Consolation, May 12, 1943
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Contents
Seattle Officials Fight Against Liberty on the Home Front
‘Framing Mischief by Law’
Shielding Religion from the Bible Spotlight 5
Trampling Underfoot the Constitution
Kirtley’s Zeal Against Freedom
Persecution Defeated
Newspapers and Citizens Disapprove
“Seclusion” of the Society’s President
San Diego and Los Angeles
Guerrilla Warfare on Huge Scale
Governor Bricker, of Ohio, for President (!)
Teapot Tempests
“Thy Word Is Truth”
The Oath-bound Covenant
The Deflation of Marshal Petain
"Petain Was Joffre’s Headache”
“We Are Whipped,” “We Are Whipped” 19
Petain Hates Republics
A Traitor of the First Degree
“Catholic France”
Separation of Church and State
How About Joan of Aref
Was the “Church” Persecuted?
Presenting “This Gospel of the Kingdom” “Unlearned and Ignorant Men”
Why Leyden University Was Closed
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Notandum
Effect of Kindness on Animals
♦ If the law of kindness be applied by man to the government of the so-called “brute creation”, it will be wonderful how easily they can be brought under subjection and control. The efficacy of the soothing word, the gentle touch, has only to be honestly tried to be fully appreciated. It may be set down as a fixed fact that whenever a horse or a cow or an ox is timid and shy—will not allow a person to approach or handle, unless it is so situated that it cannot escape—a wrong system of treatment has. been pursued. The animals of the farmer are naturally disposed to be docile and affectionate. They recognize the voice and hand of a friend almost as soon as a human creature would, and manifest their affection in a variety of ways, which none but the kind master or keeper will observe. Have you not seen teamsters who could manage their teams by a soft word far better than others could do by blows and harsh words? Have you not seen a milkmaid approach a cow with a bucket without the slightest evidence of a disposition on the part of the animal to evade her? And have you not seen the same cow make every effort to escape from the next milkmaid who approaches her? And the reason was that the first had always treated her kindly and gently, while the latter had pursued the opposite method. Animals almost invariably partake of the character of their masters. The kind, gentle and considerate master will generally have kind, gentle animals; while the rude, impetuous and cruel master will rarely fail to have animals whose dispositions’ will mate his own. Is not gentleness the true method? God has given these poor brutes for our use, they minister to our wants, are patient and uncomplaining, and certainly deserve such treatment at our hands as will show that we properly appreciate the kindness of the Almighty in giving them to us for the purpose of adding to our comfort.—Selected.
“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.”-—Proverbs 12:10.
CONSOLATION
“And in His name shall the nations hope.”—Matthew 12:21, A.R.V.
Volume XXIV Brooklyn, N. Yr, Wodnesday, May 12, 1943 Number 617
Seattle Officials Fight Against Liberty on the Home Front
WHAT ails Seattle? Why must she shelve democratic freedoms at such a crucial time, especially the freedom to worship God? Is it by popular consent, or have small-minded city officials overruled liberty on that home front while blood is shed for it on far-flung battle fronts? Why must Bible discussions, held in other cities without incident, be broken up in Seattle by the stormtrooper tactics of a local gestapo? And, after the cancellation of the contract for the Seattle Civic Auditorium under the flimsy pretext of enforcing a city ordinance that is unconstitutional on its face and as applied, why must the police follow through their persecution of Christians by intimidating and frightening other hall owners into similar contract-breaking practices?
Officials and police in key positions justify their autocratic rampage against Christians by saying that the delivery of a Bible lecture would cause Seattle citizens to riot. In effect, they contend that the people of Seattle are narrowminded bigots that are not sufficiently educated in democratic principles and devoted to them to permit the exercise of free speech on God’s Word, or free assembly for that purpose; that such Bible speeches would cause the Seattle populace to flare forth in anarchistic Uprisings. The position taken by this handful of “spiritual policemen” is false to the core. And they know it is false. The facts prove their specious reasoning so. Note the events that give rise to the aforementioned questions and then judge for yourself, in democratic style, and let the citizens of Seattle decide whether they wish to bear the nationwide odium brought upon their city by their official representatives, if they wish to be made the “fall guy” and take the tcrap” for such freedom-haters, or Jet them decide to clear Seattle of the smirch brought upon it. Their decision will be evidenced by their future course: one of inaction, or action in the fight for liberty on the Seattle front to counteract the battle waged against it by misguided officials.
Fighters for Liberty
The totalitarian tendencies of some of Seattle’s leaders were brought to light by an unpopular minority group that is spearheading the light for liberty on the home front, ,Jehovah’s witnesses. They are hated of all nations for Christ’s name’s sake, and this even in democratic lands, despite their fight to preserve democratic processes. (Matthew 24:9) View them in whatsoever light you will, still the honest person devoted to freedom, he he religionist or atheist, will acknowledge and appreciate the service in the interests of freedom rendered by Jehovah’s witnesses. The test of freedom is the extent to which it is granted unpopular minorities; and if Jehovah’s witnesses fight for their rights,- just remember they are your rights also. Citizens of Seattle, soberly consider the actions of your representatives on the days of March 20 and 21, 1943.
On February 8 a group of Seattle
citizens, the Watchtower convention committee, called on the manager of the Civic Auditorium and stated their desire to rent the building for an assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses. The committee referred the manager to a previous eon. tract with the witnesses in 1938. He 4 examined those files, and entered into * contract with the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society for their use of the Civic Auditorium on March 20 and 21, full rental price being paid.
More than a week before the assembly a tremendous advertising campaign began. A hundred thousand handbills were distributed, thousands of letters of invitation sent out, several thousand signs were prepared and made their appearance along the highways, on tops of cars, in store windows, etc. Everyone in Seattle soon knew Jehovah’s witnesses were to hold a Christian assembly in the Seattle Civic Auditorium, including the city officials. But’ no objections were raised; the signal to strike down free speech, assembly and worship had not been given. The advertising work continued unhindered and reached its climax. .
Saturday, March 20, dawned a beautiful warm spring dayf ideal for Theocratic service. Approximately 1,000 of Jehovah’s witnesses had assembled by 9 a. m..for the opening exercises. Shortly thereafter they spread throughout the city of Seattle to preach the gospel of the Kingdom from house to house as did their Leader, Christ Jesus, long ago. Officials. sometimes complain of the house-to-house work of Jehovah’s witnesses, and ask whyT they do not assemble in a building to worship. They rented a building for that purpose in Seattle, and while they were out doing good by inviting it$ citizens to come and meet with them and share their blessings, Seattle officials, were doing the evil they had previously hatched against God’s servants. . .
; Charles C. Hughes, city building superintendent, led off -the, cowardly offensive against democratic freedoms and started the “persecution ball” rolling. In a dither he declared over the telephone to the witnesses that they were not going to use the auditorium, there was an ordinance against them, the contract was worthless, and he was coming over to evacuate the building. A few moments later he appeared with a squad of police under the assistant chief of police, W. B. Kirtley, who subsequently distinguished himself as a proficient disciple of Hitlerian methods. Hughes demanded the witnesses leave the premises. To enforce a city ordinance, he said, they must be ousted. Brief mention of that ordinance and its birth is here appropriate.
‘Framing Mischief by Law*
Judge Rutherford, a former president of the Watchtower Society, spoke at the Civic Auditorium in 1938 on the subject “Violence”. Mobsters, goaded on by priests of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, violently opposed that assembly of Christians. A goodly percentage of the citizens of Seattle are Catholics (not in favor of such tactics, however) and the scheming Catholic priesthood uses their votes and completely controls the city’s political machine. Hence, following Judge Rutherford’s expose of the totalitarian political ambitions of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy to dominate the world by cruel dictators, how she had used violence in the past to gain her ends, and was doing so at the present time (which facts then declared are now apparent to all awake persons), her loyal political tools in office ‘framed mischief by law’. (Psalm 94: 20) It was an ordinance providing that “the rental or use of the Civic Auditorium ... for any purpose . . . which will tend to engender religious or racial antagonism be, and the same is hereby, prohibited”.
If such a Hierarchy-inspired hateordinance could have been enforced during the Middle Ages, there never would have been a' Protestant Reformation, with the subsequent growth of Protestant nations founded on democratic liberties, of which this country is one. The Hierarchy fought bitterly against these freedoms in their birth throes by the rack and torture chamber of the Inquisition; she still fights them, and advocates ‘death for heretics [Protestants]’ where she is strong enough to demand it. She has ever engendered religious antagonism. And as for racial antagonism, the bulls issued by her popes against the Jews, and the denunciations leveled against them by present-day Catholic priests throughout the earth, should convict her on that point. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy would be the first to be excluded from use of Seattle’s Civic Auditorium under such a law if undis-criminatingly enforced; but no, the officials of this American city oppose the exposure of a totalitarian, Roman system that has fomented more religious and racial wars than all other groups combined since the time of man’s creation!
Now Seattle becomes a second offender in opposing Christianity. After the widely advertised assembly had started, city . councilman James Scavatto ‘just happened to remember’ this ordinance and sicked the pack on Jehovah’s witnesses. The city council is fighting to legalize slot-machine gambling rackets to secure revenue for the city; but Scavatto deprived the city of legitimate funds by instigating the closing of the Civic Auditorium to Bible discussions.
Shielding Religion from
the Bible Spotlight
This ordinance was framed to “get” Jehovah’s witnesses, is applied discriminatingly against them, and used to protect the precious “sacred cow” of Seattle officials. Jehovah’s witnesses only declare God’s Word. If His Word reflects upon the actions of religionists, is that the fault of His messengers'! The doctrine of Jehovah’s ■witnesses is not their own. (John 7:16) The controversy of those offended is with God. Let such lighthaters alter their course if the shining of God’s word of truth disturbs them. (John 3:19-21) If they do righteously, they need not fear free speech on God’s Word; it is not necessary to muzzle those who disagree with you. Jehovah God favors free speech, and, in Isaiah 43:8-12, invites all to bring forth their witnesses and justify their course, or to hear His witnesses and acknowledge their testimony as true. Antagonistic differences on political and social and economic questions may be freely aired, but differences of opinion on God’s Word, which contains the all-important message that means life or death to every creature, is stringently rationed and censored and suppressed. The vulnerable position of organized religion cannot survive a searching examination under the Bible spotlight; hence her political paramours come to hef rescue and restrain Christians. Like the Originator of Christianity, Jehovah’s witnesses will obey God and preach, thus making men free from religion; they will show God’s Word to ‘he true, even though it make every man [religionists included] a liar’. (John 8:32; Romans 3:4) Does a union of “religion and state” run Seattle to the exclusion of Christianity, as in the days of the Inquisition ? Granting that Seattle officials have no respect for God’s Word, let them at least spare the democratic liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.
It was under the pretext of enforcing that mischievously framed city law that pompous officials came at a belated hour to scatter Christians from the assembly place they had engaged and widely advertised. Hughes’ demand to vacate was met by the statement that a legal, valid contract had been made. Pooh! just a piece of paper. What care demon-controlled men about integrity to contracts? They are willing covenant-breakers.' (Romans 1:31,32) The doors of the auditorium were locked so far as Jehovah’s witnesses . were concerned, with two hundred on the inside. These re-
mained where they were, singing songs of praise to Jehovah, and many hundreds more continued to arrive and gathered on the outside. Seeing their * failure to overawe and cow God’s people by the displaying of the might of their k strong-arm squad, the police cordon ? blocking the entrances was withdrawn. 4 This preliminary skirmish was the
first intimation Jehovah’s witnesses had that Seattle officials had taken the bit in their teeth and become “runaways” from the guidance of democracy. The blitz against freedom of worship had been devilishly timed. On this point the Seattle Times said editorially:
When a public meeting is planned, everyone is or should be aware of the purpose. If that purpose is deemed unworthy or likely to cause mischief, the use of public or semipublie premises should be denied in advance. To interrupt and disperse a meeting once under way gives cause for not altogether unreasonable protest.
It seemed impossible, due to the enemy’s tactics of delaying their move, to take the necessary legal action to secure a restraining order. A lawyer was sought out to prepare the papers, and several judges were acquainted with the illegal arid malicious interference. On one pretext or another, the judges denied relief and refused to fight for liberty on the home front. One gallant judicial gentleman side-stepped saying ‘he had a date to go shopping with his wife’. One side, oath-bound duties of office. More binding on this man (?) are a woman’s apron strings!
Christians Under Surveillance
However, with the auditorium temporarily reopened, the convention proceeded on schedule. The program was identical with the one held in Los Angeles the week previous, where city officials did not feel constrained to suspend democracy ‘to prevent riots’. Present at the afternoon session in Seattle were Hughes, Kirtley and other so-called “public servants” obsessed with the dictator spirit, as is so often the case when “little men” are given a measure of authority. Similar to the loathsome spies sent forth by religious priests that “they might take hold of [Jesus’] words, that so they might deliver Him unto the power and authority of the governor”, these Satanic tools strained their ears for words from Christ’s followers that might rouse their “religious hatred” and antagonize religious priests whose allegiance is to papal Rome. (Luke 20: 20,26; Mark 11: 27; 12:12,13) As their prototypes failed centuries ago to catch Jesus in His words, so these Hierarchy dupes found no excuse to stop the assembly. The city ordinance had not been violated. Wholly unjustifiable, therefore, was the lockout ruled for Sunday, and such action must be regarded as discriminating, arbitrary, malicious, and Hitleristic. If the witnesses’ use of the auditorium was a violation of their precious hate-ordinance, as they claimed Saturday morning, then they allowed it to be broken one day, and broke the contract the next. One course or the other, followed consistently both days, would have been only one transgression. But rely on Seattle officials to ferret out every sin possible, and to commit them all.
Trampling Underfoot the Constitution
At 7 p.m. Saturday officious Kirtley called some of the convention committee into an office to hear him rave. He had a stenographer there to record the proceedings. In his ramblings he amused the witnesses by saying, “Forty years have I served the Lord [he should read Matthew 7:20,21; 15:7,8]. I venture to say I know more about the Bible [pausing and turning to the Jehovah’s witnesses present], with the exception of you three men, than any man present.” (He feared his bluff would be called. He claimed to be a Protestant, but since he would not protest against the Hierarchy and ‘stir religious hatred’, he is one in name only. Those who are true protestants he persecutes.) Then he started a tirade against what some of the speakers had said that afternoon. He isolated statements from their context, even cutting sentences in half, to distort their meaning. For instance, he claimed one speaker said “Jehovah’s witnesses recognize no man-made law”. On being ‘pinned down’ he grudgingly admitted the statement was: “Jehovah’s witnesses recognize no man-made law which is in conflict with God’s law.”
One of the committee had the temerity to suggest to the mighty Kirtley that “we have the right of free speech under the Constitution”; whereupon Kirtley, fretting under the constitutional checks that so irk and hamper those desirous of usurping authority never vested in their office, fumed: “You and your constitutional rights!” And from this outburst he launched into a vicious denunciation of Jehovah’s people, interrupting his railings only long enough to instruct his stenographer not to make record of his remarks. The vile language he used made the already "blue” air “bluer”. The democratic pearls of freedom1 should never be cast before swine with the expectation of doing good; the brute beasts only turn and rend. Realizing this, the committee excused themselves and left, “Censor” Hughes giving the parting shot that if any remarks were made from the platform that evening that he didn’t approve, especially respecting any religious organization, he would break up the meeting.
The evening program, including a discourse by th$ Society’s president, N. H. Knorr, wherein the un-Scriptural practices pf religion were fearlessly exposed, proceeded to its conclusion. Seattle’s city building superintendent, Hughes, whose duties, at least the ones he has arrogated to himself, include the censoring of speeches delivered in Seattle buildings, stood nervously behind the platform curtain with his lackey Kirtley to halt free speech and worship and assembly if anything were said that did not suit him, or that might embarrass his religio-political cronies of the Catholic cult. Like those sent by the chief priests to spy on Jesus, they failed to entrap Jehovah’s witnesses in their words. At the close of the evening session announcement was made that this would be the last assembly in the Civic Auditorium, and that arrangements had been made for the use of the Masonic Temple on the morrow. As the conventioners left, one could not help but think of Jesus’ words, '“whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city.” (Matthew 10:12-15) So Jehovah’s witnesses shook the dust of the Civic Auditorium off their feet.
Kirtley’# Zeal Against Freedom
As the Christians left, so did religious Kirtley and his gang. He had work to do. He had said to the Watchtower comr mittee that the meetings could be held somewhere else. Maybe, but not if he could help it. He had unlawfully applied the city’s unconstitutional ordinance (which related only to the Civic Auditorium) against Jehovah’s witnesses; he had more than done his duty, but that was not enough. Maybe he. is. politically ambitious. At any rate, he had heard the announcement of the assembly’s moving to the Masonic Temple; so, in Jesuitic style, he went to work on the Masons. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Kirtley that night addressed a letter to the trustees of the Masonic Temple Association telling of the banning of the assembly from the Civic Auditorium, and concluded:
During the meeting this afternoon at the civic auditorium, a speaker advertised on their program by the name of M. G. Henschel, stated, “Jehovah’s witnesses recognize no manmade law” [still persisting in his misrepresentation], This for your information and guidance.
He must “follow through” with his persecution campaign, and in pointed ■ phrase brings pressure upon those who would grant freeuissembly privileges to ' Jehovah’s servants. Information given the Watchtower representatives by , Ralph E. Barker, assistant secretary t pro tern of the Masons, on the morning of March 21, was to the effect that ‘the police called on them and told them if Jehovah’s witnesses held their convention at the Masonic Temple there would be a riot and the police would be powerless and unable to furnish adequate police to protect the building, so the police recommended the Masons refuse to allow Jehovah’s witnesses to have their meetings’.
Seattle citizens are not given to riot-ings as their police insinuate. The only disturbance at the Civic Auditorium was that caused by the officials, not the people. When the Sunday meeting was held despite the opposition, there were no riots by Seattle citizens. The local police cannot pass off the responsibility for their gestapo-like tactics on to those that pay them to uphold law and order and civil liberty.
The Masons, however, chose to believe the worst of the city’s residents, and capitulated to pressure, not caring to fight for freedom. Harry Westfall, United States commissioner and vicepresident of the Masonic board of trustees, said regarding the backdown: "We did this in the interests of good government, and to prevent our temple from being desecrated by riots.” He did not explain his conception of "good government”. Obviously he could not have meant democratic, constitutional rule, which Jehovah’s witnesses consider the , best form of government ever established by men. Contract-breaking and refusal to fight for liberty of assembly certainly is not in its interests. Some freedomless tyranny must have been meant.
But the Lord’s people did not quit; they continued to fight for liberty on the Seattle front. Saturday night arrangements were made to use the I.O.O.F. Hall for Sunday. Only the convention committee knew of it; stringent precautions must be taken to prevent “snooper” Kirtley from again using his pressure methods. The triumphs of Seattle’s Inquisitors were at an end; the final victory went to Jehovah’s witnesses, by God’s grace.
Persecution Defeated
■ Sunday Jehovah’s witnesses returned from their field service to the Central Unit Kingdom Hall in Seattle, at which point they had earlier assembled for the convention’s morning session. While they had been out inviting the people of good-w'ill to the afternoon lecture,
Assembly at Kingdom Hall, Seattle, connected by wire with. I.O.O.F. Hall
Forced by beattie officials to assemble in the street and empty lots
“Fighting for Liberty on the Home Front/’ those in charge of the assembly had worked feverishly to connect by direct wire the Kingdom Hall and the I.O.O.F. Hall. Installations were completed just in time. An hour before the lecture hundreds had gathered on the sidewalks outside Kingdom Hall, which accommodated only 500. These hundreds of witnesses still did not know of the I.O.O.F. Hall, such extreme precautions being necessary to forestall vindictive Kirtley and other officials from further venting their spleen against Bible discussions. At this point word of the I.O.O.F. Hall was passed through the throngs on the street and over a thousand immediately left for it. When the speech was delivered both halls were packed out and loud-speakers in the hall windows enabled those outside to hoar. Upward of 4,000 thoroughly enjoyed the message so opposed by Seattle officialdom, headed by Mayor Devin.
As all in Seattle, and millions of others throughout the United States, now know, since 12,000,000 copies of the lecture had been prepared for distribution during the month of April, Seattle receiving special attention, as it particularly needs to learn about fighting for liberty on the home front, the message was a powerful blow in the interests of democratic freedoms. A fighting speech, it was delivered in fighting style, and from time to time the speaker would depart from his manuscript to show the need of a local fight for liberty in view of the un-American acts of some Seattle officials. Uproarious bursts of applause proved the assembly’s unanimous agreement with these extemporaneous observations.
Point upon point was piled up proving the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is the opposer of liberty the world over, all of which were amplified by the conditions existing in Seattle. It had been apparent throughout the battle for liberty there that it was the Hierarchy trying to parry the blow they saw coming. The same speech had been given in Los Angeles a week previous, and maybe they knew its contents. Even if they did not, whatever they have in place of a conscience must have bothered them. They know the long historical record of their organization that proves its continuous fight against liberty for anyone except themselves, and they would just as soon keep their evil-doings, past and present, in the dark. (John 3:19-21) But they failed. (Matthew 10:26) The president of the Society concluded the speech; a mighty cheer rose from the assembled thousands in appreciation thereof.
And there were no riots. Poor, disappointed officials I Seattle residents refused to live up to the black reputation their representatives gave them, and did not fulfill the dire official predictions as to what would follow if free speech on God’s Word were permitted in Seattle. Intolerant officials, not people, is what ails Seattle.
At the conclusion of the lecture the , full text thereof was released in book* let form. Ten free copies were offered to those wishing to distribute them in Seattle that afternoon. The response was instantaneous; over 25,000 copies were placed in the eager hands of Seattle residents, But that was not all. A special sticker attached to the front of each booklet read:
The mayor and city officials closed the Seattle Civic Auditorium to delivery of this speech. Are these men opposed to fighting for liberty on the home front?
bead this and learn the tbuth
The distribution was made for the benefit of the people of good-will in Seattle. Their officials tried to keep this message from them; they failed. All events were maneuvered by Jehovah God and turned to a greater testimony and victory than would otherwise have been possible. “All things work together for good to them that love God.”— Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:12-18.
Newspapers and Citizens Disapprove
The ire of Seattle citizens was not aroused by the delivery of the speech; rather they expressed sharp disapproval of the arbitrary course of the city officials. Hundreds of them had to stand in the street to hear the lecture because their officials would not let them hear it in the Civic Auditorium. Apparently representatives of the foreign power at Vatican City are more welcome at that auditorium than a mere taxpayer of Seattle. Here’s what one Seattle resident wrote, as published in the PostIntelligencer:
Witness’ Meeting
To The Post-Intelligencer:
The denial of the use of the Civic Auditorium to the religious sect known as. Jehovah’s witnesses is a denial 'of the very thing we are asked to sweat and bleed and die for. It is worse than ironical; it is hypocritical, to talk of establishing freedom of speech in lands across the sea when we deny it in our own city.
The city ordinance upon which this refusal was based should be repealed in the interests of justice and democracy. It is so loosely drawn that any group could be denied the use of the Auditorium.
The attention of the city council is called to the words of Justice William 0. Douglas to the American Jewish Congress: “Recognition of the smallest minority is written in blood as well as ink in our Bill of Rights. That precious document represents a great historic struggle to make men free. It is the cornerstone on which our cultural and spiritual values rest. It is a constant reminder to us that once we strike down the expression of ideas which we despise, we have forged an instrument for the suppressing of ideas which we cherish. . . . For history has shown that once persecution is unloosed on one minority, it spreads like a blight."—Fred W. Shorter, Seattle.
One Washington paper scored the disgraceful conduct of the city officials as follows:
Kicking the Bill of Rights Abound
If there are any short-wave enemy broadcasting outfits in the United States they probably have pointed out to the Japanese and Germans some serious drawbacks in the American way of life. This information could easily be based on the week-end episodes in Seattle in connection with the effort of Jehovah’s 'witnesses, a religious organization, to hold a national convention there. Because some persons objected to the attitude of the group toward the war and their manner of worship, the city authorities canceled the engagement of the civic auditorium for a Sunday afternoon meeting.
Jehovah’s witnesses may be peculiar, and non-conformist, but that is the issue on which the Pilgrims left England to establish their homes in America. They eame here so that they might worship as they saw fit. The bill of rights guarantees that freedom. Our chief criticism of Russia has been the denial of certain freedoms of worship.
It looks as if the Seattle authorities made a serious blunder in the handling of the Jehovah’s witnesses business.
It does seem that the city officials are alone in their un-American position and cannot drag in other company to share their misery.
The evening session of the assembly was concluded, still without any riots. The next day many of the conventioners remained to continue the distribution of the booklet. A special group of workers was organized to visit the city officials with the booklet, with the special sticker attached. The vast majority of the city officials graciously received the booklet, and many expressed regret that the mayor and other responsible ones had taken the action they did. Mayor Devin was not overlooked. He received his booklet, with sticker, and was informed of the wide distribution thereof now in progress throughout the state of Washington. He did not think the attached sticker necessary. “1 am sorry to see that booklet go out with this statement on it,” he remarked sadly. He did not say he was sorry for his liberty-depriving course of action. He dreaded repercussions that might jeopardize his political career. Jehovah’s witnesses were sorry . that he made such action necessary. But they will push the fight for liberty regardless of whose toes are trodden upon and whose spirits may be ‘sorrowed' by it. The fight is bigger than the feelings of any man. Mayor Devin “asked for it”. As they sow, so shall they reap. —Galatians 6:7; Matthew 18:7. -
Fight Not Over
To push the fight for freedom to the benefit of all liberty-lovers, legal action is being taken in the federal courts. It may have the salutary effect of awakening Seattle’s wayward officials to the fact that that city is still a part of America, and that democracy is more than just something to make political speeches about. If some of these erring officials lent themselves as tools to perform dirty work for behind-the-scenes religious leaders, let thorn soberly reflect upon 1 Corinthians 15: 33,34, as given in the American Devised Version: “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” To shield and curry favor with religionists, they fight against God.—Acts 5:38,39.
It is hoped that the people of Seattle shake themselves loose from these officials who set themselves up as the “guardians of the souls” of the people of Seattle and as the ones to determine what spiritual provender may be put forward for their consumption. Persistent following of blind leaders results in disaster.—Matthew 15:14.
"Seclusion” of the Society’s President
Of more than passing interest in connection, with the Seattle convention is the fact that on its opening day the March 22 issue of Newsweek appeared on Seattle newsstands. Therein the people of Seattle could read, under the heading “Witness’^ Angle”, a factless article that said the witnesses “keep the new leader, Nathan H. Knorr, in seclusion”. Then they could pick up their afternoon and evening papers and see Mr. Knorr’s name on the front page. The error-packed article is beneath serious consideration, and it is suggested to Newsweek that if it would live up to its claim as a “Magazine of News Significance” it must first employ an editor capable of distinguishing between truth and the rantings of a frustrated woman would-be reporter who must “manufacture” news. The following account of Mr. Knorr’s recent speaking tour wall demonstrate that apparently the editors and reporters of N ewsweek were the ones “in seclusion”; certainly not Mr. Knorr.
■ Leaving the Society’s headquarters early in February, the first stop was EI Paso, Texas, where an assembly of
Jehovah’s witnesses was held at the Kingdom Hall. The progress of the work of gospel-preaching, the necessity of unflagging zeal therein, the requirements of the future, and the unmistakable direction of the Lord in all these Kingdom activities were pointed out. Deeply . ' appreciating the president’s visit and t refreshed and strengthened by the things discussed, the witnesses there renewed their determination to be faithful Theocratic ministers.
Mexico
A two-day journey by rail from El Paso through the picturesque country of our neighbor to the south brought the travelers to Mexico city. There they were met by the Society’s representatives from the Branch office and other Mexican Theocratists. The meetings between Jehovah’s people are always joyful , occasions, and this one was enhanced by the fact that this was Mr. Knorr’s first visit with the witnesses at Mexico city.
Request was made that he address an assembly of Jehovah’s witnesses while there, and,' upon his acceptance, arrangements were made for a convention in Mexico city on February 21. With the dawn of that Sunday morning bright, smiling faces, eager with anticipation, put in their appearance, and new arrivals continued throughout the day till assembly time.
Three o’clock, and the assembly was called to order. Opening remarks by one who had been Branch servant for ten ■ years reviewed the progress and increase of the work during that time, due credit therefor being given to Jehovah. He closed by announcing his choice to return to the United States. Next the cbnventioners were addressed, through an interpreter, by the president’s secretary on the subject "The Lord’s Organization”.
The president of the Society then introduced the new servant in charge of the Branch office. This new servant discussed the “Educational Campaign” being carried on in Mexico under the direction of the Society and pointed out how, by God’s grace, it would be intensified during the coming months. Squarely before those assembled the requirements of each publisher relative to this campaign were placed; and announcement was made of the early provision of Organization Instructions in Spanish to aid in harmonious unity in action in the Theocratic work.
The 390 persons assembled in the auditorium were greatly stirred as the Society’s president rose and addressed them, through an interpreter, on “Our Privileges”. After expressing his gratitude for the privilege of being able to come to Mexico, he entered into a heart-to-heart talk with the assembled witnesses regarding the Theocratic witness work, stating that The Theocracy is not a national arrangement limited by the boundaries of any country, but that it is universal, and that Theocratic instructions apply with as much force in Mexico as in New York city, or any other part of the earth. The importance of each publisher’s striving to further educate himself in God’s Word and thus improve his service work was stressed. They must aid those of good-will of little education to likewise learn. All must prove integrity to the Most High, regardless of trials, and thereby be “more than < conquerors through him that loved us”.
—Romans 8: 37.
Though speaking different languages, the Lord's people are the same everywhere. Enthusiastic, zealous, faithful fighters for the New World, those in Mexico ’push the battle to the gate’. The assembly closed with request by the entire audience that their love and greet -ings be conveyed to their Theocratic coworkers in the United States. ,
February 25 was spent with the company of Jehovah’s witnesses at Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico’s second-largest city. These witnesses expressed Hie hope that the Watchtower Bible College of Gilead would some day provide some
American publishers to assist them in their large territory. Perhaps it may be the Lord's will that such be so.
No other stopovers were scheduled for Mexico. However, when the train made a half-hour stop at Tepic, Nayarit, it was the good fortune of the president and his secretary to present a Hope booklet to a lad selling bananas. As he gazed at the cover of the booklet in the dwindling evening light his eyes grew wide, and he queried, “Testigos [witnesses] ?” He was overjoyed to meet witnesses from the Society’s headquarters, particularly the president. The feelings were mutual. Though not always too well understood in language, there is a tie between the Lord’s servants that exists among no other persons.
San Diego and Los Angeles
After inspecting the premises at Beth-Sarim, the house in San Diego held in trust by the Society for the faithful men of old and dedicated to them, and after the delivery of a speech at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s witnesses in San Diego, the president arrived in Los Angeles March 12 to attend the convention that was to open the following day. It was to be a two-day assembly, the climax being the delivery of the speech “Fighting for Liberty on the Home Front” (the one Seattle officials “sandbagged” the Constitution in a futile effort to prevent).
The opening day saw the arrival of several thousand witnesses from all parts of California, Arizona, and other western states. The day was spent in advertising the public lecture to be given on the morrow, and in listening to discourses in the late afternoon and evening at the Shrine Ballroom. Seven thousand were in attendance at the evening session, the highlight of which was the president’s speech based on the fourth chapter of first Peter. Read it in the Watchtower magazine (May 15 issue) and you will appreciate to some extent
President of the Society addressing Assembly at Shrine Ballroom
Delivering address “Fighting for Liberty on the Home Front” in Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, ■ California
the joy and satisfaction of those privileged to hear it.
The big day, Sunday the 14th, opened with the assembly for immersion. Thereat 143 symbolized their consecration to do the Lord's will, following which the witnesses preached the gospel and invited Los Angeles residents to the afternoon meeting. Long before three o’clock, the time set for the public lecture, the Shrine Auditorium was packed out by some 7,000 people. The adjoining ballroom was connected by wire and loudspeakers and an overflow crowd of 1,000 assembled there and heard the speech. Hearty approval of the talk was manifested by the repeated applause of the vast audience. Jehovah’s witnesses’ fight for liberty, the fearless exposure ;of the mortal enemies of freedom, in the vanguard of whose ranks tramps the totalitarian Roman Catholic Hierarchy, all supported by indisputable proof, thrilled the freedom-lovers there gathered. Freedom-loving Catholics inthe audience appreciated the distinction made between the Hierarchy and laity, otherwise called the "Catholic population”, and saw that the things declared were In their behalf and uttered without malice. Tremendous applause at the conclusion of the lecture testified to its whole-hearted acceptance by the 8,000 listeners.
The convention closed that evening by the unanimous adoption of a resolution that reaffirmed each one’s determination to carry out to the full his covenant obligations toward Jehovah God, and by parting counsel and admonition given in an informal manner by the Society’s president. Faithful continuance in well-doingj regardless of how near Armageddon is, was the firm resolve each Theocratic publisher carried away in his heart.
From Los Angeles the two travelers journeyed to Seattle, where the democratic liberties enjoyed in other cities could not be realized till a strenuous battle had been waged. The city officials of Seattle may or may not be able to justify their disgraceful conduct before their fellow townsmen; surely they will fail to justify before Jehovah God their persecution of His witnesses. Of Jehovah’s servants it is written: “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.”-—Zechariah 2:8; Romans 12:19;
14:12.
Homeward bound, after Seattle the president addressed 1,200 witnesses in Minneapolis, Minn. Then on to Chicago to attend to the Society’s business there. The Watchtower Bible College of Gilead, near Ithaca, New York, was next on the itinerary. Here two busy days were spent with the faculty and students, including the delivery of an hour lecture. Three hours after that talk the travelers were on a train speeding toward New York city and the Society’s headquarters, and home.
Victory Sure
All of Jehovah’s witnesses lead a busy life, regardless of their position in God’s organization. On each one rests the command given 19 centuries ago by their Leader: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations.” (Matthew 24:14) Jehovah’s witnesses will obey ■ that command by God’s grace and in His strength. They will fight every inch of the way for their liberty to preach. Liberty to thus truly worship Jehovah is upheld by the Constitution of the United States, and, above all, is granted by the Almighty God of the universe. Puny man cannot prevent the fulfillment of Christ’s words of Matthew 24:14. (Jeremiah 1:19) Jehovah’s faithful witnesses will share in the final victory. —Romans 8:31.
Guerrilla Warfare on Huge Scale
REPORTS that trickle through from
Yugoslavia show that guerrilla warfare has been conducted on a huge scale, despite the mass executions which the Yugoslavs calculate to have taken place to the extent of almost a half-million human creatures. In order to succeed, the Pacilli-Hitler conspiracy feels that nobody may be spared to continue the fight for liberty. It is the horrid old Inquisition all over again, with the Gestapo as the inquisitors and the Nazi troops as the executioners.
A Yugoslav spokesman in London, referring to the fact that at that time (October 31,1941) there was a guerrilla army of 80,000 fighting the German and Italian occupation troops on a 125-mile front in the Serbian hills, made the statement that there was strong evidence of an attempt to incite a religious war between the Serbs and the Croats.* He said that 24 members of the Orthodox (non-Catholic) Serbian Church had been condemned to die for sabotage in one town. Massacres have been common occurrences.
Another London report has it that in six weeks the guerrillas wiped out 12,000 occupation troops, blew up nearly 200 bridges, destroyed 400 petrol, food and munition dumps, and wrecked 17 trains. In reprisals, in one instance, 2,300 Serbians were put to death for 26 German deaths, a ratio of almost a hundred to one. And reprisals continued into 1942 on a large scale.
Whole towns have been wiped out, dive-bombers and tanks being used in the work of destruction. Shootings and hangings have been the order of the day in Serbian sections.
One reporter stated that “more than 200,000 persons were deported from Slovenia to Serbia”, and that there were more than 80,000 child refugees in the country. Shortage of food and other necessities has resulted in terrible hardship, and a greatly increased death rate among the Serbian population,
Governor Bricker, of Ohio, for President (!)
(^T)everend” John W. Bricker, chap-
-Lv lain long enough to see him ‘through World War No. 1 and thereafter an open politician, wants Good Friday > hereafter made a day of prayer. This is 1 also the desire of the Roman Hierarchy, * whose choice for governor he is. John is very eager to do what the Roman Hierarchy wants done. He is all for “religion”, particularly the Boman variety. He views with profound approval the opinion of his attorney general that religious instruction should be given in Ohio’s public schools and by persons other than the school faculties. He knows that this proposition is unconstitutional on the face of it, but views it with approval nevertheless. He also smiles with approval upon mistreatment of little witnesses of Jehovah in the same public school. They have no business to become familiar with the Scriptures and to believe them, to rely upon them and shape their conduct accordingly; so away with all who refuse to bow down to images or salute “any likeness of any thing” in heaven above or in the earth beneath.
Thoroughly imbued with the totalitarian spirit, which he manifested to the full in 1940 in his total disregard of a petition signed by over two million fellow Americans asking him to safeguard the American rights of freedom of speech, worship and assembly, he can yet give lip service to these fundamental principles. In an address in New York, recently, he expressed his concern lest the United States government “destroy the precious American freedom which it professes to serve”. He is judging others by himself. Why did he not do something about preserving these precious American freedoms in his own state and in his owh city, Columbus, when he had the chance to do it? Because he wanted to please the Hierarchy, and made a good start for them when he turned away Jehovah’s witnesses, who had arranged to meet in the Ohio State Fair Grounds in 1940, but were intolerantly excluded and forced to make other arrangements for a mammoth convention at the last minute. Bricker’s hat is in the ring for the presidency and he has a good line, but when it comes to deeds he is found wanting. His tribute to American fundamentals is lip service.
Teapot Tempests
♦ Every now and then—or ever and anon —we read where a great “to do” has been kicked up over the failure of some 8-year-old kid to salute the flag in school. On such occasion, the discoverer of such “treasonable” deportment is apt to get all wrought up and imbued with a sense of heroism—and usually with a keen appreciation of publicity to boot. Folks who never heard a shot fired in anger, and never expect to if there is any alternative, seize on such episodes for an orgy of righteousness and patriotic effusions. The proper authorities are heard from in no uncertain terms, the kid is probably expelled from school, the parents, usually members of some religious sect that seems eccentric to the neighbors, are made to feel the weight of popular indignation and virtue triumphant.
It does se$m that vaunted American horse sense would teach us that there is no menace to our institutions in the existence of hard-headed non-conformists of the type referred to. A fifth columnist, saboteur or other insidious creature would be far too smart to make an issue of such a thing as saluting the flag. It might pay this country to take a little more interest in the doings of some folks who go right on saluting the flag, paying lip service to the things for which the flag»stands. The best and most patriotic among us is not always the chap who salutes the snappiest or hollers the loudest.-Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser.
—John 17:1
The Oath-bound Covenant
DOING the will of Jehovah God has never been popular on earth. Among those who long ago tried to do His will was a man named Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham. “And he was called the Friend of God/’ (James 2: 23) Abraham’s wife was named Sarah.
When Abraham was seventy-five years old Jehovah said to him: “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: . . . and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1.-3) Abraham with his wife and others left Ur of the Chaldees for the land of Canaan. When they had reached a place in that land known as Sichem, the Lord appeared to him and said: “Unto thy7 seed will I give this land.” There Abraham built an altar, and the place has since been known as Bethel, which means “house of God”. Afterward Abraham dwelt in the plains of Mamre, just above the present location of Hebron in the southern part of Palestine. While there, God made a covenant or solemn contract with him, saying: “Unto thy7 seed have T given this land, from the river of Egy7pt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.” —Genesis 15:18.
Thereafter when Abraham was ninety-nine years old, Jehovah God appeared to him and said: “1 will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply7 thee exceedingly, . . . and thou shalt be a father of many nations. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and 1 will be their God.” (Genesis 17:2,4,8) Some time later, when Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent, which was pitched in the plains of Mamre, there stood before him three men, messengers from Jehovah. Abraham prepared refreshments for his distinguished visitors; and “he stood by7 them under the tree, and they did eat”. Here it was that the messengers of Jehovah told Abraham that he and his wife Sarah would be given a son.—Genesis 18:1-14.
In due time a son was born to Abraham and Sarah, and his name was called “Isaac”, meaning “laughter”. - (Genesis 21:1-3) Afterward, when the son Isaac had grown up, Jehovah put Abraham to a great test, and in doing so ITe made a picture which foreshadowed the redemption of the obedient ones of humankind. God said to Abraham: “Take now thy7 son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Genesis 22: 2) It is interesting to note here that Mount Moriah is inside of the walls of the present city7 of Jerusalem. It was. the site of the temple built by7 King Solomon, and is supposed to be the very7 spot where Abraham was met by M.elchizedek, king of Salem. It is the place where Abraham was directed to offer his son.
Providing himself with wood to be used for the lire, Abraham and his son and servants journeyed for three dayrs from the plains of Mamre to Moriah; and, arriving there, he at once prepared for the burnt offering. Isaac was not aware of the purpose of his father to offer him; so he said to his father: “Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering,” He then informed his son that he was to be the offering. Then Abraham bound Isaac
and laid him upon the altar and stretched forth his hand and took the knife with which to slay his son. This was a great test to Abraham’s faith. Isaac was his . only son by his beloved wife Sarah, and
Abraham loved him dearly; but Jehovah had commanded him to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice, and because of his love for God Jehovah he proceeded to obey God’s command. As he raised his hand to strike „ dead his only beloved son, “the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, . . . Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.” When Abraham looked about he saw a ram caught in a thicket near by, and he took the ram and offered it up.
Then “the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord; for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies: and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”—Genesis 22:15-18.
Here Abraham was a type or prophetic pattern of Jehovah God himself, while Isaac was a type of Jesus, the beloved Son of Jehovah. Abraham’s offering his beloved son on the altar pictured how God in due time would offer His only begotten Son as a great sacrifice that men of faith might be redeemed from death and have an opportunity to live. Abraham did not, as indeed he could not, understand God’s purposes, for the reason that Jehovah did not reveal them to him; but he knew that God had here confirmed His covenant with him and bound it with His oath. Abraham knew that by these two certain and unchangeable things, God’s word and His oath, God would carry out His covenant in due time, resulting in the blessing of all believing, obedient ones of the nations and families of earth.
The word “covenant” means “contract”; and it is the solemn form for expressing a compact, or agreement, or contract between parties, whereby each party to the contract promises to do a certain thing. With Jehovah a covenant or contract is sacred and inviolate; for Jehovah changes not. (Malachi 3:6) Having promised it, He will fulfill it. (Hebrews 6:18) It is always necessary that there be two parties to a contract; there may be more. Where one party thereto is the only one bound to do a certain thing that contract is called “unilateral”, or one-sided; and where both parties are bound to perform certain things, it is “bilateral” (two-sided).
This oath-bound covenant which Jehovah made with Abraham contained no conditions or limitations. It was merely a promise by Jehovah bound by His oath, and is therefore properly called a “unilateral or one-sided covenant”; for the reason that God’s purpose was and is to carry out His purpose to bless the human race, regardless of what anyone may or may not do. There was no need for Him to make any conditions to the covenant. He merely announced His purpose to provide a government whereby faithful ones of humankind should be blessed. This covenant does not even say that their blessing will follow on condition that Abraham should do a certain thing. It does not say every person will be blessed with life everlasting, but does say that the blessing will extend to those of every nationality or national and racial family; and other scriptures throughout the Bible show that such ones avail themselves of the blessing by accepting God’s provision in faith and thereafter obeying Him faithfully and with integrity unto the final test. To this effect the promise reads, according to the Hebrew text: “So shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves in thy seed.”—Genesis 22:18, Rotherham.
The Deflation of Marshal Petain
THE minute some human demands that you fall down and worship him, that minute you know he is of no good, can do no good, and could not be trusted to pound sand into a rathole. And that holds good for the cowardly, untrustworthy, idolized Marshal Petain, as this article will make clear. To start with, Marshal Petain got his power in the dark, and straightway disowned the source from which his power came, i' e., the French Republic, which is now in ruins because of his failure (for reasons best known to himself) to do his duty. How would you like it if some president of the United States who was asked by Congress to take the helm in an emergency would come out with a blast like this one only fourteen months later, which is what Petain stooped to do, by broadcast on August 13, 1941:.
Authority no longer emanates from below1. The only authority is that which I entrust or delegate. To my government I shall leave the necessary initiative, but in various fields I intend to trace for it a very clear line. This is what I have decided:
1. Activity of political parties and groups ' of political origin is suspended until further notice in the unoccupied zone. These parties may no longer hold either public or private meetings. They must cease any distribution of tracts or notices. Those that fail to conform to these decisions will be dissolved, (2) Payment of Members of Parliament is suppressed as of September 30th.
“Petain Was Joffre’s Beadache”
That’s the title of a column story by Judith Robinson in The Vancouver Province of June 11, 1941. Lengthy quotations are given from Joffre’s Memoirs regarding Petain’s ‘’pessimism” at Verdun, his repeatedly letting "himself be impressed by the enemy”, his always seeing "the bad side of things”, and his ".foreshadowed withdrawals which it was dangerous to suggest to soldiers as possibilities”. Quotations are also given from the diary of President Poincare, He mentions that Clemenceau had , (March 25, 1918) been to see Petain and 1 “reproached him with making proposals which showed an exaggerated pessimism”.
Clemenceau took me aside and said: "Petain’s pessimism is distressing. He has said something to me that I do not wish to confide in anyone but you. It is this: ‘The •Germans will beat the English in this campaign ; after that they will beat us too. Should a general speak or even think like that?”
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