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Chosen no: R-5076 a, from: 1912 Year. |
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Toronto And Washington Conventions
NEARLY ONE THOUSAND of those of "like
precious faith" assembled in Convention at the National
Exhibition Park,
Toronto, Ont.,
Canada,
beginning Sunday, June 30. The weather was ideal for such an occasion, and the
spirit of the friends indicated their joy in the Lord, their oneness of purpose
and implicit faith in the great Creator of the Universe. Those in attendance
were mostly from Canada,
although quite a number were present from the United States.
Horticultural Hall proved to be a splendid
Convention auditorium, having a capacity of about fifteen hundred. The friends
were quite comfortably lodged in the vicinity of the Park, and a substantial
luncheon was provided each noon, affording at the same time an excellent
opportunity for sociability and Christian fellowship. The Exhibition Park
is located on the lake front with a magnificent view of the water, and is
artistically laid out with winding paths, fountain sprays and flower beds.
With such beautiful surroundings praise to the
Almighty filled every heart from the very first, and the opening day of
services was appropriately designated "Praise Day." The speakers of
the day magnified the name of the Lord and forcefully depicted the Divine program.
"Hope Day," "Kingdom Day" and "Fruitage Day" each
in turn proved equally interesting and helpful to the assembled Bible Students
as they had further word pictures painted before their mental vision
illustrating God's wonderful provision for all mankind, and the special favors
in reservation for the members of "the Church of the First-Born."
At one of these sessions a resolution was
unanimously adopted expressing the sense of the Convention "that we do not
find the Bible to teach the doctrine of a literal hell fire, or place of fire
and brimstone, for the punishment of the wicked, but that secular history of
the formation of the creeds of the Middle Ages reveals the fact that for
various reasons, either wisely or unwisely, the doctrine of punishment in hell
fire was added to the Gospel as taught by Jesus and the twelve Apostles. We,
therefore, now unreservedly repudiate as thoroughly unscriptural the teaching
of a place, state or condition of a literal lake of fire and brimstone for the
punishment of the wicked, and further, that we believe from many personal
testimonials that the vast majority of ministers of all Protestant
denominations have privately repudiated the 'hell fire' theory, but have, for
supposedly good reasons, hesitated to inform their congregations; and further,
that we believe, on this account thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands, are
being driven into skepticism or infidelity. We appeal to every minister in the
Dominion of Canada to publish in his local newspaper, over his own signature, a
statement declaring whether or not he believes the Bible [R5077
: page 245] to teach the doctrine of a literal lake of fire and
brimstone, and ask every editor to invite the ministers of his constituency to
avail themselves of his columns for their statement."
On Thursday, "Fruition Day," Brother
Russell arrived in the afternoon and found the Convention at its height; and on
Friday, "Harvester's Day," the enthusiasm and zeal seemed, if
anything, to excel any former occasion. We trust that many of the Harvesters
were encouraged to renewed activity in the Lord's service for the ensuing year,
and, too, that others may have received an incentive to enter into some
department of the grand Harvest work. The prevailing sentiment seemed to be
expressed in the words of our Master during that other great Harvest period
eighteen centuries ago--"The Harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers
are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth
laborers into His harvest."--Matt. 9:37,38.
Saturday was designated "Spirit Begetting
Day." At the conclusion of the morning praise and testimony service
Brother Russell addressed the Convention on "Baptism-- Its Import and Its
Symbol." This was followed [R5077 : page 246] by
an immersion service at the lake, where 97 adults symbolized their full
consecration unto death. The Convention proper, according to program, concluded
an Saturday afternoon with a Love Feast. The elders of the Toronto Class, all
the Pilgrim brethren present, and Brother Russell, enjoyed the blessed
privilege of a personal hand-shake with each and all in attendance. The singing
of appropriate farewell hymns and the breaking of bread made the scene most impressive,
never to be forgotten.
Although not on the program, on Sunday morning a
large number of the friends gathered again at Horticultural Hall for a praise
and testimony service and an address by one of the Canadian brethren, followed
by a Berean lesson. In the afternoon the public of Toronto
were addressed by Brother Russell in the Royal Alexandra
Theatre on the subject,
"Beyond the Grave." The meeting was well advertised, and although
this is a large auditorium, and the day was extremely warm, the place was
crowded to its capacity and, according to various estimates, five hundred to
one thousand were turned away from the doors unable to gain admittance. The
witness to the Truth, God's character and plan thus given, we trust, may serve
to awaken the interest of some who heard for the first time. Closest attention
was given and at the conclusion many were the warm greetings and expressions of
joy, hope and pleasure respecting the "good tidings of great joy which
shall be unto all people."
AT WASHINGTON CITY
While the concluding sessions were being held at
Toronto, Ontario, Bible Students from thirty-six different States were entering
the Capitol City of the United States by the gateway of its magnificent Union
Station, previously mentioned in the columns of this journal on account of the
appropriate inscriptions of Biblical texts so precious to the hearts of our
readers, to be found above the archway entrances, viz., "Thou hast put all
things under His feet"; "The Truth shall make you free";
"The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose," etc.
Via special trains, special cars, electric lines
and automobiles the friends continued to pour in until by Saturday evening, the
day before the Convention opened, the city was fairly filled with Bible Students,
who were assigned to over six hundred different homes, private boarding houses
and hotels. This distribution of the visiting Students, we believe, afforded an
excellent opportunity for witnessing to the Truth before many families and
persons who might not otherwise have been reached. So far as we have heard all
were quite comfortably located.
The opening day's sessions were all held in the
Auditorium at the Glen Echo Chautauqua Grounds, and in spite of the extreme
heat the place was filled to overflowing. Observing the extraordinary numbers
in attendance, which more than taxed the capacity of Glen
Echo Park
and the electric car facilities, the committee on arrangements concluded that
it would be best to transfer the majority of the meetings to Washington City
proper. Accordingly, on Monday morning the Washington Academy of Music, a fine
auditorium with a seating capacity of about 2,500 persons, was secured, and at
9 o'clock on Tuesday morning the same was packed to its limit, with about 300
on the platform. This necessitated the securing of another auditorium for
overflow services, which were arranged for in the beautiful new Masonic Temple, seating about 1,400 people. Besides
these two places the G.A.R. Hall was engaged for Book Stall, Colporteur
Department, Post Office, Information Bureau and a general meeting place for
those who desired to make appointments with one another.
We believe we can see the overruling hand of Providence in having
these various auditoriums, as they served to bring before the attention of the
public the actual size of the gathering of Bible Students. It was a surprise to
many of the Washington
residents to know that there were so many people so interested in Bible study
as not to give their time to sight-seeing or other attractions of that
beautiful city, but on the contrary would pour into each of the auditoriums at
each session, morning, afternoon and evening, notwithstanding the heated
weather.
Besides the regular features, as designated on
the program, a reception was held in the G.A.R. Hall on Monday evening,
attended by six hundred. Another reception, in the nature of a special
discourse by Brother Russell, was held on Tuesday evening in the Academy of Music, which was crowded to its
capacity. On Wednesday night a most inspiring prayer meeting, attended by fully
2,500 persons, was conducted at the Academy
of Music. The testimonies
all evidenced remarkable growth in grace and in knowledge of the Lord and a
desire to "praise Him for His goodness and wonderful works to the children
of men."--Psa. 107:8.
Another feature not on the regular program was
the "Christian Workers' Service" on Thursday afternoon at the Glen
Echo auditorium, over one thousand being present. The discourse by Brother
Russell on the subject of Baptism on Friday morning was listened to with quiet
interest, and at its conclusion 167 adults indicated their desire to symbolize
their baptism into the Body of Christ by water immersion. After directing a few
personal words and extending the right-hand of fellowship to each of the
candidates, they were conducted to the bathing pool at the foot of the imposing
Washington Monument, where the ceremony was
performed with befitting dignity and solemnity.
In the evening Brother Russell addressed a
splendid assembly of Pilgrims, elders and deacons at the Academy of Music, and
all seemed greatly rejoiced, comforted and encouraged by the remarks, which
were based upon the text, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all
the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the
Church of God, which He hath purchased with the blood of His Son."--Acts 20:28.
Harvesters' Day, with its usual enthusiasm,
brought together the active Colporteur workers to learn more about the
wonderful privileges of the season in which we are living. The Master's words,
as recorded by St. John,
seem best to express the sentiments of this blessed day at the Convention:
"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and
to finish His work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the
harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for
they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and
gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth
may rejoice together."-- John 4:34-36.
At one of the early sessions of the Convention a
similar resolution to that passed at the Toronto Convention, repudiating the
doctrine of the Dark Ages--the eternal torture of nearly all mankind--was
presented and carried unanimously by the Bible Students gathered at Glen Echo. Already
we learn of considerable discussion having been agitated amongst the various
clergymen in all parts of the country.
Holiness Day concluded this last, and we must
again say, "the best yet" of all our Conventions. On account of the
great numbers in attendance the usual custom of breaking bread and shaking
hands with all the Pilgrims and [R5077 : page 247] Brother
Russell was not deemed practicable, but instead the Pilgrim brethren and
Brother Russell were stationed at the various points of exit of the Academy of
Music and bade the friends farewell while they sang, "Blest Be the Tie
That Binds," "God Be with You till We Meet Again," and other hymns
of similar sentiment. As this leave-taking was in progress many eyes glistened
with tears of mingled sorrow and joy while we said farewell to one another and
"God bless you." Let us hope to meet again in the Great Convention on
High, where we surely shall be if faithful to "Him who hath called us out
of darkness into His marvelous light."
W.T. R-5076a : page 245 - 1912r.