Millennial Dawn

MILLENNIAL DAWN: The title of a series of religious books written by Charles Taze Russell of Allegheny, Penn., where he was born Feb. 18, 1852. He was privately educated and in early life was a Congregationalist. Study of the Bible, of the various religions of the world, and independent thinking led him to publish two works in 1881, Food for Thinking Christians-Why Eva was Permilted, and Tabernacle Shadows of Better Sacrifices; five years later appeared the first volume of Millennial Dawn, which is described as follows:

Vol. i., no Divine Plan of the Ages (1885), gives an outline of the divine plan as revealed in the Bible relating to man's redemption and restitution. Vol. ii., The Time is at Hand (1889), considers the Bible testimony concerning the manner and time of the Lord's second coming. Vol. iii.. Thy Kingdom Corns (1891), considers prophecies which mark events connected with the "time of the end," the glorification of the Church, and the establishment of the millennial kingdom; it contains a chapter on the Great Pyramid, showing its corroboration of the dates and other teachings of the Bible. The year 1914 is indicated as the end of the rule of the last world-empire pictured in Daniel's prophecies, to be followed by the taking of world-power by Christ and his Church and the millennial reign. Vol. iv., The Day q/ Vengeance (1897), shown that the dissolution of the present order of things is in progress, and that all the panaceas offered are valueless to avert the predicted end. It marks in these events the fulfilment of prophecy, noting especially the Lords prophecy of Matt. zxiv. and Zech. xiv. 1-9. Vol. v_ The At-one-meet between God and Man (1899), treats the "hub" of the plan of recovery from sonditions of sin and death, dealing with the supremacy of God, the person of Christ, his offices and attributes, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the benefits from the scrifice of the Redeemer. Vol. vi., The New Creation (1904), deals with the creative week, Gen. i.-ii., and with the Church, God's " New Creation. It examines the personnel, orgsmsation, rites, ceremonies, obligations, and hopes appertaining to those called and accepted as members under the Head of the body.

It is estimated that about 60,000 persons (twothirds of whom are in the United States and Canada) take an active interest in the study of Millennial Dawn. They are organized as bands of Bible students and disclaim any distinctive name. Each band elects an elder or elders, making selection "by the stretching out of the hand," a Scriptural method misunderstood, it is claimed, to have been "laying on of hands." Pastor Russell, as he prefers to be called, superintends the promulgation of their literature, which includes a semi-monthly journal, Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, and numerous tracts, of which about 190; 000,000 pages have been distributed. Interested friends of the movement constitute 11 volunteer workers and distribute the pamphlets from house to house, and colporteurs give their time entirely to the circulation of Millennial Dawn. The sale has reached the number of 2,884,500 copies, and the volumes have been translated into German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, French, Italian, Spanish, and modern Greek. The literature is all published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Allegheny, Penn. Distributing centers have been established in London for Great Britain, Elberfeld for Germany, Stockholm for Sweden, Christiania for Norway, Copenhagen for Denmark, Yverdon for Switzerland, and Melbourne for Australia.

A. E. WILLIAMSON