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    The Watchtower, April 15, 1938

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    The Watchtower—1938

    “BOLDNESS”

    June 4-12, inclusive, the period set aside and named as “Boldness” Testimony, comes near the climax of the current worldwide campaign which began last April 9. During this special period there will be no change in procedure except as to intensity in effort. Continue offering the excellent combination of a year’s subscription for Consolation, the book Enemies (or Riches), and the new booklet Cure, on a $1.00 contribution. Many not already kingdom publishers may find “Boldness” period a favorable time to start exercising boldness by arranging to then begin taking part in the house-to-house witness, offering the above splendid combination. Those not already receiving copies of the Informant with detailed instructions on this campaign and its procedure, either through a local organization or direct from here, should get in touch with us. All assistance will be gladly rendered. All publishers should duly report in the regular way the results of the witness during this “Boldness” period.

    CORRESPONDENCE

    All brethren should write to the Society in English whenever possible. Letters written in foreign languages, such as Italian, Greek, Polish, etc., require extra time and work to handle. The suggestion is offered that foreign-speaking companies select as secretary some young brother or sister who speaks and writes English as well as the foreign language. This person can then write all letters to the Society in English at the dictation of the company servant, and when written the company servant can sign the letters. This will result in more prompt handling of your orders and letters.

    Brethren who live in countries outside of the United States and in which countries there are branch offices of the Society should write to such branch offices rather than to Brooklyn.

    CONVENTION

    Jehovah’s witnesses will assemble in convention at Sydney, Australia, April 22-25 inclusive. This convention will serve both Australia and New Zealand. The public address of the president will be radiocast. All who love and serve Jehovah will be welcome.

    PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH

    The Society now manufactures and has to offer a light-weight phonograph, being 14 by 13 by 5 1/2 inches in size, and coveted with brown cloth and having rounded corners. It weighs 9 pounds 13 ounces. With three phonograph discs it can be carried with tone arm in position and weighs 12 pounds 6 ounces. It can, however, accommodate ten discs. 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.

    Vol. LIX

    April 15, 1938

    No. 8

    CHILDREN

    PART 1

    “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven.”—Matt. 19:14, A.R.V.

    JEHOVAH’S law and commandment must be our guide. Some human reasoning may seem good, but that aside from the Word of God cannot be relied upon. To his people Jehovah says: ‘‘ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Prov. 3: 5, 6) The promises of Jehovah never fail, and we may be sure this one will be fully performed toward those who love and serve him.

    2 Recently there has been much discussion concerning the children and what shall be done concerning the study classes that are to be organized and conducted, especially for them. Every sane person loves children and desires to do what he can to aid them. Is it according to the will of God that children be segregated and that separate classes be organized and conducted for the benefit of the “little folk” and that someone of the anointed remnant be assigned to teaching such study class? Is it the duty of the anointed of the Lord to organize and conduct what is generally known as a ‘Sunday school for the benefit of the younger children’? Must the children have instruction now of and concerning the kingdom of God ? and, if so, by what means and in what manner shall that information be imparted to them? If the Word of Jehovah God answers these and related questions, then, to be sure, all of the anointed desire to be guided and will be guided by the Word of God giving answer thereto. The words of Jehovah’s inspired prophet all of his anointed ones adopt, to wit: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Ps. 119:105) God’s Word is his law, which his anointed love. It is their lamp, and now God has caused that lamp to be lighted for the benefit of those who love him, and the light of that lamp makes the way clear in which the anointed are to walk. The lamp without a light shining therefrom would be of no aid to those who have the Scriptures, but with the light of the Lord, which he has revealed by and through that lamp, the true and correct guide is had. In this day of Jehovah he has built up Zion, and there the light of his glory shines in the face of Christ Jesus and which light is reflected upon those of Zion and hence they are enabled to see the way to go, and to these Jehovah says: “I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.” (Ps. 132:17) When in doubt about how we are to decide a question, we must look to the Lord God and carefully consider his Word and therein find the answer, and not rely upon human reasoning, however plausible the latter may appear. “For thou art my lamp, O Lord; and the Lord will lighten my darkness.” (2 Sam. 22: 29) To the anointed the Lord says: “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. ’’—Prov. 6: 20,23.

    3 Not only are the children dear to the heart of the anointed, but there is a certain responsibility upon the anointed towards the children, which no one wno loves God would wish to avoid. The duty of the anointed toward the children is set out in the Scriptures. The foregoing questions will not be here answered dogmatically or according to man’s opinion, but the Scriptures bearing upon the matter are here presented that all anointed may clearly see what is the proper course for them to take and in what way they can meet their responsibility.

    HISTORY

    4 It is worth while to consider the origin and use of Sunday schools. If it appears that such are religious, then the anointed of God will be sure to examine the matter with great care to the end that they may not fall into a religious trap. In this connection due consideration must be given to the words of Jesus relative to the little children coming unto him. The Roman Catholic religionists have long followed the practice of gathering all children possible together and instructing them in the Catholic catechism, proceeding therein upon the theory that if a child can be trained in this Catholic doctrine until he is seven years of age he will not depart from that teaching; and in support of their course of action the Roman Catholic religionists cite the following scripture: “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22: 6) The question necessarily arises: “Is the course of action taken by the Roman Catholic organization in harmony with the Word of God, and particularly with reference to the words of Jesus set forth in the first text here quoted?” The Protestant organization came into existence, and in due time that organization became very religious and organized Sunday schools, into which the children were gathered and instructed in some things. A well-known authority concerning the history of Sunday school appears in the following language: “In the teaching of Sunday-schools, it is not difficult to determine, from the history of the times, who was probably more instrumental than any other man in establishing and diffusing the system of gratuitous [free, unhired] instruction in those schools. It was the Reverend John Wesley, who, for more than thirty years prior to the first Sunday school of Raikes, had been in the habit of assembling children in various parts of England for the purpose of religious instruction. It was he who, having recorded in his journal, July 18, 1784, that he found Sunday schools springing up wherever he went, also recorded these . . . words: ‘. . . Who knows but some of these schools may become nurseries for Christians?’ ”

    5 It was in the “Elijah period” of the church that another devoted servant of the Lord wrote the following concerning the Sunday schools, and that publication appeared fourteen years before the coming of the Lord to the temple in 1918, and which words are, to wit: “It [the first Sunday school] began as a ‘ragged school’ in Gloucester, England, in 1781, A.D. Robert Raikes, editor of the Gloucester Journal, a Christian man, employed four Christian women to teach the children of from ten to fourteen years of age reading, writing, sewing, etc., from 10 A.M. until noon every Sunday; and on Sunday afternoon to teach them the catechism and take them to church. From that small beginning the great Sunday-School work of the present time has developed.”—Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 6, page 547.

    6 It was about the year 1878 that the “Elijah work” began, in which God’s consecrated people had a part. It was in that period of time that the Lord was doing the work of preparing the way in advance of his coming to the temple in 1918. During that period of time Jehovah was taking out a people for his name. Such people were taken out from the various nations, and the Lord was preparing them for future service of being his witnesses in the earth to others. During that period of time Sunday schools were not had and maintained amongst Jehovah’s consecrated and devoted people. There was no effort made for the separate instruction in the Scriptures of the children of the consecrated or unconsecrated, but, on the contrary, such separate classes for the instruction of the children in the Bible was not approved. That position was taken not so much on Scriptural grounds as upon social and domestic grounds. Volume Six (published 1904), of Studies in the Scriptures, pages 544 to 547, discussing this matter, among other things, says: “ (1) The Sunday Schools have been injurious to Christian parents, in that they have led them to consider themselves relieved of the parental responsibility placed upon them by the Lord. ... (2) The Sunday-School is a decided disadvantage to the children of Christian parents, because they do not get from the Sunday-School teachers the kind of instruction which the intelligent and conscientious parent could and should give. (3) The Sunday-School arrangement is reacting disadvantageously upon both parent and child from another standpoint: it is causing the children to lose respect for their parents, and is cultivating thus a lack of parental dignity on the one hand, and of filial reverence on the other.”

    7 The Watchtower, however, did (and somewhat inconsistently with the foregoing) recognize Sunday schools, in this, that for a number of years each issue of The Watchtower contained comments on the International Sunday School Lessons, which were regularly chosen by religionists. Even after 1918, on the editorial page of The Watchtower there appeared these words: “Our treatment of the International Sunday School Lessons is specially for the older Bible students and teachers. By some this feature is considered indispensable.”

    8 It was hoped that in this manner The Watchtower would find its way into classrooms and Sunday schools of religionists and thereby the truth would be presented and the religionists would be made acquainted therewith and some of them would accept it. In 1927 it was seen to be the Lord’s will to discontinue treatment of the International Sunday School Lessons in The Watchtower, and that was done.

    9 It must be said here that the holding of Sunday schools by the companies of the Lord’s people has served to segregate or separate the younger from the older ones, and the children from the parents, affecting both. It has kept back capable ones from going into the field service at proper times, and they have excused themselves by putting in the time teaching children, thus resulting in numerous cases of slacking the hand by such would-be children’s instructors. Not only have such slackers seized the excuse to put the teaching of the children above their definite commission to go from house to house in the witness work, but even service committees and others have divided their attention with the instruction of children, and hence to that extent turned aside from a full and undivided, concentrated effort in bearing testimony in obedience to God’s commandment.

    10 Progressing in the study of God’s Word, the anointed have recently been blessed with the information received at Jehovah’s hand that the time for the incoming of the great multitude is here and that therefore there are millions of persons on earth who, now taking their stand on the side of God and his kingdom, may never die. Since Jehovah has been pleased to reveal to his people the meaning of his prophecies uttered by Ezekiel with reference to the marking of the people of good will in the forehead, and that those obedient ones may be spared slaughter at Armageddon, it has seemed good and very appropriate to many of the anointed that such class study for the younger children should be set up, that is to say, Sunday schools, and that the children should be taught separately, while the grown-ups are having their study in a separate hall or while the publishers are out in the field going from door to door with the kingdom message. The argument advanced by those in favor of and who advocate such separate Sunday-school class for the children is in substance this, to wit: It furnishes instruction for the youth while their elders are occupied in the field witness work; it provides public instruction in such a form within the grasp of the children; it educates them in things pertaining to God’s Word and his kingdom, and prepares them to be of the millions on earth who will never die; it equips the children for the field service; it keeps little children away from worldly things; therefore the children of the unconsecrated should also be invited to these separate meetings and instruction given to them, to the end that they might interest their parents; and, the children enjoying such separate meetings and studies, the elders should make provision for such, whether the children be of the consecrated or not. A further argument in favor of the Sunday school, or junior classes, is often advanced that, if Jehovah’s witnesses give time and attention to the people of the world by carrying the message of the kingdom to the Jonadabs or prospective “great multitude ’’, then certainly provision should be made for the children of the consecrated and others who might be pleased to meet together with them; that such instruction, being given by some competent person of the anointed company as leader, is a form of witnessing and is on a par with holding a series of sound-machine discourses and studies in the homes of the people newly interested. Again, it is said by others: “ The little ones are heartbroken that they do not have an opportunity of meeting together in a separate study class.” All of those arguments are persuasive, but are they Scriptural ?

    11 Against the foregoing arguments in favor of Sunday schools are these: That the Sunday school or separate class study for children separates the younger from the elder ones, and the children fail to see and learn exactly the course of action their elders are taking. It has held back capable ones of the anointed from active field service of going from door to door at convenient times. It has furnished an excuse for those who teach the children or junior classes to omit field service, as they claim, in order to make preparation for the children’s studies, and has therefore, without a question of doubt, resulted in producing an excuse for some to slack their hands; and the would-be instructors of children have seized upon this as an excuse for their failure to engage in the door-to-door witness work. Even service committees have given much attention to this separate Sunday-school work and to that extent have neglected to give their undivided attention to the field work as the Lord has commanded they should do.

    COMMISSION

    12 The anointed must not permit human reasoning or kindly sentiments to interfere with the performance of their God-given commission. Such commission is specifically set forth by Jehovah’s prophet and makes clear the duty of the anointed. (Isa. 61:1,2; 43: 8-12) That the education of the children in the Bible is good and wholesome, and is commanded by the Lord to be given, is true beyond controversy. But the question is, Whose duty is it to instruct or teach them ? and under what conditions is such instruction to be given? Has Jehovah God laid the obligation upon his consecrated and anointed people to segregate the children of the consecrated and of the unconsecrated from their parents or other grown-ups and to provide for them special instruction at specific times ? Should each company, acting by and through its servants, provide for such children’s separate study, and appoint someone of the anointed to lead such study class for the children ? Or should the individual witnesses, anointed by Jehovah for the purpose of bearing testimony before others, take it upon themselves to set up or establish a separate study class for children? The correct answer to these questions will be found in the Scriptures; and any answer that is not fully supported by the Scriptures must be wrong.

    13 Jehovah has definitely stated his commission granted to his anointed witnesses, to wit: “Ye are my witnesses . . . that I am God”; that these are ‘anointed to preach the good news to the meek [teachable]; to bind up the brokenhearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the prisons to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of Jehovah and the day of vengeance of our God, and to comfort all that mourn’. There is nothing in that commission which commands separate class studies for the children, usually called “Sunday schools”. It is true that this is “the day of Jehovah”, when the antitypical feast of tabernacles is being celebrated and when the Lord is gathering to himself his “other sheep”; but the divine commission says nothing about providing special study classes for the children of the consecrated or unconsecrated to accomplish Jehovah’s purpose. Some will advance the argument that there is nothing in the terms of the commission that is against such separate Sunday-school studies. The soundness or unsoundness of that argument must be measured by the words of the commission and other scriptures that relate to the preaching of this gospel of the kingdom to the nations.

    14 Some proponents of the Sunday school for children cite the words of Jesus as fully sustaining their argument and position, to wit: “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven.”—Matt. 19:14, A.R.V.; Mark 10:13,14.

    15 The American Revised Version of the last-cited text and context is as follows: “And they were bringing unto him little children, that he should touch them: and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not; for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein. And he took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.”— Mark 10:13-16.

    16 The circumstances under which the words of the Lord were uttered were these: The people were bringing their children to Jesus, and his disciples sought to interfere with the children’s being presented to the Lord, and in that they were wrong. Therefore Jesus said: “Suffer [that is, permit] the little children to come unto me; ... for to such belongeth the kingdom of God.” Plainly his meaning is that the kingdom is for those who seek him and that it is necessary to seek him with full and complete confidence in order to receive the blessings of the kingdom. He did not say that those who enter into the kingdom must become children, but that they must seek him and serve him with full and complete confidence, even as a child looks upon and accepts one whom the child loves. Let it be noted that Jesus did not state that a Sunday school should be set up, nor did he instruct his disciples or others to form separate class studies for the children. ‘He laid his hand upon them, and blessed them.’ He did not say: “The kingdom of heaven is for little children”; but he did say that the kingdom of heaven is for those who come unto him. Thus the Lord showed his purpose to bless all who diligently and confidently seek and obey him. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb. 11:6) The displeasure expressed by Jesus because his disciples were interfering was because they were holding back the parents from bringing their children to Jesus. But that displeasure was not because of their failure to set up a Sunday-school class for the children. Jesus knew the law of God, and he knew of his own commission from Jehovah, and if that commission would warrant the segregation of minors and a separate study class for them he would have so intimated. He let the children’s instruction remain in its proper place. He did not start something new or substitute something in the place of Jehovah’s expressed provision. As to the anointed followers of Christ Jesus, they must do likewise. They are the commissioned witnesses of the Lord and must follow strictly his instructions.

    17 Satan uses divers and numerous subtle means to divert the attention of mankind and turn men away from the Almighty God. Satan has employed religion more effectively than anything else to turn men away from Jehovah and to bring reproach upon his holy name. Satan organized religion and in due time brought into action what is commonly known as the “Christian religion”. It sounded fairly good to hear the more pious and sanctimonious men setting before the people, in substance, this: “We must organize a special Sunday school for the children and educate them in the way and doctrines of the church.” To be sure, that would be an effective way to keep the children in line with the religious practices and get them into the church organization. The position thus advanced by the clergy was so seductive, subtle and alluring that the people with a good heart fell readily into the trap. Since the organization of Sunday schools the teaching thereof has been left to a few religionists who have sought to lead all children in the way of certain religious organizations, and the children have been taught little or nothing about Jehovah God and his King and his kingdom under Christ. The indisputable fact remains that the Sunday school is a part of the religious system, and to follow in the way that the religionists lead would mean that we are being diverted from the true path marked out by the Lord and led into the path of the enemy. Thus the parents are working an injury to themselves and an injury to the children.

    THE TEACHER

    18 Jehovah God is the great Father of all those who live. He is the great Teacher of those who are of his household: “ Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” (Eph. 3:14,15) Those who love God will be diligent to follow in the way Jehovah has pointed out and will refuse to be guided by human reasoning, however plausible and sweet that reasoning may appear to be. God used Abraham to mark out the proper course. Early after the deluge Jehovah called Abraham and made him the “friend of God”. He used Abraham as a type, picturing God himself as the Father of the seed, in whom all the families of the earth that obey shall be blessed. Abraham was a provider of his own household, and that is shown by the testimony of Jehovah himself. Thus God revealed the proper course and designated the ones who shall teach the children. For the purpose of revealing his rule by which his people shall be properly guided Jehovah caused to be recorded the following: “And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him ? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”—Gen. 18:17-19.

    19 Here Abraham correctly pictured Jehovah, the great Father and the One in which the household of those who love God shall be taught. “Zion” is the name Jehovah gives his organization, which is pictured by a good woman who gives birth to the children of God, and in the foregoing text Jehovah sets forth the proper way that those children should be instructed, and this is supported by the following: ‘‘ And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord ; and great shall be the peace of thy children. ’’—Isa. 54:13.

    20 The children must be taught, and there is a proper time and place to teach them in the Word of God; but it does not appear from the Scriptures that such duty and obligation is laid upon a company of the anointed people of God, for them to arrange a separate class study for children. The responsibility for the birth of children, their maintenance and education, devolves upon the parents. Sunday schools have furnished an excuse for parents to entirely neglect their own duty, and that of itself is sufficient to show that the separate Sunday school for children does not have God’s approval. The faithful father will instruct his children concerning the Lord God and his kingdom, and the child properly trained will honor the earthly parent for so doing. In the Scriptures God refers to himself as the great Father, and to his “woman” as the mother of his children, and which is his organization, and to the children he says : ‘‘ Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Ex. 20:12) That command applies to all the household of God. It also sets forth the proper precedent by which the earthly father and mother of children who are devoted to God are to be guided. They should instruct their children in the right way, that the children may honor and obey them; concerning which it is written: “ Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:1-4) “Children, obey your parents in all [spiritual] things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” (Col. 3:20,21) These texts definitely fix the responsibility upon the parents as to what they shall do for their children. The responsibility is placed upon those who have brought children into the earth to teach them. That responsibility is not placed upon a mixed company of Jehovah’s consecrated people, to provide for the private, intimate and special instruction of children in general. If a company of anointed ones is charged with the responsibility of instructing the minor offspring of others, then surely some precedent or command to that effect should be found in the Scriptures. Mark well the rule of action Jehovah sets forth for the government of his covenant people.

    21 Jehovah had sent Moses into Egypt, there to act in behalf of the Israelites, whom God had chosen for himself. God caused Moses to perform certain signs and wonders before Pharaoh and made it obligatory upon the Israelite parents of children to tell these facts to their children: “And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them: that ye may know how that I am the Lord.” (Ex. 10.-.2) All who are of the household of faith are made witnesses for Jehovah God to bear testimony before their own children. To this rule there is no exception.

    22 In Egypt Jehovah instituted the passover, which in type showed forth the death of Christ Jesus, “The Lamb of God,” the Savior of man and the Vindicator of Jehovah’s name. The passover was celebrated in the private home of each family or of two neighboring families where the members of each household was small. (Ex. 12: 3, 4) At the time of the passover it was made obligatory upon the parents to instruct their children in the meaning of the passover, even as God, through Christ Jesus, instructed his faithful apostles, the children of Jehovah, at the celebration of the last passover. The children would naturally inquire of the parents the meaning of the things that they saw done by the parents on such occasion, and therefore Jehovah commanded, to wit: “And it shall come to pass when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? that ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head, and worshipped.”—Ex. 12:26, 27.

    23 That obligation laid upon the head of each household was to be and is perpetual, thereby showing upon whom the responsibility devolves for informing children. (Ex. 13:8,14) When Jehovah gave instruction to his consecrated people he laid the obligation upon them to inform their children as to the meaning thereof: “That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off; and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.”—Josh. 4: 6,7.

    24 The person who devotes himself to Jehovah God must watch to keep himself in the faith and to prove his integrity toward God, and it is also his duty to look well to the care and instruction (in spiritual matters particularly) of his minor children and to inform them of their proper course of action toward God and his kingdom. At the time the covenant of faithfulness and obedience was announced in Moab by Moses, the obligation of the parents toward their children was again emphasized, to wit: “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. ’’—Deut. 4: 9,10.

    25 God does not change, nor does he nullify his commandments once given to his covenant people. Each one who covenants to do the will of God thereby becomes a witness to the name and purpose of Jehovah God, and such testimony he must give before all as opportunity offers, and surely that opportunity to give testimony before the children of his own household is always with him.

    26 The Devil uses all possible means to cause the parents to neglect their duty to their children, and one of the effective means so used is that of religion. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy, taking the lead in religious matters, acts as the agent and instrument of the Devil. That devilish institution insists on gathering the children into that religious organization, and particularly into parochial schools, and there giving instruction to them contrary to the Bible. The children are instructed in the catechism and doctrines and traditions of the Roman Catholic organization. The purpose of the Hierarchy is to get control over the people, and the purpose of the Devil is to divert the attention of the people from Almighty God and his kingdom. Under the influence of the Devil’s agent, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, which organization is denounced by the Lord as “the great whore’’, the courts of the land are used to punish parents who faithfully teach their children to obey the commandments of Jehovah. An example in point is that of compulsory flag-saluting. Jehovah God specifically commands that those who covenant to do his will shall not bow down to others, nor attribute protection and salvation to any creature or thing, because all protection and salvation come from God alone. (Ex. 20:1-5) God also commands that the parents shall teach their children these vital commandments: “That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee; thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.” “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” “And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.”—Deut. 6:2,7,20,21.

    27 When consecrated parents obey Jehovah and thus teach their children, the religionists, as the Devil’s agents, induce the law-governing power to punish the parent and the children; and this of itself is conclusive proof that God’s commandment is right, and that the religionists are wrong and are following the lead of the Devil.

    28 The children that are properly cared for in the home often inquire of the parents: “What is the meaning of the expulsion of other children from schools because of flag-saluting ceremonies ? ’’ The consecrated parents must give true and faithful answer to such questions propounded by their children, and which answers are set forth in the Scriptures, for the reason that God commands them so to do. They must not leave such matters to would-be teachers, who are wholly ignorant of the Word of God. Concerning this there can be no doubt as to the proper course of the parents, because it is written concerning God’s covenant people: “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates; that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.” (Deut. 11:19-21) Keep this in mind that religionists instituted the Sunday school, and the same religionists are the ones who persecute the truly consecrated children of God because they teach their own offspring the Word of God as he has commanded. The children are therefore properly instructed by the parent to always obey God’s commandment, because he is the Giver of protection, salvation and all the blessings of life.

    29 The children, when properly instructed according to the Scriptures, and who obey the instructions thus delivered by their parents, are in these modern times expelled from school, and then the parents are arrested and persecuted for “failing to send their children to school ’’. Such is an indirect means of forcing both child and parent to disobey the Almighty God’s commandments, and this should only tend to draw parents and children closer together and closer to the Lord God. Those who really love God will not be deterred from doing right and in teaching their children according to the Word of God because of persecution. All who are devoted to Jehovah will, as did the apostles, say: ‘We must obey God rather than men.’ (Acts 5:29) When dutiful parents suffer because of properly teaching their children as commanded by him, then such is suffering for righteousness’ sake, because it is suffering according to the will of God and furnishes the opportunity for both parent and child to maintain their integrity toward the Most High.—1 Pet. 4:12-14.

    30 A parent who is in a covenant to do the will of God must obey God’s will concerning his children, and therefore “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”. (Eph. 6:4) Such is the parental duty and responsibility toward the children, which cannot be avoided. Parents cannot relieve themselves of that responsibility by sending their children to Sunday schools or children’s separate class studies established and maintained and taught by others away from their parents, whether that study class be set up by a company or by individuals. Instruction in the Word of God must be given in the manner which the Lord has directed. By “nurture” is meant training and discipline in order to develop the child and bring it up as God has commanded. By “admonition”, as stated in the foregoing text, is meant counsel, advice, teaching and instruction, and thus to make the child acquainted with the will or commandment and law and purpose of Jehovah. That is the very best heritage that the parent can give to his offspring, and in doing this the parent is discharging his own peculiar responsibility toward the Lord in behalf of his children. There can be no substitute for the parent, and therefore the company of Jehovah’s witnesses, or one individual selected from that company, cannot discharge the parental obligation. An attempt to do so is expending energy and time in the performance of a work that is not embraced within the commission which Jehovah God has given to his anointed people.

    31 If the parent instructs his child, as the Scriptures direct, that parent is most likely to have the joy of seeing his child, when grown up, give honor, praise and glory to Jehovah God and also properly respect and honor his earthly father. Following the Scriptural course is conducive to willing obedience of the child in the home. When the child reaches the age of individual responsibility, then that child becomes personally responsible for his course of action; and if the earthly parent has followed the Lord’s instruction concerning his child, the parent has thereby relieved himself of further responsibility concerning his offspring. Disobedience of children in the home has greatly increased in the latter days, and without doubt much thereof has been and is due to the failure of the parents to instruct their children at home. Leaving their instruction in spiritual matters entirely to some other than the parents induces a lack of respect on the part of the child to the parent. It has become proverbial in these latter days that the children of clergymen are the worst in the land. Without doubt this is largely due to the fact that the religionists have neglected the proper home training of their children and left all instruction concerning the Bible to Sunday-school teachers, who know nothing about the Bible and who have no respect for God and his kingdom and who therefore give no proper instruction, and hence the child suffers. The duty of the parent to teach his child is further emphasized by this scripture written by the apostle of the Lord, to wit: “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)”—1 Tim. 3:4,5.

    32 The earthly father who faithfully brings up his child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord may have the joy of having his child join him in the service of the King by going from door to door and engaging in the witness work of the kingdom by carrying a portable phonograph or sound machine to reproduce the gospel message of the kingdom or by presenting the testimony in printed form to others. It is often true that the children, properly trained, give an effective witness for the kingdom, eliciting interest of others that the parents are unable to interest. The teaching of the youth by the parent, and the result, is shown with reference to Timothy, concerning whom Paul said: “As a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.” (Phil. 2:19-22) The great and important question now before God’s people is the vindication of Jehovah’s name, which is accomplished by and through his kingdom under Christ Jesus. Therefore the kingdom should claim the attention of all who love righteousness. In this hour of great stress upon the world and of persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses, many children make glad the heart of the parent by going into the field service and there actively engaging with their parents in the work of preaching this gospel of the kingdom. If the parents fail to spend time and effort in the proper instruction of the children and in the encouragement of children to support the kingdom of God, the parent thus misses a great opportunity of doing what is his privilege and duty in maintaining his own integrity toward God. The anointed should keep in mind that their commission is not to convert the world, but to bear testimony before the people of the world, informing them that Jehovah is God, and that his kingdom is the only hope of the world. Charity or love properly begins at home toward those who are of a household, and this specifically applies to the relationship between parent and child.

    33 Suppose the father of the child is an unbeliever and is opposed to this gospel of the kingdom, and that the wife and mother of his child is a believer and servant of the Lord, what shall be done about the instruction of the child? Shall the mother undertake the child’s instruction under such conditions? The duty devolves upon the believing parent to instruct the child or children of the household, and if the mother is devoted to God she cannot escape responsibility upon the grounds that the father of the child is opposed to the kingdom. She should find time and occasion to instruct the child or children concerning God, the King and his kingdom. A striking example of this, and a precedent for us to follow, is found in Timothy, whose service and activity in the kingdom work is preserved in the Scriptures, manifestly to bring this question properly before us. Timothy’s father was a Greek, and there is no evidence that he had ever believed on the Lord. (Acts 16:3) But Timothy’s mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois assumed the responsibility of teaching Timothy and faithfully performed their obligation, as shown by the words of the apostle addressed to Timothy: “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” (2 Tim. 1:5) That the faithful mother and grandmother taught the child is shown by these words recorded in the Scriptures: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”—2 Tim. 3:14,15.

    34 It is certain that those faithful women, the mother and grandmother, in teaching the child Timothy, did not use baby talk, nor did they resort to some so-called “primer instruction” written about the Bible, such as would-be teachers do in the present dry. They instructed the lad out of the inspired Holy Scriptures and showed him the law and the prophets, testifying concerning Jesus Christ and his kingdom. Their faithful work resulted in splendid spiritual fruit. Timothy was quite a young man when Paul chose him as an assistant in the Lord’s work. (Acts 16:1-3) Sending him forth to the service, Paul said to Timothy: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers.” (1 Tim. 4:12) The training of that faithful young servant was no doubt due to the efforts put forth by his consecrated mother and grandmother in line with this scripture: “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his anger shall fail. ” (Prov. 22:6,15,8) It is a well-known fact today that many young men who have received proper parental training in the Scriptures are actively engaged in the King’s service, working together with their parents.

    35 The Scriptures make it clearly to appear that a company of Jehovah’s witnesses should not feel obligated to discharge the parental duty and responsibility toward the young children by setting up separate study classes for them. God has laid upon the company of Jehovah’s witnesses specific obligations, which each company as a unit is duty-bound to perform, and therefore the company and individual members thereof who take time and energy to step aside to give instruction which should be given by parents are to that extent negligent in the performance of the terms of their commission. The parent who has covenanted to serve God cannot shirk the responsibility of teaching his child by pushing that responsibility off onto the company or individuals of the company of God’s consecrated people. All the scriptures support that conclusion.

    36 But what shall be done for the children of the consecrated who desire instruction and who do not receive it at home? What shall be done for children of the unconsecrated who have a yearning desire to learn the truth of God’s Word? Shall these children be neglected or denied the opportunity because of negligence of their parents ? Should not a Sunday school or junior Bible study class be arranged for such by the members of the anointed company?

    (See next issue of The Watchtower)

    QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

    1-3. Those who love and serve Jehovah will use what as their guide? With scriptures, show why. Why should the matter here under consideration receive careful attention at this time?

    4,5. Point out the origin, purpose and use of Sunday schools.

    6-9. When was the “Elijah work” done, and of what did

    it consist? Were Sunday schools maintained during that time, and for what reasons? Why, later, did The Watchtower carry comments on the International Sunday School Lessons? When thereafter, and for what reasons, were these discontinued?

    10,11. Describe the situation giving rise to the question of setting up separate study classes for the younger children. What, in substance, are the arguments advanced by those in favor of providing such separate study classes? What are the arguments against it?

    12. In considering this matter, what definite questions call for answer? Where will the correct answer to these questions be found, and why there?

    13. What light on this matter is seen in the definitely stated commission granted by Jehovah to ids anointed?

    14-16. Describe circumstances under which Jesus spoke as recorded at Matthew 19: 14 and Mark 10: 13,14. What did Jesus there mean?

    17. How has religion served the purpose for which it was organized? How is the Sunday school related thereto?

    18,19. What instruction hereon is seen in Jehovah’s dealing with Abraham, and the statement concerning him as recorded at Genesis 18: 17-19? Compare therewith Isaiah 54: 13.

    20. Show that both circumstances and scriptures definitely lay upon the parents the responsibility for the care and instruction of the children concerning God and his kingdom.

    21-25. Apply Exodus 10:2 in this regard. Exodus 12:3,4 and 12: 26, 27. Joshua 4: 6, 7. Deuteronomy 4: 9,10. How do we know that the foregoing commandments apply at the present time?

    26, 27. What means has the Devil used to cause parents to neglect their duty to their children? Give examples of methods employed for that purpose. Compare the commandments at Exodus 20: 1-5 and Deuteronomy 6: 2, 7, 20, 21 with the usual attitude and conduct of parents and children and of religionists, to show whether the Devil has succeeded in diverting the attention of the people from the Almighty God and his kingdom.

    28, 29. What present conditions particularly call for proper instruction of the children? What light on this matter, as to where this instruction should be given, and by whom, is seen in Deuteronomy 11: 19-21? What especially should the children be taught, and why should that be so strongly emphasized? What may be expected to result from such proper teaching?

    30. Explain the commandment, at Ephesians 6: 4, ‘‘Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” To whom is it addressed, and why are they so commanded?

    31, 32. What further favorable results may be seen to follow the earthly father’s instructing his child as the Scriptures direct? Account for the greatly increased disobedience of children in these latter days. Apply 1 Timothy 3: 4, 5 in this regard. Also Philippians 2: 19-22.

    33, 34. Suppose the father is an unbeliever and is opposed to this gospel of the kingdom, what shall be done about the instruction of the child? Show from the Scriptures that such is clearly the correct procedure and brings the manifest blessing of the Lord.

    35. What, then, do the Scriptures clearly show as to responsibility in the matter of instruction of the children?

    36. What further questions here call for consideration?

    “FIRE”

    JEHOVAH having given command to the remnant of his anointed ones on earth to participate with him and his King in his strange work, he provides the ways and means to carry out his commandments. Therefore, as shown by the picture in Ezekiel’s prophecy (chapter 10), the remnant (the man clothed in linen) goes in between the wheels, that is to say, into a part of God’s organization which is likened unto ‘wheels within wheels’ (Ezek. 1:16), and there receives the message of fiery truth served to him by Jehovah’s officer, and then goes out and uses it. This “fire” is not provided by men. Jehovah’s executive officer provides such and puts it into the hands of God’s people on earth; and this Ezekiel saw and thus describes:

    ‘The cherub took fire and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen. ’—Ezek. 10:7.

    Be it noted that the man clothed with linen took it, and did not refuse or neglect to take and use it. He went out and used it. That shows that all of the “servant” class must actively engage in doing the work of Jehovah in obedience to his commandments. The “servant” or remnant has been doing this very work, particularly since 1922, by going from house to house with the message of truth. Part of the remnant is employed in manufacturing and publishing the books and other publications containing the fiery message; and thus they all work as one. To those who have been faithful in so doing, Jehovah now shows the meaning of the prophetic vision; and this he does for their encouragement and comfort, that they may be strong in hope, knowing that they are going the right way. Manifestly that is the very purpose of Jehovah in now opening up the prophecies to the understanding of his people. (Rom. 15:4) The “servant” class, being thus made strong in hope, give glory to God, and not to man, and they march confidently on to victory.—Rom. 4:20,21.

    It was written that, after the terrible destruction of life in the ancient city of Jerusalem, fire was set to the city, and it was completely destroyed. (2 Ki. 25:9) Ezekiel had a vision of a man taking the coals of fire and scattering them over the city, which actually was fulfilled in the destruction of the city in the year 606 B.C. The larger fulfillment of the prophecy will be a complete destruction of the “city”, to wit, “Christendom,” foreshadowed by Jerusalem. The remnant now has part in that destruction, in this, that the fiery message of God’s righteous indignation is heralded by them to the rulers and to the people, exposing and bringing into shame and contempt hypocritical religionists, and announcing that Jehovah will surely bring “Christendom” completely down in a heap of ashes.

    As these faithful witnesses go out and do the work they are commanded to do, they sing the praises of Jehovah, ‘proclaiming his doings among the people,’ and at the same time, in harmony with God’s Word, utter a prayer which God caused his prophet David to write for them long ago, to wit:

    “Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves. Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again. Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth.”—Ps. 140:8,10,11.

    In harmony with this the words of the chief musician of God’s covenant people are written: “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.”—Ps. 18: 6-13.

    God permits his anointed people to now see the beautiful harmony between the prophecies and the prayer of his anointed, and he does this for their encouragement while they tramp from door to door bearing his message to those who have the hearing ear. They go with sore feet and tired bodies, yet with joyful hearts, because they know they are right in doing that which Jehovah has commanded; and they are absolutely certain as to what the result will be, because Jehovah has declared it.

    Ezekiel’s vision of the man in linen doing his work foreshadows that Satan’s organization will be destroyed at Armageddon, not by outraged labor, socialists, or anarchists, but by the righteous organization of Jehovah God. It is the righteous judgment of God executed by his duly commissioned officers, and he gives the remnant the part of announcing this judgment before it falls. The man in linen, appearing to Ezekiel in the vision, did not destroy Jerusalem, but the Lord employed other forces to destroy it. Neither does the remnant, whom the vision foretells, destroy “Christendom”; but the activities of the remnant, bearing to the people the message of God’s vengeance, are a sure and certain advance sign of the coming destruction of Satan’s organization by the executive officers of Jehovah God. Such will be a vindication of the name of the Most High.

    In preparing for the battle of the great day of God Almighty, Jehovah is using the “hand” or power of human creatures constituting his “servant” on earth.

    Not that he needs such; but God will prove thereby, as well as in other ways, that he can put men on earth who by his grace will withstand the enticements and assaults of the Devil, and who will remain true and steadfast unto God and maintain their integrity toward God. This is indicated by the appearance, under the wings of the cherubim, of the form of a man’s hand: “And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings.” (Ezek. 10:8) The vision then declares that all the cherubim were alike. “And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river Chebar [as described in chapter one], their appearances and themselves; they went every one straight forward.” (Ezek. 10:9-22) The vision shows every part of God’s organization as working smoothly and in exact harmony. The form of a man’s hand under the wings of the cherubim seems to say that God has used the hand of human creatures to bear the coals of God’s fiery indignation which Jehovah will use.

    Wherever his “servant” class is engaged in his work, regardless of place or condition Jehovah provides the work to be done. This means that every one who loves Jehovah will be in full and complete harmony and unity, and always magnifying the name of Jehovah God and working together to his glory, This part of the prophecy is a strong rebuke to any company of persons who claim to be followers of Christ Jesus, and in line for the kingdom, who indulge in bickering and quarreling. Jehovah advises those who are really his as to what they must do when there are others among them who oppose. They are not to retaliate. They are to let them alone, and go on with the work that the Lord has assigned to them. (Rom. 16:17,18) Harmonious action in carrying out God’s purposes through his organization is one of the strong evidences that those engaged in it are God’s anointed people. These delight to proclaim his praises and the greatness of his name.

    Hypocritical clergymen and the chief rulers of the people, and the principal of the religious flock of “Christendom”, who are wise in their own conceits, and who employ religion as the shield or blind behind which to operate, are shown in that part of Ezekiel’s vision recorded at chapter eleven. Their fate is also foretold. This being true, then the message of God’s indignation must also be told to them. This message of truth must be delivered by some part of God’s organization, and particularly by that part which Ezekiel foreshadowed. The spirit or power of Jehovah lifted up Ezekiel and brought him to the east gate of the temple and gave him a vision:

    “Moreover, the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the Lord’s house, which looketh eastward: and, behold, at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.” (Ezek, 11:1) The men there observed seem to be the same self-conceited crowd described in Ezekiel 8:16. They are the princes of the people, showing that they are the ones who have control and exercise it over the people. This same crowd was seen (chapter 8) standing with their backs to the temple, worshiping the sun. Some of these men, doubtless, at one time assumed to be priests or clergymen, but quit it and went to work at a political job of ruling the people. They and their wicked allies go into the temple together, as shown by this picture. In other words, they assumed to be God’s favorites and in the house of Jehovah to run his business.

    In the city of New York there is now a so-called “ Christian ’’ church building, which was erected by a few ultrarich men, and the congregation in which is presided over by a modern preacher of the higher- critic type, and at which place philosophers, scientists, women, and other creatures are honored and the Word of Jehovah God and his name are ignored. These men scoff at the kingdom of God and the impending battle of that great day of God Almighty, even as the ‘‘ wiseacres” scoffed at Jeremiah’s prediction of the impending catastrophe at Jerusalem. (Jer. 23:16,17) The church organization just described is a sample of many like ones in other parts of “Christendom”. These exalt themselves and assume that they have the power and ability to direct men and lift them up and to run the earth to suit their own notions. Such pose before the people as doing a work in the name of the Lord, but, in fact, they are “workers of iniquity” and instruments of reproach to the name of Jehovah God.

    …