letter came telling us he was dying. It urged us to come home if we wanted to see him. But among the letters was also one he had dictated: ‘Stay where you are! Use the time aiding others and preaching Jehovah’s name and kingdom. Continue faithful to the end, and look for me in the resurrection.’ Two weeks later a cable: ‘Dad is gone.’ How easy it would have been to go home. The most difficult thing was to stay. It was during those days that folks whom we had aided previously came to us, read to us words of comfort from the Bible—consoling counsel that they themselves had but recently learned. You cannot help loving them. It was the reward for staying.

Those are some joys we have lived. We know there are yet many even more wonderful events ahead. Why not be forward-thinking? Why not come down and enjoy them with us?

Would you like to ask, ‘Would I do it all again?’ Pursuing my purpose in life, I certainly would! Why not? What have I lost? Nothing! What better could I have done?

To give all you have for Jehovah pays the greatest of dividends. With all its tears, heartaches, headaches, difficulties, mounting joys, privileges—it is living; yes, living through this time of the end. It is not easy; but is life easy today?

Go to Gilead; do not be afraid you will fail, and go back. Keep the right spirit always, sticking close to Jehovah and his organization, and GIVE! You will find so very true what Solomon wrote: “Cast your bread upon the surface of the water, for after many days you will find it.”—Eccl. 11:1, AT.

General Hershey Agrees

● In The Watchtower, November 1, 1955, appeared a statement made to the 400 delegates of the World Presbyterian Alliance by the chief administrative officer of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. This statement stressed the fact that worldly governments cannot be allowed to determine the internal government and conditions of a church body, which position was shown to be also that of Jehovah’s witnesses. That General Lewis B. Hershey, director of selective service in the United States, is in agreement with that view is apparent from his remarks as published in the Spokane Daily Chronicle, October 11, 1956. Among other things General Hershey stated: “It is the right of the church to pick spiritual leaders in its own way. It is not our right to say a man is no minister unless he has been to college, nor can we deny him that title if he is forced to support himself by doing other work in the same manner as the disciples.” He also observed that there could be no religious freedom if any agency of government attempts to dictate to churches who shall be their spiritual leaders, how they are trained or what their duties must be.

“Life” Salesman Gets Sold on Real Life

● A magazine salesman called on a certain young couple who had just recently taken their stand as Jehovah’s witnesses. They made good use of the opportunity to tell him of their newly found religion. It seems he had never heard of Jehovah’s witnesses and was amazed to learn that they went from house to house giving Bible sermons and placing literature without profit. He asked if he could hear a sermon. After hearing it he had many questions and asked for someone to call on him and his family. So the salesman of Life magazine, the couple writes, was sold on everlasting life!—1957 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses.