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MUST LOYALLY COOPERATE

BY DR. L.W. JONES—CHICAGO

No greater honor could be accorded me at the present time than to be here to speak a few words of tribute to the memory of our dear Brother. My relationship to him has been different in some respects, perhaps, from that of any other individual; for I have been closely associated with him for a great while. Many a time I have stood on the platform and introduced him to various audiences in this country and abroad. I am glad to be here at this time to say a few words.

For ten years my work in connection with the Convention Reports has brought me in close contact with Brother Russell and the work of the Society in general. Our understanding has been thorough on this matter. Then, too, I have traveled extensively with him as his secretary on various trips, particularly in connection with the world tour in 1912, when for nearly four months we were closely associated. Many times Brother Russell discussed with me his personal and private affairs, as well as the work in hand; and I desire to say that his one aim was to seek to do the will of God, and in it all he recognized that the work he was doing was not his, but Jehovah’s.

When the friends in Chicago learned through the newspaper reports that Brother Russell’s death had taken place, they could not believe their ears and eyes, and repeatedly called me up to verify the reports. As soon as we told them, “Yes, it is true that our dear Pastor has gone beyond,” immediately they would say, “Brother, now we must keep close together. We must put our shoulders to the wheel. We must loyally cooperate.” It did me much good to see the faith of the brethren and know that they would stand loyal to the Truth. Therefore at this time I voice the sentiments not only of the Chicago Church as a whole, but of the various Classes in the vicinity of Chicago, numbering about twelve or fifteen. Their determination is to stand loyal and faithful to the new organization and to cooperate with it in every possible way. They realize that our dear Pastor has opened before us the Scriptures, and has made them so plain that everything necessary for the making of our calling and election sure, has been laid before the faithful and loyal, that we may press on to a glorious consummation, even unto death, as he did. It is our determination to be more loyal, more faithful, that we may promulgate this glorious Gospel—”glad tidings of joy”—in this Harvest work which he so grandly started, which he so faithfully carried on until the great God whom he served said, “Enough, come up higher!”

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— December 1, 1916 —