Consolation, August 21, 1940

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Contents

Religious Governments versus The Theocracy (Part 1). 3

The Religious Country of Spain 6

Franco as Bad as Mussolini or Hitler 7

Aviation 9

Balkan States 10

Baltic States 11

The New Government

Kingdom Privileges in Syria 12

The Old Hierarchy Was Working 12

“Armenian” and “Theocracy” 13

Britain’s C-O Tribunals 14

Jehovah’s witnesses—Who and What They Are 16

Copied by J. F. Rutherford

Religionist Intolerance 17

Big Business

What Price Profit? 19

Morgan Does Not Control 19

Under the Totalitarian Flag

Pacelli and Hitler—An Exposure 20

Meat on Fridays 21

Birds, Bees, Fish 25

Britain 26

Canada 27

British Comment

Clouds Gathering Round Britain 28

“Blind Leaders of the Blind” 30

Turkey 31

Published every other Wednesday by

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Appetizers

Up Boston Way

“How old are you?” inquired the visitor of his host’s little son.

“That’s a difficult question,” answered the young man, removing his spectacles and wiping them carefully. “The latest personal survey available shows my psychological age to be 12, my moral age 4, my anatomical age 7, and my physiological age 6. I suppose, however, that you refer to my chronological age, which is 8. That is so old-fashioned that I seldom think of it any more.”—Labor.

The Politest Boy

Fussy Man—“Here, boy, where does Mr. Smythe live?”

Polite Boy—“I’ll show you, sir”, and he started to climb the stairs. Up six flights he went with the visitor following breathlessly. Finally he paused at an open door and said, “This is where Mr. Smythe lives.”

Fussy Man—“He doesn’t seem to be home,” peering into the room.

Polite Boy—“No; he was standing at the entrance as we came in.”—Tit-Bits.

All Modern Conveniences

A little girl brushing her hair found that it crackled, and asked her mother why it did. “Why, dear, you have electricity in your hair,” explained the mother.

“Isn’t that funny?” commented the little one. “I have electricity in my hair and grandmother has gas in her stomach.”—Australian Consolation.

Expecting Too Much

Mother: Willie, a while ago there were two pies here on the shelf; now there is one. How is that?

Willie: Well, I just couldn’t eat another one.—Kellygram.

Should Be More Independent

A little boy who had to rock the cradle for his baby sister: “Mamma, if the Lord has any more babies to give away, don’t you take them.”

In a Michigan Sunday School

Teacher: What does it mean to deliver a man?

Pupil: To deliver a man means to remove his liver.

CONSOLATION

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

Volume XXI Brooklyn, N. Y., Wednesday, August 21, 1940 Number 646

Religious Governments versus The Theocracy

(In Two Parts—Part 1)

THE views herein set forth can hardly be any more popular than they were in the days of Christ Jesus. He was not interested in the politics of the Roman Empire. He taught that hate is murder and that the clergy are hypocrites. His followers were of the meek and lowly. They were not trying to rise in the community. They were not cowards. They were not liars. They were not afraid to tell the truth and take the consequences behind bars or on the tree.

The memoirs of Gabriel Hanotaux explain that the United States was put into the World War by the banking house of J. P. Morgan. It was done officially by the American ambassador to France, Myron T. Herrick, and two official representatives of the house of Morgan, namely, Robert Bacon and William G. Sharp. The deal was made just after President Wilson had been re-elected because he had kept America out of the war. The guaranteed reversal of American opinion was done by 25 papers under Morgan control. They knew in advance what they had the power to do, and did it by that means.

The house of Morgan believes in paying taxes only when it must. So said Mr. Morgan, head of the house, in explanation of why he paid no income taxes in 1930 and 1931. Mr. Morgan’s father was a very religious man, one of the main spokes in the wheel of the Anglican Church in the United States.

Putting the United States into the World War was not entirely altruistic. It was correctly calculated that there would be huge financial returns, and there were. In the four years before the war the average annual profit of the United States Steel Company was $105,000,000, but during the four years of the war their profits were of the annual average of $240,000,000. In the case of Bethlehem Steel the respective figures were $7,000,000 and $49,000,000. In the case of the Du Pont Company, $6,000,000 and $58,000,000.

Du Pont Patriotism

When he visited this country a few years ago it was said that Eugene Pacelli, now Pius XII, invested huge sums of the church in the Du Pont enterprises. Probably he knew war was coming. One of President Roosevelt’s sons married one of the Du Pont girls.

The big financiers believe in getting theirs in this life, especially if they are interested in the munition business. The papers which they own publish what they are supposed to publish; the banks do what they are told, the governments are silent or reverse their policies and the politicians are their clerks.

One of America’s frugal millionaires had $245,000,000 quite some years back. If Adam had worked at $115 a day and worked seven days in the week and were still alive, and saved every cent he made, he would have even less than this man. This rich man wants not less money, however, but more, very much more, and knows how to get it, too. This man is a very religious man, extremely so.

At present America is in the midst of a widely advertised drive for more religion in government, in business and in everything else. The president of the United States, and the big financiers, are back of it. The religion may be of any kind, Catholic, Protestant or Jewish, only so that it is religion. The more, the better.

The head of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, was one of the most religious men in New York. He was the official lecturer of the Stock Exchange on the subject of honesty.

When he stole $2,000,000, and went to prison for it, he caused the death of innocent men who lost their lives because of his crookedness. Whitney was closely connected with the house of Morgan. One of the governors of the Stock Exchange wanted an investigation made of that establishment, but the rest of the governors lacked the nerve to go ahead with such an investigation; so Robert M. Hutchins, president of the University of Chicago, resigned from the Board.

Brotherliness Among Munition Makers

There is real brotherliness among munition makers. Regardless of the flag that flies above them, they work hand in hand. During the World War they did a tremendous business with one another, much of it via Switzerland. They protected one another’s plants. When peace was in sight they were in conference as to how the war could be prolonged.

Europe’s methods are crude. Here the same crowd are in control of the banks and have the details worked out so that they can issue legal tender for $1,000 at a cost of only 27c. Originally the Federal Reserve was to pay some interest for their use of the Government’s credit; they were to fix the amount; they fixed it at zero. Originally the racket was to be for twenty years; they solemnly made it to be perpetual. The natural result of this control of credit is that less than 600 firms own more than half of the corporate wealth of the U.S.A.

But back to Europe. When the time came to rearm Germany, so-called “mail” planes were sold to Germany exactly like the fighting planes sold to the United States Navy. Germany was also sold, “for industrial purposes,” powder, bullets and machine guns. Hitler was shoved into power by the big industrialists and the big church or religion crowd, Thyssen, Krupp and von Papen. Sir Henry Deterding, famous British capitalist, put up a loan of $200,000,000 to help the good cause along.

Germany was not slighted in any way. The Electric Boat Company plans and specifications were used indiscriminately for making submarines for Britain, Canada, Ireland, India, United States, Cuba, Japan, Netherlands, Australia, Spain, Germany, and Italy. The French-owned Skoda, Czechoslovakia’s great armament firm, donated millions of marks to the campaign fund which put Hitler in power. The American firm of Pratt and Whitney supplied Hitler with the airplane engines wherewith he has wrecked Europe.

The surrender of Czechoslovakia was fixed up four years in advance in the private office of the head of the Bank of England. In that year (1934) English armament firms placed huge advertisements in German papers offering for sale tanks and guns prohibited by the Versailles treaty. Chamberlain and his son were then and probably are now heavy shareholders in munition industries.

What the German people are up against as regards the munitions crowd may be gathered from the fact that the big fellows now have works’ prisons, where employees can be jailed and beat up without the formalities of outside trials. As a further exhibit in this connection, please consider the following extract from the Annual Report of Krupps for the year just prior to the resumption of the World War:

The committee desires to report that it has taken full cognizance of reports that a conference to bring to pass a reduction of armaments is to be held, and that it has definitely established that these reports are baseless. The industry may, therefore, be assured that the coming year (of 1939) will be a period of undisturbed activity and steadily increasing prosperity.

The Religious Nation of Japan

Japan is one of the most religious nations in the world. It claims to have 8,000,000 deities, and is always willing to add more, provided the new religion will recognize Shinto (i.e., that the Japanese emperor is descended from the gods) as the all-essential basic proposition. All missionaries to Korea must now bow before the Shinto or get out. Some of the missionaries did so, in order to keep themselves in pay checks, but it was too much for the Presbyterians and they had the gumption to see that it is mere heathenism; so they packed up and left.

The Japan Times, Tokyo, quotes with approval the following statement respecting its undeclared war in China:

The voice of justice has come from the Vatican. Never before has such whole-hearted support of Japan’s present action in China been given outside the nation. Furthermore, the significance of the Holy See’s instructions lies in the fact that there are almost four hundred million Roman Catholics to whom the Vatican’s word is law. Thus it may be said that one-fourth of the population of the world is supporting Japan in the China incident. The Catholic Church has supported us, has urged us to fight for the prevention of Communist penetration in Asia. War is deplorable and condemnable, but it sometimes becomes necessary to fight and kill for the sake of real peace and happiness.

In support of the foregoing it may be added that the Roman Catholic Church (Japanese branch) published pamphlets in five languages and distributed them throughout the world confirming the above information.

How the War Started

The Sino-Japanese war started because the Japanese missed one soldier and would not wait until morning to search for him. They thereupon served notice upon the Chinese government not to take any measures to protect itself. Since then, by bombs and by narcotics, the destruction of the Chinese has been under way.

In the first year of the war the Japanese lost 100,000 soldiers and the Chinese 450,000 soldiers. Hundreds of Chinese cities have been bombed, wiping out thousands or possibly millions of men, women and children. In one case a beggars’ camp was bombed, killing 50 lame, blind and helpless creatures.

The atrocities practiced at the overthrow of Nanking, as published in the Manchester Guardian, and republished in Consolation, July 13, 1938, page 21, are without parallel in warfare. On twelve successive nights Japanese soldiers raped the women of the city, one of whom was only 7 years old, and it was three weeks before order was restored. It could hardly be wished that these soldiers needed more religion, more Shintoism. What Nanking needed then, it needs now, namely, Christianity, The Theocracy.

The Religious Nation of Italy

On account of the fact that it is the home of the Vatican Italy is in some respects the banner religious country of the world. Its ruler, Mussolini, converses for hours at a time with demons similar to those that Christ permitted to enter the swine. His brags of what he will do when his fleets of airplanes take to the skies causes the blood of his listeners to run cold. His course in the training of children begins at the age of 6 years. The Wolf Cubs are taught to wear gas masks, handle diminutive rifles, march and sleep in tents, and their training continues until they are 55, growing ever more strenuous.

Mussolini is a hit-and-run driver with an automobile, and proud of it. He sanctions beating a prisoner on the feet with an iron bar, and crushing his testicles with wooden clamps. He has said of democracy that it is worse than a failure and that Fascism—

has always passed, and if necessary will again pass, without the slightest hesitation over the more or less decomposed body of the Goddess of Liberty.

To make peace with the Vatican and re-establish himself in the good graces of Religion he turned over $80,000,000 to it; defends the Inquisition as it is defended in the Catholic school history, Modern World, section 325, pages 345-346; agrees that it is right to murder “heretics”, as always taught by the Hierarchy; and would be compelled to endorse the excommunication of Victor Emmanuel II, reading in part as follows:

. . . may he be cursed inwardly and outwardly; may he be cursed in his hair; may he be cursed in his brain; may he be cursed in his crown of his head, and in his temples, in his forehead and his ears, in his eyebrows and his cheeks, in his jaw-bones and in his nostrils, in his foreteeth and in his grinders, in his lips and in his throat, in his shoulders and in his wrists, in his arms, his hands and in his fingers. May he be damned in his mouth, in his breast, in his heart and in all the viscera of his body; may he be damned in his veins, and in his groins, in his thighs, in his hips and in his knees, in his legs, feet and toenails. May he be cursed in all his joints and articulations of his body. From the top of his head to the soles of his feet, may there be no soundness in him.

Mussolini is now and henceforth an extremely religious man. He is back in the fold.

The Religious Government of Ethiopia

Ethiopia was one of the oldest religious governments in the world, and one of the worst. Its ruler, Haile Selassie, claimed to be the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah”, a title belonging only to Christ Jesus, Jehovah God’s appointment as Ruler of The Theocracy.

Selassie obtained his throne by a revolution, imprisoning the former emperor in the crater of an extinct volcano. He recalled his ambassador to France and had him chained naked in a hut, wallowing in his own excrement until he went insane. When the man’s brother protested, he had him tied between two planks and sawn apart. He collected taxes by the machine-gun method. When the tax collectors called on a community they either got all the taxes assessed or they machine-gunned the entire community, men, women and children. Selassie had religion, but no Christianity.

In due time Mussolini decided to take over Ethiopia. On the day of mobilization every church bell in Italy pealed joyously. Not less than 103 of the highest dignitaries urged on the war, and invoked the blessing of God on the Italian troops. Among the blessers of troops, nurses, etc., were the then pope, Pius XI, the present pope, Pius XII, Cardinal Schuster of Milan and Bishop Margaria. The latter gave up his gold beads and gold cross to help the good work along. The queen of Italy gave up her gold ring and a military archbishop (whatever that is) blessed two iron rings given her in their place. The troops from Faenza carried along with them a miraculous image of the virgin, blessed by the archbishop, and Pius XI crowned it all by personally blessing Mussolini himself.

In the subjugation of Ethiopia neither man nor woman was spared. The tanks that were to crush their huts and destroy them and their families were “blessed” when they started out on their errand of devastation. Mussolini’s son showed that he is a true child of his father. He wrote a book explaining the peculiar joy he got in bombing a group of horsemen. He said on this subject:

I remember that one group of horsemen gave me the impression of a budding rose as the bombs fell in their midst. It was exceptionally good fun, and they were easy to hit, as we were not too high up. They offered a perfect target.

The rudiments of a conscience were stirred in some of mankind by Italian atrocities in Ethiopia, and the archbishop of Westminster offered the defense that the pope had no moral stamina: he was just a defenseless old man, entirely at the mercy of his neighbors. He could not do anything and, of course, could not say anything. This did not go over very well, for the reason that everybody knew that the pope was back of the war, had blessed it from the start and wanted Mussolini to win.

The Religious Country of Spain

Spain has always been, and still is very religious. Religion means compliance with traditions and commands of creatures regardless of the commands of the Creator, and the condition of the poor populace of Spain for centuries was lower than that of the lower animals. The Jesuits owned one-third of the land of the country and paid no taxes on it. The 4,000 convents and monasteries devoured the best of everything. The religious business sent $20,000,000 out of the country every year and yet fifty percent of the children had no schooling.

The 4,000,000 farm workers were always on the edge of starvation. To snare a rabbit or squirrel, or even a crow, was to be shot down without mercy. The great estates were kept merely as hunting grounds. Ten pesetas ($1.95) were necessary to live, but the peasant often received but 2 (39c). Some families were never able to buy meat. Some men never had a new suit of clothes after their wedding suit.

The salary of the bishop of Toledo was and is $600,000 a year, or eight times that of the president of the United States. In Caceres in 1931 there were 38 monasteries in a row and when there was a religious procession the statue of the virgin was literally buried under jewels, diamonds, rubies, smaragdus and other precious stones, with other evidences of vast wealth too lengthy to list. John McGovern, Glasgow Catholic, said:

The Church owned more than transport and land. It controlled the greatest amount of stock in telephones, banks, lumber, contracting, engineering, film production, cinemas, theaters, cafes, hotels, sports grounds, and even dog racing and the bull ring. Every time the dog chased the hare it made a profit for the Church. Every time the bull was stabbed to death or a toreador shed his blood, the Jesuits drew a profit.

The Spanish Republic

In an open and honest vote the Spanish people decided to establish a republic, and its constitution, patterned after that of the United States Government, was a document of which the people might justly feel proud. It gave equal rights to all religions and ordered the priests to confine their activities to teaching religion. This did not suit those who had been running the country, and a revolt was carefully planned.

Major Pollard, British Catholic, illegally flew a plane to General Franco, then in exile in the Canary islands. Franco flew to Morocco, there to get in touch with 6 Italian planes dispatched from Italy three days previously, every one of them with 10 machine guns aboard. When the revolt was only three days old German planes were transporting heathen Moors to Spain to overthrow the Republic.

The Moors were nominally financed by Juan March. On a single occasion an expenditure of $1,500,000,000 was authorized. Immediately after he made this promise Juan March went to Italy. What for? Where did he get the money? There is only one place in Italy where it could be obtained. Mussolini is poor as a church mouse.

The Moors were equipped with guns to which were affixed the badge of the Sacred Heart, and the Moors wore bags on which were inscribed pictures of the same. Girl-militiamen of the Spanish Republic were turned over to the Moors, one to 20 Moors. At Toledo, where 600 Government wounded were in a hospital, Moors came in with hand grenades and killed them in their beds.

At Badajoz a large crowd of laborers and poor folks took refuge in the cathedral, thinking that, because they were Catholics, they would be granted right of asylum. They were taken from the cathedral square to the bull ring and there these 1,500 defenseless men and women were machine-gunned until all that was left was a bloody heap of rags.

At Teruel there was a similar scene, and concerning this Lawrence A. Fernsworth, newspaper correspondent, himself a Catholic, said:

The plaza was decorated, crowds applauded each execution, and afterwards the band played and there was dancing.

Speaking further of Teruel, Mr. Fernsworth said:

When the Loyalists captured Teruel, population 12,000, they not only learned of the murder of a fourth of its inhabitants but released from a single prison cell thirty-seven women and eight babies who had been kept in that cell for an entire year.

(Condensed from New York Times)

Guernica, Malaga and Majorca

In what was merely the re-establishment in power of the old gang that had previously ruined Spain, but which was played up as an attack on Bolshevism, the work of bombing Guernica was turned over to Hitler, the present partner of Stalin. The job was expertly done. To get the people into the streets heavy bombs and grenades were dropped all over town; when they filled the streets in terror they were machine-gunned; when they rushed back into the cellars, heavy bombs, capable of making holes 25 feet deep, were rained upon the buildings, which collapsed upon the victims. By these means 800 unarmed men, women and children were slain. Incendiary bombs finished the job of destroying the city.

Guernica is in the Basque country, which is solidly Catholic. When a committee of 19 clergymen wrote a personal letter to the pope, and delivered it personally, narrating the above incidents, and the shooting of 13 priests, imprisoning of 117 and exiling of 135, then pope Pius XI replied that protests emanating from the Spanish Republic would not receive a warm reception in Vatican quarters.

Probably one of the worst outrages in Catholic Basqueland was at the hospital at San Sebastian, where hand grenades were thrown into the maternity ward, mixing in one bloody mass mothers, infants, and nursing sisters.

The bombing of Malaga was turned over to Hitler’s brother Catholic, Mussolini. The people that were bombed were Catholics. The children streamed out of the city on the flint road to Almeria, 100 miles away. Many of them were barefooted and had on but a single garment. Their feet were swollen to twice their natural size. Once a day, on the five-day journey, they lined up for a cup of preserved milk and a handful of dry bread. The Italian planes followed these little marchers, killing hundreds of them, and the Italian cruisers bombarded them from the sea.

No war was ever declared against the Spanish Republic by either Germany or Italy. When Malaga was captured 5,000 people were put on trial for their lives. The average length of each trial was two minutes: one in ten was shot; one in ten was imprisoned for life. Mussolini’s aim was to prevent the spreading in Spain of the ideas of Hitler’s friend Stalin; so he said. Those sentenced to death at Malaga were shot in the back. Italian planes bombed Barcelona 2,000 times.

The Italians were also entrusted with suppression of “Bolshevism” in the agricultural island of Majorca. Here 3,000 suspects were dragged out of their houses at night and massacred; not a sick or wounded person was spared; sometimes these massacres were in the presence of a priest; appearances were carefully preserved; no one was allowed to wear mourning; no shops were closed. One lad of 12 was killed for his Republican opinions. The bishop of Palma, Majorca, declared one day, in giving his “blessing” on the work in hand, that it was not sufficient to exterminate the Republicans, but that their offspring also should be annihilated.

Franco as Bad as Mussolini or Hitler

Franco is even more religious than either Mussolini or Hitler, if that could be possible. At any rate, he is of the same faith. The Madrid College of Lawyers issued a statement regarding the conduct of his troops from which is taken the following item:

Many pregnant women were forced to drink a mixture of castor oil and petrol. One of these in Algeciras, whose husband they discovered had fled to Gibraltar, was made to drink a large quantity of the stuff and then allowed to join her husband. She died the next day.

After the war was over, or should have been over, the Spanish Inquisition was re-established, with all modern improvements. A card index of 2,000,000 persons suspected of sympathy with the Spanish Republic was formed and the elimination of all liberty-lovers was undertaken and is still in process. Nothing was or is forgiven. Meantime, 1,000,000 children starve for want of their natural caretakers.

Of this feature, of the elimination of the Republicans, the Paris correspondent of the New York World-Telegram said:

Even the French friends of Generalissimo Franco of Spain swallowed hard when they read today of His Holiness blessing several hundred Spanish Fascists, members of troop units who were known among international newspapermen in Spain as “murder brigades”, and his telling them that they had done “the Lord’s work”.

For newspaper purposes Franco had also the alibi that he was fighting against the cause of Hitler’s friend Stalin, i.e., “Bolshevism.” A newspaperman asked him what he meant by that term; and the intelligence of the man may be measured by the reply that it meant “strikes, demands for higher wages and all that sort of thing”. His “Minister of Education” closed fifty high schools, giving as a reason that—

The people are better off without education. It unfits them for their destiny as peasants and workers.

The late Cardinal Hayes, of New York city, stated that he was praying regularly for the success of General Franco; and both Pope Pius XI and Pius XII “blessed” him for his work in finishing off the Spanish Republic, in violation of his solemn oath of loyalty, and under the false banner of anti-Bolshevism. Mussolini, Hitler and Franco are three liars.

Mussolini, the sleeping-car hero of Fascism, has been gallant toward other governments than those of Ethiopia and Spain. For example, there is little Albania, just across the strait from the heel of Italy, in the Balkans. On March 23, 1939, King Victor Emmanuel of Italy declared that the relations of the Italian government with the kingdom of Albania were happily most cordial.

Sixteen days later the Osservatore Romano, official organ of the Vatican, stated that it was not the intention of the Italian government to make an attack on the independence and integrity of Albania. Before this paper could get its papers off the press 400 bombers and 100 warships overwhelmed little Albania’s 2 planes and 4 motorboats. A fleet of tanks sprayed the streets crowded with civilians with machine-gun fire.

The queen of Albania had become a mother only two days before this unprovoked and unannounced attack. She was compelled to flee to Greece in a condition that threatened to make her a helpless invalid for the rest of her life. Zog, the Mohammedan king of Albania, was supposed to be quite liberal for a Mohammedan.

Greece, to which the Zogs fled, is very religious. The prevailing religion is Greek Catholic. The Greek patriarch decides what may be taught along religious lines. When the Greek Republic was overthrown and the dictator Metaxas took control his first work was to throw 13,000 Greek democrats into concentration camps. Religion prospers and thrives naturally under a dictatorship, a condition where some religious person decides what the people may consider.

Prisoners of Metaxas on the Aegean islands of death must exist on 13c per day. Two dozen pool their resources, sleep in one room, sift their own wheat, bake their own bread and provide as best they can fuel, water, shelter and other necessities. There is a price of $750 on the head of exiles who escaped from these islands and their children are held as hostages. Some of these prisoners were beaten with clubs on the soles of their feet until they could not even stand. Does Greece need more religion, or more Christianity, which?

The Religion of Russia

Up to the time of the World War Russia was the most religious country in the world. Ikons (idols), “blessed” by the Orthodox Greek priests, were carried into battle as part of the equipment of every Russian regiment. The religionists overworked their racket. They exhibited cotton and plaster of Paris “saints” as “proof” that their holy men did not decay after they died. The news got out and the old religion went overboard.

In jig time the old religion was replaced by a new one. Instead of ikons to worship, the Russians soon had first Lenin and now Stalin, and stark terror reigns from the Baltic sea to Behring strait, and from the Black sea to Nova Zembla. By the Soviet system everybody is encouraged to spy on everybody else, including children on their parents and on one another.

(To be continued).

Aviation

World’s Largest Airport

◆ It comes as a surprise to learn that the world’s largest airport is in the woods of Newfoundland. There are four paved runways, each nearly or quite 4,800 feet long, none of them less than 600 feet wide, and one of them twice that width. The approaches to the runways have been cleared of trees for about a mile. It is calculated that this airport will be one of earth’s busiest places during the immediate future, and that great numbers of bombing planes will find their way to England by this route.

A Determined Woman

◆ A determined woman, who wanted to ride on the first regular passenger trip of a clipper across the Atlantic, booked her passage in 1931, and eight years later was landed safely in Europe within 22 hours from the time she left New York. The trip, which costs $375, is made in the big 41½-ton flying-boats, without incident and without excitement; service each way once a week.

Photographed 200 Miles Away

◆ In an airplane over Washington, D.C., too high to see the ground, a National Broadcasting Company photographer obtained a good picture of David Sarnoff and W. A. Patterson seated at their studio table in New York city, 200 miles away. The photograph was sent by television. Subsequently, by the same apparatus, the voyagers in the plane saw their plane land at the North Beach airport, New York.

New York’s New Airport

◆ New York boasts of a new airport claimed to be the largest and best, even larger and better than Newark’s. It occupies not quite a square mile. Its hangars for land planes are each as large as Madison Square Garden. Its cost is over $50,000,000. Like the Newark airport, it can be reached by automobile from the center of the city in twenty minutes.

Communication with Planes

◆ Every plane of the American Air Lines, no matter in what part of the sky between Boston and Los Angeles it may be flying, is in constant touch with some one or more of the thirty stations of the company along the line.

The Human Heart

◆ Experiments with the oxygen-gas mask show that at 20,000 feet the use of the oxygen and helium mixture ends dizziness. When masks are removed at 19,000 feet elevation the human heart beats go up to 120 in 45 seconds, as compared with a normal of 80 beats. When the mask is replaced the heart drops back to 102 beats within 30 seconds, and then slowly settles back to normal. The new gas mixtures will be available in planes flying at the higher elevations, and passengers can make use of them or not, as they desire. The passenger has only to plug in to get his share of the gas.

Autogiro a Complete Success

◆ The autogiro service between Philadelphia and Camden post offices is a complete success. Trips are made in 6 minutes, to compare with 40 minutes for mail trucks. The roof of the Philadelphia post office, 365 by 278 feet, was specially designed for the service, which, it is predicted, will come into wide and immediate use for transport of mail, express and passengers from large civic centers to the airports in their suburbs.

Shortage of Planes and Men

◆ On account of shortage of planes and trained pilots the Imperial Airways was obliged to refuse passenger bookings on its 22,000 miles of lines from England to South Africa, Egypt, India, Greece, and the Far East. Several planes were lost recently, and both planes and pilots are needed for the government rearmament program.

Across Canada by Air

◆ April 1, 1939, the first passengers were carried on the trans-Canadian air line, which makes the journey between Montreal and Vancouver in 17½ hours. The rates for passengers are the same as in the United States, 6 cents per mile. Meals are served free.

Around the World in Sixteen Days

◆ Traveling solely by commercial planes Mrs. Clara Adams, of Cincinnati, went around the world in sixteen days, via London, Karachi, Hong Kong, Manila and San Francisco. She left New York June 28, and was back again on July 14.

Balkan States

Fire-Dancing in Bulgaria

◆ Fire-dancing, under the supervision of demons, is practiced in the Greek Catholic community of Baurgas, Bulgaria. The account, given publicity by a Reynolds News Agency correspondent, and published in Australian Consolation, follows:

At a given signal from the head of the fire-dancers, who by this time all appeared to have fallen in a trance, the music stopped playing and the dancers leaped with bare feet onto the burning cinders. They danced for several minutes. Although their faces became pale they showed no sign of pain and their feet were neither scorched nor burned. After emerging from the red-hot embers and regaining consciousness, one declared before the surprised audience, “Only those who have strong faith in God [the god of this world—the Devil—Ed.] can dance on the fire without receiving injuries.”

His Lie Lasted Ten Days

◆ Shepherd Lupu, of Rumania, who claims he saw God three times in 1935, and who is therefore demonized (for, “No man hath seen God at any time,” and, “No man can see me, and live”), prophesied on August 21 that there would be no European war. His prophecy was widely published, and in ten days thereafter Europe was at war. That is once when the demons got caught at it.

All Fortune Tellers Are Crooks

◆ The police of Budapest, Hungary, came to the accurate conclusion that all fortune tellers are crooks and arrested the whole lot, some 3,000 of them, confining them in concentration camps. The entire business is founded on demonism, called in the Scriptures “lying spirits”, and well named.

Getting Along Fine with Hitler

◆ The “Reverend Father” Tiso, president of the rump state of Slovakia, is getting along fine with Hitler and his friends, and reports that all is well with his country since Czechoslovakia was betrayed into Hitler’s hands. Inasmuch as he betrayed it, he ought to know.

Oppression of Jews in Hungary

◆ The city of Budapest, Hungary, ordered all Jewish peddlers and junk dealers operating in the market for secondhand goods to go out of business.

Czech Jews Lose All Property

◆ Nazi laws put into effect in Bohemia and Moravia doom the Jews of that country to the loss of all property. A Jew is defined as anybody with three Jewish grandparents or with two Jewish grandparents and having the Jewish faith. They were required to list all the property which is to be stolen by the state, are forbidden to acquire or lease real estate, to acquire an interest in business undertakings, or to purchase stocks and bonds.

An Excuse for Theft

◆ In the year 1920 one of the largest metallurgical establishments in Czechoslovakia had a Jewish director for fifteen days. On this evidence the factory was seized by the Germans, twenty years later on the ground that it is a Jewish concern. Even supposing that it is Jewish, which it is not, what right would anybody have to take it? The Jews have a right to work, have they not?

Tiso’s “Good Friend”

◆ The person who betrayed Slovakia into the hands of Hitler is a Catholic priest named Tiso, who is now the president of his country. At a recent reception of diplomats in his capital Monsignor Tiso referred to the Soviet as “our good friend the Soviet Union” and referred to the “affinity of our two nations” as making “co-operation in all spheres” desirable. This lets another cat out of the bag.

Yugoslavia Nervous

◆ In Yugoslavia the authorities wished to re-examine the papers of a German resident, and called at his home for the purpose, but found him absent. In his absence they searched the premises and found 30 machine guns and an equal number of German uniforms. They could hardly be blamed for being nervous with such guests; now, could they?

Mass Suicide of Jews

◆ Some idea of the horrible conditions prevailing in Central Europe may be drawn from the fact that 150 Jews at Constanza tried to commit mass suicide by jumping into the sea when they were denied permission to board a vessel for an unknown destination. Twenty-six got past the police and did jump, but were rescued.

Baltic States

A Pre-War Note from the Netherlands

◆ A pre-war note from the Netherlands explains that in the spring the farmers sell their potatoes at auction. If there is no market they hold them until the government can find a market in South America or elsewhere. If unsold they are sprayed with kerosene, but the farmers receive a bonus. Tulip bulbs often go to the government to be ground into cattle feed. Cabbage goes the same way. When the price for cabbage has descended to one gulden (42c) for 200 pounds the government purchases the remaining offerings for cow feed, giving each cabbage a deep cut over the head so that it may no longer be used for human food.

The unemployed flock into the army, though many of them go to Germany to work. German automobiles run more than 60 miles per hour and do it on 40 miles to a gallon of gasoline. In races in the Netherlands German automobiles, motorcycles and airplanes win every race; so says the informant.

Land Belongs to State

◆ In Denmark the land belongs to the state (at least much of it does) and remains with the state, but a man who has had agricultural training and has a little money (ten percent of his requirements) to invest in the farming business will be given cattle, pigs, poultry, modern implements, telephones and electric lights and all necessary buildings, and the state will let him pay for it over three generations. And he may pay a variable rate of interest, depending upon whether prices go up or down. And he may sell to another man everything except the land. It seems like a sensible arrangement that the less civilized lands, such as Britain and America, might well consider. Four-fifths of the 16,575 square miles (twice the size of Massachusetts) is closely cultivated.

Board of Public Opinion

◆ Sweden has an institution every country should have. It has a board of public opinion to which any person may appeal who feels that he has not been fairly treated in any part of the public press. His claims are investigated by the board, which consists of publishers and writers, and their findings are widely published. It tends to a fair deal all round.

Pipe-Smoker Blows Up

◆ To an inveterate tobacco-user, his own desire to gratify his tobacco appetite is the most important thing in the whole world; it is certainly more important than the desires or interests of his fellow men, for these are never consulted any more. Even the women smokers disdain asking to be excused for their tobacco stink, when they “light up”. In southern Norway a British anti-aircraft barrage balloon came down, having been torn loose from its moorings by a storm. As soon as it landed, several Norse citizens went to see it. One of them, of course, had to pull out his pipe and light it as soon as he got near enough to see what it was all about. The balloon was inflated with hydrogen gas. When it struck the earth it sprang a small leak. When the man lit his pipe the balloon exploded, killing him and injuring three other persons.

Lithuania’s Nice Neighbors

◆ Lithuania seems to have nice neighbors. Russia agreed to let Lithuania keep her “liberties” provided she would hereafter let Russian troops “protect” the country; and, as Lithuania could not help herself, she agreed, and, according to Russian propaganda, hailed her deliverers. But one may guess the nature of the “deliverance” when told that as the Russian troops moved in the Lithuanians were forced to clear the streets of all activity and the houses and stores along the route had to be boarded up. The “liberty” is the same as that of the Japanese common people who are not even permitted to look at their soldiers when marching away to murder the Chinese. More and more it becomes obvious that only the Theocratic government of righteousness can insure peace to the nations, or what is left of them after Armageddon.

Dairy Farms in Finland

◆ Dairy farmers in Finland receive 76.3 percent of every dollar spent by consumers for milk. The co-operative dairies in Finland are really co-operative, instead of being, as in the United States, mere departments of the Milk Trust. In America the farmers in many cases receive only about 25 percent of the consumers’ dollar, and the average for the entire country is only 38 percent.

Kingdom Privileges in Syria

◆ On March 10, 1940, eight of the publishers at Tripoli, Syria, went to a Catholic town named Gebal, where they scattered two by two going from house to house, leaving the Kingdom message which gave the meek ones of the “other sheep” hope and gladness that was manifested on their very faces.

Finally, at the end of the day, two of the publishers entered the home of the priest and gave him and those with him the witness and spent much time explaining the message from the Bible. He gave them arrogant attention. Finally he said, “If I believed everything you have said as being the truth and still remained a priest, would it be wrong for me?” One of the witnesses put his hand on the priest’s black robe and said, “Unless you shed that black symbol of death, you will not receive life from Christ Jesus.” After explaining to him what the priestly robe stood for and the false Satanic teachings he was giving the people, he took the booklet Uncovered and promised to read it carefully and urged upon us to call on him again. We finished that town, placing about 24 books and booklets, and went on our way rejoicing.

The following Sunday, March 17, which was “Palm” Sunday for the Catholics, we went to another town near Gebal, named Fadouss. The eight of us scattered all over the place, going from house to house, where we found only the children. Upon inquiring for their parents, they told us their parents were at the church of St. Sasseen. We were disappointed and wished we had not come to this desolated town. But upon second thought we decided to stay and wait for the Baal-worshipers to come home, which we did. About 1 p.m. we went back-calling on them from house to house. At some of the homes we were met by some who said, “It is peculiar how such nice, clean and orderly young men like you are chosen to go out and do this kind of work.” We placed 43 books and booklets and went back to our sound machine rejoicing and grateful to Jehovah for such unexpected results.

The Old Hierarchy Was Working

While we were waiting for two of our companions to come to the sound-car so we could leave, two mounted police approached us saying, “Hey, young men, wait; what kind of books have you got there? What are you doing with those books?” By this time there was a large crowd gathered around us. One of the witnesses boldly answered: “Our purpose is preaching the gospel of God’s Kingdom, which is clearly set forth in these books.” The police took out their handcuffs, and said they were going to take us to the barracks. We told them we are eight, and said, “We are ready to go with you anywhere you want, because we are not ashamed of this message and we do not fear to tell it to anyone or proclaim it from the housetops by word of mouth and sound equipment. We deem it a great honor to have the privilege of witnessing the Truth concerning the King and the Kingdom before judges and rulers of this world, in complete obedience to our great Master’s command and which He foretold long ago.” After we gave a witness to the police and the crowd gathered around us, the other two witnesses finished all the scattered houses on the outskirts of the town of Fadouss and came back to find us surrounded by the police and the crowd. They joined us.

Before putting us in the sound-car to take us to the barracks the police lined us up to search us for weapons, but they found nothing except the two-edged sword of Jehovah. One of the policemen came to search the witness who was speaking to them. The policemen and the crowd were astonished at the manifestation of such strange faith and boldness from these young men. Again one of the policemen said, “I have no doubt in my mind that such nice young men as you who show all the characteristics of gentleness and kindness would not do anything to harm the general welfare of the community. But it is our duty to make sure the movements of everyone because we are in a time of war.” The witness answered, “We gladly accept this searching because we are looking for the people of good will in this community, to convey to them this gospel of the Kingdom. By doing this you have made it easier for us and saved us the time of going to your homes.”

Finally they put us in the truck and took us to the police barracks at another town, named El-Betroun. There they set the eight of us on the bench before the assistant of the mayor, who is a strict Moronite Catholic. He started to ask us questions. After he found out about our mission he called the mayor at his home where he was celebrating Palm Sunday. The assistant told the mayor over the telephone: “This is a very simple case, because these books and booklets tell about the gospel and there is no objection against them.” When we heard and saw this man to be of good will and very favorable, we started to explain to him further the difference between religion and Christianity. Also we showed him the grave responsibility upon those who hear the Truth and oppose it, and that those who hear the Truth and uphold it and proclaim it to others will receive the blessings of life. He gladly accepted a book Reconciliation and a booklet Armageddon, and sent us home rejoicing.

After we left him we spoke together and reminded ourselves how the day began in Fadouss and ended at El-Betroun, victoriously for Jehovah and His truth. We know positively that all this trouble started from the wicked Hierarchy. Then we remembered the text at Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

—M. H. Aboud, Syria.

Testigos de Jehová “Anunciando la Teocracia”, Havana, Cuba

“Anunciando la Teocracia”

◆ It is with real joy that we write to tell you of the onward march of THE THEOCRACY in the land of Cuba. In times of past, when we would tell the people that we had a message of “God’s Kingdom”, they would confuse us with the religionists, who often use these words, in hypocrisy, to be sure. Since Jehovah’s organization began to function as a Theocracy the people here have been advised of this, and the result is that the word “THEOCRACY” is becoming a household word. The publishers make an effort to mention the words “THEOCRACY” (Theocracy), “Atalaya” (Watchtower) and Consolación (Consolation) in every witness; then, when these same people hear the street-corner publishers on a later date, they are able to make the connection.

To give you an idea of the progress, we cite the Havana company: In January, 1940, there were 19 publishers, 3 phonographs, 321 attendance. Four months later, in May, this same company reported: 33 publishers, 13 phonographs (also 7 more on order), 2,884 attendance. Contact points for service are held every Sunday, to which the newly interested are invited and instructed in how to serve the Lord “in spirit and in truth”. When the instructions first came telling the publishers to employ the doorstep method of presenting the Kingdom message, the idea was general that ‘it might work in U.S., but it’s different here’.

. . . However, after trying this method the publishers became more convinced than ever that JEHOVAH is running His organization, and that to receive the joys promised, we MUST OBEY INSTRUCTIONS.

Iceland’s only pioneer, G. F. Lindal, visits the 118,000 population every year. One pony carries his books; the other, him. 65,000 acres are cultivated; the land is treeless.

In regard to the street-corner witnessing: The magazine bags provided by the Society were of no use here, due to the fact that the lettering is in English, whereas everyone here reads and speaks Spanish. To offset this we had some bags made with the lettering in Spanish. On one side we have, “THE WATCHTOWER”—announcing THE THEOCRACY; on the other side, “CONSOLATION”—religion is a racket, the Bible answers why . . . Needless to say, these bags call forth comments both favorable and unfavorable, the majority favorable. Some of the publishers are assigned the cafés, restaurants, hotel lobbies, etc. One of these café publishers does his work thus: He enters and calls out, “Gentlemen, please read.” Then he turns slowly so that all may read the bag; then he goes from one to the other offering the magazines. He places in almost every place. Almost all the transportation in Havana is by bus. Consequently these are always crowded. As these buses stop at the busy corners to take on passengers, the magazine publisher waves the magazine and yells, “Religion is a racket,” then when all the heads turn toward him, he finishes, “The Bible answers why. Read Consolation.” . . . All in all, we are rejoicing in the privilege of serving THE THEOCRACY and are looking forward to that grand convention in July.—La Torre del Vigia, Havana, Cuba.

Making good use of a semi-trailer at Honolulu

Britain’s C-O Tribunals

◆ On February 22, 1940, the working of the Conscientious Objectors Tribunals, set up under the Military Training Act and the National Service (Armed Forces) Act was criticized in the House of Commons by certain members. One member, Mr. Pethick-Lawrence, who was financial secretary to the treasury in the Labor government, referred specifically to a case in which one of Jehovah’s witnesses was concerned as follows:

This House decided that to be a conscientious objector is not to commit a crime; it decided that to be a conscientious objector is not to be contemptible. These individuals who come before these courts are young men who in the vast majority of cases are sincere, at any rate to the extent that they believe they hold these views very firmly and tenaciously. I do not think you are going to arrive at the truth as to their real moral and mental condition by shouting at them, by rushing a number of questions at them in a hurry, and by driving them into making foolish remarks which may or may not be their considered opinions.

I do not mind saying that, although I first came into this House in the year 1923—and I have been here nearly ever since—it is only in the last year or two that I have risen to my feet without having a certain sense of nervousness in addressing this Assembly. Here you have young men who have this sort of secret in their hearts. They think in some way that they have got something a little different from other people. They have never really been brought face to face with hard-headed men who are to cross-question them, and instead of their questioners trying to arrive at what is really in their minds by a little quiet talk, they are rushed at, and, in many cases, deliberately confused. That is not the way to arrive at the truth, and that is the main point of what I am going to try to say this afternoon.

I have brought down with me several cases where people have been refused when apparently their case was made out, but, of course, it is not very easy for us merely to judge, even if we have a complete verbatim report. It is for those who are actually there and hear the words being spoken to judge whether a man is sincere, or whether it is a put-up job. There is a case, for instance, which took place in the Newcastle Court, to which I have already referred. I do not know, but possibly the Committee may be tempted to smile at the name of the society which the applicant claimed to represent. He said that he belonged to “Jehovah’s witnesses”, and apparently he had given up his work and had spent a month going round delivering tracts. The whole attitude of the tribunal was to try and deride what he was doing and to hold him up to ridicule.

Viscountess Astor: How long had he been a member? Can the right honourable gentleman tell us?

Mr. Pethick-Lawrence: He had been a member for years, but he had been doing this work, I understand, for the last few months. I am not stressing that fact unnecessarily, but my point is that this man was, rightly or wrongly, quite clearly from the evidence, sincere. I do not put it higher than that, and the tribunal devoted itself to ridicule what this man believed to be his definite job, and, not only that, they refused him exemption. The man who writes to me on behalf of this organization says that in the other courts of the country the views of those who are definite members of the organization have been accepted and their objection upheld, but in this particular court all the cases that have been brought forward have been turned down. I do not want to labor the matter, but I should like a reply on the point.

The remarks of another member of Parliament, McGovern of Glasgow, a Roman Catholic statesman, and well and favorably known to the readers of Consolation, because of his courageous and honest stand against the treachery, hypocrisy and brutality of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in Spain, are also of interest, and here they are:

Theocracy publishers, Cyprus

Theocracy publishers, Cordoba, Argentina, use this bus to take the message to remote points. At night the women sleep inside and the men on the roof.

There was a case which I brought up and which the Minister defended vigorously. I am not complaining of him defending these chairmen vigorously even when they are doing wrong, because it is done by nearly all Ministers. A Roman Catholic claimed exemption and the chairman said, “Have you consulted your local priest as to whether you should object to military service or not?” The man said: “No, I am appealing here on my belief and interpretation of my religious views. It is not the priest’s conscience, but mine, that is being considered.” He was turned down because he did not bring the priest to the tribunal. I was born and brought up and am a Roman Catholic, but I would no more accept the interpretation of an individual clergyman, or even of the head of the Church, than I would accept the definition of the Prime Minister. This idea of bringing clergymen to the tribunals in order to destroy the claim of the individual is wrong and ought not to be allowed.

Devil In for a Hot Time

◆ Are the Theocracy publishers busy in London? They have Kingdom halls, one each, in Central London, North London, North East London, North West London, East London, South London, South West London, South East London, West London [not sure if that is the right way to box the compass], Croydon, Dartford, Enfield, Epsom, Uxbridge, Watford, and Weybridge. They send an invitation to their “Battle Siege” campaign rally at King’s Theatre, Hammersmith (admission by ticket), but urged to be on time for a free seat, and to leave money at home, as no collection would be taken.

(To be continued)

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES—Who and What They Are

Herbert Lundgren, Depot Servant in St. Louis, with some of the publications of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society which are sent here from Brooklyn and then shipped through the Middle West for distribution by Witnesses.

Zobura Eskal of Kirkwood, head of the St. Louis company of Jehovah's Witnesses. His title is Company Servant. He transmits communications from headquarters to members.

In the foreign language section of the depot where literature of the society in 22 different languages is handled.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Adair, Pioneer—full-time canvassers for Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Adairs making a call on a St. Louis householder. Last year they canvassed New Mexico and Scott counties as thoroughly as a census taker.

Photos by Arthur Witman, a PICTURES Staff Photographer.

Mrs. Adair shows a card of identification. The Witnesses say they are ordained by God to carry on such ministry. They are Christians but opposed to churches.

Adair has just played on the phonograph a speech expounding the belief held by Jehovah's Witnesses concerning some prophecy in the Bible. Mrs. Adair points out a Scriptural passage and its interpretation in one of the society's publications.

A DECISION on law and an outburst of lawlessness have drawn unusual attention to that body of Christians known as Jehovah's Witnesses. On June 3 the United States Supreme Court upheld a Pennsylvania school board regulation requiring school children to salute the American flag; one of Jehovah's Witnesses had challenged the regulation on behalf of his two children. On June 16, 65 of the Witnesses from St. Louis were mobbed in Litchfield, Illinois, where they had gone to spread information concerning their Scriptural beliefs.

Jehovah's Witnesses claim they are Christians and believers in the Bible. Their interpretations of the Scriptures, however, differ from accepted religious tenets, particularly where what is especially important when a nation is at war is preparing its defenses is the fact of war. They hold that saluting the flag—any nation's flag—and participating in war are in violation of God's law, and that God's law is superior to any made by man. During the last World War many of them ran afoul of the draft law. They are put in Hitler's Germany (Jehovah's Witnesses have been banned into concentration camps and many of them killed. Prosecution and mob violence in the United States, the Witnesses sometimes have trouble with local authorities and with persons who object to their principles and methods. Part of their worship consists of spreading their information and interpretation of the Bible to people by house-to-house canvass, in which they distribute books, booklets and magazines, and play phonograph recordings of speeches. They have also broadcast their ideas by sound truck and the radio. Criticism of organized religion is prominent in their literature, and it is often resented by persons on whom they call.

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