Witnesses Out of the Bottomless Pit (1933)

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THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

JUDGE RUTHERFORD Under the Searchlight

AN EXPOSURE

By GEORGE S. LLOYD

Sometime Chaplain to Metropolitan Prisons, Melbourne Victoria WITNESSES OUT OF THE

BOTTOMLESS PIT

THE GREAT ANTI-RELIGION ANTI-CHRISTIAN, ANTI-CHURCH, ANTI-CLERGY, ANTI-BRITISH, Etc.

RUSSELL AND RUTHERFORD JEHOVAH WITNESSES INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS

THE SELF PROCLAIMED WITNESSES OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT (See Page 16)

AN EXPOSURE

By GEORGE S. LLOYD Sometime Chaplain to Metropolitan Prisons Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Copyright FOREWORD

Rev. Robert Dey, D.D., Editor "Australian Christian World," Sydney.

Most people in Australia have become used to hawkers of books of the type of "The Millenial Dawn" and other publications of "Russellism" or "Rutherfordism," and many suburban housewives can tell stories of their persistent dogmatism. But it is not easy to gain either from the books or from the salesmen any clear notion of the tenets of this curious faith. Mr. Lloyd has therefore done a useful piece of work in describing the theological and financial vagaries manifested by Pastor Russell and his disciple (or should we say, heir?) "Judge Rutherford." Mr. Lloyd has had patience to read these most unattractive and incoherent productions, and has gathered a mass of surprising information—information that will be very useful to any who are called on to deal with the agents of this strange American "religion." He shows that "Russellism"—or "Rutherfordism" as he prefers to call it—has no theology, no religion and no programme that could appeal to any normal human being. I have much pleasure in commending this booklet to all who are in need of information.

—ROBERT DEY, D.D.

INTRODUCTION

Rev. J. E. Warren

Secretary Victoria and Tasmania Methodist Conference

The Rev. Geo. S. Lloyd is a minister of the Methodist Church of Victoria and Tasmania. For ten years he filled with encouraging results the office of gaol chaplain (Metropolitan Prisons, Melbourne). The following investigation of what Mr. Lloyd calls "Rutherfordism" which, in principle, is the same as Millenial Dawnism, deserves wide publicity. Christian people are in danger; they purchase and read these amazing publications before they realise what they are. Of all the weird religious sects from what the late Dr. Agar Beet called that "fertile hotbed of ecclesiastical curiosities," America, there is none, in our judgment, more open to criticism than "Rutherfordism." It is time that Christian people knew what it professed to be. If "Rutherfordism" is the truth, then many of the things sacred to Christians, such as those mentioned in Mr. Lloyd's booklet, must lose their value forever. The spirit in which curious doctrines and unconvincing interpretations of Scripture are advocated by this sect is altogether discordant with that of New Testament Christianity. We have not so learnt Christ. Judge Rutherford, with his use of the term Jehovah to designate the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is returning to the less developed religious consciousness of the Old Testament; and the Christian believer knows, or ought to know, that that way is not the way of salvation. "There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death."

PREFACE

The city of Melbourne, during last Easter (1933), was subjected to an unusual religious campaign by a skilfully organised army of "Jehovah Witnesses or Rutherfordites." The attack was termed a "Vindication Drive," in which two hundred "witnesses" took part, and 16,000 copies of their books and literature were disposed of. Easter Sunday was a day of special offensive upon the Church people in thirteen suburbs.

The campaigners were under a "Group Captain," and classified as "Pioneers," "Auxiliaries" and "Sharp Shooters." Their methods were those of "high pressure salesmen." Their methods were also both questionable and misleading. They represented themselves not as agents for Russell and Rutherford, but as "Bible Students" or "Bible Society Members," and so by subterfuge gained the interest of the Church people, and foisted on them their strange doctrines.

These canvassers are not only active in our cities, but carry on their pernicious and persistent anti-Christian propaganda in the more remote parts of the Commonwealth. Full use is also made of the radio. In fact it is all a part of a world-wide attack upon organised Christianity.

It is due our Christian people that they be well informed re this specious and dangerous new religion—a religion spoken of by an eminent minister as "a rank heresy, a counterfeit Christianity parading in the livery of heaven, while propagating the lies of hell."

This contribution does not aim at an expository or theological criticism of the movement, but attacks it from another angle, the objective being in a plain and direct fashion to expose and lay bare "Rutherfordism," and its "aliases" as the arch-enemy of Christianity.

WITNESSES OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

RUTHERFORDISM—AN ALIAS RELIGION

Its designations are manifold—Millenial Dawnism, Russellism, Adventism. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (Am.), International Bible Students' Association (London), the Metropolitan Pulpit, the Remnant, Jehovah Witness, "Rutherfordism."

Its many aliases make it suspect. When official chaplain to one of the largest prisons in Australia, I was in close personal touch with men of many aliases, and almost without a single exception they were imposters; and this religion with its many aliases can be written down as the biggest religious imposition of modern times.

In this pamphlet I prefer to use the designation "Rutherfordism." "The Jehovah Witnesses" object to be called "Russellites." As Judge Rutherford is now their "prophet" and "apostle," the term should not be offensive. It is certainly more up-to-date, moreover Judge Rutherford's name is known the world over because of the intensive propaganda by his followers.

RUTHERFORDISM—THE GREAT ANTI-RELIGION

It is anti-Christ, anti-Church, anti-Clergy, antiSabbath, anti-British, anti-Prohibition, anti-League of Nations, anti-everything that organised Christianity stands for.

The "New York Times" referring to the "Jehovah Witness" Convention, Ohio, 1928, wrote of "Judge Rutherford as the most uncompromising foe of organised Christianity."

THIS ANTI-RELIGION, WHENCE CAME IT?

It owes its origin to Charles Taze Russell, a self-appointed pastor. His strange doctrines were set forth in "Millenial Dawn," a publication whose pernicious teachings came under such destructive criticism that it was re-issued under the more specious title: "Studies in the Scripture." Russell claimed to be a true successor of Tyndale, and to give the people a new Bible which really out-values the authorised version of the Scriptures. Rutherford re-affirms this audacious claim. In "Creation," p. 170, he writes: "William Tyndale was used to bring the Bible to the attention of the people, so the Lord used Charles T. Russell to bring to the attention of the people an understanding of the Bible." The comparison is presumptuous.

Tyndale was a distinguished Hebrew and Greek scholar. His translation of the Scriptures into the English language was one of the greatest gifts to the English speaking people.

Russell was without education and confessed when on trial before the "Grand Jury" that he could neither read nor translate a single verse of the Greek New Testament.

Of this self-appointed pastor, Russell, we learn that he was in the shirt business, Alleghany (Am.), having inherited the same from his father. He lectured on religious subjects and became known as the "Crank Preacher," declaring himself a prophet of the Elijah order. He claimed to be a first favourite with "Jehovah" and to possess the key with which to unlock the mysteries of the Old Testament, the Book of Revelation, and the hidden things of the "Pyramid," the Great Stone Bible.

His personal character neither confirmed nor supported his professed high calling as the Elect of the Jehovah.

In 1879, he married Miss Ackley, said to be a godly woman. In 1908 she divorced him, and the Court ordered him to make her an allowance of £20 per month. His wife obtained her decree on the grounds of his ill-treatment of her, and his improper relations with other women.

The Rev. J. Ross, of Hamilton, Ontario, attacked both Russell and his false teaching. The pastor brought an action against him, claiming 100,000 dollars damages. He lost the case and had to pay the costs. Before the Grand Jury he cut a sorry figure and was proved to be a deliberate liar.

His "Miracle Wheat" stunt was a crafty fraud; his 60-dollar wheat giving no better results per bushel than the two-dollar wheat.

He was a clever financier. He sold out his Chain Shirt Selling Shops and went into the Religious Book Business, and by big boosting made a mint of money. "He was a reputed millionaire but so cleverly did he manipulate finance that not one cent could be found in his name. His business methods were full of suspicion. He held 47,000 out of the 50,000 shares in the company through which the moneys of Russellism were invested." The Rev. Park, of Belfast, remarks: "His business career was as shady as his domestic record."

ENTER JUDGE RUTHERFORD

With the death of Russell in 1916, the "Elijah" day closed and (Elisha) Rutherford appears on the scene. He was Russell's preferential nominee to the Editorship of the "Zions Watch Tower Publications." Of himself he writes ("Light"'*): "It was clearly seen that Elisha (himself) was anointed in the stead of Elijah (Russell) to finish the work of witnessing in the name of Jehovah." He has exploited his predecessor's writings to the fullest extent, adroitly camouflaging their inaccuracies and adding new revelations of his own. He claims to have a better understanding of the Divine Mind, plan and purpose, than any other man since the days of the Great Apostle, St. Paul.

J. F. Rutherford is a lawyer apparently qualified to designate himself "Judge." It should, however, be remembered that Judgeship in America does not carry the same worth and importance as in England or Australia.

Regarding his character, we certainly think his moral values are questionable. His funeral oration on the death of Pastor Russell was a grandiloquent outburst in which he set forth the pastor as little less than an arch-angel.

He declared him "the greatest man that has lived since the apostle Paul. That his character was without blemish. That he was the cleanest and purest and best of men."

To pronounce this man, Russell, who was unfaithful to his wife, a proved liar, a fraud in wheat dealing, of shady business transactions, "as the purest, cleanest and best of men," is either sheer hypocrisy or the inane vapourings of a mind that is morally befogged. Further, we challenge Rutherford's sex ideals. Because Mrs. Russell, forced by her husband's behaviour, had to seek escape through the divorce court, Rutherford was cowardly and mean minded enough to compare her to the wicked Jezebel, and to speak of other women who withdrew from Russellism in the most offensive terms. This, with the nauseating repetition of coarse sex phrases, may be regarded as an unconscious self-revelation, a making bare of a mind lacking in high ideals of womanhood. They are certainly neither the thoughts nor expressions of a Christian gentleman.

THE ANTI-RELIGION—ITS OBJECTIVE

I have no hesitation in saying that its primary objective is a deliberate, vindictive attack upon organised Christianity, the Churches, the clergy and religious activities; an attack that is insolent, lying and blasphemous.

BOOK PROFITS ESTIMATED AT £90,000 FOR YEAR,1922

Further, we strongly suspect that the "almighty dollar" has a big place in the intensive world-wide campaign. In ten years 130 millions of Rutherford's publications were distributed. In 1922 more than 22 millions; these on the basis of a profit of one penny per copy represent a total profit of £90,000 for this one year. Despite Rutherford's "Smoke Screen" statement that the "Copyright" of the books is not his, but the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society's, it would be interesting to know how much of this huge profit finds its way indirectly into his banking account.

The Witnesses make no claim to establish Churches or religious societies ("Creation"): "Their purpose is to enlighten men concerning the Divine Plan." "The publication of books and magazines dealing with the Divine Plan is a means of giving witness." ("Government"): "They print and publish books, and go from house to house, and place their books in the hands of the people at a minimum cost." ("Creation"*): "It has never been their purpose to induce anyone to join them; in fact they have no membership roll."

The important qualification is that they should be expert booksellers. Instead of being named "Bible Students" or "Jehovah Witnesses," they can be more properly called "Rutherford's Book Pedlars."

Some of the Witnesses no doubt are sincere, and earnest people who are unconscious of the fact that they are being used as tools.

There is a subtly planned scheme to wreck the Christian Church, and no adequate substitute is offered in its place.

RUTHERFORDISM ANTI-CHRIST Christ Dishonoured and Degraded

It should be noted that among the many designations of this new Cult, the name "Christians" is discarded and "Jehovah Witnesses" substituted. There is a very marked attempt to relegate the name "Jesus" to quite an inferior position. The New Testament "God, the Heavenly Father," as revealed by His Son Jesus Christ, has scant recognition, but the ideas of a God harsh and fierce, to be feared rather than adored and loved, are presented.

From ("Life") we read: "For long centuries the name Jehovah God has been defamed and profaned among the people." ("Reconciliation"): "It is notable that in the Church systems, the name 'Jesus' has been made more prominent than 'Jehovah God.'" "The whole system and purpose of the master mind (Satan) behind organised Christianity is to minimise the name Jehovah." "Satan has used some of his agents; the clergy to exalt the name of Jesus above that of Jehovah." Rutherford professes to redeem the position and asserts that: "Both His (Jehovah's) name and word, are now being exalted by His own organisation." (The Jehovah Witnesses or Rutherfordites.) A gross misrepresentation of Scripture and Church history, as proved by a reference to "The Apostle's Creed" and the "Gloria," and completely refuted by Jesus Christ Himself, and by the Apostles of the early Church.

"That all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him."—John 5:23.

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name."

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth."

"And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

—Phil. 2:9,10,11.

THE PERSONALITY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR DISHONOURED AND DISCREDITED

We are asked to believe that in the beginning God had two Sons, one named Lucifer and the other Logos, afterwards Jesus. ("Prophecy"*) : "Jehovah delegated to his son Lucifer the authority to be the overseer of man. Lucifer became disloyal and rebelled against God, and since that time has been known as Satan the Devil."

("Deliverance,"* Preface): "The names of the three great beings herein made conspicuous are: Jehovah the Father, and Logos and Lucifer his sons."

("Reparation"): "Jesus Christ was one of the two morning stars that sang together at the dawn of Creation. Lucifer was the other." ("Light"): "The Holy Scriptures show that the term "morning stars" refer to the two mighty beings in heaven, Michael the Logos, and Lucifer who proved to be disloyal. The Logos remained faithful and true."

The Holy Scriptures do not show that Jesus was Michael, or one of the morning stars, or that Lucifer, afterwards Satan, was co-equal with Him. It is rank heresy to even suggest it. Jesus was not a created being. The Scripture declares Him to be co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father. (John 1:1): "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God" (not Michael the arch-angel).

Jesus Himself said: "I and the Father (not Michael) are One." "He that hath seen Me, hath seen the Father" (not an archangel).

St. Paul bears His testimony (Rom. 9:5) : "Christ came Who is over all, God, blessed forever." Phil.2: 6,9,10,11: "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." "Wherefore God has also highly exalted Him, and given Him a name above every name." "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

We indignantly repudiate Rutherford's discrediting of the Son of God, the Incarnate Saviour, and reverently take our place with Thomas the Disciple and say: "My Lord and my God."

THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

We read in ("Book Government"*) : "If Adam and his off-spring are to profit by the death of the perfect man Jesus, then Jesus as a man must remain dead forever." "He did not appear in the body that was crucified, somewhere Jehovah miraculously preserved that body."

("Reconciliation"*) : "The man Jesus must remain dead forever, if he is to be a substitute for Adam." "The body of Jesus, God did not permit to corrupt, but otherwise disposed of it."

("Millenial Dawn"*): "Our Lord's human body was, however, supernaturally removed from the tomb, whether it was dissolved into gas, or whether it is preserved by God, as the Grand Memorial of God's love of Christ's obedience, and of our redemption, we know not."

The empty tomb is Russell's and Rutherford's problem. They do not know what to do with the Sacred Body of our Lord. Rather than accept the simple New Testament facts, that the Christ Who rose again, was the Christ Who was crucified, dead and buried, they invent theories that are both false and revolting, viz.: "That the body was miraculously preserved"; that it did not see corruption, but was otherwise disposed of"; that it is preserved as a Grand Memorial," to be brought forth on some great occasion predicted by Rutherford, a sort of holy relic, a sacred memorial, or glorified mummy.

Rev. D. M. Panton, M.A., writes: "The so-called Jesus Christ presented by 'Millenial Dawn' is, I believe, as remarkable a caricature of our Lord as was ever produced. Simply stated it is this, Jesus was first created an archangel, then a man, then a god; and between these stages yawns an annihilating gulf, so that the archangel ceases to be when the man appeared, and both archangel and man disappeared when He became a god."

RUTHERFORDISM DENIES THE DIVINE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND RIDICULES THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY

The Holy Spirit is set forth as simply "the power," or "wisdom," or "influence" of God. The personality and divinity of the Holy Spirit are denied. ("Reconciliation"*) : "The Holy Spirit (mistranslated Holy Ghost) is not a person or being, and no Scripture authorises such a conclusion."

Rutherfordism flatly contradicts the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in St. John's Gospel (C.14, v.16) : "I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever." (John 15:26) : "But when the Comforter is come whom I will send from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me."

The word translated "Comforter" may be more correctly rendered "Paraclete," or "Advocate"—the meaning being "a person called to the side of another," or "one called in to give whatever help may be required." Personality is most emphatically implied.

St. Paul also bears his testimony. (Rom. 8:16) : "The Spirit itself (R.V. Himself) beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." This implies that the Spirit of God and the spirit of man are of the same nature; if we possess personality, so must the Holy Spirit.

Thus again we expose Rutherfordism as falsifying and mis-representing the teaching of Christ and the apostles.

RUTHERFORDISM ANTI-CHURCH

An irrational attack is made upon organised Christianity in the spirit and with coarse vulgar speech of the Church hating and anti-god communist. We quote the following extracts:

("Light"*): "Organised Christianity is the devil's substitute for God." "Christendom has the mark of the beast and is smitten with grievous sores. It has the botch of Egypt" and feels "very itchy." "Eve sold herself to the devil and became a harlot. Christendom sold itself to the devil, therefore the words, Thou hast a whore's head." "Christianity bears the old woman's name. The old wench has spread herself out over the world."

("Prophecy"*) : "The Church is modern Assyria, and is full of lies and robbery." "The Church, both Catholic and Protestant, are prison houses, the chief keeper or warder is Satan."

("Government"*) : "Their (the clergys') organisation has become the habitation of every evil spirit, the cage of every unclean bird."

("Deliverance"*): "The ecclesiastical wing of Satan's visible organisation has a world membership made up as follows: Roman Catholics, 273,000,000; Orthodox Catholics, 121,801,000; Protestants, 179, 900,000."

Dozens of such slanderous and vilifying extracts might be cited, but enough have been quoted to expose Rutherfordism as viciously anti-Church and to make bare its hate and falsity. Organised Christianity, to-day, needs no apology. It is the greatest moral factor in social and national life, demanding the highest character in citizenship, the holiest in the home, and the purest in the individual. To-day, God is in a singular manner honouring Christianity with the Power of the Holy Spirit, and men's lives are being changed the world over. To designate it of the devil is lying and blasphemous misrepresentation.

RUTHERFORDISM—ANTI-CLERGY

Rutherford sets out (to use some of his own terms) to give the clergy a "drubbing," a "trimming," and as one of the "locusts of the bottomless pit," "a hot, stinging, 'itching' time of it." His language is vicious and bitter, with a flavour of brimstone and fire about it. We quote from some of his books:

("Light"*) : "The billy goat clergy and the principal ones of their flock are the guilty ones. Because they poured out the blood of the saints, thou gavest them blood to eat and they deserved it." "They are hypocritical agents of Satan. Big windjammers called preachers." "Serpents and vipers." "The devilish religious practitioners, voodoo medicine men."

("Deliverance"*) : "The clergy are one of the unclean frogs; a frog has a big mouth, assumes wisdom, swells up and makes much noise."

("Creation"*) : "They provide the sanctimonious smoke screen which their father (the devil) employs to blind the people to the truth." "Paid agents of the Devil."

("War and Peace"*): "Both Catholic and Protestant preachers are under the influence of Satan."

These are a few of the many choice terms used by this so-called holy man. We are to believe that the only preacher in the religious world to-day, who is not "a hypocrite," "a liar," "a voodoo medicine man," "tool of Satan," "a windjammer," "a billy goat," "an unclean frog," is Judge Rutherford himself.

("Heaven"*): "There are 150,000 clergy in the U.S. America, not a single one of whom is teaching the people of, and, concerning God's Kingdom."

Comment is superfluous, unless it is to suggest that either Jehovah or Rutherford has made a gigantic mistake.

Rutherford speaks of the clergy hood-winking the people. I venture to think that he himself has been hoodwinked by the devil. Let me say from personal knowledge that the Clergy can take their place with the most honoured of our citizens, both as regards their character and influence. Moreover, as Chaplain for ten years to the metropolitan prisons (Pentridge included), Melbourne, I had no knowledge of a single clergyman being imprisoned, but can say that 90 per cent.

of the inmates of our goals are one with Rutherford in his antagonism to the Churches and bitter opposition to the clergy. The Judge is certainly in undesirable company.

RUTHERFORDITES, THE SELF-PROCLAIMED "WITNESSES OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT"

In the Book of Revelation, Chapter 9, reference is made to the fallen star, the bottomless pit, and the locusts which issue out of the smoke of the pit. These locusts were like war horses going into battle, with human faces, hair like women, teeth like lions, and breastplates like steel. They had tails like scorpions, and stings in their tails. Their mission was not to kill, but to cause awful agony for five months to those who have not the seal of God on their foreheads. They were under a king called Abaddon or Apollyon (the destroyer).

Russell's comments ("Light"*) : "Undoubtedly the Star is Jesus Christ, also, the titles Abaddon and Apollyon (the destroyer) are applied to Him."

Such statements are arrived at by a clever manipulation of Scripture passages, but are nevertheless gross perversion of the truth, and savor of blasphemy.

No amount of word juggling can alter the fact that the "Star" of the first verse is a "fallen star."

Whoever it represents it is "undoubtedly (not) Jesus Christ." The best Biblical scholarship is against Rutherford.

The emblem of the "fallen star" is used by Isaiah when he speaks of Lucifer fallen from heaven. Jesus Christ describes Satan as lightning falling from heaven.

It is claimed that the "Locusts" issuing out of the smoke of the bottomless pit are the Rutherfordites and Jehovah Witnesses. ("Light"*): "The description of the "locusts" show that they form a part of God's army, the fighting organisation. The sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle." "When the remnant (Witnesses) are in action they make a sounding noise that frightens the enemy. By the use of the radio, and the millions of books they make a great noise, so it is thought by whom they frighten. One real Christian (Witness) can put to flight a thousand ecclesiastical frauds."

"The Lord's army is commanded not to kill, therefore the torment must continue. The members of Satan's organisation (organised Christianity) must take their medicine as God decreed. They tried for a time to be dead (indifferent) to the strong truth brought by the army of locusts, and they began to howl because of their torment."

One of the very coarse cartoons pictures the "locusts" at their work. In large numbers issuing from the smoke of the pit they are represented as giving organised Christianity, especially the clergy, a "hot stinging 'itchy' time of it."

We are quite prepared to concede the claim of Rutherford, that he and his followers are the "locusts" out of the bottomless pit.

Any intelligent reader of his weird and heretical writings will not dispute his claim.

SCRIPTURE EXEGESIS EXTRAORDINARY

("Government"*) In this book some study is given to Samson and his place in the Kingdom of God. Page 261. The name Samson means "brilliant light," or "sunlight" that which reflects light. The name Samson therefore would foreshadow the light giving class, or consecrated ones. The hair is the covering for the head and grows out of the head. The facts show that the strength of Samson was in his hair. The strength of the Christian comes from and through his Head, Jesus Christ."

"The year, 1897," was a destiny year. "A human skeleton is made up of 206 bones. Zionism was organised into a body at Basel, Switzerland, in 1897, and at that Congress, which perfected the organisation, there were exactly 206 delegates, the same number of bones in the human body. This in fulfilment of Ezekiel's prophecy: "So I prophesied as I was commanded, as I prophesied there was a noise and behold a shaking, and the bones came together bone to his bone."

We have knowledge of a "Bare Bones Parliament," but this is the first time we have heard of a "Dry Bones Congress."

("Deliverance"*)—Referring to the devil's organisation we read: "They all call themselves by the name of Christian, but as the prophet truly says, 'each one eats his own bread and wears his own apparel,' meaning that he follows his own doctrine and clothes himself in his own salvation garments."

Isaiah 4:1: "In that day seven women (symbolic of all ecclesiastism the so-called Christian systems, always pictured by a woman) shall take hold of one man (the name Jesus Christ, saying hypocritally): We will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel only let us be called by Thy Name, to take away our reproach."

The foregoing are a few of many like extracts.

Dr. Ballard rightly designates such Scripture exposition as so much "pious piffle."

RUTHERFORD—ANTI-SABBATH AND ANTI-LAW

The "Jehovah Witnesses" in propaganda drives have no respect for either week day or Sunday trading laws. Their canvassers have been convicted before Australian Courts for violation of Trading Laws, and also in a number of the American States.

On May 7,1918, all the officers of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (Rutherfordites) who were then the publishers of "The Watch Tower," were arrested under warrant, charging them with violation of the espionage law and trading with the enemy. The charges were sustained and they were committed to prison. On March 26,1919,they were released.

Rutherford informs us that on their release the "Hallelujah Chorus" was sung in heaven.

The clergy are charged (though wrongly) as being the instigators of these prosecutions. Hence the antagonism, and bitter invective against them.

RUTHERFORDISM—ANTI-PROHIBITION

It is illuminating to learn what this present-day "Elisha" has to say about the great social reform movement, "Prohibition."

("Light"*), 1924: "It was in this year that the mask was taken off Prohibition, and it was exhibited as a scheme of the Devil." ("Prohibition. Is it of God or the Devil?"): "Prohibition is Christianity's great instrument of hypocrisy." "I have no hesitation in saying that Prohibition is a scheme of the Devil."

"Those who participate in making and enforcing the Prohibition law are guilty of presumptuous sin before God." "I am certain back of the whole scheme of Prohibition is the master mind of Satan."

This really is unexpected information. My knowledge is that back of the movement are the great Christian Churches of America, and that grand body of women, the Women's Christian Temperance Union of America, under the leadership of the saintly Frances Willard.

Rutherford tells us that Prohibition is of the devil, so then we are to believe that God is back of the booze and boot-legging business.

We charge Rutherfordism with being in league with the American "Wets." Some of the coarse cartoons in which the clergy are offensively portrayed as co-operating with the "Rum Runners," "Dope Sellers" and "Bootleggers" are loaned the Watch Tower Publishing Co., by the "North American," one of the wettest of the American papers.

RUTHERFORDISM—ANTI-BRITISH

In relation to the British people there are some surprise passages. Here are a few of many:

("Government"*) : "Daniel gave an outline of the world power to wit, Babylon, including the British Empire."

("Crisis"*) : "America and Britain are the leading nations in the realm of Christendom. There has been more hypocrisy practised and more blood shed unrighteously in these two nations than in any other under the sun." A glaring mis-statement disproved by history.

("Prophecy"*) : "Then came the British Empire as a mighty power. This Empire must of necessity be of Satan's organisation."

("Light"*): "British diplomacy is the last word of deception, America has tried to copy it." . . . "Jehovah will destroy these nations." "The two horned beast with two horns is Anglo-Britain, for a time part of the sea beast, but growing up out of the devil's organ, the two horned beast became a favoured instrument of Satan's." "The London convention, May, 1926, Rutherford the self-appointed 'Angel of the Church' pours out the fifth vial upon the Beast (Rev. 16:10).

"The Beast is Britain, the pouring of the bowl was upon the seat of the Beast, London; the effect was to cause the prominent factors (leaders and clergy) of the beastly organisation to knaw their tongues in pain." "The British Empire is the devil's seat, especially equipped to carry out his designs."

Somehow we have had the conviction that Jehovah has a special design and mission for the British; history seems to point in that direction. To say that a people who among other great benefactions gave to the world the British and Foreign Bible and Tract Society, making possible the distribution of God's Word in 600 different languages, is an "instrument of the devil," is sheer lunacy.

THE BRITISH PREMIER, HON. RAMSAY MACDONALD, AN EXCEEDING GREAT BULLFROG

("Light"'*) 1929, A.D.: "At the New York Banquet, speeches were delivered by the Premier of the British Empire in the presence of the Chief Advocates of the League of Nations. The Premier said: 'Our two flags whenever the work of God is to be done in the world, will be found flying together in the doing of that work. War between the two nations is unthinkable.'"

Rutherford remarks: "The speaker was no doubt sincere, but his words are not true. They are bombastic and sound like an exceeding great bullfrog. God is not using and will not use at any time or place the high officials of Great Britain or America to do his work."

Of course not, not while Judge Rutherford is on the job. The rebuff by the British people during his campaign seems to have deeply hurt the feelings of this sanctimonious egotist.

The reputable British press refused his boosting and braggadocio advertisements and castigated him severely. The British were not to be duped by this American religious charlatan nor his insolent fulminations.

RUTHERFORD ANTI-LEAGUE OF NATIONS

The very name League of Nations seems anathema to this new prophet. Give attention to what he has to say:

("Light"*) : "The League of Nations is the make shift of the devil." "The author and father of the League of Nations is Satan the devil." "The League of Nations part of the devil's organisation." "The image of the Beast is the League of Nations." "The clergy voters for the League of Nations are most reprehensible." "It is an unholy alliance, the scarlet coloured Beast."

To those who know the constitution of the League, its truly Christian objective, its sane influence upon international affairs, and its effective dealings with the dope and white slave traffic, Rutherford's statements are gross misrepresentations.

JUDGE RUTHERFORD JUDGED

Dr. Haldeman (Am.) declares: "This new cult from beginning to end is one of the most terrific perils that ever came forth in the name of Christ. It is the peril of audacious and concealed poison. It is the counterfeit of perverted truth and downright falsehood."

Dr. Torrey: "When any man makes such a claim (Russell's), it is unnecessary to read, or listen, to anything more that he has to say. By such statements he proves himself to be beyond question a charlatan and religious impostor."

An American Doctor of Divinity declares: "This new religion as perverted and downright blasphemy!"

Rev. R. Park, B.A. (Belfast) : "It is about the most foolish and flimsy brand of religion ever offered to a gullible public."

Rev. Robertson (Eng.): "It uses time honoured phrases to deceive the unwary, and by a lavish use of pious platitudes seeks to entrap the simple."

A close study will show that the Scriptures are emptied of their real meaning, and subtle, and insidious explanations given which are calculated to undermine faith in the fundamentals of the Gospel.

The Rev. Frank Ballard, M.A., D.D., writes of "the bewildering mixture of twisted quotations, childish interpretations and pitiful misrepresentations. It is groteseque in its childishness, and blasphemous in its implication, utterly false and misleading."

Professor W. G. Moorhead: "The book is essentially anti-scriptural, and a wretched perversion of the Gospel of Christ. Perhaps among the English speaking world, there is not another book which contains so many errors as 'Millenial Dawn.' May God in His infinite mercy preserve His people from being poisoned by it."

Rev. W. B. Riley, D.D., Minneapolis, speaks of "Satan deceiving men into the belief of falsehood and its propaganda by Rutherfordism."

The irksome task of poring through these publications with their tedious repetitions, inaccuracies and contradictions, abuse and blasphemies is finished. My aim has been to expose "Rutherfordism" as the arch-enemy of organised Christianity. This I claim in some measure to have done.

May our Church people find herein a weapon of defence against the "Witnesses out of the Bottomless Pit."

SOME LAST WORDS

From 1 Tim. 4: 1.

"The Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, doctrines of the dead." "Speaking lies in hypocrisy."

From 2 Peter 2:1-3 (Weymouth translation):

"But there were false prophets among the people as there will be teachers of falsehood among you also, who will cunningly introduce false doctrine, disowning even the Sovereign Lord Who has redeemed them Thristing for your riches they trade upon you with their canting talk."

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