The Watchtower Society and John and Morton Edgar - A2Z.org

into close touch with much pain and sorma, and bein% ofa very sympathetic nature, John keenly felt the need forthe world's deliverance. I-Ie had himself experienced clcepgrief in our losing by death, after protracted suffering, fourmembers of our family, in the short space of two and a halfyears. The ploughshare of sorrow had thus done its partin helping to prepare his heart to receive gladly the seedof the Word-the " good tidings of great joy which shallbe to all pmplc "-Luke ii. 10.Our father, whom me all dearly loved, and oar sister Eva.ff addition to myself. were the first to read and appreciateThe Divine Plan of the Ages," by Charles T. Russell.This book was drawn to our attention at the right timeby a friend, Miss Feme. We were greatly depressed bythe sufferings and death of our dear ones, though assuredthat they had died trusting in Jesus. Despite the teachingof the Churck, as expressed in the Shorter ~~, that" the souis oi believers are at their death made perfect inholiness and do immediately pass into glory." much mysterybecbuded our minds and augmented our sorrow.These bereavements were used by God to impress uponus how terrible an enemy is death, and led us to see thatthe question " Where are the Dead ? '* is not satisfactorilyanswered by tbe creeds of Christendom. Brought up inthe Presbyterian faith, me held as truth the commonlyaccepted doctrines of eternal tornlent, the immortality ofthe soul, free grace, and the Calvinistic view of election,etc. Greatly did these doctrines trouble me, especiallyduring the last nine months of our brother James's mostdistressing illness.james never professed being a Christian, and generallyavoided conversation on religious subjects. He would notpermit me to pray with him, and wmfd wearily turn awayas he noted my sadness at his refusal. He had been whatthe world calls "a good fellow," an honest, moral-livman ; but Cod alone knoas what bitter tears I shed 3