Golden Age Goodies

by Leolaia 279 Replies latest watchtower scandals

• 

  Leolaia

  Now, when the Society discusses the "Flag Salute" issue in the Divine Purpose book, or the Proclaimers book, or the 1975 Yearbook, or in their many Watchtower articles, is there ever even the slightest hint that the whole issue was bound up in a paranoid conspiracy theory?

  The article I just quoted above (and I'm trying pretty hard to quote only "fair use" excerpts for discussion) ends with an appeal to read the article "Saluting the Flag" in the 23 October 1935 issue of Golden Age. Why?

  *** g35 11/6 p. 84 Lop-Sided News ***

  It is absolutely convincing and satisfying. Read it, and decide now whether you wish to be Hitlerized, swastika-ized, Nazified, or Mussolinified by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, The Associated Press, or anybody else acting in their behalf. Watch your step, or you will be compelled soon to say the equivalent of "Heil Hitler" before you know what it is all about.

  The Society today would portray the flag salute issue as simply a matter of "Christian neutrality", but Rutherford's views were thoroughly political. Refraining from saluting the flag was a political act of resisting foreign incursion in America, of resisting the forces aimed to overthrow the American government. In short, you would be protecting your own country from foreign threats by refusing to be co-opted by them. Yes, yes, it was also about allegiance to God's kingdom and opposing Satan's organization. But it wasn't just that. The Society conceals the fact that at the time, Rutherford promoted a xenophobic, bigoted conspiracy theory as another rationale for resisting the flag salute.
• 

  TD

  I think it was Peters that pointed out that originally the flag salute did involve extending one's right had upward and outward with the fingertips pointed and clicking the heels. Without defending the paranoia of Rutherford & Co., I can understand why they may have seen a connection
• 

  fullofdoubtnow

  There is no such thing as germs and rabies.

  Appendicitis is caused by worms and is cured by eating peppermint.

  All diseases are intestinal.

  It's no wonder the wts don't like dubs reading the old publications. Imagine a newly - interested person being able to read these "gems" of wisdom. They would rightly conclude that the wts was run by lunatics, and most likely lose interest very quickly.
• 

  loosie

  bobbed hair craze is sure to lead to baldness

  I want to know what they were smoking to come up with these ideas?!?!?!?!
• 

  loosie

  Black woman holding up one of Rutherford's books: "What would you say to a po' gal dat loves de Lawd and only has 22 cents".

  I can't imagine what aficain americans must of thought reading that. I'm white and I am insulted.
• 

  Leolaia

  TD....You got a good point too. Every conspiracy theory rests on some foundation of facts or evidence, interpreted usually in a rather eccentric way but usually they are not total figments of ppl's imagination. In this case, (1) The Pledge of Allegiance originated in 1892 with the socialist minister Francis Bellamy, whose ideas represented an early form of national socialism, 2) Catholic Action supported the schools that insisted on compulsory flag salutes, and (3) The military-style salute bore a resemblance with the Nazi salute and the Nazis may well have been influenced by the salute in America:

  

  On the other hand:

  (1) Bellamy was Baptist, not Catholic, (2) The salute had already been in use in American schools before 1892 and was based on the traditional Roman salute (as can be seen in early silent films such as 1907's Ben Hur), (3) Bellamy's pledge had already been in use for over 40 years and was used primarily as a tool to inculcate an American identity in children of foreigners (compare Rutherford's idea that it prepares Americans to accept foreign control), (4) the flag dispute began with Jehovah's witnesses and Catholic Action's strongly pro-pledge platform was in part a reaction to Rutherford's anti-Catholic and anti-government screeds, (5) there was no Catholic plot to overthrow the government, (6) there were no plans in Congress to replace the American flag with the flag of the Vatican, etc. etc.
• 

  Leolaia

  GAG #8: DEMONS EVERYWHERE!!

  

  *** g35 11/20 p. 116 British Empire ***

  The Contemptible Work of a Demon

  In the London Dental Gazette is an account of a dental operation performed by F. St. J. Steadman, D.P.H., L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., L.D.S., on a lady who visited a clairvoyant before the operation and was told the only hour the operation could be performed as 9:30 a.m. on a Monday, that the dentist would insist on having his way about the removal of the impacted tooth, and that she would die in the operation. All worked out exactly as forecast, except the operation was a complete success and the woman recovered. It was apparent that in this case the demon was familiar with Dr. Steadman's memorandum book and knew the hour he would and did select. All else was meanness of the basest sort.

  Fire-Walking in Britain

  Unwilling to learn anything from the Bible a flock of British scientists built a pit filled with seven tons of oak logs, one ton of firewood, one load of charcoal and ten gallons of kerosene, and after it had been burning for eight hours, and the surface heat was found to be 800 degrees Fahrenheit, they saw Kuda Bux, a young Hindu, walk the length of the pit, pausing fire seconds at each step, and emerge unscathed. This happened at Carshalton, Kent, and was a case of demonism, pure and simple. Two British medical students who attempted to emulate the feat were severely burned after a few steps and had to jump to safety.

  *** g35 11/20 p. 124 Roman Catholic Fascism ***

  Probably Pushed by a Demon

  At Kitchberg, Austria, a Roman Catholic priest was praying in front of a statue of the virgin Mary when the statue fell on him, knocked him unconscious and crushed his right hand. The probable explanation is that a demon (or the evil spirits found in the overindulgence in "communion" wine) pushed the statue from its foundation.

  I do think the last item actually attempted a little bit of humor. And if that wasn't enough about demons in this single issue of the Golden Age, there was one further item about how Hitler has been undergoing a process of "demonization" (literally, becoming demonized), and how it was now nearly complete (p. 126).
• 

  VM44

  "Kuda Bux, a young Hindu, walk the length of the pit, pausing fire seconds at each step, and emerge unscathed. ... and was a case of demonism, pure and simple. Two British medical students who attempted to emulate the feat were severely burned after a few steps and had to jump to safety"

  This story that the demons protected a firewalker while two others who attempted to firewalk were burnt was being told by JWs in the 1970's, 35 to 40 years after it was published in The Golden Age. It is one of the "demon" stories that will most likely be told by some (usually older) JWs when the topic of fire walking comes up.

  The JWs probably thought Tony Robbins was demonized when he led groups of people in fire walking to motivate them and build up their self confidence.

  Thanks Leolaia for posting this, now I know where the story originated.

  --VM44
• 

  dilaceratus

  Dear Leolalia,
  
  To my memory, Coughlin's radio broadcasts of openly anti-Semitic ideas began in the mid-30's (I believe there were strong attacks on "Wall Street" personalities with Jewish names in 1934), but he skirted around the issue in the early thirties, as well. This all came to a head when he published yet another copy of the sordid Russian forgery "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" in 1938.
  
  It would certainly be helpful to know when Coughlin came across that disgusting work. Coughlin was in Royal Oak, Michigan, when Henry Ford first began publishing the "Protocols" in Dearborn, Michigan in 1921, which is when they first seem to have made their poisonous, mass-media impact on America.
  
  I have long wondered whether a sustained examination of Rutherford's writings wouldn't show a strong influence from the "Protocols," although those sorts of Nativist conspiracy theories were all over the place in the 1920s and 30s. Rutherford's early affiliation with William Jennings Bryan, who was adept at using code-words to invoke anti-Semitic sentiment with Populist audiences, may also give some clues as to his early mindset. (Really, in Rutherford's case, it seems impossible to gauge whether he believed anything, or was just aware of another button that could manipulate an audience.)
  
  One point that has always interested me: the crazy ban on immunizations, and medicine, in general. While there is a long history of anti-immunization thought in the Naturopath movement (back to at least 1918), why did they attack it as demonic? One thought is that there are a couple of parts in the "Protocols" which suggest a conspiracy to purposely infect the Goyim, using medicine.
  
  Your information on the flag salute issue is incredible work.
  
  [Dilaceratus]
  
  
  P.S. To clarify, my first reading of the DOF, and subsequent readings, were what informed me of Rutherford changing Russell's interpretation on the status of the Jews. This caused me to wonder about what political motivations might have caused such a change.
• 

  moomanchu

  Thought I'd throw this in.

  My son had his appendix removed a few years back ther were two operations and there were complications he spent 17 days in the hospital, simple procedure turned into a fiasco.

  Only reason I'm bringing this up is after it was all over and we got back to normal. I found this gem, I sent the article to my mom and she said (get ready for this she's 75 years old) boy it's to bad you didn't find that sooner you wouldn't have had to go through all that.

  I'm not kidding!

  *** Watchtower Jan 15 1912 (reprints p.4963) ***
  It is known that only about three out of every one hundred operated upon for appendicitis really have a diseased appendix needing removal. We give below a simple cure for appendicitis symptoms. The pain in the appendix region is caused by the biting of worms near the junction of the transverse colon with the small intestines, low down on the right side of the abdomen. This remedy is recommended also for typhoid fever, which is also a worm disease. The medicine is Santonine dose, 3 grains, an hour before breakfast; repeated for four mornings, or until all the symptoms disappear. Then one dose per month for three months to eradicate all germs. This recipe is of INCALCULABLE VALUE. Not only will it save the surgeon’s and hospital fees of perhaps $200, but it saves weeks of ill health, inconvenience, convalescence and loss of salary.

  [Emphasis Added]
  *** Golden Age 1931/1934 December 19 p.187} ***
  Appendicitis: Take one ounce each of elder blossom, peppermint and yarrow and simmer in three pints of water .. take a wineglassful every fifteen minutes.. Do not be afraid of the perspiration caused, or if you vomit. You will be better off with an empty stomach.