Golden Age, April 11, 1934

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(The Golden Age

A JOURNAL OF FACT HOPE AND COURAGE

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in this issue

WORLD CONTROL

Complete text of lecture by Judge Rutherford at Los Angeles March 25, 1934, broadcast over coast-to-coast network.

JUDGE RUTHERFORD’S STATEMENT TO CONGRESS

MORE OF INTEREST AT HEARING ON RADIO BILL

NEWS NOTES

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every other WEDNESDAY

five cents a copy one dollar a year Canada & Foreign 1.25

Vol. XV ■ No. 380 April 11, 1934

CONTENTS

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LABOR AND ECONOMICS

SCIENCE AND INVENTION

Overgrown Box of Capitalism . . 436

Tax-Exempt Securities .... 438

Huey Long on Common Sense . . 438

SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL

If You Ask Me.......435

Interesting Use of Nines .... 435 Relief in New York

Increased Tenfold.....435

What the Press Sees Fit to Print . 438

Glad to Be Doing Useful Work . 444

FINANCE—COMMERCE—TRANSPORTATION

Making a Little Money .... 436

New Orleans’ New Airport . . 436

Largest Shipment of Gold . . . 436

Pan-American Highway

Nearing Completion .... 436

More Stars in Henry’s Crown . . 439

Ability to Shoot Well

POLITICAL—DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN

Judge Rutherford’s Statement to Congress

Other Items of Interest at

Hearings on McFadden Bii.l . 429

Loss of Confidence

Not Even Original

“Catholic Association Urges World Parliament” .... 443

Origin of the League Idea . . . 444

The Delicate Balance of Life . . 437 Stone Age Smarter than Brain Age 437 The Speed of Sound

Rose Preserved in Cement Block . 437 Cold Weather Raises Bridge . . 437 The Norris Dam

HOME AND HEALTH

The Fountain of Youth .... 442

TRAVEL AND MISCELLANY

Wakulla Spring, Georgia . . . 442 Huge Sea Serpent in

Northern Waters

Business of Killing Cripples . . 444

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY

World Control

A Resurrection in Virginia . . .

Why Reverend Whelpley Erred . 440 Presbyterian Missions .... 440 The Truth Makes Free .... 441 New Ways to Get Money . . . 441

Smothering of Presbyterianism . 441

In Case Chris Should Slip . . .

Mass Out of Focus at Ten Meters . 443 “For Love of Divine Infant ” . .

How Devil Mistreats His Dupes . 444 Jehovah’s witnesses ‘Standing

for Their Lives’

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afa Golden Age

Volume XV Brooklyn, N. Y., Wednesday, April II, 1934 Number 380

World Control

Chain broadcast from Los Angeles, March 25, 1934, by Judge Rutherford

FOR several years past it has been my privilege to tell the people God’s message of truth as it is set forth in the Bible and to use the radio for that purpose. The truth is not popular, and hence provokes much opposition. Nineteen centuries ago God sent Jesus to earth to deliver His message of truth. Jesus faithfully performed His commission and was crucified for telling the truth. The truth will never be popular until there is a complete change of world control. I beg you to carefully follow my speech now, that you may more fully appreciate why there is such great opposition to the truth and what is the only safe and proper course for the people to take. The people of good will must now hear, because this message is for their special aid and comfort in this day of great world distress. It is not the message of any man, but the message from God’s Word delivered according to His will.

First I give the Scriptural definition of “world”, and then show you who controls the world and why a change of world control must shortly come to pass. ‘World” means the peoples of the earth organized into forms of government under the supervision of an invisible power or overlord. In the Bible the word “heaven” is used to represent the invisible part of that rule, while “earth”, as there used, means the visible power that rules; and it is “heaven” and “earth” together which constitute the world. The people of good will are those who have an honest and sincere desire to see justice and righteousness control everything, and hence that the will of God may be done on earth and in heaven.

The address on WORLD CONTROL, which begins on this page, was given at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, March 25, 1934. It was delivered directly to a cheering audience of 12,000 liberty-loving Americans that unanimously adopted the Resolution.

It was broadcast over the American continent on a special network of 151 stations.

As we go to press, word comes from South Africa and from Australia that the speech was heard distinctly In those far-off lands; thus it may truly be said that this address, of worldwide import, echoed in every corner of the entire world.

March 15, 1934, Judge Rutherford, through his attorney, appeared before the Congress of the United States, with the statement found on pages 425-429 of this Issue. It Is his demand for noninterference In the work of Jehovah's witnesses. It is made In the name of Jehovah, the true and living God. It should be heeded, without question, without hesitation.

God, “whose name alone is Jehovah,” is the Supreme Being and the source of righteousness and life. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the chief executive officer of Jehovah, the Redeemer of man, and the world’s rightful ruler. Satan the Devil is the wicked one, the opposer of God, and man’s greatest enemy. For centuries Satan has been the invisible overlord or controller of the world. There must be a change from Satan’s rule to that by Jesus Christ. That change is impending and will take place within this generation. Now I give you the proof showing how the Devil became the ruler of the world.

Jehovah God created the earth and put perfect man upon it, and made the spirit creature Lucifer the invisible overlord of the earth. Associated with Lucifer were many spirit creatures or angels forming a part of his immediate organization. Lucifer rebelled against Jehovah God, in which rebellion his host of angels joined, and man was led into lawlessness and sentenced to death. Since the entire human race sprang from that one man after he had sinned and was sentenced to death, all mankind have been born imperfect. (Romans 5:12) God changed the name of Lucifer to that of Devil, Satan, Serpent and Dragon, and since

then Satan and his host of wicked angels have controlled the world.

Satan defied Jehovah God to put on earth men that would be faithful and true to God. That challenge God accepted. Although sentenced to death Satan and his wicked angels have been permitted to continue for a definite period of time unhindered in the prosecution of their wicked work, God abiding His own due time to take action against them. As the human race increased on the earth, other angels which had been wholly devoted to God materialized in human form and were induced by Satan and his wicked angels to mingle with humankind and marry the daughters of men, and from that union there came forth an unusual offspring. There followed a period of great wickedness in the earth, and God announced His purpose to destroy the “world that then was” by a flood. That time in the Scriptures is called “Noah’s day”, because Noah was a righteous man and remained true to God.

Jehovah God then told Noah to build an ark in which he would find refuge for himself and the immediate members of his household. Noah did as commanded, and then there came upon the world the deluge or great flood which destroyed all flesh. That destruction of all flesh was a type foreshadowing the destruction of the present wicked world. The saving of a few persons who found refuge in the ark pictured or foreshadowed the millions of people of good will who will be carried through the battle of the great day of God Almighty soon to be fought. A knowledge of the truth of and concerning these things is now of most vital importance to all persons of good will; hence that message is now declared as a notice and warning to all such people.

In the flood God destroyed all flesh, but He did not destroy the Devil and the other wicked spirits, but permitted them to continue to exercise power and influence over humankind until God's due time to take action. Why did not God then destroy the Devil? Jehovah’s answer to that question is found in the Bible, at Exodus 9:16, in these words: “But for this cause have I allowed thee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they [my witnesses] may proclaim my name throughout all the earth.” (Exodus 9:16, Leeser) But the day of final reckoning must come, and in that day Satan and his power will be completely destroyed and there will be a complete change in the rulership of the world.

After the flood the human race multiplied in the earth and then men began to organize themselves into governments, the first organization being under the leadership of Nimrod. In that government and in every government from then till now three elements have constituted the visible ruling power, to wit, religion, politics and commerce. During all that time Satan the Devil has exercised his subtle power over the men of the nations, defrauded and deceived them, and led them away from the true God. But in all the centuries past God has had a few men on earth who have remained true and faithful to Him, and such men He has caused to be His witnesses in the earth.

Then Jehovah organized the people of Israel into a nation for himself and used that nation to foreshadow and foretell His purpose toward the human race. For some time that nation was faithful to God, but in the course of time the rulers and people fell under the wily influence of the Devil, turning away from God, and then that nation was completely destroyed. Israel was a type foreshadowing “Christendom”. The nations of earth now called “Christendom” began to serve Jehovah, but in the course of time those nations fell away from the true worship of God, yielded to the seductive influence of Satan, and became corrupt, and God’s decree is that they shall be completely destroyed at Armageddon, even as Israel was destroyed.

Satan, the wily and subtle foe, in order to deceive man, has caused the people to be kept in ignorance of himself and his work, his agents even denying that Satan exists at all. The question which you must determine now is whether you will believe and accept the word of man or believe and accept the truth of the Bible, which is God's Word. This message is addressed to those who believe that the Bible is the Word of God; and it will be a comfort to them, but not to others. Now the world is in great distress; the rulers in every nation under the sun are in very great perplexity. They sense disaster ahead, but do not know the reason why, nor will they give heed to the Bible truth of and concerning the same. Many religious leaders have told you that the present trouble upon the world is a punishment from God, whereas the Scriptures plainly state that Satan the Devil is the one causing the great distress and woe now upon the people. Therefore it is written: “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Revelation 12:12) Now I tell you why Satan has brought this great woe upon the nations of earth.

At the beginning of Satan’s rebellion Jehovah God promised that He would produce a “Seed” that would in due time rule the world in righteousness, destroy Satan and his organization, and bring blessings of peace, prosperity and life to all the peoples and nations of the earth that would do justice and righteousness. That promised “Seed” or Ruler is Christ Jesus, the beloved Son of God. Concerning Him it is written: “The government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty [Ruler], The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, . . . The zeal of [Jehovah] of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9: 6, 7) Thus Christ Jesus is identified as earth’s rightful ruler, by and through whom the human race must receive the desired blessings.

In A.D. 33 the man Jesus, after having delivered God’s message of truth to Israel, was killed by Satan’s agents. God then raised Jesus out of death and gave Him life divine and made Him the most exalted one in the universe and appointed Him to the office of King or Ruler of the world. Jesus was required to wait, however, until God’s due time for Him to assume His ruler ship. (Psalm 110:1) When on the earth Jesus declared that He must go away and receive the Kingdom and that He would then come again and set up the Kingdom; and for that reason He taught Christians to pray: ‘Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth.’

In answer to the question as to what would be the proof of His coming and His kingdom Jesus stated that the world war would mark the beginning of His operations concerning the world. That world war came in 1914 in fulfilment of the prophecy uttered by Jesus. It was in that year that Jehovah God installed Jesus and commissioned Him to rule the world. (Psalm 2:6-12) Christ Jesus is a spirit now, and cannot be seen by human eyes. As Satan has long been the invisible ruler over the world, hence unseen by men, so now his rule must cease and Christ Jesus becomes the invisible ruler and controller of the world. Jehovah God has for centuries suffered or permitted Satan to be the invisible ruler; but now that time limit is up and the end of Satan’s world has come, and the time for Christ Jesus to take over the affairs of the world, and just before He begins the administration of blessings He will destroy the wicked ruler of this world and all who support that wicked ruler.

Satan knows that it is only a short time until Armageddon, which -will be the final fight by Satan and his angels on one side and Christ Jesus and His angels on the other side, and, knowing this, Satan brings great woe upon the world, his purpose being to turn the people away from the true God and cause their destruction. This is further supported by the words of Jesus, who said that at the end of the world there would be great distress upon earth, with perplexity, and men’s hearts failing them because of things they sense coming upon the world. This is exactly the condition that we see today. The great change from unrighteous to righteous rule or control of the world is impending.

Seeing the great danger of world collapse, earthly rulers organized the League of Nations as a substitute for God’s kingdom, and the religious element of the world hails that League of Nations as “the political expression of God’s kingdom on earth”; which claim is wholly false. Today an organization in America known as “The League of Nations Association, Inc.”, by its president, has issued an appeal to the people to support the League of Nations, and which appeal among other things says: “In a world as dark as this, why blow out the only light there is?” meaning that the League of Nations is the only hope of the world. I warn the people that the League of Nations is the product of Satan, brought forth to deceive the people and blind them to the truth concerning God’s kingdom. The League of Nations is absolutely certain to go down with the other parts of Satan’s organization. God foreknew and foretold this confederacy of nations, and concerning it by His prophet He said: ‘Associate yourselves together, 0 ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces. . . . Bind yourselves together, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought.’—Isaiah 8:9,10.

In giving His answer concerning the evidence proving the end of the world Jesus referred to the League of Nations as that “abomination that maketh desolate”, because it assumes to take the place of God’s kingdom. He said to His followers: ‘When ye shall see the abomination of desolation [which is the League of Nations] stand in the holy place, then flee to God’s kingdom.’ (Matthew 24:15,16) Jesus gives this warning because the League of Nations is Satan’s scheme to blind the people to the truth. All who seek refuge in the League of Nations will come to disaster. God’s kingdom under Christ is the only hope of the human race, and refuge will be found only in God’s organization.

For more than 1800 years the Israelites were God’s typical people, and it is expressly stated in the Bible that what came to pass in connection with that nation foreshadowed what shall come to pass at the end of the world, where we now are. The nation of Israel began to function while domiciled in Egypt, and there the people of Israel pictured or represented the peoples now on earth who are on the side of God and Christ and who desire to see righteousness control and oppression end. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, represented or stood for Satan, the god or invisible ruler of the wicked world. Pharaoh and the officers of his government heaped great oppression upon the Israelites. Jehovah God sent Moses and Aaron to Egypt to be witnesses to His name and power. Moses was a type of Christ Jesus, while Aaron was a type of Jehovah’s witnesses working under the direction of Christ Jesus. God commanded Moses and Aaron to go before Pharaoh and demand that His people Israel be permitted to serve and worship God in the way that Jehovah had appointed for them. Pharaoh refused to grant that request. Then God commanded Moses to bring plagues upon Egypt, that the rulers and the people might be informed and warned that Jehovah is the Almighty God and that His commandments must be obeyed. In all there were ten plagues that befell Egypt. The ninth plague was that of great darkness over all the land of Egypt except that part where God’s chosen people were, and there the Israelites had complete light, which was a special favor from Jehovah.

Now at the end of the world Jehovah has sent Christ Jesus the Greater Moses and has sent forth His witnesses, pictured by Aaron, and commanded that His testimony must be given to the rulers of the world and to the people that Jehovah is the Supreme One and that His people shall be permitted without interference to worship and serve God in the way He has appointed for them. In the year 1919 the religious, political and commercial elements of “Christendom” set up the League of Nations in opposition to God’s kingdom under Christ, and since then all these visible rulers have vigorously opposed Jehovah’s witnesses. At the command of the Lord His witnesses have served notice and warning upon the rulers that the world has ended, and that the kingdom of God is at hand, and have demanded of the rulers that God’s people be permitted without interference to serve and worship Him in the manner Jehovah has appointed for them. The serving of such notice and warning constitutes the fulfilment of the nine plagues of Egypt; which nine prophetic plagues have been fulfilled upon the rulers of the world. As the ninth plague on Egypt was great darkness, just so now the rulers of the world are in great darkness as to God’s purpose, because they refuse to heed God’s truth. This is particularly shown by the fact that the League of Nations is openly claimed to be the only light that now shines on earth. The only exception to this great darkness is that those persons who have taken their stand on the side of God and His kingdom are now enjoying the light of the Word of God and by it are directed in the right course. At the conclusion of the ninth plague upon Egypt Pharaoh said to Moses and Aaron: ‘Be gone and see me no more.’ Even so now after the ninth antitypical plague has been served upon the rulers of the world, they have in effect said to Jehovah’s witnesses: ‘Be gone and let us have no more to do with you.’ Pharaoh defied Jehovah God. The rulers of the world are now doing the same thing. They oppose Jehovah’s witnesses and spurn God’s warning, and they reject God and His kingdom.

After this, and in harmony with the will of God as He has commanded, Jehovah’s witnesses will give no further notice and warning to the rulers of the world, but must now bring to the attention of the people of good will the message of notice and warning concerning Armageddon and God’s kingdom, even as Moses and Aaron gave special instruction to the Israelites just before the tenth plague came upon Egypt.

The firstborn of Egypt under their law constituted a specially favored class; and hence in the prophetic picture the firstborn represented the present visible ruling element of the earth. The tenth and last plague which God sent upon Egypt was this: He sent His angel throughout the land of Egypt and slew every one of the firstborn of the Egyptians, but gave protection to the firstborn of the Israelites because they obeyed His commandment, showing faith in man's Redeemer. The Israelites immediately left Egypt and were pursued by Pharaoh and his official organization, all of which were destroyed in the sea. That foreshadowed or pictured Armageddon, which will mean the complete destruction of Satan’s rule of this world, both visible and invisible.

The Scriptures reveal that God never takes advantage of the ignorance of anyone, but always gives notice and warning before taking action to vindicate His name. Mark this, that He caused Noah to testify to men and angels of His purpose to destroy the world before He brought the flood, which destroyed the world. He caused Moses and Aaron to give full notice and warning to Egypt, and then came the destruction of that world power. He caused Jesus to give fair notice and warning to the rebellious nation of Israel, and then followed the destruction of that nation. Now Jehovah has caused His witnesses to give full and fair notice and warning to the rulers of this world; and when this witness work is completed, there shall quickly follow the complete destruction of the world. The flood, the destruction of Egypt, and the fall of Jerusalem brought great trouble upon the people, but Jesus declares that Armageddon shall bring upon the world the greatest tribulation ever known, and that it will be the last. (Matthew 24:14,21,22) Hence we may know that the impending battle of Armageddon will be the final and complete execution of Jehovah’s judgment against the picked, both invisible and visible.

Armageddon will not be fought between men of the nations of earth. Armageddon is the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty’, in which Christ Jesus and His angels will fight against Satan and his wicked host, and Christ will be completely victorious. Mark now the words of the record in 2 Peter 3, to wit: Tn the last days shall come those who will deny and scoff at the kingdom of God, and for this they willingly are ignorant of the truth, that by the word of God the heavens and earth that were of old, constituting the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto [destruction] against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. . . . Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements [visible ruling powers] shall melt with fervent heat.’—2 Peter 3: 3-7,12.

Those inspired words recorded in the Bible tell what shall shortly come upon the world, making a complete end of Satan’s rule, thus clearing the way for the righteous rule of Christ Jesus. Continuing the apostle says: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13) This marks the complete change of world control, the “new heavens” being the Christ or invisible rule, and the “new earth” meaning those faithful men of old from Abel to John the Baptist, who being resurrected as perfect men shall become the visible rulers in the earth; and that rule shall be one of righteousness.-Psalm 45:16; Isaiah 32:1.

In Revelation 21 the new rule of the world is symbolically called “the holy city” or organization, and is described as coming down from God out of heaven, which holy and righteous rule under Christ shall bring the greatest blessings to the people. Exercising His supreme power by and through Christ Jesus, Jehovah the great God of the universe will then bless all the people who obey His righteous law. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things arc passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new: . . . for these words are true and faithful.”—Revelation 21: 4, 5.

Again I bring to your attention that the so-called “holy year” has failed to bring the promised peace and prosperity, and that failure of itself should convince the people of good will that God did not authorize the year 1933 to be called a holy year, nor will He answer the prayers of men who try to make it a holy year. Upon earth there is now no peace, and poverty continues to stalk hideously through the land. As Jehovah’s witnesses we have no controversy with men. Our only purpose is to be obedient to God’s commandment to tell the message of truth. As He has commanded this message to be delivered, by His grace we will do it, regardless of opposition; and when we have thus done, our responsibility ends and yours begins. I must tell you that all human schemes to recover the world are certain to fail. The world is sick unto death, and it is going to die. There may be a temporary period of prosperity, but it will be very brief. Jehovah’s decree is that there shall be a complete change of world control, and for this reason the old world must perish.

In the terrible disaster that shall soon come upon the present world all who oppose God will die and will find no possible way of escape. (Jeremiah 25:33-36) Money, property and worldly influence will not avail anyone to buy protection or relief in that time of great trouble. Concerning the same it is written in God's Word: “The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” (Isaiah 24: 3, 5) The everlasting covenant here mentioned is God’s covenant concerning the sanctity of life. (Genesis 9:1-11) Every nation on earth has grossly violated and willfully broken that covenant by causing the unnecessary and untimely death of human creatures. Examples of such needless bloodstains upon the record of America are the cruel treatment to which the Indians have been subjected, and the wanton slaughter of animals; and which was done chiefly because of greed for gain. The commercial and political elements of the earth have unjustly oppressed and killed millions of human creatures, and the religious element has connived at and condoned such wrongful deeds. God will balance the books at Armageddon.

I warn the people of a wicked conspiracy formed by Satan, and in which conspiracy there are joined the international bankers, the unfaithful clergy, and the conscienceless politicians, among the purposes of which conspiracy are these: To put America in the League of Nations, control the money and all other property, rule the people by the hand of their one-man dictator, destroy the freedom of speech and press, and stop the true worship of God and Christ.

But be of good courage! The hand of Almighty God at Armageddon will smite all these enemies to the dust!

What, then, is the hope of the nations of the earth? Jehovah God points to Christ Jesus, the new Ruler of the world, and says: ‘Behold my servant, in whom my soul is pleased. He shall show righteous judgment to the nations, and in his name shall the nations hope.’ (Matthew 12:18-21) Having been warned, men are at liberty to join whatsoever organization they may wish; but let the people of good will who desire to see righteousness, peace, prosperity and life everlasting on the earth take their stand wholly on the side of God and His kingdom. There is no place of safety anywhere else. To take your stand on Jehovah’s side you do not need to join any human organization, but in the privacy of your home devote yourself to God and His kingdom under Christ. Be diligent to study the Word of truth and learn the way of righteousness. Avoid all controversies and strifes. If riots and revolutions come, keep away from them. Deal honestly and justly with your fellow man, and worship and obey the Almighty God. There are on earth today millions of people of good will who desire to know and to do what is right, and those who follow the instructions given to them in the Word of God may be hid in the time of the great tribulation, and be carried through it safely, and then live for ever on the earth and never die. Hence it can be truly said, “Millions now living will never die.”

Opposers of God’s truth may soon make it impossible for a time for you to hear the message of God’s kingdom by radio, but Jehovah has provided other means. This speech, and others containing His message electrically transcribed, will be delivered to the people in every part of the land. Look for notice of such coming meetings and then assemble yourselves together and hear the truth and learn the way of righteousness. The change of world control just at hand not only will bring relief to suffering humanity but will bring boundless blessings and endless joy to those who obey God.

All who desire the righteous kingdom of Jehovah under Christ, and who are seeking safety, must take their stand now on the side of Jehovah. I propose that this audience, visible and invisible, adopt the following resolution, to wit:

Resolved, That we do now take our stand on the side of Jehovah God and His kingdom; and that we will obey, serve and worship Jehovah God and His beloved Son, Christ Jesus, who is the rightful Ruler of the world, and we will thus participate in the vindication of Jehovah’s name.

Judge Rutherford’s Statement to Congress

MORE details appear on subsequent pages, but the outstanding event connected with the hearings on the McFadden bill, H.R. 7986, before the House of Representatives Committee on Merchant Marine, Radio, and Fisheries, Washington, D.C., March 15-20, 1934, was the following statement.

Being in California for his health, and confronted with the fact that he was widely advertised to speak over a nation-wide network from the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, March 25, Judge Rutherford was unable to be present, but after his affidavit was read for the record, it was placed in evidence by his attorney. The committee gave this closest attention, and we urge the same upon all our readers:

To the Congress of the United States

The Seventy-third, Second Session Washington, D. C.

STATEMENT

Supporting House Bill H.R. 7986

The undersigned, Joseph F. Rutherford, makes the following statement under oath:

My name is Joseph F. Rutherford, my residence 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York. Temporarily I am at San Diego, California. I am, and since 1917 have been, the president of the following organizations or corporations, to wit: Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Peoples Pulpit Association, International Bible Students Association, all of which are in fact one and the same and engaged in identically the same work, being organized in different places and under different names for convenience.

About the year 1879 a company of Christian people at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, formed themselves into an organization under the name of Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society, and in the year 1884 by process of law became incorporated by that name and title. In 1896, by order of the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, duly entered of record, the name of the corporation was changed to that of Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. In 1909 the Peoples Pulpit Association was created and organized under the Membership Corporation law of the State of New York. The term International Bible Students Association was a generic term applied to all people of a common faith in different countries of the earth who were associated together in a specific Christian work, and in the year 1914 a corporation was formed under the laws of England by that name. The term “Society” is often used to designate these Christian people in united body engaged in their specific work under the direction of the corporation above named. Seeing that Jehovah God’s chief purpose wras and is to take out from the nations a people for His name to be used for His witnesses these Christian people, by the Lord’s favor, have taken the name Jehovah’s witnesses and are generally known throughout the earth by that name.

PURPOSE

The sole purpose of the organizations above mentioned is to serve Jehovah God as He has commanded in His Word, the Bible, which requires all who have devoted themselves to Jehovah God to be obedient to His laws or commandments. The persons of this Association or organization are taught and firmly believe that there is one Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and whose name alone is Jehovah, which latter name specifically means His purpose towards His creatures; that there is one Redeemer of mankind, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the Son of Jehovah God. We accept and believe and teach the Bible, which is otherwise designated the Holy Scriptures, and this we understand to be the Word of God given for the instruction of man in the way of righteousness.

We have no formal creed such as is formulated and promulgated by other organizations. We believe the Bible and that is our creed. We put forth no effort to obtain members, nor to propagate the doctrine of any human organization. The Bible teachings which we fully accept we understand to be the following, to wit:

God created the earth and created the first man perfect and placed him on the earth; that God made His spirit creature Lucifer the overlord of man; that Lucifer rebelled against God and thereafter his name was changed from Lucifer to Satan, Serpent, Dragon and Devil; that Satan induced man to sin against Jehovah’s law, and for that wrongdoing man was sentenced to death, and all the human race, being the offspring of that first man Adam, by reason of inherited sin, were born as sinners or imperfect; that Satan challenged Jehovah God to put on earth men that would maintain their integrity toward Him and be faithful to God under the severe test; that God permitted Satan to live and carry on his rebellious work in order that his challenge might be fully put to the test and in due time for ever settled in the right way, and that a testimony might be given to all creation to the name of Jehovah in order to give opportunity for men to voluntarily take their stand on the side of Jehovah God and live or choose to take their stand on the side of the Devil and be destroyed. The great climax must be reached at some time, and that is now at hand.

To carry out His side of the question put at issue by the challenge Jehovah promised that He would send to earth a redeemer of man, which redeemer would purchase the human race, and in God's due time would establish over the earth a government of righteousness and under which all men might have the opportunity for everlasting life and happiness; that God sent His beloved Son Jesus to the earth for this purpose; that the death of Jesus provided the redemptive price for man; that Jesus was raised from the dead a divine creature and made Jehovah’s chief representative in the universe and the rightful Ruler of the world.

The Scriptures further plainly set forth and teach that men have formed governments from time to time and endeavored to carry them forward and that Satan, exercising his subtle and wrongful influence over men, has influenced them and caused and induced their governments to become corrupt and to dishonor the name of Jehovah God; that Satan, carrying on this unrighteous work, has overreached religious organizations and has used them as his chief means to deceive the people, as well as the rulers, and to turn them away from the true God, and hence the world in general has come under the wrongful influence and domination of Satan the Devil; that the majority of men are ignorant of this great fact and it is God’s will that testimony should be given concerning the same, that men may understand the truth thereof.

The Scriptures plainly show that in Jehovah’s due time Jesus must come again and set up His kingdom of righteousness; that the time of His coming might be known by men who were watching and waiting therefor the Scriptures declare that this time should be marked by a world war, accompanied by pestilence and great distress and perplexity upon the nations of the world; that in 1914 this prophecy concerning the end of the world and the coming of the Lord’s kingdom began to have fulfilment and the understanding thereof became possible only after that date; that Jesus Christ approximately at that time cast Satan the Devil down to earth and for that reason there is now great suffering, woe and distress upon the nations and peoples of the earth, and that Satan is the primary cause of such distress and suffering and he brings this upon men in order to turn them away from the true God and His kingdom; that just now Satan is gathering all the nations, and particularly the nations of “Christendom”, to the great battle of Armageddon, at which battle Satan’s organization will be completely destroyed; that according to the Scriptures that will be the greatest tribulation the world has ever known and will be the end of all trouble upon the earth; that following Armageddon peace and prosperity, happiness and life will come to men who are obedient and that the obedient will abide for ever upon earth and there will never be another war; that the great battle of Armageddon is impending and that it will come to pass within the present generation.

The Bible further teaches, which we accept and believe, that Jehovah has commanded that within the period of time from A.D. 1914 until the battle of Armageddon the faithful followers of Christ Jesus on earth must be witnesses for Jehovah and must inform the rulers and the people of Jehovah’s purpose to destroy the wicked rule of earth and in its place and stead to establish His government of righteousness under Christ Jesus for the blessing of all the nations of the earth. To this end, therefore, Jehovah God commands His witnesses to proclaim and teach that the millions of people who have died are not in purgatory, nor in a place called hell, nor are they conscious in any place, but that they are dead, in the grave, know not anything, and hence are not undergoing suffering anywhere; that during the reign of Christ Jesus all who are in their graves or the state of death shall be resurrected and be given an opportunity to take their stand on the side of the Lord and obey Him and live for ever on earth; that the Bible shows conclusively that, since the dead are actually unconscious and out of existence, no man or men can offer prayers in behalf of the dead, and that prayers of men offered for the dead are wholly without value and avail nothing; that all prayers must be made to God in the name of Christ Jesus, and only God can forgive sins in answer to prayers; that Jehovah God alone is the life-giver, and hence that He is the Father (because “father” means life-giver), and He alone can bestow the blessings which men sorely need; that under Christ Jesus ’ reign these blessings will come, and for this reason Jesus taught His followers to pray, ‘Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as in heaven, ’ and since then all of His true followers have thus and sincerely prayed to Jehovah God.

The Bible further teaches, and which teachings we accept and strive to obey, that those who are devoted to God must proclaim the good news concerning the kingdom of God both to the rulers and to the people and to inform them as taught by the Scriptures that the only hope of the world is God’s kingdom, and that this testimony must be given, not for the purpose of converting men of the world now, but as a witness in order that those who desire may serve God and live or refuse to serve Him and lose that great privilege; that as soon as this witness work is completed there will follow the great tribulation of Armageddon; and following Armageddon will come the resurrection of the dead and the blessing of the people of the earth who obey the laws of God’s kingdom.

The teaching of these Bible truths as commanded by the Lord has caused religious leaders to become greatly angered at us, for the reason that these Bible truths make known the fact that the people have been taught many doctrines which are not supported by the Bible and hence the people have been deceived greatly to their injury. For this reason leaders in religious denominations have launched an active campaign against Jehovah’s witnesses. We have no controversy with any man and we have no fight with any man, but we must be obedient to Jehovah’s commandments and declare His truth as set forth in His Word, and it is His Word of truth that has caused the great opposition to our work and has resulted in much persecution of the faithful and harmless Christian people who have engaged in this work of proclaiming the truth.

The radio is the creation of God, and not of any man; hence it is our God-given privilege and duty to use the radio to proclaim the truth which is set forth in the Bible, in order that the people might hear, and this we have been doing. The truth proclaimed by radio has exposed the errors taught by men, and therefore it is the truth that has caused the opposition to our using the radio. Instead of replying to the teachings which we have been promulgating from the Scriptures the opposers seek to destroy our opportunity of using the radio for that purpose and to try to deprive the people of having the opportunity of hearing these truths by radio. Repeatedly I have offered to discuss these Bible questions with the clergymen by radio, not for the purpose of holding up anyone to ridicule, but that the people might for themselves determine what they desire to believe, but all such requests for such a public discussion have been ignored and the opposition to our work has increased in the manner above mentioned.

The very existence of the governments and peoples of the earth is now at stake, and for that reason there could be nothing of such public and vital importance to the people as a correct knowledge and understanding of Jehovah God’s purpose of and concerning them. If the people go the wrong way they shall surely die; whereas if they go in the right way they may receive the blessings of life. Hence the message of God’s kingdom proclaimed as set forth in the Bible comes clearly within the purview of the Radio Act concerning public interest, convenience and necessity.

Many radio stations have gladly broadcast our programs, and during the past three years there has been a wide proclamation of the truth in this way, and this has afforded to the radio stations much legitimate revenue, since we have paid for the broadcasting of sueh programs. In that time millions of people have heard these Bible instructions and have rejoiced, and these truths have helped them to be better men and women. Such has been the expression by many thousands both of Catholics and Protestants, Jews and non-Jews. It must be conceded that the people have the right to hear what they please without interference from anyone, and as long as that which is broadcast is moral and upbuilding, and for the good of those who hear, surely no one has any right to interfere with the proclamation of the same.

The Catholic people as such are not against the message which we proclaim, and this is evidenced by the numerous letters received from Catholics in various parts of the country. Many of them have expressed their great desire to hear more, and thousands of them are reading that message that is in printed form. It is the priests or clergymen and officials of the Catholic organization that have engaged and carried on and are carrying on a vigorous and vituperative campaign against us. That they have a right to abuse us no one will call in question, but they do not have any right to employ the means of boycott, of threats and coercion, against radio stations in order to force such stations to cease taking and broadcasting our programs. The Catholic press and the Catholic clergymen throughout the country are employing these very wrongful methods and threaten business loss and disaster to radio stations in order to prevent them from taking and broadcasting our programs and thus are depriving the people of hearing them as well as depriving the radio stations of legitimate right to broadcast such things as they may deem proper.

We are not here asking for any favor of Congress, but we are here demanding that our rights and the rights of the general public be safeguarded and that men and organizations be prohibited from employing threats to destroy the business of radio stations and using that and like coercive methods to compel radio stations to deny us the use of their facilities. We will be the last ones to ever complain to opposition to us, but we do insist that we have the right under the fundamental law of this land, and, above all, under the law of God, to contract with the owners of radio stations to broadcast our programs and that such stations have the right to freely contract with us without interference or fear of suffering loss at the hands of other persons or organizations. For that reason we are asking this Congress to make it a criminal offense for any person or organization to use threats, boycotting or other coercive methods to hinder or interfere with the free making and performance of contracts between persons or organizations with reference to radio broadcasting. Such a rule of law is general and for the general welfare, and not in the interest of any particular organization, and every honest and law-abiding person should be in favor of such a law. It extends the same privilege and protection to all, regardless of religious faith or previous condition of servitude.

With elaborate pontifical ceremonies the year 1933 was declared to be a holy year in which united prayers should be made to bring to the world peace and prosperity. In a radio speech I called attention to this as being presumptuous before the Lord, since no man has any power or authority to declare a year a holy year. That proper and legitimate and Scriptural criticism of “Holy Year’’ called forth from the Catholic press a tirade of abuse and vilification against me and repeated threats to destroy the business of radio stations that would dare to continue to broadcast speeches made by me. Concerning the personal abuse of myself I have no complaint; but threats made against owners and lessees of radio stations who broadcast such programs as they desire, and therefore putting such owners and lessees in fear of loss of business or social support, and which resulted in depriving millions of people of hearing what they wish to hear, is so grossly wrong that it demands the serious attention of Congress. Let the Roman Catholic clergy believe and teach what they desire, but when they attempt to tell American citizens what they may or may not hear or what they may and may not do, and employ threats, boycott and coercive means to accomplish their wrongful purpose, then it is that the law-making body of this land should take positive action for the protection of American interests.

Surely it has not come to the point in America that the people are permitted only to hear one side of an important question at issue. The so-called “Holy Year” has come and passed, and the united prayers of the political religious institutions have resulted in bringing neither prosperity nor peace to the world, but, on the contrary, wars are threatened and poverty continues to stalk abroad in the earth. Jehovah God in the Bible has told why these unhappy conditions are here and what will be the outcome thereof. Is it not of greatest public interest, convenience and necessity that the people hear these truths?

No religious, political or financial institution has the Constitutional right to use the Federal Radio Commission either directly or indirectly in an attempt to frighten the owners or lessees of radio stations and thus cause them to refrain from broadcasting certain or specific programs which they have the legal right to broadcast. A case in point is this: After broadcasting my speech on “Holy Year” by a large number of radio stations in the United States, and after the Catholic press and the clergy had launched a vigorous attack upon me and against the radio stations that had broadcast the same, and after the clergy had made vigorous protest to the Federal Radio Commission against such speech, then the Federal Radio Commission requested me to file with it a list of stations that had broadcast that speech and to furnish a copy of the speech to the Federal Radio Commission, which request I readily complied with. After all of this, and after the Commission had been furnished the information requested, then the Federal Radio Commission addressed letters to numerous radio stations, the names of which stations were on the list I had furnished to the Commission, requesting such stations to advise the Commission as to whether or not they had broadcast my speech concerning the “Holy Year”. The manifest purpose of such letters to the various stations was not to obtain information asked for, but was an indirect way of advising such radio stations that further broadcasting of such speech by myself might be grounds for refusing to renew their license. That some of the stations so understood and construed those letters, I know to be true, because managers of radio stations so expressed themselves.

For the guidance of the Federal Radio Commission and for the public interest Congress therefore should so amend Section 11 of the Radio Act as to clearly define the meaning of the phrase therein, to wit: “public interest, convenience and necessity.”

If the Roman Catholic hierarchy be permitted to determine what is of public interest, convenience and necessity and can by means of threats or other wrongful means prevent radio stations’ broadcasting what is displeasing to such religious organization, then the Roman-Spanish inquisition will be in full force in America, even though in a somewhat more refined form, and the freedom of speech in this land will cease. The Congress should take positive action, not in behalf of or against any religious organization, but in behalf of the people in general, to safeguard the interest and the rights of the people which are guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

With us it is not at all material, nor do we care if the Catholic institution increases its followers by the millions, because that responsibility is upon that organization and the men who conduct it, and they must account to Jehovah God, and not to us. We are commanded by Jehovah God to sound His notice and warning to the rulers and to the people concerning His name, the establishment of His kingdom, and what shall shortly fall upon the world, and this we must do in order to meet the responsibility laid upon us, and all who oppose the proclamation of such message of truth will receive a just recompense at the hand of Jehovah God. The obligation now resting upon this Congress is to see that no hindrance is put in the way of a free proclamation of God’s Word, and that obligation cannot be side-stepped or met by merely ignoring it.

There are two gigantic radio corporations in America owning, leasing and operating radio stations, to wit: The National Broadeasting Company and the Columbia Broadcasting System. These corporations, by their officers, have undertaken to determine what the American people may or may not hear with reference to what the Bible contains, and hence have limited the use of their facilities to certain religious organizations and have unjustly discriminated and do unjustly discriminate against all others, including ourselves, and which is detrimental to the interest of millions of American citizens. Such radio corporations have denied the use of their facilities to us for hire because what we teach is not pleasing to certain religious organizations, which organizations they do favor. Such unjust discrimination should not be permitted, and this Congress should take the necessary steps to prevent such discrimination. The rights of the people are supreme to that of any organization or corporation, and the right of the minority cannot be properly ignored. Unless this Congress takes action as here suggested, then millions of people will be denied the opportunity of hearing God’s Word of truth and this Congress will bear a great responsibility therefor before Almighty God.

We call attention to these facts which are fully supported by God’s Word the Bible, and by the physical facts which are now apparent to all, that it may be seen that the world has reached a great crisis, and that no man knows the way out, but God’s Word furnishes and clearly points to the only way out and the only possible way of escape to safety; that God has commanded that these facts must be brought to the attention of the rulers and to the people themselves, and a failure of God’s witnesses to so do would cost them their lives.

In this hour of great crisis upon the world, and when the people are in such dire need of knowledge and understanding of God’s Word of truth, every effort should be put forth to give the people an opportunity to hear and understand the Bible truths. No person, persons, companies or corporations should be permitted to put in fear owners and lessees of radio stations and thus wrongfully prevent the people from hearing by radio the all-important message of Jehovah’s Word. Having brought these matters to your attention our responsibility ends and there yours begins. In all kindness I suggest that before passing finally upon the question raised by the petitions filed in support of this Bill you give due consideration to the fact that Christ Jesus is earth’s rightful King under Jehovah God; that His kingdom is at hand, and that this matter of notice and warning is given to you in harmony with the expressed will of God, as set forth in the prophecies, and, these facts having been brought to your attention, such adds greatly to your responsibility, as declared in the following and many other supporting Scriptures, to wit: Ezekiel 3; 18-21; Psalm 2:6-12.

State of California )

r SS

County of San Diego )

On this 14th day of February A.D. 1934, before me, Marguerite DeLuca, a Notary Public in and for said county, personally appeared Joseph F. Rutherford, to me known and known to be the person who signed the statement set forth in the foregoing pages, and being by me first duly sworn, says that he signed and executed the same and that the statements therein are true.

Subscribed and sworn to before me the day and date above.

Marguerite DeLuca

Other Items of Interest at the Hearings on the McFadden Bill

THE skill with -which The Associated Press and the other press agencies deprived the American people of any knowledge of the greatest petition ever presented in the history of legislation, or of the hearings which followed its presentation, is noteworthy. The Evening Sun, Baltimore, is an exception. From a report two columns long, published on the first day of the hearings, we quote some of the colloquy which, if The Associated Press wished at all to serve 2,416,141 who signed the Protest and Petition, presented to Congress January 24, 1934, would have been published in every newspaper in the land.

A committee consisting of representatives of the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths have banned Jehovah’s witnesses, said Wertz.*

“Do Jehovah’s witnesses attack the Boman Catholic church?” asked Eepresentative John Brown (Dem., Ky.).

“They attack the doctrines of the Catholic church,” said Wertz. “Not the individuals of that church.”

OPERATES SMALL STATION

Jehovah's witnesses, under the title of the Peoples’ Pulpit [Association], operate a small radio station at Brooklyn, N.Y.

Jehovah’s witnesses now operate in sixty-one countries of the world.

“How do they get financial support?” asked Representative Gifford.

“By voluntary contributions,” replied Wertz. “The income of the head of Jehovah’s witnesses and of all its workers is limited to $15 a month and board and room.”

“How many adherents has the organization?”

“About 15,000,000 people in the United States.”

INTERPRETS BIBLE

“These adherents of Jehovah’s witnesses,” went on Wertz, “are made up of Catholics, Protestants and Jews.”

•Mr. Edwin S. Wertz, attorney, of Cleveland, Ohio, represented Jehovah’s witnesses before the Radio Committee of the House of Representatives, at Washington, D.C., in the hearings on the McFadden bill, March 15-20, 1934. Mr. Wertz has his law offices In the Union Trust Building, Cleveland. He was selected as a lawyer of ability in whom Judge Rutherford has confidence, as to both his ability and his honesty. He has represented Jehovah’s witnesses In Ohio and other states. He was United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio during President Wilson's administration.

McFadden’s bill forbids discrimination and censorship in the use of radio and makes its violation a misdemeanor to be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000.

McFadden, who was the first witness, said that at present the radio company did discriminate both between political candidates and between religions and other organizations.

He said that petitions signed by 2,416,000 citizens had been Bgnt in to Congressmen, protesting against the existing censorship. He went on to declare that much radio advertising was really political propaganda.

JUMPS INTO BIG BUSINESS

Getting well under way McFadden read a scorching attack on “big business’’, which, he said, had turned “the toiling millions’’ into “serfs and paupers”.

* ‘ Every branch of the Government, ’ ’ McFadden declared, “is controlled and contaminated by big business, which, also, controls the army and navy.”

“Did big business elect Boosevelt!” asked Eepresentative Charles L. Gifford (Bep., Mass.).

‘ ‘ I think it had a good deal to do with it, ’ ’ replied McFadden.

McFadden went on to say that “big business owns or controls practically all the newspapers and magazines and all the clergymen of the country”.

…