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ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM EARNEST WORKERS

Pennsylvania.

DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—The TOWER, to which I subscribed some time since, comes regularly to hand, and is much enjoyed by myself and wife. I note that you like to hear from subscribers, and I thought it might not be uninteresting to you to learn that I am one of those into whose hands “Food for Thinking Christians” [now out of print] fell, in London, about the year 1881. I had several years previously given up as entirely unscriptural and ridiculous the wretched dogma of eternal torment and the inherent immortality of mankind. I remember well your book being loaned to me by a friend, and my taking it home, sitting up all night and literally devouring its contents. Unfortunately it was read too quickly for perfect digestion and assimilation, but looking back, I can see now that it was not altogether seed sown by the wayside. I have been wandering about among the sects all these years since, “seeking rest and finding none,” becoming successively a Methodist, a Disciple, a Baptist and again a Methodist. I have been clinging to the latter church, because it seemed to me that it had more love and zeal than some of the other denominations, but I have had no sympathy whatever with the erroneous doctrines I knew it to be teaching.

A year ago, in Baltimore, it was my good fortune to meet a Baptist brother who had been reading the DAWNS. He kindly lent me the volumes, one after another. I again swallowed their contents—getting through the three books in a little over a week, besides verifying most of the passages. I can scarcely tell you the change they have wrought in my whole religious life. I have been set to thinking as I have never thought before; and the blessed Word of God, which has to a large extent hitherto been a sealed book to me, is now unfolding to my mind in a truly wonderful manner. It is now my only study, and I have renounced all worldly ambition in order that I can find out fully what is the will of God concerning me, and that I may learn how best to do it. Many times in the past I have felt sick at heart at the thought that it seemed impossible to learn the truth fully, in view of the extraordinarily divergent teachings of the numerous sects, all claiming to expound the Bible aright; but it has been my humble and constant prayer to the good Lord to lead me into the light; and now, thank God, I feel that my prayer, to a very large extent, has been answered, and I am still trusting to the same leadings of the energizing and illuminating Spirit of God, praying fervently that the Word may yet become a “Lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.”

I am glad to tell you that I was found by Brother Hewes some two months ago, when he called at my house selling DAWNS. Since then myself and wife have been meeting regularly at his house for study of the Word, singing and prayer, and these meetings have been wonderfully profitable to us. I have read, re-read and am still reading DAWNS with increasing interest and profit, and so is my dear wife; and we do feel that you have been the means, in the Lord’s hands, of disseminating the needed light upon much of Scripture hitherto hidden, but now due to be revealed, and we are abundantly thankful to him therefor.

Yours in the one hope, W. J. C__________.

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Wisconsin.

DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—I am impelled to write and thank you for the last TOWER, especially the article, “Obedience Better than Sacrifice.” It has been a great blessing to me, not only in awaking me to a realization of my own condition, but also in aiding me to regain at least a partial footing in the way of light and peace. The devil has surely been leading me by a quiet and subtle way into a condition of lethargy and doubt that found me, on awaking, nearly in the “outer darkness.”

No doubt from a spirit of pride and overconfidence I was easily assailed. He began by persuading me that many of the expressions used in the TOWER, as regards false doctrines, were uncalled for. While I did not feel in sympathy

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with such doctrines and theories, yet I can see now that he was leading me as an “angel of light,” very stealthily but surely in this and other ways. I had partially realized it as I had begun to lose that rest and peace which should be ours; but your article seemed to be sent of God to awaken me, and lead me back. I assure you, dear brother, I feel my own unworthiness and weakness, and for a time I hardly dared to look up; but I know he is willing to help me.

Just at the proper time the devil caused the enclosed article on “Inspiration” to come in my way, and I seemed in just the condition for it to cause a disturbance—a doubtful spirit. How thankful that I was awakened before it was too late!

My object in writing you is not only to thank you, but to ask you to pray for me. I need it. Pray that I may be given a spirit of humility and strength to obey, and that my own will and pride may be subdued. Oh, I am so anxious. Your article was indeed to me “a word in season.” I thank God for it! How forcibly I have learned to know the meaning of Paul’s words, “Let him who thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Pray for me!

Sincerely, C__________.

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Michigan.
TOWER PUBLISHING CO., DEAR BRETHREN:—

… Robed in his righteousness, I am looking forward to be clothed upon with a glorious body, to have this mortal put on immortality, to when there will be no more a law in the body at variance with the law of the mind; but alas! before I am made meet for an entrance upon this inheritance of the saints in light, how much cleansing from the filthiness of the flesh, how much washing with water by the Word, I need; how much refining before the dross is all consumed, and how little will there be left. Nothing left but the will to be one with the members of his anointed body—one in Him.

Yours in our blessed Redeemer,

W. C. BROWN.

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Ohio.

DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—Enclosed please find $1.00 for the TOWER for ’93. It can never be more appreciated than it has been, for it is more precious to me than its weight in fine gold. It has been like a mirror in aiding me to adjust the robe which my Master has given me, that I might appear at the royal marriage of the King—where (if I hold out faithful unto the end) I hope to meet you. I see so much to be done, by way of adorning the robe; and all I can do makes me realize all the more that it is all of Christ and nothing of self; yet I love to “wait upon the Lord.” Yea, I would rather be a door-keeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in a palace.

It seems as if I am now a mere drone in the bee-hive of earnest workers, but I leave that all to the Master of the harvest. He knows my heart. Paul tells us, “Having done all, stand;” and here is the standing in which patience is to have her perfect work. I find it requires strength from above to do this. I have done all I could, and now I am just resting with childlike confidence in my Lord, for he has answered my petition for strength to so do.

Yours in the blessed hope,
MRS. S. H. RAY.

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Canada.

MY DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—I enclose you a dollar for renewal of TOWER for 1893. Being a newspaper publisher of over thirteen years experience, I know the value of prompt renewals. The dollar in advance saves interest, saves disappointment and worry, and gives the sender an easy conscience. I would not do without the TOWER if I had to live on two meals a day until I saved the money to pay for it. Its teachings are priceless to the true child of God. May its influence for good increase from year to year, and be the means of scattering light and truth to the uttermost parts of the earth.

J. E. A__________.

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Illinois.

DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—I should like, if possible, to express to you my love and thankfulness for the blessings I have received through the reading of ZION’S WATCH TOWER during the year just closed. Many times have I been seemingly cold and despondent when the TOWER would come so full of rich food that in reading it the fire of zeal would glow in my heart, and I would feel like shouting praises to God, the Father, who has prepared such great things for his children. All praise to God, who gave his Son to die for us—and not for us, only, but also for the whole world—and to Christ, our blessed Redeemer.

May his favor ever abide with you and Sister Russell, that you may hand out meat in due season during the year just ahead. A happy new year to you both, is my prayer. I am glad to feel that I am remembered by you at the throne of grace, that the grand truths may become more clear to me.

Yours, in the Redeemer, J. F. SHEHORN.

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“With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

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— January 1, 1893 —