Consolation, October 1, 1941

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Contents

Glimpses of St. Louis Convention 3

Notice 4

To the Galveston (Texas) Daily News 5

British Comment 6

London Shelters; Food Price Ramps;

Sea Birds’ Eggs; Still Some Protestants;

Jehovah’s witnesses

New Government 8

Chiropractic by Oklahoma Police; To The

American Legion; How to Get the Marshal;

Wewoka Went to Town; etc.

Under the Totalitarian Flag 12

More Terror of the Truth; The Huge Bird

Cage; The Low-down on Primates; The

Disgrace of Montreal; etc.

Counsel by J. F. Rutherford 16

“Calves of Gold”

Vassal States of Southeastern Europe 18

Greece 19

Italy 20

Invention 21

Creatures of the Deep 22

Ships and Shipping 23

The Navy of Solomon

Current News About Vessels 28

British Comment 29

Lulls in the Bombings; Agriculture in

Scotland; Conscientious Objectors

Motoring 30

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Notanda

Imaginary Difference

Between Pope and Bishops

◆ In a political essay published by the University of Notre Dame the “Reverend Father” Don Luigi Sturzo tries to make out that there is a difference between the attitude of the pope, who is now and has been for years an Italian bishop, and all the rest of the Italian bishops, who, to a man, have taken their stand by the side of Mussolini boosting him to win and restore Palestine to the Papacy. The difference is purely imaginary. Mr. Sturzo says that in the case of the bishops, when a big war is on, the nation takes precedence over morality.

“They Are for War”

◆ David said prophetically of the religionists, “I am for peace: but when I speak they are for war”; and the statement is true. While there is some confusion on this subject among Protestants, there is none among Catholic theologians, all of whom hold to the absolute obligation of the henchmen of Mussolini, Hitler or other monsters to yield themselves fully to their will, even unto death. One such spokesman said recently: “Conscientious objectors will find little support of their stand in the traditional teaching of the church.”

Conditions in Argentina

◆ The Roman Catholic church has been in full control of Argentina for about four hundred years. The result is summarized by a joint pastoral signed by Cardinal Copello and the six archbishops and fourteen bishops of that country. It says: “We find ourselves with overproduction of virtually all the necessaries of life, but with lamentable unemployment, very inadequate wages for workers, and with the majority of their families without homes and without any chance to improve their economic lot. Poverty and misery are everywhere.” CONSOLATION

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

Volume XXIII Brooklyn, N. Y., Wednesday, October 1, 1941 Number 575

Glimpses of St. Louis Convention

THE American press has ignored the greatest event of the year anywhere on earth, the Theocratic Assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses in St. Louis, Mo., August 6-10. The public news agencies have the religious faculty of ignoring, yes, even squelching news of that which means life or death to humankind. They ignored the crucifixion of the despised Nazarene at the instance of demonized religionists of Jerusalem, leaving it for God’s own witnesses to report this most important event, by the Bible account. Today the press ignores the event of 1941 which ties in with that death of the King of Jehovah’s Theocratic Government, to wit, the biggest assembly ever of His faithful consecrated followers and their united announcement of the establishment of that Government in the face of world opposition, thereby settling the supreme issue of UNIVERSAL DOMINATION.

The news of the proposed Theocratic Assembly leaking out weeks in advance by grapevine methods to the religionists, they, particularly Catholic Action, tried to prevent this event from materializing. They had used the “flag-salute” pretext threadbare and failed to stop Jehovah’s witnesses. Further, the United States Supreme Court and the Constitution tied their bloody, violent hands. So at St. Louis they tried new tactics, boycott through Big Business and the religious population; but the only result was that it caused thousands of visiting Christians to be without hotel or rooming assignments and to have to sleep out on God’s own earth, under the starry canopy of the heavens, in the hottest city of the land and in the hottest season of the year, certainly more beneficial to them than to be cooped up in the torrid city quarters. This became a public scandal that testified heavily in condemnation of the forces of religion. Like an irresistible swarm of locusts Jehovah’s witnesses swept in, and St. Louisans opened their eyes in amazement and the religionists lifted their hands in horror and unholy defeat.

Wednesday afternoon, August 6, Judge Rutherford opened the Assembly, with the keynote speech on the subject “Integrity”, for the first time in world history making clear the primary issue before all creatures, namely, UNIVERSAL DOMINATION. An audience of 64,000 packed out The Arena and the auxiliary buildings and swelled over the grounds. A tremendous campaign of activity by the conventioneers followed this speech, advertising the coming Theocratic Government and also Judge Rutherford’s public speeches, “Comfort All That Mourn,” Saturday, August 9, at 3 p.m., and “Children of The King”, Sunday, August 10, at 11 a.m.

Without the aid of a single line of commercial newspaper advertising the conventioneers’ publicity campaign scored an unparalleled success, and 105,000 were present to hear the president of the WATCH TOWER SOCIETY Saturday afternoon in a speech which evoked repeated applause and which sounded from the sure prophetic Scriptures the death knell of the Axis powers and of all totalitarian rule. Immediately after the speech 450,000 copies of it in booklet form were released for public distribution by the conventioners, and were quickly disposed of.

The Lord’s rich blessing was upon the 115,000 who gathered for the last convention day. Through a climax that only He could arrange, their joy of the previous four days was increased by the unparalleled events of Sunday. In the morning 3,903 were immersed, 1,357 being children; at eleven o’clock 15,000 children, in special reserved seats which more than half filled The Arena, and forming part of the great audience of 115,000, gave rapt attention to Judge Rutherford’s feature lecture “Children of The King”. At its conclusion this panorama of flower-bed of brightly dressed children rippled away to the front, to the sides, and to the rear, in orderly but eager lines, to receive the gift which awaited each at his proper exit; for Judge Rutherford had just delighted them by the announcement that every child was to be given free the book Children, first released as he held it up for them to see. Picture if you can these Godly children in summer colors, smiling at the towering Missourian, as they held the gift of gold and blue, which had come from Jehovah through his hands. Such enthusiasm is best described in pictures, which can be seen in the special brochure prepared to cover the convention.

In the afternoon what was scheduled as a farewell speech by the Watch Tower president became a rollicking laugh at the expense of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy addressed as “Father O’Fooligan”. That evening began the homeward trek of more than 100,000, also dissolving a trailer city of 15,000. Said a departing conventioner to a St. Louis traffic officer: “Are you glad we are leaving you?” Officer: “Faith, and I’m not. Since you folks were here I got rid of ‘Purgatory’; now I am going to see if I can get back some of my ‘Purgatory’ money.”

Just off the wire is the news of the British version of the ‘Theocratic Assembly’. At Leicester, England, the exact sequence of the events of St. Louis were duplicated September 3-7. The speeches of Judge Rutherford had been recorded and sent to England for the occasion. In spite of war conditions the Saturday attendance was 10,000; on Sunday 12,000 in attendance included 2,000 children, who received the St. Louis lecture just four weeks after its original delivery.

The convention material is so voluminous, including dramatic pictures and scenic photographs, that its proper treatment in a single issue of Consolation is impossible. Therefore a special brochure is under preparation to describe all the convention activities in sufficient detail.

Origin of Laymen

◆ A contributor writes in and deftly suggests that the real reason why the Catholic Hierarchy refers to its lay population as such is that it is the laymen that lay the golden eggs. Not a bad idea. The Hierarchy is heavy on the prayer business. If it wanted to do the consistent thing it would stage a world-wide novena soon that it may be spared the turn at the plowhandles which it sees coming. Meantime, the poor laymen continue to lay, not knowing they are robbed of every centime they part with.

Notice

◆ Due to the shortage in metal we are unable to get sufficient quantities of stitcher wire to put two stitches in magazines and booklets. To persons keeping permanent files of magazines we suggest that they sew the loose ends with thread.

As soon as sufficient wire can be obtained for double-stitching instead of single-stitching the magazines will be produced that way.

To the Galveston (Texas) Daily News

ACCORDING to a report in your paper this morning the Veterans of Foreign Wars sent a resolution to Sen. Tom Connally, condemning Jehovah's witnesses for distributing literature that is “detrimental of the government of the United States”.

I have read these publications and do not see how the government can be damaged in any way, and surely it has not been up to this point, though I understand that the literature has been distributed for over 60 years here in the United States.

So much is printed today concerning un-American things. It seems that the best definition for the term is that every person who is not in agreement with what someone making a speech has to say must be classed as un-American. This applies to the peddler who is trying to show some businessman that he should buy one of his emblems calling upon God to save America, up to some of our highest political advisers. Instead of taking only the negative in this matter, why not let someone point out what real Americanism is like? Make the positive strong enough, and the negative will prove to be small.

One of the first true principles of Americanism is found in the rule that all men are created equal, with the inalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Does America stand in jeopardy because there is too much worship of God in this country? and is she likely to be destroyed because a few zealous Christians call attention to their understanding of the Bible? These people could not have any connection with some earthly government foreign to America and not be detected, since they do their work openly on the streets and from door to door. Can it be possible that people have such poor regard for our law-enforcement agents as to think that Jehovah's witnesses could do the things that they have been charged with and not be caught or found out? If some leaders of an organization think their religion is better than the things taught by Jehovah's witnesses they have the right to say so; but why should they want to hide behind such an issue as loyalty to the government? America does not belong to any one person or group of persons so that everyone else must conform to the views of this group or be punished. Or, at least, I hope it does not. Jesus was put to death because the religious leaders of His day induced the military power to believe that He was against the government. This was a trap of the Devil. There must be many honest Veterans today who would not want to see their organizations fall into the same trap.

I understand that the Veterans of Foreign Wars was organized to help veterans who fought for this country, and that Jehovah's witnesses were organized to help their brothers understand the Bible and to witness to the Word of God. There is no record that the witnesses have bothered the Veterans, and I doubt that they have; so why should the Veterans of Foreign Wars want to cause trouble for the witnesses?

Most of the un-American name-calling today reminds me of two small boys playing together, when one of the boys becomes angry and begins to curse the other with all the vile names he can think of. The boy cursing does not try to think of names that fit the characteristics of his playmate, but of names that will fit the hate in his own heart. However, small boys usually forget such things and are good friends again before the day is over; but big boys find it harder to forget. Our greatest men have been those who recognized the rights of others; our poorest are usually those who do not.—H. A. McElvey.

British Comment

By J. Hemery (London)

London’s Shelters

• The Shelter Commission for the London region says there is now sleeping accommodation in his district for 1,277,000 persons in public and communal shelters, and for 3,495,000 in domestic shelters. In addition there are bunks in the London Tube stations for 23,000 persons. The slackening of the night attacks on London caused a great decrease in the regular use of the shelters; but even so, it was reported that when the July figures were taken 104,900 were using public shelters and 2,134,000 domestic shelters. The highest figures, taken last November, were four times as great. The last raid, which was sharp but not one of the heaviest, caused an increase in shelter use. It is a surprising thing that the health of the people has not greatly deteriorated in view of the fact that such large numbers do not get their ordinary night’s rest in bed. The surface shelters erected in the streets in great numbers as a protection from blast were found unsatisfactory: they withstood neither the blast nor the earth shocks. Some have been closed and the others are being strengthened.

Food Price Ramps

• The Ministry of Food Control has done great things for the country in its purpose to get essential foods in supply and fair distribution; but while there are those who are determined to make as much money as possible out of the needs and the wants of the people, there will always be inequalities. A current food report says, amongst other items, “Yesterday there was not a roasted chicken to be had in the shops at the controlled price of 1/10 a lb.; but one could buy plenty of whole, cooked chickens at 20/- each, roasted and stuffed. Young birds, hardly a single portion each, were selling at 6/- each, roasted and stuffed. Uncontrolled fruit was abundant in the West End (London); melons were 27/6 each; grapes 12/- a lb.; red currants 3/-; table gooseberries 3/6; peaches 2/6 to 5/- each; nectarines 3/- to 4/- each. Cherries usually about 6d a lb. can be bought in small quantities at about five times that price. These ramp prices prevent the ordinary shopper from getting the little extras: only the richer folk can indulge themselves.”

Sea Birds’ Eggs

• It was lately reported here that sea birds’ eggs were to be collected in quantity from the Yorkshire coast, with the object of trying them as a supplement to the diminishing usual supply of domestic eggs. No report of that experiment has been noticed, but now a report of a similar experiment in Wales is published. Lord Davis arranged for a collection from an island in his estate, and it is said the experiment was entirely successful. Fifteen thousand gulls’ eggs were gathered in the laying season; the collection was made twice weekly. The eggs were found very nutritious and wholesome. These eggs are not under controlled prices, but Lord Davis saw to it that the many sold were at reasonable prices. It is now suggested that the millions of such eggs which may be gathered round the coasts of Britain should be added to the food supply of the people.

Still Some Protestants

• The “Protestant Truth Society”, organized by some who are alive to the false claims of the Papacy, and are active in opposition to it, has issued a manifesto warning Protestants against the Roman Catholic movement, organized and parading under the name “The Sword of the Spirit”. As already noted in these comments the Hierarchy in England has the wool pulled over the eyes of many of the clergy and preachers in England in this, and with their co-operation this Roman movement is making considerable progress through the land. The “Protestant Truth Society’s manifesto reminds its readers of the Papacy claims, never altered, of its insidious actions, and it warns against any alliance with the movement. There is not space here to give details of the manifesto, but it is mentioned as showing that not all in English Protestantism are ready to be hoodwinked by the seemingly innocent moves of the Roman Catholic church, however cunningly devised they may be. This “Sword of the Spirit” organization has no relation to the words which it has stolen from the Scriptures, but is a propaganda move to get ahead of the other systems as soon as conditions allow for its wider and more active operations. But the “Protestant Truth Society” itself is limited, as its name implies, and its members decline to take the Scriptures as their guide: they are “orthodox” in that they are supporters of the creeds, and the proclamation of the establishment of God’s Theocratic Government is anathema to them, as it is to all sections of religion. No doubt that the warning will have effect on many: these will get their eyes open to the false lead their parsons and preachers are giving to them, and there is a certain hope that as a result of the witness now being given to the establishment of The Theocracy and its judgments against all that is false they will flee to this “strong tower” where, only, they can find salvation.

Assembly of 400 magazine publishers at Kingdom Hall, Craven Terrace, London, Saturday, May 10, 1941

Jehovah’s witnesses

• Amid all the changes into which the war and its necessities, its compulsory removals of homes and businesses through evacuations; amid the set purpose of the nation not to rest until Nazism and Fascism are destroyed and this menace to the life and peace of Britain and of Europe, Jehovah’s witnesses are carrying the comfort of the Word of God to the people. The certainty of the message, with its own demonstration as being the word of God to the people concerning His Kingdom, and the establishment of His Theocratic rule under Christ, and at His own appointed time, is bringing comfort to the hearts of many. The certainty of the Word of God is in open contrast to the mistiness and mystery of the creeds, and the quite apparent ignorance of the clergy as a class as to what the Bible is about. To them the Bible is little more than the book from which they can quote passages to support their church systems; a fact which events are disclosing to the people.

THE NEW GOVERNMENT

Chiropractic by Oklahoma Police

◆ In December, at Inola, Okla., a school principal struck me with all his might, on the temple, dislocating my atlas, which required twelve adjustments for relief. This was brought about because a little Tonadab had refused to salute the flag at his school and she was expelled. It was suggested that I explain the position of Jehovah’s witnesses to the school board, with the father of the child. While this was being done the school principal, being present, permitted a demon or many of them to get full control of him and he knocked me practically out with the one blow on the temple, which blow was unexpected and undeserved. This caused my spine to be out of adjustment, and gave me a lot of trouble.

Throughout the winter months my health was not as good as it had been prior to this experience; however, it seems that with the coming of spring I was to have a full recovery in an unexpected way.

During April, after engaging in the street-corner magazine work at Barnsdall, Okla., the police chief met me and gave me a hard shove down the street on toward his police station, cursing much and very loud. The company servant there was with me, and earlier in the day the chief had refused to give us his co-operation in case of any violence. Upon arriving at the police station, cursing very loud, he walked to the jail cell, unlocked it, and then became further confused, being fully in the possession of the demons. He then looked through his keys, found one, and unlocked a cabinet, from which he took a big club. Instead of throwing us into the jail cell, he decided to do more cursing; and realizing that the club was in his hands, and seeing that we were not in the least bit excited nor afraid of him, he decided to try to hit me with the club. He came at me with the club in a manner that reminds one of the way a pitcher winds up before the throw of a ball. I was trying to guard myself from the blow on the head, remembering the Inola incident, when the police chief—“whose name is Davis”—again became confused. He was too near me to do a good job with the club, so he decided on the point of his shoe. Davis literally kicked me in the seat of the trousers, out of the police station and into the street, with orders to get out of town. Many Barnsdall people witnessed this outrage, which was also unexpected and undeserved.

Children show from the platform how to conduct a Model Study—Enfield, London, England.

Since this experience at Barnsdall I have been enjoying much better health than I have had for a long time, hence in better physical condition to do the work that has been assigned to me in The Theocracy, for which I give all thanks to Jehovah. Surely the demons, in using Davis as they did, did not intend (by causing Davis to kick me so hard) to repair at Barnsdall the damage that was actually done at Inola. An unusual way of receiving a chiropractic adjustment.—Earl R. Brame.

To The American Legion

◆ In reply to the unwarranted attack upon Jehovah’s witnesses by the Andrew Jackson Post of the American Legion of High Point, in regard to a zone assembly of the witnesses in that city and appearing in your Tuesday issue of the Journal, the work of these law-abiding people was well known all over the earth long before the conception of the Legion movement, and their only objective is to strictly adhere to all the commands of God. There is no case on record anywhere to show that they have ever interfered with any government or organization, civic, religious, political or patriotic, in exercising their full rights in pursuit of liberty and freedom.

Jehovah’s witnesses respect the American flag and have never requested that any other flag be placed above it, yet they do not worship flags and do not bow themselves down to anything at all except the great Creator of heaven and earth. This course of action is in no way inimical to the laws of our state and country.

Theocratic immersion, St. Augustine, Fla.

“Locusts” in North East London

Just such un-American attacks upon law-abiding minority groups in democratic America naturally force all thinking people to recall the parallel conditions in Europe, a few years ago, which, when fanned by the flames of hatred and mob violence, developed into a steam-roller totalitarian monstrosity that is now threatening the very foundations of all civilized government, even civilization itself.

Men of The American Legion, review the conduct of some of your associated posts and ponder soberly upon the tactics you have used against a God-fearing people in your midst; a people who wish to bring only hope and comfort to all mankind, whose hearts are burdened with sorrow and grief for the horrors, distress and peril they now see prevailing in most all the earth.

God’s kingdom under Christ Jesus is truly the only hope of the world, and the greatest privilege that any creature could now have is a part in keeping this message continually before his fellow creatures, as commanded by the Almighty God.

I say in behalf of Jehovah’s witnesses, with whom I am proud to be associated, that when they call at your home, you are face to face with a friend and a sincere ambassador of that Kingdom for which Jesus taught us to pray, and not a foreign spy, Nazi, Fascist, Communist nor infidel, as some of the American Legion witch-hunters would have you believe.

We respect the American flag, love our country, and are willing to obey all laws that do not conflict with God’s supreme law—and the Constitution makes no such requirement.—J. B. Arvin, in the Winston-Salem (N. C.) Journal and Sentinel.

How to Get the Marshal

◆ A witness being arrested five times in as many weeks had been released so that she might get bond, but it seemed that the officials had made it up that they would put her to as much trouble as possible. The mayor refused the bond. She was told that the marshal was the one that should approve the bond; but he must have been hiding. So, after running around for about two hours trying to find him, she told her husband, “Go to the car and get my magazine bag and I will get out on the street corner, and I am sure he will be there.” This was done, and she located the marshal in just two minutes and had her bond approved.—Paul Borchert, Texas.

Doorstep setup, Crandon, Wis: All you need say is, “I have here an important public announcement that you should hear.” Then start the phonograph.

Wewoka Went to Town

◆ Wewoka, Oklahoma, went to town for several days in the spring of 1941. First the police, clothed with what they regarded as all power, arrested five of Jehovah’s witnesses for distributing Christian literature, and fined them $20 each. Then the witnesses were followed out of town and stoned; one of three hit was a woman. That evening four ministers declared vice and crime were ignored in Wewoka; which was equivalent to saying the police of the town were miserable gangsters.

The next day the chief of police of the city complained that Jehovah’s witnesses had been arrested because of telephone calls, and he just did not know that the preachers were going to take it up for the witnesses. The desk sergeant who gladly received the complaints was Barney McKellop. Arrah, Barney!

The next day the witnesses filed suit for $20,000 against the two policemen and the un-American Legion official that did the stoning of the women and the men. The name of the Legion official was Dr. W. K. Batson, fourth district commander. One of the male witnesses had his cheek split open by the attentions of Dr. Batson and his police friends, together with the stones they seized and used as mauls. One of the stone-handlers was the chief of police, Grover H. Harrison. The same day the five ministers of the city issued a public statement, saying, in part:

There have been repeated occasions both in the state and in the nation during the last year in which the Jehovah’s witnesses have been subjected to irresponsible persecution and to mob violence. The specific charge and the only charge lodged against the witnesses Monday morning was that of disturbing the peace. Two citizens testified against them. In our opinion the evidence submitted was insufficient and unconvincing, and the verdict of guilt was unjustified. By the same evidence as was presented at the police court Monday morning, any member of any recognized local church, seeking to do “personal work” and to win prospective members for Christ could be found guilty of disturbing the peace and fined.

The Gentleman at Old Orchard

◆ The gentleman at Old Orchard, Maine, is a French Catholic gentleman somewhat over six feet in height. Acting as he thought his spiritual adviser would wish, he slapped the face of a young Christian woman while she was engaged in the magazine street work. He thought this would work out all right, and so it did. The young woman reached for his shirt and deftly removed it at one grab. She then took one grab at his pants and got most of them, but the record is a little indistinct at this point, and as the manuscript does not clearly draw the line, none is drawn. The gentleman then ran for a cop, but the cop laughed at him and said, “That is your fight, not mine.” And so the majesty of the law was satisfied with his bare back and more or less bare legs. The crowd started to laugh, whereupon the gentleman offered to lick one of the male witnesses to a pulp with a club, but he could not proceed without pants, and so the story ends. No glory is less to be sought after than to go down in history as the unclothed jackass of Old Orchard who wanted to please papa by slapping a young woman and only got laughed at.

Got What He Richly Deserved

◆ Jehovah’s witnesses were having a zone assembly at the farm homestead of Sidney Ramsey, Howe, Oklahoma. There is as yet no law in the United States that Christian people may not meet together at a private home in the country to talk about God’s kingdom. However, that is not religious. So citizens of Poteau, Panama and Howe, Oklahoma, organized themselves into a mob and went out to the Ramsey farm, throwing stones and clubs at cars, seizing phonographs and burning literature which was the private property of other people. One result was that Jack Fuller of Panama, Oklahoma, was taken to a hospital in a serious condition; and if he was one of the attackers, this is just to say that he got what he deserved, and if he is now dead all decent men should rejoice that it is so.

How the Lost Was Found

◆ You sent us the name of a good-will person who lives in the rurals, nine miles out of Lonoke. We tried for a long time to find her, but were unable to do so. One Saturday, working with the magazines on the streets of Lonoke, we had been located not more than fifteen minutes until a lady came to me, took a Watchtower, and said she had some of the books and liked them. I asked her name, and lo! she was the party we were trying to locate. In a few days she came one evening to our trailer, brought father and mother along, and asked many questions. We ran some of the lectures for them. Now we have a model study in their home; they have subscribed for The Watchtower and will take Consolation. All are rejoicing with us in giving praise to Jehovah.—F. B. Sergeant and wife, pioneers, Arkansas.

Jesus Arrested in Stillwater

◆ It seems that Jesus of Nazareth made certain remarks that cast reproach upon the scribes and Pharisees and other hypocrites of His day. See Matthew, chapter 23. It also happens that Stillwater, Oklahoma, has a city ordinance (keep a straight face now) that makes such language illegal; so the city arrested Mrs. E. F. Walrod, one of Jehovah’s witnesses, for circulating literature which somebody in town (it might be anybody at all) might construe to be objectionable to himself (or herself). Jesus said that what is done to His people is done to himself; so that is how Jesus was arrested in Stillwater and brought before Mayor M. J. Bradley. Incidentally, Mayor Bradley died within a week thereafter.

(To be continued) UNDER THE TOTALITARIAN FLAG

More Terror of the Truth

◆ When we were small we often heard it said, “Two Turks are about.” Now we have seen, not two Turks, but two who appear to be American women leave a house on Pacheco street, between Obispo Lazo [literally, Bishop Snare] and Urdaneta, equipped with two immense bags of Protestant propaganda! They seem to do a brisk business: little books and booklets luxuriously printed, with very suggestive titles and beautiful illustrations, three for one bolivar. These women have an admirable tongue; so much so that they made a sale even in a priest’s home. Therefore keep your eyes open, wide open, parishioners and residents of Pacheco street.—Translated from “The Parochial Leaflet” of Zulia-Maracaibo Diocese, Venezuela, December 17, 1939.

The Huge Bird Cage

◆ It is well known that pigeons and other birds fly in and out of the great windows of the Vatican that open out on St. Peter’s Square. It was therefore nothing remarkable that a pigeon flew in and parked itself on some red velvet hangings while the pope was “blessing” 600 newly wedded couples, as related in the Catholic Times. The Leicester Mail made a better story out of it by making it 800 couples; but what is a little matter of 200 couples between newspapermen, when it comes to giving the pope a break in the day’s news. It is a big wonder that the papers don’t have at least a quarter column every time he washes his feet; and in view of the fact that he expects to have them kissed off and on, it might not be such a waste of space, at that.

The Low-down on Primates

◆ In studying my Watchtower lesson I had occasion to look up the definition of “primacy” and was referred there to “primate”. This is what I found in Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, which apparently is perfectly legitimate: “A bishop of the see which ranks first in a province or provinces. . . . One of the highest order of mammals, consisting of man and the apes, monkeys, marmosets and lemurs.”

On my looking up “lemurs”, it says, “They are allied to the monkeys, but are usually regarded as constituting a distinct suborder. Nearly all have a foxlike muzzle, large eyes, and soft woolly fur” and face petticoats. Further regarding “lemures”: “Roman Religion—spirits of the dead; ghosts.”—Anonymous.

The Disgrace of Montreal

◆ The police of Montreal disgraced themselves by arresting and causing long terms of imprisonment of Jehovah’s witnesses (women as well as men) for obeying the commandment of Almighty God to preach the Kingdom message as the only hope of the world. Hardly had this news come through before it was followed by information that four French Catholic policemen on the same police force had been specially entrusted with the care of a drug store, when they proceeded to steal $400 worth of merchandise, which they then divided among themselves. Some of the cigars, cigarettes, candy and toilet articles stolen were found in each of the homes of the four men. All this seems regular.

Says the Scribe

◆ Says the scribe: “ ’Sfunny, but Catholics must tell all their sins to the priest, and pay for telling them, but their wants they can tell to the saints or to the Lord, and the priest does nothing to help pay the bill. So, if you want your sins forgiven, go to the priest, and if you want anything else, you know where you can go, but it isn’t polite to mention it.” All True Ministers to Be Imprisoned

◆ The world believes that it can solve its problems by military power, but such is untrue. The only hope is in The Theocracy, and as the world becomes more and more military-minded, it must follow, as the night the day, that the true ministers of God will become more and more offensive to the so-called “powers that be” until their logical place is in prison or in death before the firing squads. The time will come when no such thing as a conscientious objector will be permitted to have his liberty, even if permitted to have his life. But it can be set down as true that ministers of the Devil, priests, monks, nuns and other clergy of Satan, will be allowed to carry on until close to the very end.

Tutoring the Infant Mind

◆ A group of Italian cardinals, including some at the Papal Court (but not Pope Pius himself), is looking far into the future. The prelates reportedly argue that the German and Russian revolutions will eventually evolve philosophies that are neither Nazi nor Communist, and with which the Church may be able to strike something like harmony. If this happens, the Italians supposedly believe, the Church may fare better under the “new order” than under the present structure.—Newsweek, February 10, 1941.

Out to Grab the Labor Unions

◆ The Roman Catholic Hierarchy is definitely out to grab the American labor unions, with its Association of Catholic Trade Unionists as a basis, already organized in 15 industrial cities. At its recent convention greetings were sent to it by over a score of archbishops and bishops. So says the London Catholic Herald. Do you know of any reason why there should be an Association of Methodist Trade Unionists, or an Association of Presbyterian Trade Unionists? Or of other sect?

Condemned as Anti-Fascist

◆ At the close of a month of greatest activity, notice was received that the Minister of Justice [São Paulo, Brazil] ordered the Society dissolved and its work stopped. Guards were stationed at the gate to see that the Society was not functioning. For nearly a month the office was almost “incommunicado”, until a formal protest could be filed with the Brazilian authorities. When the order was given to dissolve the Society no reason was assigned for the action, but later, in conference with the office of the Minister of Justice, representatives of the Society were told that the objection to the Society was that it was an American organization and anti-Fascist.—1941 Yearbook of Jehovah’s witnesses.

Decorating Adolf’s Heroes

◆ Hitler believes in seeing to it that his chief supporters receive decorations. A United Press dispatch from Berlin, under date of February 8, 1941, stated that on that day 32 Catholic priests had been decorated with the Iron Cross, first class, while 71 had been decorated with the Iron Cross, second class. That’s right, Adolf, stand by the ones that gave you your start, wrote your book, gave you their advice, and now adore you but make a blundering attempt to convey the impression in America that you are persecuting them.

No Beeswax, No “Blessing”

◆ You did not know that this “blessing” business was mixed with beeswax, did you? Well, that is the low-down. It came right through by telephone from Rome to the New York Times that the candles the pope has to have on Candlemas Day must have just so much beeswax along with a certain proportion of animal fats, and because the beeswax and the fats are hard to get in wartime the pope said God would not have any hard feelings if the candles in 1941 were shorter than usual. And so they were made shorter. And that was that.

Barrios and the Skeletons

◆ When they were excavating for a sewer through the city of Guatemala, the workmen were precipitated into a subterranean passage that led from a monastery to a nunnery eight blocks away. This passage was strewn with baby skeletons. It so incensed General Barrios that although he was a Catholic and strictly in a Catholic country, he ordered out his troops, took thirty bishops and priests down into this passage, and hung them with no caps over their faces, so in their death struggle they could see the baby skeletons. He then tore down the enclosures of the monastery and nunnery and made them subject to rigid inspections.—The Monitor.

Just as Innocent

◆ Just as innocent as those seventeen sweet boys of Coughlin’s Christian Front (all of whom were released after a plot to seize the United States Government—and one of whom suicided because he knew he was guilty), the “Reverend Father” Luis Vogel was exonerated for teaching, at the United States navy base at Subic, in the Philippines, that totalitarianism, and not democracy, is the ideal government; that the Aryans (Germans) have established powerful and efficient governments in Europe and that it is futile for small countries to resist the demands of mighty countries (like Germany, for example, or Japan).

When the Refugees Came Home

◆ When the refugees came home from Italy there were more than 450 priests, seminarians and nuns out of a total of 1,907 passengers on the United States liner Manhattan. Italy was then in the war; the totalitarian scheme for seizing the earth was in good shape in Europe, and the priests could be used on Fifth Column work in the United States. The nuns, too, would be useful. So home they came. The religious business was worked day and night, so that every priest could have a whack at it.

James the Son of Zebedee

◆ The only places where the body of James the son of Zebedee lies buried are at Saragossa, Spain; Compostella, Spain; Toulouse, France; Monte Grigiano, Italy; and Zibili, Italy. This bit of ecclesiastical history from the Roman Catholic Register seems about the most reliable and dependable thing in the paper, the reason being that James was put to death by Herod Agrippa I, in Palestine. Don’t ask how James’ body got from Palestine to Saragossa, Compostella, Toulouse, Monte Grigiano, and Zibili, because that would show you do not have “faith”, and if you don’t have “faith” you will never be able to get your relatives out of “Purgatory”.

He “Blessed” the Third Term

◆ The Universe, alone among all the newspapers in these islands, it is thought, recorded at the time that a Catholic priest gave the benediction at the close of President Roosevelt’s inauguration ceremony. That was due to the fact that a member of the staff who listened to the radio broadcast recognized Msgr. Ready’s voice. News from the U.S. now adds that Msgr. Ready (who was a visitor to this country a couple of years ago) was a guest at the luncheon served in the White House after the ceremony and afterwards occupied a place on the reviewing stand in front of the President’s official residence.—London Catholic Universe, Feb. 21, 1941.

A Bishop as a Minesweeper

◆ The “Right Reverend” Dr. Paul Fulcrand de L’Aubillière, bishop, dean of Westminster (don’t overlook any of the titles), thinks that a good place for conscientious objectors would be as volunteer minesweepers. In the same conversation that bishop said, “Of course, war is contrary to the whole outlook of Our Lord.” That being the case, and the bishop claiming to represent the Lord, and to speak for Him, the only logical thing for the bishop to do is to volunteer as a minesweeper. He might not be of any good at that job, but he is of no good at his present one; and, as Britain needs minesweepers, why not put him to work? He has rested long enough.

Sanitation of Sister-Nurses

◆ One of the great inconveniences and discomforts of a sister-nurse is the clothes which she is compelled to wear. The garb which I wore for thirty-nine years weighed about fifteen pounds, and there is no change of weight in this “holy habit” for cold or warm weather. Our petticoats and stockings are the only garments that are changed in weight for the different temperatures. We are allowed two garbs at a time, but a sister wears one nearly all the time until it is worn out. All the cleaning these garbs get is a little brushing with soap and water; and when it gets discolored, it is dyed to its original color. One of the garbs I had for twelve years, and when I discarded it there was only a small piece of the original left. Think of the cleanliness and sanitation of these poor girls, wearing such clothes, perspiring over the sick, and from cooking and doing laundry work, and even being under the rule of asking permission to take a bath! Over all this, when we cared for the sick, we tied a large white apron, slipped on a pair of white sleeves, and then the patients would say, “How sanitary these sisters were!”—From The Demands of Rome, by Elizabeth Schoffen.

Afraid of the Women

◆ When Cardinal Villeneuve, the dictator of Quebec province, put the padlock law on the books, by which he, or the politicians under his control, can padlock any home without any reason being assigned, he showed that he is afraid of the men. They might learn something and teach it to others, and in Quebec this is sedition. Having revealed his fear of the men, he now reveals his fear of the women also, and is out with a pronunciamento against women’s voting, as they now do in all the countries not under control of the Vatican. The next thing, he will probably issue an order that priests and monks may not vote. That will make it 100 percent.

Papa Was Mad

◆ The Spanish ambassador to the pope had it figured out that he was soon to be a daddy, and sure enough he was. He also had it figured out that the Papal secretary of state would christen his new baby. In fact, it was all fixed up between them. In the meantime the Spanish minister of government, Ramon Serrano Suner, visited Rome and, through some oversight, forgot to visit Mr. Pacelli at the Vatican. The pope never forgives nor forgets, and so, to show that papa was mad, when the baby showed up the Papal secretary of state sent word that somebody else would have to christen the youngster. Can you think of anything more ridiculously childish?

Getting Back into Power

◆ Under the reform government of Benito Juarez all church property in Mexico was declared to be the property of the state. Later, the church was prohibited from acquiring real property and teaching or practicing outside of churches. In 1926 all foreign priests were expelled and the number of priests was reduced from 4,493 to 197, and even now may not be legally more than 350. But the church is slowly getting back into power in Mexico, despite its record of having done all possible to retard social progress.

Ulster in Dead Earnest

◆ The bishop of Down and Connor says that in Ulster there is a serious objection to union with Catholic Eire to the south, and that the Ulster soldiers batter in the doors of homes with rifle butts and brandish revolvers during questioning of Catholic families.

(To be continued) “Calves of Gold”

IN THESE days, when politicians are insisting on “more religion”, a common expression frequently met up with is, to wit, “Oh, we have our own church; we don’t need any of that” (meaning some proffered literature containing Bible instruction).

To the chosen people of old Almighty God’s commandment was: “Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God.” (Exodus 20:3-5, Am. Rev. Ver.) After King Solomon’s death, Jeroboam, the new ruler of ten tribes of the nation of Israel, caused the ten tribes to sin, and in sacred Scripture his act is spoken of as “the sin of Jeroboam” and, later, when Samaria became the capital city, “the sin of Samaria.” Fearing that if the ten tribes went up to Jerusalem to worship in the way Jehovah had appointed all the people would return to the kingdom of Judah, the rebel king, Jeroboam, made two golden calves, or images, and put one at Bethel and the other at Dan as objects through which Jehovah presumably would be worshiped. Then he said to the people that it was too much for them to go up to Jerusalem, and, pointing to these golden calves, he said: “Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” (1 Kings 12:26-30) Such worship of God through images is the “sin of Samaria”, named at Amos 8:14.

There are groups of professed “Christian” people claiming to worship God that have taken a similar course. The Lutherans set up Martin Luther as their leader, and the Lutheran church organization as their graven image, and insist that God must be worshiped by and through them only. King Henry VIII was the first British ruler to assume the title “Defender of the Faith”, which title the pope of Rome originally conferred upon him and which title the rulers of Britain claim to this day, and the Church of England claims that the only proper worship of God is through this “golden calf”, or image. Others have set up Wesley and the organization of the Wesleyans as a “golden image” for worship; and still others hold to the “Hierarchy of Authority” under the ruler of Vatican City.

From 1878 to 1916 the Lord God gave His truly consecrated servants on earth much truth, restoring much Bible truth that had long been hidden from view, and greatly using Charles T. Russell, who was a faithful follower of Christ, to bring the truth to the attention of the people. What he wrote and published was wonderfully used of the Lord to aid others to know God and see His purposes. When he finished his earthly course many that had been apparently walking in the “narrow way” began to go backward. They formed themselves into groups and claimed that the sum total of truth revealed to God’s people is found in what C. T. Russell did and wrote and that he is ‘that faithful and wise servant whom the Lord has made ruler over all his goods’; and they insist that the only true worship is by and through him and his works, and thereby they set up for themselves an “image” for worship.

Today, however, there are in “the present truth” of the Bible no Lutherans, no Episcopalians, no Wesleyans, no “Russellites”, nor the followers of any other man. And why? The reason is that Jehovah God is pleased to reveal His advancing truth henceforth to those who give honor and glory to the great Creator, and not to creatures. Job 32: 21, 22 reads: “Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person; neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away.” When; at the crisis of the World War, the Lord came to His spiritual temple He put a test upon His professed followers on earth, which test was made to the end that those finally approved might offer unto the Lord God an “offering in righteousness”, that is, right and acceptable worship to Him by serving as His witnesses. That group of persons, however, who ignore God's appointed way as set forth in the Bible and who insist upon worshiping Him in their own appointed and traditional manner could not be pleasing to the Lord. It seems quite clear that these are the ones referred to at Psalm 16: 4, to wit: “They will multiply their sorrows who [go] backward: I will not pour out their drink-offerings, because of bloodshed; nor will I take their names upon my lips.”—Rotherham's translation.

The facts show that this verse pertains to judgment. The Scriptures show that “judgment must begin at the house of God” and at the time when the Lord comes to His temple for judgment. (See 1 Peter 4: 17, 18.) Other scriptures show that approximately at the time the Lord came to His temple in spirit there would be in the land of “Christendom” (and there has been) a “famine . . . of hearing the words of the Lord”, and hence many run to and fro seeking the Word of the Lord God in the religious organizations and do not find it. The reason given at Amos 8: 11-14 is that such are “they that swear by the sin of Samaria”.

This means that such insist on worshiping God through the “image” of their own making. They do not humble themselves under the mighty hand of Jehovah God, but worship the work of the one or ones whom they idolize. It is written, at 1 Peter 5: 5, 6, that God pushes away from Him those who take this course.

Those who follow a way different from what Jehovah God has appointed are not pleasing to Him. Concerning those who take a wrongful course, the Lord says that their poured-out offerings, even though they appear in their own sight as precious as blood, will not be acceptable to Him, nor will He take their names upon His lips. The Almighty God will have those who worship Him do so in spirit and in truth. They do not follow the unscriptural reasoning that “by the aid of sacred pictures our devotion and love for the original are intensified, because we can concentrate our thoughts more intently on the object of our affections”. (Cardinal Gibbons’ The Faith of Our Fathers, page 201) Rather they “walk by faith, not by sight”; “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”—2 Corinthians 5: 7; 4: 18.

The Lord’s servant, seeing the Lord’s way, and not desiring to indulge in controversy, with those who decline to be obedient to God's commandment, turns to Jehovah and says: “Jehovah is my share, my portion, and my cup, Jehovah is the maintainer of my lot for me: the measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, verily! mine inheritance is mighty over me.” (Psalm 16: 5, 6, Roth.) Declaring that religionists may take whatsoever course they may desire, God's true servant says he has chosen that which Jehovah has for him, and he delights therein. As for the religionists, one might induce himself to believe that he is the servant of God, but unless he serves God in the way which Jehovah has appointed, he cannot be pleasing to the Most High God.—See Hosea 8: 5-7.

Vassal States of Southeastern Europe

Poland Under Hitler

◆ All Polish universities, secondary schools and technical colleges have been closed. Nearly three-quarters of the children have been deprived of even elementary schools. The publication of all books, pamphlets and music is prohibited. The death penalty has been introduced for food “speculation”, the evasion of rationing decrees, listening to foreign broadcasts, “insults” to German officials, and other offenses. Although the country has always been an exporter of foodstuffs, such have been the exactions of those who are to build the “New Europe” that the entire population lives on semi-starvation rations.

Theatricals in Bulgaria

◆ Dictators have to be showmen, of the P. T. Barnum type, in order to get away with it; and so it was quite the appropriate thing that as Bulgaria did its belly-flop before Hitler, and the premier returned to his capital at Sofia after making his surrender, and the Germans were rushing across his country toward Greece, it just had to be that on that very day all the churches in Sofia were engaged in returning thanks for Bulgaria’s deliverance from Turkish rule in 1878. Also, it makes a nice hint to Turkey to have such a “deliverer” as Adolf arrive at such a time.

Gauleiter Rule in Rumania

◆ Under Gauleiter rule in Rumania all able-bodied persons 12 years of age and over, regardless of sex, were drafted for farm labor, and the farmers must plant what is prescribed. It is now several years since the people of Rumania have been at liberty to study the Holy Scriptures or to explain them to others, and now they have no liberties at all except such as are common to the lower animals. Rumanians are being kept in Hitler’s front lines in his war with Russia.

Blitzkrieg in the Mountains

◆ The German report is that some of their dive-bombers swooped down as close as 30 feet above Greek and Yugoslav hill forts, pillboxes and machine-gun nests, blasted them, then zoomed up and away. The armored troops then came in, and fanned out from numerous spearheads to cut communications and carve up pocketed troop units. It was a mountain blitzkrieg, and to date it has worked as well as did Hitler’s prairie blitz in Poland, the Low Countries and France. — New York Daily News, April 11, 1941.

April 10, 1941

◆ April 10, 1941, Franz von Papen, German ambassador to Turkey, gave the Turkish Government assurances that Germany has no intention of attacking Turkey. At the moment, it does seem as if the German purpose is to go around Turkey rather than through it, but if it should later suit Germany’s purpose to go through it after going around it, do you think von Papen will change his lifelong habit of lying?

Lists Were Already Made

◆ When Hitler seized Yugoslavia, the persons that were to be thrown into prison had already been listed, weeks beforehand. The fifth columnists, i.e., the priests, do their work well, and it is a foregone conclusion that in America they already have a complete list of all of Jehovah’s witnesses and others who stand for freedom and truth.

The Bomb Plot at Sofia

◆ As the British minister to Bulgaria withdrew, after the German army marched in, unknown heroes of the “new order” added two suitcases to his hand baggage, containing explosives so timed that a girl stenographer was killed when the bombs in one of them went off, when the party had arrived at Istanbul.

Greece

The Anzacs in Crete

◆ The Japanese have the most exalted admiration of military valor, and though the Japanese government is on the side of the Axis, and thus against Britain, the Japan Times Advertiser, organ of the Foreign Office, pays this tribute to the Anzacs and Greeks who were overwhelmed from the clouds in the battle of Crete:

Unreinforced, unfed, unshaved, unslept, unrelieved, unwashed, unled in terrible confusion, unsupported by anti-aircraft guns, uncertain of escape, unattended when wounded, unburied when dead, unremittingly bombed and blasted, exhausted, red-eyed, grim, gaunt, stripped of the veneer of civilization in the long, last condition of fear, knowing only bloody hand-to-hand fighting was their lot; dimly pondering in the half light a demoniacal torment, for all they knew enduring Armageddon—this was the incredibly horrible reality of those gallants, which only Dante could describe.

Three-Fourths Escaped

◆ It is easy enough for people protected by oceans three thousand miles wide to sneer, as some do, at Britain’s evacuations from Narvik, from Dunkerque, from Greece, and later from Crete. But it is interesting and significant that Britain had the courage to put 60,000 men into Greece, not to conquer Germany’s army of 500,000 men (they could not have done that), but to show the Greeks that they are of the same courageous blood, and to show the onrushing Germans that they must pay a price for all they get henceforth. Some 48,000 of the British that went into Greece were safely evacuated when resistance was no longer possible. And another three-fourths were withdrawn from Crete, when that could not be held. It is a record of bulldog tenacity and courage that even the Germans must admire. American boys will soon be alongside the British.

Flame Throwers in Greece

◆ Probably no weapon made by man compares with the terror inspired by liquid fire, which the Germans first used effectively in 1916. At that time a dozen flame throwers effectively scattered a regiment of 1,900 men, capturing most of them. The flames are thrown 100 feet, in forty bursts of a second each. By using up the oxygen in the air the flame thrower may stop a tank dead in its tracks. Or in attacking a fortress a single burst of flaming oil may turn the interior of it into a fortress in which no human can live. In their projected invasion of Britain, much stress is laid upon the probable effect of the flame throwers in shattering civilian morale and resistance; as was also done in Greece.

The Invaders of Crete

◆ Germany has the murder business down to a finer art than any other nation and is always showing something new and interesting in butchers’ art. Thus the invaders of Crete had fawn-colored parachutes which, at a distance, could hardly be distinguished from the clouds. Other parts of their apparel were greenish silk jackets lined with wool and trousers to match. Kneecaps and soles of the feet were protected with rubber pads two inches thick, and their helmets also had a two-inch rubber protection band. Moreover, and this is the devastating fact about it, these air invaders, armed with tommy-guns, scored a complete success.

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