Consolation, November 15, 1939
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Contents
The Pope’s Responsibility for the New War (Part 3) 3
Conspiracy Against the Lord 4
“Even to the Shedding of Blood” 5
Seventh World-Power Must Go Down 6
Turning the Tables in South Wales 8
Assault at Blantyre, Scotland 8
To All Publishers in Britain 9
Catholic-Fascist Menace in Britain 10
Catholic-Fascist Action in S. Wales 11
Will Chief Matthews Ever Learn? 13
The Negro Woman Worker 14
New York State 15
Counsel by J. F. Rutherford
Jews 16
Natural Phenomena 18
Home and Health 19
New Government
A Tale of Two Dominies 20
Another Boy-Scout Tin-Horn Veteran 22
India 24
U. S. Treasury 25
Invention 26
The Unbidden Guest 27
British Comment
Britain at War 28
Germany and Russia 30
League of Nations Comforted Aggressors 31
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Appetizers
Some Schoolboy Howlers
Hysteries are sloping letters.
Catarrh is a musical instrument, especially in Spain.
A cuckoo lays other birds’ eggs in its own nest and viva voce.
In Venice people travel in gorgonzolas.
Ali Baba means being away when the crime was committed.
A spa is where people drink bath water.
A casserole is a garment worn chiefly by curates.
A cypher is a bottle that squirts.
Coup de grâce—a lawn mower.
Corps diplomatique—shamming dead.
Belle is the feminine of gong.
The British Constitution is a sound one, but on account of its insolent position it suffers from fogs.
A sculptor is a man who makes faces and busts.
Q. What are rabies and what would you do for them?
A. Rabies are Jewish priests. I would do nothing for them.
Names of the Mules
A PCA official in lower South Carolina was visited by a Negro farmer who wished to borrow some money to make a crop. “How many mules have you?” asked the official as he began filling in the application blank. “Fo’; yassah, I’se got fo’,” the old darky replied. “What are their names?” asked the official. “Baptis, Meth’dis, Presbytarin an’ Piscopalium,” said the Negro. “Why, that’s a new idea,” said the official; “why did you give them those names?”
“Well, suh, it’s dis way: Dat Baptis’ mule he jes likes to get in de creek an’ wade ’roun’, but when he gets out of de water, he won’t do nothin’. Dat Meth’dis mule, all he does is ter holler an’ holler, an’ den he don’t do nothin’. De Presbyterium mule, he’s so sot in his ways he never do nothin’ till he wants to anyway. An’ dat Piscopalium mule, he allus hold his haid an’ tail high, but he ain’t wurth er darn.” —Taken from a Farm Magazine.
For Papa’s Birthday
Wife: “It’s your birthday, George. I must run out and buy you something.”
Husband: “Well, take this half dollar. It’s all I can afford.” CONSOLATION
"And in His name shall the nations hope."—Matthew 12:21, A. R. V.
Volume XXI Brooklyn, N. Y., Wednesday, November 15, 1939 Number 526
The Pope’s Responsibility for the New War
(In Three Parts—Part 3)
The Devil’s Real Objective
THE entire point of all that is occurring in Europe and elsewhere in the world is lost unless one sees the truth, which is that the Devil is frantic to stop the work of the Kingdom of God in the earth, the Theocracy. One must see the truth regarding Jehovah’s purposes, as that truth has been made known by the Father, through the Son, and as now proclaimed by the WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY and the faithful men and women, Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions, the Jonadabs, in every part of the earth.
There is nothing the Devil so much fears as truth. He has used RELIGION to hide it, churchmen to misrepresent it, and governments to persecute it. He has done that in Germany since the advent of Hitler to power. To be sure, at the moment, some of Jehovah’s witnesses have been withdrawn from prisons and concentration camps to work on roads or perform other heavy labor in the present shortage of man-power in the Reich, but they are hated none the less by the Devil, who seeks nothing short of their destruction. This can best be accomplished by the seizure of the entire world, and the placing of it under the control of the racket operating out of Vatican City.
By the way, of the 741 inhabitants of Vatican City 566 are Italians, 117 are Swiss, 31 were born on the premises, 11 are French, 11 are Germans, and there is 1 each from Belgium, Norway, Holland, Spain and Hungary. The Italians see to it that the care of this racket is kept closely in Italian hands.
None should get the idea that Hitler knew nothing about Jehovah’s witnesses until he and his gang muscled in and seized control of Germany. In the Wiener Neueste Nachrichten, October 24, 1938, Walter Vogel wrote of his experiences on June 17, 1922, sixteen years previous. He is reminiscing of Hitler, and what he knew of him eleven years before he took the reins of government from the faltering hands of old Mr. Hindenburg. He says:
I was privileged to sit with Adolph Hitler, after the meeting in the Sophiensaal, in the café (Café Rebhuhn). Afterwards I accompanied the Fuehrer to the Hotel Hamerand in the 8th district, Florianigasse; of course, we walked, and I told him of our struggle in Vienna, of a broken-up meeting of the Bible Students and of other experiences during the time of struggle.
The Light That Never Flickers
It is good sometimes to read the opinions of men in far-off lands as to what is taking place in "Christendom". Read, therefore, the kindly words of B. Stuart, published in the Natal (South Africa) Daily News of July 15, 1939. Mr. Stuart is speaking of the terrible sufferings of Jehovah’s witnesses in Germany, and of the witness they have given to the honor of God’s name in a dark age, a dark land and a dark hour. He says to the editor of the News:
In the Natal Daily News of Thursday you publish an item dated from Berlin giving news of a "suppression without mercy" trial of several members of the "International Bible Searchers’ " movement.
It might interest you to know that the correct English rendering of the name by which these German Christians are known is "The International Bible Students Association", and that this association is the German branch of the world-wide "Watchtower" Bible and Tract Society.
It is not generally known that the "Bibelforscher" constitute the sole obstacle within the old Reich which Hitler has not been able to sweep from his path. Communists, Socialists, Left, Right and Center parties have vanished like morning mists before a summer sun. Organized religion is a puppet of the State, and its ministers "heil" and goose-step with the fervency of conviction.
STEADFAST
But, like a light that never flickers, this little body of Christian men and women stand steadfast in their faith, a thorn in the side of the Monarch of Munich and a living testimony to his mortality. They have endured six years of the Hitlerian Hell. They have been killed. Two thousand of them have been consigned to a living death from which they have no hope in this world of returning. They have died at the triangle and on the rack of deliberate physical torture. Their tenacity and courage, and, above all, their sublime faith in the Bible and its author, have become proverbial throughout Germany.
The reasons for their persecution are threefold: They refuse to Heil Hitler. They refuse to take up arms. They insist on preaching the good news of the approach of the Kingdom of Christ and its righteousness, before which the struttings of the war-lords become the crowing of a cockerel on a dung-heap.
Conspiracy Against the Lord
The conspiracy in Germany and throughout "Christendom" is a conspiracy against the King of kings and against the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. It is because Jehovah's witnesses are so faithful to both God and His Word that Hitler so hates them and has so abused them. Jehovah's people, since the advent of this man to power, did what they could to encourage the people to turn to God and to His Word. Even this form of service was too much for Hitler and his "spiritual" guides, and they caused an order to be issued that Bibles may be placed on display only in religious book stores (get that word "RELIGIOUS"), of which there are but few in Germany, and in all other book stores may be sold only when specifically ordered. See the terror of truth, how it strikes home to the heart of all tyrants. Hitler is afraid of the humble messengers of God's kingdom.
The religionists welcome any king or any ruler except the Lord himself. In the Basle (Switzerland) Nazional Zeitung of April 1, 1937, their Berlin correspondent states the truth on this subject very well, though he certainly had no such intent:
One must not forget that the Protestant and the Catholic church have never opposed dictatorship as a form of government. On the contrary: must one be reminded that the Protestant clergy blessed swastika flags a long time before the seizure of power; that the Catholic church has never protested against the persecution of political opponents and against certain, now abolished, excesses of National Socialism, which were condemned in the whole world; that the pope and Mussolini agree well together and that the pope is supporting Franco financially and morally?
World-wide Opposition to witnesses
Says H. E. Coffey, of Texas:
There is evidently a deliberate plan or conspiracy among leaders and religionists throughout the world not to recognize Jehovah's witnesses as being Christians.
World Outlook, a Methodist organ published at Nashville, Tenn., in its May (1939) number carries an editorial, "The Christian Church in a Hostile World," which laments the spineless character of leaders and members of Protestant churches. In one paragraph is the following statement:
In Germany at least one man—Pastor Niemoeller—has preferred the concentration camp to prostitution of mind and spirit. But it is alarming that there has been only one. Other Christians have no cause to be proud that they have escaped the rod of the unspeakable Hitler.
Can it be that this editor is ignorant of the fact that thousands of sincere Christians have been and are being persecuted in Germany?
Hitler tells the world that there is "freedom of religion" in Germany. The Commonwealth, a monthly published at Osprey, Fla., by W. F. Burrows. M.D., gives an excerpt from the address of Adolph Hitler to the Reichstag on January 30, 1939, from which I quote:
. . . Among the outcries against Germany raised today in so-called (sic) democracies is the assertion that National-Socialist Germany is an anti-religious state. [Jehovah's witnesses, though, fully understand that it is religious.] I therefore wish to make the following solemn declaration to the whole German nation:
"(1) No one in Germany has been persecuted for his religious views, nor will anyone be persecuted on that account!"
"But: The National Socialist State will ruthlessly make clear to those clergy who, instead of being God's ministers, regard it as their mission to speak insultingly of our present Reich, its organization, or its leaders; that no one will tolerate (sic) a destruction of this state, and that clergy who place themselves beyond the pale of the law will be called to account before the law like any other German citizen."
In the same speech Hitler explains that "pederasty and sexual offenses against children" will be punished by the civil authorities, but he says: "It is no concern of ours if priests break their vows such as chastity." Then he adds: "This State has only once interfered in the inner organization of the churches. This happened in 1933, when I myself attempted to unite the hopelessly disrupted Protestant Regional Churches in Germany into one large and powerful Evangelical Reich Church. The attempt failed owing to the opposition of some of the Regional bishops. In consequence, no further efforts were made; after all, it is not our task to defend the Protestant Church or even to strengthen it by forceful means."
Indeed, Hitler's entire plan is to strengthen only the Roman Catholic Church in Germany. Another article in The Commonwealth, "The Church in the New Germany," a reprint from "News from Germany", shows how this is being done. Every encouragement is being given that organization, and a marked growth in membership and influence of the Catholic Church in Germany is the result. The German Government now taxes the people to support the churches. Hitler claims this is entirely a voluntary arrangement. He tells the people that at any time that the churches (he doubtless refers to the Catholic Church) request it, he is willing to do away with this arrangement and separate the churches from any connection with the state.
Skillfully disguised, propaganda is now being circulated and published in magazines and the press of America to bring American people around to the Nazi viewpoint. World Affairs for June, a quarterly published by the American Peace Society in Washington, D.C., has an editorial by its editor, Arthur Deerin Call, which is caveat to the thoughtful observers of world affairs. This pronouncement, "In Behalf of Good Will," circulated under the auspices of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and drafted by Professor A. H. Compton of the University of Chicago, Carlton Hays of Columbia University, and Roger W. Strauss, is an appeal to Americans to oppose all who are anti-Catholic, anti-Jew, anti-Communist, anti-Nazi, etc. In simple words, this declaration means that no one should think or speak against the fundamental teachings or the activities of any of the enemies of Jehovah God who are running amuck in the world today. The effect would be to keep the people in ignorance and allow these foul institutions to spread and, finally, enslave the people. Under the guise of good will and noble ethical intentions, the pronouncement is a leader to put the people in an attitude and frame of mind which will cause them to submit in the course of events to enslavement. A one-sided liberty is no liberty at all.
The whip
"Even to Shedding of Blood"
The statement of the "Most Reverend" J. C. McGuigan to Enrico Cardinal Gasparri, at Midland, Ontario—
Come what may, we will preserve the faith, even to the shedding of blood, for our children and our children's children—
may have been a reference to the act of fellow Catholics firing on Jehovah's witnesses at St. Laurent, on the island of Orleans, Wednesday, June 28, forty days previous. This willingness to preserve one's own "faith" by murdering somebody else is an act of religion that Gasparri ought to know about. Of course, it is contrary to everything in the Bible, but neither McGuigan nor Gasparri accepts the Bible as authority for human conduct. They accept the teachings of the "Church".
The only liberty in Quebec is the liberty to pay money to lying priests for misinformation about a place that does not exist—"Purgatory." ◆ Montreal Standard has a column and a half about the trip of the Kingdom II down the St. Lawrence river from Montreal. Residents of the island of Orleans fired on the vessel. At L'Islet the witnesses were forbidden to land. Other reports follow:
Three reports covering the voyage of Witnesses, which read like a log of the fruitless journey of the "Kingdom II", would imply that the evangelists were having just as difficult a trip as did the first missionaries who sailed up the same broad river several centuries ago.
These reports were wired to the British United Press by correspondents down the river. The first dated June 14, from Quebec, reads:
Three members of Jehovah's witnesses traveling on the schooner "Kingdom II" tried vainly to disembark at Quebec today. Police seized 50 records and a phonograph which was placed on the bank of the St. Charles river. Before arriving here the party was expelled from Sorel and Three Rivers. They got in port yesterday on board their schooner and anchored. Police watched them all night and prevented their landing. This morning they found the records and the phonograph, which were to be used for propaganda, on the bank of the St. Charles river, and seized them. No arrests were made.
In answer to a query from the British United Press as to where the Witnesses came from and on what grounds police were refusing them permission to land the following reply was wired from Quebec the same day, June 14:
Party from Montreal. They were refused permission to land at Sorel last Friday and also at Three Rivers. They then stopped in the middle of the river at Deschaillons, some twenty miles above Quebec, and arrived here yesterday afternoon. Police have no specific charge against them. They just seized the records and phonograph as pernicious literature and if the three men disembark they will be arrested and charged with creating a disorder. This afternoon the party is moving to Beauport and Provincial Police will also prevent them from disembarking there.
The third message, dated June 29, tells how the witnesses were received with rifle shots at St. Laurent on the island of Orleans and how they were refused permission to land at L'Islet. It adds they were continuing their troubled but determined way down the river.
Seventh World-Power Must Go Down
The Seventh World-Power (Britain and America) must come to the disgrace of being swallowed up by the Totalitarian Monstrosity. Both nations deserve it well. The details have been published over and over again—the trips to Rome, the kneeling before the pope, the sending of secret messages and private ambassadors, and the ignoring of the cry of Jehovah's witnesses for justice in "the land of the free and the home of the brave". In the face of 2,000 cases of imprisonment of Jehovah's witnesses for telling the truth of God's Word, the president of the United States not only kowtows to the pope but sends messages of congratulation to his representatives, and tells them to 'go to it; what the nation needs is more religion'. They threaten to murder anybody that disagrees with them, and yet, when a pope dies, the entire Congress of the United States, elected by the people, and paid handsomely for its services, wastes an entire day to grieve over the 'untimely' death, at 81 years of age, of one of the most unprincipled murderers that ever lived. [* See pp. 16-17.]
United States Senator William E. Borah does not seem to think that either Uncle Sam or John Bull is entitled to much sympathy for what is certainly coming to them. He is on record as saying publicly: What is the difference between the dictators and the democracies in Europe when questions touching international affairs are being considered; however it would, how could the United States distinguish in foreign affairs between the dictators and so-called democracies?
For illustration, what was the difference in policy between the dictators and democracies at Munich? Wherein did they differ in their foreign policy or principle? And we are not concerned with their internal policy.
When the hour came for the dictators and the democracies to join in an international movement of stupendous moment, that is, to destroy, to literally murder, the one real democracy in Europe, what was the distinction in the principles applied by the dictators and the democracies?
When it appeared to be in the interest of the dictators and the democracies to break treaties, to disregard all law, legal, moral or divine, all principles supposed to obtain among honorable and decent communities, what was the distinction?
In what respect did they differ? Did the dictators and the democracies disagree as to the fact they were willing to destroy a helpless nation? Did they disagree as to how it was to be done? Was there anything considered, by all or any of them, except purely selfish interests, brutal, criminal, selfish interests?
Did not the democracies, even at the suggestion of the dictators, go at midnight and serve notice on the president of the Republic of Czechoslovakia that the time had come for the dismemberment of this republic—a nation denied a hearing, denied the slightest opportunity for defense, to offer up its very existence and to do so in haste, as one of the messenger democracies had other matters which required its attention shortly?
Notice of God's Purposes
Britain, now involved in another great war, has had due notice of God's purposes. On July 7, 1939, J. Hemery, secretary of Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, sent the following notice to each member of the House of Lords. If they paid any attention to this last-minute warning, there is no record of it here.
We beg to call your attention and ask your earnest consideration to the two enclosures, one a copy of Consolation, the other a folder which calls attention to what is most certainly an important factor of our national welfare.
The publications call attention to the growing movement of Catholic Action in this country. It is admitted that some alliance obtains with Fascism. This movement is using violence and force to accomplish its ends. Its tactics and policies emanate from a foreign power in Rome and are against the best interests of the British people and their heritage of freedom.
"RIGHTLY DEATH FOR HERETICS"
New Brunswick (N. J.) Priest Says Catholics Would Thus Stop Spread of "Errors."
"I do not doubt, if they were strong enough, that the Catholic people would hinder, even by death if necessary, the spread of heretical errors among the people, and I say rightly so."
This was the statement made by the Rev. Mr. Harney, a Paulist Father in St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, in New Brunswick, N. J., Friday evening. The Paulist Fathers have been conducting a mission for the last three weeks in that church. Last week the services were for the benefit of non-Catholics.
A feature of last week's services was a "question box." This question was read by Father Harney on Friday night:—
"Does the Catholic Church regard Protestants as heretics, and does it not believe and teach that heretics should be punished, even with death if necessary?"
Father Harney's answer was:—
"In a way, I say yes. Certainly the Church does consider Protestants heretics, in a way. A formal heretic is one who knows he is perverting the truths of God and the Catholic Church. No man, by sinning himself, should be allowed to lead others into sin.
"I do not doubt, if they were strong enough, that the Catholic people would hinder, even by death if necessary, the spread of such errors through the people. And I say, rightly so.
"As human society protects itself against the murderer and the man who proves a traitor to the government, so the Church of God has the right to protect itself. The Catholic Church never dreamed of punishing one who is materially a heretic—one who believes things to be true that are not true—any more than a mother would punish a child who does wrong unintentionally. The history of the church has been a history of toleration.
"The Catholics have proved more tolerant than the Protestants."
In an interview last night, Father Harney stated that his remarks on Friday evening, as above quoted, were correct. He said they expressed his personal convictions and were in accord with those of the Catholic Church.
New York Herald, May 7, 1901
House of Representatives of the United States of America
February 13, 1939.
Resolution of Sorrow upon the Death of His Holiness Pope Pius XI, Supreme Spiritual Sovereign of the Roman Catholic Church and Sovereign of the State of Vatican City.
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the United States has learned with the profoundest of sorrow and shock of the death of His Holiness Pope Pius XI, supreme spiritual sovereign of the Roman Catholic Church and Sovereign of the State of Vatican City. It sympathizes with the millions of Roman Catholics throughout the world on the loss of this outstanding leader of Catholicism who effected superlative gains in his own religious endeavors, who exerted the most challenging and sincere efforts for world peace, who manifested the broadest tolerance toward all nations and creeds, and who pleaded for the protection of oppressed minorities; and be it further
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate this expression of sentiment to the Secretary of State at the Vatican, and that, as a mark of further respect to the memory of Pope Pius, the House do now adjourn.
Attest:
South Trimble
Clerk.
Coaxing for re-establishment of the Inquisition--and sure to get it, too.
During the past few months Jehovah's witnesses, who are law-abiding Christians in this and every country, have been the objects of a Catholic-Fascist oppression amounting to personal assault, damage to property, and breaking up of public Bible meetings, and by use of threats and boycotting it has forced cinema managers and others to deny Jehovah's witnesses the right of the freedom of assembly.
A brochure, Fascism or Freedom, is also submitted for your attention: it is the lecture the Catholic organization has taken upon itself to censor. Jehovah's witnesses, who comprise the above Society, are not participants in any political movement, but are solely servants of the Most High God, Jehovah, and are seeking to advance the interests of Christ's Kingdom.
Respectfully yours,
There now follow six documents of public interest and importance showing the treatment Jehovah's witnesses were receiving in Britain just prior to the outbreak of hostilities. While these liberty-lovers were really helping Britishers to maintain British democracy, the friends of Hitler and of the pope were doing all possible to close their mouths. No one can foresee the outcome, but it is a thrilling situation, and now is the time to seek THE SALVATION which cometh from Jehovah alone. The night seems to be settling down.
Turning the Tables in South Wales
On Sunday May 21, Catholic Action in the Ebbw Valley in South Wales, under the leadership of one “Rev. Father” George McDonagh, thought they scored a victory by forcing the superintendent of the “Celynen Ambulance Hall” to break his word and cancel the public meeting scheduled there by Jehovah’s witnesses. This whole affair was a high-handed dictatorial undertaking complete with threats of Catholic boycott in the typical Hierarchy manner. Having been denied the privilege of having their Bible meeting in the Newbridge hall Jehovah’s witnesses began to visit other halls in this town, and every one of them refused because of Catholic pressure. Not to be outdone, efforts were made to engage a hall in several of the other mining towns in this Ebbw Valley adjoining to Newbridge. Finally they succeeded in contracting for the Empire Cinema in Crumlin. The meeting was to be held on Sunday June 11, where Judge Rutherford’s famous anti-Fascist lecture was to be given for the benefit of the people. The manager of this theater was very agreeable. It was suggested to him that there would be a possibility of some Catholics’ putting pressure on him, and he replied, “I’ve no time for the Catholics. I know a lot about them and no one will influence me against this meeting. I rent you the theater for £3, and it’s immaterial what you say in the meeting. If you can get the consent of the Monmouthshire County Council to hold it, it’s O.K. with me. My word is my bond.” With this agreement and the proper application to the Monmouthshire County Council, permission was granted Jehovah’s witnesses to have this cinema opened for the Sunday.
On Tuesday June 6, six days before the lecture, A. Whitaker, the manager of the Cinema, in excited rage informed representatives of Jehovah’s witnesses that he was breaking the contract. Catholic Action had paid him a visit and had spoken. He was in a fearful condition and refused to discuss the matter. He was giving in to the Catholics even though he himself was not a Catholic, saying that he had his home life to look after and also that his living was involved. He succumbed to Catholic pressure in spite of his previous boast of fairness and tolerance.
This flagrant violation of covenant was immediately placed in the hands of the Society’s London solicitors for quick legal action. The solicitors gave him until June the 8th to change his mind, but he still refused. Thus it has become necessary to take legal steps against Mr. Whitaker for breach of contract, which may make him regret his bowing to the “old lady”.
Jehovah’s witnesses were already undertaking the advertising of this important meeting when this frustration occurred. Not to be outdone by these Catholic-Fascists, arrangements were made for all Jehovah’s witnesses from the neighboring companies in this Ebbw Valley to join together in a special attack on Crumlin on Saturday and Sunday of the scheduled meeting. Large placards in their “information marches” informed the people of the underhanded efforts of the Hierarchy in canceling this meeting. Announcement was made that this lecture would be held in the open air near to the Empire Cinema so that all the people could hear this important lecture which the Catholics were afraid of. The whole population in Crumlin and the neighboring small mining towns was thoroughly aroused. Eight hundred Welsh people turned out Sunday night and it took three sound-cars to pump “Fascism or Freedom” out to these hungering people. The original theater could have seated only 200, but, with Catholic Action effectively assisting in advertising the issue, the tables were turned on them, and the people were told the truth.
Assault at Blantyre, Scotland
◆ On Sunday April 23, pioneer Albert Bacon was witnessing to the people in miners’ row of houses in Stonefield Rd., Blantyre, and was accompanied by a young boy six years of age. The people were very courteous and appreciated our calling on them with the Kingdom message. They accepted the invitation to hear the reproduction of Judge Rutherford’s lecture “Fascism or Freedom”, which was being widely advertised in the neighborhood of Blantyre. When Albert reached house No. 51 on Stonefield Rd., the following happened, and is described in his own words:
“When the incident happened I was standing in the doorway inviting the gentleman of the house to come to hear the lecture, which invitation he accepted.
At this precise moment I noticed from the corner of my eye a man coming across the road from the new housing scheme (I had not seen this man before). He stood at the door for about a minute; I thought it was his intention to go into the house; my back was turned on the man (Thomas Murphy, of 48 Stonefield Rd.). However, he grabbed me by the back of my coat and pulled me out from the doorway, and in his so doing I knocked the young boy down. His words were to the effect that I must stop the work which Jehovah commands must be done. The Bible literature which was in my hands was knocked away, and it was his intention to punch or do bodily injury to me, and in preventing him from so doing I was justified. His wife came out and coaxed him away with almost unsuccessful tactics.
The names and addresses of five witnesses were quickly taken and the matter was reported to the police.
On May 11 Thomas Murphy's case came up for trial, and with the abundance of evidence he was quickly found guilty and fined 15/-. This will certainly teach zealous followers of Catholic priests to think twice before committing assault against Jehovah's witnesses in the Blantyre district.
To All Publishers in Britain
In view of the continued opposition from the Catholic Hierarchy in the forms of assaults, mob violence, and breaking up of public meetings, Judge Rutherford's advice has been sought. Following is his advice, which has just been received from Brooklyn, on the matter of Catholic violence: (Quote)
We should expect these things now, because the truth is stirring up the Devil's crowd, and the witnesses should be encouraged to go straight forward in the work without hesitancy, knowing that it is the time when the testimony must be given and, when given, will certainly stir up strife on the part of the enemy. My advice is that when you are going into a community where you expect trouble you first notify the police officers that you are coming and request that they have an officer near by to witness any attempted assaults and make arrests of the persons who do attempt to assault. The person who gives the witness might carry a strong walking stick and another publisher walk near him, he also carrying a strong walking stick. If any attempt is made to interfere, let one of them say to the disturbers: "Stand back; if you assault this man, who has done nothing to you, I will take a hand and use this cane to good advantage, and I will not hesitate to use it under such circumstances." The idea that we have to stand mute, and refuse to protect ourselves when assaulted by a wrongdoer, is entirely un-Scriptural. If the police want to do their duty they will have somebody present and break up these mobs. Otherwise mark some in such a way that they can be identified. Get the witnesses and take them into court and have a test case and determine whether or not there is any further freedom in Britain to proclaim the message of God's kingdom.
Thus Judge Rutherford has plainly set forth our right as Christians to defend ourselves and the Kingdom interests against attacks from Jehovah's enemies. See Exodus 22:2, 3. Note the action Jesus took to safeguard the Kingdom interests, at John 2:15, Matthew 21:12, 13, and Mark 11:15, 16.
On May 20 the zone servant for Glasgow and three other publishers were served with a complaint by the police wherein they were charged by two priests of Clydebank with having 'caused a crowd of people to collect and did commit a breach of the peace on the Sunday of March 5'. This interesting case came to trial on Wednesday June 7. The Society engaged a well-known lawyer in Glasgow to make the defense. On the same day the trial of Patrick McGrory, leader of a mob against Jehovah's people on February 5, came before the judge for hearing. Enclosed find a brief report from the zone servant on these two trials.
This afternoon, after a trial lasting two hours, witnesses Bacon, Brown, Whiteford and myself were found "not guilty" by Judge Burns on the charge of disturbing the peace brought against us by the priests McEwan and Duffin of Clydebank. Two priests appeared in court, one of which was the "Rev. Father" Dr. McEwan. Our solicitor endeavored to pave the way for us to give witness to our message, but the judge immediately stopped this, saying the charge involved an annoyance by sound. However, little bits came out which were in themselves a witness. It was interesting and almost comical when our solicitor in cross-examining Dr. McEwan produced the Catholic Bellarmine Society's report titled "Judge Rutherford and the Witnesses of Jehovah" and asked the said "rev." gentleman to read aloud the last paragraph,* where it gives advice as to how to treat Jehovah's witnesses to 'prevent them from becoming a nuisance'.
* "Finally, if the 'witnesses' refuse to go when told to do so, householders should report the matter to the police. If numerous complaints are lodged, the police will take measure to prevent the nuisance."
Poor old priest! You should have seen his face while reading the last paragraph. Out of his own mouth he was condemned. Our witnesses, in comparison with the Catholic witnesses, gave a good account of themselves; none contradicted the other. The priests had poor witnesses for their side, and once the prosecutor said to a Catholic witness, “Is that what you were told to say?” At another point the police sergeant made a statement and this was contradicted immediately after by his superior, the inspector. The prosecutor pounced on this and made much of the point. Thus after two hours the judge found us not guilty. The court was crowded out, principally by Jehovah’s witnesses; and what a showing! One hundred and twenty publishers attended. Then the second case came up, when McGrory was brought forward, found guilty of assaulting Jehovah’s servants, and fined 30/- or 10 days in jail. And so the battle we have been fighting for the last five months came to an end with a victory which the Lord has given us.
All the British witnesses rejoice with the Glasgow publishers in these preliminary victories over Jehovah’s enemies and pray the Lord will strengthen them to keep pressing forward the Kingdom fight.—Receipt of information to Jehovah’s Kingdom publishers of Britain, issued from London office of WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY.
Catholic-Fascist Menace in Britain
FOSTERS VIOLENCE—DENIES
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
◆ At the start let this fact be clearly borne in mind: that this is not a cry for Jehovah’s witnesses, who have been the object of Catholic-Fascist violence and reproach during the past several months. Jehovah’s witnesses are neither Communists nor members of any political movement, but are wholly and uncompromisingly for Jehovah God’s kingdom under Christ and, as such, are faithful Christians. If they die in the performance of duty Jehovah will preserve their eternal existence. Whether one lives or dies is relatively unimportant, because the Devil’s agents can only kill the body but are unable to destroy the right to life. (Luke 12: 4) Jehovah’s witnesses trust in the Lord and need nothing from any man. But the purpose here is to warn the people of good will that if they continue to uphold and support an organization that is fighting against God’s kingdom they will suffer the consequences of its destruction.
PUBLIC WARNING
On September 11, 1938, at the Royal Albert Hall, London, Judge Rutherford, spokesman for Jehovah’s witnesses, sounded a timely warning, which message was transmitted by wireless to the English-speaking people throughout the earth. In brief that warning was this: Vatican City, directing its Hierarchy throughout the world and acting in conjunction with Fascists and Nazis, is in a conspiracy to grab control of and rule the world, regiment the people, and dictate arbitrarily to all. In recent months the development of the physical facts in Britain have shown not only that the warning was timely, but that the predicted events are coming to pass much quicker than many anticipated.
CATHOLIC HIERARCHY SECRETLY
ADMITS FASCIST ALLIANCE
During recent months the Catholic Press and other Catholic agencies have secretly admitted their close association with Fascist interests and their move for power in Britain. But The Bellarmine Society (Catholic), Heythrop College, in April, 1939, published a lengthy work entitled “Judge Rutherford and the Witnesses of Jehovah”, where they privately make the following significant statement: “Many non-Catholics would agree with Rutherford on a number of points, and even some Catholics who have succumbed to Left-wing propaganda will agree that he (Judge Rutherford) is not far wrong in saying that the Church is in alliance with Fascism. Criticisms of Rutherford, therefore, have to be so expressed that no handle is given to Communists, etc. For Communists would be quite ready to ignore, for the moment, the fact that Rutherford regards Communism itself as a child of the Devil. However, if these difficulties are kept well in mind, good work can be done by showing up Rutherford’s fundamental opposition to religion and to constituted authority.”
Of course, Jehovah’s witnesses openly admit their opposition to hypocritical practices of religion, which are out of harmony with God’s Word, the Bible, but they deny that they are in opposition to the constituted authority of any state. Definitely they are not Communists. But does not the above statement plainly show that members of the Catholic Hierarchy are the ones who are in opposition to constituted authority by admitting they are in alliance with Fascism and thus against democracy?
For further facts we refer to the Catholic Herald in an article published February 5, 1937: (Quote) “Hope for Fascism. Here we Public Statement To The People of South Wales:
Catholic-Fascist Action in S. Wales
Rev. Fr. McDonagh Dictates to a Local Committee
THE British people have struggled for centuries to gain for themselves liberty and the right to rule themselves and now through blood and sacrifice in the Great War are entering upon a new era of peace, tolerance and freedom. The freedom of speech and freedom of the press has been won by centuries of sacrifice and struggle and now stands threatened by the organisations of Fascism, led by a foreign power and assisted by a section of the Catholic Hierarchy—threatens the religious and civil liberty in this country. Accordingly I have been privileged over the desires of the totalitarian States (Italy) in the destruction of democracy, of tolerance and the free expression of opinion, and the suppression of a free Press. It has become the duty of every Briton and of every one who values liberty to resist. The British people have a most clear horror and disgust, and purpose that this country shall not follow the lead of the example of Central Europe. But it is well for all liberty-loving people to be on guard. Britain is not yet Fascist nation. There is a well-organised movement to destroy the civil and religious liberties of the people. This movement has made some progress during the past months.
NOT COMMUNISTS BUT PROCLAIMERS OF FREEDOM
Johnson’s wholesale charge that many members of the people are being beaten, burned and frightened on the way and road, “between very parties to themselves,” and of the supreme end, that they ought to carry on. They are charged for no democratically-minded or concerned or logical to them who desire it. They also are presented British Lectures in spreading the message of the oppressed and the suffering Catholic people in Italy and in Spain. I have charged them with defence of God’s Expressing or openly “denounced.” This program is designed as a means obviously led by the Catholic environment to spread the gospel from heaven to home and plan to silence their views and then to close the public platforms to the people, the Bible.
Many good people of the Catholic and Protestant denominations express in the past that they are glad to have Jehovah’s witnesses bring to them. The British clergy and other politicians of their flock do not approve. They become greatly hesitant because the people are given opportunity to know the truth, and consequently the truth exposes their need. The truest things bring the people are deceived by the press and by the priest and church as their religious organisations will be destroyed at the hands of Almighty God in His battle of Armageddon, now close at hand. They are increasing the time, bringing the truth to people. The reason is, Jehovah’s witnesses are scattered throughout the earth. . . . They are being wrongly, and maliciously, accused of “Communist” and “Fascist” by those who want to stop the people. Yet Jehovah’s witnesses are acting, and justice is a peace and righteousness that is their purpose.
CATHOLIC ACTION OPERATES IN NEWBRIDGE, MON.
The Aberdare Company of Jehovah’s witnesses reported that “Glynnen Ambulance Rail” in Newbridge, Monmouthshire, South Wales, to give Jehovah’s witnesses a demonstration. . . . When the superintendent of “St. Ambulance Brigade, with others of his committee, learned Jehovah’s witnesses that it would be quite all right to hold the lecture, and agreed to let their hall for this occasion. . . . Jehovah’s witnesses of this Welsh district got red busy on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in distributing 8,000 leaflets inviting the people of the district to come and hear this important message. Great success was hoped for, as the Superintendent of St. Ambulance Brigade was in firm support and a Sunday evening well attended. On Saturday evening the Sunday hall meeting with a goodly crowd through the busy streets of Newbridge. The thoroughly advertising of their success preparing and widespread the public. In the evening the Jehovah’s witnesses got busy distributing the last leaflets, who were in the streets, who also caused a commotion gathering on Sunday morning to consider whether hall should be opened. At about 7.30 p.m. Sunday the local representative received a telephone message he should please be at 11.00 p.m. to “attend and be security asked there. . . .”
It is sad to realise the people’s meeting was fixed in the afternoon, members were attacked that the hall would be available for the Sunday evening lecture. The Secretary, however, found the representation of “disturbed witnesses” and special meeting had been called at 3.30 p.m., with the committee to consider the question of the lecture. The Secretary, advertised to the local hospital agent at Newbridge, of Dr. Williams, of 72 Springvale, Newbridge. He would not attend the lecture. . . . Mr. Williams then following report was made:—
DICTATOR McDONAGH MAKES THREAT
“On Friday evening, the committee met to discuss your lecture and whether you would hold any further meetings. I informed them you had your meetings open to the public, but they would not grant any further lectures in view of what was contained in the leaflet. I informed them this action was due to the Roman Catholic Priest Rev. Father McDonagh, that had made it clear the Ambulance Hall could not be used. He did this at his expense to the Roman Catholic Church. Also he then insisted that the Roman Catholic Church would have the hall in your place. I informed the Brigade. Further that the meeting was Brigade were Catholics and it would be suggested to the brigade “Catholic support.” In view of this information I would like to reserve the committee meeting and decide in view of these plans to attend your meetings.”
In other words the committee will be guided by the pressure of the local Catholic Action, supported and backed by the Roman Catholic priest of freedom of assembly. In the face of this decision of their committee, they informed through pressure a lecture hall would be the truth included. Another message: Also by reason of certain people of South Wales, including “of course” the Catholic priest Rev. Fr. McDonagh to dictate to them to take from 800 to 600 leaflets, and next to have had no meeting that certain of God’s Word the Bible. Many people came to this hall expecting to hear the important lecture and were greatly disappointed. Steps are being taken to give this lecture in the future, of those who responded to the cancelled meeting.
OPEN STATEMENT
Every fair minded person should now carefully consider the principle involved and at work, which the committee members in Newbridge’s church hall have recently undertaken in Clywdach, Llanfair, and elsewhere. Although Judge Rutherford’s appearance has been given publicity and openly has his paper address hall; therefore this appearance that in operation to “Jehovah’s witnesses in Newbridge” to give their message. It is totalitarian government ruled by a priest and an abuse of the free rights of assembly is permitted by spiritual overlord to restrict the hearers to prevent them from hearing. The committee of this council is a clever and a close line of membership or at the same time in this case held the meeting to enlist and a meeting for which it is deprived by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in its attack. It is entirely totalitarian, based on taking away the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly; and further is dictated by religious intolerance. Fascism is the result of these acts, which lead to oppression of the common Catholic Hierarchy of Vatican City, the so-called “working man’s” control. Each one must now come to some issue. Shall the British Parliament be destroyed and the rights of free speech, assembly and free expression of opinion be suppressed by the “dictators” of Rome and controlling life?
The facts, which are evidence which establish and show demand, prove that the wealthy, Catholic (God is interested in this defence of conscience and this) will endeavour to use the power of the Catholic Hierarchy of Jothwellstone and threatening will, if possible, place to silence every expression of totalitarianism to build the truth is the people of the common. “And if we did not do it, we would become slaves and have no security and independence.” Kingdom message of Jehovah’s God, and to imprison, beat up and destruction innocent God-fearing people and to destroy their liberties, totalitarianism that is might and evil.
Many British Catholics in this land and abroad, unable to comprehend the purpose, have been misled by these Catholic clergy and modern era, now, bullying every priest that belong political ideas, but do not desire. They are falsely misled and God’s Kingdom message is to “ban.” The people were (the Almighty God) and His Word should not permit to dominate. Jehovah’s witnesses and every intelligent man to do something.
JEHOVAH’S WITNESS
For further information, write
The British Tower, 34 Craven Terrace, London W2
CATHOLIC ACTION OPERATES IN OLDHAM
During recent months the Catholic Hierarchy in Britain has been organising Catholic Action groups throughout the country. Catholic Action is organised in Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria, it is an organisation in the Fascist countries of the Catholic Church. It is one of the agencies of opposing all others while in revolution life, people of God’s Kingdom. Catholic Action has its totalitarianism. It uses violence in this country, and is working forcefully, violence and assault to those who oppose. The aims of Catholic Action in each of those countries are closely allied with other movements and allow the reason to be popular. It decides for themselves to operate and has to be a totalitarian method of force to lead. In that democracy in Britain is jeopardised by the growing power of Vatican City.
On Sunday, April 2nd, Jehovah’s witnesses conducted a living public lecture at the Co-operative Hall in Oldham, to hear Judge Rutherford’s Fascist anti-fascist lecture entitled “Fascism or Freedom.” The Catholic Action group in Oldham had organised by the local priest, pro-fascists in sympathy, took it upon themselves to create a strong of delegates to this assembly and made an attempt to break it up.
PLANNED DISTURBANCES
Prior to the beginning of the meeting it was well-known Catholic policeable at the entrance of the hall and people were going into the meeting. He refused to permit on the ground of the alleged anti-fascist body by a police officer to move away from the entrance to the building. This man later passed through into the hall and with a very loud disturbance. The minutes after the lecture began a uniformed forward to the platform shouting “Hear” and afterwards to demand the loan appears unlawfully. He then made to the platform. One of the stewards immediately prevented her from disturbing the loud speaker and restored to see right. This man then moved to the front to be “placed” as the people. Another man shouted and causing a general uproar. The man had to be removed forcibly from the building. On several occasions with the lads by one who was elected chairman to requested to keep the peace. By this time disturbances by one of their team continue, the steward and order. In attempting to stop by the chairman of the meeting he managed in shouting his admission for a continuation of the lecture. There at once of the meeting continued with the lecture and an oath. It is recorded that the section of their college are not interfering.
About half an hour later a group of a dozen youths, 18 and 20 years of age, rushed into the assembly, screaming into the meeting, claiming that they “wished to ask questions.” One of the Oldham, and several members of the youths to say that the priest had sent them. The group refused to leave the front entrance of the building until put out by the police officers.
EX-MAYOR LEADS FURTHER CATHOLIC-FASCIST EFFORT
Next at the end of the meeting Alderman Shankland, ex-Mayor of Oldham, formerly a member of Oldham, urged to stop and listen and entrance into the assembly. This man came in and told the men who had been forcibly ejected, after the violent disturbances, that only on of the committee. In the presence of a delightedly and warmly shook Alderman Shankland’s hand, who appeared rather ashamed at his reception and quietly took a seat. At the period of Bible questions and answers was brought in a close by the chairman an important, must be challenged in the audience. The audience got together around Alderman Shankland. He declared he asked for silence but they continued a fight and caused a violence. Introduction were given the police Sergeant in, should then be prepared to break up the disturbance and eject the disturbances from the hall. Shankland, a number of the Oldham Watch Committee, at first refused to go but the police Sergeant insisted. Several policemen had to take hold of him and lead him from. He then made the following threat towards to the police Sergeant, “I will remember you.” This threat has been recorded and fully substantiated by witnesses. This after these many disturbances which greatly annoyed the audience of nearly 600, and had was repeated by the police without delay. Shankland and his group of “rough Catholic-Fascists should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.” In another hand, violence tried fight of peaceable assembly. The police having failed to take further action, Shankland has been re-pushed and for his reason was being taken. It is stated in support of no people of group of “rough” who threatened to break and destroy Catholic, the very purpose of which is to attack and accused. This Catholic group of the community, Shankland should have sided by and safeguarded his rights of peaceable assembly and denounced all violence to attack by and safeguard such rights.
have a new movement still in process of development and amenable to friendly contacts, with a social program already containing so many reforms advocated by the social encyclicals (of the popes) that its platform may be said to consist very largely of Catholic planks.
. . . British-Fascism stands for the Corporate State, the social-economic system favored by Catholic Austria, Catholic Italy, Catholic Portugal and Catholic Spain. . . . Furthermore, through a reformed upper house, British Fascism invites the official co-operation of the Catholic Church to the end that the government may have guidance in this very matter.” Also we quote from the Catholic Herald of May 12, 1939, “ACTION! ACTION! ACTION! There is a growing sense that Catholicity in Great Britain is on the eve of great happenings.” Surely these statements cause people to gravely examine the present threatening position.
OVERT ACTS
Consider now some of the overt acts committed by the Catholic-Fascist movement where they have made public demonstrations of violence and gagging of freedom of speech in open violation of the law of the land.
Public Statement To The People of South Wales:
Catholic-Fascist Action in S. Wales
Rev. Fr. McDonagh Dictates to a Local Committee
THE British people have struggled for centuries to gain for themselves liberty and the right for each individual to serve Almighty God according to the dictates of his own conscience. Religious freedom, together with the right of peaceable assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of the press are the foundations of British Democracy which have been so dearly safeguarded for generations. Yet today, during this storm of world insanity, Fascism—with the aid of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy—threatens all nations and our own precious heritage of freedom. Autocratic rulers who preside over the destinies of the totalitarian States glory in the destruction of individual liberty. Mussolini boasts that he has reduced democracy and liberalism to the state of a "rotten corpse." Hitler doesn't need to boast; his atrocious acts of violence and oppression have shocked the world. The British people have expressed their horror and disgust, and purpose that this country shall not follow the lead of the tyrants of central Europe. But it is well for all liberty-loving people to be on guard. Britain is not entirely free from Nazi and Fascist action. There is a well-organized movement to destroy the civil and religious liberties of the people. This movement has made some progress during the past months.
NOT COMMUNISTS BUT PROCLAIMERS OF FREEDOM
Jehovah's witnesses have for many years visited the people to bring them information and enlightenment on the Word of God. Without any profit to themselves, and at the expense of much time, energy and money, they go from door to door conveying a message of comfort and hope to those who desire it. They also use recorded Bible lectures in spreading this message of God's Kingdom and also conduct public meetings in large halls and cinemas throughout the country where these vital matters of God's purposes are openly discussed. Their purpose in so doing is to serve Almighty God by obeying His commandments to preach the gospel from house to house and place to place. Their work constitutes the worship of God in the mode prescribed by His Word, the Bible.
Many good people of the Catholic and Protestant denominations approve of the gospel message and are glad to have Jehovah's witnesses bring it to them. The priests, clergy and other politicians of their flock do not approve. They become greatly incensed because the people are given opportunity to know the truth, and because the truth exposes their racket. The truth shows how the people are deceived by the priests and clergy, and how their religious organizations will be destroyed at the hands of Almighty God in His battle of Armageddon, now close at hand. There is evidence that these religious parasites have brought pressure on police and prosecutors to interfere with Jehovah's witnesses and their work. They are using Nazi tactics of force and violence to accomplish their purpose; hence Catholic-Fascist in action.
CATHOLIC ACTION OPERATES IN NEWBRIDGE, MON.
The Abersychan Company of Jehovah's witnesses engaged the Celynen Ambulance Hall at Newbridge, Monmouthshire, South Wales, to give Judge Rutherford's famous anti-fascist lecture "Fascism or Freedom" on Sunday, May 21st, at 6.30 p.m.
The superintendent of the Ambulance Brigade, with others of the committee, assured Jehovah's witnesses that it would be quite all right to hold this lecture and agreed to let the hall for this occasion.
Jehovah's witnesses of this Welsh district got real busy on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and distributed 3,000 leaflets inviting the people of goodwill to come and hear this important lecture. Their sound car was kept busy all day Saturday and Sunday announcing this event. On Saturday evening the sound car led a sandwich parade through the busy streets of Newbridge. This thorough advertising of the lecture apparently stirred up the bitterness of the local Catholic-Fascists and they succeeded in intimidating the superintendent of the Brigade, who called a committee together on Sunday morning to consider whether their hall should be denied Jehovah's witnesses. At 1.30 p.m. Sunday the local representative received a telegram through the local police to say that the hall was cancelled and definitely denied them for the evening public meeting.
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