ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM FAITHFUL WORKERS.
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DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--Of the books I brought with me to Denmark, there are now none left, and several Christian friends are anxiously waiting with me for the new lot to arrive. The lady class leader of a large Methodist church, to whom I sold a copy of DAWN soon after coming here, has read a good part of it and has liked it so much that she is recommending it to S.S. teachers and pupils, and has sold several copies. People are not so prejudiced against it here, as some seemed to be in the United States.
This is a very lively place, and everybody looks happy and contented. There are many churches. The state church is Lutheran, a dead, formal thing, which, as intelligence increases, is losing more and more of its influence over the people.
There has been much talk lately among the dissenters, Baptists, Methodists and others, concerning a church union. A Mr. Edwards of England, one of the members of the S.S. committee in London, has been here several times, speaking in various churches upon the subject of joining all the Sunday Schools into one large body and using the "International S.S. Lessons."
I have attended three of these meetings, the last one being held in the Baptist church; and for the first time here ministers of various denominations were seen and heard from the same platform. They seemed united to work their own scheme of "saving the whole world" before the Lord's Kingdom is set up. Oh, how blind the guides! and the people are in gross darkness concerning the Lord's real, glorious plan. May his Kingdom soon come!
I would like very much to have a companion in the canvass, and am in hopes soon to get a young man, a clerk in a large book store, who is reading the DAWNS and likes them, to start out with me in the harvest work. I have not regretted that I left America, but am well pleased here in every way. I delight in doing some good work for the Lord, in finding and sealing his dear people, and feeding the truth-hungry with good meat from his table. Truly it is a glorious work, when rightly understood and appreciated, and I thank the dear Lord for the opportunity of being used in it.
I remain, Your brother in Christ,
JOSEPH WINTER.
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DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--I wish to ask a few questions in regard to some of the teachings in the WATCH TOWER and the Tracts. Should not we who come out of Babylon have some organization? [See TOWER, Sept. '93.] What is the form of worship followed in your Allegheny Church?
We have started a Bible class at our house. We meet with a few interested neighbors every Thursday evening. Any suggestions as to what plan would be most conducive to our spiritual growth will be gladly considered. I do not want to take much of your valuable time. If the questions within are of enough general interest to be treated in the TOWER, I shall not expect a personal answer to this letter.
I am in sympathy with the experiment of
the TOWER Society in sending out teachers.
May God be with the movement. With
Christian love from Sister Heston and myself,
I am yours in his name,
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DEAR MR. RUSSELL:--You will be glad
to know that we are continuing our weekly
class at Mr. Sheward's house. We are
now two-thirds through VOL. II. of the
DAWN. It took us a whole year to master
VOL. I., there being so many points that
required close and careful thought; but I
think we were amply repaid for the course
Believe me, Yours sincerely,
T. W. TOWNSEND.
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DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--I enclose
$1.00 for which I would like you to send
me copies of the October number of Z.W.T.,
which I will take great pleasure in circulating
among my Methodist acquaintances
--some ministers, who dare not express their
sentiments for fear of the bishops. The
"New Gospel" expressed in Bishop Foster's
sermon, however, may loosen their bonds
somewhat, and they may follow their leader,
even though they have heretofore resisted
the plain truth. The separating continues.
"Forsake her, and let us go every one into
his own country," is being fulfilled in Babylon.
The "clouds of heaven" are growing
thicker, and must soon burst into the final
great storm.
Yours in the patient waiting for the Kingdom,
EDWIN C. MOTT.
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DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--I noticed in
a recent TOWER the article on "The New
Branch of the Work," but had not thought of
myself as having a clear enough knowledge
of divine truth, or as being otherwise competent
to fulfil the requirements. However,
I find that in some attempts to help others
the Spirit of truth has greatly assisted me in
bringing to my remembrance many truths of
Scripture which I was not aware I had in my
storehouse of memory. I have also found
that all such efforts to help others have always
been of great benefit to myself; and
now, after prayer and consultation with the
Lord, I feel that perhaps I can be used by
Him to some extent at least in strengthening
some of the "babes in Christ," by endeavoring
to help them to a clearer understanding
of God's wonderful plan. It is
only by the grace of God that I can say that
the eight qualifications are applicable to me;
but by his grace I hope to be able to meet
these requirements, and so am glad to offer
all the time at present at my disposal.
A recent Sunday I spend very pleasantly and
profitably with a brother and his wife whom
it was my privilege to interest in the truth.
We spent the afternoon with relatives who
have greatly opposed them in the new light,
and with whom he has had long controversies,
which, he now sees, have only hindered
them instead of assisting them as he
was anxious to do. After considering the
matter, I thought best to avoid all controversy,
and seek to talk only on subjects on
which we could agree, not missing opportunities
to show forth the love of Christ and to
impress them with the fact that we had
been with Him. The result was a very
pleasant afternoon, and a cordial invitation
to come again.
May the dear Lord bless you and Sister
Russell, and all of the laborers, and help
each one of us in these trying times to stand
firmly on the rock, Christ Jesus our Ransom.
Your brother in Christ, A. L. WITTER.
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DEAR BROTHER:--Christian love and
greetings from me and mine to you and
yours. The "transforming" influence of the
"renewing of our minds" draws us nearer
in love to all who are probationary members
of the Church, as well as to Jesus and those
with him who have been changed.
The work of preparing the Bride is wonderful,
and the new plan of sending out
Brethren to strengthen and help those who
are striving seems very wise, though the risk
is apparent. From a little experience of our
own it seems timely. We have found that
the lack of many is systematic Bible study.
As a confirmation which you did not
mention [See TOWER, Aug. 1, "Is Death a
Penalty or a Consequence?], as to Satan's
power being exerted through various kinds
of insect and other life, see Luke 10:17-20
(Diaglott). Verse 19reads, "Behold, I have
given you authority to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and on all that power which is
of the enemy"--showing that those injurious
creatures are counted part of his power.
In our reading my wife and I came across
the best proof we have yet found that the
"remnants" of the so-called "ten lost tribes"
were really in Palestine. Paul, in his speech
before Agrippa, says, "And now I stand and
am judged for the hope of the promise made
of God to our fathers; unto which promise
our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day
and night, hope to come."--Acts 26:6.
Our daily prayer is for you and Sister
Russell and those associated with you, that
you may indeed be led of the holy Spirit.
Yours in the love of Christ,
CHARLES C. BELL.
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GENTLEMEN:--I have recently received
two or three tracts from you, one of which,
entitled "Do You Know," is of a character
to command my attention and enlist my confidence.
Your liberal attitude and anti-sectarian
spirit, with your advanced Scriptural
declarations, commend your publications
sufficiently to induce me to seek a more intimate
acquaintance with your Society and
from what you assert in relation to the
book, MILLENNIAL DAWN, I am induced to
send for it; and, as the price is not given, I
enclose one dollar, and you can send me
anything that you consider "meat in due
season."
I am poor in spirit and purse, but rich in
faith--looking for the coming of Jesus
Christ, the King of kings, and loving his
appearing. I belong to no sectarian organization:
if a member of the Church, it is
the one that fled into the wilderness from
the face of the serpent, the only door to
which is Christ.
If your Society publishes a serial, send me
a number. I will endeavor to help sustain
every means of grace that seems to accord
with Bible truth and "the faith once delivered
to the saints." C. D. M__________.
we adopted....