VOL. XXIV. DECEMBER 1, 1903. No. 23
SEMI-MONTHLY.

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CONTENTS.

"Hallelujah! What a Savior!".....................435
Christ Our Wisdom.............................435
Christ Our Justification......................435
Christ Our Sanctification.....................437
Christ Our Redemption or
Deliverance.................................440
Whom God Did Predestinate.....................440
The Dedication of the Temple......................441
A Greater Than Solomon............................444
Interesting Letters...............................446
Public Ministries of the Truth....................448

LETTERS FOR THE EDITOR SHOULD BE SENT TO ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS AND REMITTANCES
--ADDRESS TO--
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY,
"BIBLE HOUSE," 610, 612, 614 ARCH ST., ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
--OR TO--
BRITISH BRANCH--24 EVERSHOLT ST., LONDON, N.W.
GERMAN BRANCH--MIRKER STR., 45, ELBERFELD.

PRICE, $1.00 (4s.) A YEAR IN ADVANCE, 5c (2-1/2d.) A COPY.
MONEY MAY BE SENT BY EXPRESS, BANK DRAFT, POSTAL ORDER, OR REGISTERED.
FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES BY FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS, ONLY. SPECIAL
TERMS TO THE LORD'S POOR AS FOLLOWS:--

Those of the interested who, by reason of old age, or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for the TOWER, will be supplied FREE, if they send a Postal Card each December, stating their case and requesting the paper. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually.

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ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER AT ALLEGHENY, PA., POST OFFICE.

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PASTOR RUSSELL'S DISCOURSES EVERY MONDAY.

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By a special arrangement with The Pittsburgh Gazette a stenographic report of Pastor C. T. Russell's discourses will be printed on Mondays. We will send you "The Pittsburgh Gazette" (daily) and ZION'S WATCH TOWER twice a month for a period of 12 months for $3.25, which is about the price of The Gazette alone. The subscriptions must be paid in advance and sent to us.

NOTICE.--Where Gazette agencies are established the issues desired can be readily obtained through them. The Gazette refuses to mail papers to towns where they would interfere with the agents already located.

THE LORD'S POOR SHOULD WRITE NOW.

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Those receiving the Watch Tower free and desiring its continuance on same terms for 1904, should send postal-card request now. By so doing they will save us much trouble. When a name has been dropped from the lists, it causes extra labor to reinsert it. This advice applies also to any who need to ask credit. Each year stands for itself. You are very welcome. What more can we say than "Ask that ye may receive"? [R3282 : page 434]

SUBSCRIBERS FOR DAWN VOL. VI.

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We hope to fill all orders up to date, about December 15th. Any who have changed their address since sending their orders should notify us at once by postal card, lest the book go to old address and be lost.

INCREASED PRICE OF DAWNS IV., V., VI.

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In consequence of raise of prices for printing and binding just after we had reduced our price on cloth-bound DAWNS, we have been selling all volumes of the series at a loss for the past six months. The loss has been specially heavy on the thicker volumes, and we now feel compelled to increase the price on these to 40 cents, plus 10 cents postage. Subscribers' wholesale rate 20 cents plus 10 cents postage. These prices take effect Nov. 1, 1903.

Volume VI. will have over 700 pages and is hoped for in December. Those who have already paid for it at old prices need not send additionally.

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Mottoes on the walls of the earthly homes of the Lord's people are very helpful. We have a larger stock this year than ever before. Our prices are less than one-half the usual. We are putting them up in assorted packages. Ma, Mb and Mc, are three $1 assortments; My and Mz are $2 packages,--all different. Some may want all of these for $7, while others may be content with a 25c or 50c package of the less expensive sorts. We are pleased to co-operate and to supply your wants as best we can.

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Colporteurs who have no formal, written assignments of territory should write for such, expressing their preferences, --which will be granted so far as possible. Otherwise they, we, and others who have regularly assigned territory will be greatly inconvenienced at times. We cannot, hereafter, recognize any as colporteurs who do not comply with this rule, which is essential for the good of all. Changes of address should be sent us in advance.-- on separate slip of paper or on postal card.

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INTERESTING LETTERS.

DEAR MR. RUSSELL:--

I received Millennial Dawn from a dear sister who is a Colporteur, and I have received so much light and am just rejoicing in the Lord so much that I feel constrained to write and thank you. Thanks cannot express my gratitude to you. Oh, the joy I have got in the Lord! I realize how highly favored of the Lord I am that I am counted worthy to share in his sufferings and to follow in his footsteps. It is going eight years since I became the Lord's, but I never got any farther than justification until I got the Dawn and "Shadows," and the Lord has brought me rapidly into the light. I felt I must write you, for I know it is right you should enjoy the fruit of your labor. If you knew how much darkness I have been in during the past years as a Christian you would know much better how I feel toward you. You are a spiritual father to me. From you, under God, I have got my greatest blessing.

I am, your sister in Christ,

MAGGIE OLIVER,--Scotland.

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DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--

It was my privilege to have an interesting conversation with an Adventist preacher a few months ago. The brother referred to, being at our home on business, I handed him several "Old Theology Tracts." The next day he called again, and the conversation which took place was in substance as follows:

He said to me: "My dear brother, I have come to your house this afternoon to try, if possible, to rid you of the terrible errors which the tracts you gave me yesterday support."

I replied that I certainly appreciated the brotherly intention, but assured the visitor that his attempt would be fruitless.

"Well," said he, "you will at least talk with me upon the subject."

"Certainly," I replied; "but since I have been in the Truth but a few months, and since I am your junior by many years, and not wishing to seem disrespectful, I ask one 'handicap.'"

On being asked what it was, I told him that I preferred him, instead of attacking my views, to question me concerning them and allow me to give a reason for the hope within me. He readily acquiesced, stipulating that all views must have a "Thus saith the Lord."

He then asked me concerning our erroneous (?) [R3285 : page 447] idea of future probation. I read Acts 3:20; Jno. 1:19; 1 Tim. 2:5,6; 4:10; Heb. 2:9; etc., and he tried to refute these testimonies by argument and a feeble attempt at quoting Scripture. Then taking his own standpoint I quoted Isa. 65:17-20, and asked him how sinners (according to his belief) could be in the new heavens and earth.

"My dear brother," he replied, "when you reach the 20th verseyou should know that God goes away back in his dates hundreds of years."

I replied, "There is one thing sadly lacking in your argument--namely, your stipulated 'Thus saith the Lord.'"

After a painful pause, he said, "I simply cannot quote Scripture today, and my ideas do not seem as clear as usual. I hoped to convince you of your [R3286 : page 447] error, but I see you are too well established in it to be moved."

(Oh, how I thanked our heavenly Father for the encouragement thus brought to my heart!)

I asked him if he had ever read the Divine Plan of the Ages. He replied that he had done so, and that its author crossed the Bible, human reason and common sense, besides crossing his own arguments.

"If that is so," I replied, "I want to know it. Here is the book. Please show me his first error."

He nervously turned the pages of the book and said, "I don't seem to see any place now." I urged him to hunt, or, if he was very busy, to take the book home, and when he found such a place to show it me. After a few more spasmodic attempts he turned to me with a distressed look and said he was not familiar enough with the work to really find such places. After begging his pardon if anything in my manner was not becoming to my youth, I urged him to either become sufficiently acquainted with the book to warrant such assertions, or else be very cautious about bringing such accusations. He left me very soon, and despite the fact that he insisted to our neighbors that I was possessed of the devil, I rejoiced in the privilege of thus serving our Master. I truly realized that the brother's defeat was not occasioned by his inferiority as a student, for I am sure that he was recognized, and doubtless justly too, as a Bible scholar; and I realized then my own insufficiency, but perceived that God allowed the Truth to triumph, to encourage me at that time. This fills my heart with joy, and I can indeed say with the Apostle, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ."

Yours in him,
W. H. B.--Rhode Island.

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MY DEAR PASTOR:--

The great wave of spiritual power and joy which it was our privilege to experience during your visit here last spring will long remain in our memories. The blessing of the Lord attending all the proceedings was manifest, and much beyond the little faith mingled with fears as to the result. Truly the Lord is good, and we have felt his goodness, and the hearts of all the dear saints here are verily overflowing with gladness since hearing the joyful tidings proclaimed, and the Truth so lovingly and charitably presented to their minds.

We are very hopeful of good results. Certainly many are less prejudiced after hearing for themselves the unadulterated Word of Life.

Oh, for the word of God, so pure,
Sweet and refreshing to the mind;
A constant draught from heavenly springs
Within the Scriptures we can find.

Free from adulterating creeds
The soul true progress then can make;
When strengthened by the Word of Truth,
Man's faith in God no foe can shake.

The lessons I was permitted to learn during your stay,--"beholding your order and steadfastness in Christ"--I trust will greatly instruct me to be more qualified for the responsible position as leader of such an honorable cause in the service of him "Whose I am and whom I (desire to ever) serve."

The present commences a new epoch in our Christian history, which, by the Lord's help, will chronicle a larger sphere of influence, a more faithful declaration of the Present Truth, deeper spirituality of life, and fitness for the high honor of being joint heirs in the great future assigned for the faithful. It is the earnest desire of all our hearts, particularly that of my dear wife and self, that you may ever realize the needed supply of the holy Spirit to use you in "confirming the churches," and to be spared in furnishing the Lord's Table (through the Watch Tower and the remaining volumes of Dawn) that his people may continue being nourished "with the finest of the Wheat." With kind remembrances,

Yours in the Redeemer's service,
JAMES HAY,--England.

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MY DEAR SIR AND BROTHER:

I do not wish to burden you with much writing, but I know how you must be interested in the human family or you would not devote so much time and labor for their good. I only wish that I could devote my time in the same way.

I meet with a great many traveling salesmen in my business, and it has been my pleasure to get some of them interested in God's Word and its real value to us. One of them was an infidel, or, if not altogether one, he was at least an unbeliever of the Word of God--and by insisting on a promise from him to read the 'Plan of the Ages' if I would loan it to him, I succeeded in getting him to read; and now he is much interested in it, and, using his own words to illustrate his feeling, "It makes me glad to the ground."

Another traveling man has become very much interested and has already distributed quite a number of tracts which I gave him.

Yours very truly,
J. D. HENDERSON,--Iowa.

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SEMI-MONTHLY.
VOL. XXIV. DECEMBER 15, 1903. No. 24

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CONTENTS.

Views From the Watch Tower........................451
Humility at a Discount........................451
Hebrew, Infidel, Preacher.....................451
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
Annual Report...............................452
Christmas Review..................................456
The Boyhood of Jesus..............................457
Requests for Pilgrims, 1904.......................460
John the Baptist and the Promised
Elijah......................................460
In the Winepress Alone (Poem).....................462
Special Item: Vol. VI. Not a Special
Tower Issue.................................450

LETTERS FOR THE EDITOR SHOULD BE SENT TO ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS AND REMITTANCES
--ADDRESS TO--
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY,
"BIBLE HOUSE," 610, 612, 614 ARCH ST., ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
--OR TO--
BRITISH BRANCH--24 EVERSHOLT ST., LONDON, N.W.
GERMAN BRANCH--MIRKER STR., 45, ELBERFELD.

PRICE, $1.00 (4s.) A YEAR IN ADVANCE, 5c (2-1/2d.) A COPY.
MONEY MAY BE SENT BY EXPRESS, BANK DRAFT, POSTAL ORDER, OR REGISTERED.
FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES BY FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS, ONLY. SPECIAL
TERMS TO THE LORD'S POOR AS FOLLOWS:--

Those of the interested who, by reason of old age, or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for the TOWER, will be supplied FREE, if they send a Postal Card each December, stating their case and requesting the paper. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually.

==========

ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER AT ALLEGHENY, PA., POST OFFICE.

==========

VOL. VI. NOT A SPECIAL TOWER ISSUE.

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Owing to the postal ruling which deprived us of the privilege of mailing paper-bound DAWNS at second-class rates, as special issues of the WATCH TOWER, we cannot send Vol. VI. to our WATCH TOWER subscribers in the same manner as formerly. There will be no paper bound edition issued, and all subscribers who want the sixth volume should remit at the rate of 30c per copy for cloth-bound books. This price covers postage. [R3294 : page 450]

VOL. V. IN GERMAN.

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This translation is in good stock, and orders will have prompt attention. [page 450]

MOTTOES IN GERMAN.

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We can fill orders for German mottoes. A packet of three large and two small mottoes of pretty design will be sent for $1.00, postpaid.

"WHAT SAY THE SCRIPTURES ABOUT HELL?"

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We can supply this effective booklet in the Swedish language at 10c per copy, $1.00 per doz., postpaid.

The English and German booklets still remain at the price of 50c per doz., postpaid.

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