The Watchtower, July 15, 1937
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“MOUNT PERAZIM”
The next testimony period, named “Mount Perazim”, will occupy the dates August 7 to 15 inclusive. This falls due right in the midst of the special summer campaign; hence there will be no change in the special oilers of literature to be exhibited during this testimony period, only that the kingdom publishers will arrange their affairs to devote as much time as possible during said period to place these special oilers with the people. See the announcement elsewhere under “Summer Campaign’’, and also consult forthcoming issues of the Informant for fuller information.
SUMMER CAMPAIGN
The Lord’s storehouse is large and bursting with abundance. Appropriately a huge and most attractive offer will feature the summer activities and efforts of Jehovah’s publishers. Such will consist of six bound books, on a contribution of $1.00, or, better still, six bound books together with seven booklets, on a $1.25 contribution. The Informant goes into more detail regarding this campaign and the Society’s provision therefor, Let the publishers order now the extra literature needed in addition to what stocks they now have on hand for this campaign, which began July 1 and continues to September 12 inclusive.
PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH
The Society now manufactures and has to offer a light-weight phonograph, which is 14 by 13 by 5 inches in size, and covered with brown cloth and having rounded coiners. It weighs 9 pounds 13 ounces. With the three phonograph discs which can be carried in it, it weighs 12 pounds C ounces. The volume of sound is strong, and the tone is of the best quality. As shipped out from our factory, the phonograph is timed properly, at 78 r.p.m., and should be checked from time to time. This model, including three discs, is offered on a contribution of $10.00; without the three discs, $8.00. Remittances should accompany orders. Also specify the particular discs wanted.
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Vol. LVIII
July 15, 1937
No. 14
RACKETEERS
“The wicked worketh a deceitful work.”—Prov. 11:18.
PART 1
JEHOVAH has advised his covenant people concerning the way of the wicked in order that the righteous may walk in the way of the Lord and escape that which befalls the wicked. While the words racket and racketeer do not appear in the Scriptures, yet other words of the same import and meaning are used to identify the workers of iniquity. Words are employed to convey information. The word racket cannot be properly rejected on the ground that it is not a Scriptural term, for the reason, fraud, deceit and deceiving, which are Scriptural terms, convey the same meaning as that of racket and racketeer. Addressing himself to conditions that would prevail at the end of the world, Jesus’ words show that at that time fraudulent and deceitful schemes and fraudulent workers would be more in evidence than in previous times and working in such a way “that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect”. (Matt. 24:24) It is certain, therefore, that those who are not of the very elect will be deceived by such schemes and schemers and that they are being deceived, because we are now at the end of the world and the wicked crowd are putting forth their greatest endeavors to deceive. Those who are in the temple with the Lord, and who abide there, are protected from such deceitful schemes, provided they obey the instructions received from the Lord. Those of the temple company yet in the flesh must be instructed, however, as to the ways and means employed by the wicked in working their iniquitous schemes, in order that the righteous may continue to go in the right way and, furthermore, to the end that they may be able to give instruction and aid to their companions, that is, the Jonadabs.
2 The ignorant are those without knowledge; and such include those who at one time were in line for the kingdom but who because of selfishness failed to gain the information made available for them, and the result is, to them, that their latter state or condition is worse than the former. They were at one time counted by the Lord as watchmen amongst his people, but, failing to gain understanding, they become blind and ignorant, and concerning such the Lord God’s prophet says: “His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant.” (Isa. 56:10) At the present time there are many of such, and they will not appreciate the truth concerning rackets and racketeers, but will rather resent it. Such ignorant and blind ones are easily deceived by the Devil and by his associates. The “elect” are not of this class that can be deceived, because they are always diligent to ascertain the truth, that they may do the will of God; and because they are pure in heart and are diligent in obeying God’s law Jehovah grants unto them the desire of their heart to know his will and to be led by him through Christ Jesus. Such faithful ones are taught by Jehovah and Christ Jesus, and therefore cannot be deceived. It becomes the duty and privilege of the ‘elect servant’ class also to transmit to those persons of good will toward God such information as is made available of and concerning the wicked racketeers and their rackets. What is here published, therefore, is first for the benefit of the remnant, that they may use that information to aid and comfort the Jonadabs, who are seeking righteousness and meekness.
3 Many poisons are ignorantly supporting a racket which works great injury to them and to others, and all such persons of good will would no doubt cease to support such a racket if they understood the truth. It is therefore the duty as well as the privilege of the remnant to aid such persons of good will to gain a knowledge of the truth. In proclaiming the truth of God’s purpose controversies should be avoided. The remnant do not seek controversies, but are anxious to do the will of God by bearing testimony to the truth to others, that such others may avail themselves of the privilege of serving the Lord. The truth should never be used as a club with which to punish others, but should be used for the purpose of doing good to those who desire to know what is right. Telling the truth, however, necessarily exposes rackets and racketeers, and such exposure is for the purpose of enabling those of good will to learn where they get protection, that they may go in the right way. To do such work of testifying to the truth necessarily discloses those who are against God and his kingdom, and such truth is a punishment to the wicked; but Jehovah’s witnesses must always keep in mind that their duty is to tell the truth as God has commanded, and the result will be according to the will of God, and therefore right; and if this results in chastisement to the wicked, then it is according to the will of God.
4 The world is full of wicked creatures, and of such the religionists are the worst. No good can result by abusing any practitioner of religion. Personal attacks on anyone are uncalled for. The business of the remnant is to do good always, and to do so by telling the truth, and all persons who are of good will toward God, desiring the truth, will profit by hearing the same. A debate with those who are holding and teaching false doctrines is not for the purpose of chastising the wicked, but such a debate might be entirely proper for the purpose of enlightening those who are held in bondage, that they might escape. There are many persons who are thus restrained by the religionists and the religious organizations, and such persons of good will sigh and cry because of the wickedness practiced by racketeers; and the Lord God sends forth his witnesses to proclaim the truth, that those who do thus sigh and cry. may receive the information that will lead them in the right way. God’s faithful prophet wrote: “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” (Ps. 39:1) Surely this means that the servant of the Lord God will not indulge in controversial harangue with those who are wicked and who are attempting to do injury to God’s cause and his people. When the wicked resort to lies, slander and vicious and malicious charges, the proper course for those who are devoted to the Lord is to ignore such wicked ones; but, if opportunity arises, then speak the truth, that those of good will may be benefited. Jehovah’s witnesses, therefore, will be looking out to give the message to those who have an ear to hear. The purpose of giving testimony is not to convince the wicked, that such wicked ones may reform, because that is an impossibility; but the purpose is to aid those who are truly seeking knowledge. The present is the time of darkness upon the world and when gross darkness rests upon the people, even as God by his prophet foretold. Such darkness is upon those who have been deceived by the racketeers, who carry on their rackets for the purpose of deceiving. It is therefore also the time when those who are devoted to Jehovah God must, in obedience to his commandment, ‘arise and shine,’ by telling the truth and telling it boldly. (Isa. 60:1) For this reason it is the duty of The Watchtower to publish facts concerning the greatest racketeering scheme that has ever been practiced upon the human race, and which racket is deceiving and working great injury to millions of honest-hearted persons. What is a racket? and who are the most subtle and slimy racketeers?
5 A racket is a scheme, plan, dodge or trick used for selfish gain and which deceives and works injury to others. A perversion of the truth for the purpose of inducing another in reliance upon it to part with something valuable is a racket. A false scheme or misrepresentation or suppression of the truth, which results in injury to others, and for pecuniary gain to the schemer, is a racket. A deception intentionally practiced, with a view to gain, is a racket.
6 A racketeer is a schemer who is artful, wily and cunning and who uses his plan or scheme to gain an unfair advantage over others. The racketeer gains an undue advantage over others, and then uses his scheme or plan to rob or pillage others, and this he does for real or supposed gain to himself. All racketeers are public enemies and enemies of honest persons, and are the enemies of God. Rackets, practiced by racketeers, work injury to those upon whom the trick is practiced.
7 Men who are engaged in traffic that is unlawful and that works injury to the people are racketeers and public enemies. The stealing of children or persons and holding them for ransom is a racket, and the stealer or kidnaper is a public enemy. Men who engage in the white-slave trade are racketeers and public enemies. Real estate promoters who operate schemes to defraud others are racketeers and public enemies. Those who operate a scheme by offering prizes to induce persons to buy or sell worthless goods, wares and merchandise are racketeers. Men who engage in robbery, stealing and murder for personal gain are racketeers and public enemies. The man who engages in the scheme of blackmail and thereby obtains money is a racketeer and a public enemy. All such public enemies cither put the people in fear or fraudulently overreach them. Dien who engage in political schemes misrepresenting the facts in order to induce the people to support them that they may thereby reap a personal or pecuniary gain are racketeers and public enemies. Commercial men or corporations operating a scheme or schemes that result in injury to the people are racketeers and public enemies. Those who engage in any kind of fraudulent scheme that results in gain or injury to others are racketeers and public enemies. Men who use motion pictures to mislead the people, and thereby gain any kind of profit in name, money or influence, are racketeers. All racketeers are agents of the Devil, whether they realize that fact or not. All wrongful schemes originate with the Devil, and that great enemy induces and influences men to use such rackets to do injury to others and to bring reproach upon the name of the Almighty God. Such is a general description of rackets and racketeers.
GREATEST RACKET
8 Put aside now preconceived opinion, and with an unbiased mind examine the facts concerning the greatest of all rackets that have ever been practiced under the sun, to understand the truth of which is for your own personal welfare. Honest persons have some means of protecting themselves against many public enemies because they are warned against such enemies, can see how the enemies operate, and can take steps to safeguard their own interests. The most dangerous and destructive kind of racketeering is that which has the appearance of honesty but which is operated in such a subtle, deceptive manner as to blind the people to the real truth. The credulous and unsuspecting are caught unawares in the enemy’s trap and find it almost impossible to extricate themselves therefrom. The greatest racket ever invented and practiced is that of religion. The most cruel and seductive public enemy is that which employs religion to carry on a racket, and by which means the people are deceived and the name of Almighty God is reproached. There are numerous systems of religion, but the most subtle, fraudulent and injurious to humankind is that which is generally labeled “the Christian religion”, because it has the appearance of a worshipful devotion to Jehovah God, the Supreme Being, and thereby easily misleads many honest and sincere persons. Strange as it may seem, the two words “Christian” and “religion” are diametrically opposed one to the other. Most persons in the land called “Christendom” have been led to believe that the two words mean one and the same thing, and through lack of knowledge of the truth great injury is done to the people. The greatest public enemy is that which operates with a righteous appearance but which is fraudulent, brings reproach upon God’s name, misrepresents his purpose, and thereby robs the people of their money, their peace of mind, their liberty of speech and thought, and of the opportunity for life everlasting. Under the practice of the so-called “Christian religion” the world at the present time has reached that period described in the Bible in these words: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high- minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.”—2 Tim. 3:1-5, 8, 9.
9 Do not confuse “Christianity” with the so-called “Christian religion”. The latter operates in the name of God and Christ but is wholly against Christ and his kingdom, which is the only hope of the human race. Religion labeled “the Christian religion” is a racket invented by the Devil to defame the name of Almighty God and is practiced by men, some of whom are honest and practice it because they have been induced to believe it is right, while others know that they are wrong and are working a fraud upon the people. The latter are doubly dangerous to the interests of the human race. Because the name of Christ has been and is used to work a great fraud upon the people the racket thus practiced is the greatest of all. There are many sincere and honest persons in organizations known as “religious” or “church organizations”, and it is with the hope of helping such to see the truth that this publication is put forth. What is here published is not an attack upon men, but is an attack upon the most subtle and devilish kind of frauds that ever existed. Those who desire to know the truth will be pleased to now carefully consider the origin of the so-called “Christian religion” and how it has progressed in the earth.
10 Christ Jesus is the Head or beginning of Christianity, because he leads and others follow in obeying God’s commandments. Christ means Anointed of God, the One who is commissioned to carry out God’s purpose. Christ is not and never was for one moment a religionist. He always strictly obeys the commandments of the Almighty God. He instructed his faithful disciples in the Word and purpose of Jehovah God. After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead the holy spirit, which is the invisible power of God, came upon the faithful apostles and they understood the truth as it was not possible for them to understand it before that time. Those faithful men, in the name of Christ, vent about “from house to house” (Acts 20:20), teaching the people and preaching to them that the shed blood of Christ Jesus provides the redemptive price for man from condemnation, and that it is the purpose of Jehovah God to give life to those who believe on Christ and follow in his steps. Because those men were freely telling the truth to the people concerning Christ, the religionists amongst the Jews assaulted the apostles and brought them into the courts, demanding: “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” One of those faithful apostles of Jesus Christ replied in these words: “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This [Christ] is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”—Acts 4:10-12.
11 During the remainder of the earthly career of the apostles they continued to preach to the people the message concerning Christ Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection, and the coming of his kingdom as the only hope of mankind, and many of the common people heard and believed. To offset the work of the apostle, Satan the Devil began to build an anti-Christ organization, into which latter organization many people were drawn. Ambitious men assumed the leadership amongst those who started to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and those ambitious and selfish men became the teachers and leaders of the organization (Acts 20:29,30), and thus was the organization labeled as “the Christian church”, and the doctrines and practices thereof were from that time forward called “the Christian religion”. The Lord had warned his disciples of the coming of the anti-Christ, that is, those who should deceive the people in the name of Christ. (2 John 7) Such deceivers were manifesting themselves even in the days of the apostles. (2 Thess. 2:7) In this day (1937) the religious organization that has its headquarters at Vatican City, Italy, and which calls itself “the Christian church” or “Christian religion”, dominates the religion of the nations called “Christendom”. As heretofore shown, religious organizations began with Babylon and extended to all parts of the earth. When Home became a world power, which is known as Pagan Rome, that world power practiced the Devil religion ; and in time Pagan Rome blossomed into what is known as Papal Rome, which from then till now practices what is called the “Christian religion”. The following indisputable historical facts should be read with real interest, since they disclose that Rome completely fell under the Devil religion. The quotations following are from The Encyclopedia Americana:
“ROMAN RELIGION. From the time that the Roman religion appears within the pale of traditional and recorded history it seems to have been constantly and progressively subjected to varying influences, both internal and external, and to have passed through many changes. . . . Fundamentally the primitive religious ideas of all the Indo-European peoples were quite similar. Even the Roman religion, in the days when Rome was governed by kings and had already begun to evolve complicated rituals and complex myths, still retained a suggestive similarity to that of India. . . . The early Roman gods were the personification of the elements of nature. The old Roman deities and supernatural beings of their nomadic life, the patrons of the chase and the guardian spirits of the mountains, the rivers, the earth, the sky and the upper heavens gradually assumed more definite attributes . . . The deities and religious customs and practices of all the tribes of Italy of Indo-European origin, which were quite similar, gradually became domesticated in Rome. Naturally as the Roman Empire broadened and became more cosmopolitan, its religious system also became broader and more all-embracing. Having absorbed the deities of the Italic Peninsula, the habit of absorption became, with Rome, all-impelling, and the pantheon of the Imperial City, Teaching out its octopus arms in every direction throughout the already wide confines of the rapidly extending Roman domain, and even beyond it, brought new creeds, new deities and new religious philosophies into Rome. Under such conditions as these little or no religious dogma could exist; nor did it. . . . Thus ecclesiastical Rome became as cosmopolitan and eclectic as the Roman Empire itself. This is but another way of saying, however, that the religious life of the Roman community was constantly shifting as the process of broadening continued.
“. . . Diana, the moon goddess, under one name or another and with somewhat varying attributes, the favorite deity of so many nomadic peoples given to the chase, and in all probability the chief deity of the nomadic Romans, gave place to the earth mother, the producer, the characteristic deity of an agricultural people. . . . Jupiter, the god of the sky, of the upper regions and of thunder, usurped the foremost place primitively held by Diana, the moon mother, becoming the titular deity of the Romans and the supreme god of the Latin races united under the imperial sway of Rome. . . .
"... Juno, the female counterpart of the supreme deity [Jupiter] himself, and the definition of the supposed female qualities of the sky. In other words, she is but a subdivision of Jupiter himself, whose sister and wife she is represented, in Roman mythology, to be. . . .
“Next to Jupiter and Juno, his regal consort, the greatest of the Roman state gods, was Mars, . . . the patron of war, . . . Mars, who was especially honored in March and October, was the patron of the opening and closing of the war campaigns and of the sports connected therewith. . . .
“. . . At this early period in the life of the Roman people, the superior priesthood seem to have been almost inseparably connected with the nobility and the kingly rulers, the latter of whom had already begun to lay claim to descent from the gods. The seeds of ancestor worship had also already been planted, a custom which was later on to deify kings and emperors, as the legal and de facto representatives of the gods upon earth. . . .
“. . . It looked very much as if the old religion were about to go by the board when the establishment of the [Roman] empire saved it for the time being. The emperors, claiming to rule by divine right and direct descent from the gods, it was very much to their interest to uphold a state religion; which they did on a magnificent scale, bringing into the national church all the officers, employees and dependents of the government. The state church, at this latter stage, was an immense fraternity, all the members of which were bound, by virtue of their office, to support it. This revival of the ancient Roman religion was, therefore, less religious than political. . . . Babylonian, Greek, Assyrian, Egyptian and Eastern religious ideas found welcome in Rome. The Great Earth Mother of Asia Minor [therefore of Babylon] and Isis, the mother goddess of Egypt, were not only introduced into Rome but their worship, which was accompanied with elaborate ritual and ceremonial, became almost universal throughout the Boman Empire; and such a firm root did it take among the masses of the Roman people and the Eastern nations under the domination of Rome that the early Christian missionaries found great difficulty in eradicating it.
“. . . This craze for foreign deities went to unheard-of extremes, going so far afield as Persia, from which was introduced the great sun god, Mithras, with his elaborate mystical worship, which became very popular in the Imperial City itself. . . . Thus Rome, bathed in philosophy, scepticism, mysticism, emotionalism and stoicism, with nothing solid to which to anchor, drifted upon the rocks of national religious shipwreck. In this condition she was found ... for the development of the Catholic faith.”—The Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. 23, pages 641-645.
12 The “gods” mentioned in the foregoing are Gog and the wicked demons, which inhabit what is known in the Scriptures as ‘‘the land of Magog”. The faithful apostles of Jesus Christ saw the anti-Christ religion advancing in their day and forewarned the people against it. Soon after they passed from the earth the Devil saw to it that what began as the Christian organization was corrupted and turned into what has since been called the ‘‘Christian religion”, and which has since operated in the earth under the name of the ‘Roman Catholic religious system’. The following historical facts, taken from Lord’s Old Roman World, are here appropriate:
'‘In the First Century not many wise or noble were called. ... In the Second Century ... it was a disgrace to be a Christian in the eye of fashion or power. . . . The church . . . was a small body of pure and blameless men who did not aspire to control society. But they had attracted the notice of the government and were of sufficient consequence to be persecuted.” During the second century ‘‘bishops had become influential, not in society, but among the Christians”. Then ‘‘ecclesiastical centralization commenced; . . . The Church was laying the foundation of its future polity and power”.
13 It is certain that the Lord God had not marked out such a policy. It is equally certain that it was the Devil who was planting and cultivating the seeds of selfishness to accomplish his wicked purpose. The historian above mentioned continues: “The Third Century saw the Church more powerful as an institution. . . . Doctrines were systematized [into creeds and confusion] . . . Great bishops ruled the growing church. . . . The Church was rapidly advancing to a position which extorted attention of mankind [of the world, to be sure]. It was not till the Fourth Century —when imperial persecution had stopped, when Constantine [the emperor of Pagan Rome] was converted; when the Church was allied with the State, when the early faith was itself corrupted, when superstition and vain philosophy [prompted by the Devil] had entered the ranks of the faithful; . . . when synods were brought under political influence; . . . when polities and dogmatics went hand in hand, . . . that men of rank entered the church. When Christianity became the religion of the court and of the fashionable classes, it was used to support the very evils against which it originally protested. The Church was not only impregnated with the errors of Pagan philosophy, but it adopted many of the ceremonies of oriental [Devil] worship, . . . The clergy, ambitious and worldly, sought rank and distinction. . . . They became lazy, arrogant, and independent. The people were shut out of the government of the church. The bishop became a grand personage who controlled and appointed his clergy. . . . The mission of the [true] Church was lost sight of in a degrading alliance with the State.”
SUBTLE SCHEME
14 The Lord God gives warning to men in those words: ‘‘The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” (Prov. 29:25) The man who fears that he may lose some honor or other thing that he regards as valuable unless he pursues a compromising course is certain to fall into Satan’s trap. Ambitious men are easily led into Satan’s trap. No doubt the early leaders in what is known as the Catholic Church organization were sincere, but some of them, particularly being ambitious for honor amongst men, and fearing they might lose what they had, quickly fell to the flattery of the Devil, who saw to it that they had plenty of it. About 400 years after the death of the apostle Peter the Roman Catholic ‘‘Hierarchy of Jurisdiction” was organized. After still further centuries had passed, and the people had been kept in ignorance of the truth, it was then an easy matter to induce the living ones to believe that a man whom they had been taught to honor as pope and the head of the Hierarchy is the successor of the apostle Peter. The people were thus induced to believe a great and injurious falsehood. There is no reason to say anything about the man who fills the office of pope, and therefore nothing is here intended to apply to an individual, but what is said is against the office. That office of pope had no existence in the days of the apostles. It was created by men at the instance of Satan, and the first man elected to that office was elected in the year 440 (A.D.). The Catholic Church did not exist until long centuries after the days of the apostles of Jesus Christ, and yet that organization today claims to be the church of Christ, and millions of sincere persons believe that falsehood. Neither Christ nor any of his apostles had anything whatsoever to do with bringing into existence the Catholic organization. Only the Devil could conceive the idea of organizing a great religious system and labeling it the ‘‘Christian church”; and his purpose, in keeping with his name, was and is to deceive the people and keep them in ignorance of the truth concerning the church of God. The church of God, of which Christ Jesus is the Head, is the only true church, and the names of those who are in it are written in heaven and not on earth. (Heb. 12:23) Because that religious organization assumed the name of Christ and stealthily and gradually put forth its false doctrines it has become the most far-reaching and destructive racket that has ever been in existence, and works to the greatest injury to the people and to the defamation of God’s name. It operates upon false pretenses and false teachings.
PRETENSES
15 A pretense is the act of laying claim to something or holding out to others some teaching or doctrine to induce such others to take a course consistent with such pretenses. The Catholic organization, commonly called the “Catholic church”, is made up of the pope, bishops, cardinals, priests and others called “clergymen”; and all those who support that organization or who are adherents thereof are known as the “Catholic population”, but which “Catholic population” are not members of the church. In the Catholic organization there are the high and the low clergymen, that is to say, the Hierarchy of authority, composed of men in high positions; while there are many humbler men in the priesthood who obey the commands of the higher-ups. The Catholic organization has long held out and continues to hold out to the people certain claims or doctrines for the manifest purpose of inducing people to become adherents to or “children” of that organization. Among the doctrines so taught and held out is this one, to wit: That the Roman Catholic Church is the one true and only church. The following quotation is from the well-known Catholic authority: “The true Church must be Apostolical. Hence in the Creed framed in the first Ecumenical Council of Niceaa, in the year 325, we find these words: ‘I believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.’ ”—The Faith of Our Fathers (Gibbons), pages 38-42.
16 Credulous persons, who hear this claim and rely upon the same, are induced to act, and therefore millions of sincere persons have been induced to believe that the Roman Catholic organization is the church of God, and for that reason they have submitted themselves to the organization which is ruled by the Hierarchy. If the claims or pretenses made by the Catholic organization are false, then it must be conceded that the people are being imposed upon to their injury and that those who are responsible for such pretenses or false claims are therefore racketeers. By what rule shall these claims be measured to determine whether or not they are true or false ? The sincere person who believes in God and in Christ, and who is of good will toward God, will quickly answer this question in these words: “The Word of God is the only true guide by which we must determine the truth or falsity of such claims.”
17 Is the Roman Catholic Church organization the true church of the living God? The answer must be, No. Refer now to the scriptures showing that the true church is the temple or organization of Jehovah God and that the one and true Foundation Stone or Rock thereof is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Head and Lord of the church; and that all others in the temple or church are members of his body and that such latter-named ones must be transformed into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ, faithfully following in his steps, and that these are the witnesses of Jehovah God, who are commissioned to bear testimony to his holy name. The office and mission of the church of God under Christ Jesus, compared with that of the Roman Catholic organization, shows that the two take exactly opposite courses. The Roman Catholic organization is now and for centuries has been engaged in religion, polities and commerce for gain, and is therefore the enemy of God and the enemy of all men. In the Scriptures a “tree” is used as a symbol of a creature or of an organization composed of creatures, and the fruits borne by that tree symbolically stand for what creatures or organizations hold before the people as spiritual food for their sustenance and growth. Jesus, speaking of the same, says: “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. . . . Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”— Matt. 7:18-22.
18 Jehovah God has covenanted to give to Christ Jesus and his faithful ones who follow him, and who are made members of his church, his kingdom, which kingdom shall in time rule in righteousness and minister blessings to the people. (Luke 22:28-30) The kingdom of God has nothing that is commercial and has nothing in common with the harsh, cruel and wicked system that rules the world now and which present rule is under the Devil and his representatives. Concerning this world Jesus said: “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) “The prince of this world [Satan] . . . hath nothing in me.” (John 14:30) The Scriptures show that Christ Jesus takes his kingdom and rules at the time of his second coming, at which time he gathers unto himself his church. (2 Tim. 4:1) Jesus addresses himself to religionists of his time and of the present time, and to whom he says: “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (Matt. 21:43) The Roman Catholic Church organization has never at any time brought to the people the fruits or messages of God’s kingdom, but, on the contrary, that organization has at all times co-operated with politicians, militarists, commercial giants, and other gangsters to rule and control the nations of the earth. Instead of bearing before the people the fruits of God’s Word, which sustain them, that is, the fruits of God's kingdom, the Catholic organization has bitterly opposed the kingdom under Christ. Every religious organization on the earth indulges in politics and in commerce, more or less, contrary to the will of God, and all these organizations ill-treat and persecute the men and women who bear the message or fruits of and concerning the kingdom of God before the people.
INCONSISTENT
19 The Scriptures lay down the unchangeable rule that everyone who is made a member of the church of God faithfully follows in the footsteps of Jesus, and therefore must do as Jesus does. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Pct. 2:21,22) Again, Jesus says: “Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) All such must obey his commandments or else suffer destruction. (John 14:15; Acts 3:23) To lay claim to the high office of the representative on earth of Jesus Christ, and then to take the course exactly opposite to what Jesus took, is wholly inconsistent and shows that the claims or pretenses of the Catholic organization are false. Consider now the well-known facts in the light of the above and supporting scriptures, and by such scriptures determine the truth or falsity of the claims of the Catholic organization.
20 Neither Jesus nor his apostles owned any real estate, houses or other property. Of Jesus it is written: “[He] hath not where to lay his head.” (Luke 9: 5S) Jesus and his apostles did not build cathedrals and draw the people into them to serve them, but the Lord and his apostles went about “from house to house” preaching the truth to the people and instructing them in the way of God. (Matt. 10: 5-15) All true followers of Christ Jesus have ever pursued the same course. Constantino, the politician and emperor of Rome, who was a pagan or heathen, claimed to adopt “Christianity”. He became a “Catholic”. Constantine was rich and doubtless had been induced to believe that he could huy his salvation. The following is quoted from Cardinal Gibbons’ The Faith of Our Fathers, page 134: “Constantine gave to the Roman Church munificent donations of money and real estate, which were augmented by additional grants contributed by subsequent emperors. Hence the patrimony of the Roman Pontiffs soon became very considerable.” From that time onward the Roman Catholic Church organization became very rich in material things. Thus it is seen that it pursued a course wholly inconsistent with that pursued by Christ Jesus. The religious organization, in the fourth century, had bishops and rulers, many of them, and then the bishop of Rome was elected to the office of pope. That was the real beginning of popedom and was more than 300 years after the days of the apostles. (See The Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume 2, page 81.) Soon thereafter the pope, as the head of the Roman Church organization, began to exercise political or temporal power. Pepin, king of France, after defeating the Lombards in the war, placed the pope as temporal ruler of the conquered provinces. Thus the papacy came into existence as a temporal power by means of a war of conquest, which is contrary to the Word of God. Says Cardinal Gibbons: “Charlemagne, the successor of Pepin, not only confirms the grant of his father, but increases the temporal domain of the Pope by donating him some additional provinces. This small piece of territory the Roman Pontiffs continued to govern from that time till 1870, with the exception of brief intervals of foreign usurpation.”—The Faith of Our Fathers, page 137.
21 In the exercise of his political power the pope has maintained his ambassadors at the courts of almost all the nations of “Christendom”. Such a course is entirely inconsistent with and at variance with Christ Jesus, the Head of the church of God, who declares that he has nothing whatsoever to do with the political affairs of this world, because Satan controls them.
22 From 1870 till 1919 the pope was almost completely shorn of his temporal power, as will appear from the historical facts. (See The Watchtower April 15, 1937, 32-48.) During the period of time from 1848 to 1919 the Roman Catholic Church organization continued to dabble in the politics of the world, however, and to seek to gain political recognition and power amongst the nations of the earth. Immediately following the World War the pope sought a seat at the conference of the League of Nations that he might engage in dividing up Europe when the League of Nations was formed. The pope was prevented from gaining a scat at that conference; but after the League of Nations was formed and began to operate, the Devil saw to it that the papal organization got on top of the League, and it has been riding it ever since. Mussolini became a friend of the pope, and since then they have operated together. “In 1929 the Lateran Treaty adjusted the relations of church and state in Italy. Shortly thereafter Mussolini and the Pope, strong characters both, clashed over the education of Fascist youth; in 1932 the Duce went to the Vatican, knelt in prayer, and, it is believed, took holy communion. He was an avowed atheist, like his father, in youth; latterly he has become very religious.”—Inside Europe, page 195.
23 The ambition of Mussolini is to become a great war lord and to rule the whole world by force. The Roman Catholic organization, working with him, fully supports his ambition. When Mussolini began and carried on his bloody conquest against the poor blacks of Abyssinia, and in which war many lives were destroyed, the pope and the Catholic organization backed Mussolini up and “blessed” his murderous assaults. Now the dictator of Italy attempts to compel men and women to breed like dumb beasts for the purpose of producing men to be later sacrificed in war, and in this the pope backs tip Mussolini. A press dispatch from Rome, published by the United Press and broadcast over many radio stations, under date of March 4, 1937, says: “ Italy’s Fascist leaders agreed today on a vigorous effort to increase the birth rate and provide more soldiers for the army of the future. A seven-point program was adopted for immediate application by the Fascist grand council, supreme advisory body, in another of its closely guarded night sessions under Premier Benito Mussolini. ... It was reported that Pope Pius would instruct Roman Catholic clergymen to give full support.”
24 Such a course is clearly in violation of God’s everlasting covenant concerning human life, and the so- called Roman Catholic “Church” is guilty under God’s law. (Gen. 9:8-13) Does it appear that such an organization represents God and Christ, or that that organization fraudulently uses the name of God and Christ as a camouflage behind which it carries on its devilish anti-Kingdom work ?
25 The scarecrow held up throughout the lands now is that of Communism, and it is the papacy that is creator of and is behind that scarecrow movement. Everyone who dares tell the truth about the Roman Hierarchy is by that organization denounced as a Communist. The facts are that Communism has been organized by the Jesuits, the secret order of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, and then used as a camouflage or scarecrow to frighten the people to unite in a movement contrary thereto, and which latter movement is fully controlled by the papacy. In this manner the Nazis of Germany, with Hitler as the leader, were organized and now carry on a ruthless, cruel and murderous rule in that land; and which class of Nazis delight to persecute those who faithfully represent God and Christ and who bear the fruits of his kingdom before the people. Many of Jehovah’s witnesses in Germany have recently been put to death, and thousands of others imprisoned, merely because they had in their possession Bibles and books explaining the Bible, which enable the people to see God’s provision for suffering humanity. The Hitler government is in full accord with the Vatican of Rome. Would the Lord Jesus Christ approve such as the rule of Hitler? Certainly not; and since the Roman Church backs up Hitler, that is persuasive evidence that the Roman Catholic organization represents the Devil and is the enemy of God and Christ.
26 At one time the Roman Catholic Hierarchy controlled Spain, during which time she prosecuted the wicked Inquisition, compelling people to become Catholics or suffer cruel torture. The people rebelled against the highhanded racketeers of Catholicism and organized a republic. Then the Roman Catholic militarists began prosecuting a rebellion against the republic of Spain, carrying on a cruel and vicious war of rebellion for the purpose of again placing the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in control of that country. The Hierarchy wrongfully obtained possession of millions of money obligations of the Spanish government, concealed the same in their cathedrals, and used it to prosecute a rebellious war, in which hundreds of thousands of persons have been cruelly murdered, many of them by Catholic priests. Mussolini and Hitler have supported the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in the prosecution of that rebellious war. Surely no representative of God and Christ on earth could engage in such a warfare, which is in open violation of God’s everlasting covenant concerning the sanctity of human life.
27 Since the World War, and since the Roman Catholic organization has regained temporal power, she has become bold and aggressive as never before. A person would have to be mentally blind who does not now see that the purpose of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is to gain control of the political affairs of the world and to rule the people with dictators. The papacy has made an alliance with the political rulers of Japan, who make no pretense of being Christians, and she there prosecutes a campaign to silence everybody that speaks the truth against Catholicism. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy is vigorously pushing its campaign to gain control of the offices and political affairs of the British Commonwealth of Nations, but her greatest effort is now put forth to gain control of the United States of America. A book published in 1935 by a former Roman Catholic Jesuit, who manifestly was sick of the duplicity practiced by the rulers in that wicked religious organization, amongst other things says: “In theory, Catholic Action is the work and service of lay Catholics in the cause of religion, under the guidance of the bishops. In practice it is the Catholic group fighting their way to control America. . . .
“There was a time—it is now past—when only pious Catholics took part in the work of the Church. But today many Catholics who cannot qualify as pious are busy about Catholic Action. Catholicism, in America at least, has ceased to be a matter of religious observance. Catholicism now is something that partakes of clannishness, and that is constituted in large part by social and political and ‘club’ affiliations. Among the hundreds of Catholic leaders who are outstanding for their loyalty to the cause are to be found quite a few who have little if any regard for Catholic doctrines or observances. Catholic Action would be a far less serious factor in this country were its only agents pious and devout Catholics. The starting point of the wave of Catholic Action in this country may be traced back to the inauguration of the National Catholic Welfare Conference in 1921. On that occasion Archbishop Hanna declared: ‘We have coordinated and united the Catholic power of this country. It now knows where and when to act and is encouraged by the consciousness of its unity. We feel ourselves powerful because our reunion has become visible.’
From that day Catholic strength has grown apace, and Catholic organizations have multiplied. . . .
“New organizations spring into existence every month. Only last May (1935) a ‘Catholic War Veterans Association’ was established under the patronage of Bishop Molloy of Brooklyn. Already it has several ‘posts’ and it aims at becoming not only a nation-wide but an international organization. Women auxiliaries are attached to the ‘posts’ under the snappy name of ‘Yeomanettes’. ‘I am sure,’ announced the chaplain, Father Higgins, ‘that we will have the holy backing of Cardinal Hayes and that the entire hierarchy will likewise approve.’ Contemporaneously with the Catholic War Veterans, the Catholic College Graduates felt inspired to do more than they were doing for Catholic Action and to set up a new organization, so that their leadership in Catholic life might become more effective. Fattier Parsons S.J., explaining the new move, writes: ‘. . . Organize! Pool the intellects and the wills of as many of the graduates as can be got together. Give them a common objective. Fire their imaginations with the vision of a great movement which takes its roots from deep within the traditions that formed our Western civilization. Let them be daring. Let them be even revolutionary if the need be for that.’
". . . ‘Catholic men,’ he said, ‘should unite in order to be able to tell legislatures that they must not introduce bills which are inimical to the ideals of the family or the ideals of the Catholic Church. They should organize so as to be strong enough to insist that school teachers who teach “pernicious doctrines’’ be removed.’ ”—Home Stoops io Conquer, pages 15-18.
28 Space will not permit to call attention here to the divers means employed politically and otherwise to push forward “Catholic Action’’, and thereby gain control of America and other nations. The purpose here is to call attention to the fact that a religious organization that indulges in such political, commercial, military and other wicked methods as those employed by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy could not possibly be the representative of Christ on earth, and that therefore the claims or pretenses of the Roman Catholic organization concerning its being the church of God are wholly fraudulent and false. Such alone should be sufficient to prove to every honest and sincere person that the Roman Catholic organization is the instrument of the Devil and therefore inimical to the welfare of humankind. If a person desires to jeopardize his eternal welfare by holding on to and supporting that wicked organization, which is the enemy of God and man, such is his privilege; but this is a warning, that he may have no excuse for later saying that he did not know the organization represented the Devil. The purpose of this publication is to aid honest and sincere persons, whether Catholic or otherwise, to see the truth, that they may seek and find the only place of security.
29 One who gains correct information concerning the Devil’s purpose is then enabled to understand more clearly what the religious racketeers are doing. Without a doubt the Devil brought into existence religious organizations to defame the name of Jehovah God and to enable men who are selfish, ambitious and covetous to carry on a great fraudulent scheme by which the people are kept in fear and subjection and then robbed of their substance and brought under the complete domination of Satan and his visible allies. Satan’s purpose is to rule or ruin, and he is using his organization invisible to that end. By what follows it should clearly appear to all sincere persons how the Devil has an organization and causes men under his direction to carry on the most devilish of all schemes and rackets that have been practiced amongst creatures.
(To be continued)
QUESTIONS FOR STUDY
1. How and why has Jehovah advised his covenant people concerning the way of the wicked? Point out the importance of a consideration now of the subject of rackets and racketeers.
2,3. Who are ‘blind and ignorant’ as mentioned at Isaiah 56: 10, and why? Why will the “elect” not bo deceived? What is the purpose of the information made available concerning racketeers and their rackets? How is such information to be used in order that it may serve its purpose?
4. Describe the situation calling for the proclamation of the truths here being considered.
5-7. Define and illustrate the terms racket and racketeer.
8. What is the greatest of all rackets that have ever been practiced, and why? Why is it now so important that honest persons be informed concerning the origin and purpose of religion?
9. Why has the so-called “Christian religion” been the greatest racket of all?
10. Explain whether Christ Jesus and his apostles were religionists.
11-13. Trace the development of the so-called “Christian religion”.
14. How and when did the Catholic Church conic into existence? How and why has it become the most far-reaching and destructive of all the rackets?
15,16. What is the meaning of pretense? Describe the Catholic Church as an organization, and the relationship thereto of the “Catholic population”. Why is it that millions of sincere persons have submitted themselves to that organization?
17-18. With scriptures and a comparison of the office and mission of the church of God under Christ Jesus with that of the Roman Catholic organization, show whether the Roman Catholic Church organization is or could be the true church of the living God.
19-21. Compare the course taken by Jesus and his footstep followers and that taken by the Catholic organization, in point of desire to possess material things and to exercise political power. What does this show?
22-21. Describe the anti-Kingdom activities of the Roman Catholic Church organization by its head and its chief official supporters.
25,26. What are the facts concerning the origin and purpose of Communism, and the relationship thereof to Nazism? Account for the present situation in Spain. What do these facts show as to the position occupied by the Roman Catholic organization?
27. Point out the nature and purpose of “Catholic Action”. What is therein clearly shown concerning the Roman Catholic organization as to whose instrument it is.
28,29. What is the purpose in making known these truths? What does this mean as to obligation resting upon those who are thus informed?
CONVENTIONS
FOR the encouragement of his people it is written in the Scriptures, “Blessed be [Jehovah] my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.” “ [Jehovah] is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise him.” (Pss. 144:1; 28:7) The time of Jehovah’s war is here, and he has commanded his people to arise to battle. His army is a unit, and from time to time it is for their good to assemble together in general convention. Believing that Jehovah through Christ Jesus directs all things for their good, conventions are being arranged for those who love the Lord, as follows, to wit:
Paris, France, August 21 to 23, 1937; Columbus, Ohio, September 15 to 20, 1937.
PARIS
Cheap transportation facilities are available because of the international Exposition in progress in Paris. Many of Jehovah’s people residing in Continental Europe, and many from Great Britain, have signified their intention to attend the Paris convention. A special train from London to Paris carrying approximately 800 to 1,000 people will go up to the latter city. General information concerning this train will be obtained by addressing the Society’s office at 34 Craven Terrace, London.
A goodly number of American brethren would attend the Paris convention, but steamship accommodations appear to be impossible, the space having been booked long in advance.
Hotel accommodations are being arranged by a special committee at Paris. Inquiries concerning the same should be addressed to the Paris Convention Committee, 129 Faubourg Poissonniere, Paris IX, France.
Detailed arrangements for this convention are under the supervision of the Central European office at Berne, Switzerland. Anyone desiring information other than what is here stated may write Convention Committee, Allmendstrasse 39, Berne, Switzerland.
ASSEMBLY PLACE
A general assembly place, seating 3,000, is arranged in Paris, together with smaller halls attached. More details will be published later in The Watchtower in the English, also in other languages.
The president of the Society will address the general public, announcements of which will be made later.
COLUMBUS
The convention at Columbus, Ohio, will be for the special accommodation of Jehovah’s people residing in America and in Canada, but will be attended by others from different parts of the earth.
TIME
The convention will open at two o’clock in the afternoon of September 15, and continue until the evening of September 20. All meetings of the convention will be held at the Fair Grounds, in the main auditorium, with adjoining halls as may be required. The Fair Grounds Association, the governor of the state, and the city of Columbus, have issued very cordial invitations for Jehovah’s people to hold their convention at the above place free of charge, and are furnishing splendid cooperation. The mornings of September 16, 17, and 20 will be devoted to field service, in which all of Jehovah’s enthusiastic people who are attending the convention will participate. The afternoon and evening of those days will be given over to discourses and declaration meetings at the convention meeting place. All day of the 18th and of the 19th of September will be devoted to meetings at the Fair Grounds. On these dates the convention will be addressed by the president of the Society.
Sunday the 19th, from 12 noon to 1: 00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, an address will be delivered for the general public. More details will appear later, and on the program. The general assembly hall at the Fair Grounds is the Coliseum building, with seating capacity of approximately 10,000. Adjacent buildings connected with the Coliseum by public-address system will accommodate 20,000 more persons. The Fair Grounds will be covered with public-address system which will permit other thousands on the assembly ground to readily hear.
Memorial Hall: This hall is situate in the center of the city, and each day of the convention, at 7:30 p.m., meetings will be held in this hall for the general public.
Hotel and Rooms: The good people of Columbus have signified their pleasure in arranging to accommodate in private homes those who attend the convention. The cost for rooms in private homes will be from 50c per person per day upward to $1.50; the average cost will he 75c per day per person, two persons occupying a room. Hotel accommodations will be furnished for those who are willing to pay a higher rate. Hotel and private home rates will be approximately as follows:
Grade A Rooms:
With single bed and running water, $2.00.
With single bed and bath, $2.50 up.
Double room with bath, $3.50 up.
Large-capacity rooms, combination tub and shower baths, single beds, three persons in a room, $2.50 per person.
Four to five persons per room, $2.00 per person.
Six persons in a room, $1.50 per person.
Grade B Rooms:
With single bed and running water, $1.00.
With double bed and running water, $1.50 (75c per person).
With single bed and bath, $1.50.
With double bed and bath, $2.50 ($1.25 per person). All the above rates are per day.
A list of higher-priced hotels and their rates may be had on request.
In writing for accommodations, please be very specific as to your requirements. State the following in your letter: Your name, street, city, state or province, nationality, white or colored, date you expect to arrive in Columbus and date you will leave Columbus, kind of accommodations desired (Residence Grade A or Grade B, Hotel Grade A or Grade B), number of rooms required, number of persons in your party, number of married couples, number of single men, number of single women, the amount you want to pay per person. Your accommodations will be mailed to you; so it will not be necessary for you to report at the room assignment booth on your arrival, but you can go direct to your accommodations. The hotel or people with whom you are to stay will be notified by the Convention Committee that you are coming, and how long you expect to stay. It is requested that all persons attending the convention will obtain their rooms through the accommodations committee rather than by hunting up their own rooms. Your co-operation in this matter will greatly aid the committee.
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