1947 =Australian Witnesses forced apology for involvement in World War 2!!!

by Witness 007 10 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  Witness 007

  Australia Bethel in the 1940's was making big money! They used "bethelites" to run 2 bakeries, a saw mill, 20 "kingdom" farms and an engineering company. Bethel arranged to wash SOLDIERS uniforms at their laundry??? And fed them at the canteen, and produced instruments of war...{Watch 1947 June 1st P.173} Even though brothers went to jail for refusing to put a uniform on??? Yearbook 1983 p.64 says Rutherford's visit was to examine some complaints about the commercial activities of the Australia Branch...he was satisfied that this did not harm the preaching and COMMENDED the brothers..." Many left the "TRUTH."

  1947 Brother Knorr came over to sort out Rutherfords mess!! He made the Australian Brothers Apologize for this mess!!!! That was caused by HIS Branch servant and former President??? WHAT???

  {Page 97} KNORR "We desire in the presence of Jehovah to confess that we during the war ...violated our neutrality...put properties at use for the war effort...we do not wish to shift the blame on any ones, or one. {Rutherford and the Branch servant}...we confess and ask forgiveness.."
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  wha happened?

  nothing like living in a house with schizophrenic parents.
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  Broken Promises

  Any work the JWs may have done wasn't appreciated by the Aust Govt.

  The Aussie JWs used to have a radio channel that had a transmission tower on the Sydney coastline. During WW2, possibly in 1943 when the JWs were banned in Australia, the authorities made the JWs take down the tower because they were afraid the JWs might have been transmitting secret codes to the enemy (ie Nazi Germany).

  This info is important to me because my mother and grandmother were JWs during the 1943 ban. They had policemen come through their house looking for literature. So while my family were in danger of being arrested for being JWs, the Australian branch were working hand in hand with the Aust Govt!
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  moshe

  Rutherford's visit was to examine some complaints ...he was satisfied that this did not harm the preaching and COMMENDED the brothers.

  Rutherford probably got a case of fine booze from the Australian branch- paid for from their profits.
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  wha happened?

  bingo Moshe
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  Band on the Run

  The hypocrisy never fails to shock me. Purity of doctrine or personal quality of life and faith are never concerns. The only concern is the preaching work. I am shocked that the Witnesses were banned during WWII. My mom told me the FBI came callling. I don't know that anyone was arrested besides the draft resisters. She despised Hoover. Part of me would be glad if Hoover caused grief to Bethel but I could see from her facial expressions what the FBi grilling did to ordinary Witnesses.

  Where they banned in England?

  I am an American, raised on the East Coast, so all I know is Boston, NY, PHilly, D.C.
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  snare&racket

  I was blown away by the German yearbook that supported the Nazis in the late 30's. The society published an apology in the 90's because if statements they made about Jews. No wonder the Aussies were worried...
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  steve2

  The average present-day Aussie JW wouldn't give a toss about these historically damning facts, although the occasional disoriented dingo might give a sideways glance of embarrassment.
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  Witness 007

  It's hard to believe Rutherford approved all this!! He was happy thr money was rolling in, even though brothers were leaving the "truth" over this.
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  Band on the Run

  I wish someone would post the YB material for the Nazis. It is separate from the letters Rutherford wrote to Hitler.