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Chosen no: R-5977 a, from: 1916 Year. |
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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 improvement 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 cases 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, 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
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 grateful 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 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 beloved
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
privilege of being His witnesses and suffering, if it be His will, for His
name's sake.
We pray for you, dear Brother, and all our beloved
brethren associated with you in service for the Lord, that He grant you all
Heavenly wisdom and grace sufficient each 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.A.--London, Eng.
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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
growing power 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 I resolved that I would be guided in the
future according to the STUDIES.
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 WATCH 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
His 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.
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MAGNIFYING GOD HER
CREATOR
DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--
Our Father has been doing great things for me, whereof
I am glad; and I am sure that you, too, will rejoice with me.
It was just a whole year (a long one) that He saw fit
to permit me to be laid on the shelf--until He graciously opened the way for me
to go out again in the follow-up work, just six weeks ago. You know something
of the starvation of soul it meant. Now I can tell you that, true to His
promise, when we hunger for these things, we shall be filled; so my whole soul
doth magnify the Lord my Creator for His refilling. Through this experience I
realize that I have never in the past sufficiently appreciated the goodness of
the Lord in permitting me to handle His precious truths and to feed His lambs,
to uphold His name and character to all with whom we come in contact. Henceforth
many times daily I will by His grace remember my vow to thank Him,
"particularly for the share which I myself am privileged to enjoy in that
work," and with reverence handle these sacred vessels of the Lord.
Every day we meet some hungry souls who declare
inability to understand the Bible--some who say their neighbors think them
peculiar because they love to talk about the Bible; some say they are
"starved" for the truth of the Bible. "What manner of persons
ought we to be" who are entrusted with a Message for just such waiting
hearts!
The Father Himself has provided "strength for
every day"--temporal blessings far better than we deserve or would ask for
and spiritual joys which we could not have dreamed of, except that "it is just
like our Father." We wish that we had much more that we could sacrifice
for Him, for our little sacrifice is completely lost sight of because of
present joys and the joys in prospect.
If He is so good to us we know how He is caring for and
blessing His faithful servant "over His household." May your joys in
Him daily increase! With love and daily prayers,
By His Grace, -----
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HOLDING TO FAITH'S
ANCHOR
VENERATED BROTHER IN THE LORD:--
While renewing my subscription to THE WATCH 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. ELIE THEROND.
W.T. R-5977a : page 319 - 1916r
