Consolation, April 17, 1940

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Contents

Religion of the Flag 3

Massachusetts Aping Germany 7

Under the Totalitarian Flag

In the City of William Lloyd Garrison 8

Two Bright Young Women 10

Wages of Joseph Klaszeh 11

New Government

New York Convention 12

Brazil 13

Still Some Liberty in Brooklyn 16

Counsel by J. F. Rutherford

Devil's Rule: Why Permitted 17

Australasia 18

South Africa

The Black Man in His Native Land 20

A University for Convicts 20

Some Common Plants 21

New Wheats and Other Plants 21

"Business as Usual" 22

If Religion Doesn't Work 22

International Murderers, Inc. 23

Not All Successful Men Are Money-mad 26

The Interest Curse 27

British Comment 28

War Conditions 28

Conversion of England 29

"Catholic Truth" 29

A Serious Misunderstanding of Scripture 31

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Appetizers

Bargain Day

Rabbi: Father, you have something in your service that I have always envied.

Priest: What is that, Rabbi?

Rabbi: The confessional.

Priest: Tomorrow is confession day. Come and sit in the box with me.

The rabbi was there when a young lady came to say: "Father, I have come to confess that I have sinned three times."

Priest: My daughter, are you sure you have sinned only three times?

"Yes, Father, only three times."

Priest: Give me ten dollars and go and sin no more.

The next was a young man, saying, "Father, I have come to confess that I have sinned three times."

Priest: My son, are you sure you have sinned only three times? Give me ten dollars and go and sin no more.

An urgent call came for the priest. Leaving the box he turned to the rabbi and said, "Rabbi, you see how we carry on. If one comes while I am away you listen to the confession."

Soon a young lady came to the box and said, "Father, I have to confess that I have sinned one time."

Rabbi: Vot, only one time?

"Yes, Father, only one time."

Rabbi: Vell, I tell you vot you do. Give me ten dollars and go and sin two more times. Ve have a special on today: three for ten dollars.—As narrated to D. F. Johnson, Florida.

High Finance

The minister arose to address his congregation. "There is a certain man among us today who is flirting with another man's wife. Unless he puts five dollars in the collection box, his name will be read from the pulpit."

When the collection plate came in, there were nineteen five-dollar bills and a two-dollar one with this note attached: "Other three payday."—New York Dairymen's League News.

The Embarrassed Parson

Mose: Rastus say Pahson Brown done kotch him in Fahmer Smith's chicken coop.

Zeke: Boy! Don' Rastus feel 'shamed?

Mose: No, suh. De pahson am de one who feel 'shamed. He can't 'splain how he done kotch Rastus dar!

CONSOLATION

"And in His name shall the nations hope."—Matthew 12:21, A. R. V.

Volume XXI Brooklyn, N. Y., Wednesday, April 17, 1940 Number 537

Religion of the Flag

UNDER complete control of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, school boards throughout the country continue to lash little children because they obey God and refuse to salute the flag. One such board, in Roseburg, Oregon, finds these words of some hireling judge excuse for their action: "Practices in the name of religion that are contrary to approved canons of morals or that are inimical to the public welfare will not be permitted even though done in the name of religion." (Supreme Court of Florida, June 1939, 190 So. 815, 816) Thus this board, although dictated to by a foreign power, sets itself up in a virtuous light before the people as protectors of American principles.

These boards, often run by old women who may wear pants but are not really worthy of masculine garb, remind one of a great bully with a bold, belligerent expression whipping little children with no fear that one of these little ones might fight back. How bravely before the kids this bully rants about lack of patriotism and how with the flogging rod he will instill patriotism of the variety he approves! How importantly he boasts of the great need for inculcating love of country by means of forcing the views of the school board on the pupils! Those who do not accede to the views of the school board will suffer dire consequences, because the school board is always right. His lash strikes again on the tearful child. "The switch will teach you little Jehovah's witnesses some sense."

All of this happens, of course, around school, where the board's word is law. But many red-blooded Americans wonder how this board acts when confronted by an adversary to American principles who can fight and is striving to destroy the country. Kids who stand for honor and for God could never do anything but enhance the country in which they live. But granting that they are a detriment, which is untrue, is it not of value to observe how sincerely this same board, howling so vociferously about patriotism, acts in following through with its avowed program of saving the good old U.S.A.? Fortunately we are furnished with an example of a powerful enemy, an agent of the Hierarchy, who "in the name of religion" is carrying on a campaign "inimical to the public welfare" and we may see what the superpatriots of the school yard are doing about it. "Father" Coughlin has for some time past been howling to turn the country over to the Nazis and recently has been implicated with the "Christian Front" in their efforts to start an armed insurrection. The action of the "Christian Front" was the direct result of Coughlin's frequently repeated radio appeals to "use bullets" in "Franco's way".

Remembering what Franco did to Spain and the further fact that Coughlin has a national following and the backing of the pope, who is in league with all the totalitarians, it is apparent that his Nazi-Catholic party is a real menace hiding behind the cloak of religion. Besides this the Hierarchy has openly declared itself in favor of the "corporate state", which means nothing more than the totalitarian state, Hitler brand. Now, in the face of this impending danger, what do we find the "patriotic" school boards doing? Are they sounding the tocsin in warning against Coughlin and recalling that America was founded mainly by those who sought escape from persecution by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy? Are they teaching the children how their courageous forefathers stood out against the Papal wolf? Do they tell the children that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy has ever been the foe of freedom and that the twisted, burned and tortured bodies of her victims who dared to disagree with her dictates bear more eloquent and terrible proof that America, whose flag once symbolized freedom, is faced with extinction? Do these boards sound the cry that destruction is ahead? The answer is, emphatically, No.

Like all bullies who have always stood for the entrenched interests, these school boards, who strut before the children, cower before a powerful antagonist. Here is the proof. The Hierarchy knows her history is such as to make a decent man recoil in disgust, and that in order to make more Catholics it is necessary to present herself in a glorious light, especially to the impressionable minds of the children. Therefore her Catholic Action party, led by the N.C.W.C., has prepared "history" books glossing over any criminal actions in her past record, or omitting these altogether, and thus substituting falsehood for fact and depriving the students of knowledge they are entitled to have, especially in these perilous times, when freedom is threatened on every side. What have the august school boards done to prevent their charges from being inoculated with such distortions and lies? Have they stood out for America and truth? The answer is, emphatically, No.

Before the Hierarchy they have lain down as meekly as a lamb and given those under their care the poison of the Hierarchy's concocting. What about the flag to which they attach so much importance? Should it not be protected from such propaganda nurtured in monasteries and nunneries, which are an outstanding disgrace to decency? Should the horrors of the Inquisition be kept from these children so that they might become the easy dupes of demagogues like Coughlin, who makes rosy promises in order to lead the ignorant to the slaughter in "Franco's way"? Should they not be told of Catholic outrages throughout the centuries, so that they could choose whether to subscribe to that brand of religion at least with their eyes open? Are not these brave child-beaters betraying every trust of decency by their subserviency to a power which hates freedom and says so?

So we see what the bully does when he is forced to either shut up or fight. He can bluff the children, but when the Hierarchy tells him what to do he jumps to it like a dog to the voice of his master. The school boards "defend" the country from little children and then lie down before powerful opponents. They slink away like yellow-bellied coyotes slipping away into the brush at the first threat of danger. Had these "teachers" lived in the days of the American Revolution they would have been Tories whipping the children because they did not salute the king and persecuting them because they did not fight with the redcoats. At least they would have tried this until George Washington and some of his men came at them, and then they would have run like the proverbial turncoat. The men of Valley Forge would have made short work of these roosters.

Let us examine some "history" books having nation-wide circulation among the schools, to see if the above charges of OMISSION AND FALSIFICATION are not correct. The Story of Nations, by Lester B. Rogers and Fay Adams, both of the University of Southern California, and Walker Brown, director of instruction of Central Schools of Los Angeles, purports to be a review of world history. This book is accepted throughout California, Texas and other states as recommended instruction in secondary schools. Similar books are in use in Oregon, New York, Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico, Colorado and many other states. Note the subtlety of the introduction:

TO THE READERS OF THIS BOOK.

The youth of today, growing up in the modern world, needs not to travel far to find things about which he wants to know more. . . . He wants to know why there are different kinds of religions. Perhaps his desire to learn may lead him to wonder why there are so many nations in the world speaking strange languages: French, Spanish, German, Russian and others so different from his own. He is eager to know the story back of these and many other things. No longer like a child, is he willing to take this world for granted. The truth of the saying dawns on him that "the roots of the present are deep in the past." . . .

Within the covers of one book it is not possible to tell the stories of all the nations, not even the complete story of any one great people. The attempt is not made in this book. Rather it is the purpose of THE STORY OF NATIONS to pass in review before you, like a pageant, the people of each nation presented. We shall dip back into the past to see how the nations began. . . .

THIS STORY OF NATIONS is presented to you with the hope that it will give you a clear understanding and a real appreciation of the peoples of other nations in this modern close-together world. . . . [Initialed by the authors.]

The obvious purpose of this introduction is to capture the confidence of small children, who will accept the above statements on their face value and begin to delve into what they think is an unbiased account of the past. It is intended for acceptance by those who have nothing with which to compare it. This meth The method of misinstruction is based on the Hierarchy's rule that if given a child in its formative years it will seldom be relieved of the Catholic blindness and religious yoke thereafter. The term misinstruction is used advisedly, as the following excerpts will prove. In the chapter dealing with Martin Luther and the Reformation one paragraph, entitled "Luther Is Called to Account", has this to say:

Luther was called to Rome to explain his statements, but he refused to go. A council of the church in Germany then gave him an opportunity to recall his statements, but he again refused. Finally he was excommunicated, or completely cut off from the church and denied its privileges. Thus what started with criticism within the church itself ended in a complete break with the church by Luther and his followers.

REFORMATION LEADS TO STRIFE AND DISAGREEMENT.

But breaking away from the control of authority led to trouble. For hundreds of years the Catholic Church had offered the people the only means of worship for the people of Europe. Now opinion as to what was right and wrong, as well as to the best forms of worship, were questioned. Men were so positive about their own opinions in religious matters that their sharp differences led even to war. In Germany conditions were worst. For thirty years religious wars were fought which plunged the many little German states into bloodshed and destruction. These bitter religious disagreements did much to delay the final union of the German people into a strong nation. For this reason the many small German states remained without a central government until years after the great European nations had been formed.

Only a flag-waver could do it

Under "OTHER LEADERS ESTABLISHED RELIGIOUS SECTS WHICH FIND THEIR WAY TO AMERICA", one quarter of a page disposes of Knox, Calvin and Wesley, while Cranmer and Tyndale are not even mentioned. Nowhere in the book The Story of Nations is the Inquisition mentioned. Nearly a full page (page 281) is devoted to the exploits of Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, of whom it is said, "Through their influence some of the peoples who had turned Protestant were brought back to the Catholic Church."

Further on the same page:

The pope began a reorganization of the government of the church and insisted on higher standards on the part of the clergy and the correction of undesirable practices. At the same time a great church council was established to safeguard the name of the church. In these ways the church recognized the spirit of the times. England, parts of Germany, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries were in large measure lost to the church, but the rest of Europe remained Catholic. This movement within the church was also carried to the New World.

Another chapter, entitled "THE ENGLISH BECOME A PROTESTANT NATION", deals in the same light way with the Protestant cause and tells nothing of the horrors of the Roman Catholic Inquisition, in which men were forced to acknowledge all manner of un-Scriptural and un-Christian rites of Roman Catholicism or suffer death by lingering fire, be slowly pulled apart by the cruel rack, or be pinched to pieces with forceps. These truths would prevent many little children from ever becoming Catholics; so this must be carefully excluded. When the Lord had any message of instruction to give the Israelites the children were commanded to be present just like the grownups, and received the message alike. Those calling themselves "teachers" would do well to recall this, and not feed the kids such Catholic slop.

The authors are educated men and women, and they well know that their account of historical events would insult the intelligence of any reader familiar with history. But children want to play, and they do not have the desire to check up on the facts; nor do they even suspect the necessity to do so. To them this is the history of the past. They get the impression that the Protestants did wrong to break away from such a "wonderful and benevolent" organization as the Roman Catholic Church. The Story of Nations even uses the Catholic custom of calling the Roman Catholic church "the church" and "mother church", further befuddling the mind of the youngster. This is done in spite of the fact that at least 75 or 80 percent of these children are Protestant. But nothing shall be put in their way to prevent their espousing the Catholic "faith" if they later desire to do so. In other words, these honored authors did the bidding of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy by apologizing for any "slight errors" of the most beastly organization that has ever dishonored Jehovah on the face of the earth. Speaking of this same "church" the Lord states her fate:

"The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it."—Isaiah 28: 17, 18.

Thus will the Hierarchy go down, and all the lying teachers who do her will!

The above is sufficient proof that the teachers do not hold the American flag in any regard or they would inform the children correctly as to why America was founded to give real freedom. Remembering how our forefathers suffered for breaking away from Catholicism, teachers would be loath to abuse little children who are doing much like Washington and the Minute Men, who stood in the face of strong odds for what meant freedom and liberty to worship. They would not beat or otherwise abuse a child for obeying the dictates of his conscience.

Even fair worldly newspapers which have little regard for Jehovah or His THEOCRATIC GOVERNMENT, which will bring all blessings to the obedient, well see the wrong of this enforced flag salute. The Dallas Morning News, issue of February 12, states:

SALUTING THE FLAG

For the great majority of Americans, the saluting of the Stars and Stripes—as done daily by soldiers and sailors and on special occasions by civilians—is a normal and unobjectionable expression of patriotism that does not in any way conflict with their religion. But a few small sects persist in finding compulsory salute of the flag inconsistent with their creed; and as a result, children of their members have on various occasions been thrown out of the public schools and thus deprived of the education for which they help to pay.

These children, when they refuse to salute the flag, are, of course, only carrying out teachings they have received from their parents and pastors. Their parents, in general, are good citizens of long standing, even though their peculiar view of the relations of flag-saluting to religion seems irrational to the majority. It seems hard to justify the stand of those school boards that regard patriotism as something to be forced rather than taught, and that punish innocent children for the conscientious objections of their parents.

In Philadelphia recently, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated the flag-salute law of Minersville, Pa., under which two children of members of Jehovah's witnesses had been expelled from school. The school board has declared that it will appeal this decision to the Supreme Court. If this is done and if the Supreme Court consents to review the case, the authority of public school officials in overriding the conscientious objections of pupils and their parents may be determined more clearly than is now the case.

A recent publication entitled The Catholic Crisis contains full and convincing proof that the Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church controls all national publicity agencies and news agencies, with few exceptions, in the United States; and that the Hierarchy is in league with all the totalitarians, Hitler, Mussolini and Franco, who are also allies of Stalin of Russia. WORLD RUIN IS THEIR PROGRAM.

In view of these conditions, which were foretold by the Scriptures, is it not essential that the children be given the real history of Catholicism, that they might know what to do now? Every American is threatened by the totalitarian nations, as they are bent on getting control of all the earth. Would not the teachers better protect the welfare of the United States by informing the children that Rome and Catholic Action back Hitler and the other murderers who are destroying Europe, and tell them what Nazism will bring here, as is grimly envisioned by the following press account? Is it children who prefer to obey God rather than men who menace the country, or is it the Catholic Hierarchy, that would like to put in America what is horribly described below?—

NAZIS TO PUNISH RADIO LISTENERS

By Associated Press

Berlin, Jan. 27.—Roland Freisler, secretary of state in the justice ministry, today admonished all German law enforcement agencies to deal severely with persons found listening to foreign broadcasts in violation of an order issued last September. Writing in Deutsche Justiz, official organ of the nation’s judges, lawyers and court officials, Freisler said that judges had no alternatives to meting out penitentiary sentences to violators, with death in the most flagrant cases.

Teachers and history inventors are both eager to kiss the Hierarchy’s toe. School boards approve stuff dished out to the kids in the name of history in which the unspeakable chapters of Catholic violence have been torn out because such truths might shock the religious susceptibilities of prelates, priests and such ilk. These Scriptural “whited sepulchers” may continue to beat the children whose members will form the race which will never die, and abuse them for a time. They may also cower in abject submission to Rome while hollering loud about the American flag, and remain undetected for a while. But when these skirted sissies face the EXECUTIONER, who is CHRIST JESUS fighting for the name of Jehovah and the oppressed peoples of earth, they will go down like weeds. “And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.” (Jeremiah 25:33) HAIL TO JEHOVAH AND HIS KING CHRIST JESUS, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CHILDREN WHO TRUST IN HIM! You faithful children, according to the Scriptures, will rejoice in the salvation of Jehovah when your persecutors have become manure piles. (Psalm 13:5)—Elton Groves.

Miscellany

Massachusetts Aping Germany

◆ Germany and Russia have concentration camps where men and women are committed whom the state considers dangerous, whose consciences it cannot control. Is Massachusetts now going to imprison eight-year-old children for identically the same reason?

This week our local court decreed that a family of children, one of them eight years old, should be taken from their parents and committed to the Hampden County Training School [because they conscientiously refuse to salute any flag].

Where then rests the responsibility for breaking up that home and taking those children from their parents and committing them to a house of correction?

The responsibility rests squarely on the shoulders of our legislators, the men who passed the law originally and who refused to repeal it this year.

One wonders if these legislators think that this training school can force those children to act. One wonders whether corporal punishment or the denial of food or what other institutional means may be used at this training school will force the children to do as these legislators have decreed. I’d like to know what method is now going to be used to make these children obey this law. For obviously the sole justification of taking these children from their home and parents and committing them to this institution is to compel them to obey this law. Compel them how?—Robert J. Raible, Unitarian pastor, in an address in Greenfield, Massachusetts, as reported in the Springfield Union.

Shopping in the Big City

◆ Those interested in coming to New York city on shopping tours, and adequately impressed by newspaper and other advertising as to the advantages to be obtained by making their purchases in the metropolis, should be interested in the report of William Fellows Morgan, Jr., as to his experiences on a seven-hour shopping tour. Morgan, who happens to be the city commissioner of markets, made five purchases and was surprised to find that he was cheated on every purchase. In women’s clothing stores he bought three pairs of “pure silk” women’s stockings which were found to be cheap substitutes; at a filling station he purchased five gallons of gas, which measured one pint short. At a butcher shop he bought two chickens, each of which was one-fourth of a pound short, and, to add insult to injury, the dealer had a sign in his window advertising chicken at 16c a pound, but sold it at 18c. Mr. Morgan was surprised that the businessmen of New York are so crooked, and at least five businessmen were surprised when they were handed summons to court and discovered that the jig was temporarily up. One naturally wonders if other cities have as many crooked merchants as New York, and if not, why not. Also, if there are any honest merchants in New York or elsewhere; if so, why.

UNDER THE TOTALITARIAN FLAG

In the City of William Lloyd Garrison

WHY WERE THE JEHOVAH WITNESSES MOLESTED LAST SUNDAY AND THEIR PEACEFUL MEETING AT MASONIC HALL QUESTIONED?

IS THE CITY OF WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON FAME UNDER DESPOTIC RULE?

I wonder if there is freedom of speech here in Newburyport as granted by the constitution of the United States; or are we having a preview of the dictatorship methods used by the European countries?

When attempts are made to break up a peaceful Sunday meeting and police officers are stationed outside the entrance of a building to intimidate anyone desiring to attend the meeting, it is high time that Newburyport liberty-loving citizens look into the situation.

Masonic Hall was hired for a meeting of Jehovah's witnesses last Sunday. They paid for it in advance. Sunday morning more than 200 witnesses from greater Boston and vicinity visited homes in this city and Salisbury to extend invitations to attend a public lecture on "Government and Peace" to be given at three o'clock Sunday afternoon.

The talk, based on Bible prophecies, exposed the forces that are now trying to undermine the American Democracy and establish a dictatorship in this country similar to those already existing in many countries of Europe.

At noon, former city solicitor Malcolm Ayers, who heads the Masonic Building Association, notified the janitor, John Wills, that he would have to cancel the contract for the hall. He had received protests from certain people opposing the meeting.

Since the lecture had been extensively advertised throughout Salisbury and Newburyport at some little expense, Henry G. Judson, of Fairhaven, refused to accept the cancellation of the contract and would not take the return of the money. He pointed out that there had been a peaceful assembly of the witnesses at the hall in the morning and there was no possible reason for the cancellation based on the actions of the witnesses at the hall.

Mr. Ayers then called police to aid him in forcing the cancellation of the hall and eject the witnesses from the building. The witnesses then sought the protection of the state police, at the state headquarters on Commonwealth pier. They were advised that they could bring charges of assault against any persons, police officer or otherwise, who laid hands on them to eject them from a peaceful assembly where there was no question of a disorder. As long as they had paid for the hall they had the right to remain there.

When Attorney Ayers arrived at the hall with three local police officers, Henry G. Fenders, Clinton S. Nason and Eugene Sullivan, a Bible study was being conducted as part of the convention activities.

"You seem to be a very orderly people here," Mr. Ayers told Mr. Judson in some surprise. "I was told there was going to be a riot and that the building might be damaged."

When he was assured that Jehovah's witnesses were assembled for the worship of God and to study Bible prophecies in the light of recent world events, and that any disturbance would be caused only by outside forces seeking to disrupt their peaceful meeting, Mr. Ayers stated that he would withdraw his complaint. However, the three police officers remained in the cruiser outside the entrance to the hall throughout the meeting.

Mr. Ayers, who were the people who complained? Were they heroes of the past?

The Police Department is supposed to be for the protection of citizens. Why not run a course of instructions this winter to teach our police force their duties? Had it not been for the State Police, Newburyport might have been the laughingstock of the state. As it was, the Boston Globe, last Wednesday evening issue, refers to the episode in an uncomplimentary manner in its editorial column.—The Newburyport (Mass.) Liberator.

Rebuke of a Cowardly Mayor

◆ Obsessed with the idea that spies and traitors and public enemies are invading Burlington with evil designs, Mayor Burns is fighting a war all his own these days. One of the major battles to date occurred last Saturday, when the mayor succeeded in preventing . . . Jehovah's witnesses from holding a meeting in the city hall, though they did meet in the Knights of Pythias hall, according to reports.

The preliminaries of this affair occurred some two weeks ago, according to the story, when a local man approached Mayor Burns and engaged the city hall for this meeting. The city’s vociferous chief executive is reported to have declared, “We treat ’em all alike,” and granted permission for the meeting. The sum of $15 was paid to the city treasurer later to bind the bargain.

Saturday evening came, and with it the witnesses to hold the meeting. Meanwhile protests had reached the mayor, so he says. So the witnesses were subjected to questioning, one of them was held temporarily on suspicion of being a spy, but was later freed after investigation, and the permission for the meeting was withdrawn and the money refunded.

The reason given for denying use of the city hall, after it had been granted, was that opposition and dissension had been aroused in the city. That was the reason, if we remember correctly, given by Mayor Hague why a certain labor organization to which he objected was not allowed to meet in Jersey City. Upon appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, it was later established that Mayor Hague had no authority to refuse permission for such a meeting.

Grant, however, that Mayor Burns and his associates on the finance committee have authority to deny use of the city hall. In doing so on this occasion, they have raised the question as to whether Burlington is to be included among those cities which deny the right of free speech, freedom of religious worship and free assembly under the Constitution.

The Free Press has no great interest in this organization called Jehovah’s witnesses. We doubt if it has many followers in Burlington, or that it would have created much of a stir by holding a meeting in the city hall or anywhere else in the city. But its right to meet, so long as the assembly was peaceful, is so well established under the Constitution of the United States that anybody who attempts to prevent such assemblies may be suspected of a misconception (to express it charitably) of the form of government under which we live.

Mayor Burns did not see fit to disclose what organizations or persons entered the protest which resulted in his Saturday night activities in this case. In a matter of this kind, those under suspicion are entitled to be confronted with a public declaration of the suspicions and the names of those who suspect them.

There are some indications that our mayor thinks the United States is on a war basis, and that a local emergency exists which requires a dictatorial form of government in Burlington, with all constitutional provisions suspended. If he has such an idea, we respectfully suggest that he take a day off from looking for spies around every corner and spend it reading the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and perhaps the City Charter.

If he will do this, perhaps we can avoid the necessity of setting up a concentration camp within the city limits before war is actually declared.—The Burlington (Vt.) Free Press.

Burlington Stung by Crooks

◆ The mayor of Burlington, Vermont, who distinguished himself as an “American” by returning $15 paid him by Jehovah’s witnesses, and refusing to rent them the city hall, after they had advertised their meeting, admitted that in one instance he had let an organization have the city hall free and the city had been stung to the tune of $32 for a water bill which such organization incurred. Quite likely it was this same organization that pushed the mayor to repudiate his contract.

Useless Oaths

◆ The proposal to incorporate in the new relief bill a provision that all WPA workers shall take the oath of allegiance to the United States is about as sensible as the oath this state now requires of teachers. The intention, we are told, is to protect us from the machinations of the Communists, who are plotting to overthrow American institutions by force or guile.

Does any sane person believe that a man meditating the betrayal of our republic into the hands of Stalin, or perhaps Molotoff, will balk at a little thing like a bit of swearing?

As a loyal Marxist, such a man would not believe in oaths anyway. “Religion is the opium of the masses.” On the other hand, there must be among our WPA workers, as in the teaching profession, persons of such high principle as to resent being singled out as members of a suspicious class. Their objection, as in the case of the non-juring teachers, is not to pledging loyalty to the republic, but to being required to give a pledge not required of their fellow citizens.—Boston Herald.

Two Bright Young Women

Two bright young women of Bridgeport had an idea. They made some homemade nuns' garments and trailed in and out of New York as commuters, panhandling in the usual manner after arrival. They did a good business, raking in $15 to $20 a day, which shows what this particular form of graft nets the workers. Unfortunately for them, somebody tumbled to their racket in Bridgeport, telephoned ahead to New York, the ladies were followed, and the jig was up. They could have worked their racket all right if they had split up with the rest of the gang. But this business of hanging on to the whole 100 percent of the money taken in would never do; so they were arrested for obtaining money under false pretense, which was quite right. The whole thing is a swindle, from top to bottom.

Also Knight of the Black Satchel

◆ The Santa Barbara (Calif.) News-Press states that the widow of E. L. Doheny was made a Papal countess by Pope Pius XII. It also states that before his death her husband had been a Knight of St. Gregory, the same as Martin T. Manton, and a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. It will be recalled that this is the Doheny who sent $100,000 in cash in a black satchel to Albert L. Fall, when the latter was secretary of the interior. The Government found Fall guilty of receiving a bribe, but nothing was done with the Knight of Saint Gregory, the knight of the Black Satchel (full of bribes), and the Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, except to take back the oil lands which belonged to the people.

Must Get Down on Marrow Bones

◆ The first time a plenary indulgence was given to anybody over the radio was on August 24, 1939; but even if you heard the gibberish from Vatican City, that doesn't mean that you got a blessing. You positively didn't get one thing in the way of a "blessing" unless you kneeled before your radio receiver. That is all explained by the National Broadcasting Company; and if they don't know who gets "blessed", who would?

Nuns Pay No Fares

◆ On the streetcars of New Orleans, Denver, Houston and San Francisco nuns travel free. When they come back after one of their begging campaigns they are out not one cent.

The Trained Bull

◆ In the Chicago stockyards there is employed a trained bull, whose job it is to run down the incline, followed by the cattle that are to be slaughtered. The bull by rights should have lace pants and a collar which buttons on the back. He has a niche in which he slips for safety while the cattle press on to be slaughtered.

The London Catholic Universe, a month after the war started, told of the care that is taken to protect the trained bulls, in the following statement:

Theological students, defined as follows, have been added to the schedule of reserved occupations:

Theological student: a man who was before September, 1939, established in his course as a student at an institution recognized by any religious denomination as a training institution for holy orders or for regular ministers of that denomination, while he continues as such a student and intends to qualify for Holy Orders or for appointment as a regular minister.

Men in Holy Orders and regular ministers of religious denominations are exempted from military service under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, 1939. The new entry in the schedule of reserved occupations accords reservation to men who before the outbreak of war were established in their courses as students at recognized institutions for the training of men for Holy Orders or for the ministry of the Church.

Petty Tyrants Hard Hit

◆ The New Orleans Tribune said:

It is time now to consider the handbill and pamphlet issue as settled, and for the hard-bitten aldermen, mayors and police chiefs who have constituted themselves censors of the job presses of the country to give up the fight. It is just no use. They are going to have to grit their teeth and give their political critics and opponents, among others, free handbill access to the public.

New Orleans has had its full share of arrests for distributing printed matter to which somebody objected. We should have no more of such petty tyranny henceforth.

“The Dead Know Not Any Thing”

◆ The Scriptures say that "the dead know not any thing"; and therefore there is considerable public interest attaching to the headlines of the New York Herald Tribune, "Crowds Pray to Woman Who Died in 1881." The woman, known as "Mother Mary Mazzarello", was beatified by the late Pope Pius XI; but that means nothing, not one single thing, except a sin of presumption on his part against Jehovah God.

Among the Rag and Bone Merchants

I used to be a so-called "mass server". My duty, until I was seventeen years old, was to follow papa around, hand him his wine, and then run around and hold his tail up, and ring a little bell while papa was 'making blood out of the wine'. It was the funniest blood I ever saw; with all his mumbling it still smelled like wine.

Do you know that mass is no good unless it is said over the "bones of saints"? Here is how it is done. In the center of the altar is a square inset cut about ten inches each way, with an inch drop, making room for a marble plate 1 inch by 10 inches by 10 inches. When the plate is in place the altar surface is level, and with the altar cloth on, the plate is not noticeable. In the center of the marble plate there is a square hole two inches across, and in this hole are placed some bones of dead "saints".—Ray Hann, Illinois.

Wages of Joseph Klaszeh

◆ The Focus, New York city, contains a reproduction of the statement issued to Joseph Klaszeh, a miner working for some unidentified coal corporation in Jefferson county, Alabama. Around the company town in which he lives is a cordon of armed guards to keep organizers and newspapermen from entering. The statement shows that in a certain half month Joseph mined 102 tons of coal, for which his compensation at 33 cents per ton would have been $33.66 if he had been paid in cash. But he was charged $4.40 for powder, 50 cents for smithing, $9.77 for supplies, $5 for rent, $2.50 for coal, $4 for store, 55 cents for taxes, $1 for union dues, $1 for union assessment, 50 cents for collection, and $1 for the priest. Allowing that Joseph paid all these charges, overcharges, grafts and swindles, including the $1 for the priest, for which he got nothing in return, he would still have had $3.44 coming to him; but the deductions were added up wrong, so that he was swindled out of 34 cents (one percent of his gross earnings), and his net cash reward for a half month's work was $3.10. To round this picture out nicely it would have been in order for a couple of black scarecrows to have been waiting at the pay window with their hands stretched out from beneath their maternity gowns to split between them what Joe had left. He could have paid over $1.55 to each of these birds and gone home to his family feeling that he was what he was, a poor duped, robbed, swindled, lied-to, deceived and oppressed member of the Catholic population.

It Just Ain't So (?)

◆ New Orleans.—Evasive "whispering campaign" gossip to the effect that Archbishop Joseph F. Rummel of this city and other members of the Catholic clergy are in any way implicated in the Louisiana "hot oil" scandal was scotched by a statement by O. John Rogge, assistant U. S. attorney general, who is conducting an investigation into the scandal. Rogge said that no investigation is being made of the archbishop and that nothing involving him had come to light. Archbishop Rummel also gave the lie to the gossip in an indignant public statement.—Altoona Register (Roman Catholic).

Shriving the Pater

◆ Recently the daughter of one of the Jonadabs connected with the Cambridge company of Jehovah's witnesses was riding home to Watertown on a crowded streetcar, in company with her girl friend. As they tried to work their way up through the aisle of the car her girl friend inadvertently crowded rather abruptly against a priest of the Catholic church who was standing in the aisle. Turning rather sharply to her he said: "Young lady, do you know who I am? I'm a 'father'." "Congratulations!" was her prompt rejoinder. That closed the incident.—William B. Fowler, Massachusetts.

Why All the Rush?

◆ For more than 150 years honest Americans have obeyed the law without being compelled to salute the flag. Why the zeal now to compel flag-saluting?

The reason is that the same powers that caused Fascism and Hitlerism to seize control in Europe are moving to control American institutions and the compulsory flag-saluting is but a part of that program.—E. C. Anderson, in the Bridgeport Post.

Seems Reasonable

◆ When you have little children of eight years of age and they do not salute the flag, and you send them off to a prison camp, that does not represent the highest form of democracy.—Dr. Anton J. de Haas, professor of international relations at Harvard University, in address in North Adams, Massachusetts.

(To be continued) RIGHTEOUS RULER

THE NEW GOVERNMENT

New York Convention

◆ The witnesses throughout Australia assembled in Sydney for a united convention to coincide with the New York convention. Application was made for the Sydney town hall, and it was refused. This action, as in the case when Judge Rutherford was here in person, resulted in plenty of newspaper publicity, and the subject was again the topic of conversation throughout the city. Sir Benjamin Fuller, one of the few lovers of freedom among the peers, read of the banning of the town hall and voluntarily offered to hire one of his theaters for the occasion. A real service convention was held there, and both of Judge Rutherford's speeches, "Victory" and "Government and Peace", were received with remarkable clarity. Even though the public lecture came through at six o'clock on Monday morning, a good crowd assembled in the hall to hear it. Everyone was tense as Judge Rutherford announced: "The Catholics and the Nazis are trying to break up this meeting, but, by God's grace, they cannot do it."—1940 Yearbook of Jehovah's witnesses, pages 105, 106.

The Great Shepherd Knows His Sheep

◆ While out in the country witnessing with my mother, brother and two little boys, we saw three little homes far up on the mountain. We made two attempts to reach them with the car, but each time something stopped us. My brother said, "The Devil must know there are some people of good will up there and wants to keep us away from them." With that my son Billy, aged 8 years, and I decided to walk. We had about a mile of very bad roads. Results: Ten listeners, 1 Salvation book, and 10 booklets; made an arrangement for all three families to meet for a lecture; took an order for a three-book combination and had the joy of looking into the sparkling eyes of my son and hearing him say, "Boy! I'm glad we walked up here."—Mrs. R. G. Young, Virginia.

Setting the Prisoner Free

◆ During a visit at a friend's home, trying to get him to renew his subscription for Consolation, Judge Rutherford's name was mentioned and a woman present said, "Rutherford! he is no good; he is a Red." I said, "You are mistaken." She said, "Two of those persons came to my door, suggesting that I turn Communist." I replied, "They were not Jehovah's witnesses, if that was their mission; you are not telling the truth." She then said, "I had two of them arrested for coming to my door"; whereupon I reminded her that the Lord said that if she did it to one of the Lord's she did it to Him, that it is a very serious matter, and that she had no right to speak evil things of any when she had not read the books and did not know what they teach. She is now attending a Salvation study, has heard "Fascism or Freedom", and says she is sorry, and that she was a fool to listen to what others told her.—Sybil Rogers, Fla.

Australia

◆ The city of Newcastle is the center of a vast coal-field and steel industry. Its population numbers a quarter of a million people. Early in May the servant of the local company made application for the city hall, in which to present "Face the Facts", and paid over the money for the hire of the hall. An intensive advertising campaign was arranged, and for three weeks leaflets were distributed, announcements made by sound-car and radio, and information marches conducted throughout the city. On the morning of the lecture unofficial notice was received that our engagement of the hall was canceled. No explanations were given and the notice was ignored. Advertising continued, and the civic fathers became desperate. At the scheduled time there were a thousand people gathered outside the hall, but the lights were out and an unsigned notice on the doors announced that the meeting was off. The chairman climbed on the top of a sound-car and told the crowd what had happened and that the Catholic-Fascists were responsible. All but a few parochially trained hooligans vigorously applauded the remarks and unhesitatingly adopted a resolution protesting against the action of the mayor. A special leaflet setting forth the facts in very clear language was printed overnight and distributed to every home next day. A contingent of 100 publishers came by boat from Sydney to join in the fray and help with the work.

Public opinion in Newcastle during the succeeding weeks showed clearly that the mayor's action of suppression was not at all appreciated. Thousands of persons signed a petition to hear the lecture in the town hall. Later application was again made, this time for the lecture "Fascism or Freedom". The council in considering the matter voted 18 to 2 in favor of our having it. A good crowd heard the lecture at the city hall, and although there were a number of hooligans sent there by the Catholic priests, they were too afraid to do anything. This was a real victory for the Lord's army, and the Devil's representatives have not recovered yet. [The mayor lost his job since.]

Jehovah's Kingdom publishers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—a Hierarchy stronghold

Brazil

◆ The sound-car has continued its weekly programs, bringing the gracious Kingdom message to the ears of many thousands of people. Throughout another year, still the object of bitter hatred and attempted efforts to silence it on the part of the Hierarchy's agents, it has not once failed, with the Lord's help, to give its scheduled programs. On "All Soul's Day", called in Brazil "The Day of the Dead", the car, with about half a dozen publishers, visited the cemeteries, gave appropriate lectures, "Where Are the Dead?" "Purgatory," "Resurrection," "Jehovah," and "Riches", to more than 43,000 hearers, and the publishers placed considerable literature, among which were more than 200 booklets Where Are the Dead?—1940 Yearbook of Jehovah's witnesses, page 118.

A Catholic priest complained to the authorities that the little band of less than a dozen humble Polish and German farmers who were calling on their neighbors with the gracious news of God's kingdom of righteousness, which exposes the crookedness of the clergy, were "endangering the Brazilian government, circulating seditious literature". Their literature was seized and sent to Porto Alegre for investigation, and every time the publishers started out in the service their literature fell into the hands of the police immediately. From Porto Alegre an intercepted registered letter of instruction to the witnesses from the Sao Paulo office as to how to proceed was sent to Sao Paulo with orders to "investigate" the activities of the Society and make a report. The officer of the Bureau of Investigations into whose hands the order came was visited by two Catholic priests who offered to bribe him to make an adverse report and close the Society. Being an honorable man who knew of the work, having heard the sound-car programs, he came directly to the branch office himself rather than trust any subordinate who might yield to bribes. A report was made stating properly the nature of our work, and the further report that we were being persecuted by the priests. A formal protest was made, and the literature was requested returned. After some months' delay the literature was returned, the delegado who had interfered was removed, and the witnesses have been given a written statement that no officer within the jurisdiction of the present delegado shall in any wise interfere with the work of Jehovah's witnesses. Since that time the work is going ahead in Rio Grande do Sul, the people of good will are showing themselves, and the publishers are manifesting greater zeal and activity than ever before. Three of them are entering the pioneer service, and others are preparing to enter soon.

On a Sunday in December, while the sound-car was giving a program in Itaquera, a town near Sao Paulo, and a group of the Sao Paulo publishers witnessed in the town, the sound-car was seized and sent to Sao Paulo under guard and about half a dozen of the publishers were arrested, held for several hours and then sent in to the city. When we reached the Bureau of Investigation we were immediately released, treated to afternoon coffee, and the officers were rebuked for wasting the city's money for gasoline to transport innocent people to jail. A formal protest against the action of the mayor of Itaquera was entered with the proper authorities, a copy of this was published in Consolacao, together with a write-up of the arrests, and another "locust attack" was made upon the town, this time with the sound-car and phonographs using the "Enemies" record, which had arrived in the meantime. The mayor, though raging and threatening, was unable to do anything. The town was thoroughly covered by the sound-car and copies of Consolacao, much literature was placed, and the next week the mayor lost his job.—1940 Yearbook of Jehovah's witnesses, pages 119, 120.

A resident of Kissimmee, Florida, broadcasts the Kingdom message from his home

Kingdom hall, El Centro, California

Not So Bad After All

◆ On Sunday, October 22, my wife and I walked about five miles out in the country while witnessing. We had started a Tower study with some persons of good will and were on our way home, when we decided to stop at a house near the bus line and witness to the people living there while waiting for the bus. We were very tired and did not feel able to walk all the way home again. I played the record "Snare and Racket" for eleven listeners there. Then they started asking questions. I tried to answer all their questions with the scriptures from the Bible, and all of them seemed very much interested.

Suddenly from back in the house I heard a commotion and a very excited voice; then the lady of the house rushed out to where we were sitting, and in a very angry voice informed us that she was a Baptist herself, and that she had a leader. She said, "My pastor teaches me all I need to know." Then she told us, "We don't need none of your teachings here. You can just go on somewhere else," and she waved her hands at us to move on. We didn't go, however. I could see that her husband and sons were liking the message, and I had already found out that he was not a member of her church. They said he was 'just a sinner', but he had read some of the books and liked them fine. He and all the others were so enthused over what I was telling them about the Bible facts that they didn't even notice that she was talking.

Finally, when she kept up her talk, I turned to her and began to ask her some questions. Very much to the amusement of her husband and the others there, I quoted to her the scripture at Hebrews 13:2 and Genesis 18:3-8. Every question she asked to try to uphold her religion, I knocked it out with the scripture. At first she wouldn't believe what I read out of my Bible. She said my Bible wasn't like hers, so I bade her get her own Bible and read. When she first started to read she would slowly shake her head as if she could not believe her own eyes; then as she continued to read she started bowing her head up and down, slowly at first, and then faster, as if for the first time she was really seeing something.

As some of the others started talking to me then, I forgot her for a little. The next thing we knew we smelled food cooking. As Sarah in the Genesis account, she was cooking a meal for the strangers. It was right amusing. Soon dinner was announced and she told us to be seated at the table and give thanks, for we were truly welcome.

It was very interesting, and we believe some good was done. We left four pieces of literature; among them were Face the Facts and Government and Peace. On leaving them they told us to be sure to come back.—R. J. Norman, Pioneer.

Two Kingdom boys in Texas

(Every ten years they are in the work they look ten years younger. Works the same with the girls too. None of them look over 30)

Zone 10, Texas, in assembly

Witness Work Renewed in Fiji

◆ The witness work has been renewed in Fiji, with Government approval, and is now in better shape than ever. The study meetings are well attended and the house-to-house work is engaged in regularly by those who love the Lord. Thousands of books are being placed.

The Devil overreached himself and stuck his foot in it.

The change came about through the governor's granting an official interview with the representative of Jehovah's witnesses, at which seven points were discussed: (a) a petition of Fiji natives for the WATCH TOWER literature; (b) a request for information as to why The Harp of God and other publications were listed as contrary to public interest; (c) a request for information as to why the government was not prepared to state reasons for prohibiting importation of certain publications; (d) the submission of evidence that the WATCH TOWER is doing a good work and promoting a better citizenship in Fiji; (e) proof from the Bible that Jehovah's witnesses, in presenting Bible truths to the people, are aiding the Empire; (f) a request for the rescinding of Orders-in-Council hindering the work of the WATCH TOWER in Fiji; and (g) the presentation of a petition signed by the regular attenders of meetings held in Fiji by Jehovah's witnesses.

At the interview it was established that 40,000 pieces of literature had been placed in the colony and had not caused the slightest disturbance among the natives. Proof was also submitted from the Catholic Press that the Hierarchy opposes the Bible and yet is shielded by a government which claims to be Christian, Protestant and democratic, while true Christians are persecuted. The results of the interview were satisfactory to all concerned, and it is only to be regretted that the influence of clergymen postponed the matter so long.

Jehovah's witnesses in Memel

◆ It was only a few weeks after the city of Memel was taken over by Hitler that two of Jehovah's witnesses residing in that city were sentenced to two and one-half years' imprisonment for being real Christians in a land under Nazi control.

Still Some Liberty in Brooklyn*

Five of the Bethel boys were out on a busy street intersection in Brooklyn on Saturday, February 24, placing the message of God’s Kingdom in the hands of the people in magazine form [some had The Watchtower and some Consolation] and they forgot to cable Myron or Papa to know if it would be all right.

Leahy the cop (now, don’t ask his “church” and embarrass everybody) heard the boys saying “Read the truth about religion and see for yourself that it is the world’s biggest racket”, and when he saw the magazines going like hot cakes he forgot all about this being a democracy, and though he may have heard something about freedom of speech and of the press, and had sworn to uphold them, and be loyal to them, and defend them with his life, yet he “thought” that in some way these principles are Communism, and at the right time he should show his bringing-up and come to the defense of Papa, no matter what.

So he arrested all five of the boys; and when one of the boys over six feet tall, but less than 18 years of age, was placed in a cell with 17 criminals, one of the prisoners came up to him and wanted to know if he was in for rape.

At length the thing came into court. Leahy was placed on the stand, and when he was asked if he is a Roman Catholic his voice was scarcely audible, but he murmured “Yes”. Nobody laughed aloud, but everybody nearly died inside.

Leahy claimed that it was because they shouted too loud that he arrested them. When he was asked to show by example just how loud the boys were saying “Religion is a snare and a racket” he got so excited that he nearly lost his artificial teeth and cheeped so low he could hardly be heard. Everybody nearly died some more.

He was asked if it is not true that “Reverend Father” Coughlin’s “Social Justice” magazine is regularly distributed at this same location. His answer was “Yes!” and he admitted that he had not arrested any of those distributors. With crimson face he denied that he is a member of “The Christian Front”.

The judge on the bench nearly died from suppressed mirth, but he kept a straight face and tried to hurry the case to a finish, but the attorneys for the WATCHTOWER were in no hurry. They wanted to get in a good witness for Jehovah God. So the boys all testified as to what they had said, and the voice in which they had said it. Then the judge dismissed the case and said the boys were perfectly within their rights; that it was perfectly apparent that their ideals are of the highest; that they are not criminals; that they have a perfect right to their ideas, and to present them to others, and that nobody has the right to interfere; and that it would be the best thing for the country if it had more boys of the same kind.

…