No. 427
Most of our readers are familiar with the attributes of God – Justice, Wisdom, Love and Power. In 2 Tim. 1:7 we are told that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”; but this is not God’s power in the full sense of that word. For us, it is not physical strength, as we recognize that many of the Lord’s people are very weak physically; but we are given will power. St. Paul is an outstanding example of this truth. The name his parents had given him was Saul, probably after Israel’s first king, who was a handsome physical specimen. “There was not one among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.” (1 Sam. 9:2) When he was anointed with the Holy Spirit Saul adopted the name of Paul which was more in keeping with his physique – ‘Paul’ meaning ‘little one.’ But in will power he was one of the strongest of whom we have any record, so he could well say the Lord has given us “the spirit of power.”
In 1 Tim. 1:5 Paul says, “The end of the commandment [the entire Bible] is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” This text thus treats of the four great attributes of God – not in all ways, but to inform us of his intention in making the statement. And he is telling us that the great purpose of God in all His dealings with His people through His spirit, Word and Providence is to develop in them Agape love – flowing out of, based upon and acting in harmony with power, justice and wisdom. These exact words are not used in the text; but he refers to them by calling attention to each one’s main ingredient or ingredients. By the expression “unfeigned faith” he is giving us in sufficiency two of the ingredients of wisdom – trust and truth. By “good conscience” the duty feature of justice is meant. By the expression “pure heart” the Apostle means a will fixed in good principles and executing them. Thus will be seen the relation of all three of these characteristics to agape love and its sources, bases and modifiers.
Therefore, agape love permeates and expresses itself in the various graces, as is succinctly shown in 1 Cor. 13:4-8: “Charity [agape “love) suffereth long [is very tolerant], and is kind [shows kindness wherever possible]; charity envieth not [is generously disposed – no covetousness]; charity vaunteth not itself [refrains from self-praise – the Germans have a proverb, ‘Self–praise has a bad odor’], is not puffed up [displays a proper humility], behaveth not itself unseemly [always polite], seeketh not her own [selflessness – always striving to give to others a little more than we receive from them], is not easily provoked [literally, is not enraged or infuriated, forbearance – “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” Prov. 17:22], thinketh no evil [without guile]; rejoiceth not in iniquity [abhors sin, never glad to see others indulging in evil], but rejoiceth in the truth [appreciates and delights in the Truth and its Spirit – always happy to see others prosper]; beareth [literally covereth] all things [ever ready to forgive], believeth all things [trustfulness, always ready to give others the benefit of the doubt], hopeth all things [hopefulness, optimistic], endureth all things [patience, perseverance – stick–to-itiveness]. Charity never faileth [permanency – something no one can take from us].”
Thus charity sourced, based and modified in wisdom, power and justice, enfolds in its ample embrace all of these graces, as well as every lower primary, secondary and tertiary grace.
It is probably in order here to consider how these four dominating graces especially love – carry on their domination over all our other affections, virtues and graces. They do this first by detaching our affections from lower and earthly things and attaching them to higher and heavenly things; secondly, by using our other affections, virtues and graces as servants of truth, righteousness and holiness. Thus, these – especially love – make our lower affections: love of self–esteem, of approbativeness, of rest, ofsecretiveness, of safety, of possessions, of self–defense, of aggressiveness, of nourishment, of health, of life, of friends, of home and country, of the opposite sex, of wife, of husband, of children, of parents, of brethren, serve truth, righteousness and holiness. Accordingly, if justice and love are the rulers, they develop respectively the lower primary virtues and graces of self-esteem, approbativeness, restfulness, secretiveness, cautiousness, providence, combativeness, aggressiveness, alimentiveness, vitativeness, sexliness, husbandliness, wifeliness, parentliness, filiality, brethrenliness, friendship, domesticity and patriotism.
Thirdly, they use our lower sentiments, especially humor as safety valves – vents. Fourthly, they, especially love, carry on this domination by suppressing the efforts that our lower affections and lower primary graces make to control us, and by such suppression develop the secondary virtues and graces.
It is written in Psa. 89:14 that “justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” And, while the Divine attribute of Justice is prominently discussed in the Bible, it was not the first attribute that operated in the creation of the universe and the creation of man. St. Paul says in 1 Cor. 1:24: “Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” First of all God had to plan (wisdom) the universe: then His power was applied to carry out that plan. For man justice was the next attribute to appear when He expelled him from the Garden of Eden for disobedience; then came “the kindness and love of God.” (Titus 3:4)
In Reprints 4917 (Nov. 15, 1911) appears an excellent article on A Practical Self-examination Of Love, from which we quote a few paragraphs:
“Nothing in this signifies that one should neglect the caring for and providing in every way for those dependent upon him by the ties of nature, in order that he may do good to others. In every sense, ‘love begins at home.’ The proper thought, as we gather it, is that men and women, possessed of the spirit of perfect love, would not think exclusively of their own interest in any of the affairs of life. Put into exercise, this element of Love would have a great influence upon all the affairs of life, inside as well as outside the home and family.
“Have I the love which is good tempered, ‘not easily provoked’ to anger – love that enables me to see both sides of a question, that gives me the spirit of a sound mind, which enables me to perceive that exasperation and violent anger are not only unbecoming but, worse than that, injurious to those toward whom they may be directed, and also injurious in their effect upon my own heart and body?
“There may be times when love will need to be firm, almost to sternness and inflexibility, where principles are involved, where valuable lessons are to be inculcated; and this might come under the head of anger, using that word in a proper sense, in regard to a righteous indignation, exercised for a loving purpose, for doing good; but it should be exercised then only for a time. If justly angry we should see to it that we sin not either with our lips, or in our hearts, in which, at no time may we entertain any but loving and generous sentiments toward those who are our enemies, or toward those of our friends whom we would assist or instruct or correct.”
THE GREATEST OF THESE
In 1 Cor. 13:13, Dia., St. Paul tells us “these three remain – faith, hope, love – but the greatest of these is love.” Love in this text is from the Greek agape, which means good will motivated from unselfishness. It means doing good for the love of doing good; and such love is a refreshing and uplifting thing for all who come into contact with it.
In Rom. 5:3-5, Dia., we have this: “We triumph also in afflictions, knowing that afflictions works out endurance; and endurance approval; and approval hope; and this hope is not put to shame, because the love [agape] of God has been diffused in our hearts, through that Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” That spirit in the new spiritual will lays hold on our organs of veneration, benevolence and appreciation and exercises them toward God, Christ, the brethren, the world of mankind and enemies, and thereby cultivates all the graces mentioned in 1 Cor. 13:4–8.
This is the thought of Gal. 5:22, where the Apostle tells us that “the fruit of the spirit, the product of the new will, exercising our new spiritual capacities and affections is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith [fullness]. Thus, the full complete result of the Holy Spirit is a Godlike and Christlike character, disposition, mind, heart and will. Isa. 11:2-4 also tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us God’s disposition: “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.”
It would seem that the following from Reprints 5668 (April 15, 1915) is quite appropriate here.
THE SUM OF ALL GRACES
“‘And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.’ (1 Cor. 13: 13) The Apostle Paul has just been referring to the various miraculous gifts of the Spirit then granted to all begotten of the Spirit to the new nature. Anyone lacking some such special gift at that time would thus manifest to all believers that he had not become a member of the Church of Christ. These supernatural gifts also served to assist the primitive Church in spiritual growth. They did not have the Bible in those days [the New Testament], and if they had possessed it, very few could have read it; hence, they needed special assistance which the Church afterward did not need and was later taken away.
“In this letter to the Church at Corinth, the Apostle, after discussing these various gifts, says, ‘And yet I show unto you a more excellent way.’ Then he proceeds to point out the super-excellence of the fruit of love. Whoever has the Holy Spirit must have a measure at least of this fruitage, whether it be the little flower that contains the fruit-bud or whether it be the partly developed fruit, the fully developed fruit or the ripened fruit. God our Father, who looks upon the heart, knows how His Holy Spirit in the heart is seeking to control the flesh, to guide the mind and all the words and actions. We are not able to judge one another’s hearts. The Apostle said that he did not feel able properly to judge even himself, but left judgment to the Lord. He knew that his heart was loyal and that he was endeavoring to be all that the Lord would have him be. Though he was conscious of his inability always to ‘do the things that he would,’ he knew that the Master would accept his loyalty of heart; so he would do his best and leave the remainder with God.
“Our faith and our hope in the Lord lead us to earnest endeavor to develop the fruitage of love in all its varied and beautiful phases. Gentleness is a part of love; meekness is a part of love; so also are humility and brotherly-kindness. The question at issue with each child of God is not, How tall and well-built am I? or, How fine-looking or well-educated or well-connected am I according to the flesh? or, How many or how fine sermons have I preached? or even, How many have I brought to a knowledge of the Truth? But the vital question is, How much of the quality of love have I developed? How great is the likeness of my character to that of Christ?
LOVE IS THE PRINCIPAL THING
“Why is this quality of love made so prominent in the Word of God? We answer, Because it is the first thing, the most important thing, the principal thing. It is the fulfilling of God’s Law; and, indeed, the sacrificial love enjoined upon God’s Saints of this Age goes even beyond the requirements of the perfect law. But why is love put first? It is not because God arbitrarily so placed it, not because He exercised His power of fiat and declared that it should be first. No, it is because no other quality of character is so lovely, so beautiful, so productive of happiness and joy, so great a blessing to all upon whom it operates. It is the very essence of God’s character, ‘GOD IS LOVE.’ This quality particularly represents His personality. While God is all-just and all-powerful, we do not say that God is justice or that God is power, but that God is Love. He uses His great power only as love dictates and approves. He uses His justice only in fullest harmony with His glorious attribute of Love. Love is the mainspring of all His doings.
“Whoever, therefore, would be God-like must be loving, must have love as the dominating quality of his character and his life. Love and righteousness are inseparable. Love is to continue to all eternity; and only those who become the active embodiment of this gracious quality of character will live eternally. Hence we see the paramount importance of its development in every life.”
THE SPIRIT OF A SOUND MIND
“EVIDENCES OF A SOUND MIND: The fall of Adam has worked ruin to mankind, so that from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there are none sound. (Isa. 1:5,6) None are sound of mind or body. All are out of the way. ‘There is none righteous; no, not one.’ (Rom. 3:10) But in proportion as we receive the spirit of the Lord, and in proportion as that spirit of the Lord works in us and develops us and influences all the conduct of life, in that same proportion we receive the spirit of a sound mind.
“This soundness of mind will teach us how better to use our bodies. A person of unsound mind may either eat too much or eat what does not agree with him. In proportion as we have a sound mind, it influences what we eat, what we drink, and everything we do; it helps to regulate and control everything in life for us. It gives us broad views of all the affairs of life. It gives us more generous views of mankind. We recognize that mankind are under the curse, and we have a feeling of compassion for them. We have much advantage every way, because God has opened the eyes of our understanding.
“This spirit of a sound mind makes us more helpful. ‘We know better how to deal with each other as brethren. We know better how to deal with our children, with our neighbors, with the butcher and with every one else. The truth does not come to many of those who are naturally soundest of mind, and it takes time for the truth to bring in a measure of soundness. But we notice that when one receives the truth in the love of it, it has a healing effect on his mind. He will begin to think more correctly and to act more wisely.” (Reprints 5977, bottom and 5978, top)
The Wise Man tells us in Prov. 4:7 that “Wisdom [the wisdom that is from above James 3:17] is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” But how do we come by this wisdom? In 1 Cor. 1:30 we are told that Christ Jesus is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness [justification by faith], and sanctification [He sets us apart for His own good purposes], and deliverance.”
In 2 Tim. 1:7, Dia., we are given a very meaningful synonym of wisdom – a sound mind – which means a proper mental and religious disposition that is based upon the Truth and views matters according to reality in the light of the applicable Truth, and thinks, feels, speaks and acts accordingly tactful. A sound mind, therefore, is a proper mental and religious attitude. This Scripture also tells us that love and a sound mind are closely linked together. “God did not give us a cowardly spirit, but one of power, and of [agape] love, and of a sound mind.”
The proper application of the Holy Spirit in a “Sound Mind” will little by little and more and more give its possessor an ever increasing sound mind, which will by and by “make such a person of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11: 2,3) – that is, in the application of duty and disinterested (agape) love in accordance with the Divine will. Thus, in cultivating wisdom (love and the spirit of a sound mind), we constantly improve ourselves in every good word and work. In this there is a part that God, by Christ, does and a part that we do. Thus we become “co-workers with God,” as we constantly improve our intellectual and providential circumstances.
The spirit of a sound mind is one of the dominating graces of the Holy Spirit, and sometimes operates negatively in keeping us from doing unwise things, but operates positively in helping us to do the wise things. This is true in both our secular and religious relations. We need the spirit of a sound mind in our dealings with the Father and with Jesus, the latter being the Agent as our Creator, Provider, Redeemer, Teacher, Justifier, Sanctifier and Deliverer.
Inasmuch as our own righteousness is as “filthy rags,” we cannot approach Him through works and merits of our own. Therefore, the spirit of a sound mind forbids us to present ourselves – who are children of wrath – to God in any alleged merit or righteousness of our own. On the contrary, the Divine wisdom prompts us to seek for ourselves an Advocate before God, which we recognize to be Jesus. He has told us Himself that “whatsoever ye ask in my name it shall be given unto you.” (John 15:16) Thus, by the Divine wisdom wrought in us by Jesus’ ministry, we are prompted to ask forgiveness for our sins and a righteous standing before God through Him. Thus, sufficient of the spirit of a sound mind, which we receive from Him as natural men, enables us to see the proper approach to God, and tends to keep us in a righteous condition, and prompts us to present ourselves to God in harmony with Rom. 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Upon so doing in harmony with God’s will, He then gives us that sanctification that is necessary to do His “good and acceptable and perfect will.” This prevents us from engaging in works not motivated by God and Christ. On all sides today we see thousands zealously devoted to various reform and uplift works, which have no real standing in Heaven. “Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not taught in Thy name, and in Thy name expelled demons, and in Thy name performed many wonders? And then I will plainly declare to them, I never approved of you. Depart from Me, you who practice iniquity.” (Matt. 7:22,23, Dia.) Such will be the reward of all rabid sectarians.
The spirit of a sound mind teaches us what to do, and what to avoid doing in spirit, manner and method as to our works toward the world in religious aspects, and also in secular relations. But a sound mind will give us increasingly the spirit of wisdom in our religious and secular actions. While we are “not of the world,” yet we are in the world, and have secular relations toward the world.
Our secular relations toward the world may at times give us some consternation, especially with those of lower tendencies. Yet these are vastly in the majority and if we are inclined to avoid such, we may find it difficult to make a livelihood. St. Paul treats of this in 1 Cor. 5:9,10: “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators; yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye need go out of the world.” That is, if we would refuse to have any dealings with persons of disreputable leanings, we might find ourselves out of business. This does not mean, of course, that we become partners with them. St. Paul’s advice applies here, too – and positively so: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14) Our own experience in the business world over the past fifty years is that many put on quite a respectable appearance, but are ready enough to cut corners as opportunity may present itself. A well-meaning businessman once said to Brother Russell, “Pastor Russell, you have set the standard entirely too high.” His answer was, “I did not put it there; the Lord did.” Of course, having a “high calling,” it necessarily follows there would also be a “high” standard. And the more of a sound mind we have, the more apparent this becomes to us. Also, the more of Divine wisdom we have the more of a sound mind will be apparent in us.
LOVE – HOW ACQUIRED
In any undertaking the “know-how” is fundamental to success. And this is certainly true in the acquisition of Agape love. We have pointed out that love and a sound mind are closely linked together. All who have developed any degree of Agape love will readily testify that it has put soundness into their thinking. Among the last words of Jesus to His Disciples are those to be found in Luke 21:12-15, Dia.: “They will drag you before kings and governors... And it will turn out to you for a testimony. Settle it in your hearts, therefore, not to premeditate on your defense; for I will give you eloquence and wisdom, which all your opponents will not be able to gainsay, or resist.” “Our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit... the spirit giveth life.” (2 Cor. 3:5,6)
FAITH COMETH BEFORE LOVE
Although, as 1 Cor. 13:13 tells us Love is the greatest of all the graces, for the Faith Age, faith must come first: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Heb. 11:6) Nor can we develop perfect (agape) love unless we continue to believe He is a God of Love, Wisdom Justice and Power, and also, to have faith in His Word that we have received. Those who are faithful to the truth they have will be ready to “learn more of Him,” and as they do they will develop more and more of the “end of the commandment [the purpose of the commandment] is charity.” (1 Tim. 1:5) All New Creatures will have to develop perfect love in their hearts during this Faith Age – their trial time for eternal life. No others are on trial for life, although, it behooves all classes of the Household of Faith to constantly seek to develop perfect love, as they must eventually do if they remain in the Elect classes. However, some of the unbegotten consecrators are not able to develop perfect love. In the 11th chapter of Hebrews we are told that it was by faith that the Ancient Worthies were able to do what they did. Abraham had faith and it was counted to him for righteousness. He didn’t have Agape love, but he will have it in the Kingdom, or he won’t remain one of the Elect.
In the Millennium when the New Covenant is inaugurated, there will be no crucial experiences – no suffering for righteousness sake – that will develop perfect love. But Restitutionists will have to develop perfect Duty Love toward God and man – love the Lord with all their heart and their neighbor as themselves. This will be a much easier requirement for them, for instead of suffering for righteousness, they will be rewarded for righteousness, and if their righteousness comes from the heart, they will be rewarded with eternal life. There was no sacrifice required of Adam – just obedience and faith in God. So Restitutionists will have to have a faith in God, but not a faith where He cannot be traced. Each step of obedience will bring the reward for tracing Him.
From Reprint 5095, top: “The spirit of a sound mind is a most wonderful manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the Lord’s people. It gives them much advantage every way over the remainder of mankind. It sees in the present life opportunities for the attainment of character. It broadens and deepens the mind along all good lines. It makes one less touchy in respect to his own rights, privileges and preferences, and more considerate of the rights and feelings of others.
“The spirit of a sound mind makes one’s judgment clearer, truer, more trustworthy than before, for it impels him to accept the instructions of the Word of God in respect to what he should and should not do, and to reject his own faulty judgment. The meek will He guide in judgment. Whatever may be the imperfection of mind and body resulting from the fall, those who receive the spirit of a sound mind are thereby made purer, kinder, gentler, less selfish and more thoughtful in regard to others. Those who are thus rightly exercised will develop the spirit of love increasingly until that which is perfect shall have come and that which is in part shall have been done away. (1 Cor. 13:10)”
GOD’S GLORY
In Ex. 33: 18 Moses asked God to show him His glory; and in Psa. 104:31 we are told, “The glory of the Lord shall endure forever.” In Isa. 42:8 it is written: “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another.” From these and other Scriptures we conclude that God’s glory is synonymous with His character attributes of Justice, Wisdom, Power and Love. All of God’s faithful people of the past have had some of these character qualities; but none of them, not even Jesus, have had them in the same magnificent and grandiose quantity and quality as they are in our Almighty God. The word translated ‘glory’ in Isa. 42:8 is from the Hebrew ‘kabod’ and one of its meanings is ‘splendor’; and the more we see and learn of His character and works, the more His splendor becomes apparent. Thus, we enthusiastically join with David in his exclamation, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” (Psa. 95:6,7)
(Written by Brother Hoefle July and August 1978)
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LETTERS OF GENERAL INTEREST
Dear Sister,
Thanks for the books! I haven’t stopped reading until way late in the night! They are wonderful. I am learning as I have never learned before. Pastor Russell sure was blessed and filled with the Holy Spirit. His work will live forever.
I have read all the Bulletins that you have sent – three times. I am now on the third reading of The Divine Plan of the Ages. I am getting the feel of the writer and trying to hear him speak in the language on the printed pages. The truth is there and stands out above all else, as it should.
Sister Florence tells me every time I express my happiness in finding Pastor Russell’s writings, “I knew you would take to his works like a duck to water!” She knows me well. I am always searching for more truth. I have found it.
Florence is in Oregon visiting her son, Melvin. She will be gone for about three weeks. She tried to call you several times, but was unable to reach you.
I would like to have No. 1 Where are the dead? and No. 2, What Is the Soul? Eventually I would like to have all of your literature that is available, but right now, with what I am studying, I think this will be enough.
I will order Pastor Russell’s second book in a little while. Thanks again for your continued prayers put forth to all those who are seeking and searching for the truth.
Your sister in Christ, ------- (CALIFORNIA)
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Dear Sister Hoefle:
My kindest regards and God’s blessings to you and all with you with Psalm 23! With great joy I have received your two air mail letters. I am sending you three names for your mailing list. God bless you. Your brother in Christ, ------- (AUSTRIA)
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Dear Brethren: Greetings of love through our Beloved Lord and Savior! It is a privilege and pleasure to tell you of the special meeting we had on Sunday, July 7. We had a baptismal service in which there were six who symbolized their consecration by immersion. The candidates were four brothers and two sisters all of the same family. There were fourteen in attendance.
Five of the candidates are fourth and fifth generation descendants of a faithful sister who came into the truth during Brother Russell’s ministry. Her works do follow her (Rev. 14:13) was manifested by this occasion. She has left a wonderful legacy for which we can say with appreciation and thankfulness, “God bless her memory.”
The service was brief but meaningful and all present were spiritually enriched by the solemnity of the occasion. All the candidates seemed to have a full understanding of the import of their consecration and its symbol by water immersion. We ask your prayers for all that they will be faithful.
We praise God from whom all blessings flow for the privilege of knowing His truth, and witnessing this momentous event as an evidence of His loving care and overruling providence. With Christian love to all from all here. By His Grace, Brother and Sister ------- (NORTH CAROLINA)
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Epiphany Bible Students:
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Thanks for sending me the papers on Zionism, Part One and Part Two. I was blessed by reading both. It always enhances my concept of the Grandeur of our God to be informed as to how He uses His creation to show forth His message to those who are drawn to Him.
On page 3 of Part One, last paragraph, second line quote: “and Bezetha the Youthful Worthies.” Would you explain the term Youthful Worthies and give Scriptural support for the term?
May our loving Heavenly Father bless your efforts to serve Him. By His Grace, ------- (TEXAS)
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Dear Brethren: Christian greetings in our dear Lord and Master Jesus’ Name!
Thank you for sending me your newsletter. Some time ago my wife bought a book from Mr. Horowitz about our dear Pastor Russell. In the meantime, our address has changed. We enclose the old address and ask that you send your newsletter to the address above.
Please give us some information about the difference between the LHMM and your Ass’n. Do you have any further literature?
Thanks again. With Christian greetings. Sincerely yours, ------- (GERMANY)
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Dear Sister Hoefle: Grace and peace through our Lord Jesus!
Much thanks and appreciation for your reply. Trusting by His Grace you are enjoying good health. We are keeping fairly well, all thanks to Him. Unfortunately Sister Nora lost her husband a few months ago. We all share her bereavement. Brother Luther McKenzie is still ailing but taking his infirmities in good spirit trusting in the Lord.
Brother Wycliffe Mahoney is fine both in spirit and in body. The time he stood up for Brother Hoefle to speak [at Crofts Hill when Brother Jolly spoke for four hours], I had not made my consecration and wasn’t present. However, I was told of the incident.
We continue getting our periodicals. They are so informative. Thanks much for same. I am making a request on behalf of the ecclesia. We would like to get a few tracts of Permission of Evil, Two Salvations, What is the Soul?, etc. The Lord grant you strength as you continue in His service. Our warmest Christian love and God’s blessings. Your brother by His Grace, ------- (JAMAICA)
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Dear Madam:
I shall be grateful if you would send me a copy of your book on Pastor Russell. Also, I wish to read about the errors of Judge Rutherford and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
If it is not given free, kindly let me know how much it costs. Yours sincerely, ------- (AFRICA)