The Watchtower, August 15, 1950
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"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
AUGUST 15, 1950
Semimonthly
“THE INCREASE OF
HIS GOVERNMENT”
ANSWERING THE FOES OF
HIS GOVERNMENT
RESOLUTION
NAME AND PURPOSE OF
“THE WATCHTOWER”
MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS
RADIO WBBR PREACHES THE WORD
©WTB&TS
“YOU ARE MY WITNESSES,” SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12 THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases.—Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself. Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNORR, President GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
"The Increase of His Government" 243
Extending Its Sway Despite Opposition 245
Answering the Foes of His Government 249
Published Record Speaks for Itself 253
Resolution 257
Name and Purpose of The Watchtower 260
Best-Seller Least Read? 264
Mary, the Mother of Jesus 265
Radio Station WBBR Preaches the Word 268
Questions from Readers 271
Experiences in Announcing
Jehovah's Kingdom 272
"Stick to Your Work" 272
Report of International Assembly
of Jehovah's Witnesses 272
Watchtower Studies 272
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"THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT"
"Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom."—Isa. 9:7.
EHOVAH God is now crowning his glorious purpose with success. At the very time that mankind came into need because of the invasion of selfishness, error and death, Jehovah made it his purpose to set up a righteous government over the whole earth for mankind's deliverance. The setting up of such a government is his right. It is, in fact, his responsibility, and he has not failed that responsibility. "For there is no authority except from God." (Rom. 13:1, Rev. Stan. Ver.) Because it is a government from him and is his means for ruling his creatures on earth it is called a "Theocracy", for that name means God's dominion or rule. His government in the heavens is now born and is ready to take over earth's rule, regardless of the combined opposition of men who fight against God. Earth and the people's way of existence are soon due for a wonderful transformation. This denotes a new world of God's creation.
2 Jehovah's heart is glad for this time. Yes, the heart of everyone is glad if he is acquainted with Jehovah's grand purpose and sees where we are in its successful development. Nineteen centuries have now
passed since his dear Son Jesus Christ died sacrificially, was raised from the dead, and ascended to heaven, there to sit at his Father's right hand until the time should come for all his enemies in heaven and in earth to be made his footstool, laid low in defeat. Meantime his enemies were let rule the earth without interruption from heaven, and that period Jesus called the "times of the Gentiles". (Luke 21:24) Thirty-six years ago, in 1914, the terminus of that long period of time was reached. All the calamities and disturbances that have befallen the Gentiles or nations since 1914, all the woes in concentrated measure that have come upon the groaning peoples, all the fruitless attempts of politics, commerce and organized religion to better or remedy conditions, the worsening of conditions and the rising fears of rulers and peoples, all these are a sign. Of its meaning we need not be in doubt. Jesus Christ explained it for us in his final days on earth. The sign shows that the Gentile times ended in 1914, with World War I as a marker. The beginning of sorrows which came in that year gave painful notification to this old world that it had now entered its "time of the end". It was the beginning of the end for it. (Matt. 24:7,8; Dan. 11:40; 12:4) Yes, but it also notified us that the Theocratic government of a new and upright world, the promised kingdom of God by his Son Jesus Christ, had been born in the heavens.
Why should not God and Christ be glad? Why should not all lovers of God and of a New World government bringing righteousness, peace and life be glad? We are!
Over nineteen centuries ago God's Ruler for this government was born as a human child, as the Messianic "Son of David". He had come to earth to prove his right to the Government. Now after this long period of waiting for God's due time, the Theocratic government has been born, and the authority and responsibility for carrying it on has been laid upon the shoulder of the installed King, Jesus Christ. Eight centuries before Christ's birth Isaiah's prophecy foretold it and told of his taking up the Government, in these cheering words: "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this."—Isa. 9:6,7,Am. Stan. Ver.
4 The birth of the royal Son of God had its witnesses: Not only God's angels, who rejoiced over it with the words, "Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will," but also hard-working men, the shepherds who heard the angel's announcement and went to Bethlehem, King David's city, to verify it. (Luke 2:8-20, Douay) But none of the tradition-bound priests and Levites at the temple in
Jerusalem were witnesses, although they showed the evil-designing King Herod the prophecy of where the child was to be born. (Matt. 2:1-16) Important as was the Son's birth, the birth of God's kingdom by his Son is of far greater importance. Hence it, too, deserves to have its witnesses on earth. More than that, it must have its witnesses on earth, in order to fulfill Jesus' own prophecy concerning the end of this world: "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14) Whom has God raised up to be his witnesses concerning the Kingdom, The Theocracy established in 1914? The lowly followers of Jesus Christ for whom he spoke those words of prophetic command. They correspond with the honest men and women at the time Jesus was born, the God-fearing shepherds, the aged Simeon, the prophetess Anna, and faithful Elizabeth.
The political rulers of earth today are not pleased over the birth of God's kingdom, no more than murderous Herod was pleased over Jesus' birth at Bethlehem. So the rulers and their hangers-on and supporters try to suppress the witness of the establishment of the Kingdom. But by Jesus Christ, Almighty God foretold that a Kingdom witness had to be given, and no opposing power in heaven or on earth can prevent the witness in all the inhabited earth for a testimony to all nations. Highly favored are all those men and women today whom God raises up and uses to have a part in fulfilling the prophecy concerning the witness to the established Kingdom! Jehovah's witnesses of today are happy to bear the hatred and persecution from all peoples and nations in order to be his Kingdom witnesses.
Why mainly did his Son come to earth? Fulfilling what prophecy?
What must birth of the Kingdom have? Why? Who are they?
Are worldly rulers pleased at the birth? What can they not prevent?
EXTENDING ITS SWAY DESPITE OPPOSITION
The witness given since 1914 has steadily increased the sway of the Kingdom in the lives of men of good will. It could not have been otherwise. Over God's own name the prophecy long ago declared: "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end," and this must come true, though now the King rules in the
midst of multitudinous enemies. The irresistible zeal of Jehovah of hosts will never let his prophetic Word be shoved back unperformed into his face and the increase of the government of his Son be blocked successfully. The Kingdom witness since 1914 must go on increasing. It must be made known more and more throughout the earth that the Supreme Governing Power, Jehovah, has taken his great power and has begun to reign over earth by putting his Son on the throne as his anointed King.
(Rev. 11:15-18) Through this knowledge spread abroad by his witnesses the people of good will everywhere can have the opportunity to know of the only Righteous Government and can gather around it as the only hope of mankind. They can give it their unqualified allegiance before Jehovah's King destroys all his foes and opposers in the coming "battle of that great day of God Almighty".
and sword, not by power, but by Jehovah's spirit, his invincible active force. The love in men and women devoted to his King and kingdom is something stronger than any devilish or human power can overcome; and it draws and holds them to his King and kingdom regardless of all the hostility that their stand for God and his kingdom arouses.—Zech. 4:6.
The increase of the sympathizers and supporters of Jehovah's reigning King must correspond with the increase of his followers in the first century after he ascended to God's right hand after having proved his right to the Kingdom by his loving obedience to death. This increase will be, not by might of armies using fire
In the first century believing men and women had to vow their allegiance to Jesus Christ as God's King in the face of the dominant world power, the Roman empire, whose Caesars were deified for worship. It was actually a representative of that Roman empire, Governor Pontius Pilate, who gave the order for Jesus Christ to be nailed to the torture stake. Because Jesus preached God's kingdom to which he had been called and anointed, his religious enemies, the priests, scribes, Sadducees
and Pharisees, accused him of sedition to the Roman governor. The inspired Record says: "They began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King." And when Pilate made efforts to release Jesus, "the Jews cried out saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar." It was this Jesus who two days before had said to his religious opposers: "Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's." Luke 23:1,2; John 19:12; Matt. 22:21. 9 Because his religious enemies did not
Why must the Kingdom continue increasing its sway?
With what must its increase today correspond? By means of what?
How was Caesar implicated with the King in the first century?
9, 10. (a) Despite misrepresentation and opposition what increase is recorded? (b) By what was the Kingdom proclamation spread?
want Jesus as God's Messiah and King, they used his preaching of God's kingdom for an excuse to accuse him of being seditious against Caesar and a menace to the state. This willful misrepresentation and this combined opposition of Caesar and religious forces brought Jesus' death, but did it prevent the adherents of God's risen King from increasing? Did it silence the preaching of the kingdom of heaven? No! The next month, on the day of Pentecost, God's spirit was poured out upon the King's loyal followers, and the Kingdom proclamation was revived and carried on with greater force than during Jesus' time and in many languages. That same day of Pentecost those who declared themselves in favor of God's kingdom as administered by his King Christ Jesus increased to 3,000. Religious opposition mounted and arrests of the Kingdom preachers followed, and yet the number of the King's adherents rose to 5,000. (Acts 2:41; 4:4) Later the martyrdom of Stephen set off one of the worst persecutions there at that center of religion, Jerusalem. The apostles were driven underground, but thousands of the King's followers were scattered.
10 Jehovah and his anointed King in heaven had reason to laugh at these efforts of the religious opposers to silence the Kingdom proclamation. Why? Because, as the account tells us, "they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word." "Those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews." (Acts 8:4; 11:19, Rev. Stan. Ver.) In the throes of this religious inquisition the great pusher of persecution, Saul of Tarsus himself, was miraculously won over to allegiance to Christ the King and became one of the apostolic Kingdom publishers.
11 But Jehovah's kingdom by Christ is nothing nationalistic. It is not Jewish or to be confined to the Jews only. The patriarch Abraham was not a Jew, and when Jehovah told that faithful man about the blessing that was to come to men through the Theocratic government of his King, he said: "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." "Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." (Gen. 12:3; 22:17,18) The Seed of Abraham is primarily Jesus Christ. The blessing through him is, first of all, that of bringing believers into a righteous standing with God where they may enjoy his favor and have the prospect of eternal life in his righteous new world. On this matter the apostle Paul reasons in these words: "And Scripture, foreseeing that God would pronounce the Gentiles righteous as the result of faith, foretold the Good News to Abraham in the words—'Through thee all the Gentiles shall be blessed.'" —Gal. 3:8,16, 20th Cent. N.T.
12 The life-giving blessing through Abraham's Seed, Jesus Christ, must therefore be spread to all nations, Jew and Gentile alike. Properly the blessing went first to the Jewish descendants of Abraham. But when that nation followed their religious leaders and turned down the blessing because it came through the Christ who had been nailed to a torture stake, Jehovah God acted upon his words to Abraham. He extended the blessing through Jesus Christ to the Gentile or non-Jewish nations. God is no respecter of persons as based on earthly nationality. Our possessing faith like that of Abraham is what counts with God and wins his blessing through Christ. —Gal. 3:9, 26-29.
THE ENEMY'S FAVORITE TRICK
13 The apostle Peter was the one God used to take the key of knowledge and unlock the door of Kingdom opportunities to the Gentile nations, but it was the apostle Paul who became the foremost apostle to the Gentiles. Paul is the only apostle who the Holy Scriptures tell us got to Rome. (Acts 10; Rom. 11:13; Gal. 3:7-9) By a divine vision Paul was called to bear the witness into Europe. It was in what is today called Greece, the cradle of democracy, that Paul was accused as a seditionist for preaching God's kingdom by Christ.
14 After Paul had cast out a demon from a spirit-medium, the demons caused their religious dupes to drag Paul and Silas before the political rulers with this charge: "These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans." A miracle of God released Paul and Silas from the dungeon. That was at Philippi. But at Thessalonica the religious opposers stirred up a mob which cried out against Paul and Silas to the political rulers: "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; . . . and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus." Back again in Palestine, when before Caesar's court in Caesarea, prisoner Paul was accused by his religious persecutors in these words of their spokesman: "We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law." But the apostle Paul would not submit to having them judge him according to their religious
canon law. In full accord with his rights as a Roman citizen he reminded the court that he stood before Caesar's judgment seat, and not before a religious judicial court. So in the interests of preaching the gospel he appealed to Caesar.—Acts 16:20, 21; 17:6,7; 24:5,6; 25:9-12.
15 For two years before and for two years after Paul got to Rome he was detained in custody. But did the proclamation of the good news suffer curtailment because of such persecution against him and his fellow witnesses? No; for Paul used these circumstances to give a witness to rulers, to his custodians and to all whom he could invite. He accomplished a far-reaching witness, so that he wrote from his house of detention at Rome: "Brothers, I want you to realize that what has happened to me has actually served to forward the Good News. It has even become evident, not only to all the Imperial Guard, but to everyone else, that it is for Christ's sake that I am in chains." "The Good News to which you listened, which has been proclaimed among all created things under Heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister." Paul followed his own instruction: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season." Phil. 1:12,13 and Col. 1:23, 20th Cent. N.T.; 2 Tim. 4:2.
16 The followers of the King Jesus Christ obeyed his parting orders: "All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." No man-made government of any nation can countermand that authoritative command or successfully impede its execution by the King's followers. His command applies to us now at the end of this world and its nations, and we will
What service did Peter and Paul render toward belief by Gentiles?
Did such persecution curtail preaching the good news? Why?
Where, how and by whom was Paul accused of sedition?
What parting command of Jesus applies now? Who will obey it?
obey it for the increase of the interests of his government.—Matt. 28:18-20, Am. Stan. Ver.
17 Even before Christ's day it was the favorite trick of the enemies of Jehovah God to accuse his faithful people of political crimes so as to implicate them with worldly governments and bring the power of the state down on them. In the days of Queen Esther this wicked device was used by the false worshiper Haman to accomplish the complete destruction of Jehovah's chosen people from all parts of the Persian empire. Said Haman to Emperor Xerxes: "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples throughout all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different from every other people; neither do they observe the king's laws; therefore it is not fitting to leave them alone. If it please the king, let it be prescribed that they be destroyed." (Esther 3: 7-9, An Amer. Trans.) Haman's malicious scheme failed to wipe out or even diminish Jehovah's people. It resulted in himself being exposed as against the emperor's interests and getting hanged. Thus those who now try to hinder the increase of God's kingdom work out their own ruin.
18 Today the faithful announcers of God's kingdom by Christ face political movements and organizations on a hemispheric or global scale. That it should be proclaimed by his witnesses that Jehovah took up again the reins of earth's government in 1914 and brought the kingdom of his Son to birth does not please the political rulers. They have other plans for dominating earth's peoples. Under the religious guidance of the clergy of Christendom the political element may pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven"; but their wars for world domination and their plans for future control of the earth belie their prayers and prove they do not want God's kingdom by his Son to supplant them and give the people a righteous, Theocratic government. The nations stand in fear and mutual distrust of one another. Anxieties are expressed that they will exterminate one another in further global war with secretly invented weapons of mass destruction. The nations do stand faced with destruction, but it is for refusing God's kingdom by Christ, the only rightful government for our globe. Their destruction will come shortly by an act of God which was foreshadowed in the global flood of Noah's day. By Jehovah's witnesses he is now giving all peoples and nations fair and ample warning of it.
19 The religious organizations of Christendom have linked their fate with the political powers of earth and will be wiped out with them by God's act as His enemies. It is written: "You renegades! Do you not know that the friendship of the world means enmity with God? So whoever wishes to be the world's friend declares himself God's enemy."—Jas. 4:4, An Amer. Trans.
20 The religious friends of this world are enemies of God's kingdom by Christ. They show whose friends they are by working for the further miserable existence of this old world and by trying to hinder the increase of Jehovah's Theocracy by Christ. Since the birth of his kingdom in 1914 new political factors have come to positions of world prominence and power. Those which have survived till now as dominant figures are the United Nations, the successor to the short-lived League of Nations, and atheistic Communism.
21 To date the United Nations has failed to cement the old world. It is split into two
How was the enemy's same trick tried in Esther's day? Results?
Why do the nations now stand faced with destruction?
19, 20. Who show themselves friends of this world? How? With what fate?
How is the world divided? What position do Jehovah's witnesses take, and with what result certain?
blocs, with the Big Three championing the Western bloc and Communist Russia dictating for the Eastern bloc. The fires of World War II have died down, but a "cold war" is raging between both blocs and there is feverish maneuvering for power. In the midst of this world situation stand Jehovah's witnesses, pointing neither east nor west, but heavenward, heralding His kingdom by Christ as the divinely authorized government, the only government with adequate ability to introduce a righteous,
peaceful, healthful new world, the only government with power to save the people from annihilation in the world catastrophe of Armageddon. For this neutral position toward the deadly conflicts of this old world and for their Christian devotion and allegiance to God's New World government by his Son Jehovah's witnesses are hated by all nations and suffer persecution at the hands of the religious friends of the old world. Yet, despite this, their cause is bound to increase and win.
the Foes of His Government
CHRISTENDOM is being steadily encroached upon
by the aggressions of godless Communism. This is condemning evidence that Christendom has failed. She can definitely trace her existence from the days of Roman Emperor Constantine of the fourth century, and so has had sixteen centuries of opportunity. If Christendom had really lived up to what her name means and had practiced the Christianity of Jesus and his apostles, would godless Communism have had grounds for coming into existence or for taking its birth right within the realm of Christendom herself? Hardly. True Christianity does not pave the way for the rise and growth of atheistic Communism; hypocritical Christianity does! Not remarkable, then, that vast Russia, the one-time domain of the Russian Orthodox Church, is now the formidable stronghold of the Communist power. For help Christendom flees, not to Jehovah God and his government, but to this old world, and she takes her stand with the Western
powers and their democratic adherents. With them she shares the dread of the totalitarian Communist menace.
2 No one will deny that the religious systems of Christendom have no sympathy with Jehovah's witnesses and put no faith in their proclamation that God's kingdom is now established in the heavens for complete domination of the universe, including our sin-wracked earth. They make efforts to stamp out Jehovah's witnesses and to misrepresent their Christian work and to prejudice the people's minds against their Kingdom proclamation. So the religious leaders of Christendom take advantage of the fears and hatreds of the Western democratic bloc. Resorting to the age-old method of involving God's people with the political powers of this world, they accuse Jehovah's witnesses who reside in the Western bloc of nations of being communist. They inflame the nationalistic feelings of the people and poison the minds of their religious congregations against Jehovah's witnesses. Hence, when these carry the Kingdom mes-
What proves Christendom has failed? Where does she flee?
How do religionists take advantage of conditions against us?
sage from door to door or when they offer Bible literature on the street pavements they are abusively called "Communists!" and their message is refused as dangerous propaganda.
To cite examples of these prejudicial accusations: The Catholic Chronicle, of Toledo, Ohio, on February 27, 1948, published an article headed "Pole Reds Finance 'Jehovah' Agents" and which read: "Warsaw—The atheist government of Poland is financing sects like the Jehovah's witnesses in an effort to destroy the Catholicity of the people. 'Watchtower' salesmen are making the rounds of homes with pamphlets reviling the Church. Sunday lectures also are organized, denouncing Catholicism and glorifying communism." This report was repeated by Father Baker's Victorian Magazine of June, 1948. The following October 16, 1948, at 6:45 p.m., the religious monsignor who edits the Columbus Register read over radio station WHKC a Catholic report from Warsaw. Besides misrepresenting our relief work to our Polish brethren, it said: "The Soviet satellite government encourages and financially aids the Witnesses, whose free literature bears clear traces of Communist propaganda." The falsity of such blasphemous lies against witnesses of the Most High God was certainly bound to be exposed in due time by the transpiring of the actual situation to the knowledge of the whole world. The sources of those several religious reports against us knew they were lying when they started them rolling through the news. And now those Catholic news agencies who were so eager to grab and publish untruths and misrepresentations in order to put Jehovah's witnesses in a false light before the anti-Communist nations ought to feel great embarrassment. Jehovah's witnesses have now over 18,000 active Kingdom publishers in Poland, and does the arrest of 80 percent
or 14,400 of them mean that the Communist Polish Government is encouraging and financing them? Listen to this special dispatch published in the New York Times of June 30,1950, beginning on its front page, which published in bold type, "Poles Arrest Jehovah's Witnesses as Spies Directed from Brooklyn", and which said, in part:
How have they misrepresented us as respects Poland?
WARSAW, June 29—The complete liquidation of an alleged United States spy ring, with headquarters in Brooklyn, N. Y., was announced today by Poland's Ministry of Public Security. Approximately 80 percent of the members of the alleged ring have been arrested, the Ministry said.
The ring, which supposedly operated through the religious sect called Jehovah's Witnesses, was charged with having gathered information on military and commercial objectives and Polish Government institutions.
According to the last official census in 1948 this religious sect, which has a fifty-year-old history in Poland, had 10,000 members in Poland. . . .
Searches carried on in the sect's offices and members' homes resulted in the confiscation of a large amount of evidence, the report declared. . .
Another charge was that the sect counteracted the campaign for gathering signatures for the so-called Stockholm peace appeal urging that the atomic bomb be outlawed.
4 Still earlier, in its issue of August 8, 1939, The Catholic Mind published an article called "Rutherford's Witnesses of Jehovah: Are They Apostles of Anarchy?" by Herbert Thurston, Society of Jesus, and which was reprinted by the America Press. The psychological effect intended by that title is very apparent, even if all the article were not read. In November, 1942, the booklet entitled "'Judge' Rutherford", written by that same Jesuit, "Rev." H. Thurston, was published by The Catholic Truth Society in London, England, and on page 14 it says: "Whatever may be the professions of Jehovah's Witnesses, there is no room for doubt that the practical effect of the Watch Tower activities is to stimu-
What charges did a British Jesuit make in 1939 and 1942?
late Communism, not to say anarchy, and to undermine all feeling of reverence for authority."
We challenge that British Jesuit to harmonize, if he can, his accusation with the public declaration by J. F. Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, from London's Royal Albert Hall, Sunday, September 11, 1938. Delivering his speech "Face the Facts", which was beamed by radio and carried by direct wire to more than 50 cities in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, and also broadcast by a transcontinental chain of 118 U. S. radio stations, Mr. Rutherford said: "Fulfilled prophecy shows that in 1914 Jehovah enthroned Christ Jesus and sent him forth to rule, while Satan still exercises his power in the world. (Psalm 110:1,2) In 1917 SATAN BROUGHT FORTH IN RUSSIA A COMMUNIST OR BOLSHEVIK GOVERNMENT, which was the first appearance of a totalitarian rule, and which opposes God and his kingdom. It declares that the State is the supreme power, and it persecutes those who serve God and Christ Jesus."*
But to continue: On April 17, 1948, the bishop of Cork, Ireland, addressed a letter to clergy in charge of parishes in Cork and vicinity, and which was published in the Cork Examiner that day. After referring to activities of Jehovah's witnesses, the bishop's letter concluded: "Some call these activities Communism. Anyhow, all weakening of religion is welcomed by Communism as a preparation for itself." The Irish Times, Dublin, reprinted that statement two days later. In an article headed "Jehovah's Witnesses in Sligo", the Sligo Champion (Ireland) of June 25, 1949, published the letter of the CATHOLIC LIBRARY INFORMATION BUREAU, which said: "The menace of Communism is belittled by the Witnesses who have called it a bogey-man created by the Catholic Church with an ulterior motive. . . Russian atheism is defended by the Witnesses." The Dublin Evening Mail of June 22,1949, also printed that same statement. The Sunday Independent of April 16,1950, reports the breaking up of a public meeting of Jehovah's witnesses at The Fountain, Dun Laoghaire [dun la'rǝi], Ireland, by local townsmen with shouts of "Communists!" "Get out of here!" and, "Go back to where you came from!"
7 In Greece, as a result of slanders by the clergy of the Greek Orthodox Church the witnesses of Jehovah are called traitors, unpatriotic, anarchists, and Communists; and on November 17, 1949, it became necessary for us to write the minister of foreign affairs of Greece, at New York city, to answer the question whether Jehovah's witnesses are a secret or communistic organization.
OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION PROVES CHARGES FALSE
The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, with main offices in Brooklyn, New York, acts advisorily as the governing body and servant of Jehovah's witnesses in all lands. So what is true of Jehovah's witnesses in America must be true of them throughout the earth. Active witnesses are found in their greatest numbers in the United States, with more than 108,000 reporting in April this year. Ever since World War I closed, in 1918, the American government has been alerted to the threat of Communism to American democracy. The Communists are reported operating in
The statement quoted can be read on page 12, \parallel 3, to page 13, top, of the booklet Face the Facts, published in 1938, and circulated in millions of copies, in a number of languages.
Against what public declaration is he challenged to harmonize his charges?
Due to clergy slanders how do witnesses fare in Greece?
What charges have Irish religionists recently made?
(a) Why is investigation of witnesses in America decisive for the world? (b) What did the Justice Department report in 1941?
America since September, 1919. But in all the years since then official investigation has failed to find the slightest link between the Watch Tower Society or Jehovah's witnesses and godless communism. In 1941 Senator David of Pennsylvania, the state where the Society was incorporated in 1884, wrote to the United States Department of Justice at Washington, D.C. In response the Department reported that Jehovah's witnesses were not communistic and had no communist tendencies.
Further, in 1948, the United States government, acting through its attorney general, listed all organizations that were totalitarian, fascist, communist, and subversive and which advocate the overthrow of the government by violence or by unconstitutional means. The attorney general supplied this list of organizations to the chairman of the Loyalty Review Board of the United States Civil Service Commission. By letter dated September 21, 1948, (Memorandum No. 19) the chairman of the Loyalty Review Board forwarded a list of such organizations to all executive departments and agencies of the United States government. An examination of that official list of subversive and illegal organizations discloses that the names of Jehovah's witnesses and the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society nowhere appear.
10 The misinformation about Jehovah's witnesses penetrated even into a published Memorandum of the United States Marine Corps. As a result the Marine Corps Memorandum No. 55-49, released on June 6, 1949, stated that Jehovah's witnesses were associated with communism. This error was called to the attention of the Headquarters of the U.S. Marine Corps at Washington, D.C. In reply to our legal attorney the commandant of the Marine Corps at Washington sent a letter dated December 15, 1949, in which he expressed the conviction that the statement about Jehovah's witnesses is totally without foundation. His letter says: "I have ordered the discussion 'Communism in the United States' (Enclosure [B] to Marine Corps Memorandum #55-49), revised so as to eliminate all reference to Jehovah's Witnesses and I shall direct that all copies presently existing which contain such reference be destroyed. In addition, I am causing a memorandum to be prepared which will be issued by this Headquarters and will receive the same distribution given Marine Corps Memorandum #55-49. This memorandum will state that the reference made to Jehovah's witnesses in Enclosure (B) of Marine Corps Memorandum #55-49 was completely unfounded, that it was made without proper information, under an entire misapprehension as to the facts, and that this Headquarters regrets that this unfortunate statement was published. . . Please convey to your clients, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and Jehovah's Witnesses, my sincere regret for the publication of the lamentable reference to them. If there is any other action which may be taken by this Headquarters, please do not hesitate to inform me."*
11 Under date of December 23, 1949, Marine Corps Memorandum No. 131-49 was released and posted up, and it fully carried out all that the commandant had promised in the foregoing letter. \dagger Needless to say,
See page 259 for photostatic copy of this letter.
Marine Corps Memorandum No. 131-49 referred to the Memorandum No. 55-49 and said: '1. Reference (a), entitled 'Communism in the United States,' contained the statement that the religious sect known as 'Jehovah's Witnesses' had been frequently associated with communism.
What did the Loyalty Review Board's list in 1948 show?
10,11. What error in its Memorandum did the U.S.
Marine Corps correct? How?
"2. The publication of this statement has reacted unfavorably against the Marine Corps, in that it was published without proper information and has been shown to be completely unfounded in fact.
"3. Commanding officers will take immediate steps to bring the foregoing to the attention of all personnel to whom the original statement contained in reference (a) may have been communicated."—Dated 23 December 1949.
we highly appreciate this honorable course taken by the Headquarters of the U.S. Marine Corps.
PUBLISHED RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
12 The charges that Jehovah's witnesses are Communists, "apostles of Stalin," a "fifth column" of communism, and "strive to bring about conditions favourable to the spread of Marxism", are absolutely without basis and are blasphemous lies against the servants of the Most High God. Their Christian educational work in all lands and their official publications prove that Throughout the earth the witnesses use the corporation Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society as their legal and publishing servant. They use the publications of said Society in their work of educating the people on the Holy Bible. From earliest times the Watch Tower publications have exposed communism as a world menace and have shown it to be impractical, doomed to failure, and contrary to God's kingdom by Christ. As early as its third issue, The Watchtower of September, 1879, in its leading article entitled "The Day of the Lord" (paragraphs 7 and 14), said the following, and as you read this we want you to remember this was published, not in 1950, but away back seventy-one years ago:
13 "Very many Scriptures seem to teach that the kingdoms of earth will be overthrown by a rising of the people: goaded to desperation from lack of employment and seeking relief from the oppression of bloodthirsty governments. Such a rising and overturning, Socialists, COMMUNISTS, and Nihilists of today would gladly bring about if they could. Now the Scripture recognizes wrong and oppression as existing in the nations and foretells this as the
way in which they will be overthrown, and says: 'Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for the misery that shall come upon you. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth.' Jas. v. 1. Yet it does not recognize this Communism as right but the contrary rather instructing believers . . . saying to us—'Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.' . . . And it is astonishing how very rapidly these things once looked at as absurd and impossible are becoming realities. When we with a few others declared these things only a short time since, and called attention to the fact that trouble was taught to be occasioned by a rising of the people and the overthrow of governments—Communism—we were laughed at; there was truly little sign then of Communism; but today every civilized nation is in dread, and Nihilism, Communism and Socialism, are household words, and we see 'men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven (governments) shall be shaken.' Luke xxi. 26."
14 In its issue of June, 1883, The Watchtower (page 8) said: "In other words, remove the element which advises prudence, morality, and right-doing, from the counsels of the restless masses—from the Labor leagues and other associations, and let the lower element control itself, and the result would quickly be the destruction of life, property, laws, and peace—a grand reign of anarchy in the name of communism."
15 In its issue of January, 1884, The Watchtower (page 5) published the article "Light in Darkness" and quoted, in paragraph 5, the statement of Blackwood's Magazine: "How humiliating, too, is the thought that . . . the dangerous classes,
What work and publications show up the charges? To what effect?
What did The Watchtower of September, 1879, say on Communism?
What did its issue of June, 1883, say on it?
What did its issue of January, 1884, say on it?
and 'dissolving forces' are becoming more formidable than ever, and that the 'social revolution'—Atheistic Communism and Nihilism—may yet shake to its foundations the entire system of civilization which modern Europe has been so slowly perfecting as the highest product of the Aryan Community of nations."
16 Now note these further statements: In its issue of September 1, 1895, The Watchtower, under the heading "They Had All Things in Common", said this: "Experience proves the failure of communistic methods in the present time. . . . The Bible does not teach communism, but does teach loving considerate individualism, except in the sense of family communism—each family acting as a unit, . . . Moreover, the forming of a commune of believers is opposed to the purpose and methods of the Gospel age. The object to this age is to witness Christ to the world, and thus to 'take out a people for his name;' and to this end each believer is exhorted to be a burning and a shining light before men—the world in general—and not before and to each other merely. . . . It is still the work of God's people to shine as lights in the midst of the world, and not to shut themselves up in convents and cloisters or as communities. The promises of Paradise will not be realized by joining such communes."
17 In its issue of January 1, 1902, The Watchtower published the article entitled "The Early Church", and under the subheading "Communism at Present Impractical" it said: "The early church did not practice what is now known as communism; . . . So far as the record shows there was no compulsory division of wealth, such as communism purposes. On the contrary, everything was voluntary; and everything of the same kind is just as free, just as
voluntary, and just as proper, now as then no more so, no less so. . . It is noteworthy that the apostles neither commanded nor advised communism; nor do their writings intimate that it prevailed in the early church."
18 In 1886 the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society published the book The Plan of the Ages, and this book continued to be published and circulated by the millions of copies in many languages until 1929, when it was let go out of stock. In chapter 15, entitled "The Day of Jehovah", page 312 \parallel 2, this Watch Tower publication said: "Hence, the wealthy are drawn closer to the governments; and the wage-working masses, beginning to think that laws and governments are designed to aid the wealthy and to restrain the poor, are drawn toward Communism and Anarchy, thinking that their interests would best be served thereby, and not realizing that the worst government, and the most expensive, is vastly better than no government at all." All the foregoing published record speaks for itself.
PERSECUTION PROVES CHARGE FALSE
19 Jesus Christ said to his followers: "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. . . If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." (John 15:19,20) The persecution that Jehovah's witnesses have undergone till now proves they are no part of this world and have no connection with or support from political communism or any other political movement. In Russia
See also The Battle of Armageddon, published in 1897, and particularly its chapter 10 entitled "Proposed Remedies—Social and Financial", pages 473-481. Note that under the heading "Communism as a Remedy" it says: "As a whole it is quite impracticable." This book also was distributed till 1929.
What did its issue of September 1, 1895, say on it?
What did its issue of January 1, 1902, say on it?
What did The Plan of the Ages (1886) say on it?
What persecution in Russia proves the charges false?
Jehovah's witnesses and the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society are not registered or recognized as legal. They have been outlawed and banned there. Because of their Bible way of worshiping the Most High God they have been cruelly persecuted and exiled to Siberia by the Communists. This is not because they are Titoists, for in 1947 Titoist Yugoslavia seized all the officials representing the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society and Jehovah's witnesses in Zagreb and banned both the Society and the witnesses. Eleven of such officials were prosecuted and were imprisoned for long sentences ranging from three to twenty years.
20 The government of Albania has likewise imprisoned Jehovah's witnesses and banned their organization. Czechoslovakia has put all the officials of the Watch Tower Society and Jehovah's witnesses carrying on the work there in labor camps, after denying them trials. Romania has placed the officials of the Watch Tower Society in prison, confiscated the Society's property and banned Jehovah's witnesses. Bulgaria, too, has banned them and placed representatives of the Society and Jehovah's witnesses in prison. Persecution is also carried on against them in Hungary and Poland. In Eastern Germany, now dominated by communist Russia, the same persecution goes on against them. More so since July 30,1949,when 18,000 of Jehovah's witnesses, while assembled in convention in the Waldbühne (Forest Stage) of Berlin, adopted a resolution exposing the persecution by the Communist powers in Eastern Germany and raised a vigorous protest against it.
21 In the above countries the Communist governments have made it illegal to print or distribute the publications of the Watch
Tower Bible & Tract Society, though these have free circulation in the United States and other lands of the Western bloc. We ask, therefore, If Jehovah's witnesses are communistic, as our religious enemies in Christendom declare, then why have the Communist powers proscribed these witnesses who bear the name of Jehovah God and confiscated their property and hounded them with fanatical persecution?
EFFORTS AGAINST EXPANSION DOOMED TO FAIL
22 We look to no government agencies to vindicate us of the false charges which the foes of God's kingdom raise against us, to blind the people to the facts and the Kingdom truths. Almighty God has promised to vindicate his faithful witnesses, and he will do so at the battle of Armageddon, in which he will totally destroy godless communism and all other elements of the old world. In Daniel's prophecy concerning the Devil's world organization at this crucial time where it tries to hold the worldly elements together like clay mixed with iron, it is written: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people [neither to Communist people nor to any other political group], but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." The prophecy likens God's kingdom by Christ to a stone which strikes and grinds the Devil's governmental image to powder, and says: "The stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." (Dan. 2:44,35) Neither the United Nations nor any totalitarian power will be able to stand up against the fulfillment of that prophecy. Jehovah's Theocratic government under his Christ will survive the battle of Armageddon as win-
What persecutions in Russian satellite lands disprove them?
What about Watchtower publications there? So what do we ask?
To whom do we look to vindicate us? Where and how?
ner and will bring faithful people of good will through as survivors and will thereafter dominate all the earth without any rival powers.
23 That government will rule supreme from heaven. It is the Kingdom which Jehovah's witnesses announce to all nations, and to it they declare their unqualified allegiance before all the world. His kingdom by Christ is bound to increase. The King Jesus Christ has already begun the gathering together of his earthly subjects of good will, and his mighty unseen angels are taking part with him in the gathering work. (Matt. 24:31; 25:31-33) No persecution, no base misrepresentation, no conspiracy by worldly powers can halt the increase of that kingdom and prevent a numberless multitude of devoted subjects from flocking to it as mankind's rightful ruler and only hope.
24 For this reason Jehovah's witnesses today are preaching the gospel of the Kingdom in greater numbers now than at the time of the Kingdom's establishment in 1914. For example, in April of this year the world-wide report compiled by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society shows 357,889 active witnesses in 106 lands and in association with 65 Branch organizations. This 1950 international convention, this "Theocracy's Increase" Assembly of Jehovah's witnesses here at Yankee Stadium, New York city, is overwhelming testimony of the Kingdom's increase on earth. We are assured that of the Kingdom's increase there will be no end. So, as we push ahead with the work Jehovah commissions us to do in these "last days" of this world, the number of ministers of the good news of the Kingdom may be expected to increase in fulfillment of divine prophecy.
25 Ours is a peaceful work. We will keep on obeying Jesus' command to 'render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's'. Hence we will be orderly, resorting to no violence or subversion against the political powers of this world, but letting them continue to carry on their political experiments as long as God allows them. We will fulfill our obligation to warn all nations of the coming "act of God" against this world at Armageddon. This course alone can have his approval and assure us of survival at the battle of Armageddon. His Word commands us: "Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger." (Zeph. 2:3, Am. Stan. Ver.) We urge all to this course of godliness with contentment.
26 We mark the growing tendency to totalitarian regimentation of the peoples as a desperate final measure to preserve the worldly powers in control. People are being swept into the movement to idolize the state and to exalt it above God, who is the only Supreme Power. The Bible has foretold this. (Rev. 13:16,17) But we cannot be divided in our worship. Confronted with further encroachments upon our worship of the Supreme Ruler and our devotion to his kingdom by Christ, we are determined to obey our King's command to "render . . . unto God the things that are God's". Mindful of the apostle Peter's words to the court at Jerusalem, "We ought to obey God rather than men," we will keep obedience to God's commands first, together with unbreakable devotion to his kingdom now established. (Acts 5:29) We are bound to suffer more international persecution for this godly course of action,
What do persecution, misrepresentation and conspiracy now fail to halt? Why?
Our work being peaceful, what course will we take? Why?
As shown in April, 1950, what may we expect as we work on?
What position on worship do we take, and despite what ahead?
but we warn our persecutors with Jehovah God's words to his Theocratic organization: "The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted." (Isa. 60:12) Obedience to the great Life-giver spells eternal life for us in the new world, and the old world's persecution of us will continue failing to halt the Kingdom's increase.
27 We will keep our integrity to God in vindication of his universal sovereignty and his right to rule his creation, this earth and all people permitted to live on it. In Theocratic obedience and faithfulness we will march on toward the New World, rejoicing in all further expansion of his kingdom, for there will be no end to its increase even this side of Armageddon. If we keep on sowing his Kingdom message, we shall reap returns for eternity, for God will give his promised increase. Let Christendom go on sowing to the wind by pursuing the futile course of this old world;
she will reap the whirlwind at Armageddon. We who have sown to the interests of Jehovah's Theocracy by Christ will reap the increase of thousands of other Kingdom adherents, the "other sheep" whom the Good Shepherd will yet gather into the "one fold" of everlasting safety.—John 10:16.
28 God's Word and purpose have never failed so far and will not fail us in the most crucial world period ahead. So on with his work of witnessing to the Kingdom among all nations before the end comes. In faith and obedience, endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Carry out your part as advance publicity agents of the New World government. Fear not the foe, but God only. By godly lives and ceaseless proclamation of the Bible truth, keep on recommending Jehovah's Theocracy by Christ to all men of good will, confidently looking to him for the rewarding increase. 2 Cor.4:2.
What activity will we keep at, and assured of what increase?
How will we recommend God's kingdom to all men of good will?
RESOLUTION
THE two foregoing articles were programed to be delivered together as the keynote speech by N. H. Knorr, president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, at 3 p.m., Tuesday, August 1, 1950, to the many thousands expected to pack the Yankee Stadium, New York city, in attendance at the international convention or "Theocracy's Increase" Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses. The material was kindly handed us in advance for publishing in this issue of our magazine, that the printed speech appearing in our columns might be released
YANKEE STADIUM, NEW YORK CITY
to the conventioners right after Mr. Knorr delivered the speech and followed it up with his presentation of the Resolution below for adoption:
Where were the foregoing articles programed for delivery as a speech, and under what circumstances?
RESOLUTION
2 ON THIS momentous occasion, when we are gathered in a representative body of tens of thousands from more than 50 lands here at Yankee Stadium, New York city, to carry on the international "Theocracy's Increase" Assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses, we find it most opportune this 1st day of August, 1950, to make this Declaration:
8 WHEREAS the God of heaven and earth, whose name is Jehovah, is the Source of all rightful authority and power and has recorded on the pages of the Holy Bible his purpose to restore his righteous Theocratic government to this earth (Psalm 62:11; Matthew 6:9,10); and
4 WHEREAS the "seven times" of uninterrupted domination of the earth by Gentile nations expired A.D. 1914 and now the Bible prophecy and its fulfillment prove together that then Jehovah God again took up his power to reign over the earth and to this end he enthroned in the heavens his Son Jesus Christ, who had proved his integrity to God even to death on a torture stake at Calvary and who had thereby established his right to rule as King in his Father's name (Daniel 4:25,32; Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:15 to 12:10); and
5 WHEREAS Almighty God has decreed the end of this world and has promised us "new heavens and a new earth" to form a righteous new world in which his enthroned Son will be King, and hence this old world has been in its "time of the end" since A.D. 1914 and the "battle of that great day of God Almighty" draws near for removing the old and installing the new world (2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 16:14-16; 21:1-5); and
6 WHEREAS the nations of this world refuse the warning which is set forth in God's Word and verified by all the perilous conditions on earth, and they show opposition to God's purpose by extending their own world rule with which they seek to align all peoples, and they ignore, hinder and persecute the faithful minority that preaches the good news of God's established kingdom; and thereby they put themselves in the way of destruction by the "act of God" which will mark the close of this "time of the end";
THEREFORE we here, before God and man, declare our unqualified support of Jehovah's universal sovereignty and our allegiance to his kingdom now established in the hands of his Son Jesus Christ.
8 WE CONFESS that originally by his Son God created this earth and man upon it and that after mankind rebelled against divine government God sent his Son to prove his right to govern a new world and also to die sacrificially that all who become his subjects might live forever in the new world; and so we gladly confess that God by his Son's sacrifice has bought us and we owe our lives and our complete devotion to God and his King and hence our obedience to God and his reigning Son comes first.—1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23.
9 WE ACKNOWLEDGE that Jehovah God has according to his Word made us his witnesses, and we are obligated to carry out this commission as Jehovah's witnesses to the end of this world (Isaiah 43:10-12, Am. Stan. Ver.); and, being for God and his kingdom by Christ, we could never be communistic. We denounce the false accusation by our enemies that we are communists. We disavow all connection with or support of communism or any other politi-
What made it opportune for such a Resolution?
Who is the source of authority? What is his purpose?
What events bearing on world domination marked A.D. 1914?
How do nations oppose God's purpose? Exposing themselves to what?
In what period is the old world now, and what draws near?
8. What do we therefore declare, and what confess?
What do we acknowledge, what denounce, and what protest?
cal element of this old world. Moreover, we make united protest against the persecution of Jehovah's witnesses by the communist powers and by other governmental powers; and we declare the persecution of any religious minority by political governments and by powerful religious hierarchies to be wrong and unchristian and we will have no part in it.
10 While rendering first to God what is God's, we will as long as this world lasts render to Caesar what is Caesar's, leading peaceable, well-ordered lives as Christians, not engaging in the conflict of opposite political and social ideologies, not intermeddling in worldly politics, and not engaging in any subversion even under persecution, that we may 'keep ourselves unspotted from this world' till its end.—Romans 12:18;1 Peter 2:19-21; James 1:27.
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