The Watchtower, March 1, 1955
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The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
MARCH 1, 1955
Semimonthly
SUPPORTING JEHOVAH'S
ORGANIZATION
THE BIBLE'S ANSWER
TO MODERN-DAY LIVING
IS THE FULL-TIME MINISTRY FOR YOU?
EXCLAIMING ABOUT THE PERIL
OF OUR TIME
MODERN HISTORY
OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
©WTB&TS
“YOU ARE MY WITNESSES,” SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12 THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases.—Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself. Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNORR, President GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
Exclaiming About the Peril of Our Time 131
The Bible's Answer to Modern-Day Living 133
Is the Full-Time Ministry for You? 137
Modern History of Jehovah's Witnesses Part 5: The Warning Work (1909-1914) 140
Acting as a Right Kind of Minister 144
Supporting Jehovah's Organization 145
Questions from Readers 158
Giving the Reason "with Deep Respect"? 159
Announcements 159
Check Your Memory 160
Abbreviations used in "The Watchtower" for the following Bible versions
AS - American Standard Version LXX - The Septuagint Version
AT - An American Translation Mo - James Moffatt's version
Da - J. N. Darby's version NW - New World Translation
Dy - Catholic Douay version Ro - J. B. Rotherham's version
ED - The Emphatic Diaglott RS - Revised Standard Version
Le - Isaac Leeser's version Yg - Robert Young's version
Unless otherwise indicated, the Bible used is the King James Version
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EXCLAIMING ABOUT THE PERIL OF OUR TIME
ALMOST daily some clergyman, scientist or politician exclaims that great peril faces mankind. And what peril is it about which they exclaim? The peril of an atomic war. Exclaimed United States Senator Stuart Symington: "We are now in that era some of us have predicted with dread for a long time—the period of total danger." The "total danger" expressed in the words of Dr. Edgar Douglas Adrian, one of Britain's leading scientists, is radioactivity contamination earth-wide: "We must face the possibility that repeated atom explosions will lead to a degree of general radioactivity which no one can tolerate or escape." So the fear of the atom peril is great. But in spite of the fact that the spotlight is on the atom, we ask, Is the radioactive monster the real peril that confronts mankind and that affects your destiny?
It may surprise some to know that amid all the blatant cries created by the nuclearweapon threat the real peril has been obscured. This real peril is of supreme importance because it affects the everlasting destiny of all persons. How could such a peril ever be obscured? And just what is it? The real peril is the fate toward which Satan the Devil is leading all the nations of the earth. That fate is everlasting annihilation at the hands of Almighty God. This destiny of destruction will befall hundreds of millions, because the Devil is misleading the nations: "Down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth." (Rev. 12:9, NW) There are no exceptions; every country on earth, the Bible declares, is being misled. For the sake of your very life you must now make certain that you are not being misled along with the nations.
But now more about the real peril. God's Word declares that the Devil, through his organization of demons and men, would deceive the nations, thus leading them to destruction at Armageddon: "I saw three unclean inspired expressions that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the wild beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and perform signs, and they go forth to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty. And they gathered them together to the place that is called in Hebrew HarMagedon."—Rev. 16:13, 14, 16, NW.
Is it strange that the public press and the clerical luminaries have not warned the people of God's war of Armageddon, the real peril? No, because so thorough has been the Devil's deception that the mass of mankind will be caught off guard, just as they were in Noah's time. Jesus brings this to our attention.
He tells us that the catastrophic flood was pictorial of the great peril facing men of this generation. Through Noah, not through the worldly organization of that time, God proclaimed the peril of the preflood world. But the people "took no note until the flood came and swept them all away." Then the Master explains: "So the presence of the Son of man will be." (Matt. 24:39, NW) Thus, the masses will "take no note" of the real peril until Armageddon comes and sweeps them all away into destruction.
How vital to determine the real peril of our time! So many critical perils have appeared that the people are bewildered. This was foretold by Christ's apostle: "But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here." Now the important thing is to keep these secondary perils from obscuring your vision of the real peril. For the perils themselves are only a sign of the last days. Because of the Devil's being hurled down from heaven, some of the perils foretold for the "last days" are famines, an unusual number of earthquakes and world wars. Jesus said that men would become so alarmed over these many perils that they would "become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth." Jesus did not mean that the masses would become alarmed about Armageddon and worry over it. But rather he meant that the war peril and others would cause men's hearts to quake with fear. Such perils should never eclipse the import of them: to indicate or signify the nearness of Armageddon.—2 Tim. 3:1; Luke 21:26, NW.
Today only one organization is exclaiming about this real peril. This is the New World society of Jehovah's witnesses. For many years now they have diligently sounded the warning. All others have remained silent. This very silence is the sign of a false religion. The Bible calls false religionists "dumb dogs" because they do not exclaim in warning: "They are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber."—Isa. 56:10, AS.
Do not be deceived. The atomic peril is not the vital issue. It is only a minor peril compared with Armageddon. Why? Because those who suffer death at Jehovah's hands will be everlastingly destroyed. They are described as the "slain of Jehovah" and they lie as "dung upon the face of the ground." With good reason we should fear Jehovah, not men! Explained Christ Jesus: "Do not become fearful of those who kill the body but can not kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." Since only Jehovah can destroy "the soul," meaning, in this instance, one's future right to life, no peril of everlasting consequence can come from men or their weapons.—Jer. 25:33, AS; Matt. 10:28, NW.
The real peril is near. Make no mistake about it. We are advised by the Master: "Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime nor on the sabbath day; for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." Absolutely unprecedented will be Armageddon! Nothing in all the ages to come can be compared with it. No wonder Jesus advises fleeing now, not "in wintertime nor on the sabbath day." The winter and sabbath here picture a difficult time for flight, and wise ones would not delay until then.-Matt. 24:20, 21, NW.
By all means, then, flee now to the New World theocratic system of things. Abandon the wicked world organization. A New World society is formed. Jehovah's witnesses, who come to your door, will be glad to tell you more about the New World society, the only organization exclaiming about the real peril of our times.
The way of this troubled old world is: from the cradle to the grave. But the Bible illuminates a better way: from the cradle to lasting happiness and life. Which will it be for you? Read this article. It proves that you can begin living the practical way, the better way, now.
IS THE Bible modern for today? To many persons its modern practicalness is limited to literary quality, political speeches, birthday presents and crossword
linquency, overcrowded jails, fornication and immoralities of the most sordid kind, black markets in babies broken marriages, gambling mania, stupefying hero worship, increasing suicide, drug addiction, liquor addiction and skid rows, explosive nationalism, revolution and riots and colossal blood sacrifices to the god Mars.
But how do we know that the Bible is modern enough to answer such perplexing
puzzles. What are the Bible's answers to problems of living? Are they practical for today? How do we know?
Those who view the Bible as impractical, could it not be that to them it is an unknown Book? A casual browsing of a Bible translation that uses out-of-date language may cause one to conclude wrongly that the Book's principles are also out of date. It is only by acquiring knowledge of the Bible, whether a modern-language translation is used or not, that one can truly appraise its standards. The unvarnished fact is that those who clamor the loudest that
problems? Because the Bible was written by men inspired by Jehovah God. Said one writer: "The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me, and his word was upon my tongue." (2 Sam. 23:2, AS) Who can understand the operation of a machine better than its inventor? So it is that Jehovah knows what is best for the smooth operation of his masterpiece of living machinery, the human body.
THE BIBLE AND TRUE SCIENCE
Now we can understand why the Bible passes every test of modernity. Critics may
the Bible is old-fashioned are the very ones who have not acquainted themselves with it nor have they applied its principles.
Let us look for a moment at what exists in the world as a result from viewing the Bible impractical. As we do so we can ask, How practical is it?—the love of money, robbery and murder, mounting juvenile deharp that it is unscientific, but such ones display ignorance, not knowledge. The Bible has always harmonized with true science. The theory that the earth was a body in space and traveled around the sun was offered by Nicholaus Copernicus (1473- 1543). Yet some 3,000 years before Copernicus' time, the Bible showed that the earth was a body in space: "He stretcheth out the north over empty space, and hangeth the earth upon nothing."
Magellan (1480-1521) proved the earth was round when he sailed around the world. But some 2,200 years before Magellan's time the Bible showed the earth was round by speaking of Jehovah as "he that sitteth above the circle of the earth."—Job 26:7; Isa. 40:22, AS.
The Bible and archaeology? Perfect agreement. The Bible says man was created perfect, that, because of Adam's sin, he degenerated, not evolved upward. Archaeology has found the Bible modern, the evolutionists old fogies. Said one authority: "The culture of Egypt starts on a magnificently high level and is later reduced to a tremendous degree by a consistent record of degeneration." Of the jewelry and metal work of Egypt's twelfth dynasty, a modern encyclopedia says: "European goldsmiths have rarely surpassed this work."
The Bible and chemistry? Agreement again. The Bible speaks of gold and glass. It tells of acid-base reactions: "As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart." It speaks of the source of iron and copper: "Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is molten out of the stone."—Prov. 25:20; Job 28:2, AS.
The Bible and zoology? Accurate knowledge of animal habits is shown by the Bible. Why, even in the nineteenth century men often asserted that birds of prey hunted by smell. Audubon, with experiments, proved they hunted by sight. But Bible readers never needed Audubon's experiments to know the truth, for Job 39:29 (Ro) says of the bird of prey: "He searcheth out food, far away his eyes do pierce."
The Bible and health? Here the Bible is more modern than many moderns. For it
does not advise early retirement, a life of ease, laziness or idleness. The Bible recommends hard work. Just in the past few years doctors are awaking to the need of work, the danger of easy living and rest. Science Digest for November, 1954, reported on the words of Dr. W. Melville Arnott, professor of medicine in the University of Birmingham, England: "Work, even hard work, is good for a person—while rest may be damaging. . . None of the known effects of work, Dr. Arnott states, can harm healthy tissues. On the contrary, all the effects are good. . . Rest, on the other hand, can produce profound and damaging changes." So the Bible's advice, both spiritually and physically, holds true: "Sloth brings the sleep that has no awaking."—Prov. 19:15, Knox.
The Bible and disease? Some 3,000 years before modern knowledge of causes of disease, the Bible contained a prohibition on eating pig, rabbit and fish, which, respectively, are subject to trichinosis, tularemia and tapeworm. Likewise the principle of quarantine for certain diseases is recognized by the Bible.
The Bible and medicine? Still modern! But how modern is the twentieth century's superstitious cures, its quack cures? Declared one doctor: "It is very surprising to me that the Bible is so accurate from the medical standpoint. . . Where treatment is mentioned, as for boils, wounds, etc., it is correct even by modern standards. Also in the present day, $750,000,000 are wasted annually on worthless medicines and methods of treatment. Many superstitions are still believed by large numbers of people, such as, that a buckeye in the pocket will prevent rheumatism; that handling toads will cause warts; that wearing red flannel around the neck will cure a sore throat; that an asafetida bag will prevent diseases; that every time a child is sick it has worms; etc., but no such statements are found in the Bible."—The Physician Examines the Bible, by C.
Raimer Smith.
MORALS, MIND AND EDUCATION
Sad morals, sick minds and senseless education are all too often the products of this day and age. Bible principles produce nothing of that kind. True, there are critics who call Christ Jesus a megalomaniac, a person afflicted with delusions of grandeur, as when one thinks he is Napoleon. But to such critics we ask, Have you ever heard anything from an insane person that even remotely resembles the sermon on the mount? Abraham Lincoln said that the sermon on the mount "contained the essence of all law and justice." Not only that, but one of the leading psychiatrists, James Tucker Fisher, writing in his book A Few Buttons Missing: the Case Book of a Psychiatrist, said: "If you were to take the sum total of all the authoritative articles ever written by the most qualified of psychologists and psychiatrists on the subject of mental hygiene—if you were to combine them and refine them and cleave out the excess verbiage—if you were to take the whole of the meat and none of the parsley, and if you were to have these unadulterated bits of pure scientific knowledge concisely expressed by the most capable of living poets, you would have an awkward and incomplete summation of the Sermon on the Mount."
Statesmen of the highest caliber esteem the Bible to be practical. History says that "few later statesmen equaled in mental and moral stature" John Quincy Adams; this American president said: "I speak as a man of the world to men of the world; and I say to you, Search the Scriptures! The Bible is the book of all others, to be read at all ages, and in all conditions of human life." And said the noted American educator William Lyons Phelps: "I believe a knowledge of the Bible without a college
course is more valuable than a college course without the Bible."
THE BIBLE PROVED PRACTICAL
A tidal wave of false religion has engulfed mankind. How to keep one's head above the sea of error is a problem. The Bible solves it because it is the criterion for judging any religion. The Bible alone is the Book that can expose false religion and help one recognize true religion. "All Scripture," wrote Christ's apostle, "is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17, NW.
Could any principle solve the bulk of today's problems, including that of world war, better than the Master's command: "All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them"? If professed Christians heeded that command, there would be no need for police forces, jails or electric chairs. True Christians live by that high standard. Matt. 7:12, NW.
Adultery, fornication, stealing and drunkenness are condemned by the Bible. The Bible's answer to these problems is clear. Warned the apostle: "Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God's kingdom." (1 Cor. 6:9, 10, NW) Man's punishment for these evil deeds is often light; but God's is heavy. How foolish the way of this world! Its evil deeds lead to everlasting death. Life is practical, death is not.
How does the Bible answer the problem of juvenile delinquency? It shows that parental delinquency is the cause of it. It commands parents to "train up a child in the way he should go," not shunt him off to a Sunday school and expect him to go the way he should.
The Bible does not agree with some modern views of child raising. For example, it shows that allowing a child to grow up according to its own whims and caprice is wrong and leads to crime. "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child." The literal use of the rod in punishing a child may sometimes be necessary; the Bible recognizes this: "Withhold not correction from the child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he will not die."—Prov. 22:6; 22:15; 23:13, AS.
Emotional disturbances and psychosomatic ailments abound today. And no wonder! The hideous masks of hatred, anger, anxiety, fear and jealousy are worn on the faces of most of mankind. The Bible's answer to these serious problems is the two great commandments of life set down by Christ Jesus: "You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength and with your whole mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" This is practical advice. It works. This is because love casts out fear and heals: "Love is long-suffering and obliging. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look
for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury."—Luke 10:27; 1 Cor. 13:4,5,NW.
Are the Bible's answers practicable, that is, can they be put into practice? Indeed they can! There is living proof of this: an organization of people that are applying the Bible's answers to all problems of life. This is the New World
society of Jehovah's witnesses, Christians who day by day, every day, live and apply the Bible's principles. Regardless of race or nationality they love one another, are at unity with one another, are happy wherever they are. In the new world, the Bible declares, "righteousness is to dwell." Those of the New World society know that to gain life then one must begin to practice righteousness now.—2 Pet. 3:13, NW.
No one knows true happiness until he has come to know Jehovah God and his purposes. Such joy-producing knowledge can be obtained only from the Bible. This means, then, that only when one acquires knowledge from the great instruction Book on living and in turn applies its answers to everyday problems of life does one really begin to live. For going through the 'narrow gate' of obedience to God's instruction leads to happiness now and in the new world everlasting life.-Matt. 7:14, NW.
The whole motto of this system of things is summed up in this: from the cradle to the grave. Is that practical? But the Bible is modern and practical because it answers man's great problem: how to live forever. "From infancy you have known the holy writings which are able to make you wise for salvation." From the cradle to neverthat is real living! Begin living now. Read the Bible. Do more. Study the Bible in company with the New World society. And you will learn that life is just beginning for those who ever live up to this counsel: "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man."-2 Tim. 3:15, NW; Eccl. 12:13, AS.
Is the Full-Time
Ministry for you?
HRIST Jesus pioneered the full-time service of the Christian ministry. Entering it after his baptism and forty-day fast in the wilderness, he began it with the startling announcement: "The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near," and continued therein until his death, three and a half years later. And to expand that preaching campaign as widely and as quickly as possible he invited Peter, Andrew, the rich young ruler and many others literally to 'leave all things and follow him.'-Matt. 4:17, 19; 19:21-27, NW.
To expedite the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom in this our day the Watch Tower Society has made special provision for similar full-time ministry as "pioneers." It is open to all dedicated and baptized mature Christian believers who have served efficiently and zealously for at least one year. Those undertaking it agree to devote a minimum of 100 hours a month to preaching at homes. In addition thereto they must do personal study, and attend and participate in congregational meetings. It is also required of them that they meet their own expenses.
Obviously, such full-time Christian ministry is not for the lazy, for it means long hours and hard work; it is not for the greedy, for it is without opportunities for selfish gain; and it is not for the vainglorious, for there are no titles, honors or special garb connected with it.
Today in this full-time Christian ministry under the direction of the Watch Tower Society are to be found both young and
old; some still in their teens and some in their eighties, upward of 17,000 throughout the world. Many are continuing therein year in year out; in the United States alone more than 1,250 have spent in excess of ten years in this service, twelve still serving after more than forty years. And not only that, but some are regularly meeting the fulltime requirements even though deaf, blind or confined to wheel chairs.
One full-time minister in Honduras continues to meet the requirements though sixty years old, in poor health and having a family to support. He provides for his family by part-time carpenter work and among his preaching activities are the conducting of twenty-three weekly Bible studies. Another full-time Christian minister, living in Costa Rica, continues as such though a cripple with three children to
support.
By working for the government just three days a week he is able to provide for his family, leaving him four days each week for the ministry. Said a missionary regarding him: "To see him and his three children as he preaches from door to door or on the street corners is touching, and it really is marvelous how many persons with whom he studies the Bible become active ministers themselves. He is always cheerful and cannot understand why there are not more full-time ministers."
IMPORTANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
The Christian ministry works toward the vindication of Jehovah's name by making known to the people that he is a God perfect in love, wisdom and justice, and almighty; that he has at all times all things under perfect control and that he has permitted evil for good and sufficient reasons. It clears his name of the reproaches heaped upon it by false teachings. And further, faithful service in the ministry vindicates Jehovah as right when he took the position that Satan could not turn all men away from Him.-Job, chapters 1,2; Prov. 27:11.
Additionally, the Christian ministry brings life to lovers of righteousness. "God saw good through the foolishness of what is preached to save those believing." This is so because taking in knowledge of Jehovah and Christ Jesus "means everlasting life." To gain that knowledge some one must bring it to them.—1 Cor. 1:21; John 17:3; Rom. 10:13-15, NW.
Then again, by means of the Christian ministry the wicked are given warning of "the day of vengeance of our God," Armageddon. Jehovah always serves notice on the wicked before he destroys them, making them fully accountable for their course. Besides, only because of having been warned would they know that their destruction is upon them so that "they
shall know that I am Jehovah."—Isa. 61:2; Ezek. 35:15, AS; Rev. 16:16.
And finally, those engaging in the Christian ministry relieve themselves of blood-guilt as regards the wicked and assure themselves a place in God's new world, not to say anything about the many blessings they receive at present. "God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name." Yes, we are counseled, "become steadfast, unmovable, always having plenty to do in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in connection with the Lord." (Heb. 6:10; 1 Cor. 15:58, NW; Ezek. 3:16-19) Surely, in view of these four all-important purposes served by the Christian ministry, each minister should not content himself with the part-time ministry if he is at all able to engage in the full-time service.
THE OBLIGATION TO PREACH FULL TIME
Because only about four per cent of all Christian ministers of Jehovah are engaged in the full-time ministry some may be inclined to view the full-time ministry as the exception. But in this they err, for by virtue of his dedication vow every Christian is obligated to serve full time unless circumstances over which he has no control make that impossible. The command is, "You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength." Nothing is to be withheld.—Mark 12:30, NW.
We cannot escape our responsibility. "If one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him." Each one is obligated according to "what a person has," and "everyone to whom much was given, much will be demanded of him, and the one whom people put in charge of much, they will demand more than usual from him." A knowledge of the truth is due your neighbors and so you may "not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it."
Jas. 4:17;2 Cor.8:12;Luke 12:48,NW; Prov.3:27,RS.
Think also of the many persons yet to be reached by the truth preached by Christian ministers. Why, there is much isolated territory not regularly receiving the witness right in the United States, not to say anything about foreign missionary fields! If we love our neighbor or fellow as ourselves we will see that he also hears of the Kingdom hope and the way to life.
Then, too, consider the shortness of the time. Regarding this present generation Jesus said that it "will by no means pass away until all these things occur." Bible prophecy also indicates that Satan himself knows that he has but a short period of time before Jehovah destroys him and all those on his side. When Jehovah brings his destructive plagues upon modern Babylon because of its sins it will be too late to urge men of good will: "Get out of her." Matt. 24:34; Rev. 18:4; 12:12, NW.
PERSONAL ORGANIZATION NECESSARY
The Christian ministry, above all else, is an expression of love, and for love to be true, genuine, it must express itself in a practical way. To be practical about the ministry so as to be able to engage in it full time requires personal organization. It becomes imperative that we make the best possible use of our resources such as time, health and material assets such as money, clothing, etc.
The full-time ministry demands that we wisely budget our time and discipline ourselves to stick to it; yet not so strictly as not to allow for exceptions when the welfare of others is involved. It requires that we heed Paul's admonition: "So keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked."—Eph. 5:15, 16, NW.
To measure up and continue to meet the requirements of the full-time ministry requires that we keep well in body, and so we must also use the spirit of a sound mind in the way we expend our energies. Like Paul, we must exercise self-control, 'browbeating our bodies and leading them as slaves.' We must see to it that we get sufficient sleep, and so must get to bed at a reasonable hour; we must exercise selfcontrol at the table, especially if we are one of those "given to appetite."—1 Cor. 9:27, NW; Prov. 23:2.
Nor may one neglect self-discipline in the matter of spending money or the use of other material assets, clothes, furniture, auto, or whatever we may have, if we would continue to enjoy the blessings of the full-time ministry. Wisdom and love indicate avoiding both extremes, neither niggardly economizing to the extent of depriving ourselves the necessary food and clothing nor carelessly letting money slip through our fingers.
Consider the deep-seated satisfaction of knowing that one is fully measuring up to one's dedication vow to do God's will and to follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus. And what about the joys that come from seeing the fruits of one's labors, one's "letters of recommendation," men of good will now serving Jehovah and who will enjoy the blessings of the new world through out eternity, all because you were not content with the part-time ministry but reached out for the full-time service?
There is no more important work than that of the Christian ministry. We should endeavor to engage in it full time, unless we have Scriptural obligations that prevent it. It will require efficient personal organization, but the blessings are certainly worth it.
MODERN HISTORY of Jehovah's Witnesses
THE WARNING WORK (1909-1914)
HISTORICALLY, the activity of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society from 1909 to 1914 must be viewed largely with respect to the warning work of proclaiming the fateful year 1914. For thirty-two years now since 1877 the Society's zealous volunteer workers, as witnesses of Jehovah, had publicly set forth the chronological proof and the physical facts indicating that the "Gentile times" were due to end in the fall of 1914.a
During the two decades prior to 1914 explosive forces had been generating among the Gentile nations that had become dynamos of nationalism. Under an enlightened liberalism there might have been a period of great advancement for the general welfare by man's harnessing and utilizing all the new inventions, by industrial build-ups, by scientific developments, and by acquired natural wealth usable for the common good. But, no, the Devil was at the helm of these ships of state. Instead, an armaments race had begun among the nations, each side striving to outdo the other for offsetting the balance of power. Old-world thinking, religious and political, was forced to adjust itself to this pattern of national rivalries. Truly the masses of mankind were being herded for a twentieth-century global debacle of nations. Amid such feverish Gentile madness these dedicated servants of Jehovah embarked upon their final, all-out warning work concerning 1914.
But to undertake an all-out campaign of world-wide proportions the Society's twenty-year-old four-story "Bible House" headquarters in Allegheny (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, had become inadequate, besides being not strategically located for world shipping and communication. So in 1908 representatives of the Society, including its legal counselor, J. F. Rutherford,b were sent to Brooklyn, New York, to negotiate the purchase of more desirable quarters. Those quarters Russell himself had found on an earlier trip to New York. They bought the old "Plymouth Bethel," a mission structure completed in 1868 for nearby Plymouth Congregational Church. This mission, at 13-17 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, had long been used in connection with Plymouth Church (built in 1849 on Orange Street, near Hicks) where about half a century earlier antislavery sermons were preached by the noted Brooklyn clergyman, Henry Ward Beecher.c They also purchased the old Beecher residence at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, where other notables, even Abraham Lincoln, are said to have conferred with Beecher in the 1860's. On January 31, 1909, some 350 attended the dedication of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, the new name for the nowrenovated former "Plymouth Bethel." Its second-floor auditorium, seating 800, gleamed in soft color, olive green prevailing, with tastefully artistic Bible-text wall decorations.
The street floor was altered to be the Society's headquarters operating office. The large basement floor had been turned into a small printery, stock and shipping departments. Soon, too, the home at 124 Columbia Heights had been readied for occupancy by more than thirty fulltime members of the headquarters staff. "The new home we shall call 'Bethel,' and the new office and auditorium, 'The Brooklyn Tabernacle'; these names will supplant the term 'Bible House.' "d By 1911 a spacious new dormitory addition had been completed, adjoining the rear of Bethel and fronting on Furman Street, further enlarging the facilities. e
To hold this new property in New York state and to do business as a recognized religious body within this state it was necessary to form a New York corporation. Such corporation came into legal existence February 23, 1909, as decreed by New York Supreme Court Justice Isaac N. Miller. PEOPLES PULPIT ASSOCIATION was its name for thirty years. Then in 1939 that was legally changed to its present name,
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, INC., similar to that of the Pennsylvania corporation, WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY. The New York corporation's purposes its charter sums up as follows:
publication of tracts, pamphlets, papers and other religious documents, and for religious missionary work." f
"Its corporate purposes are, Charitable, benevolent, scientific, historical, literary and religious purposes; the moral and mental improvement of men and women, the dissemination of Bible truths in various languages by means of the
From 1909 onward a monthly tract first called "Peoples Pulpit," then "Everybody's Paper," and still later, "The Bible Students Monthly"—was widely distributed annually in millions of copies, clearly explaining vital Bible truths and warning the Gentile nations of the fateful year 1914. And so during several years these earnest united workers became more and more widely known as Bible Students, or International Bible Students. In fact, in 1914 the identical work in the British field was legally established under law of Great Britain, being incorporated under the name INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION. All three of these corporations were organized for identical purposes and they harmoniously work together. g
The Watch Tower Society now in its Brooklyn headquarters had become equipped to keep abreast with the continually expanding gigantic publishing work then under way. The years from 1909 to
1914 saw an ever-increasing output of tracts, pamphlets and bound books running into many millions. The 1914 warning work was augmented by the organizing of an international newspaper syndicate service that sent Russell's sermon for each week to approximately three thousand newspapers in the United States, Canada and Europe. Ten million people were reached each week in this manner, it was estimated.
h
The public platform also was geared to this expanding witness about the nearing year 1914. In 1911 alone, as officially reported, 12,113 public and semipublic lectures had been given all over the world. Fifty-eight special traveling ministers were regularly sent on assigned routes from the Society's Brooklyn headquarters to serve in this public-speaking campaign, in which also many hundreds of local resident speakers carried on the "Class Extension Work," endeavoring to organize new Bible classes. Much growth resulted. Finally by 1914 there were 1,200 congregations or classes operating in union with the Watch Tower Society at home and abroad. For 1915 the partial number reported as attenders of the annual Memorial celebration of Christ's death was 15,430, and by this time there were 55,000 Watch Tower subscribers, thus indicating the approximate number associated in the warning and witness work.
In this period of witness the demand for personal appearances of the Society's president, C. T. Russell, to address public gatherings in large centers, also was exceedingly insistent. To Europe he went every year for speaking engagements; and in North America he traveled extensively on "convention tour" special trains, accompanied by scores (once 240) of eager fellow workers, visiting all large cities in the United States and Canada. k Thus he personally addressed thousands in many parts of the English-speaking world. 1 From December, 1911, to March, 1912, Russell, as chairman of a committee of seven men, made a round-the-world tour, spreading seeds of truth that in time brought into fruitful action additional groups of anointed Christians in far-flung areas of the globe. For local lectures and for study of foreign missions the committee called at the following places: Honolulu, Hawaii; Yokohama, Tokyo, Kobe and Nagasaki, Japan; Shanghai and Hong Kong, China; Manila, Philippine Islands; Singapore and Penang, Straits Settlements; Colombo, Ceylon; Trivandrum, Kottarakara, Nagercoil, Puram, Madras, Vizagapatam, Calcutta, Benares, Lucknow and Bombay, India; Aden, Arabia; Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt; Piraeus, Athens, Corinth and Patras, Greece; Brindisi and Rome, Italy; Paris, France; and then London, England, and finally New York. m Truly an extensive journey to gird the earth with the warning message of the approaching end of "Gentile times" in 1914. Before Russell's death in 1916 (October 31) it is said that he traveled more than a million miles, preached more than 30,000 sermons, and wrote books totaling over 50,000 pages. n By this time the Society's publications were appearing in 15 languages. o
To offset any private wild speculations as to 1914 the Watch Tower of December 1, 1912, published the following:
"There surely is room for slight differences of opinion on this subject and it behooves us to grant each other the widest latitude. The lease of power to the Gentiles may end in October, 1914, or in October, 1915. And the period of intense strife and anarchy 'such as never was since there was a nation' may be the final ending of the Gentile Times or the beginning of Messiah's reign. But we remind all of our readers again, that we have not prophesied anything about the Times of the Gentiles closing in a time of trouble nor about the glorious epoch which will shortly follow that catastrophe. We have merely pointed out what the Scriptures say, giving our views respecting their meaning and asking our readers to judge, each for himself, what they signify.
These prophecies still read the same to us. . . . However some may make positive statements of what they know, and of what they do not know, we never indulge in this; but we merely state that we believe thus and so, for such and such reasons."p
To demonstrate further that these united students and workers did not believe the prophetic year of 1914 would end all their operations with respect to this earth, from 1912 to the beginning of 1914 the Watch Tower Society spent a fortune (over 300,000) in preparing the Photo-Drama of Creation, to spread Bible knowledge to the masses of people during and after 1914. Although use of recorded talks and music synchronized with projected (moving and still) pictures was an art then in infancy, nevertheless the Society boldly proceeded to pioneer this field. In primitive studios in New York it produced a combined movie-film and picture-slide show of rare beauty, synchronized with which was a large variety of choicest musical recordings and 96 phonograph-record talks (each 4 minutes long) explaining the principal features of the Bible. Describing it, the Watch Tower of 1914 said:
"Naturally our readers are deeply interested in the Photo-Drama of Creation. All of you have heard more or less concerning its preparation during the past two years. The work has been much more tedious than we expected. All who have seen it concede that it is very beautiful. A minister, after seeing two parts, said, I have seen only one-half of the DRAMA, but already have learned from it more about the Bible than I learned in my three years' course in
the theological seminary.' . . . It [the DRAMA] includes everything appertaining to the creation of earth—animals, man, the experiences of mankind for the past six thousand years and the work of the thousand years of Messiah's kingdom. It divides these into four parts—four Entertainments [of two hours each] with appropriate music, etc. Part I carries us from star nebula to the creation of the world and down to the Deluge—down to Abraham's time. Part II reaches from Israel's deliverance from Egypt, wilderness experiences, etc., down through the periods of the Kings to the time of Elisha, the Prophet. Part III continues the story from Daniel's time down to the time when the Logos was made flesh at the birth of Jesus, his boyhood, manhood, baptism, ministry, miracles, crucifixion, death, resurrection. Part IV begins at Pentecost and traces the experiences of the Church, during the past nineteen centuries to our day and beyond for a thousand years to the glorious consummation."r
Many complete and abridged sets of this colorful sound-drama were produced, trained traveling supervisors and operators taking it to millions of people in free showings at the largest auditoriums and picture places of North America, Europe and Australia. This new medium for Bible education was ready in time to be shipped to Germany and other foreign countries where showings during the first world war brought comfort to multitudes of bewildered peoples. s A truly great witness was given in this manner. Incidentally, the Supreme Court of Idaho granted the Society a victory over opposers who objected to Sunday showings of this Photo-Drama. t
(To be continued) Acting as a Right Kind of Minister
EHOVAH God is the great Master. Ever since he began to create he has made use of various instrumentalities, both animate and inanimate, both visible and invisible, for the carrying out of his purposes. He delights to have intelligent creatures to serve him voluntarily as his ministers, and the first one of these was and is his only-begotten Son, known also as Michael and the Word, apart from whom "not even one thing came into existence."—John 1:1-3, NW; Dan. 12:1.*
From the time of Abel onward Jehovah has had faithful ministers on earth who have rendered him unwavering obedience. In his due time he sent his Son to earth, the greatest of all his ministers. After fully preparing himself by his forty-day study and fast in the wilderness, Jesus went forward in the ministry Jehovah had sent him to earth to accomplish, and that against great odds. Acting as a right kind of minister, Jesus bore witness to the truth, kept integrity in spite of persecution and finally laid down his life as a ransom and in vindication of his Father's name. During the three and a half years of his ministry he trained others, even as we read that when going "from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God . . . the twelve were with him."—Luke 8:1, NW.
While at any time since Abel's day it has been a grand privilege to act as one of God's ministers, witnessing to his supremacy, it is particularly so now, because the Kingdom has been established and the new world is at the doors. The ministry of Jehovah today requires our taking the good news of the Kingdom to the homes of the people, searching out the sheep and then
feeding them, as well as the public proclamation of it from the speaker's platform and on the streets. To all Christian ministers today the words of Paul to Timothy are fitting admonition: "Be a right kind of minister of Christ Jesus."—1 Tim. 4:6, NW.
As at all previous times, acting as a right kind of minister requires faith and obedience. It also requires study and preparation, even as Jesus and the apostle Paul, in particular, prepared for their ministries. We must make use of the helps God has provided, studying them both privately and in association with others, by which coming together at congregation meetings and the various assemblies we receive increased understanding and mutual encouragement.
Acting as a right kind of minister further means trying to remember what we have learned and putting it into practice. Yes, you must "become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning." And as we make progress we have the obligation to extend a helping hand to others, training them to become ministers, and that requires both aptness to teach and a real unselfish desire to be of help.Jas.1:22,NW.
Even those aged and infirm can act as right kind of ministers by preaching to those who come to their homes and by means of letter writing. And they, together with all others, can show their interest in the ministry by praying Jehovah's blessing upon it.
So let all servants of Jehovah act as the right kind of ministers, ever bearing in mind the fourfold fruitage of their work, the vindication of Jehovah's name, the bringing of life to men of good will, the warning of the wicked, and for themselves the blessings of everlasting life in Jehovah's new world.
Supporting Jehovah's Organization
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this way,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and see if I will not open for you the windows of the heavens, and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more need.'"—Mal. 3:10, AT.
THE spirit of giving originates with Jehovah. Out of himself he has given all created things and out of his boundless love he continually renews the surface of the earth. Often imperfect men take what Jehovah has abundantly provided as though it were their own. This selfish course is prompted by Satan, who has never given anything. Truly generous giving is prompted by love and, on the part of mankind, by a sincere appreciation with no thought of reward. It is done either spontaneously out of an overflowing heart and with no afterthought of regret or out of loving consideration for the one to whom the gift is made.
2 Christians recognize the responsibility of giving, but to them it is not a duty to be painfully and studiously performed. It is to them a blessed privilege that they earnestly seek to cultivate in order that they may become more Godlike and more positive in their manifestations of love toward Jehovah and their brothers in Jehovah's great family organization of the New World society. Being voluntary members of the family, they recognize that support of the organization must be voluntary but given out of a full and appreciative heart for all God's goodness.
3 Jehovah's organization is supported in
a number of ways. According to his own testimony he himself is its main support. This is gratefully acknowledged by all who put
their trust in him, "for Jehovah . . . is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation." They confidently rely upon his promise: "I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. For I, Jehovah thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."—Isa. 12:2; 41:10, 13, AS.
Furthermore, the very purpose for the existence of the organization depends on the Most High. "The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of them that are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him that is weary." "He will never suffer the righteous to be moved." This is accomplished by the spiritual provision that he provides for his entire organization. "The eyes of all wait for thee; and thou givest them their food in due season." (Isa. 50:4; Ps. 55:22; 145:15, AS) Not as with manna from heaven that sustained fleshly Israel with little effort on their part, Jehovah supports and develops his organization today through his active force upon the anointed society, his "faithful and discreet slave," and upon its governing body. "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics to give them their food at the proper time?
Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings." Previous to that, when Christ ascended on high, "he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as missionaries, some as shepherds and teachers, with a view to the training of the holy ones for ministerial work."—Matt. 24:45, 47; Eph. 4:8, 11, 12, NW.
SUPPORT THROUGH SPIRITUAL GIVING
Through the support that he has given, Jehovah has used dedicated and consecrated men as "domestics" to aid in bringing the organization to the maturity of a "full-grown man, to the measure of growth that belongs to the fullness of the Christ." (Eph. 4:13, NW) These, and all uniting with them, now add their own personal support to the organization by their individual dedication vows and by their faithfulness in field service, maintaining the purpose of the organization. They fully support the principle stated by Jesus: "He that is not on my side is against me, and he that does not gather with me scatters." (Matt. 12:30, NW) Their primary support of the organization, then, is with their words in preaching. It is a spiritual giving of charitable works.
For this reason their primary attention is given to spiritual matters, as it was with Mary who "sat down at the feet of the Master and kept listening to his word." Unlike Martha, Mary's sister, they refuse to be distracted from the main purpose of their work by the many material problems with which they must deal or with the cares of keeping their "house" in order, but they remember Jesus' words: "Mary chose the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:39-42,
NW) The advantages of spiritual giving were also demonstrated by Peter, who told the man lame from birth: "Silver and gold I do not possess, but what I do have is what I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!" The man walked and leaped and praised God, joining in the ministry and freely giving his support to the apostles who had brought him into this new relationship to Jehovah and his organization.—Acts 3:6, NW.
Another important means of support given the organization by Jehovah's faithful people is their regular attendance at the meetings of the congregation. Knowing that no organization can be any more than the individuals that compose it, they constantly seek personal advancement in accurate knowledge and maturity of understanding. This they do by making the very most of the meetings provided by the "faithful and discreet slave" as a part of their training for the ministerial work. To make the program a success and provide for the advancement of the local arrangement their own individual contribution is necessary. "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up." (Eccl. 4:9, 10, AS) The early Christians were admonished to "keep on exhorting one another" and "keep comforting one another and building one another up, just as you are in fact doing." (Heb. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:11, NW) Paul showed how best to accomplish this in his letter to the Hebrews: "And let us consider one another to incite to love and right works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near."
(Heb. 10:24, 25, NW) This united study and fellowship were an essential part of the beginning of the Christian congregation. "And they continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to association together, to taking of meals and to prayers. And day after day they were in constant attendance at the temple with one accord."—Acts 2:42, 46, NW.
EARLY EXAMPLES SHOW A WAY
The fourth means of support that the organization has is demonstrated in the continuation of the above account: "And they took their meals in private homes and partook of nourishment with great rejoicing and sincerity of heart." The unique circumstances with which the congregation was confronted called for concerted and unselfish action by all in the faith. Many of these thousands of new converts were in Jerusalem only temporarily, having come down as Jews for the feast of Pentecost. Now, having recognized the new and different work called for by the Messiah, they desired to remain for a time and receive proper training and instruction in the Christian ministry. But to do so would require funds which they did not have. The response made by the brothers to this need is an inspiration to all true Christians today. "All those who became believers were together in having all things in common, and they went to selling their possessions and properties and to distributing the proceeds to all just as anyone would have the need." (Acts 2:44, 45, NW) The voluntary contributions of material things thus made during this temporary emergency supported the whole family of the organization at that time, even to providing the daily necessities of life. Although that particular emergency on the congregation is long past, such charitable gifts are still an important part of the giving of the Christian and necessary to the support of the organization; yet they do not relieve the giver of the responsibility of supporting the organization with his spiritual gifts as well.
9 In Ecclesiastes 7:12 (AS) it is written: "For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it." Unquestionably, the more desirable of the two possessions is the wisdom and understanding of Jehovah. Accurate knowledge and wisdom are in themselves a real treasure to God's organization, and these are being distributed freely by his ministers of the good news. In these perilous days of the end of Satan's selfish system of things the "faithful and discreet slave" have used the abundance of wisdom given by Jehovah as a defense. This is not only for their own safety but also for the benefit of all who eagerly separate themselves from the wisdom of the world, which is foolishness with God, and who seek after God's wisdom as for hidden treasures. (1 Cor. 3:19; Prov. 2:4) In this way they too avail themselves of the defense of wisdom and find the only sure way of escape and salvation.
10 However, it should not be overlooked that the preacher (who had both kinds of treasure) admits that "money is a defence." Does this text apply to Christians today, whose strength is in Jehovah? Yes. Even as the early Christians used their material possessions to support the organization, so Jehovah's witnesses today make their money serve the interests of the theocracy. Just as legal corporations are used as servants by the Society to advance the preaching work and make possible the use of many instruments otherwise not available, so money helps to build a strong organization and adds to Jehovah's praise.
11 The Israelites of old used wisely the gold and silver that was taken as a gift of redemption from the Egyptians. When Jehovah called for a contribution in order that the tabernacle or "tent of meeting" might be constructed, the response was overwhelming. "And they kept coming, the men along with the women, every willing-hearted one. They brought brooches and earrings and rings and female ornaments, all sorts of articles of gold." In addition there was blue thread and wool, linen,
goat's hair, ram skins, sealskins, silver, copper and acacia wood. Nothing needed was lacking." Every man and woman whose hearts
incited them to bring something for all the work that Jehovah had commanded to
foretold for faithful fleshly Israel, so spiritual Israel can expect real blessings. "Jehovah will decree for you the blessing on your stores of supply and every undertaking of yours, and he will certainly bless you in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you. And all the peoples of the earth will have to see that Jehovah's name has been called upon you and they will indeed be afraid of you." (Deut. 28:8,10,NW) Now that Jehovah has brought forth his people and conferred nationhood upon them they can rely with confidence on Jehovah's promise of prosperity in their organizational land. Wise provision for the
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