Sounds like Woodsworth to me.
The Most Insane Thing Ever Printed by the Watchtower?
by Leolaia 101 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Leolaia
I could not abide reading the entire article, but is it basically saying - (from what I did read) - that Uncle Tom's Cabin was the cause of the Civil War?
Madame Quixote...Yeah, but its much more than that....the article states that Satan used Mrs. Stowe to write the book in order to start the conflict, and that abolitionism was a plot by Satan to disrupt the Union and its institutions. Satan was even a matchmaker, effecting Mr. and Mrs. Stowe's union in marriage....evidently part of his nefarious scheme to get Mrs. Stowe involved in spiritism in order to write that book. As far as the institution of slavery was concerned, the author claims that conditions were nowhere as bad as Mrs. Stowe described in her book which the article derides as a mere "hysterical outcry against the institution". I think the author would rather have slavery still in place in his day, as he saw the work of the abolitionists as of the Devil. All of that is silly enough. But then to go into a Satan vs. Jehovah version of American history, well, only Mr. Stephen Colbert or The Onion could do it better. Such fine spiritual food provided by the anointed, dispensed by the Society.
Yeah the racism ("Spaniards and other backwards races") is awful as the misogyny, such as in: "Satan has at intervals thrust upon the world during the centuries following works claiming divine origin. A good modern example is Mrs. Eddy's "Science and Health, with Key to the Scripture". Not a single book of the Bible was written by a woman".
franzy....The byline is J. L. Bolling. I have no other information about him. Clayton Woodworth was the editor, so he must have agreed with the article enough to publish it without a disclaimer.
snowbird....I think it probably isn't a coincidence since the Society razed Henry Ward Beecher's home at 124 Columbia Heights earlier that same year (cf. the article on this in the 2/1/1927 issue of the New York Times). The Society took a lot of flak in the community for destroying such a historic site. So an article criticizing the Beechers would not surprise me. Since abolitionism was here regarded as the work of the Devil, I wonder if some like Woodworth thought that razing the building was ridding Bethel of impure influences?
Great comments everyone, keep it up!
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badboy
A MESSAGE TO BETHEL LURKERS,WE KNOW YOU ARE OUT THERE.
DO YOU FEEL PROUD THAT YOU BELONG TO AN ORGANISATION THAT PUBLISHES SUCH RUBBISH?
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snowbird
A MESSAGE TO BETHEL LURKERS,WE KNOW YOU ARE OUT THERE.
DO YOU FEEL PROUD THAT YOU BELONG TO AN ORGANISATION THAT PUBLISHES SUCH RUBBISH?
Tell the story, morning glory!
Sylvia
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VM44
J. L. Bolling?
Never heard of him.
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greendawn
Obviously at the time the WTS was not against all and any political authority as being from satan as is their current position, I suppose back then a JW could be a politician without getting DFed. They later assumed a totally negative attitude towards all political institutions, but when?
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Narkissos
Gopher, thanks for the explanation.
I guess to many people, including JWs, criticising an existing government/institution sounds more "political" than upholding it (absurd as this distinction ultimately is in a democratic setting).
However, greendawn is probably right. I just had a quick look at the Proclaimers book and it points to November, 1939 as the earliest example of unambiguous "neutrality" by the WTS. That leaves most of the Rutherford era in the oh so convenient "times of ignorance". Of course the average JW doesn't realise that the WT was officially far from politically "neutral" during its first 60 years of existence (during which it was nonetheless "chosen" and "guided" by Jehovah and Jesus themselves).
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Leolaia
The statements about God bestowing divine favor on America are strikingly similar to statements published in May and June 1918 issues of the Watchtower. We have also recently discussed the issue of Rutherford's involvement in American politics, such as the Bonus Army affair and getting JWs to lobby in support of H. R. 7986, a bill which was under consideration in Congress in 1934. This statement from the Golden Age attests to the lobbying efforts of the JWs:
*** g34 3/28 p. 397 Free Radio Essential to People's Liberties ***
The petition circulated by Jehovah's witnesses and others, calling upon Congress to safeguard the right of the people to hear over the radio whatsoever they wish to hear, received a wide response. It manifested that the people want to have the truth told. The clergy, to shield themselves in their inconsistent position before the people, not only have sought to misrepresent and oppose Judge Rutherford, but have also misrepresented the petition which was signed by nearly two and a half million persons.... Petition or no petition, this is the issue, and it is up to Congress to take appropriate action. Bill H.R. 7986, now before the Congress for consideration, meets the needs of the case exactly, and if passed, will prevent further interference with the free use of the radio or unjust discrimination against some and in favor of other broadcasters.
A later article by Rutherford on a similar subject expressed strong populist sentiment:
*** g38 11/16 p. 17-19 Counsel by J. F. RUTHERFORD ***
Knowing the facts which I do and failing to speak of them, I would be a traitor to the American people and an unfaithful servant of the Lord. My purpose in calling attention to the derelictions of the Catholic organization is this: that the people may get their eyes open to the fact that their liberties are at stake, and not only that, but, following in the course that the Hierarchy is leading them, they are headed for certain destruction. If the Catholic Hierarchy had real faith in their doctrines and the course they are pursuing, they would have no hesitancy in defending the same. The radio is a God-given means of reaching the people, because no man ever invented radio. The radio should be used to inform the people. For ten years past I have used on an average 240 radio stations a year at least once every week to put forth publically the plain teachings of Jesus and His apostles. In the last two years I have particularly called attention to the fact that religion is a snare and a racket and that the people are being deceived. I deem it my duty both to man and God to do this thing because I know every interest of the human race is at stake and the fundamental principles of the American government which have been held dear to the American citizens so long are in jeopardy and it now seems a certainty that the people are going to lose their liberties.
This leaves the question of Rutherford's characterization of "Satan's organization," which today in JW thought includes all worldly governements and governmental institutions. Rutherford had an ally in Rep. Louis T. McFadden (R - Pennsylvania), and Arthur R. Goux in his testimony before Congress was deliberately evasive in his answers on who exactly in government have joined hands together with Big Business and "big churchmen" in the Devil's organization. So I wonder if the concept was very coherent at all.
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Dead Man Joaquin
Every word printed in the Revelation and Isaiah books. Totally WT-centric insanity. Although my favorite line has to be from an article I remember on masturbation back in the early-mid-80s (probably 1984, if memory serves). Seems like they had several articles on the subject right around that time. Regarding whether it was really a serious sin or not, it reasoned - I swear I am not making this up (but then again I was just a wee lad so my recollection may not be perfect): "Would you masturbate in front of the congregation?" How in the hell do you even begin to reply to such an asinine question?
BTW, ten bucks to whoever can find the article first ;)
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snowbird
Speaking of strong populist sentiment, wasn't Rutherford active in William Jennings Bryan's bid for the Presidency in 1896?
Bryan ran on the Populist Party ticket and was known as The Great Commoner because of his advocacy on the behalf of Southern and Midwestern farmers.
Rutherford's rhetoric and bombastic oratory style are uncannily similar to Bryan's. There is so much to be unearthed on the WTS. No wonder they are running scared.
Sylvia