<< Back |
Chosen no: R-4937 a, from: 1911 Year. |
Change lang
| |
1912--Views From The Watch Tower--1912
WHO CAN TELL what experiences lie just before us within the portals of
the New Year! Ah! 'tis better so; 'tis better that the future is open to our
Lord alone, and that we by faith should trust Him for life's blessings and for
a measure of the peace which passeth all understanding and which the world can
neither give nor take away. It is better, too, that the trials, the
difficulties, the sharp stones and thorns of the narrow way we tread are seen
alone by our gracious Care-taker who has promised His faithful that all things
shall be so overruled as to outwork for their highest welfare.
"My times are in Thy hand; my God, I wish them there."
But while rejoicing that God knows, not we, what lies before us of joy
or pain, we may profitably retrospect the past year and begin the new one with
good resolutions. Indeed, the custom of merchants to take an account of stock
and to map out their business energies at the beginning of each new year is
evidently a wise one which may be adapted to our still more important spiritual
interests and activities.
Looking back upon the activities of 1911, we are surprised at their
magnitude, and amazed that the apparently wise expenditure of so much money has
not produced greater results as respects the number of those who have publicly
acknowledged the opening of the eyes of their understanding. One would think
that our wonderful message of the grace of God shining out as an electric
searchlight would have aroused much more interest than we see manifested. One
would suppose that so reasonable and gracious and Bible-harmonious a message,
so widely delivered in this our wonderful day of intelligence and increasing
liberty from superstition, would have aroused the world to a far greater degree
than is manifest.
One lesson taught us by this retrospect is a fresh reminder that only he
that hath an ear to hear can hear; and that the number with hearing ears at the
present time must be comparatively small. Another lesson is that our work must
be more particularly in the interest of those who believe --the workers. The
wonderful opportunities presented to these for serving the Truth at the cost of
self-sacrifice serves to prove their zeal, their loyalty and love for God, the
brethren and the Truth. A third lesson is that the present very widespread
circulation of the Truth into every nook and corner of civilization implies a
general "rounding up," to the intent that not one saint in all the
world shall fail to come into contact with "present truth," which, if
he be an Israelite indeed, without guile, must surely prove attractive to him
and thus draw him to the feast of fat things which some of us have been
enjoying for years. Remember the words of the Master, "Wheresoever the carcass
is there will the eagles be gathered together."--Matt.
24:28.
Year after year the swing and impetus of the work has [R4937 : page 455] increased until, as the
report for 1911 shows, our Society is spending nearly $500 per day for the
heralding of the Good Tidings of Great Joy. True, that sum is little compared
with the estimation of the value of the Truth to our own hearts, and therefore its
value to others with whom we would desire to share our great blessings of the
knowledge of Divine Grace. True, our shortage of a year ago, as we predicted,
was made up by the third of January; but, as the report shows, since then our
expenditures have exceeded the income, leaving a much heavier deficit than ever
before. We have no doubt whatever that the deficit will be wiped out; but the
increase in the amount warns us that we must curtail expenses--that we are
moving too rapidly. This was our Society's decision long ago: that it would
work on a cash basis and avoid any danger of insolvency.
Some months ago we realized that we were going behind, and we began to
put on the brakes. But the momentum was so great and the opportunities for the
service of the Truth so many, that it has been difficult to know just when,
where and how much to curtail most wisely in the interest of the cause we
serve. The Colporteur work is self-sustaining, except for foreign editions and
"bad debts," when some of the dear Colporteurs, through no fault of
their own, fail to make ends meet. Neither can we think of curtailing the
Pilgrim service--so valuable has it appeared to be. Our curtailment evidently
must be along the lines of the supply of free literature, and we must withdraw
our offer to assist in "Class Extension," except in the providing of
free literature--until we get evened up and see that the expenditures do not
exceed the income. Meantime let our watchword be "faithfulness," not
only in energy but in frugality. If any have literature laid by, unused, let it
be brought forward; and let all orders for free literature be for no more than
can and will be used faithfully and judiciously. Perhaps this is a lesson which
the Lord would have us learn.
THE OUTLOOK IS PROMISING
Never has the outlook been more promising than at the opening of 1912
A.D. More than twelve hundred newspapers, whose combined circulation is
probably twelve million copies, are carrying the Truth to reading, thinking
people, especially in country districts. City papers are too crowded for
sermons; and if they were published, the readers would not appreciate them. But
the Colporteurs are reaching the people in the cities. The increased
attractiveness of the books, the increased wisdom of the Colporteurs in
presenting them, the increased intelligence of the people and the growing
evidence that we are in the midst of a change of Dispensation--these are all
very favorable to the Colporteur work; and some of the dear brethren and
sisters engaged in this work are not only greatly blessed themselves, but are
making their work more efficient by calling back on the interested and watering
the seed sown, and starting classes of Berean students. Many are having
excellent success in selling the entire six volumes with one year's
subscription to THE WATCH TOWER, all for $2.65, the ordinary price for one
volume on theology.
There are good evidences both in Great
Britain and America that 1912 may be our very
best year yet, so far as the Colporteur work is concerned; and for the
volunteering, order all the free literature you can wisely use. If we find it
necessary we will cut down the quantity sent you, but not otherwise! Let us
hope that 1912 will not fall short of 1911 in the circulation of free
literature.
WHAT RECENT EVENTS FORESHADOW
The confession of the McNamara brothers has made a profound impression
on the social world. For several years they have been under the pay of $1,000
per month to dynamite bridges and buildings with a view to the intimidation of
capitalists and the assistance of trades-unionism. It is claimed that no less
than twenty serious dynamite explosions have been accomplished through
them--some say sixty. The most serious of the lot was the damage done to the Los
Angeles Times building, in connection with which twenty-one persons lost
their lives. It was hard to believe that members of our race could be so
depraved and still harder to believe what trades-unionists claimed, namely,
that the explosions have been caused by capitalists in order to incite the
public mind against trades-unionism. Now we have the truth in the confession of
the McNamaras and the implication of various prominent labor leaders.
The shock to moral sense is tremendous and is sure to cause a
reactionary sentiment against all trades-unionism and socialism.
The results we anticipate are the drawing closer together than ever of
capitalism and of all law-and-order people. This will mean a practical union of
Church and State. Everybody not in sympathy with lawlessness will [R4938 : page 455] be expected and ultimately
required to identify himself with the politico-religious arrangement thus
inaugurated. Those who for any reason attempt to stand free and to oppose
Churchianity will doubtless be seriously misunderstood and make themselves
liable to hatred and persecution. Thus the readers of this publication,
although the most staunch defenders of Law and Order and the most pronounced
opposers of everything like anarchy, may yet find themselves branded as
opponents to law and order --just as Jesus was crucified between two thieves.
WHAT OUR POSITION SHOULD BE
The exhortation of the moment is loyalty to God and to the Truth, but
great moderation and love and wisdom in every expression respecting the same. Nevertheless,
even at the risk of being misunderstood, the true message of the Kingdom must
be proclaimed by those who would be esteemed of the Lord good soldiers of the
Cross and Ambassadors for God. But let us not forget the Master's words,
"Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves."
The results of the combination will be powerful restraints upon
everything supposed to effect the present social order and the ultimate results
will be that this weighting down of the safety-valve will bring the great
explosion of anarchy a little later on, very much as described in the volumes
of STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES, explanatory of the Divine prophecies that our Age
will end with "a Time of Trouble such as was not since there was a
nation," and that this will usher in the glorious Kingdom of Messiah.
The experience of our British friends in connection with the
dock-workers' strike and the railway men's strike of last September was good. They
had read of strikes elsewhere, but seemed not to dream of their possibility in Britain. The
general stagnation of business for a few days opened their eyes to the fact
that, prolonged a little while, it would mean starvation to thousands--so
dependent are we today upon modern methods of food and fuel distribution. The
British people seem to realize that a mighty struggle between capital and labor
is not far distant. The working people are boasting that they realize their
strength as never before, and that the next strike will be much more severe
than was this one. Capitalists are saying, "It must be settled once and
for all who is master; and next time we will resort to severer
measures." This determination on both sides is what will make the crisis
the more severe when it comes. Both sides will be shouting, [R4938 : page 456] No quarter! No surrender! The
next demonstration may be in Germany
or in America.
The proper course for us is to keep close to the Lord, maintaining an
attitude of humility and justice toward all --always counseling peace, never
strife. Half a loaf is better than no bread. The worst government is better
than anarchy. To those who expect strikes, etc., we suggest the advisability,
where financially practical, of keeping a full supply of coal and of such
staples as oatmeal, dried beans, etc.
However, our special concern should be to abide under the shadow of the
Almighty, by abiding in His love and hence under the assurance that all shall
work for our good. Then with hearts full of faith and rejoicing that the day of
redemption draweth nigh, let us use our every opportunity for promoting peace
and consolation amongst those of the world with whom we are in contact. "Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." As the
time of trouble closes in, the "foolish virgin" class are to get the
oil, the light; and we should be on the alert to assist them. Many of the
worldly also will then be amenable to the Truth who are now deaf to it. Perhaps
1912 A.D. may be one of our most successful years for witnessing. In the
meantime let us never forget that our main responsibility is in connection with
our own covenant with the Lord--a covenant of sacrifice--whereby we are to make
our calling and election sure. "They shall be Mine, saith the Lord of
hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them as a man
spareth his own son that serveth him."— Malachi 3:17
W.T.
R-4937a : page 454 - 1911r