Okay, here it is:
___________________________
Praise and Testimony Meeting
Sister Margaret Russell Land (Brother Russell's sister) arose and
said:
Dear Brethren: I rejoice to be here; undoubtedly the Master, the
Chief Reaper, is in our midst. How our hearts rejoice as we
realize it is His spirit which illuminates each countenance and
teaches us how to love one another! How true His words, "My
sheep know My voice, and another they will not follow."
Since coming here many have inquired, "How long since you
came to a knowledge of the Truth"? Upon my reply that it is
"about thirty-three years," much interest has been expressed, with
desire to learn something of the infancy and growth of what we
term "present truth." After hearing, these have expressed great
desire that still others should hear the same as a stimulus to their
faith; so I trust that my testimony may be used of the Master to
the blessing of some of His little ones.
Taking retrospective view, we see that more than 1,900 years ago the seed of Truth was planted. My mind pictures the seed-germ encased in the hard cover, representing the dark ages, which apparently hindered its growth, until "the due time," about the 16th century, when it sprouted. Laborers such as Zwingli, Malanthon, Luther, Calvin, Knox and Wesley were hired during various periods of its development to water this precious tree of promise. "In due time," we believe about 1874, the husbandman transplanted it into the open, that it might the better grow, blossom and bear fruit. At this stage He hired other laborers, having had several, we believe, in preparation; but He must needs have one who, despite "the burden and heat of the day," would
prove faithful to His trust, even to the very end.
A few years prior to this period He anointed the eyes of a lad of
17 years that he might behold the errors and dishonoring doctrines
being promulgated among God's true people. I rejoice to believe
that later God's smile of favor rested upon him, my dearly beloved
brother, according to the flesh, and that he was accepted as a
laborer, not from necessity on God's part, but because this vessel
lay in his pathway, empty and ready for service. This youth as a
member of the Congregational church constantly inquired for
explanations of various obscure passages of Scripture. His Bible
class teacher, fearing that these unanswerable questions might
make infidels of the other young men in the class, advised that the
questions be referred to the pastor of the church, who after
studying as to how he could harmonize the seemingly
contradictory statements with which he was confronted and thus
to prove the Bible to be God's Word by showing its harmony said,
"Charles, I can help you very easily." And taking a book from his
library said, "Read this carefully; it will satisfy your mind
thoroughly on these points." He, very much pleased, took it home
and began to read, but after reading one page he closed the
volume and returned to the minister with the remark, "I shall need
to see the book which precedes this one." "Why, what do you
mean?" asked the minister. "I mean that this book starts out by
assuming to be true the very things I desire to have proven to be
true. I want the book which proves the Bible to be God's word and
shows harmony in these Scriptures." The minister said, "I would
advise you to stop investigating these things, for they were never
intended to be understood." But he was met with the query, "Why
then, did God place them here? If this is God's word, I believe He
designed that it should be understood." Finally it was decided best
to call a meeting of the Church session. Here was more perplexity
for the youth; he wondering why it should be necessary to call in
consultation any outsiders; but he consented, and the Session was
called in a special meeting for the purpose of discussing these
perplexing questions and endeavoring to reconcile and prove
reasonable some of the church doctrines. The men constituting
this "Session" ranked high in professional and literary circles, one
being a Professor in the Allegheny Theological Seminary. Charlesഊmet with them. At the close of the meeting the list of questions
were returned to him with the admission that no satisfactory
solution to these could be found. Later at a church meeting he
requested a letter of dismissal, stating his reasons for withdrawing
from church fellowship. About this time he had a very strange
dream, and although he was not at all superstitious, not a believer
in signs, dreams, etc., being extremely practical, yet this dream
strangely impressed him. In his dream he seemed confined in an
underground passage and stifled as with gases. Upon seeking an
exit, he started toward a tiny yet the only visible light. He,
however, found his progress impeded by prostrate bodies,
seemingly dead, but upon examination he discovered they were
merely stupefied with these same gases. He awoke, and feeling
much impressed by this dream sought its significance, until
finally this thought dawned upon him: Could it be that these were
all stupefied by the same gases (doctrinal errors) from which he
was awaking? Could it possibly be that God was awakening him
first, and that his life's work was to awaken and help release
others? He determined to seek further knowledge, remembering
the Lord's words, "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be
opened unto you." From that time onward so devoted was he to
the Lord's service that he spent all of his leisure time in mission
work and conducting Bible studies, etc. About 1874 the true mode
of Baptism and its import was discerned by him, and he and
father, together with a number of others, including myself,
symbolized our baptism into Christ by water immersion.
Later, about 1877, after attending a series of services held by my
brother, a prominent Pittsburg physician remarked concerning
him, "I should not be much surprised if he should prove to be the
youthful David who will yet slay with his pebble of Truth the
great ecclesiastical Goliath." I feel I can truthfully say ever since
those years he has been to me an example of self-sacrifice in
every sense of that word and an inspiration, reiterating by his
example the Apostle's words, "This one thing I do."
Sincerely and persistently he has pressed on to accomplish what
he evidently felt to be his God-given mission. For thirty-three
years I have watched his toilings up the hill of difficulty, for those
were not days when warm, glad hearts welcomed him, nor words
of "God-speed" heard to encourage him, as now; but days of
scorn, for the Truth's sake, in which it looked foolish indeed to
stem the tide of popular thought upon these subjects almost alone,
turning the back upon all that seemed tangible, for that which at
that time seemed so visionary. True, others came, and for a while rejoiced and assisted, but many becoming weary and relaxed their efforts. Though such discouragements came with "the burden and heat of the day," yet special grace and assistance also came, and the Master whispered, "Be not weary in well doing; in due time thou shalt reap if thou faint not." (1 Pet.ഊ2:12,19; also Heb. 6:10.) Thus sustained and strengthened he continues until, behold! the tree blossoms, and its fragrance is wafted to the ends of earth, and others come "from every nation, kindred, and tongue" to co-labor in promoting the growth of Truth, which is so precious to us now!
"Paul may plant and Appolos water, but God giveth the increase."
The Kingdom, the work, the laborers are all His, and to Him we
delight to give the glory. We come to this convention 2,500
strong, testifying to the saving power of Him who over 1,900
years ago left us a legacy of love, with the assurance that if we
suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him. As the reigning
time draws very near, dear ones, let us "watch, fight and pray,"
taking heed that no man take our crown. Thus "we shall come off
more than conquerors through Him who loved and gave Himself
for us."
1907 Convention Reports
