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ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM EARNEST WORKERS

Indianapolis.

DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—Last Sunday I spent with Brothers Rogers and West. They met me at the Astor House Saturday evening, at eight o’clock, and we had a most delightful and refreshing meeting in my room. The next morning, Sunday, they came again, and after another little season of prayer we went over to Staten Island and met Brother and Sister Crane, dined with them, and then, our little party being increased by Brother Crane, we went over to Brooklyn to Brother Blunden’s house, where we also met Sisters Stapleton, McPhail, and Sister Blunden’s mother and daughter, and Sister Hickey and Brother Snook.

For a subject, we started to consider what Christ is now doing, in his day of presence, and for Scripture we read Matt. 24, and before we were aware of it, the two hours allotted for study had been all occupied in considering the evidences of his presence, without touching on his work at all. Brother and Sister Blunden insisted that we remain to a delicious tea spread for us, and after an hour’s conversation on the two subjects nearest our hearts—the Ransom and Restitution—Brother West and I heard Mr. Talmage, at the Brooklyn Tabernacle, preach a characteristic sermon on “Ordinary men, doing ordinary work, in the ordinary way and receiving ordinary compensation.” He is a strong speaker, but had no “meat” for us. We found Brothers Rogers and Crane waiting for us at the hotel, and we had another season of prayer in my little room. What a glorious, happy day it was!

Your brother in Christ, W. M. WRIGHT.

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A GOOD TESTIMONY:—”Until within a few years I have been a most pronounced materialist. The study of hypnotism drew my attention to the power of things unseen. Then I looked into Buddhism, Theosophy, Spiritualism and Christian Science. All these were found wanting; and though to a student of modern science the Ransom given by Christ seems like foolishness, I can see no other possible chance for the salvation of mankind. He who goes into the depths of philosophy finds only vanity and vexation of spirit. I have read MILLENNIAL DAWN with much interest.”

—M. T. MARTIN, M.D.

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“I am more and more impressed with the necessity in these days of feeding only on ‘clean provender’ (Isa. 30:24), and letting severely alone all those various writings that multiply the danger in these perilous times (2 Tim. 3:11), and especially such as come under false pretensions as messengers of light.—2 Cor. 11:13-15.” —W. E. PAGE.

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California.

The wonderfully rapid change of vast wastes of the earth’s surface into rich productiveness in fruits, grains and vineyards, now being witnessed on both hemispheres, is just on time—abundance of rain, with springs, lakes and wells of water bursting forth in the deserts and vast plains where for hundreds of years no wells, springs, rivers or rain have been known.

We remember that this very work is to be going on, even during or “in the time of the slaughter” among the nations, “when the towers fall.” (Isa. 30:25.) The falling of the towers (kings, potentates, etc.) must accompany the slaughter (disintegration, grinding to powder) of the nations. You have no doubt noticed the following prophecies now commencing to be fulfilled.—Isa. 30:25; 35:6,7; 41:18; 43:19,20; 51:3.

I have seen (last February, on my return from your place to my home here in California), on the border of both the Colorado and Mojavi deserts, thousands of acres made productive by wells “bursting forth” in the desert. I have a brother there who has already put down forty wells, from every one of which vast quantities of purest water bursts forth. This is taken in large stone pipes over hundreds of acres of the thirsty, sterile soil.

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Hundreds of thousands of vines and fruit trees are at once planted and their rapid growth is indeed surprising.

Knowing as we do that the Lord is to do a “short work in the earth,” preparatory to the full installment of his Son with his anointed body, in full ruling power, having all things under him; that over forty per cent of this work is accomplished; and that only twenty-three years of the allotted time remain, during which the remaining sixty per cent of the work is to be accomplished, gives these varied events and agencies the highest interest.

—E. J. ROGERS.

[While the prophecies above cited have special reference, we think, to Israel and the now barren land of Palestine, we believe that the same blessings of restitution are also due to the whole earth.—EDITOR.]

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Manitoba.

DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—We are glad to acknowledge the receipt of two letters from you which gave us the more pleasure since they were unexpected. We could form some idea of the amount of work awaiting you upon your arrival home, so we did not look for a letter so soon, but we intended writing to you anyway to tell you how thankful we are that you and Sister Russell are well and safe at home. We feel sure that your long, tiresome journey will not be in vain: you will have gathered much that will benefit the household of faith. We do appreciate, dear brother and sister, your labor of love, and for this cause we also rejoice with you.

We are still rejoicing in the same precious truth. They are our courage and strength every morning, and our comfort and rest every night.

Ever since we came home, last July, we have found many opportunities for service and sacrifice. We have had many seasons of sweet communion with the brethren in our vicinity, and some good letters from those “harvesters” gone out from among us. This is the oneness and unity that rejoices our hearts. Brother Utley has been with us since September first, canvassing and delivering in the different towns. He has put in a goodly number of DAWNS through this part, and delivered several lectures. After each lecture we had good question meetings, and though we know of only a few who are deeply interested, yet quite a number truly rejoice in the good tidings. People who four years ago would not listen at all come to us now to enquire, for they are beginning to see things are not right in the nominal church. This gives us an opportunity to speak a word in season. We know the truth will prevail, and we rejoice in every opportunity to speak a word or suffer reproach for the truth’s sake, and count it a great privilege to do so.

With kindest love to the Church at Allegheny, and much love to Sister Russell and yourself, in which Sister Webb joins, I am yours in the glorious hope, W. J. WEBB.

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New York.

DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—On the 7th of last June I stepped into a small hall in this city, and heard for the first time some of the precious truths I have since learned to love. I had been for some months engaged in evangelistic and missionary work. I had been for years a member of the Baptist sect, and you doubtless know how hard it was for me to give up the old ideas which would not let go of me, but how I praise God to-day. Before I had finished the second reading of DAWN, Vol. I., I felt that perhaps I might have been mistaken all these years, so I made up my mind to read the second volume. This I also read twice, and by that time felt that it must be true, but hardly dared believe, and did not dare to assert my belief, lest it might be error. Then I went back to the first volume again and read it the third time, and then the second volume a third time. Truly this third reading was a feast, and, eager for more, I wrote for the third volume. All this time I had enjoyed the precious things the books had brought me with scarcely even a thought of those through whose labors the truth had been so plainly and convincingly set forth, but when I took up the third volume and read the preface, an almost overwhelming sense of the gratitude I owed, not only to the dear heavenly Father, but to his agents in bringing these things to my attention, came over me, and I have found it truly hard to wait for your return home, to express to you as well as I can the deep gratitude I feel.

Brother Russell, I loved the Lord Jesus dearly before. I had already not only given up for his sake friend and home but had known by a most bitter experience what it meant to be persecuted for his work; yet proving through all the bitterness the truthfulness of the promise that he would be a satisfying portion, I was happy without home or friends, because I had Jesus. I was continually conscious of his presence with me. But now it seems to me at times my heart will burst with love and gratitude and praise. I cannot do half enough for him; but he shall have the earnest, faithful service of every remaining hour of my life.

And you, my dear brother, I know not how to better express my gratitude and thanks to you than by thus telling you how fully your precious work has accomplished its mission in my heart and life.

I am eagerly starting out to give to others the glad tidings that have come to me, and yet I start almost fearfully. Is it not strange? I have been a dear lover of the Bible for years. I have read carefully and prayerfully, and have been led out of much orthodox error, and before I read DAWN I confidently went among the people, sure that I could give them food that would satisfy beyond any thing the popular preachers could give; but now that I have been so richly fed myself I feel timid about going, lest one should ask for something which I cannot give.

I received to-night a precious letter from the office, in which the wish is expressed that I may be “filled with a spirit of love and humility.” It seems to me I must be. I never felt my own littleness and unworthiness as I have felt it in the past three months, since I began to see the precious truth. I am amazed, as I look over my life and see what bungling and inefficient work I have done and called it work for the Lord, to think that he has trusted me with this precious truth, and is going to let me still call myself one of his workers. O Brother and Sister Russell, pray for me that I may be enabled to work in such a way that through my work, as through yours, sheaves may be garnered for his glorious kingdom.

Once more thanking you for the great blessing and peace brought to me through your work, I will close. Yours in like precious faith,

MRS. M. PECK.

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Cincinnati.

DEAR BRO. RUSSELL:—Have received your letter making Chicago our next home and field.

I enclose you a paper giving you a concise sketch of the recent controversy between the priests of Babylon and Col. Ingersoll—the Goliath that only David could kill, and who is therefore still strutting up and down before the Nominal Church, the supposed agent and institution of Jehovah.

Ingersoll, you notice, cannot force them to discuss the original propositions, viz.: Christmas a heathen festival, and Christianity with its eternal torment theory a doctrinal system of eternal hate.

I must call your attention to Rev. Dixon’s assertion that God could even use an ass (Balaam’s) for his ends and how much more a priest, and Ingersoll’s retort, how much more and better the ass knew and did than the priest.

I also enclose an offer made me of $100.00 per month and expenses (one of many). I have rejected them all, believing the King who owns all the cattle and silver will pay better still, though as yet it may be evident only to the eye of faith. The eternal things are those unseen by eyes of flesh.

We both join in warmest greetings to you and Sr. Russell. In Christ the Redeemer,

J. B. ADAMSON.

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— March 1, 1892 —