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INTERESTING LETTERS

BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, GENTLEMEN:—

I have through the kindness of a friend here, a Methodist minister, been allowed the grand privilege of reading your first volume, entitled, “The Divine Plan of the Ages,” and was very much impressed with it. Its ideas so nearly concur with my own that I am very anxious to have more of the light and beg to enclose herewith check covering the cost of the remainder of the books and “The Watch Tower.”

I look forward to the arrival of “The Watch Tower,” as I am very anxious to keep in touch with present-day happenings in relation to the Scriptures and feel that it

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will be a source of light to me at all times, as the books have and will be.

I wish to say that I have never been a Church member and have been called an infidel on account of my non-belief in a Father who could torture throughout eternity people created by him in his own likeness when they were born in sin and were so weak. The first glimpse of the “Divine Plan” made me feel that I was not entirely alone in my belief and that the coming of the Saviour could be looked forward to with great longings and happiness instead of misery, separation, torture, etc., to some probably who were dear to us.

I am a young man, a deep reader and have until finding your books been unable to secure much consideration from the ministers of the (sect) churches, as all of them left the impression upon me that one must be a member of some church to be saved.

Will you please forward books and paper promptly, as I do not wish to miss a single enlightening point, and have a dear wife and mother I am so anxious shall see the great light as I see it.

Yours very truly, E. M. VIQUESNEY—Ga.

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DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:—

In the early ’90’s, being a great reader of all kinds of literature—history, Biblical and profane books of all kinds—my wife thought she would purchase me an unusual book, and bought me a copy of Millennial Dawn, Vol. 1. I was interested in Prof. Totten, of Yale, in his prophecies in reference to the books of Daniel and Revelation, and subscribed for the “Christian Herald” to read what he had to say. So I read Millennial Dawn at that time, but some influence was against me, and for years the book lay in my library unopened. Last summer at one of our Baptist meetings down here, I heard a clergyman speak about the Russellites and their belief as being damnable heresy. It was a new name to me. I asked about these people; who they were, and tried to get some further light, reasoning that there must be something extra about these people to be so condemned. I had often read of Gamaliel’s advice to the high priest and tried to follow it by granting all movements a reasonable hearing. I came home from the meeting, and asked my wife if she knew where that old book she had bought for me years ago was. We looked it up. I began to read it. I was ripe for it. I got tired looking up your references to the Bible and took the book as written. Not having the necessary money to buy the other five volumes at that time, I did the next best thing. I went right into the Bible as never before. I would to God I had not wasted all these years, but had done so at first.

Patiently bear with me, as I am full of this good news. I live in the country on an R.F.D. route. Some one threw a little pink tract in the box. God’s blessings on him! I read every word; then it was up to me to find out who put it there. I made careful inquiry and found a fellow by the name of Mr. Nunally, living about four miles away, who had a reputation as being a saint; just the fellow I was looking for. I drove over and got what I wanted. I am now near the end of Vol. 6, which has stirred me up to write to you. I must have the monthly paper as soon as I can get it. It is a severe trial for me to ask you to give me credit for the same until I can pay for it and also for “The Tower.”

WM. BENNETT,—Va.

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— September 15, 1909 —