The Messenger—1940

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The MESSENGER

2 ' ' , The MESSENGER . ' \

Putting the Convention Across

ffTTTE'RE going to hold that Theocratic

VV convention, if we have to hold it out under the stars!” There was a fearless look of determination on Judge Rutherford^ face and a tone of defiant resoluteness in his voice as he thus said to the headquarter’s family in Brooklyn, N. Y., one day in June. At the time the contract for.use of Ohio State Fair Grounds at Columbus was still in effect, but the religious, political conspiracy was under way to arbitrarily revoke the duly executed contract under the specious pleas of patriotic motives and avoidance of public disorder and , riot, and indications thereof had manifested themselves to representatives of the Watchtower. To add to this, conditions beyond his cdntrol made it then appear humanly impossible for Judge Rutherford himself to attend any convention in person. There was evident uncertainty about holding that already-advertised first Theocratic convention to be. But Judge Rutherford’s courageous words that June day were decisive. They settled the issue. The headquarters family felt like cheering. Taking this as definite reassurance from the great Theocrat himself, the entire organization took hold of the situation and the arrangement work with grim, renewed determination and boiling zeal and irrepressible joy.

Not unforeseen nor unexpected, a few days later came the self-justifying letter from the Ohio State Fair Grounds management politicians notifying the Watchtower of their one-sided action in canceling the contract, and skillfully concealing the Hierarchical instigators behind such unwarranted covenantbreaking. Little cared they, or their Hierarchical prodders, for the terrific wrench which this gave the convention - preparation machinery . which was already in motion in their own city, or for the keen disappointment which this would and did occasion the businessmen and expectant common people of their own city, or for the thousands of dollars expended by Jehovah’s witnesses for holding, the convention at their city, or for the integrity and fair name of their city and the state of which it was the capital. The gloating Hierarchy may .have thought that by disrupting the pivotal key-city convention, the entire structure of the nation-wide, thirty-two-city convention would cave in. "He that sitteth in the heavens shall

laugh; [Jehovah] shall have them in derision.” (Ps. 2:4) Jehovah’s witnesses on earth, too, held them in derision, and the witnesses are still laughing. Now that the Theocratic convention is a historic event, it appears what a ,.. laughingstock the Hierarchy and American v Legion and other so-called "patriotic” groups have made of themselves. Their chagrin is of their own making. It was Jehovah’s "strange work”! . ,

Undaunted, the convention organization turned to Detroit, scene of the international convention of Jehovah’s witnesses in 1928. In the week just preceding the date scheduled for opening the 1940 convention the contract for use of Convention Hall was signed. It took all the punch out of the blow that the Hierarchy and "patriotic” stooges aimed to give Jehovah’s witnesses by causing Ohio’s governor, Bricker, to ingloriously refuse to honor the petition of 2,042,136 fellow Americans for use of the State Fair Grounds as contracted for.

The enemy had shown much malevolence before the convention, and had the preceding year attempted to break up the convention held in Madison Square Garden, New York, but without success. It was necessary to . be on guard, and there was a measure of suspense. After the first day one felt, ‘Whatever happens now, the convention is an actuality,” Would the enemy try violence on the succeeding days, or the last? The thought was present, but did not disturb the peace or mar the joy of the Lord’s people. Jehovah’s guardian angels were at hand, and His will would be done. Nothing occurred to hinder the peaceful . course of the convention. Once begun, it proceeded smoothly to its consummation and climax. In the following pages the outstanding ' features of the key convention are set forth, beginning with the programs which were relayed to the 17 subsidiary conventions, and concluding with brief accounts of happenings at these various assemblies.

At 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, 1940, the convention at Detroit was opened by the chairman, and simultaneously all other conventions through, the United States were opened, and Judge Rutherford was introduced to make the opening address to all the conventions.

II Front cover : Convention Hall, the center of nation-wide convention activity. I I I The cover shows many large audiences and auditoriums tied in with the key city. | |

THE MESSENGER

Brooklyn, N. Y., September, 1940

Judge Rutherford Opens Convention

The hand of Jehovah is not shortened.

Neither is His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. He hears the prayers of His people who are diligent to serve Him: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” —1 Peter 3:12.

Some months ago it appeared to be God’s will that a convention of His consecrated people be held in the United States this year. On three previous years we' had held our convention at Columbus, Ohio, to the real pleasure and profit of the good people of that city. This year the Chamber of Commerce and the convention committee of Columbus sent us a very kind invitation to hold our convention there this year. That invitation was accepted and a contract was signed for the State Fair Grounds’ and every preparation was made for the convention, and that at great expense.

A strong religious organization exercised sufficient influence to bring about a cancellation of the Fair Grounds for the convention. Arrangements had previously been made for a number of other cities to be tied in with the key convention by land wires and in many other places state fair grounds and public halls were contracted for. Many of these have been canceled by reason of pressure brought to bear upon public officials by the great antiChristian. organization. .

Wherever the city or other public officials . have had to do with the permission, as soon as rented generally the contracts have been , canceled. Arrangements for private halls have been made. Manifestly it was the will of Almighty God and His King that we should have a convention this year. Your hearts have been set upon this convention for some time. You have met with many rebuffs along the way. But now we are here, and for this manifestation of God’s loving-kindness we are indeed thankful and give praise to His name that we are here. Therefore I say, the hand of the Lord is not shortened. t

Flag

, When more than two million people petitioned the governor of the State of Ohio to use his power and influence to reinstate the contract for our convention in that city, and when thousands of citizens of Columbus joined in that petition, the governor denied the petition, his assigned reason being that Jehovah’s witnesses declined to salute the flag that protects them. If the governor and other public officials understood the reason why Jehovah’s witnesses take the position they do concerning saluting any flag or heiling any creature, their attitude would be different. We as Christian people, wholly devoted to Almighty God, respect the . flag of the nation where we reside, and we willingly and gladly obey every law for which that flag stands.

The American flag is a, symbol of the nation, and particularly the fundamental law of the nation. That fundamental law guarantees freedom of conscience, freedom of assembly, and freedom of worship, and there is no law on the statute books of any state or any part of the nation commanding anybody to salute a flag outside of the schools. To salute any flag .means that we attribute protection and salvation to what the flag represents. But those who are in power politically decline to stand by the principles for which the flag stands. Our devotion is to Almighty God. We deem it far more important to obey the laws of the land without violating our covenant with Almighty God by saluting any earthly thing than to salute and then immediately violate the law for which- the flag stands, and, above all, to violate God’s1 law, as do those who attempt to force others to salute. .

Knowing that all things work together for good to those who love/1 God and who have been called according to His purpose, no doubt many of you have wondered why such officials should oppose this convention of Christian people. Here we are reminded of the words of Christ Jesus when He stood before the Roman dictator, tox whom. He said: “My kingdom is not of this world.” He said that for the reason that He had previously stated that Satan the Devil is the invisible ruler of this present world. Therefore it was not the proper time for Him to salute the things of this world. The time had not then come for Christ Jesus to exercise His power as King.

Now the Lord Jesus Christ is enthroned as King and about to take over actual possession of all the world. He has nothing in common with the powers now ruling the nations of the earth, which powers are now in great controversies among themselves and the people under great stress. It is to be expected that God would hot have His people hold a convention on the premises held in possession by political and religious rulers who are against Him and against His kingdom. The great religious organization, which I have mentioned, is political and, together with other persons devoted entirely to religion and politics, all such are against Jehovah the Almighty God and against His King. Although Jehovah • says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof,” public officials and religionists say to Jehovah God’s servants: “You cannot meet on this earth and worship Jehovah God in spirit and in truth without first having our permission.”—Psalm 24:1.

Theocratic

■ This is a Theocratic convention, that is to say, an assembly of persons who love and serve Jehovah God and Christ His King. With us God is first and we are not in harmony with anything that is opposed to Almighty God, whose name alone is Jehovah.

The Theocracy is the government of Almighty God by His beloved Son, Christ Jesus. It is the kingdom of God promised by Him long centuries ago by and through which He will bless all the families of the earth who obey Him and He will grant to such everlasting life. It is the kingdom about which Jesus, instructed His followers to ever pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” Since then Christians have earnestly prayed tor the coming of that kingdom, and now it is here. Since Jesus was on earth in the flesh God has been gathering unto himself out from the world a few persons to be witnesses to His name and to His kingdom, atid every faithful follower of Christ Jesus since then has been and is one of Jehovah’s witnesses, not of recent organization, not or-\ , ganized by any man, but selected by Jehovah God, and some of these have been on earth y over the period of six thousand years. Religionists have not learned that fact, although the Scriptures abundantly state that truth. /‘To you who have made a covenant with God to be obedient to His will His kingdom is dearer to your heart than all the things of this life. If we who are in a covenant with Jehovah God willingly break that covenant by disobeying His commandments we suffer everlasting destruction, without any hope of life hereafter. Those persons who persecute us intelligently or ignorantly can do no more than to kill the body. They cannot affect our eternal existence as long as we are obedient to Almighty God. For that reason Jesus gave to His followers this commandment, at Matthew 10:28: ‘Fear not them that can kill the body, but fear God, who is able to destroy both soul _ and body in Gehenna.’ With us it is a matter of life and death. For this reason the apostles told the courts before whom they were haled when they were charged with preaching this gospel of the Kingdom: We will obey God rather than men.’ Such is the rule that we follow this day. Our hope of life is with Christ Jesus in The Theocratic Government, and our hope of life is not with any earthly institution.

Entrenched Enemies

Twelve years ago, in this city the Lord’s people were assembled in convention and at that time a Resolution was unanimously adopted in favor of Jehovah God and His kingdom under Christ and against the Devil and his kingdom. That Resolution appears in Light, Book One, at page 221. It seems fitting and very appropriate that'this convention, therefore, in 1940, would be held in this city and therefore God has so ordered it and we are here. From that day to this the Devil and his cohorts have increased their venomous attacks upon Jehovah’s witnesses, and that without any just cause or excuse. This should be expected. We have not been taken unawares. God has fully advised His servants what would come to pass in these last days, and this advice is'plainly set forth in the Bible. We have no fight with any human creature, whether that person be politician, religionist, or anybody else. No person who loves righteousness has any inclination to fight against us. There are great numbers, thousands of people in this city today and throughout America, whose hearts go out to Jehovah’s witnesses because of their bold and immovable stand for God and for righteousness, and from which they refuse to be moved. Who then are our enemies leading in the fight against us? The answer to that question is found in Ephesians the sixth chapter, to wit: “We wrestle not against, flesh and blood, but against princi-

1. Hailing Theocracy. (Painting) 2-6. Crowds in and around Detroit convention halls.

palities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” We know, there. fore, that Satan is-our chief enemy because he is God’s enemy, the enemy of The TheoCRATic Government. We know that a host of demons with him are our enemies; and we . know that the ecclesiastical or spiritual rulers named in this text, in high places on earth, . are dead against all who are for The Theo-cihVffo Government. This we have known for Some time and we are not at all surprised about what has come to pass.

Recently The Watchiower published a series . of articles setting forth the Scriptural proof that these unseen principalities and powers, . the demons, would overrun the world at this very time. All the evidence; shows that we 1 have a proper understanding of these prophecies. If , everything had continued with calmness Up to now, necessarily we would have concluded that we did not have the proper understanding of the Scriptures. The Lord has . shown us that we have a correct understanding, and now we sec, as the Scriptures declare, the whole world under the sinister influence and power of the demons. We know, therefore, that every part of the political institu- , tions and the religious institutions, working together against The Theocratic Govern-< me^t, are necessarily against us. We are not sdfprised. In this connection we are reminded aghin of the declaration of the Scriptures: ‘Through much tribulation shall ye enter the Kingdom.’ The Kingdom is here, the King is enthroned. Armageddon is just ahead. The glorious reign of Christ that shall bring blessings to the world will immediately follow. Therefore the great climax has been reached. Tribulation has fallen upon, those who stand by the Lord. And why? God has permitted it for two purposes: First, to allow the visible part of Satan’s organization to don their garments of identification and let it be known that they are against The Theocratic Gov-E^NMiNT. There was an apt illustration of this when God manifested II is particular fa-tor on Jehu, who represented Christ Jesus. There Tie caused all the religionists to put on their garments of identification; and the same thing He is doing today; permitting all who afe Opposed to The Theocratic Government to take their stand against The Theocracy, God’s kingdom, and in favor of this world . that is certain to go down. This is a time when Jesus is separating the people, permitting those who are opposed to Him and His kingdom to take one side, and those who are with Him to take the other ,side. The division is going on, and that rapidly. A second reason why tribulation has come is to afford opportunity for those who are in a covenant with God to prove their integrity to Him; and you are having this opportunity, and so am I. This God’s consecrated people are determined to do at any cost. Tribulation does not deter us or make us go about with droopy eyes or droopy hands.

Therefore the appropriateness of the apostle’s words as written in the Bible: “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy [spirit], which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5) Thank God for that message written to His people, written long ago to bring comfort and satisfaction to their hearts at this time. We feed upon tribulation because we take that as one of the evidences that God is dealing with us as sons and not as bastards.

Our hope is not in things of this world, but our hope is centered wholly in The Theocratic Government. Therefore we anticipate tribulation; and it has come! Exactly in due time. Again, strictly in harmony with what experi- ‘ enees you have been having recently, we find the appropriateness of the words by Paul written at Colossians, to wit: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s Sake, which.is the church.” What a blessed privilege, therefore, to stand today as the targets of the enemy and receive their darts, unflinching and unashamed! And by God’s grace we will keep on doing it.

The very day that Italy stabbed France in the back, with the approval of Pacelli, and turned that people over to Fascism, that very day cruel persecution broke out in this land against God’s consecrated people as a camouflage to hide the real wickedness of the real enemies of the American government. An organization under the command of the Papacy released for publication a paper on the same day calling upon public officers throughout the United States to employ summary proceedings against all persons who are subversive. Immediately, like a flash from the wares, the persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses in Tex- ..

. aS, Maine, South Dakota and many other states broke out, not against Fascism and Nazism, but all against Jehovah’S witnesses, who are doing nothing but to advertise the great Theocracy of Jehovah God under Christ Jesus the King. Only the supermind of Satan could have timed the action on both sides of the earth at the same hour and caused,his servants to perform these unlawful deeds against those who are advertising The Theocratic Government.

Doubtless the practitioners of demonism hoped and expected to so discourage Jehovah’s witnesses by their cruel persecution that no convention could be held at all in the United States. God could have prevented that persecution, but He has permitted it in order to give the enemy an opportunity to identify themselves, and an opportunity to His people to show their full faith and confidence in Him. Therefore amidst great tribulation, trials and persecution you have trekked your way from every part of the land to this city that you might here meet together to worship God in spirit and in truth, and in many other cities in the United States other conventions are tied together by private wires with this one, that all of us may raise our voices and heart devotion to the great Theocrat and His King.

Our position with reference to saluting hags and heiling men is exactly in harmony with God’S commandment, and in obedience to His Word, and exactly in harmony with the lead of Christ Jesus. God’s Commandment to His covenant people is this: ‘Thou shalt know no other gods but me.’ That means that we must be for Him and against demonism. Again, He says, ‘Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image of anything that' is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or that is under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them; for I am the Lord thy God.’ When the Lord Jesus had begun His ministry the Devil sought to entrap Hina by trying to induce Jesus to bow down to Satan and to salute Satan. Jesus well knowing that to give obeisance to any creature would bring destruction upon himself, and, above all, because of His love and complete devotion to Jehovah God, He replied to the 1 Devil in these words: “Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Thus /.' the Lord Jesus set the rule that every creature who survives and receives God’s approval must follow.

And now in this hour of peril Satan subtly endeavors to entrap those who are fully devoted to God and His King by inducing them to bow down to and attribute salvation to earthly things. Satan well knows that that would mean our destruction. We well know it would mean our destruction. Therefore we Cannot yield to earthly powers, and we will not, even though it cost us the life we now possess on earth. Would the governor of the great state of Ohio, who poses before the people of America as one who stands for the fundamental law and for righteousness, would he and other public officials desire us to bring about our own complete destruction by going through the formality of giving obeisance to earthly things contrary to God’s law? I am sure that if they understood the real position of devoted Christians they would not want to take this responsibility upon their heads. Because of our full devotion to Th^ Theocracy enemies may unlawfully shed our blood, but, if so, our blood will be upon those who induce and who perform such unlawful acts.

From that day, from Jesus’ time, to this every person’ who has boldly declared himself for Jehovah God and Christ His King has been reproached and persecuted by the Devil and by those persons who yield to the influence of demons/The faithful apostles of Christ Jesus were subjected to all manner of persecution and were reproached, and were denounced as criminals, because of their devotion to Almighty God. Therefore the apostle quotes the words of Jesus, to wit: ‘The reproaches that reproached thee have fallen upon me.’ All during the life of the apostles they were reproached because they proclaimed the kingdom of God under Christ. We should expect when the King comes that the persecution will be greater because the hour draws near for the final conflict between The Theocracy and all opposers, and Satan knows his end has come. '

Amidst great persecution and opposition from all the nations of the earth today hating God and hating His servants for His name’s sake, we rejoice to be on the side of God and His King Christ Jesus, to be made of no* reputation among men, to be despised by all nations for His name’s sake, and therefore, in the language of the text which the Lord has so graciously indicated we should use for this year, ‘We trust wholly in thee, and my heart shall greatly rejoice in thy salvation.’ We welcome this opportunity Of getting together in this convention. We give ■ praise to Almighty God, and, since the declaration of war against the Devil and his associates, made in this city twelve years ago, we expect that warfare to continue with increased vigor until the Lord himself exercises His supreme power and ends all tribulation, and establishes righteousness and peace, and grants life everlasting to those that love and obey Him.

So, then, we have come here as messengers of peace. We have come here to bring a message of peace to the people of this city who , are of good will and .those throughout the ' earth,who wish to hear, and those who do not wish the people to hear this message of peace, _ who would like to keep the ears of the people

dull to the gracious things that God has in reservation for them, the men on earth who are thus bitterly opposed and fighting against Jehovah’s witnesses, are the religious and political leaders who, desire to have the whole thing for themselves—all against God and all against His kingdom. But we delight to be on the other side, on God’s side and on the side of righteousness. .

May this convention bring praise to JehtP , vah’s name. We count not our lives dear unto us, that we may have a part in the advertising of the Theocratic Government, because that is our business. We are pilgrims and strangers in a strange land, holding aloft the banner of Jehovah and His King. That banner alone we will salute. . .

35,000 in Detroit on Saturday

: ■ ■ *

THE next big feature, of the convention was Judge Rutherford’s Saturday talk on ■the subject “Times and Seasons”. All available space in the convention halls and the Eastern Star Temple was' taken. Thousands more in the trailer camp were able to hear the address by means of direct wire connection. All had eagerly awaited this session of the convention. Before beginning his address Judge Rutherford made the following statement :

The manager of the convention informs me that many reporters for the public press are here and have requested that I give them an interview. Past experiences show that the reporters gather the in- ■ formation, which the paper straightway refuses to print and instead prints many falsehoods against us. If the reporters will bring to me a written and . signed statement by the editor in charge of their respective papers, which statement promises the publication of the answers I give in answer to their questions, I will answer every question that they propound and grant an interview for this purpose. Otherwise it would be too bad to take up the time of the reporters to speak with them. .

<Judge Rutherford’s address of Saturday afternoon was another of the four sessions of the convention carried to all convention cities in the United States. In this impressive discourse special consideration was given to Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5, so evidently dealing with our day. A complete report of this address appears in the new booklet Conspiracy Against Democracy. Here only a few excerpts are made: '

Jehovah God directed his prophet to. write: “The end shall be at the time appointed.” (Daniel 11: 27) Necessarily that means that the end is definitely fixed and shall not be delayed. ... It is the time when “this gospel of the kingdom” has been preached as a witness to the nations of earth and that preaching is completed. Since the year 1922 God’s covenant people have been busily engaged in the work of making known the kingdom of God. In this they have had much tribulation and far greater joy. Twelve years ago in this city a resolution was adopted by a convention of the people of the Lord, which was a declaration of war against Satan’s wicked rule. It was a proclamation of. allegiance to Jehovah God and against the unrighteous rule by demons and their agencies. Since then Jehovah has gradually unfolded to the vision of his people the meaning of many prophecies, which revelation has brought to them great comfort and joy. All the evidence now strongly points to the fact that Armageddon is very near and that soon . we may witness Satan’s defeat and the complete vindication of Jehovah’s name. That will mean the beginning of endless .joy, peace and life to all creation that love righteousness and hate iniquity. In these days of darkness upon earthly rulers and , gross darkness upon the credulous people that hold to demonism there is great lighf shining into the mind and heart of each one of those who are fully devoted to God and to The Theocratic Government. This light of Jehovah shining in the face of the great King of The Theocracy, Christ ' Jesus, is reflected to the minds of those who are his true followers.

Looking down to this very time, the apostle Paul, inspired by the spirit of God, wrote for the benefit of faithful Christians now on the earth these words: ‘Of the times and seasons, brethren,

L Judge Rutherford. 2. With convention servant and Society’s counsel. 3. “This is the most joyful convention I ever attended.” 4. Greeting all whom he could see. 5. All right, boys!

ye have no need that I write unto you, because ye are not in the darkness, but ye are the children - of the light.’ .

He dwelt at length upon “the sign” to appear in the near future and which would ip- dicate the battle of Armageddon as due to begin.

Toward the conclusion of this speech, and to the immense delight of a rapt audience which hung on his every word, Judge Rutherford sprang a big surprise by introducing a new book, Religion, of which 15,000 autographed copies were placed the first hour and many more the next day. Here Judge Rutherford said:

’, “The Lord has graciously provided another instrument for the use of His people in this final campaign. He has made it clear to those who love Him that demonism and Christianity are exactly opposed one to the other. De. mon religion proceeds from the Devil; Christianity, by and through Christ Jesus. Millions of people of good will now in the earth desire to learn of this difference and to take the right course. God has made such a provision. He has given to us another book. [Great ap-: plause] The book, Religion, [continued applause] contains the full information. Obtain your copy and read it quickly and then get it to others quickly, that they may learn of God’s provision for their salvation and the salvation of all who love and serve him.” [Applause]

After a pause, Judge Rutherford continued: “At all times be on the alert, be watchful. Watch for the sign for the beginning of Armageddon and put your confidence wholly in the Lord. That sign is certain to be made manifest soon, and clearly it will be, When they say peace and safety,’ then sudden destruction shall immediately begin. When the sign for Armageddon clearly appears, may it be that , then this promise of Jehovah will be fulfilled, to wit, ‘Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.’

“If this be the last convention to be held by God’s faithful people prior to Armageddon, then we will look forward with unbounded joy to that convention that shall never end. [Great applause] Therefore, in the language of the apostle, ‘Rejoice for evermore,’ and give praise to Jehovah God.” .

Judge Rutherford continued, saying that he wished to offer to the convention the Message of Hope, to be distributed far and wide to the millions of people of good will in all the earth. (It will be the privilege of Jelio-vah’s witnesses to do more than merely dis- z . tribute it in printed form, as it has also been recorded for phonographic reproduction and will be used extensively in the door-to-door witnessing.)

Immediately after this inspiring talk, accepted as another timely blessing from Jehovah, and the unanimous acceptance of the Message of Hope, thousands of convention-ers were soon sOen with the new book Religion with its brilliant green cover, eagerly glancing through it. They were looking forward to the enjoyment qf reading it and the privilege of placing it with the people of good will. They recognized that this was truly another instrument in the hands of Jehovah’s witnesses for the advancement of the Kingdom interests. This session of the convention was one never to be forgotten.

High Point of the Convention

Reached in the Public Address of Sunday, July 28

Judge Rutherford’s address of Sunday, “Religion as a World Remedy—The Evidence in Support Thereof,” was the principal feature of the convention—its grand climax. It was a bold examination, in the light of the Scriptures, of religion and its claims to efficacy as a world remedy. The “evidence in support thereof” was shown to be wanting, and religion contrasted with Christianity, the real remedy. He said, in part:

Political and commercial men of high standing urge upon the nations “more' religion” as a world remedy. . . . The president of the United States in sending his personal ambassador to the Vatican said to the pope: ‘Your Holiness: It is well that we encourage a closer association between those in religion and those in government, who have a common purpose.’ If religion is the remedy, then all honest persons should lay hold upon that remedy. If the evidence does not support the claim that religion is the remedy, then an adequate remedy should be eagerly sought. ...

Jehovah’s witnesses have no fight with any person because of his religious belief. Many Jews, Catholics, and so-called “Protestants” have been unwittingly ensnared by religion. It is the duty and privilege of every Christian to aid such to see the truth in order that they may devote themselves to God and His kingdom. The only purpose of calling attention to the difference between religion and Christianity is to aid men to see that God’s law is the only safe guide and obedience to God is man’s only protection. ; . .

That which is called “the Christian religion” is not Christian. It'is a religious practice carried on under the name of Christ, but which is in defiance of the law of Almighty God, and which gives honor to creatures rather than to Almighty God, and which deceives millions of sincere persons. As a pointed example I cite the words of the venerable Cardinal Gibbons, who after stating the doctrine - of “Purgatory” then adds these words: “This interpretation is not mine. It is the unanimous voice of the fathers of Christendom”; that is, entirely traditional and not supported by the Word of God. ; (See The Faith of Our Fathers, page 208.) After the days of the apostles a sincere body of men organized themselves as Christians. Thereafter subtly Satan, the chief of demons, induced men in that organization to advancez and teach their views contrary to the Bible, and thereby substituted religion for Christianity. Thereafter they taught the tradi-' tions of men. That has been dubbed the “Christian organization”, although entirely contrary to God’s Word. ...

-There are honest and sincere m§n who have been priests of the Roman Catholic Church, many of whom have recently separated themselves from that religious organization because of the Hierarchy’s political activities which are called “Catholic Action”. There are millions of sincere and honest Catholic people held in subjection to the Hierarchy because of fear of creatures. ... ,

The Hierarchy are the real movers of compulsory flag-saluting and honoring creatures. Because the Christians in Germany refused to yield to such, religious ceremonies thousands of them have been incarcerated in prison and many of them killed...

The Supreme Court in the Gobitis case decided only that school boards might enforce rules compelling children to salute the flag, and that against their conscientious objection. The court made no attempt to decide that adults must salute the flag. No such issue was before the court. There is no law in America that compels adults to salute the flag. But the Hierarchy and allies, in order to browbeat the people, attempt to compel conscientious . Christians, contrary to the law of the land, to violate God’s law. Whenever the issue by law is raised compelling adults to salute the flag, that issue will be properly met before the courts. . .

The “great multitude” that shall survive Arma-geddon-and fill the earth with a righteous race must now hasten to put themselves on the side of The Theocracy and its King. The rulers of the earth have now forgotten God and turned to religion and are certain to go down in a very short time. Only the “great multitude” will survive, and will jive forever on the earth. Then shall the earth become a glorious and blessed place in which to live. Turn your faces and your heart devotion now to the Almighty God and to his King, Christ Jesus, and live. (

The complete report of the discourse here touched upon appears in the new booklet entitled Conspiracy Against Democracy.

At the conclusion of Judge Rutherford’s address, a World War veteran asked leave to present a resolution for adoption by the convention. He said:

I desire to present a Resolution to this great convention. Much has been said about the American Legion and .Veterans of Foreign Wars and their attitude against this Christian convention. I was an officer in the World War and commanded a company at the front in France; I am a Christian now, and I ask you to have this resolution read to the convention, and I ask the convention to unanimously adopt it and send it out as their message to the people. .

The chairman accepted the resolution and said: . . . '

Max Freschel, who was born a Jew, but who is a Christian by adoption, and .who has had much experience with the /Nazis in Europe, will appreciate reading this statement to the convention. I call upon him to do so.

Max Freschel then read the resolution reviewing events'leading up to arrangements for the convention, opposition, persecution and mobbing of. Jehovah’s witnesses by priests, American Legionnaires, lawless officers of the law and others. It pointed out the reason for the cancellation of the contract for the use of the State Fair Grounds in Columbus, Ohio, and the switching as the key city from Columbus, to Detroit. It mentioned the opposition encountered in Detroit by the same lawless elements, and the hostile attitude of many of the newspapers. The resolution also mentioned attacks made upon individual witnesses in their work by priests and their supporters, and showed from the Scriptures the responsibility all these, opposers of righteousness bear before Jehovah God. In conclusion the resolution said: *

To Jlis servants the Lord said concerning the present time: “Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matthew 24:9) We delight to declare ourselves wholly and completely devoted to the great Theocratic Government, the Kingdom of Jehovah God by His King, Christ Jesus,

Judge Rutherford addresses Theocratic convention. Showing only four of the seven packed-out halls used in Detroit.

the world’s rightful ruler, and we welcome the 7 opportunity of bearing the reproach that has been heaped upon the Lord and upon His holy name.

, ' We call upon all order-loving people throughout the land to take notice of the fact that the king, dom of heaven is at hand and that their only means of life is to flee from the dominating, wicked in-•" , fluence now being exercised by ’the lawless and flee

to the Theocratic rule of Christ Jesus. To all such order-loving people we extend our kindest M wishes, be they Catholic, Protestant, Jew, bond or free; There is but one means of salvation, and that is by Jehovah God through Christ Jesus our Lord. The resolution was adopted by a thunderous “Aye” from 45,000 in attendance at De. troit and tens of thousands simultaneously as. sembled in convention halls in seventeen other American cities tied in with Detroit.

Judge Rutherford then rose and made' the following ,

EXTEMPORANEOUS REMARKS

[These remarks, which went out over the chain of conventions, were greatly appreciated everywhere.] - “From all over England, Scotland, and even Ireland, these cablegrams have just been received. I shall not take time to read them. I will ask the chairman to do that later. I just wanted to take time for a few closing words to . this convention, so far as .1 am concerned.

“Lying flat on my back under treatment by two doctors, and when the fight was on in Co" lumbus to have the convention, and knowing that the Catholic bishop was leading the fight against us, I dictated a letter and asked it to be sent to him, inviting him to share the plat, form with me and tell the people wherein religion is a world' remedy. I presume the distinguished gentleman could not find any argu-. merit and thought he better keep still. Therefore I had to give the argument for both sides ' today.

■ “And now, brethren, remember what the apostle wrote: ‘Through much tribulation shall, we enter the kingdom.’ You havQ come here through much tribulation (and this heat has made you have some more tribulation), but I am sure that this is the most joyful company of people that have ever been assembled on this earth at one place and one time.

’Bp “For thirty-three years I have been attend' ' ing conventions, but without hesitation I can

say that this is the most joyful convention I ever attended or ever anticipated attending ’ on this earth. You are going back to the field

, to have some inore fights; but you love a fight,

' and you feed fat upon it. I know you won’t be discouraged, so it is not necessary to say ‘Be of good courage’. You have been of good courage all the time. '

“But when the enemy attack you, and when they say, ‘Will you salute the flag? I will make you salute the flag.’ ‘Well, my good sir, who appointed you to enforce that? There is no law in America compelling men to salute flags. Are you the law? Have you taken the law into your own hands ? It seems to me that you are the lawless one. You. had better go home and think about that a-while, and take advice from the Lord, and not from the Catholic priest.’

“There is no use to get angry and argue with them.-1 don’t know whether this is true or not, but I saw in the paper yesterday it was reported that someone said that ‘No, he would not salute that rag’. That is a very unfortunate statement. The flag is not a rag. The flag is a symbol of a government, the principles of which were established on righteousness by men who loved God. And it now appears that the only people in America that really love those principles, who really represent the flag and who are determined to stand by those principles, are Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions.

“These poor roosters that wear their clothes wrong side in front, who are terribly chagrined because the truth is turning the people away from them, must come to know that they are not running the earth. They may run it for a while, but not for lorig. The poor deluded ones who have been seized by hysteria, because of the influence of demons unseen and demons seen, are really to be pitied. We do pity them. We hold nothing against any of them. We know that these things are but an evidence of the fact that Satan’s organization is tottering to a complete fall.

“So rejoice. Lift up your heads and rejoice. Today you see the Scriptures fulfilled, when "the armies of the Devil are surrounding Jerusalem, that is, God’s organization. Therefore, says the Lord Jesus: ‘Look up, lift up your heads and rejoice; for your deliverance draw-eth nigh,’ and go back to the field more determined than ever to fight until the Lord says it is done.”

"Kingdom News”

As a still further surprise and final treat for the Theocratic conventioners, there was announced at the conclusion of the speech on “Religion as a World Remedy” the release to all of a new issue of Kingdom News, issue

No. 6, bearing the large-headline (in green) "Time of Darkness—Isa. 60: 2”, and detailing the hysteria of mob violence and other wicked lawlessness against Jehovah’s witnesses now convulsing the United States, and the Scriptural significance thereof. These were distributed at all exits free to the vast throngs as they streamed out. Unfortunately, great numbers of the public were unable to gain admittance to Convention Hall on Sunday, even all standing room being occupied. Hence, during the lecture, rather than turn these disappointed thousands away empty-handed and unrewarded, Kingdom News No, 6 was distributed to them. All together, 100,000 were

distributed to those inside as well as those outside Convention Hall, , at this public address. '

A miniature mountain of bundles of Kingdom News No. 6, amounting to 2,026,000 copies, was on hand for disposal Sunday. The witnesses rejoiced exceedingly at getting this timely and further provision of the Lord for the fight to which they were now returning. Not a bundle of Kingdom News was left. It was marvelous to observe that immense quantity completely taken up by the conventioners, for distribution on their way back to their posts of service and in their home territories on return. .

Thursday Afternoon

THE Thursday afternoon session of the convention was anqther of those that were carried to all the convention cities in the United States. A change in the program gave the platform first to Wm. P. Heath, who addressed the convention on the subject “Ameri-, ea’s Friends”. He said, in part:

. . A consideration of the Scriptural prophecies and the supporting facts will disclose not only the real friends of the American people but also their enemies.' The great Theocrat Jehovah and His King Christ Jesus are the perfect friends of distressed humanity. It is recorded that ‘God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son’ - Jesus unto it. No Christian can deny'that God’s love and friendship are boundless. This friendship is. limited by the above text to those who believe

Demonstrating

addressing conventions

the new phonograph

Wm. P. Heath

Session — A Surprise

on Christ Jesus as the Lord’s provided Savior. In what category, then, must those be found who ,hate Jesus’ brethren and persecute them for Jehovah’s name’s sake? Are the organizations today, such as the Roman Catholic Hierarchy allied with the American Legion, and which organizations claim to be protecting the American people from Jehovah’s witnesses, actually doing our country a favor? \ Is it a favor to the Stars and Stripes to induce its citizens to fight against Jehovah’s name and His people? Is it an act of friendship to cause one to be executed? Is it an act of love to persuade mobs, poisoned by lies, to set upon the faithful servants of the Lord, when such crimes will be punished by death to the perpetrators in the day Jehovah avenges His people? .

The speaker ^answered these questions with abundant Scriptural and modern corroborative support based upon fulfillment of pro, phetic truth. The full report of the talk is given elsewhere. .

Phonographs ,

Following this talk, and - as announced on the program, came a "Demonstration”, when N. II, Knorr, convention servant, introduced a real surprise, a new portable phonograph designed for doorstep witnessing and made to play in a vertical position. It had a number of new' features, each of which as mentioned by the speaker, and simultaneously demonstrated at each convention city in the United States, was hailed with joy and applause by the conventioners., . Trained demonstrators in each, hall stood on tables and showed the operation "of the < new phonograph. This was one of the big hits of the convention.

Thirty new phonographs, demonstrated dur-' ing the convention, were eagerly taken by the witnesses so fortunate as to ask for them first. . They made liberal contributions to cover the initial expense incurred in perfecting the new phonograph. Had they been available, five hundred of the new phonographs could have been placed at the convention!

The phonograph has" been a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord’s people in the proclamation of the Theocratic Government. Several months ago a few of the brethren developed a new principle to be used in the phonograph. Brother Rutherford saw the value of these principles and immediately* arranged for 50 models to be ready for this Theocratic Convention. This new vertical-type phonograph is a splendid instrument for the door-to-door work, the doorstep setup, and back-calls. One ean operate the phonograph vertically, as you will see, or it can be set on a table in a horizontal position and work just as well.

The Pioneer Meeting .

"Pioneer” is the term applied to that division of the publishers of Jehovah’s Theocratic .Government who devote their entire time to , the work, spending a minimum of 150 hours a month directly in field activities, bearing' the message-from house to house and making return visits upon the interested, and using , both the printed message and recorded speech and other facilities provided by the Watch

tower Society. To this end the Society makes special provision in their behalf for their continued maintenance in Ahis full-time service. To aid as many pioneers as possible to attend the Theocratic convention, the Society made special arrangements for them at great cost. It was very gratifying that thus the vast majority of over 3,000 pioneers were enabled ,to put in appearance at the eighteen convention points and participate in its various services and activities. >

The pioneer meeting, 3 p.m. Thursday, witnessed all pioneers present assembled in the main auditorium in front of the speakers’ platform, about 1,500 at .Detroit alone, but the meeting was attended also by others of the convention. It dealt specially with the privileges and' problems of the full-time workers. Among them were many who had recently entered the service, as well as quite a few who i had in recent months suffered at the hands of x mobs. The meeting was conducted by T. J. Sullivan, who said, in part:

Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”—that is, your first consideration must be the righteous requirements of the Kingdom. Look to your “taskmaster” (righteous- ' ness) and then, the Lord ,assures, “all these things shall be added unto you.” That is final. I wouldn’t care if a million people came to me and tried to convince me that because they failed to get the wherewithal to keep going the condition disproves the, Lord’s statement. I would not believe them. The question is, Whom do we believe: the Lord or some creature? The Lord’s wofd is true. The failure is with the creature, not with the Creator. He will fulfill His part if we do our part. The thing to do is to take the Lord at His word. The element of faith enters into this. ...

- There are some in the pioneer service who are continually dwelling on ho.w they are going to eat and how they are to be clothed. They go into the service with their minds full of these things and generally do not make a success of the work because they are not seeking first the Kingdom. Their mind is on the wrong thing—themselves and their needs—rather than the Kingdom and its requirements ; and then the Lord is blamed for their failure.

Don’t misunderstand this. I am not oblivious of the hardships the pioneers endure or the difficulties you have to contend with. I know Brother Rutherford spends much time considering and planning ways and means of assisting the pioneers, and as the Lord directs and leads he makes such provisions as he can. My point is that the Lord will fulfill His promise if we do our part. ...

During the past five months we have enrolled approximately 1,100 new pioneers. Many of you who are here today, rejoicing as never before, are

Pioneer meeting a joy to everyone

undoubtedly part of that 1,100- Yours is a blessed . lot. You are storing treasures in heaven, which no one can take away from you. ...

During the course of the convention 220 individuals requested pioneer applications, of which 83 were filled out and turned in at the convention. . z

Model Service Meeting

Service meetings, on the average one evening each week, are a regular feature of all organized companies of Jehovah's, .witnesses throughout the earth. As an illustration of how a company service meeting could be made most interesting and helpful to the Theocratic ambassadors, a Model Service meeting was conducted from the convention platform on Thursday evening, July 25. Four brethren served on the program, one acting as would a company servant, another as the secretary, a third as back-call servant, and the fourth as stockkeeper. ,

In the course of the sample meeting it was pointed out that not merely those who hold official positions in the company1 are to be used on programs of service meetings, but all capable brethren should be used from time to time. .

In the , model meeting under consideration the importance of all company publishers' attending service meetings was stressed, since at such meetings information and instruction are given that are essential to each one of the remnant and those of the “great multitude” who have been brought into association with the remnant.

• Now that copies of the official service publication, the Informant, are sent only to servants of the companies, it is all the more necessary for the publishers to be in .attendance at all the’service meetings, where the Informant is studied, analyzed and discussed for the proper equipment of each and every worker.

It was pointed out that field service covers five distinct lines of activity: house-to-house witnessing with phonographs, magazine street-corner work, back-call work, information marches, and sound-cars, tn addition, and as an extension of the back-call work, there are model studies to be conducted in the homes of the interested.

Attention was called to the following instruction issued by the Society:

‘When groups of lawless persons or public officials acting unlawfully cause, a stop of the publishing work and injure the publishers or their property, do this promptly:

Write a clear, brief, but comprehensive account of all the facts. As far as- possible name accurately- % each opposer who takes a leading part. Give his official position, such as mayor, chief of police, or other. State whether he is a member of The American Legion or other veterans’ organization (naming it accurately)., and what position, he holdsj therein., . Name each clergyman participating, giving name of church denomination. Let all such names be obtained as accurately and as promptly as possible under the circumstances.

' A competent individual in the local company or zone can sign this statement as his own and acknowledge it as a true'statement before a notary public. Typewrite the statement, making eight readable copies. Send the original to Francis Biddle, Solicitor General of the United States, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. Send a copy to each of the following and retain one copy for your file:

American Civil Liberties Union, 31 Union Square, West, New York, N. Y. ' ’ .

Governor of the State where event occurs; attorney general of that State; prosecuting attorney of the county where acts occur; editor of that county’s largest newspaper; Society’s Brooklyn office, legal desk.

Another point that the workers were counseled to bear in mind was that when accosted by an officer and.asked, “What are you doing?” the testimony card is immediately to be produced, as that contains the worker’s credentials. If the officer refuses to read it, then read it to him. So doing, the statement on the card will, in ch.se of arrest, become part of the court record, setting forth exactly what you were doing and why.

Mention was made in the Model Service meeting of the fa<?t that the persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses by the American Legion and the Hierarchy in r,ecent months has had -the effect of forcing many of Jehovah’s witnesses and companions out of secular employment. Instead of sitting down and bemoaning their fate, these immediately made application for pioneer service, determining from henceforth to find employment in The Theocracy, where neither man nor devil can force them out.

Another Model Meeting

A model Watchtower study, Saturday night from 8 to 9, was another delightful feature of the convention. It stressed the necessity of preparation on the part of study conductor and study group and demonstrated the method carried on at the Society’s headquarters, in Brooklyn, New York. In order to make the answers audible to that vast convention of s 35,000, including those at “Jehovah Village”, twelve miles a way,z there were only a,limited® number invited to participate directly in the model study on the platform, and who an-/ swered the questions on the current Watch-■ tower article through microphones. At times the entire assembly was called upon to answer >a question in unison.' To the question,

Model Watchtower study conducted from platform “What will Jehovah’s enemies then say?” a basso-profundo voice answered, “They shall say ‘Peace and safety’.” “And what will then happen?” addressing the question to the convention, which answered with a thunderous roar, “Then sudden destruction cometh upon them, . . . and they shall not escape!”—Quot-ing 1 Thessalonians 5:3.

Hurdling Obstacles

If you visited Convention Hall when the convention committee did when making arrangements, or if you visited it just two days after the close of this assembly, you would behold just a sprawling series of five large, low-roofed halls with sky-lighting, adjacent one to another, and with broad passageways or door openings and immense floor space. A tour of the vast barnlike structure, from the Cass Avenue entrances to the Woodward Avenue entrance, just two days after the witnesses got iii to do construction work, pointedly showed, to wit, that Jehovah has on earth a practical people of many capabilities, able to carry on without aid of the Devil’s commercial organization, thoroughly able to act as organizers or to be organized, and to transform a messy situation into a comfortable and adequately provided convention location. As to this and other convention arrangements in other parts of the city, so thorough a job was done of systematizing all preparatory activities that the work went forward with the required efficiency and completely overrode all the obstacles and disconcerting delays and hold-ups that the enemy had willfully brought about. Not surprising, therefore, that in a few days’ time the regular company of witnesses at Detroit secured 17,000

Calling for room

assignments

could be had; and

Room assignment department

could be had; and other auditoriums being denied them, the final arrangements were for the use of Convention Hall. It. was supposed to seat, in its five separate (but connected)

accommodations for conventioners in private homes and boarding houses, aside from the city’s many hotels. • ■

The rooming committee or department held forth at the Eastern Star Temple (see photo), a few blocks away from Convention Hall.

The room or office for handling the rooming assignments was thoroughly organized and the work classified. There were various desks and divisions, each, handling different groups or classes of room applications.

Two days before the convention, arrangements had been made for 30,000 conventioners.

A People “Not Desired” (Zephaniah 2:1)

' Jehovah’s witnesses and companions are a people or “nation” not desired by the rulers of this world. They are separate and distinct from the world, and look forward to that new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness and which will follow Armageddon. It was therefore not out of course of the Devil’s organization that the Ohio State Fair Grounds were denied Jehovah’s witnesses for their 1940 national assembly, although on many previous occasions they had assembled in Columbus, three of their largest conventions having been held there, in 1924, 1931, and 1937. When the final showdown came, not even the State Fair Grounds in . Detroit auditoriums, 19,000 persons.. However, seats had to be brought in; there were no stationary seats in the halls.

Newspaper comment bn the opening session said:

Without any trace of the municipal welcome, usually accorded gatherings of even less than its size, the Theocratic Convention of Jehovah’s witnesses assembled in Detroit Wednesday for a five-day convention. ’

Far from passing the conventional resolution of welcome, in fact, the Common Council displayed anger that the Witnesses were permitted to use Convention Hall. [Detroit Free Press, July 25, 1940] ;

The same paper said under date of July 29:

Unwelcome to civic agencies and the Common Council, the witnesses were a boon to business in the stores around Convention Hall. Restaurant owners, said they were glad the witnesses had been denied a meeting place at Columbus and at the Michigan State Fair Grounds, and the Masonic Temple in Detroit. ' v

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