1938 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses
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YEAR BOOK of Jehovah’s witnesses
THE KINGDOM
“HIS GOODS”
HIS NAME
HIGHER POWERS
THE MOST HIGH
CONTROVERSIAL
WITNESS WORK
COMPANIONS
CORPORATIONS
AMERICA (UNITED STATES OF)
PRODUCTION
NEW MACHINERY
SHIPMENTS
SHIPMENTS OF SOUND EQUIPMENT
RECORDINGS
PUBLICATION
BETHEL HOME
WATCHTOWER (STATEN ISLAND)
RADIO
PERSONAL VISITS
USE OF RECORDS
SPECIAL PIONEERS
BOOKS
CONVENTIONS
REPORT OF SPECIAL PERIODS
REGIONAL SERVANTS
SPECIAL SERVICE
ORDAINED MINISTERS
EVIDENCE OF OPPOSERS
Comparisons
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Georgia
New York
Flag Salute
Legislative
Kingdom Schools
COST
“THE WATCHTOWER”
“THE GOLDEN AGE”
KINGDOM PUBLISHERS
DECLARATION
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
AFRICA (South, Central and East)
AFRICA (West)
ARGENTINA
AUSTRALIA
BRAZIL
BRITAIN
BRITISH GUIANA
CANADA
AUSTRIA
BELGIUM
BULGARIA
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
DANZIG
FRANCE
GERMANY
HUNGARY
ITALY
LUXEMBURG
THE NETHERLANDS (HOLLAND)
POLAND
RUMANIA
SWITZERLAND
YUGOSLAVIA
CHINA
GREECE
HAWAII
INDIA
JAMAICA
JAPAN
MEXICO
NORTHERN EUROPEAN OFFICE
DENMARK
ESTONIA
FINLAND
ICELAND
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
NORWAY
SWEDEN
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
COMPANY AT ALEPPO, SYRIA
TRINIDAD
CONCLUSION
YEAR BOOK of
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
containing report for the fiscal year of 1937
Also daily texts and comments
Corporate Publishers
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society
Peoples Pulpit Association
International Bible Students Association
124 Columbia Heights Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S. A.
Branch offices appear on last page
Copyright, 1937, by
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society
Made in the United States of America
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
OFFICERS
J. F RUTHERFORD President
C.A. WISE Vice-President
W E VAN AMBURGH Secretary and Treasurer
PEOPLES PULPIT ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS
J. F. RUTHERFORD President
N. H. KNORR Vice-President
A. R. GOUX Secretary and Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS
J. F. RUTHERFORD President
JESSE HEMERY Vice-President
E. C. CHITTY Secretary
W. E. VAN AMBURGH
Ass’t Secretary and Treasurer
YEAR BOOK of Jehovah’s witnesses
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 1937
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES are the most favored people that have lived on. the earth since the days of the apostles of Christ Jesus. This annual report is submitted that they and their companions, the Jonadabs, may have a vision of the progress of Jehovah’s kingdom in the earth and that, having that vision, the joy of the Lord may give them greater strength in this time of stress. Understanding, within the Scriptural meaning of that word, is, at the present time, of vital importance to them, and for that reason the Lord God says to them now: “With all thy getting get understanding.’’ Information and knowledge are prerequisites to understanding. It is hoped that the information contained in this report will aid both the anointed remnant and their companions, the Jonadabs, to get a better understanding, which means their increased appreciation of their own proper relationship to the Creator and to Christ Jesus their Redeemer, Lord and King. That understanding dispels selfishness and causes the understanding one to think soberly and not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. In order that one may think properly he must know that all he is and all that he ever hopes to be is given to him as a gracious gift and provision made for him by the Lord. With such definite conclusion in mind, then, he can worship God in spirit and intruth. It is such earnest and sincere ones that Jehovah seeks and with whom he is well pleased.
To God’s people now on earth this is the worst of times and the best of times: worst, because now darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people, and all the forces of darkness are arrayed in a bitter conflict with light and righteousness. The gross ignorance of the masses of humankind concerning the Word of God is appalling. Only a comparatively few persons have a desire to know the truth and do therefore seek the truth. This condition Jehovah foretold through his prophet Isaiah and at the same time commanded his own people: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee ” (Isa. 60:1,2) It is the best of times because the children of light are permitted to see and to understand that Jehovah is now revealing to them his purpose to within a short time destroy wickedness and put in fuller operation his kingdom under Christ, which will dispel all darkness and cause the healing beams of light to shine upon all who devote themselves to the Most High. The faithful witnesses of Jehovah are therefore children of the light and the children of the day, and are not of the night, nor of darkness. (1 Thess. 5:5) God has therefore put his faithful people in a class alone, separate and distinct from all other creation. He affords these the opportunity to have a part in the vindication of his name, and guarantees to all faithful, obedient ones that they shall have life everlasting and for ever enjoy his blessings. He discloses to them that his time is at hand when Jehovah will cause his name to have the proper place in the mind of every creature that lives. God’s people are now permitted to announce to the world these great truths.
John the Baptist was the announcer of Jesus, who came in his Father’s name to do the work assigned to him. John the Baptist foreshadowed Jehovah’s witnesses who are now permitted to announce to the world that the King of glory, Christ the Lord, and mighty Governor, has come and that he will vindicate Jehovah’s name and bring to the people who obey him boundless blessings.
The faithful witnesses of Jehovah are the children of Zion, and of them it is now truly said: “Happy Zion! What a favored lot is thine!” The anointed remnant are the children of Jehovah and his holy organization. All of them are taught by the Lord, and great is their peace and joy. (Isa. 54:13) Jehovah caused his prophet long ago to foretell this day and to put into the mouth of his faithful witnesses these words: “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” All who are truly devoted to the Lord today continually give utterance to those words of thankfulness and praise to the Most High. At the same time, because of the cruel persecution heaped upon God’s faithful people by the religious agents of the Devil, many tears of bitterness have been shed and are now shed by the faithful followers of Christ Jesus, while at the same time they greatly rejoice that they are privileged to fill up some of the sufferings of Christ left behind for their benefit. (Col. 1:24) The day of “ingathering” is now here, and the faithful anointed remnant joyfully bear the message of good news to those people on earth who are of good will toward God that those of good will may learn of God’s gracious provision and flee to the place of safety and join in the witness work. Addressing his “faithful servant” class, by and through his prophet the Lord says: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (Psalm 126:5) All of these faithful ones know that the joy of the Lord is their strength, and in the strength of the Lord they go forward in their work. The faithful children of God now on earth know that the day of the vindication of Jehovah’s name, and the time of their own deliverance, is at hand, and for that reason their joy is very great. They love to take a retrospective view of the progressive steps leading to the consummation of their hopes.
THE KINGDOM
Only a few persons now on the earth appreciate the importance of the present-day events that are coming to pass, because only they have a vision of the greatest thing that has ever come or ever will come to the earth. The kingdom of Jehovah God, with Christ Jesus as the Head and Chief thereof, is that which is of all importance and the greatest of all things that has come to earth, because it is by and through that kingdom that the name of Jehovah will be fully vindicated, and by and through Christ the King God will administer life everlasting to all who render themselves in full obedience to the law of the Kingdom. The more fully we can now appreciate the Kingdom, the greater will be our zeal for the Lord and the more certain will be our eternal blessings. A consideration of some of the progressive steps toward the development and setting up of the Kingdom will be helpful just now to those who are striving to maintain their integrity toward God. All religionists, and many of those who think of themselves as walking in the narrow way and who are selfish, have considered and do now regard their own individual salvation as the most important thing. Salvation of men is only of secondary consideration. It is the vindication of Jehovah’s name by and through his kingdom that is of paramount importance. Therefore the Kingdom, that is, God’s government of righteousness, is of the greatest importance, and it is only those who see and appreciate this fact that now enjoy peace of mind and joy of heart.
Shortly following the expulsion from Eden there was horn to Adam and his wife their son Abel. His occupation was and is a criterion by which the faithful children of God may be identified. Abel was a shepherd boy, attending to and feeding the sheep. Those who are fed and who in turn minister unto others are designated by the Lord under the symbol of sheep. Throughout the Scriptures the obedient ones are called sheep. It is the sheep flock of the, Lord that are taken into the Kingdom and receive the blessings thereof. Out under the stars, guarding the flocks while they rested, the mind and heart of that shepherd boy Abel was turned to the Almighty God. He had faith in God. Steadfastly resisting the assaults of the Devil, Abel remained true and faithful and worshiped the Almighty God in spirit and in truth. That shepherd boy was the first one of a small company of faithful witnesses of Jehovah, who centered their hopes in God’s kingdom, and, resisting the enemy and remaining true to Jehovah, those faithful men sealed their testimony with their own blood. Abel was the first martyr to the cause of righteousness. Since the time of Abel to now every one who has faithfully obeyed Jehovah has been the object of the wicked assault by Satan the enemy.
Applying his deceptive and wicked methods in his effort to make good his challenge, the Devil has turned away from God the great majority of humankind; but from Abel unto this very day there have been, and are, a small minority of human creatures that have remained true and steadfast to the Most High, having their heart set upon and their hopes centered in the kingdom of God. Let the Kingdom now be magnified in the heart of every one who loves righteousness. Referring again to that little company of faithful men from Abel to John the announcer of Jesus: God revealed to them his purpose to set up a government that would rule all the world in righteousness and minister boundless blessings to all men who put themselves under and who continue obedient to the laws of that government. By faith those men of old visualized the Kingdom, and with great yearning they desired it. Separating themselves entirely from those men who yielded to Satan’s blandishments, that little company of faithful men were blind to everything save the righteous government of the Most High. Their faith and devotion to God is set before all who follow after as a true and correct example. Concerning those faithful servants of the Most High, God caused to be written in his Word the following: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned: but now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.”—Heb. 11:13-16.
Those faithful men left “the world”, or Devil’s organization, and, says the Scripture, had they desired they could have returned; but their real desire was a better government, a government controlled from heaven by Christ Jesus under Jehovah God, and because of their unswerving devotion to God and his kingdom Jehovah God is not ashamed to be called their God, and they were Jehovah’s witnesses. He has prepared a place for them in that righteous government, and by his grace they shall soon receive it and occupy that condition of blessedness.
Every one of the faithful men there named, the Devil sought to destroy. Such cruel assaults, however, did not shake their faith in God or deter them from performing their duty. The cruel trials to which they were subjected, and the great persecution heaped upon them, and their faithful devotion to Jehovah under such adverse conditions, serve to comfort and encourage the witnesses of Jehovah who today are striving to maintain their integrity toward the Most High. Those faithful men of old had opportunity to accept temporary deliverance by becoming unfaithful to God, but such deliverance they refused. They chose to suffer affliction for righteousness rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. They were determined that nothing should separate them from the love of God and their hope and prospects of the glorious government that should some day rule the world. Therefore of them it is written: “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” — Heb. 11:36-40.
The faithful remnant on the earth today, because of their faithfulness in giving the testimony of Jesus Christ concerning God and his kingdom, are likewise ill-treated and abused, persecuted and imprisoned, and, while undergoing such cruelty, they rejoice to call to mind the experiences of the faithful men of old, and thus they are encouraged to press on with their work, singing the praises of the Most High as they go. God has provided for the faithful remnant better things than will be enjoyed by Abel and his companions mentioned in the Scriptures, and that “better thing” includes the great privilege of being now on the earth at the coming of the Lord Jesus, the King, and of being his servants and announcing the King and his kingdom, and the prospect of being a part of the royal house. Faithfully performing their present-day duties, the remnant will participate in the first resurrection, to be for ever associated with the King. Seeing the glorious prospects set before them, the present-day witnesses of Jehovah give heed to this admonition: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”—Heb. 12:1.
Having full faith in God and in his kingdom and appreciating their privilege of serving the King, the vision of the remnant enlarges and they cast away every weight that retards their service to the King, refusing to permit any earthly thing or relationship to hinder them in their onward march to the Kingdom. The Lord has invited them to enter into his joy of vindicating his Father’s name, and the faithful ones put themselves wholly on the side of the King and are blind to everything else. Only the Kingdom is worth while, and only Jehovah and his King will they serve. They lay aside every weight, and they spurn religion, which has been the besetting sin of all who have started to follow Christ Jesus. These witnesses of Jehovah are truly Christians, because they are walking in the way that the Lord God has marked out for them.
If the faithful prophets of old endured all manner of opposition and persecution and still continued joyfully and steadfastly to maintain their integrity toward God, with stronger reasoning should the remnant now endure all manner of persecution and in spite thereof remain true and steadfast to the King and his kingdom. To them more has been committed than was committed to the prophets, and of them the Lord now demands much more. Their enlarged vision increases their responsibility. God’s provision for the remnant is better than that for the prophets, but each one has his own part to perform, and each one who remains faithful to the end shall in due time fill his place to perfection and to the glory of the Lord.
For 4,000 years following the rebellion in Eden the Devil pursued his wicked course of turning men and angels away from God and heaping great hardship upon every man who served God. Then came to the earth Jehovah’s beloved Son, the Savior of men, and the Vindicator of God’s name. Recognizing Jesus as the heir-apparent to the throne of Jehovah’s righteous government, Satan employed every possible means to bring about the destruction of Jesus. The great temptation placed before Jesus in the mountain had ended with victory for him, because he had successfully rejected every attempt of Satan to turn him away from the path of righteousness. Then Jesus immediately began his earthly ministry: “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17) Thus it is seen that he placed the kingdom of Jehovah above everything else. He drew to himself plain and honest men who also had a desire for that better government. Recognizing Jesus as the one sent of God to rule, those faithful disciples thereafter joined Jesus in proclaiming to the people the truth of and concerning God’s government. During the entire three and one-half years of his earthly ministry Jesus stressed the paramount importance of the Kingdom. Because he did so, Jesus drew upon himself the hatred and the murderous assaults made by religionists, the agents of Satan. That persecution against Jesus was carried on constantly, because Satan well knew (and yet knows) that the kingdom of God under Christ will completely vindicate Jehovah’s name and prove Satan a liar and will open for men the way to life. There is nothing that can be compared with the Kingdom.
His earthly ministry was drawing to a close, and Jesus gathered his disciples about him and instructed them and told them that he must go away to receive the kingdom and that in due time he would return and set up that righteous government. When Jesus was arrested and brought before the Roman ruler for sentence, the one thing that he emphasized was the kingdom of God. Responding to the question put to him by Pilate, Jesus replied: “I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) These words plainly show that every person who really loves and serves the truth will follow the lead of Jesus by putting the Kingdom forward as of the greatest value and importance.
God permitted Satan and his religious agents to put Jesus to death in the most ignominious manner, and then Jehovah showed his supreme power by raising Jesus out of death, exalting him to the highest place in his great organization, and bestowing upon him a “name which is above every name”, and commanded that every living creature shall confess that Jesus is the Christ and King to the glory and vindication of Jehovah’s name. Directing the attention of the people to his beloved Son, Christ Jesus the King, Jehovah says: ‘He shall show to the nations righteousness, and in his name shall the nations hope.’ Thus Jehovah makes known that the government under Christ is the one and only hope of the peoples of earth. Everyone today who worships God in spirit and in truth now recognizes that the kingdom of God under Christ cannot be compared with anything else, but that it stands at the head of all things of importance.
Following the resurrection of Jesus, and during the entire period of their faithful journey in the earth, with great emphasis the apostles held before the people the overshadowing importance of the Kingdom, which Christ Jesus will establish at his second coming. They were fully aware of the prophecy regarding that kingdom, which prophecy says: ‘Upon the shoulder of Christ Jesus shall rest that righteous government, which will bring the desire of every honest creature, and which will completely vindicate Jehovah’s name.’ Those faithful apostles never at any time attempted to draw attention to themselves or to seek the praise of men, but, putting self entirely in the rear, they were blind to everything save the kingdom of God under Christ. They urged the followers of Christ Jesus to keep in mind his second coming and his kingdom and frequently reminded them that all faithful ones would suffer persecution at the hands of religionists, the agents of the Devil; and they admonished such followers to endure persecution and affliction and to remain true and steadfast to the King and Kingdom to the very end. Those faithful apostles refused to compromise with and bow down to the elements of creation that dishonored God’s name and ruled the earth as the representatives of Satan. Like the faithful prophets who had preceded them, the apostles of Jesus set their affections and their hopes wholly on the government of Christ Jesus and devoted their lives exclusively to making known the name of the King and the Kingdom.
Within a brief space of time the apostles died, and then the Devil saw that it was his opportunity to seduce and to debauch the professed followers of Christ Jesus, and, to accomplish his wicked purpose, Satan influenced selfish men to organize religion and, for the purpose of deceiving the people, caused that organized thing to be designated as "the Christian religion”. From that time forward the religious leaders taught and constantly held before men the false doctrines that the chief purpose of God and of Christ is to save men from "purgatory” and “hell” and to get the saved ones into heaven. By reason thereof the people have been turned to selfishness and have been kept in complete ignorance of the kingdom of God under Christ. Religion and religious leaders, therefore, are the things on earth most responsible for the gross darkness that now covers the earth.
That religious organization misnamed “the Christian religion” in time evolved the Roman Catholic Hierarchy organization or system, which is a devilish, political organization using the name of Christ as a blind behind which that wicked organization, entrenched in a mass of lies, has hidden itself. They continue to practice fraud, and carry on a racket by which the people have been, and are deceived and robbed and the name of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus grossly reproached. Honest men, seeing the wickedness of the Roman Catholic organization, in time organized what is called “Protestantism” and called it the “Protestant Christian religion”, and those men made some attempt to teach the Scriptures; but their doctrines have always stressed individual salvation of men from “hell”, and they entirely ignored and obscured from the view of the people Jehovah’s great government under Christ Jesus, which is the only hope of mankind. Religion was thereafter the means by which the people were and have been led into and held in gross ignorance. Religion has been a great curse upon mankind and is the close-besetting sin of those who have attempted to follow Christ Jesus and of which the apostle gives warning. After years the net result is that all religion, so-called “Catholic”, “Protestant,” and all others, are at unity in the work in behalf of the Devil and against God and his kingdom under Christ. Darkness, therefore, has settled down upon the world, and gross darkness enshrouds the people, blinding them to the only government that can ever bring relief and blessings to mankind.
About the year 1875 a few sincere men who served God began to gain some knowledge of the second coming of Christ and his kingdom, and those men began to preach the truth as they learned it. They were in the midst of religionists, however, and they held on to many things pertaining to religion, and hence they came out of Babylon wearing ‘soiled garments’. Many of them continued faithful unto the coming of the Lord. It was in the year 1914 that Jehovah set his beloved Son, his King, upon the throne and directed him to begin his reign and the exercise of his power. It was three and one-half years thereafter, to wit, 1918, that Christ Jesus appeared at the temple of Jehovah and assembled before him for judgment all those who then were in a covenant to do the will of God. Jehovah, by his prophet, had foretold the coming of his Servant, the King, in these words: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 3:1) Thus Jehovah fixed the time with certainty as to the coining of his Servant, Judge and King. First he declared that his Messenger, Christ Jesus, would do a preparatory work, and, that finished, he would then straightway come to his temple, which temple is made up of those persons wholly devoted to Jehovah. (1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16) The purpose of the coming of Christ Jesus, the Messenger and Servant of Jehovah, to the temple is first to apply the test and to render judgment concerning those who had professed or made a covenant to do the will of God; and this is made certain by the words of Jehovah, to wit: “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” (Mal. 3: 2, 3) The approved ones now offer unto the Lord an acceptable offering, and that offering is full and complete devotion and service unto God by performing their duties in obedience to his commandments, acting as witnesses for Jehovah. - Heb. 13:13-15.
It was in 1918 that the Lord Jesus came to the temple of God and there began his judgment. All the physical facts agree with the Scriptures fixing that time. There the judgment of the Lord made manifest those who were and are unreservedly devoted to Jehovah God and his kingdom. That test being applied, many were unable to withstand the test, and they fell away and went back to the world over which Satan is the god and invisible ruler, while the faithful stood firm and true to Jehovah. Those who were then faithful and continued to be entirely devoted to Jehovah God received the approval of Christ, the great Judge, and thereafter they offered unto Jehovah a pleasing and acceptable sacrifice: “Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. ” (Mal. 3:4) “Judah,” as used in this text, means those who are devoted to the praise and service of Jehovah God, and “Jerusalem” symbolically stands for or represents God’s organization or temple company.
“HIS GOODS”
Christ Jesus having received full power and authority particularly with reference to the Kingdom and the things of interest concerning the same, he designates all such interests of the Kingdom as “his goods” or “possessions”. Those persons who at the temple judgment received the approval of the Lord became the bondservants of the Lord and are entirely committed to the doing of his will. Such persons collectively constitute that body whom the Lord designates as his “faithful and wise servant”. These are called “faithful” because of their devotion to the Lord and being dependable; “wise” because they are diligent to obey the will of the Lord, always following his instructions. At the temple judgment the Lord commits to his “faithful and wise servant” all his “goods”, that is to say, all his earthly Kingdom interests, which interests they must carefully safeguard, look after, protect and serve. Concerning these things Jesus says: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.”—Matt. 24:45-47.
That company of persons is joined by others who from and after 1918 consecrated themselves and are fully devoted to doing the will of God and who prove their loyalty and faithfulness and whom he begets and makes a part of the temple company. This latter company also becomes a part of the “faithful servant”. The temple company or servant class is commissioned to serve Jehovah and his King, and the duty and obligation of such is to show forth the praises of the Most High. “In his temple doth every one speak of his glory.” (Ps. 29:9) Such are a chosen race of people, that is, a people for God’s purpose. (1 Pet. 2:9,10) All the Lord’s earthly Kingdom interests being committed to their keeping, they must fully and completely perform their assigned duties and obligations, as Jesus has said: ‘Of him to whom much is committed, much more is demanded. ’—Luke 12:48, Weymouth.
HIS NAME
The challenge flung into the face of Jehovah by Satan involves the great and holy name of the Most High. Instead of destroying Satan at the time the challenge was made, God said to Satan: “But for this cause have I allowed thee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they may proclaim my name throughout all the earth.” (Ex. 9:16, Leeser) It is therefore plainly stated that Jehovah God will have his name declared in all the earth immediately preceding the exhibition of his supreme power in the destruction of Satan. The “faithful and wise servant” constitutes a people for the name of Jehovah; as it is written: "God . . . did visit the [nations], to take out of them a people for his name.” (Acts 15:14) Such are the ones whom the Lord has commissioned to represent him and to bear witness of his name and his kingdom, and which witness must be given immediately preceding the battle of the great day of God Almighty, in which Satan shall be completely shorn of all his power. This "faithful and wise servant” is made up of a class of men and women who are therefore entirely separate from the world or governments amongst men, and whose time, energy, money, everything, must be and are wholly devoted to God and his kingdom under Christ. They have absolutely nothing to do with and no interest in the political affairs of this world. They are for the righteous government of Christ Jesus.
It was after 1918 that the Lord revealed to his people an understanding of his Word concerning them and their duty and obligation to him and to his King. To that class of faithful persons Jehovah says: "Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah shall name.” (Isa. 62:2, A.R.V.) The Lord makes known to them that they must bear the new name which he gives them, and which new name is "Jehovah’s witnesses”; as it is written: “Ye are my witnesses, saith [Jehovah], and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he; before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you; therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.” —Isa. 43:10-12.
It is the approved temple company of the Lord that constitutes his witnesses selected and sent forth for a specific purpose. Such are anointed or commissioned to do a specific work, and their commission is stated in these words: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourn.’’—Isa. 61:1,2.
Such commission lays upon them an obligation that they are compelled to faithfully perform. Christ Jesus is the Head and Chief One of the temple and is “the faithful and true Witness” of Jehovah, and every one who is of the temple must be a witness to the name of Jehovah. (John 18:37) Every one of the temple company, therefore, is properly designated “Jehovah’s witness”, because they are wholly for Jehovah and his government of righteousness.
HIGHER POWERS
The faithful servant must likewise be obedient to his Master, and he is the servant of him whom he does obey. (Rom. 6:16) Peoples of the earth are organized into nations, and the visible rulers of such nations are a few men who occupy and fill public offices and who together with their associates control the people of the nations. The invisible ruler or god of such nations is Satan the Devil. (2 Cor. 4:4; John 12:31; 14:30) Under the wily and seductive influence of the Devil religious and political rulers of the world have seized upon a scripture concerning “the higher powers” and wrongfully applied it, and have assumed and have taught the people that those earthly politicians who fill the offices constitute the “higher powers”. This is not only wholly false, but a defamation of God’s name. Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are “the higher powers”, particularly to those who have covenanted to do God’s will. (Rom. 13:1) All such covenant people must obey God rather than man. (Acts 5: 29) It follows, therefore, that Jehovah’s witnesses must be obedient to the Lord and his commandments and that no man or earthly government can rightfully grant a permit to preach or can properly interfere with Jehovah’s witnesses in giving testimony and doing what the Almighty God has commanded that they shall do. When governments of earth attempt to override God’s commandments, they are presumptuous and grossly wicked. Those who have made a covenant to do the will of God are under the immediate command of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah’s great Prophet, Priest and King; and concerning them it is written: “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”—Acts 3:23.
THE MOST HIGH
The full and complete allegiance of Jehovah’s witnesses and all his people is to the Almighty God, the Most High. His witnesses must do right toward all persons, but they must always obey God’s law; and when the law of some earthly government is contrary to the law of God, the consecrated children of God have no choice or alternative. They must obey the commandments of the Lord God and his King. A failure or refusal to do so means their destruction. Every proper law of earthly governments that is in harmony with God’s law true Christians will obey and gladly obey, but any law of any earthly government that contravenes or is directly opposed to God’s law is wrong, and God’s children will obey His law, and not that of man. An example of this: Jehovah God commands that all creation shall obey and worship him and shall not bow down to or attribute salvation to any creature or thing, because Jehovah God is the source of life and protection and blessings for all creatures. It is the Devil that induces men to violate God’s commandment, and he does so to sustain his wicked challenge and to thereby bring about the destruction of men. For the protection and salvation of obedient men God commands: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.” (Ex. 20: 3-5) Contrary to this unchangeable command of God, worldly governments enact laws compelling men to salute flags and to pay homage to men, thereby attributing protection and salvation to earthly things. It is the privilege of every person who desires to do so to conform himself to such unrighteous laws, but one who is in a covenant with God to do his will must obey God’s law; and to salute any flag or to hail any man or any creature and thereby attribute to such protection and salvation is to compromise with the Devil contrary to God’s law, to reproach the name of the Most High, and thereby to bring upon such person complete destruction. For this reason all true and faithful followers of Christ Jesus are designated in the Scriptures as strangers and pilgrims in the earth, looking for and awaiting the complete establishment of God’s righteous government that shall rule the world in perfection. There could be but one purpose in attempting to compel Christians to salute flags, and hail and bow down to men, and that one purpose of Satan is to cause such Christians to violate God’s commandment and bring upon them destruction; and this would be carrying out his side of the controversy and therefore would be a further reproach of God’s name. This matter is here stressed in order that it may be seen that true Christians cannot and will not obey any law of any men that openly repudiates and violates the law of the Most High, Jehovah God.
Furthermore, all persons who worship God in spirit and in truth delight to do his will; they love God and his law, and therefore delight to conform themselves to his law. The Christian does not seek the approval of men, but desires the approval of God. Knowing that every good thing proceeds from Jehovah God, the child of the Lord has no desire to act contrary to God’s law, but always to be obedient thereto. In so doing he can never go wrong; and hence to refuse to salute flags or bow down to images or men could never work injury to anyone. For more than 150 years the American government has recognized the inalienable right of men to worship God as their own conscience directs; but now, in these latter days, when the Devil knows his time is short, he induces the religionists, and particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, to attempt to compel the doing of deeds or things that will result in the destruction of true and faithful followers of Christ Jesus. The saluting of flags and bowing down to men never made any person honest, law-abiding, faithful and righteous. For any Christian to indulge in such practice, because contrary to God’s Word, renders him wholly unrighteous. Therefore Jehovah’s witnesses say to the nations of the earth and to its rulers: “Take whatever course men desire; we will serve God, and to him only will we bow down and worship.”
For more than six thousand years men who believed, obeyed and served God have with eagerness hoped for, looked for, and prayed for the coming of God’s government of righteousness. The prayer which Jesus taught his followers to pray is this: ‘Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.’ In this present time that prophetic prayer is being answered, because Christ Jesus has come, God has enthroned him as King, and his reign has begun. The true child of God therefore recognizes the kingdom of God under Christ as the greatest thing that has ever come to pass or ever will come to pass, and for that reason he is determined to give his entire devotion to God and his righteous government.
Jehovah’s witnesses forming a part of the temple are instructed by the Lord and are sent forth to do his service. To them Jesus Christ commits his testimony, and they must obey his commandments. Jesus does not command them to go about and make an effort to convert the world, as religionists claim that they are doing. Their work is to announce the kingdom of God. Now the Lord has brought about the physical facts in fulfillment of his prophecy, showing that the King and Kingdom are here and all persons who would live must give heed to the King and obey his laws. It is that kingdom that brings about peace, prosperity, life and happiness to obedient men, and it will solve all the problems that perplex men, and, above all, the Kingdom will vindicate the name of Jehovah God. These great truths constitute good news to honest and God-fearing men. “Good news’’ means the gospel of the Kingdom. Because of the paramount importance of the Kingdom, Jesus gives positive commandment to all Christians, which commandment they must now obey, and which commandment is in these words: “And 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) That message of good news must be declared to the people by God’s witnesses and must be done and completed immediately preceding the destruction of Satan’s rule and power; and when the work of giving testimony is done, then will immediately follow the battle of the great day of God Almighty, which is Armageddon, and which will completely wreck every part of Satan’s organization. Again the Kingdom of the Lord God under Christ Jesus is emphasized as that which is of greatest importance to all creatures.
To be sure, Satan is violently opposed to the kingdom of God because the full operation of that kingdom means the finish of Satan and his power. Satan therefore assaults Jehovah’s witnesses and attempts to destroy them. In every part of the earth the events that are daily coming to pass show that Satan is doing his very best to destroy those who announce the Kingdom. In this wicked assault made by Satan he uses religion and religious organizations, led by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, and that explains why the Catholic Hierarchy in every part of the earth violently and wickedly oppose the proclamation of Jehovah’s kingdom under Christ. Looking to this very time, the Lord Jesus speaks of the Devil, that old Dragon, and his instruments operating against Jehovah’s witnesses, in these words: “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”—Rev. 12:17.
Everyone therefore who is true and loyal to Jehovah God and his kingdom, and who faithfully obeys the commandments of the Lord, is the object of Satan’s assault. Jesus informed the apostle of what would come to pass in these latter days, and therefore Paul, under inspiration, wrote: ‘Through much tribulation shall ye enter the kingdom.’ Jehovah’s witnesses know that they must expect persecution from religionists, because religionists are Satan’s tools or agents. Tribulation or persecution, therefore, does not at all deter them from doing their work, but, as the apostle declares, they rejoice in tribulation, such being evidence that they have God’s favor and his approval.
CONTROVERSIAL
Satan attempts to lull to complete silence everything that would expose him and his wicked operations. For that reason the religionists, Catholics, Protestants, Jews and others, all agree to say nothing that might provoke a controversy. They have induced the public press and the radio to refuse the publication of any truth concerning God’s kingdom, on the ground that it is controversial. They invoke every unrighteous rule against Jehovah’s witnesses in their desperate attempt to keep the people in ignorance of everything pertaining to the kingdom of God, and this they do for the reason that they know the truth when told exposes the duplicity and crookedness of Satan and his religious agents. Upon the false pretext of having peace those religionists insist that Jehovah’s witnesses shall not be permitted to inform the people of God’s kingdom, declaring that the Kingdom message is subversive and seditious; the very thing that religionists charged against Jesus when he was on the earth. The earthly ruling powers make laws which declare that the testimony given by Jehovah’s witnesses concerning God and his kingdom is seditious and liable to cause a breach of the peace and therefore should be suppressed. All these things constitute corroborative evidence that the kingdom of the Lord is here and that the great issue is about to be finally and completely settled.
False doctrines are likewise in direct opposition to God’s truth. Therefore the proclamation of the truth is always controversial, for the reason that it exposes the lies of Satan’s agents. By reason of the great number of lies religionists tell the people, the masses are kept blind to the truth. Now the Lord sends forth his witnesses to declare the truth, and that truth when declared provokes a great storm of protest by the religionists for the very purpose of beclouding the issue. It is the kingdom of God and the proclamation of his truth in conflict with Satan’s wicked organization that provokes controversy. The proclamation of his truth must continue, however, and will continue until God’s due time to destroy Satan’s organization. Those who appreciate the great importance of God’s kingdom under Christ, and those only, will engage in making proclamation of the Kingdom message. Everyone who is informed of and concerning the Kingdom and who then fails or refuses to have a part in delivering the testimony of the Kingdom as commanded, thereby shows himself to be against God’s kingdom, because Jesus says: “He that is not with me is against me.” Only those who take a positive stand on the side of God and his kingdom from this day forth will ever have a part in the blessings which God bestows upon his creatures. How many persons really appreciate what the Kingdom means? Apparently not many; but those who do appreciate the meaning thereof are fully determined to serve the King and his kingdom by joyfully obeying his commandment, and are also fully determined that they will permit nothing whatsoever to interrupt their faithful service to the King.
WITNESS WORK
The foregoing are some of the reasons why Jehovah’s witnesses joyfully engage in the Kingdom service, and that amidst the most cruel and brutal opposition that has ever been practiced against true Christians. If the Kingdom was important in the day of Abel and the prophets that followed, all of whom looked forward with great anxiety and joy to its coming, now, when the King has come and has begun his reign, that kingdom is of far greater importance to those who have made a covenant to do the will of God. Jehovah’s witnesses in these days see the fulfillment of the prophecies, and they know that the day of deliverance is at hand.
The most important work of Christians is to announce the King and his kingdom, which righteous government rests upon the shoulder of Christ Jesus, because that government will vindicate Jehovah’s name. The secondary purpose of declaring the message is that all classes of persons may be warned of the impending disaster about to fall upon the world that is ruled by Satan, and that the only possible way of escape from such disaster is to flee to God’s kingdom and there find refuge and safety. By this means the Lord informs the people of good will toward him as to the means of protection and safety. Such persons of good will he declares are his “other sheep”, which “other sheep” he now gathers unto himself and who shall in due time become a part of God’s fold. Those people of good will are otherwise designated in the Scriptures as ‘Jonadabs’, or those who will form the “great multitude”. (Rev. 7:9) The hope of such is not heavenly, but their hope is in the heavenly kingdom, that kingdom being ruled by the heavenly One, Christ Jesus. That kingdom through Christ will administer to the great multitude life everlasting on the earth. Such persons are now hearing the Kingdom message, and hearing it they joyfully ‘flee to the mountains’, that is to say, to God and to Christ. They take their stand firmly and openly on the side of God and his King, put themselves under God’s organization, and joyfully participate in delivering the Kingdom message. Therefore the Jonadabs have a part in the witness work, and with great zeal do they participate in that work, and so full is their devotion that the Scriptures describe them in these words, to wit: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he, that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”—Rev. 7:9, 10, 15-17.
COMPANIONS
The Lord in his Word designates the anointed remnant and the great multitude as “companions”, because both companies are devoted to Jehovah and his King and therefore are entirely separate and distinct from the world ruled by Satan. The citizenship of the remnant is in heaven, while the everlasting abiding place of the great multitude will be on the earth. Both companies are and will be for ever wholly for the Lord. They praise Jehovah and worship him in spirit and in truth. The anointed remnant is charged with the responsibility of carrying the message of the Kingdom to the people, and the great multitude or Jonadabs are their helpers and join with the remnant in advertising the King and the Kingdom. Both companies must at all times prove faithful to Jehovah and his kingdom if they would receive God’s ultimate approval. The Devil and his representatives, both invisible and visible, are bitter enemies of all who are on the side of God and his kingdom. Such is the reason for the persecution that is constantly heaped upon God’s people now on the earth.
With the proper understanding God’s people have during the fiscal year of 1937 put forth their efforts in obedience to God’s commandment to advertise his kingdom. To them Jehovah has given this commandment: “Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; east up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.”—Isa. 62:10.
In obedience to that commandment their faces are turned toward the Kingdom, and their efforts are employed to make known the King and the. Kingdom. It is now God’s time for the witness work to be done, and his people delight to have a part in such work. Looking to this very day, Jehovah caused his prophet to write: “Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord; and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.”—Isa. 62:11,12.
The word “city”, used in this text, is God’s temple organization, of which Christ Jesus is the Head, and which is not an organization forsaken, but which is held as dear to God as the apple of his eye. The faithful delight to serve him, and for that reason they have been doing it during the fiscal year just closed.
CORPORATIONS
The Scriptures abundantly support the conclusion that Jehovah God has an organization and that he does everything orderly. His work on the earth is carried on in an orderly manner, and the earthly part of his organization represents his interests and that of his kingdom and is made up of all persons who are at full unity in Christ Jesus and who are for his kingdom. That organization on earth is designated under the term “the Society”, meaning the society or people engaged in his service. To comply with the proper laws of the land “the Society” formed corporations, which corporate bodies hold title to property and legally carry forward the work and affairs of the Society. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society is the parent corporation of said Society and is organized under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania. The Peoples Pulpit Association is an associated corporation of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society and is organized under the membership corporation law of the State of New York. The International Bible Students Association is also an associated corporation of the first one named and is organized under the laws of Great Britain and also of Canada. Such corporations hold title to the property of and carry forward the work of the Lord’s people otherwise designated “the Society”. Such corporations are not religious, or religious organizations, but are Christian organizations, and are charitable and benevolent corporations. Because men have not recognized the clear distinction between religion and Christianity, the lawmakers of the land put religious, Christian, charitable and benevolent organizations all in the same class. From the legal viewpoint, therefore, they are the same and entitled to the same privileges. Organized under the laws of the land the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, the Peoples Pulpit Association, and the International Bible Students Association are entitled to all the privileges granted by the laws under which they are organized. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society and its kindred corporations above named are charitable and benevolent corporations. They are charitable organizations because such organizations are properly defined as “exhibiting Christian love”, that is to say, the love of Christ, which love is entirely for God and his kingdom and for humankind. A benevolent corporation is properly defined as one “having the disposition to do good; possessing and manifesting love for mankind and a desire to promote men’s prosperity and happiness”. The aforementioned corporations, to wit, the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Peoples Pulpit Association, and International Bible Students Association, come clearly within the proper meaning and purview of the law and are therefore fully entitled to the benefits of the law which provides that all such corporations are exempt from taxation. Such corporations are not employed or used for the selfish interest or benefit of any individual, but are wholly devoted to the work of doing good to men in general by informing them and teaching them of God’s gracious provision to give life, prosperity and complete happiness to the human race. All the money, property and assets had and held by such corporations above named are devoted exclusively to the work of the Lord in doing good to men. Those corporations are instruments of God’s people, used exclusively and unselfishly for the benefit of mankind and to the glory of God. They are not used for pecuniary profit. Small contributions are received for some portions of the literature printed and distributed by the Society or corporations above named, while a great amount of such literature and books is given freely to the poor. Employment, food and raiment are freely furnished to many persons, and therefore the corporations named are strictly and wholly within the purview of the law regarding charitable and benevolent societies. Such corporations are therefore entitled to tax exemption upon property held for corporate purposes, although the opponents of the Lord’s work have attempted, and still attempt, to treat such corporations as organizations for pecuniary profit. The correct theory and purpose of the law of the land is that such corporations should not be taxed on their property used for the work, such as is earned on by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, the Peoples Pulpit Association, and the International Bible Students Association. For that reason these corporations make application to have the benefit of such tax exemption laws. The facts are that the foregoing corporations are probably the only ones doing a work in the name of God and Christ Jesus that devote all of their assets and contributions to a charitable and benevolent work. The Society by its corporations has extended its charitable and benevolent work to all parts of the earth, and the people have freely contributed their money to carry on such work and continue to do so.
Opponents of God’s kingdom wrongfully attempt to show that the aforementioned corporations and the Society are devoted to work against earthly governments. This claim is entirely wrong. The Society and the afore-mentioned corporations are devoted wholly to God’s kingdom under Christ, which is the only hope for the people and which holds out unlimited benefits for humankind.
A few persons on the earth are the devoted followers of Christ Jesus the King and are therefore Christians. They have their eyes fixed upon the Kingdom, and all their hopes and joys are centered there. Like Abel and the other faithful servants of Jehovah who followed after him to the coming of Jesus, all Christians ‘desire a heavenly government’, that is, a government ruled by the King of righteousness, Christ Jesus. (Heb. 11:16) All persons of good will likewise desire that government of righteousness and are lending their entire support to that kingdom. All such persons are fully determined that by God’s grace no amount of persecution shall deter them in their unstinted devotion and service to the Kingdom. Their eternal existence is centered in the Kingdom, and they are servants and supporters of that government of righteousness, and their eyes are blind to everything else. Let Satan and all his earthly agents, particularly the religionists, take notice now that their wicked opposition to the kingdom of Christ and to his faithful publishers and supporters on the earth will avail them nothing. These Christians rely upon Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, and therefore they will go on in their work of publishing the Kingdom message. This explains why during the past year the publishing work of Jehovah’s witnesses and the Jonadabs has gone forward amidst the most wicked persecution ever launched against any company of sincere persons. They see Jesus, the Faithful and True Witness of Jehovah God, who bore the taunts, jeers and wicked persecution of the religious agents of the Devil, and did so joyfully that he might be Jehovah’s Vindicator; they have marked his victory over death and his great exaltation because of his faithfulness. They now hear and obey the clarion voice of the faithful apostle of Jesus Christ who, by divine authority and under inspiration of the holy spirit, addresses his fellow Christians in these words: “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.” —Heb. 13:13-15.
While suffering indignities and bodily pain inflicted upon them by religionists these faithful Christians rejoice to be faithful publishers of the Kingdom, and thus they go among the people bearing the testimony of good news, and as they go they are singing the new song, which only those who are devoted to God and his kingdom can know or sing: “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the
Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” (Rev. 15: 3, 4) Christ Jesus is leading them, and they are absolutely certain to participate in his complete victory. They are therefore the only joyful people now on the earth.
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