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

THE IVATCHTOJVBRAt the evening meeting it was estimated that about fivehundred Jews were present. They heard very coldly andcautiously until we were ahout half through, when their interestseemed to grow. When they heard things respectingtheir nation and its history, and the outworking of propheticpromises, they were apparently greatly interwted. We feelhere like reminding our readers afresh that we are not to expectany considerable number of Jews to manifest interest inpresent truth now. We hope for them that the message theyare now hearing will direct their hearts and minds and prayerstoward God and the Holy Scriptures, and thus prepare themfor further glorious experiences in the midst of troubles inthe near future. We remind you afresh that it is our expectationthat the interest of the Jews will really come in themidst of the time of trouble, and that the great company willhave the opporlunity and honor of leading them to a fullerappreciation of the divine program, with the Messianic seedof Abraham on the spirit plane, and the Jews in conjunctionwith Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the prophets on theearthly plane, to bless the world of mankind.AT OAKLAND, GAL.Moniiay was given to Oaklancl, which lies just across thebay from San Francisco. In many respects, the txo classesare one-their interests at least co-operated happily with ourprogram for the day. Our first mecting xas with the eldersand deacons of the two classes, numbering about thirty. Itwas a pleasant experience and lasted for nearly two hours.We talked of the local interests of the work and the bestmethods of promoting them. At 10 o'clock there was a generalrally and testimony meeting which we could not attend.The First Baptist church was at our disposal for the entireday. Its capacity is estimated at fifteen hundred.At 2 p, m. ae gave a talk on the propriety of parentsconsecrating their children to the Lord. We reminded ourhearers of how the Jewish parents had a custom of consecr%tingtheir male children to the Lord by a circumcision ceremony.We reminded thrm that many Christian denominations practiceinfant sprinkling with really the significance of consecration.We pointed out the unscripturalness of infant sprinkling,because it is understood to mean baptism and to be performedinstead of it, baptism being prescribed in the Bibleonly for the consecrated believers. We reminded our Bearersof how the parents of Samuel had specially presented him tothe Lord for service. We called their attention to how Jewishmothers brought their children to our Lord, desiring them tobe blesscd.We explained that there is nothing in the nature of acommand in connection with such consecration of ehildrenatvery most it is a privilege, an opportunity to such as maydesire to avail themselves of it without the slightest reflectionagainst those who might think and act differently. We recommendedthat it hc considered applicable only to children whohave not reached maturity of judgnicnt so as to have a willof tl~cir own in such a matter. We suggested that, later inljfe, chil(1ren eonling to know that they have been devotedto the Lord ill infancy mi~hto some extent gain a measureof hlrssing in this connection. We snggested to the parentsthat wc hopcd that the consecration of their children formallyto the Lord would help to impress upon them their responsibiIitytoward their children and toward the Lord-furthermore,from this standpoint they might be helped to a fulleracknowledgment of the diriue will in respect to the childforsickness or health, for life or dcath, for interrats greatand small. Approxinlntelp forty-two participated in the consecrationand its prayer for dirine l~lessing.Ncxt came n di~corirse on Bal~tism, which was followed bythe symbolical immersion of forty-three. We learned afterwardthat three Raptist ministers Rere in the audience andthat one of them in particnlnr was very angry because wehad intimated that water baptism was the door into the Baptistclmrch, so that none were pernlitted to partake of theLord's Snpper or be classed as memhers of the church ofChrist uuless immersed in water. Thus we intimated alsothat their theory is that all others, not immersed, not beingmolnbers of the church of Christ, cannot be partakers of hisblemings-one of which is the heavenly cstate, and that allunimmersed, thrrefore, are lost, by which Baptists in generallr~ust mean that Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Methodists,Lutherans aud others, not immersed, will spend eternity intorment. We certainly had no unkind intentions, but on thecontrary endearored to choose such words as xould express thet.ruth in the least offensive form. One member of the churchthanked us, rejoicing that her daughter had been led by thediscourse to give hcr heart to the Lord.The cl~urch bras cron-ded for the night service, and approximatelytwo hundrcd of the friends of the truth gaveplace to strangers and constituted an overflow meeting, whichwas held in a Disciple church nearby.AT SAGRAIWBTO. GAL.Tuesday, June 27, found our party at Bacramente, wherethe cIass of Bihle Students numbers about twenty. The firstsession of the morning was a Testimony Meeting. This wasfollowed by a talk on Baptism by Brother Swingle, three beingimmersed later in the day. In the afternoon we had a symposium,participated in by twelve brethren, our own talk inconclusion being based upon a colloquy between Moses andthe Lord: "If thou go not up with us send us not up hence";and the Lord's reply: "My prewnce shall go with you, and Iwill give you peace.,, The evening meeting, topic "Rereafter,"was held in Clunie Theater. A splendid audience ofabout a thousand was present, and the closeness of the attentioncould scarcely be exceeded. We will hope for somegood results and some encouraging reports. At all events thedear friends at Sacramento, ourself and touring party mnywell rest contented that, having done what we could, the matteris in the Lordls hands, for His over-ruling according toHis own will.We are writing this report on the day following the Sacramentomeetings, as we are en route for Portland. Mt. Shastahas been in sight for several hours, its snowy peak risingfourteen thousand four hundred feet above the sea level. Ourtrain stopped for a few minutes at Shasta Springs, allowingus to drink of the effervescent waters. We anticipated thepleasure of meeting a company of friends assembled on therailway platform at Ashland, Oregon, but our npecial arrivednearly two hours ahead of schedule, EO we missed all but two.One dear brother met us at anothcr station. He had riddennearly seven miles on a bicycle. We would have had but afew minutes with them, but would have been glad to greetthem and to receive their greetings in return. We spelled ourdisappointment with an h instead of a d. How wonderfulthe Spirit of the Lord, in his people of every nation, kindred,tongue and place--manifesting love for the Lord, the truth andthe brethren!PORTLAND AND HOMEWAED CONVJ3NTIONSWe had a fine time at Portlaitd. All along the Pacificcoast the weather was cool and bracing. The attendance atthe meetinps for the interested in Portland averaged aboutfour hundred, while the public service at the Auditorium onThursday night had ahout fifteen hundrcd in attendance. Pridaynight was a question meeting with an attendance of aboutseven hundred. Their questions were mlusoaUy good, and theentire audience seemed deeply interested in the answers. Themeeting lasted for two hours, some remaining with otherquestions. Brother Bohnct was to follow us the followingSunday. We feel sure that the work in Portland is makingconsiderable progress.TACO= WASH.Saturday, July 1, was devoted to Tacoma. Nowhere havewe had more interesting meetings. The Tacoma Theatre wascrowded, a remarkable thing for a religious meeting on Saturdaynight. About two thousand xere present. The meetingsfor the interested were precious ones, and attended by aboutthree hundred and fifty. The city seemed to have been preatly - -stirred.SEATTLE. WASH.We were wamlv welcomed here. also. Ahout five hundredattended the meetjigs for the interbsted. Some of these camewith our party from Portland and Tacoma. Others came tomeet us fro111 Victoria and Vancouver. We had a splendidseason of spiritual fellowship and refreshment, which concludedMonday night with a love feast, although the conventionwas carried over a day after our learing. Txro of ourparty remained to give addresses. About twenty-five childrenwere presented in consecration to the Lord, and eighteen aduItsn-ere immersed. Here again Brother Morton Edgar gave adiscourse on the Pyramid. Brother Swingle preached thebaptism sermon, and Brother Ritehie gave the address precedingthe love feast.The Sunday service consisted of a rally and testimonymeeting, participated in by many. Then followed onr Sundaymorning discourse, which already has been published inthe nerspapers, topic, "The Two Babylons." The afternoonmeeting for the public drew a crowded house, estimated attwenty-two hundred. We had excellent attention for two hours.The evening service in the same place was for questions, abouta thouaand being present. Questions were good, the interestwas excellent, many hearing for the first time some of thethings of the Word of the Lord explained.VICTORIA, 8. C., CAN.Wednesday morning, July 4, we proceeded by steamer toVictoria. The ride was a very enjoyable one, cool and brac-