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INTERESTING
LETTERS
FIERY
TRIALS
IN
BRITAIN
EASING
DEAR
BROTHER
RUSSEll.;-
Greetings
and
fond
love
in
the
Lord!
It
is
now
some
little
time
since
last
we
wrote
you
with
respect
to
those
of
our
dear
brethren
who
are
affected
by
the
Military
Service
Act
in
this
country.
We
are
glad
now
to
report
some
slight
improvements
in
the
situation.
From
the
very
beginning
our
brethren
have
claimed
exemption
from
the
provisions
of
the
Act
as
Conscientious
Objectors,
but
for
a
long
time
the
Tribunals
before
Wlhich
their
cases
came
were
not
pre
pared
to
acknowledge
their
conscientious
objection,
one
diffi
culty
being
tha,t
the
I.
B.
S.
A.
was
not
known
to
them.
But
things
have
changed
now
and
our
brethren
are
finding
it
less
hard
to
secure-as
an
alternative
to
Military
Service
some
work
of
National
Importance.
At
the
present
time
five
of
our
brethren
have
been
given
absolute
exemption,
twenty-three
are
in
a
Non-combatant
Corps,
one
hundred
and
fifty-four
have
been
given
work
of
National
Importance,
and
eighty-two
have
been
handed
over
to
the
Military
and
have
suffered
various
punishments
rather
than
obey
Military
or
ders.
With
reference
to
this
latter
number
the
Government
put
into
operation
a
scheme
whereby
these
men
are
to
be
re
leased
from
Prison
and-as
State
servants-be
employed
in
work
of
National
Importance.
such
as
road-making,
quarrying,
etc.
About
thirty
of
the
eighty-two
mentioned
are
already
thus
engaged
and
about
twelve
others
are
at
home
on
parole
waiting
for
work
to
be
found
for
them.
You
will
be
interested
to
know
that
the
War
Office
offi
(·ials
have
kindly
consented
to
cancel
the
papers
calling
to
the
colors
all
those
brethren
who
are
elders,
pending
the
elecision
of
the
nigh
Court
as
to
the
proper
status
of
our
elders
under
the
Act.
This
decision
we
expect
to
receive
about
the
middle
of
Novpmbpr.
This
mpans.
of
course,
that
various
dasses
arp
to
ref'eive
thp
henpfit
of
their
plders'
serv
ices
meantime.
\Ve
are
gmteI1lI
to
the
Lord
for
this
evi
dpnce
of
his
loving
carp
for
his
dear
ones
in
this
hour
of
need.
We
need
hardly
say
how
kepnly
we
are
antipipating
fur
ther
opportunities
of
sl'rvipp
that
tlle
Lord
in
his
graPious
purposes
may
have
this
side
of
the
veil;
amI
we
are
looking
to
you
as
his
faithful
servant
to
point
out
to
us
sueh
further
privileges
of
witne,s
as
it
may
be
Ids
gooll
pleasure
to
provide.
We
beIipve
that
the
trials
through
whil'h
01lT
heloved
IJrdhren
here
have
been
called
upon
to
pass
of
late
ha
ve
had
a
mighty,
sane·tifying
infhH'npe
and
klYC
hplppel
liS
all
to
hI'
still
more
devoted
to
our
Lonl,
and
prepnn'd
to
spenel
and
he
spent
in
his
servipp-rf>alizing
thp
pri\'ile~e
of
hl'inr~
hi"
witnesses
and
suffering,
if
it
hp
hi"
will.
for
his
name's
s:lkp.
\Ve
pray
for
you.
dpar
nrothI'r,
anr!
[111
ollr
/'x,lon'r!
hrethren
associated
with
yOll
in
senipe
for
t.hp
LorI!,
th"t
he
grant
you
all
heavenly
wisdom
and
grapp
sufIil'ient
ral'h
and
every
day,
w
that
YOllr
lahors
may
ever
b('
to
his
praise
and
glory.
\Vith
much
fprn'nt
lo\'p
in
him
to
voundf
and
all
the
dear
colaborprs
with
you.
we
are,
•
Your
brethrt'n
and
servants
in
the
Lord,
1.
B.
S.
A.-Ijondon,
Eng.
REJOICING
AGAIN
IN
THE
LORD
DEAR
PASTOR
RUSSELL:-
Some
twenty-five
years
ago
I
read
Vols.
I.
and
II.
of
STUDIES
IN
THE
SCRIPTURES.
I
found
them
very
interesting.
but
to
me
at
that
time
not
spiritually
helpful,
so
I
read
only
part
of
Vol.
III.
Of
late
years
I
have
been
greatly
oppressed
by
the
gr?w
ing
powers
of
evil
in
every
denomination,
and
I
felt
a
WIth
drawing
of
the
holy
Spirit
from
me.
I
prayerfully
sought
to
know
the
reason,
and
my
only
answer
was
a
direction
to
study
the
book
of
Revelation.
I
tried
to
do
so
several
times,
but
even
with
the
help
of
a
commentary,
I
could
not
under
stand
it.
Finally,
I
thought
that
if
I
carefully
and
prayer
fully
read
your
books
they
could
not
harm
me.
I
did
so,
and
looked
up
every
reference
and
the
cont('xt,
and
also
the
history
of
the
world.
The
dates
from
the
Bible
st'e-med
vpry
conl'lusive;
but
the
Pyramid
chapter
convinced
me.
and
'r
rpsolved
that
I
would
be
guided
in
the
future
according
to
the
STuDn~.
I
belonged
to
the
Anglican
Chur('h,
and
had
a
fair
knowl
edge
of
its
doctrines
and
those
of
several
drnominations;
aDd
I
thought
you
belonged
to
one
that
I
did
not
know
ahout.
While
trying
in
St.
John
to
get
other
volumes
of
your
books,
I
met
with
some
people
who
believed
a.s,
you
do.
I
bought
the
whole
set
of
books
and
subscribed
for
THE
WATCH
TOWER.
I
rejoiee
now
again
in
the
Lord,
and
in
our
dear
Savior's
second
presence.
I
have
not
yet
finished
all
the
volumps,
hut
I
have
take
It
the
Vow.
and
I
mean
to
follow
on
in
the
way
that
God
may
guide.
Praise
his
name!
1
wish
to
thank
you
for
the
hplp
I
have
r('('pivpa
through
your
writings,
and
I
mean
to
do
all
I
can
to
spread
them,
and
speak
about
the
truth.
Your
sister
in
Christ,
ELIZABETH
\VFITMORE.
HOLDING
TO
FAITH'S
ANCHOR
VENI';RATED
BROTHF.R
IN
THE
LORD;-
\Vhile
renewing
my
subscription
to
THE
'VA'rcu
Tow~;R.
I
a\'ail
myself
of
the
opportunity
to
tell
you
how
much
its
spmi-monthly
calls
gladden
us.
\Ve
pver
find
thprein,
abund
antly
g-ivpn.
the
strong
meat
necessary
to
properly
maintain
us
as
npw
cre-atures,
that
we
may
grow
in
all
the
graces
and
fruits
of
the
spirit.
In
spifp
of
the
trials
and
diffiI'ulti('s
abounding
in
these
pe-rilous
time-s,
the
condition
of
our
little
class
is
very
satiR
factory.
Each
of
us
is
holding
firmly
to
the
anchor
of
faith
thp
prppiou~
promises
of
our
Heavenly
Fathpr,
which
alone
l'an
protpl't
us
against
the
waves
alrl'ady
foaming,
roaring
and
threatpning
to
engulf
the
"mountains."
"Ve
make
Psalm
46
ours.
In
behalf
of
the
whole
ecclesia
here
and
vicinity,
I
pre
spnt
to
you,
beloved
Brother
Russell,
this
expression
of
the
sine'ere
sentiments
of
our
love
in
the
Lord.
Your
humble
brother
in
the
aile
hope.
ELm
TUERONII.
YOLo
XXXYTI
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
NOVEMBER
1,
1016
=-===-==-==--==--==
No.
21
[5977]
things,
which
is
the
Head,
even
Ohrist."-Ephesians
4;
15.
We
shoultl
have
a
filial
fear
toward
God,
but
not
with
the
thought
that
he
would
harm
us
or
torm('nt
us
or
rIo
us
violence
of
any
kinll,
but
fear
lest
we
should
lo~e
ollr
fdlow~hip
with
him.
So,
then,
whatcvpr
fear
,,·e
have
of
a
slavish
kine]
is
not
from
GorI.
Such
frar
brings
a
snare.
But
lovp,
inspired
by
a
true
knowle<1ge
of
God,
amI
begottpn
of
his
Spirit,
delivers
I1S
also
from
the
fear
of
man,
in
proportion
as
this
love
aboun,]s
in
us.
God
has
given
us
the
spirit
of
love,
the
spirit
of
a
sound
mind,
the
spirit
of
power.
The
Ohristian
knows
that
"all
things
work
together
for
good
to
them
that
10Yl'
God."
This
is
to
him
a
source
of
power,
of
strpngth.
Circumstances
and
conditions
which
woul.l
quite
overwhelm
others,
he
lIIay
pxpef't
to
have.
This
spirit
is
not
only
a
spirit
of
power,
but
a
spirit
of
love-a
spirit
of
kmdness
an<1
gentleness.
It
is
a
spirit
that
loves
to
do
good,
to
do
right,
to
be
helpful.
And
so
the
Christian
with
this
spirit
of
love
anrI
of
a
sound
mind
becomps
more
and
more
Go<1like.
This
enables
him
to
have
lIIore
and
more
compassion
for
those
who
arc
out
of
the
way.
Anel
as
God
sent
his
Son,
an<1
as
the
Son
came
and
provi<1ed
the
hless
ing
of
life
for
all
at
such
a
great
cost
to
himself,
so
all
who
ha
ve
his
spirit
will
strive
to
bless
others.
EVIDENCES
OF
A
SOUND
MIND
The
fall
of
Adam
has
worked
ruin
to
mankind,
so
that
from
(319-323)
HOW
WE
MA
Y
GROW
UP
INTO
CHRIST
"Speaking
the
truth
in
love,
...
grow
up
into
him
in
all
In
proportion
as
any
who
seek
to
know
God
are
led
to
see
his
true
character,
thl'y
have
confidence
in
him.
After
such
have
come
to
the
point
of
full
con~ecration
to
the
Lord,
they
rec"ive
the
begetting
of
the
holy
Spirit,
and
become
of
the
church
class,
the
sanetified
in
Christ
Jpsus,
the
set
apart
ones
-set
apart
by
the
holy
Spirit.
Of
these
the
Apostle
Paul
says,
"Gat]
hath
not
given
us
the
spirit
of
fear."
The
new
creature
must
repel
every
attack
of
servile
fear-which
be
longs
to
the
flesh,
the
fallen
condition.
The
new
mind
must
triumph
over
this
natural
tendency,
must
cultivate
trust
in
the
Lord.
No
man
could
do
more
than
take
away
our
earthly
life.
No
man
can
take
away
our
future
life.
"Frar
not
them
wl,ich
kill
the
body,
but
are
not
able
to
kill
the
soul;
but
rather
fear
him
which
is
able
to
destroy
both
soul
and
body."
So
the
ehild
of
God
is
to
be
very
courageous,
knowing
that
no
one
can
do
him
harm,
knowing
that
God
will
not
permit
anything
to
come
to
him
that
will
not
be
for
his
good.
Tlw
l'nlightened
child
of
God
would
have
no
fear,
or
dread,
of
eternal
torment.
He
would
still
have
proper
fear
such
as
a
husband
would
have
toward
a
wife,
or
a
wife
toward
a
hus
band-a
fpar
of
tlispleasing
or
disappointing,
and
thus
losing
the
esteem
and
confidence
of
the
companion.
In
respect
to
all
the
brethren
we
should
have
such
fear.
INTERESTING LETTERS FIERY TRIALS IN BRITAIN EASING Dear GRoTHER RUSSELL: — Greetings and fond love in the Lord! It is now some little time since last we wrote you with respect to those of our dear brethren who are affected by the Military Service Act in this country. We are glad now to report some slight Improvements in the situation. From the very beginning our brethren have claimed exemption from the provisions of the Act as Conscientious Objectors, but for a long time the Tribunals before which their eases came were not prepared to acknowledge their conscientious objection, one difficulty being that the I. B. S. A. was not known to them. But things have changed now and our brethren are finding it less hard to secure—as an alternative to Military Service— some work of National Importance. At the present time five of our brethren have been given absolute exemption, twenty-three are in a Non-combatant Corps, one hundred and fifty-four have been given work of National Importance, and eighty-two have been handed over to the Military and have suffered various punishments rather than obey Military orders. With reference to this latter number the Government put into operation a scheme whereby these men are to be released from Prison and-—-as State servants—be employed in work of National Importance, such as road-making, quarrying, ete. About thirty of the eighty-two mentioned are already thus engaged and about twelve others are at home on parole waiting for work to be found for them. You will be interested to know that the War Office officials have kindly consented to cancel the papers calling to the colors all those brethren who are elders, pending the decision of the High Court as to the proper status of our elders under the Act. This decision we expect to receive about the middle of November. This means, of course, that various classes are to receive the benefit of their elders’ services meantime. We are gratetul to the Lord for this evidence of his loving care for his dear ones in this hour of need. We need hardly say how keenly we are anticipating further opportunities of service that the Lord in his gracious purposes may have this side of the veil; and we are looking to you as his faithful servant to point out to us such further privileges of witness as it may be his good pleasure to provide. We believe that the trials through which our heloved brethren here have been called upon to pass of late have had a mighty, sanctifying influence and have helped us all to be still more devoted to our Lord, and prepared to spend and be spent in his service—realizing the privileze of being his witnesses and suffering, if it be his will. for his name’s soke. We pray for you, dear Prother, and all our beloved brethren associated with you in service for the Jord, thot he grant you all heavenly wisdom and grace sufficient cach and every day, so that your labors may ever be to his praise and glory. With much fervent love in him to yourself and all the dear colaborers with you. we are, Your brethren and servants in the Lord, I. B. S. An—London, Eng. Vou. NXNVIT BROOKLYN, N. Y., NOVEMBER 1, 1916 REJOICING AGAIN IN THE LORD Deak Pastor RusseLi :— Some twenty-five years ago I read Vols. I. and II. of STuDIES IN THE ScrirpruREsS. I found them very interesting, but to me at that time not spiritually helpful, so I read only part of Vol. III. Of late years I have been greatly oppressed by the growing powers of evil in every denomination, and I felt a withdrawing of the holy Spirit from me. I prayerfully sought to know the reason, and my only answer was a direction to study the book of Revelation. I tried to do so several times, but even with the help of a commentary, I could not understand it. Finally, I thought that if I carefully and prayerfully read your books they could not harm me. I did so, and looked up every reference and the context, and also the history of the world. The dates from the Bible seemed very conclusive; but the Pyramid chapter convinced me, and [ resolved that I would be guided in the future according to the Srunies, I belonged to the Anglican Church, and had a fair knowledge of its doctrines and those of several denominations; and I thought you belonged to one that I did not know about. While trying in St. John to get other volumes of your books, I met with some people who believed as you do. I bought the whole set of books and subscribed for THe Watcn TowER. I rejoice now again in the Lord, and in our dear Savior’s second presence. I have not yet finished all the volumes, but I have taken the Vow. and I mean to follow on in the way that God may guide. Praise hig name! I wish to thank you for the help I have received through your writings, and I mean to do all I can to spread them, and speak about the truth. Your sister in Christ, ELIZABETH WETMORE. HOLDING TO FAITH’S ANCHOR VENERATED BROTHER IN THE LoRD:— While renewing my subscription to THE Warcu Tower, I avail myself of the opportunity to tell you how much its semi-monthly calls gladden us. We ever find therein, abundantly given, the strong meat necessary to properly maintain us as new creatures, that we may grow in all the graces and fruits of the spirit. In spite of the trials and difficulties abounding in these perilous times, the condition of our little class is very satisfactory. Each of us is holding firmly to the anchor of faith— the precious promises of our Heavenly Father, which alone can protect us against the waves already foaming, roaring and threatening to engulf the “mountains.” We make Psalm 46 ours, In behalf of the whole ecclesia here and vicinity, I present to you, beloved Brother Russell, this expression of the sincere sentiments of our love in the Lord. Your humble brother in the one hope, Err THERONN. No. 21 HOW WE MAY GROW UP INTO CHRIST “Speaking the truth in love, In proportion as any who seek to know God are led to see his true character, they have confidence in him. After such have come to the point of full consecration to the Lord, they reerive the begetting of the holy Spirit, and become of the church class, the sanctified in Christ Jesus, the set apart ones -—set apart by the holy Spirit. Of these the Apostle Paul says, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear.” The new creature must repel every attack of servile fear—-which belongs to the flesh, the fallen condition. The new mind must triumph over this natural tendency, must cultivate trust in the Lord. No man could do more than take away our earthly life. No man can take away our future life. “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body.” So the child of God is to be very courageous, knowing that no one can do him harm, knowing that God will not permit anything to come to him that will not be for his good. The enlightened child of God would have no fear, or dread, of eternal torment. He would still have proper fear such as a husband would have toward a wife, or a wife toward a husband—-a fear of displeasing or disappointing, and thus losing the esteem and confidence of the companion. In respect to all the brethren we should have such fear. [5977] ++. grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ.”—Ephesians 4:15. We should have a filial fear toward God, but not with the thought that he would harm us or torment us or do us violence of any kind, but fear lest we should lose our fellowship with him, So, then, whatever fear we have of a slavish kind is not from God. Such fear brings a snare. But love, inspired by a true knowledge of God, and begotten of his Spirit, delivers us also from the fear of man, in proportion as this love abounds in us. God has given us the spirit of love, the spirit of a sound mind, the spirit of power. The Ohristian knows that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” This is to him a source of power, of strength. Circumstances and conditions which would quite overwhelm others, he may expect to have. This spirit is not only a spirit of power, but a spirit of love—a spirit of kindness and gentlencss. It is a spirit that loves to do good, to do right, to be helpful. And so the Christian with this spirit of love and of a sound mind becomes more and more Godlike. This enables him to have more and more compassion for those who are out of the way. And as God sent his Son, and as the Son came and provided the blessing of life for all at such a great cost to himself, so all who have his spirit will strive to bless others. EVIDENCES OF A SOUND MIND The fall of Adam has worked ruin to mankind, so that from (319-323)
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