for the glory to follow the course of present self sacrifice), nor swarn deceitfully (ignoring or despising his covenant with God): he shall receive the blessing of the Lord (the kingdom, glory and joint-heirship with Christ), and righteousness (perfection-

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full deliverance from present infirmities) from the God of his salvation.’ Therefore, let all fully awake to the trial of the hour; and while many are putting stumbling blocks in the way of the ‘feet of Him,’ let every soldier of the Cross be vigilant not only to show, but to assist others to stand."- PASTOR RUSSELL, in 1906.

Awake my soul, stretch ev’ry nerve, And press with vigor on, A heavenly race demands thy zeal, And an immortal crown.

I am sure that the most of those who will read these lines are fully persuaded that Pastor Russell did this very thing, -followed Saint Paul in the sense that the Apostle followed Christ; and so at the conclusion of the Pastor’s course he undoubtedly had the same, or similar experience, expressed by the great Apostle—"I am now ready to be offered." If Charles Taze Russell had such experience, and reason declares that he had, it is a self- evident truth that he was faithful and wise, and so fulfilled the office of "that Servant," therefore was enabled to report the matter and say, "I have done as Thou hast commanded me."

"The place we occupy in the Kingdom will depend upon the extent we become ministers, or servants. And if we try to get as much as possible out of others and to give as little as possible, we shall not be such characters as the Lord is seeking for ruler-ship in the Kingdom. He is seeking a very choice class. This class will all be servants, willing to serve, esteeming it a great privilege to lay down their lives in the service of the brethren; for the service of the brethren is the service of God, to whom they have professed to devote their lives."—PASTOR RUSSELL.

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SELECTIONS

"Love is the keynote of the Bible, notwithstanding the fact that it contains threatenings as well as promises, and declarations and manifestations of justice-if love should override His justice-it would be a terrible calamity for all those dependent upon Him. It would testify weakness of character instead of strength. It is the fact that God’s wisdom, justice, love and power operate in full harmony-in co-ordination-that gives us admiration for Him, confidence in Him, love for Him; and all these appreciations are intensified as we realize His unchangeableness."

"If we willfully refuse the leading of God’s holy Spirit, we forfeit the blessed relationship of sons. If we listlessly disregard this leading, we greatly endanger that relationship; and as surely as we are sons we shall receive chastisement for our correction and discipline. But while we should be grateful for such a restraining hand, for this rod of correction, if we need it, yet we should be very careful to require as little of it as possible. ‘If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged’ of the Lord. However, with the most careful and prayerful watchings against the uprising of the old will and of the flesh, we will doubtless make many mistakes and need some chastenings from the Lord; for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?’"

"In the difficult course before us, and in view of all the dangers that beset us, the pitfalls laid for our feet, the weakness of our own unaided efforts, how blessed is the promise of our father in Heaven to give His holy Spirit to them that ask Him! How precious the assurance that if we are filled with the Spirit we shall not fulfil the desires of the flesh, but shall be able to mortify the deeds of the body, that we may live! How necessary it is to live near the Fountain of all grace, to pray without ceasing and watch with all perseverance!"

"We want to be gentle but firm; we want to remember what they said of the Apostles in the early church, ‘They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.’ We want to make our bosom companion the Lord Jesus. We want to be with Jesus, and those who have most of His character-likeness. Such as have His spirit will be most like Him. They are those who have the ‘Spirit of Christ.’ If a spirit begotten New Creature fails to see the privilege of cultivating the Master’s spirit it is because he is not making progress."—PASTOR RUSSELL.

CHAPTER IX-VOLUME AND CHARACTER OF HIS WORK

TO HIM DUTY WAS LAW

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Let us now look somewhat at the volume and the character of the Work done by "that Servant," in both of which respects he stood in a class by himself. Aside from the character of the work which will be considered elsewhere in this book, the amount he performed, when summed up, seems almost incredible. He was actively engaged in the Lord’s work for forty-two years. During that entire time he was never known to take a vacation; but instead, seven days a week he would be found at his post of duty—and duty to him was pleasure. Once when reminded by a certain brother, rather reprovingly, that he was over-taxing his strength, he replied characteristically that he would have all eternity in which to rest—if he worked faithfully while here.

In the amount of work he performed it is doubtful whether it was ever equalled by any human being. Though for fifty years he was a victim of sick headaches, for forty years a sufferer from cistitis, and for twenty-five years was afflicted with distressing hemorrhoids, to such an extent was this true, that often he could not rest comfortably in the easiest chair, yet he never "slackened his hand" nor abated his energies, neither did his purpose intermit. Where duty called, or danger, he was never wanting there.

Pastor Russell was a careful statistician and methodical

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in all his activities. Office records were kept if his individual travels, places and distances, also the services rendered. These records show the following astounding totals: Traveled more than a million miles, not infrequently 50,000 miles a year, delivered 30,000 lectures, sermons and table talks (many of his public lectures being from two and one-half to three hours in length); and wrote more than 50,000 book pages.

Besides this monumental work in itself, he personally wrote practically all the matter that appeared in, and edited The Watch Tower, a twice-a-month journal of Biblical expositions and religious facts; in addition, he supervised the printing and publication of The Bible Students Monthly and The People’s Pulpit, both monthly papers, of four pages, which were distributed principally as volunteer matter, of free literature, to the Bible Students all over the world, and without charge. Sometimes 5000,000 to 1,000,000 of these religious papers would be distributed over greater New York to advertise one of Pastor Russell’s public lectures. These papers contained some of his previously delivered sermons and lectures in abbreviated or condensed form, and to thus prepare this matter involved much labor. Millions and millions of copies of these papers were printed and distributed annually, hence the hail-condensed, hard truth-fell broadcast over the earth.

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His Parish The World

The publication of this ‘free literature" gave all the Truth people, all over the world, an opportunity to have some part in witnessing to the near approach to the Kingdom. This plan was especially favorable to the sisters of every ecclesia, who for various reasons could not engage in the Colporteur service, to have a part in the Harvest

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Work. Likewise did this plan give opportunity for many brethren to do a little "broadcasting" of the message on Sundays, holidays and evenings, after work hours were over. Futhermore, this method was favorable to the dear "Conventioneers"-in going to and from the Convention, or while otherwise traveling on the trains, boats or by automobiles, to "scatter seeds of kindness" by the wayside. Sometimes fragments of such volunteer matter would be picked up by the roadway or out of the mud, and the "finder" would thus find the Truth. There is at least one authenic case of a piece of such tract being found in a "last year’s bird’s nest"; the finder thus becoming interested in the Truth and finally accepting it. The writer heard this testimony given at a Convention. Therefore, "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."

When we take into consideration the character of the articles that occurred twice a month in The Watch Tower and the preparation of copy for The Bible Student’ Monthly and The People’s Pulpit, we recognized that these alone would have constituted a monumental work for any average man, especially when we keep clearly in mind the fact that Pastor Russell scrutinized every detail in every department of this work. He was exacting as to the type, paper and mechanical results in the producing of the instruments used to herald the Kingdom Message. Everything, to the dotting of an i and the crossing of a t, must conform to his standard. That was what he ordered; what he expected to pay for; and what he insisted upon having. And he got it.

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THE UBIQUITOUS PREACHER

The London, England, Press spoke of Pastor Russell as the "Ubiquitous Preacher," for the reason that he traveled so extensively and "had the world for his congregation." From the Scriptural record the conclusion seems warranted that Saint Paul did more extensive traveling, and therefore, more evangelizing, than all the other Apostles combined- probably because he was especially the Apostle to the Gentiles. From his various pilgrimages, as noted from the Scriptural records, the supposition might be indulged that the people of that day also referred to him as the "Ubiquitous Preacher," yet in all probability in the total number of miles covered, his entire travels for the whole period of his ministry, would not equal an average year of Pastor Russell’s tours.

Saint Paul gives us a suggestion as to his wide experience in one of his epistles, by saying that, thrice he suffered shipwrecks, for twenty-four hours he was floating about in the open sea; in frequent travelings amid dangers in crossing rivers; then in danger of robbers; in danger from Jews; in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city; in danger in the desert; in danger by the sea; these and more he enumerated, concluding with the care he felt for all the churches he had established in his wide travels of that time. But people did not "run to and fro" in his day as now-only since "the time of the end" has the human family gone daffy on the subject of travel. It seems that their brains have become so feverish with the thought of the necessity of "running to and fro" that they would die of ennui if they should remain at home long at a time. Thus, in a sense, the whole world has become "pilgrims."

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But the travels and pilgrimages of the Apostle Paul, as compared with those of Pastor Russell, would be as a mere bagatelle, when the wide magnitude and scope of the territory covered are considered, together with the great difference in the methods and convenience of travel between the two periods of time—then and now. Conveniences of our time are such that Pastor Russell did the greater part of his traveling at night, while he slept, thus giving him the daytime in which to do his writing and preaching. Therefore, he was able to accomplish much more in the sense of magnitude than was possible in the Apostle’s day. God knew before hand what he wished accomplished at the close of this age—a world-wide witness of the truth—so He gave the necessary enlightenment to the minds of the people in order that present-day conveniences would be brought forth, primarily for the advancement of the interests of His own cause—the Truth. We recall how the Apostle says, "all things are yours," that means all the convenience of this day.

If the average high-salaried preacher of the present day were called upon to do anything like the traveling and preaching that Pastor Russell did he would most likely think he was being worked to death—or nearly so. Yet this was only one of the astounding things "that Servant" accomplished within Himself, while at the same time doing more than half a dozen other things of magnitude.

LECTURE BUREAU

Besides this he established a world-wide "Lecture Bureau" of usually about 70 thoroughly equipped Bible Lecturers, who gave daily two or more lectures on Bible topics-not on "Baseball," "Marathon Races," "Jazziness

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of Jazz Music," "The Latest Sensation," and things of such character. His thought was to instruct, not merely entertain the people, for he realized that they were "perishing for lack of knowledge." So he consistently pointed the feet of the Lord’s people to "the old paths, where is the good way." Thousands upon thousands harkened, and thousands upon thousands were blessed accordingly. This force of co-workers were his assistants, therefore representatives, and as such their course and work were subject to his immediate supervision and control. In addition to these regularly employed field- workers or pilgrims, there was an auxiliary field force of about 700 who gave only a portion of their time to lecturing on Bible subjects. To supervise this work was of itself the work of one able man.

COLPORTEUR SERVICE Another branch of the Harvest Work, which he inaugrated and also supervised, and which in some respects was least conspicuous, but at the same time was found to be the most efficient way of getting the Truth into the hands of the people, was the Colporteur Service. This plan while most unique was still the essence of simplicity. Never in all the history of the Church has there been anything like it, and particularly so as respects quick results. Consecrated men and women, who loved the Lord and appreciated what the Truth meant in their own lives, found their sweetest joy in going about over the streets of every city, town, village and hamlet in the land, yea, in every nook and corner of the most remote country districts, making a respectful presentation of the proposition showing the beauty and reasonableness of God’s great

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plan, as revealed in His Word and amplified in the volumes. To the untiring efforts and supreme devotion of this army of about 800 workers, much of the success of the harvest Work is due. This was the branch of the service nearest Brother Russell’s heart. As a class the Colporteurs were more highly esteemed by him than any of his co-workers, largely, no doubt, because they were the most self-sacrificing.

PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN

MORNING

DEAR FATHER, hear a little child Who offers thanks to thee; Through all the darkness thou hast kept A watch-care over me. O Father, keep me through this day, I would to thee belong; May kindness rule my tongue. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done Upon this earth again; Dear Father, hear my little prayer For Jesus’ sake.—AMEN.

EVENING

DEAR LORD, before sweet slumber comes To close my weary eyes, Up to thy throne of heavenly grace My voice in prayer would rise, For all the blessings of this day I give thee thanks and praise. Forgive me, Lord, for Jesus sake, For all my naughty ways. And as I lay me down to sleep Do thou an angel send To watch beside me all the night For Jesus’ sake.—AMEN.

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Examined Seventy Thousand Heads Pastor Russell Stood at Top

Coming next to age thirty-six I can draw in substance, from memory, aided by photo, that this was about the age of C. T. Russell when I examined his head, since which time there has been considerable change in the conformation of the skull. His head is far above the average, with reflectives large and perceptives very large, giving a receding forehead. He possessed all the natural qualifications to a superior degree that are necessary to fit one for a statesman; indeed, I do not hesitate to assert, that he was endowed by nature with such diversified talents that, with experience he could have excelled in almost any line to which he wished to turn his attention. Was perfectly at home as a prolific writer or speaker, or as a silver tongued orator; he was also a natural artist. I cannot say too much for a man possessing such wonderful natural talents. His was the greatest head I ever examined out of seventy thousand, many of whom were highly educated and some were distinguished, but he stood first.

AGE 36. PROF. C. A. HEWES.

Power and Executive Ability Shown

Pastor C. T. Russell at thirty-six displays a radical change since age twenty-seven. Here is seen a realization of that matured look seen on the boy at age four; at this age one sees more power and executive ability, more mental grasp, spiritual attainment and illumination.

The eye-brows are now decidedly raised and highly arched, indicative of very active, penetrating faith. The large peculiar mouth has added firmness to it. The upper lip is more set and stiff, the result of his course and stand and perseverance. The nose is indicative of power, decision and executive ability, and one implying no defeat or retreat. The eyes are more spiritually illuminated and set. The forehead has expanded, showing larger constructive ability, reasoning powers and observation, and the entire side head is abloom with all indicated in the boy at age four.

The entire impression given at the age of thirty-six is one alert to mental and spiritual enfoldment and its fulfillment. The head is beautifully rounded out, qualifying for good general judgment and wisdom, especially along spiritual and business lines. There still exists that openness, candor and entire lack of deceit and secretiveness, but plenty of grip, grit and tenacity of purpose. Such a head and face indicates one living in the intellectual and spiritual world rather than in the earthly.

PROF. EDMUND G. WALTERS.

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The Flame of Enthusiasm

CHAPTER X-BETHEL SERVICE

ITS SANCTIFYING INFLUENCE LASTED

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Another matter which seems worthy of mention, even though it is not strictly of a personal character, is the manner in which the subject of this sketch conducted the "Bethel Service" at the table during meal time. And I believe it will be of special interest to many, many readers who never had the privilege of being there on such occasion. First, the " family" was expected to be in the dining-room on time, and each one in his or her seat before the clock ticked off the last minute; and as it did so, Pastor Russell would enter, saluting all cheerily and encouraging with a "Good morning, all," "Good day, all," "Good evening, all." Let us say the meal was breakfast. The Sister who was to preside at the organ for that morning would be in the accustomed [position—at or near the instrument. Then the recognized "head of the house" would announce the hymn for that day, the whole family joining in singing. Many from the outside who had been present for the first time, on such occasions, said freely, they had never heard such congregational singing in all their lives. This fact of itself had the effect of bringing more than one person to acceptance of the Truth and full consecration to God. Following this, some brother would be called to read, "My Vow Unto the Lord."

Next, Brother Russell, the "family" all standing, would lead in prayer, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, in

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which all the " family" joined. Thus it became a strictly congregational service, and sweet and solemn it was indeed. The sweet influence of these heavenly experiences abide with me still. There was a recognized air of sanctity about the whole service which could be easily felt, though beyond the power of words to properly express. After being again seated, some Brother would be called upon to ask, in a few words, the Lord’s blessing upon the food, after which some Sister would be requested to read the "Manna Text" for the day. Next in order would be a call for questions on the text; and these were required to be orderly in the manner of their presentation, that is to say, a question which was based upon or related to the latter part of the text would not be considered until they had disposed of the preceding portions. The question would be passed from one to another of the brethren, and finally thrown open to all—"anyone" who desired to air his thought. When there were no more questions to be asked on the text, Brother Russell would then sum up, giving sometimes a sermonette of fifteen minutes to half an hour, occasionally more. Lastly the " Manna Comment" would be read, and at its conclusion the " family" would rise and Brother Russell would return thanks for the food of which they had just partaken. Then the " family" would quietly leave the dining-room, every one proceeding at once to his or her post of duty. This influence was a most sanctifying one with which to start the day; and as a result the day’s duties were not so arduous.

At the noonday and evening meals, much the same procedure would be followed, save that the "Bethel Service" would be omitted. Scriptural questions would

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be asked and discussed throughout the entire meal time, Brother Russell giving his thoughts at the conclusion of every question discussed. His remarks were always instructive, and sometimes sharply at variance with the views expressed by other brethren. Once, I clearly recall, a question was asked, based upon a certain paragraph in the Tabernacle Shadows. There were truly some bright minds at Bethel in those days, many deep students and some who were supposed to be specially clear in Tabernacle Shadows. After every one had been given an opportunity to express his views, many of the more prominent brethren having done so, Brother Russell said in his characteristic way, "I agree that you are all wrong." It was quite common for a Brother, when called upon for a comment, to say, "I agree with what has been said." Then Brother Russell gave a detailed explanation, covering about twenty minutes’ talk. To him every feature of the details of the Tabernacle seemed to have been as plain as the A B C. It would, therefore, probably not be too much to say, without discrediting any one, that he was the only one who in reality fully understood in all details the shadow and typical significance of all things connected with the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.

The Irish strain in Pastor Russell gave him quickness of wit, and readiness of repartee, constituting him one of the most delightful conversationalists, not to say interesting personalities, altogether making him a most charming man to meet, whether along natural or spiritual lines. The Scotch blood which coursed through his veins gave him that stability of character and firmness of purpose which were his outstanding characteristics.

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EPISTLE TO THE PILGRIMS

"Dear Brethren:

"Greetings in the name of our Lord and Redeemer! I often wish I could meet you personally and say a few words and hear from you. I will take this opportunity of giving you my little message inaudibly and without the expense of a regular journey. I want to refresh your memories respecting some things which I have already said, but which it appears will slip from the memories of some of your number. My experience in the work and knowledge of conditions are based upon the following counsels:

"(1) Avoid as much as possible all unkind references to Christian ministers or others who differ from us in Bible interpretation. preach the Gospel! Let its mighty power do the work! In referring to others, speak as sympathetically as possible, endeavoring to make apologies and allowances rather than to condemn, which is not our province. Avoid so far as possible all discussion of the immortality of the soul, the Trinity and the Lord’s presence. The time may yet come for wrangling over these things, but we believe it has not yet arrived. Take your cue, please, from the Studies, Towers and Sermons, and be sure to make your statements less, rather than more pungent and specific. The people are prejudiced along these lines. Experiences show that they can be much better reached otherwise, and after they come to understand other matters of the truth, then these matters so difficult for them become easy.

"(2) By precept and by example you can help the dear friends along the lines mentioned and help the cause much. The truth has suffered more from the unwisdom of its friends than anything its enemies have said."

(3) Continue to give my love to all the dear classes and individuals in the truth as you meet them. I love

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to think of you all as in a measure representatives of myself as well as of the Lord, and I believe the friends get most good from the Pilgrim visits when they view them from this standpoint. Usually, except on Sundays, you will have plenty of time aside from the meetings to look after the lame, halt, blind and sick of the ‘sheep’—to carry them crumbs of comfort, to help bind up their wounds, or to encourage them in the good way. I trust this opportunity for service is not neglected. It is one of the most important! Sometimes a dear ‘sheep’ will become entangled and cease to attend the meetings. It is part of your shepherding work to look after just such cases-to hunt them up and help them back to fellowship if possible, or failing in this, to encourage them to be loyal to the Lord whatever their outward conditions.

"(4) As representatives of the Society, the friends will naturally inquire of you respecting the Colporteur work, the volunteer work, etc., or if they fail to ask and you see no activity along these lines, it would be your duty and privilege to bring up the question and inquire to what extent the service of the Lord is going forward. Make inquiries about the classes where they have a surplus of talent and encourage the class extension work. Keep in mind that you are not speaking for yourself merely, nor especially, but that you are the Society’s representative, and above all, along this line in our present work, the Lord’s representative. Be careful therefore that your counsels shall be encouraging and helpful, being not carelessly given.

"(5) As you go to the various homes please give the dear friends to understand that I have requested you to notice whether or not the heavenly Manna is used at breakfast, dinner, supper, or sometime during the day; and whether or not an opportunity is sought to have family worship or the giving of thanks at the table. Assure them that our interest is not prompted by any other motive than that of their good. So sure

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do we feel that prayer and consideration of spiritual things are essential to spiritual growth that we fear that all the dear friends who allow business, pleasure, or anything to come between themselves and the Lord, are separating themselves from the spirit of Divine fellowship with the Lord encourages. Remind them also at a convenient time of the great blessing that is being experienced by some in connection with the continuous reading of the six volumes of Scripture Studies every year-ten to twelve pages a day. We are leaky vessels, and the truth gradually ebbs out unless we replenish.

"With much Christian love,

"Your brother and servant in the Lord,

"C. T. RUSSELL."

Such letters as this were always encouraging to the tired, worn and sometimes well-nigh discouraged Pilgrims, as they gladly went forth in a blessed service which at the same time was a constant grind—an endless test to their endurance. How he could and did comfort us in all our troubles, with the sweet spirit of the Master, which proved to be the Balm of Gilead to our hearts in all our perplexities, troubles and afflictions!

This dear man of God seemed at all times to take a personal interest in the Pilgrims as well as in the matter of supervising their work; in the same sense as they would a father. As their spiritual guide and counselor in general they rejoiced in the privilege of looking to him for comfort.

CHAPTER XI-WORLD-WIDE WITNESS

THE GREAT NEWSPAPER CAMPAIGN

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We would again emphasize the fact that the amount of work which Pastor Russell performed, even in the light of present-day advancements along all lines, is nothing short of amazing; and it is doubtful whether even in this respect it was ever equalled by any other human being. It is only those who had been close to him and associated with him, in his stupendous work, who can properly appreciate this fact. Aside from the magnitude, scope and character of the work he performed, which was astounding in the extreme, his was a rare genius for details. In this, too, he excelled. We can say with confidence that both in the character and magnitude of the work he performed as "that Servant," it both exceeded and excelled that of any single individual since our Lord’s day. His desire for work was insatiable, while his capacity to perform and endurance to bear were nothing less than astounding in the eyes of those closely associated with him in the harvest Work. And what he could not and did not do himself, he had the faculty of seeing that others did. Thus he was masterful in many ways.

We would not forget in this rehearsal you make some mention of the Newspaper Work which was another remarkable feature of this marvelous man’s marvelous work. Pastor Russell consistently held that God preferred to have

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all the work pertaining to the promulgation of the Gospel Message done by consecrated hands, but if these were not available, that He could make, and sometimes does make, the wrath of man to praise Him. For such purpose He once used Pharaoh; for he was a certain end to attain; and for Him to purpose is to bring it to pass. Therefore, if one means, capable of being used for the accomplishment of His purpose, is not at hand, then He very promptly converts some other into a resource. We recall the Scripture that saith, "God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." This suggest clearly to our mind what the Scriptures teach throughout that God is all powerful. Therefore, nothing is impossible with Him, even as our Lord said. For this reason, as He purposes, so shall it stand.

Furthermore, we remember our Lord’s reply on one occasion to the fault-finding, hypocritical Pharisees: the occasion being when He rode into Jerusalem on the foal of an ass, five days before his crucifixion, the multitude crying, "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the Highest!" The Jews took offense at the honor and praise shown the Son of David, so they called upon Him to rebuke His disciples. To their appeal He replied, "I tell you if these should hold their peace, the very stones would cry out." Through the Prophet, God had declared there should be a shout at this time, and had the people remained silent the stones of the streets would have given it; for every item of prophecy must be fulfilled—not a jot or title should pass away without. This particularity of detail in prophetic fulfillment gives us confidence in the further statements of this and other prophets. These recognized

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facts and known fulfilled prophecies prove that the "purpose of Jehovah shall stand."

He purposed that there should be a world-wide witness given to the message of the Kingdom in the end of the Gospel Age; that it should be to all nations, kindreds and tongues; and this Message has been given, and translated into about forty of the principal languages of the earth. Again did our Lord say, "The Harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few." "That wise Servant" long realized that the Message of the Kingdom was not having the wide publicity it should have—"Behold thy King!"—and since consecrated hands and tongues could not be found in sufficient numbers (laborers being too few) the Lord directed the mind of the one to whom He had committed this Message to recognize the feasibility and the expediency of drafting other means at hand—and that was the Newspapers of the world.

This thought had a very small beginning; first, an epitome of his Sunday lectures to the public found space in a Pittsburgh daily; then following the White-Russell debates in Cincinnati in 1908, at which time the Cincinnati Enquirer’s services were enlisted; later the Chicago Inter-Ocean, and gradually several other more or less prominent and influential papers throughout the country. Then, from 1909 to 1913, an extensive energetic and systematic campaign amongst the newspapers of the whole country was carried on through a force of as bright and active minds, principally young, as the Truth has ever enlisted at any time. Saint Paul, you remember, declared that God had not called to His service "many wise"—but you note He did not say, not any wise—but there were a few, as many as He had need of-just as it was back in the days when

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Moses was commanded to build the Tabernacle "according to the pattern which thou wast caused t o see in t he mount."

Moses was instructed to select certain skilled workmen, artists and artisans, from the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Dan, and "every wise hearted man in whom the Lord had put wisdom and understanding for the service-every one whose heart stirred him up to come into the work to do it." So at all stages of the development of His wonderful plan does God put the wisdom requisite for His purpose at that time into the hearts of those He would use. These newspaper "interviewers" were undoubtedly of this class into who m God had put the spirit of wisdom, understanding and knowledge. They seemed to have satisfactorily met every exigency of any case arising; for illustration: one of these brilliant young brothers on one occasion was questioned pretty sharply by the editor of a certain prominent daily of the South, as to where Pastor Russell got the money with which to carry on a religious campaign of such colossal proportions, and which had so stirred the wrath of the clergy of "Christendom," so-called; and this is the very question which perplexed them beyond measure—"Where does the money come from?" Our bright young brother was equal to the occasion, for he finally and truthfully replied, "O, his Father is very rich." That was enough!

Mr. Editor did not need any further "inside" information. He had made what in the newspaper vernacular is termed the "biggest scoop of the season;" for he had finally pried out of this unsophisticated young brother the mysterious source of Pastor Russell’s unlimited money supply. Next morning a great truth, though somewhat

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sensational character, appeared in that paper, explaining just how Pastor Russell could do, and was doing, such astounding things, when he never charged for admission to his lectures, never took up a collection at any of his services, and never directly or indirectly asked for financial aid in any manner. The secret at last was out—HIS FATHER IS RICH! That "secret" told more than those wiseacres suspected. And they do not understand the real truth to this day.

The outcome of this "Newspaper Campaign" being that about 4,000 newspapers and magazines, at one time or another, published Pastor Russell’s sermons; about 2,000 at one time so doing. It is estimated that he thus preached to from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 people weekly. Some congregation, surely! On the basis of these facts, on publication, unfriendly to the Truth, once said through its columns:

"Pastor Russell’s writings are said to have a greater newspaper circulation every week than those of any other living man; greater, doubtless, than the combined circulation of all the priests and preachers of North America, even than the work of Arthur Brisbane, Norman Hapgood, George Horace Lorimer, Dr. Frank Crane, Fredrick Haskins, and a dozen other of the best known editors and syndicate writers put together."

Weekly did Pastor Russell prepare matter or sermons, for these newspapers, some of one- column and some of two-column lengths—the "one column" being the "two-column" condensed; and each had to be of "just so many words," neither more nor less. This would necessarily take much time. To write out your thought without reference to the exact number of word’s used may be done

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hurriedly, but when you have to "boil the matter down," especially to a given number of words, requires time, no matter how skillful one may be in the use of words in which to convey his thoughts. You know this if you have ever written a telegram and desired to keep the charge within the minimum for ten words. A bright young man once secured a position on the reportorial force of one of the big dailies, in a prominent city. On one occasion he made "a scoop." After the paper appeared the next morning he was called into the office of the managing editor and complimented for his brilliant work; but was critically asked why he made the article so long. He promptly replied that he did not have time to make is shorter. You see the point?

Pastor Russell was a past-master in epigrammatic construction of sentences; for example, note the Photo-Drama Lectures. Whenever "multum in parvo" was called for, he always met the requirements.

We see, therefore, that the "Newspaper Bureau" which he established and supervised, and for which he prepared two sermons weekly, as explained, was a work of no mean proportions in itself; yet this was one of the marvelous works this "Man of Wonder" accomplished within himself. If an ordinary man had done as much, and yet nothing more, he would have performed a "good man’s work." Then he would have had to rest up a good part of the time to recuperate. Not so with this extraordinary man—this man of many talents. He always said he did not have time to rest. If he became tired or exhausted, he never let it be known. I believe that every fair-minded person who reads these Memoirs, especially those who had more or less of a general acquaintance with him and a

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knowledge of his work, will readily admit that, from whatever angle he might be viewed, the outstanding greatness of the man was recognizable.

HIS EXPRESSED VIEWS REGARDING THE PHOTO-DRAMA, NEWSPAPER SERVICE AND VOLUNTEER WORK

"Many of our readers appreciate, as we do, the publication of our weekly sermons by the secular press. This is effected by a syndicate. The success and prosperity of a syndicate depends upon getting sermons into newspapers and keeping them there. We supply the sermons to the syndicate free. The number of American papers carrying the sermons and their circulation is practically the same as a year ago, but the number of British papers publishing the sermons has greatly increased. The syndicate estimates that thus our sermons go weekly to over ten million readers. (Note:—This was written in 1911. Later this service more than doubled. Therefore, there was a time when his readers numbered approximately twenty millions weekly.) This is nothing short of marvelous; never before have sermons reached one-fourth this circulation. (How would he have expressed the matter, when two years later, this circulation was doubled?)

"This year’s figures on the volunteer work are astounding. To those who understand what tract distribution is, these figures speak of an immense amount of work—carrying the Gospel into millions of homes of all denominations of Christendom, in all parts of the world, to which all other efforts put together are as nothing in comparison with our figures, yet they include great institutions with powerful financial backing. There is a difference, for which there is a reason. Ours is the Gospel of God’s love and mercy, not only for the elect Church, but also in due time for the non-elect world. Ours is the Gospel of which we are not ashamed, and this cannot be said of other messages of bad tidings of great misery.

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"We hope that every reader scanning these figures may have the consolation of thinking-I was a volunteer! My labors are in the grand totals!

"Grand total of Everybody’s Paper and People’s Pulpit distributed in 1911-copies, 22,838,282.

"Equal to the usual Tract pages of 364,624,282."

In summarizing the progress of the Harvest Work at the close of 1912, he wrote:

"Our two little papers, People’s Pulpit and Everybody’s Paper, circulated for the most part free, have gone far and wide this year, in thirty-three different languages. The friends knowing they can have literature in any language, are more and more availing themselves of the privileges and are seeking to interest their neighbors. Thus the poor have the Gospel preached unto them—without money and without price.

"Incidentally we remark that the majority of people can serve the Lord’s cause better by handing out a tract with a few commendatory words than by seeking to explain the Divine Plan. Too many make a mistake by talking too boastfully and drawing unpleasant comparisons. We are glad, however, that all are learning the import of the master’s words, ‘Be ye wise as serpents, harmless as doves.’ Let us remember that we, not long ago, were in similar darkness—and still we were Christians.

"Hence we should not, in talking to our friends, give any hint that we think they do not belong to the family of God. Rather we find it much the better way to class ourselves in with all as true neighbors, to acknowledge that once we were in darkness, and to express the thought that all Christian people are becoming more and more enlightened in respect to the teaching of God’s Word.

"Free distribution of Everybody’s Paper and People’s

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Pulpit for the year 1912, in the United States and Canada only, copies, 34,672,475.

"In other languages, 848,000.

"Grand total free literature, copies, 35,520,475.

"Equivalent to usual tract pages, 481,632,950."

With the report for the year 1913 Pastor Russell again wrote in this strain:

"Divine providence is still favoring the presentation of the Gospel in the public press. The efforts of the enemies of the Gospel of the Kingdom to misrepresent our teachings and to prejudice editors and publishers against them, have not prevailed. In this we also perceive that He that is for us is mightier than all they that be against us. The day may come when the Truth will be crushed to the earth. But that day has not come yet. Indeed, in quite a number of instances the editors have appreciated the situation, despised the unjust principle manifested by some preachers in their opposition, and have given space and prominence to the message.

"The latest figures given us by the Newspaper Syndicate which handles the sermons in the United States and Canada, show that 1,424 papers are publishing the sermons weekly. In Great Britain, Australia and South Africa, about 600 papers are publishing the sermons weekly. This, in round figures, represents 2,000 newspaper. How many millions of readers are thus reached we do not know, nor do we know how many of those reached are reading and being influenced. We do know, however, that the whole world is waking up, and that the truths we are presenting are gaining adherents and exerting influence everywhere. We trust the Lord’s name is being glorified thus and that many of his people are being ripened for the Kingdom.

"Our papers for free circulation amongst the people are Everybody’s Paper, People’s Pulpit and the Bible Student’s Monthly. These have a subscription price of twelve cents, but our list is comparatively small.

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They are mostly circulated free. They are more attractive than tracts, though many are used for circulation instead of tracts.

The wide distribution of these on street cars, trains, boats, etc., as the friends go from place to place, is recommended. This is a form of service in which all can engage. And these little newspaper have all the rights and privileges of the larger newspapers devoted to secular matters chiefly. Quite a good many people come into the Truth through this ministry. The friends everywhere are invited to send for these papers free, in such quantities as they can and will use faithfully.

"Our total output of these various papers, issued free, is represented by such large figures as to be beyond the comprehension of most people. For the year just closed—1913:

"Free distribution in Canada and the United States-copies, 36,143,500.

"Equivalent in tract pages about 500,000,000.

"Carrying sermons to more than 1, 000,000,000.

"These figures are for America only. Let us go forward with good courage, remembering that God is at the helm.

Then one year later he wrote:

"From year to year we have wondered what would be the limit of the capacity of the friends in the matter of distribution of free literature. The quantities have grown enormously. This is provided in approximately thirty languages,

"It is difficult for people to estimate, especially, when the figures run up high. We will not stop to calculate how many carloads of papers went into tracts, nor how many times these papers would girdle the earth. We will merely state the facts in quantities, although we are aware that very few appreciate what a thousand is, or ten thousand, or a hundred thousand, or millions.

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The total distribution of free literature in the United States and Canada alone, 1914, pieces, 47,610,000.

"Equivalent in tract pages, 734,973,000.

"Literature distributed in Britain, 15,787,950. Equivalent in tract pages, 242,814,905.

"Literature distributed in Australia, 1,138,074. "Equivalent in tract pages, 17,607,200.

"Free literature in Sweden, 816,323. "Tract pages in Sweden, 16,221,056.

"Free literature-South Africa, 106,030. "Tract pages-South Africa, 406,120.

"Volunteer matter-Finland, 479,602.

"Free literature-Germany, 320,739. Tract pages-Germany, 8,342,200."

(Report from other branches not available.)"

RECAPITULATION

Let us now sum up the works of this man who was indeed a "Wonder unto many," as the Prophet mentions and rate the magnitude of his accomplishments and the character of the work he performed. Pastor Russell began his matchless writings as an author whom he was but twenty-nine years of age. Here is the order:

When he was twenty-nine he wrote and published, at an actual cost to himself of $40,000,000, "Food for Thinking Christians"—circulation %%%%%1,400,000

At the same age he wrote and published "Tabernacle Shadows of the better Sacrifices"—circulation %%1,000,000

When at the age of thirty-four he wrote and published "The Divine Plan of the Ages"—circulation %%4,817,000

At the age of thirty-seven he wrote and published " The Time is at Hand"—circulation %%%%1,657,000

When at the age of thirty-nine he wrote and published "Thy Kingdom Come"—circulation %%%1,578,000

At the age of forty-two he wrote and published "The Battle of Armageddon"—circulation %%%464,000

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When at the age of forty-five he wrote and published "The Atonement Between God and man"—circulation %445,000

His final great work was produced at the age of fifty-two when he wrote "The New Creation"—circulation %423,000

Additionally he wrote and published the following booklets: What Say the Scriptures About Hell—circulation %3,000,000 What Say the Scriptures About Spiritism—circulation 600,000 Object and manner of Our Lord’s return—circulation 1,500,000 The Bible Versus Evolution-circulation %%425,000 Answer to Robert Ingersoll-circulation %%155,000 Scenario Photo-Drama of Creation-circulation %2,500,000

A grand total circulation %%%19,964,000

These figures are based upon the records of the sales up to the time of Pastor Russell’s death, October 31, 1916. No writer in the history of all literature has written books and lived to see them have a combined circulation so great as ten million copies; yet the writings of Pastor Russell, up to the time of his death, nearly double those figures-that is, 19,964,000. From the standpoint of human endeavor, this record, which "passes all (human) understanding" would of itself be sufficient to place his work in the history of great achievements. But from facts already given, the tabulation embraces but a portion of this great man’s accomplished designs.

In addition to the foregoing figures, we are not to lose sight of his monthly, semi-monthly and quarterly publications, namely, "The Watch Tower" (semi-monthly journal of 32 pages, with no advertisements), circulation 55,000’ published in English, German, French, Swedish< Dano-Norwegian and Polish; "Bible Students’ Monthly" and "the People’s Pulpit" (monthly), free distribution of these four page little papers, about 11x13 inches, would approximate 50 millions annually. The free distribution

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of "The Old Theology Quarterly," a little paper of 8 pages, would probably approximate 100,000,000,000 pieces, or the equivalent of 800,000,000 tract pages. All of this amazing work he accomplished between 1879 and 1916, a period of thirty-seven years.

See Image 00007

The Bible House, Allegheny, Pa.

We are also to bear in mind that he was the President of "The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society," a Pennsylvania Corporation, from the date of its charter in 1884 to the time of his death. He was likewise President of "The People’s Pulpit Association," organized in New York in 1909, in order that the "Society" could legally do business in that State. He was also President of "The International Bible Students Association," chartered in London, England, in 1913.

As Pastor Russell made perfectly plain, The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is the parent organization, and the other two here mentioned are subsidiary; and so are in control of, or subject to, the control of the "parent" organization. But as already stated, the Watch Tower Society could not hold and control property in the State of New York, because of the character of its charter, which was granted in the State of Pennsylvania. Hence, to bridge this difficulty, "The People’s Pulpit Association" was organized under the laws of the State of new York, when the Society moved its Headquarters to Brooklyn in 1909. Then in order to make the scope of the work what Pastor Russell desired it to be—international in character, or world-wide in range and opportunity—The International Bible Students’ Association was chartered under English laws. But no matter which name was used during "that Servant’s" lifetime, they all stood for Charles Taze Russell. Note the following clause from his will:

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"In view of the fact in donating the Journal, Zion’s Watch Tower, the Old Theology Quarterly and the copyrights of Millennial Dawn Scripture Studies Books and various other Booklets, Hymn-books, etc., to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, I did so with the explicit understanding that I should have full control of all the interests of these publications during my lifetime, AND THAT AFTER MY DECEASE THEY SHOULD BE CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO MY WISHES."

This clause makes plain the relationship he understood to exist between himself and The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society; also what his wishes were in respect to its general management after his death, and as to these particulars see other clauses of his will, published in another part of this book, and which we commend to the careful reading of all.

***

JEHOVAH

"JEHOVAH, our God, is the great Emperor of the whole universe, and His wisdom, power, goodness and benevolence are abundantly equal to all the responsibilities of so exalted an office. The human mind staggers in its efforts to comprehend the mental resources of a Being who is able to assume and to bear such responsibility. Think for a moment of the memory that never fails, of the judgment that never errs; of the wisdom that plans for eternity without the possibility of failure for ages to come; of the power and skill that can harness even every opposing element, animate and inanimate, and make them all work together for the accomplishment of His grand designs; of the tireless vigilance which never ceases nor seeks relief from the pressing cares of universal dominion-whose eye never sleeps, whose ear is ever open; and who is ever cognizant of all the necessities; and active in all the interests of his broad domains."—PASTOR RUSSELL.

CHAPTER XII-REVISITS THE HOLY LAND

ALSO THE PYRAMID OF GIZEH

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Another matter which may be of interest to a great many Bible Students is that respecting Pastor Russell’s mission to the Jews. In the year 1910 he made an extended trip through Russia and Palestine, and there delivered lectures to thousands of orthodox Jews on the Regathering of the Jews to Palestine. He preached usually, I think, from Isa 40:1,2, at least the message he delivered was based upon the thought contained in that text; because it was a message of "comfort" surely. Many of the Jews proclaimed that he brought them more comfort from their Scriptures (Old Testament) than they had ever found there themselves. After hearing him in Jerusalem a Jewish editor spoke in such praise of him and his message that he said among other things, "A new Prophet had risen in Israel."

The unfulfilled promises to the Jews, spoken of hundreds of times by the prophets of old and reaffirmed in the writings in the New testament, attracted Pastor Russell’s early attention, and consequently the time of restoration of the Jews in Palestine, as a nation, became a question of almost paramount importance to his mind. In order to verify, or disprove, certain claims of supposed facts, Pastor Russell visited the Holy Land in 1892, and did thus verify much of the valuable information contained in his third volume of Scripture Studies, wherein he interestingly treats the complex Jewish racial problem—past, present and future.

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This trip was the real beginning of a campaign to attract the attention of the world to the future inheritance of the natural seed of Abraham. During the following twenty years, Pastor Russell wrote much on Jewish topics and addressed many Jewish audiences on Biblical Zionism, pointing out the significance of the many unfulfilled promises to them by Jehovah.

On this tour of investigation Pastor Russell again visited Egypt, and re-examined God’s great "Stone witness" at the "border thereof," and he also again confirmed what he had previously found, that this, the greatest of the World’s Wonders, strangely and strongly corroborates the Bible testimony regarding God’s Great Plan.

THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZEH

The wonderful "Stone Witness" at the border, yet in the center, of Egypt stands strangely related to the hope of the Jew, and Pastor Russell has most interestingly treated the measurements, angles, shapes, size, weight, passage-ways, King’s Chamber, Queen’s Chamber, etc., as positive corroborative evidence of the time features indicated in the prophecies of the writers of old.

His findings, as explained in the symbolic language of Holy Writ, read like a remarkable piece of fiction, when in reality it is a plain, yet entrancing narrative of Jehovah’s Plan, as respects the various ages and His dispensational dealings with the human race, terminating with the full restoration of the Jewish people in the lands of their fathers, during the "times of restoration of all things."

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See Image 00008

THE BIBLE STONE-WITNESS

Built 2170 B.C., probably by Melchizedek. In its symbolic language it so states. Seemingly every stone in this, the most remarkable building in the world, has been made to testify by Pastor Russell in his remarkable interpretation.

***

Prof. C. Piazza Smyth, F.R.S.E., F.R.A.S., Ex-Astronomer Royal for Scotland, in a letter written from Clova, Ripon, England, December 21, 1890, commenting on

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Pastor Russell’s interpretation of the Pyramid, said in part:

"At first I could only find slips of the typewriter, but as I progressed through the pages, the powers, the specialities and the originalities (italics supplied) of the author came out magnificently; and there were not a few passages I should have been glad to take a copy of for quotation in the next possible edition of my own Pyramid book. But of course I did nothing of the sort, and shall wait with patience and in most thankful mood of mind for when the author shall choose his own time for publishing. So I merely remark here that he is both good and new in much that he says on Chronology of the various parts of the Pyramid, especially the First Ascending Passage and its granite plug; or the Grand gallery, as illustrating the Lord’s life; on the parallelisms between the King’s Chamber and its granite against the Tabernacle and its gold; and generally on the confirmations or close agreements between the Scripture and the Great Pyramid."

The late Dr. John Edgar, M.A., B.S., M.B., C.M., F.F.P.S.G., of Glasglow, Scotland, with his brother Morton, in 1909, visited the Great Pyramid to critically test Pastor Russell’s deductions. Their verdict after a most elaborate investigation, was a thorough endorsement of Pastor Russell’s interpretations of God’s Stone Witness, the Greatest of the World’s Wonders. From Pastor Russell’s "Around the World Tour" booklet.

In this connection we recall the words of the prophet who declares:

"In that day (this day now) shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt."—Isa. 19:19, 20.

CHAPTER XIII-A WONDERFUL JEWISH MASS MEETING

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During his absence in Europe, as mentioned in the preceding chapter, arrangements had been made at the instigation of the Jewish Editors of New York City for Pastor Russell to address a "Mass Meeting of Jews" at the great Hippodrome, which was done on Sunday afternoon, October 9, 1910.

At the appointed time Pastor Russell appeared on this mammoth stage and proceeded to the front where there had been placed a small lectern for the occasion. Gracefully he approached this, picked up from the stand a Leeser’s translation of the Old Testament and read from Isa 40:1,2. He then proceeded to show from many Hebrew Scriptures that we are living in the day when the text is due to be, and is being, fulfilled, that her appointed time is accomplished; her iniquity is pardoned, because she has already received double of the Lord for all her sins. Throughout that masterful lecture he never used the word Christ; he was too diplomatic; when he had occasion to refer to Him he invariably said, "Your Messiah and My Messiah."

It was said that all the leading orthodox Jews of the city—editors, rabbis, elders, etc.—were present. These had come there with the Bible in their hands and the thought in their minds that Pastor Russell would attempt to proselyte them, so they were present in great numbers to combat any statements he might make along this line; but when

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they realized that their fears were unfounded, which they did before he had been talking fifteen minutes, they settled down and began to enjoy his forceful, logical, Scriptural presentations. I occupied a position where I could see well the speaker and at the same tome note the effect his words were having upon the rabbis and editors who had taken seats in a body pretty well toward the front.

At first there was a distinct air of coolness manifest in this "gathering of Israel" who had been brought together to hear the most noted Gentile preacher; but this air did not last long. Ere long pleasing zephyrs were distinguishable; and soon some heads began to nod, then this gradually became more general, until finally one might have easily imagined himself in a Methodist revival meeting but for the absence of the sonorous "Amens!" But their joy could not be subdued, for ere long they began giving expression to their emotions by general and frequent hand-clappings. At the close, and without the lapse of a moment, the quartette started up a Jewish national air. At its conclusion the Jewish audience rose in a body and gave vent to their emotions by long and emphatic applause.

Thus closed Pastor Russell’s earnest effort to "comfort Jerusalem." Surely he spoke "comfortably" to them that day. Following this "The Die Stemme"-in Yiddish-was printed and broadcasted all over the world where there were earnest and honest-hearted Jews desiring to have their faith more firmly established in Jehovah’s promises to His ancient people; for, as Saint Paul declared "God hath not cast away His people which he foreknew."

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PASTOR RUSSELL ADDRESSES HEBREWS

The following is an unbiased report from the worldly standpoint of this wonderful meeting by one of the greatest metropolitan dailies:

"The unusual spectacle of 4,000 Hebrews enthusiastically applauding a Gentile preacher, after having listened to a sermon he addressed to them concerning their own religion, was presented at the Hippodrome yesterday afternoon, when Pastor Russell, the famous head of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, conducted a most unusual service.

"In his time the venerable Pastor has done many unconventional things. His religion is bounded by no particular denomination, and encompasses, as he says, all mankind. His ways of teaching are his own. But he never did a more unconventional thing than this—nor a more successful one.

"He won over the great audience that had come—some of it, at least—prepared to debate him, to resent, perhaps, what might have appeared like a possible intrusion. ‘Pastor Russell is going to try to convert the Jews to Christianity,’ was the word many had received before the meeting. ‘He wants to proselyte us.’

"In the crowd which filled the big show were scores of rabbis and teachers who had come to speak out in case the Christian minister attacked their religion or sought to win them from it. They had questions and criticisms ready for him. He was received at first in dead silence.

"But the Pastor did not seek to convert the Jews. To their unbound delight, he pointed out the good things of their religion, agreed with them in their most important beliefs as to their salvation, and finally, after a warm advocacy of the plan of the Jews establishing a nation of their own, brought about a tumult of applause

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by leading a choir in the Zionish anthem: ‘Hatikva-Our Hope.’

"A more interesting gathering the Hippodrome never held. From all parts of the city came serious-minded Hebrews to hear what it was an alien, a Gentile, might have to say to them at a service, held during the week of feasting—Rosh Hoshana. They were quiet, well dressed, thinking men and women.

"Among them were many figures of the Hebrew literary world. Some of these escorted Pastor Russell to the Hippodrome in a motor car and then took their places in the audience. The literary men recognized the Pastor as a writer and investigator of international fame on the subject of Judaism and Zionism. Some of those present were: Dr. Jacobs, editor of the Hebrew American; W. J. Solomon, of the Hebrew Standard; J. Brosky, associate editor of the same; Louis Lipsky, editor of the Maccabean; A.B. Landau, of the Warheit; Leo Wolfson, president of the federation of Romanian Societies; J. Pfeffer, of the Jewish Weekly; S. Daimont, editor of the Jewish Spirit; S. Goldberg, editor of the American Hebrew; J. Barrondess, of the Jewish Big Stick; and M. Goldman, editor H’ Yom, the only Jewish daily.

"No symbol of any religion at all greeted them when they looked at the Hippodrome stage. It was entirely empty save for a small lectern and three peace flags hanging from the silken cords above. One was the familiar silk banner with the stars and stripes in the center, together with the words ‘Peace Among the nations’ in letters of gold. Another bore a rainbow and the words ‘Pax.’ The third was a silken strip bearing miniature representations of the nations’ flags.

"There were no preliminaries. Pastor Russell, tall, erect and white bearded, walked across the stage without introduction, raised his hand, and his double quartette from the Brooklyn Tabernacle, sang the hymn, ‘Zion’s Glad Day.’ The members of this organization

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are Mrs. E. W. Brenneisen, Mrs. F.C. Detwiler, Miss Blanche Raymond, Mrs. G.B. Raymond, Emil Hirscher, C.E. Meyers, J. P. Mcpherson and W.J. Mockridge. Their voices blended perfectly, and the hymn, without any instrument, was impressive."

But still there seemed an air of aloofness about the audience. They did not applaud, but sat silently watching the stalwart figure of the Pastor. When he began to talk, however, they gave him respectful attention.

"With a powerful, yet charming voice, that filled the great playhouse, the unconventional clergyman made his every word audible to the hearers. His tone pleased their ears, his graceful gestures soon captivated their eyes, and in a few moments his apparently thorough mastery of his subject appealed to their minds. Though still silent, the 4,000 listeners were warming up to him.

"It was not long before all reserve, and all possible doubt of Pastor Russell’s entire sincerity, were entirely worn away. Then the mention of the name of a great Jewish leader—who, the speaker declared, had been raised up by God for the cause—brought a burst of applause.

"From that moment on the audience was his. The Jews became as enthusiastic over him as though he had been a great rabbi or famous orator of their own religion. He hailed them as one of the bravest races of the earth-having kept their faith through the persecution and cruelties of all people for thousands of years. And he predicted that before very long they would be the greatest on earth-nor merely a people any longer, but a nation. By a system of deductions, based upon the prophecies of old, the Pastor declared that the return of the Kingdom of the Jews would occur in the very near future, signs of which would be apparent by 1914. Persecutions would soon be over and peace and universal happiness would triumph.

As he brought his address to a conclusion the Pastor raised his hand again to his choir. This time

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they raised the quaint, foreign-sounding strains of the Zion hymn ‘Hatikva’ (Our Hope), one of the master-pieces of the eccentric East Side poet, Imber.

"The unprecedented incident of Christian voices singing the Jewish anthem came as a tremendous surprise. For a moment the Hebrew audience could scarcely believe their ears. Then making sure it was their own hymn, they first cheered and clapped with such ardor that the music was drowned out, and then with the second verse, joined in by hundreds."—New York American, October 9, 1910.

A LITTLE LIGHT.

‘Twas but a little light she bore, While standing at the open door; A little light, a feeble spark, And yet it shone out through the dark With cheerful ray, and gleamed afar As brightly as the polar star.

A little light, a gentle hint, That falls upon the page of print, May clear the vision, and reveal! The precious treasures doubts conceal, And guide men to an open door. Where they new regions may explore.

A little light dispels the gloom That gathers in a shadowed room, Where want and sickness find their prey, And night seems longer than the day, And hearts with many troubles cope And feebler glows the spark of hope.

Oh, sore the need that some must know While journeying through this vale of woe! Dismayed, disheartened, gone astray, Caught in the thickets by the way, For lack of just a little light To guide their wandering steps aright.

It may be little we can do To help another, it is true, But better is a little spark Of kindness, when the way is dark, Then one should walk in paths forbidden For lack of light we might have given.

See Image 00009

A Committee of Seven Tour the World

From left to right: E. W. V. Kuehn; Dr. L. W. Jones; Gen. Wm. P. Hall, U. S. A.; Pastor Russell; Prof. E. H. Robison; Robert B. Mexwell; J. T. D. Pyles

CHAPTER XIV-FOREIGN MISSIONS INVESTIGATED

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The International Bible Students Association at the Washington, D.C., Convention in July, 1911, appointed a committee to investigate Foreign Missions. As millions of dollars are annually spent in the foreign mission field, the Association, for its own information, as well as for the benefit of all contributors, desires to ascertain definite knowledge on the following points: First—Are the Foreign Missions being conducted along Christian business lines? Second—To what extent are the methods used successful in reaching the heathen peoples and in bringing them to Christianity? Third—What are the teachings, what the inducements to accept Christianity and how enduring are the results? Fourth—What is the attitude of Heathendom toward the missionaries and toward Christianity and what are the prospects for Foreign Missions becoming self-sustaining? Fifth—What, if any, changes could be made in teaching or in financial administration to make the foreign mission work more successful in the future? Sixth—What hope is there for the conversion of the world in this generation as proposed by the Layman’s Missionary Movement with its thirty-million-dollar endowment? Seventh—To what extent do the moneys donated benefit the heathen and could any improvement along this line be suggested?

General and catagorical answers to these questions were given after the World Tour and were printed in The

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Watch Tower of April 15, 1912, to which we refer the reader for some very valuable detailed information. The Report is quite too lengthy to reproduce here.

While on the World Tour, Pastor Russell again visited Palestine, also the Jews in Galatia, further explaining to them the significance of the prophecies of the Old Testament, pointing out to them how the time is at hand for favor to return to the Jews, marking their early re-establishment in the Holy Land. By these poor and long-minded people he was given a warm welcome, for they were learning to look upon him as a real friend. They not only recognized this fact, but began to broadcast this information to the Jews in all parts of the world.

The object of this tour was to arouse in the public mind greater interest in his movements and message; therefore, in his sermons which began to have a phenomenal success about, or immediately following this event, were given increased momentum. Truth by thus making for himself and his sermons more of an international reputation. Here again he showed great sagacity, as results abundantly proved. Many of the newspapers thereafter sought the privilege of publishing his sermons, while those who had previously been disposed to "try them out" were glad of the opportunity to renew their contracts. So thus the Lord guided the hand at the helm in order that the work at that time might go grandly on.

In this world tour he visited, among other points, China, Japan, Korea, India, Arabia, Egypt, Philippine Islands, etc., and personally and through the assistance of the other members of the "Committee" made careful observation and study of the social and religious conditions in

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these strictly "Heathen" countries. The itinerary of this world tour will be found in The Watch Tower of December 1, 1911. A rather detailed report of this tour may be found in the April 15th issue of The Watch Tower of 1912. What was said in The Watch Tower of January 1, 1912, first cover page, from Pastor Russell’s own pen, may be interesting to thousands who have never read it, and quite refreshing to all who have. It gives, in the pleasing style of the author, the reasons why this "World Tour" was undertaken, what actuated the endeavor, involving so much of time, of expense, and of human exertion, both of a physical and an intellectual character. Here, then, are his words:

"The Newspaper Syndicate handling Pastor Russell’s sermons, believing that the World Tour of the Foreign Missions Investigating Committee, of which Brother Russell is chairman, would furnish interesting ‘copy’ for their list of patrons and news editors in general, which we understand to mean a still more extensive promulgation of Present Truth, have gotten out a very attractive pamphlet, descriptive of some of his successful meetings at home and abroad, and containing illustrations which have appeared in the press of the world, together with various items in Brother Russell’s history, said to be desirable matter in newspaperdom. "Since first the round-the-world-trip was mentioned in The watch Tower, considerable interest has been manifested in the movement by the dear friends in various parts of the world, believing with us that it is no unimportant step in the Harvest Work, furnishing, as it does, a still greater opportunity to proclaim the Gospel in all the world for a witness."

The foregoing was preceded by an interesting item, from the same pen, in The Watch Tower of December 15, 1911,

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referring to the same matter, so we append it here:

"The Pastor Russell Lecture Bureau is the style of a newspaper syndicate which handles Brother Russell’s weekly sermons. This syndicate felt a deep interest in the World Tour and published a pamphlet descriptive of said tour and containing sketches of brother Russell’s younger gays, gleaned from an article in the National Encyclopedia of American Biography, Vol. XII. Several Watch Tower readers saw the pamphlet and urged that it be made a part of the January 1st issue, We have adopted the suggestion, believing it would be interesting to all of our readers. The value will be enhanced by the printing of the outside cover of that issue in colors, thus making that page suitable for framing, if desired. On the other cover pages we purpose a reproduction of a new and very popular picture of our Lord and His Apostles passing through a wheat field, Jesus and Peter in conversation, John following, then James, Matthew the Levite, and others. We are sure that this picture will be appreciated by every Watch Tower reader. It is quite a work of art and could probably not be purchased in any book store for less than fifty cents."

THE GREAT HIPPODROME MEETING

Here again is an event and a picture that call for the matchless power of Dickens to portray. First, we draw attention to the platform, or stage, which was of such dimensions that 1,000 people could easily be seated there-upon. But on this occasion it was not used for such purpose. Instead it was converted into an imaginary though miniature Garden of Eden.

The seating capacity of this mammoth auditorium is about 7,000. Long before the time for beginning the

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lecture the first floor and the balcony were practically filled, yet everything was quiet and orderly. Promptly on time, the drop curtain hiding that immense stage, which was about 75 feet across, began to rise in a slow but almost solemn way, and as it did so you could sense that the people began to hold their breath-because that was just what you and I were doing; finally, when the indescribable scene or picture, which but a few moments before was hidden from sight, but suddenly, as it were, was brought into full view, people all over the house could be heard gasping, O! O! Wonderful! Wonderful! Magnificent! Gorgeous! Beautiful! Glorious! and about all the adjectives descriptive of things pleasing to the eye, could be heard coming from all parts of the auditorium.

And well might this have been so under the circumstances; for there was surely sufficient cause to excite all these and more exclamations. To few in a lifetime is it given to behold such a wonderful sight! The whole stage was a mass of potted trees, shrubbery, plants, vines, creepers, flowers, all so artistically arranged that the eye was dazzled by the beauty and gorgeousness of this all-inspiring picture, which, breaking so suddenly upon our view, momentarily overwhelmed the mind. A veritable Garden of the Gods was before our eyes.

The stage floor was covered with a neatly arranged sod, giving the pleasing effect of real lawn. Then the plants, shrubs, creepers, vines and a wonderful vision of potted roses, lilies and a magnificent variety of flowers of the most exquisite colorings, filled in every available space for artistic and pleasing effect. In the background was an imperial "Cross and Crown," probably twenty-five feet high, made of wood. The "crown" was neatly covered

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with green vines, en masse, while the "Cross" was covered with red and gold creepers. An artistic winding pathway had been "cut" through the lawn, between the plants, trees, shrubberies and banks of flowers, leading down to the lectern. O what a picture! A lady sitting near the writer, one who had traveled all over Europe many times, was heard to exclaim with delight, that this was the most gorgeous display of flowers, plants and shrubberies she had ever beheld in her life. It was said that there were $50,000,00 worth of these. Brother A. N. Pierson of Cromwell, Connecticut, was the "landscape gardener," the artistic designer, and the chief donor, though I was told at the time that some pieces had come from various parts of the United States and Canada. This picture can never fade from the minds of those who were privileged to behold it.

At the appropriate time a select quartette sang hymn number 72. This was graciously received. At its conclusion, Brother Russell was seen emerging from the rear of the stage, and coming down the winding pathway with the simple dignity and grace for which he was well reputed, the whole picture being emphasized by his unusual countenance, beautiful white beard and long, flowing white hair. Truly this was impressive!

This meeting was held at the conclusion of the world tour, March 31, 1912, to more than a capacity house.

CHAPTER XV-PHOTO-DRAMA OF CREATION

THE MOST WONDERFUL FEATURE OF THE HARVEST WORK

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In this review we would not overlook the importance of the most astounding feature of the Work ever devised and developed—The Photo-Drama of Creation. And even at this time it seems impossible to say just which was the most wonderful feature of this work, for there were so many points of an amazing character. We stood all astonished at the conception, as well as the execution of all the details. Several years’ time was required to work out the scenario in detail and to gather the material, human and otherwise, for its accomplishment. The production alone is said to have cost more than a million dollars.

The moving pictures alone were the grandest, most beautiful, as well as the most instructive, of anything ever seen before or since in the cinema-screen. People looked upon these in wonderment. The colorings, to say nothing of the marvels in production, were superb, and all of which was done by consecrated talent. To criticise adversely this marvelous production the pre-requisite would of necessity be a hypercritical cast of mind. While the pictures (moving and slides) were the acme of beauty and charm, and correspondingly entertaining and instructive, I believe the most marvelous part of the whole drama was the lectures on the phonograph. Herein the supreme achievement of the whole endeavor stands out.

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Brother Russell was recognized as a master of simple, pure, expressive, constructive English, always; but taking these lectures as a whole they are marvels of conciseness and comprehensiveness. Only a great master could ever have produced such results. In his general writings we can justly say that no man ever wrote as did he, but in the scenario lectures he simply surpassed himself. No human being could possibly have produced such results unless the Lord had guided his mind and pen. The multum in parvo of all expressions in human language-the much in little—is the Lord’s Prayer; but we are to remember who is its Author. The nearest approach to this, we confidently believe, is to be found in the scenario of the Photo-Drama of Creation.

We believe that we cannot do better than give here the history of this most wonderful of all the features of the Harvest Work in the words of the master mind himself:

"After two years of preparation, the photo-drama was barely ready to give its first exhibition in January last (1914). It did not properly get started with full swing in America until April. In July we make a start in Great Britain. By September the drama had begun operations on the continent of Europe—in Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark. By October it had reached Australia and New Zealand. Few can appreciate the amount of labor involved in preparing each "drama outfit." The arrangement and preparation of the films is comparatively an easy matter. Our difficulty lay in procuring copies of fine art pictures illustrative of the history of the world from the dawn of creation to the present and into the future. We adopted and adapted everything we could find already prepared and suitable to our purposes; but this left hundreds of paintings and sketches to be made from which in turn to make the steropticon slides.

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With all this accomplished, a still further difficulty presented itself. We wished to have those beautiful pictures hand colored—really beautiful. To attain our purpose we had some painted in Paris and some in London, while the majority were done in Philadelphia and New York. We required of these artists their best skill in coloring. We should not forget to say that our own art room turned out a large share of the work. Although we are not adding to the number of panoramas with painted slides, yet the breakage is so great that even now we have twenty artists continually at work on replacements and in photographing and tinting the Eureka dramas.

"God kindly veiled our eyes as respects the amount of labor connected with the drama. Had we foreknown the cost of time and money and patience necessary for the start, we could never have begun it. But neither did we know in advance the great success that would attend the drama, for through it nearly eight million people in the United States and Canada have already heard a glorious message from the Word of God-a precious message that they will never forget; also that other hundreds of thousands in other lands are hearing in their own languages ‘wonderful words of life.’ We had twenty dramas, which in four parts were able to serve eighty cities each day. The audiences varied from four thousand to less than a hundred, according to place and circumstances.

"The classes that put on the dramas in various cities experienced great blessings and also great trials. They had precious opportunities for serving and sacrificing time and energy. These faithful sacrifices the Lord rewarded as he always does. It is safe to say that the drama has done as much for the friends of the truth as for the public in general. This is surely saying a great deal; for in one city the newspapers published that in the week following the showing of the drama their police court records showed only one-half

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half the usual criminal cases. The special advantage of the drama seems to have accrued to a certain class of people whose faith had well-nigh slipped, who were beginning to doubt the Bible and everything connected with the fuho have. It gives, in the ritten us very beautiful and pathetic letters of appreciation and thanks to God.

"We had various things to contend with in order to keep the drams all busy every day. Train schedules were not always to our convenience. Then too, the friends who engaged the place of exhibition could not always get the dates that would have served best. In order to adapt ourselves to the various times and seasons, opportunities, etc., it was often necessary to take what might have seemed a zigzag course. Hindsight’s might have enables us to have done better in some instances, but we used the best foresight we had. We had a force of extremely competent brethren continually at work safeguarding the interests of the drama and the engagements. Perhaps a sufficient number of mistakes occurred to keep us all humble, to make us realize that when that which is perfect has come and that which is in part has been done away, the whole world may move better in consequence.

"The expense of the drama were, first the preparation of the films and slides. This was considerably accomplished before the drama started of course. But the large amount of money necessary for this preparation was not included in the statements of last year, and the year before. The friends who contributed this money were quite agreeable that it should be used for this purpose and not be reported until the drama should begin. Another item of expense was the railway fares of approximately one hundred and twenty people, their food and shelter, etc. The shorter their stay in each place, the higher the rates for board, lodging and traveling.

"However, there is another item of drama expense which does not appear in our report; namely, the expense

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borne by the various classes in connection with the drama presentation. It is difficult to estimate the total, but we do know of three cities which have spent more than ten thousand dollars each, in connection with the showing of the drama in their own cities. Wunday afternoon, Ocill be safe to say that the total amount expended by the different classes for preaching the Gospel through the drama would be somewhere between $150,000,000 and $200,000,000, in addition to what our financial report shows. What a wonderful blessing thus came to the Lord’s people! If it is more blessed to give than receive, as the Master declared, then surely these have had rich blessings.