Posts by Atlantis

12

Article in the 80's on stolen babies for organ transplant, in Awake.

by Gill in

jw
friends

does any one remember the watching the world article that claimed babies were being stolen in s america, colombia i think, though i could be wrong on the country, but being stolen so that their organs could be harvested and sold for transplant.

it turned out to be wrong and they had to print some sort of a retraction?

Atlantis

Meant to say, sorry for the repeat! When you get old like me, sometimes the fingers just don't want to work right on these keyboards!

12

Article in the 80's on stolen babies for organ transplant, in Awake.

by Gill in

jw
friends

does any one remember the watching the world article that claimed babies were being stolen in s america, colombia i think, though i could be wrong on the country, but being stolen so that their organs could be harvested and sold for transplant.

it turned out to be wrong and they had to print some sort of a retraction?

Atlantis

Saoirse:

My apologies! I must have been looking the article up when you had already entered it.

Very sorry for the repear!

Cheers!

12

Article in the 80's on stolen babies for organ transplant, in Awake.

by Gill in

jw
friends

does any one remember the watching the world article that claimed babies were being stolen in s america, colombia i think, though i could be wrong on the country, but being stolen so that their organs could be harvested and sold for transplant.

it turned out to be wrong and they had to print some sort of a retraction?

Atlantis

Awake-1989-3-22-p.-29 Watching the World Horrifying Organ Source Early in 1988 a not-much-publicized discovery was made at Santa Caterina Pinula, Guatemala. There, according to a resolution of the European Parliament, local authorities found a “casa de engorde,” or “fattening center,” where newborn babies purchased for as little as $20 (U.S.) were sold to American or Israeli families for $75,000. The purpose? So that the families purchasing them could use the infants’ organs for their own children who were in need of organ transplants, said the resolution. It also states that in 1987 a similar “fattening center” was found in Honduras “near to which the bodies of many children were found, some of them new-born babies, from which one or more organs had been removed.” Another was found in Guatemala City “whose register indicated the sale abroad . . . of 170 babies, the major part of which were sent to the United States for the removal of organs.” The Parliament’s resolution has been issued to various agencies and governments, calling for appropriate action to be taken against those responsible for this horrible practice.

2

Various JW News Articles!

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

http://wb20.trb.com/hc-brichurch1216.artdec16,0,3838734.story?coll=wtxx-home-3

http://www.newsday.co.tt/stories.php?article_id=31748

after blood transfusion .

Atlantis

Church Break-ins Investigated: http://wb20.trb.com/hc-brichurch1216.artdec16,0,3838734.story?coll=wtxx-home-3 Church Break-Ins Investigated

Courant Staff Writer

The spirit of Christmas clearly hasn't reached whoever is breaking into city churches to steal money in the middle of the night.

Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall, Liberty Baptist Church and Bethel Christian Church, according to investigators.

Baby Ammon still critical, but stable: http://www.newsday.co.tt/stories.php?article_id=31748

Friday 16th December 2005

After blood transfusion — Baby Ammon still critical, but stable

Health Minister John Rahael yesterday said baby Ammon was "very critical but stable" at the neonatal unit of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH).

The three-week-old baby weighed one pound 12 ounces when he was born three months premature on November 25. Due to his premature condition he has medical complications and is still on a ventilator.

Speaking to the media at the PoSGH after the handing over of 63 new beds to the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA), Rahael said, "the doctors indicated it is difficult to tell the outcome. They are doing the best they can and we have to pray and hope for the best."

Baby Ammon now weights two-and-a-half pounds.

Asked to comment on the issue of an alternative to a blood transfusion for the baby since his parents are Jehovah Witnesses, Rahael said, "that is a call the doctors will have to make, not us as individuals. The neonatal unit has the most experienced neonatologist, Dr Petronella Manning-Alleyne."

He said her reputation was known in the Caribbean region, and "critical" babies from other health facilities, even private ones, were sent to PoSGH.

"If doctor Manning-Alleyne believes that was the best treatment, the baby has a chance of survival, then I have to respect that. These calls are always made by the professionals."

Baby Ammon was made a ward of the court last Thursday because his parents were against a blood transfusion on religious grounds. A blood transfusion was given last Friday.

The Jehovah Witness Association subsequently issued a media release saying that an alternative — EOP was proposed but not accepted. The baby’s twin died hours after birth.

Baby Ammon was born with a low blood count and his lungs began to bleed on December 3. On December 8, Manning-Alleyne approached the court to intervene. A court order placed the baby in the custody of doctors at the Neonatal Unit until he has fully recovered.

http://www.theacorn.com/news/2005/1215/Police/

Calabasas POLICE

Thieves stole a necklace, a ring and a cell phone valued at $3,000 from a residence on Park Fortuna on Nov. 29. The culprits also caused $450 in damages to a door.

A woman reportedly posing as a Jehovah’s Witness stole a wallet containing $900 in cash, two gold rings and other items valued at about $900. The incident occurred while the victim was waiting for a ride. The victim told police she was approached by the suspect and the woman stole the wallet out of her purse. The incident occurred Nov. 29 on Park Granada.

OIL AND BLOOD

http://www.freemarketnews.com/Analysis/117/3197/2005-12-15.asp?wid=117&nid=3197

OIL AND BLOOD

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Imagine that an emergency made the need for blood transfusions especially urgent but Jehovah Witnesses were in charge. That’s what we are experiencing now, only not with blood but oil supply. In that case the Jehovah Witnesses are the environmentalists.

Jehovah Witnesses are often very nice people, certainly well mannered and often dressed spiffily. But their idea on the merits of blood transfusions is really, really perverse, like the ideas of Christian Scientists on seeking the help of physicians when one’s body is ailing. I am sorry but this is just so. Sure, so long as it pertains to them and they aren’t forcing their views on anyone else, I can live with both, although when either of them inflicts these views on their own children, I get very worried. Children are dependents, not yet of age so as to figure out what’s best, and when they are subjected to parents’ peculiar religious or any other sort of notions, especially ones that can kill them, it’s time to call in the trial lawyers, I say. They are injuring, even killing kids, with ideas the kids never had a chance to consider and decide about.

But never mind that. It is with the environmentalists’ impact on public policy that I am concerned. The country has been terribly dependent on imported oil and that would not be so bad if the oil were owned by reasonable people abroad, people who, like reason would guide one to do, wished to earn a decent living off their good fortune and hard work. That would make for healthy trade between, say, the oil rich Saudi Arabians or Venezuelans and the rest of the world.

Sadly, however, as things are, the oil abroad is under the control of a bunch of rouge states that (a) use it to make the population addicted to free lunches that can only last so long and (b) play geopolitical games instead of conduct trade with people outside their borders. This makes it especially crucial that the rest of the world institute rational economic policies when it comes to oil exploration, extraction and refinement.

No, of course oil will not last forever. But it could do us a lot more good without irrational restraint of production and trade that’s often brought about by the irrational exuberance of too many environmentalists who haven’t found an oil rig they didn’t hate or an oil refinery they didn’t want to ban.

Even in a time of emergency, such as many Americans had and are still reeling from involving the hurricanes, instead of retreating in shame of how little they care about human well-being, both the environmentalists and their political pawns in Washington prefer dragging a bunch of oil company executives in front of pontificating Congressional committees and subjecting them to various attempts to humiliation, as if their duties were first to appease the politicos rather than enrich all those who own oil stocks (which, by the way, includes millions of people who are far from “fat cats,” whoever that insulting term is supposed to refer to).

Oh, yes, about that gauging issue—no doubt some folks love to exploit other people’s dire needs, but it is simply impossible to know from afar who is doing this as opposed to taking reasonable advantage of having prudently saved up (horded) resources while others gave not a fig about a rainy day. If one thinks charging high prices for goods and services in short supply is a bad thing, we might as well shut down all labor unions which flourish by advocating that policy, or doctors who actually live by it (given how they are mostly needed and diligently charge for this when their patients are in dire need of their expertise).

Anyway, I look at environmental opposition to oil exploration in, say, Alaska, or offshore, or anywhere, as rank obstructionism and the cause of much misery, especially to those who can least afford or cope with it. This is just what you get when people’s value systems have become so warped that they are willing to put trees, snail darters, and rare frogs ahead of human lives and well-being on their list of priorities. But, like the Jehovah Witnesses or Christian Scientists, if they do it to themselves, that can only be argued with in a free country. But if they inflict their perverse notions on us all, they should be stopped.

HOMEMADE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOUND NEAR CHURCH!

http://www.kxii.com/news/headlines/2076661.html Homemade Explosive Device Found Near Church Bomb Explodes Near Church

12-14-05 - A homemade explosive device was detonated this week behind the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness Church on C Street Southeast. A person saw a teenager building the device on Monday and called police.

Police don't believe the Jehovah’s Witness church or anyone else was a target, but they're still taking precautions.

It all happened behind the church off C Street Southeast. Police say Monday morning a passerby noticed a teenager behind the building in a field. The witness thought the teen was a starting a fire, but instead police found a bottle along with ingredients that caused a small explosion.

Although the device wasn't close to the building, neighbors are still in shock. The Kingdom Hall's elder declined an on camera interview but says the church doesn't feel they were being threatened, but they plan to keep an extra watch at the back of the church.

Ardmore police are still investigating the incident and are looking for the teenager they believe caused the explosion. If you have any information your asked to call Ardmore police at 580-223-1212. Edited to remove the banner - Lady Lee

44

PHOTOS - Does the WTS change them?

by hamsterbait in

jw
friends

in line with ritchie rich's thread where abad points out that the wts has an ongoing editing policy for the littermanure.. they have heavily edited the bound volumes as opposed to the original ragazines.

they even got rid of kingdumb melodies from the song book, because their composer turned away.

ditto the aid book.. has anyone noticed if they remove people from old photos who are no longer approved?

Atlantis

http://www.cftf.com/online/

Watchtower & Stalin
both alter artwork — Why?

PARADE MAGAZINE (February 8, 1998, pg. 15) tells about Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's practice of having photographs retouched to remove the faces of political figures who had fallen out of favor. Examples are show on the cover of a new book, The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin's Russia by David King (Metropolitan Books-Henry Holt).

The book review in PARADE MAGAZINE explains that the Communist dictator used "the photographer's airbrush as a political weapon." The out-of-favor figures who disappeared from historical photographs were "victims of expert retouching." In PARADE 's opinion, this practice showed Stalin's government to be "a cruel regime whose cynicism neglected no details."

Does that book speak about Jehovah's Witnesses? Not that we know of. What is the connection, then? This: The Watchtower Society follows the same practice. And if such a practice leads to certain conclusions about the regime of Josef Stalin, the same practice on the part of the Watchtower leadership may lead to similar conclusions about them.

Who else follows the practice of retouching photographs and artwork as different viewpoints or personalities fall in or out of favor? There must be others, but the only one that comes readily to mind is "Big Brother" in George Orwell's futuristic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. While "Big Brother is watching you" his henchmen are rewriting books and fixing photos:

This process of continual alteration was applied not only to newspapers, but to books, periodicals…cartoons, photographs …In this way the Party could be shown by documentary evidence to have been correct…mistaken prophecies by Big Brother, have been rewritten a dozen times…without any admission that any alteration had been made.
—Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell (Signet Classic edition)
pages 36-37

Big Brother and dictator Josef Stalin — strange company for a religious organization! Yet the Watchtower Society has placed itself in that company by adopting their methods.

Could some underling be to blame for the doctored artwork in The Watchtower ? No, because the leaders claim responsibility in the March 1, 1987, Watchtower (page 15):

Each article in both The Watchtower and Awake! and every page, including the artwork, is scrutinized by selected members of the Governing Body before it is printed...

In fact, although JW publications neither explain nor acknowledge the changes, it is often evident that a high-level decision must have been made to rule a certain hairstyle out of favor or to disqualify individuals from appearing in photographs. Over-the-ears hairstyles on men are replaced in some pictures with short "theocratic" haircuts.

[THE WATCHTOWER gave this man a new head] THE WATCHTOWER gave this man a new head

Altered Watchtower illustrations are reminiscent of
Stalin & "Big Brother"
In Orwell's novel Big Brother's men altered not only the illustrations in books, magazines, and newspapers, but also the text. Josef Stalin presumably did the same. And the Watchtower Society follows suit.
Compare page 12 of the January 1, 1989, Watchtower with its bound volume reprint. In the original magazine, paragraph 8 ends with the statement that the apostle Paul’s missionary activity laid the foundation for “a work that would be completed in our 20th century.”—a subtle prophecy that ‘the end’ will come by the year 2000 A.D. This sentence is changed in the bound volume reprint to read “a work that would be completed in our day.” Yet there is no footnote or other indication that anything was changed. How similar, again, to "Big Brother"'s world where:
Everything faded into the mist. The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth. …This process of continuous alteration was applied not only to newspapers, but to books, periodicals, pamphlets, posters, leaflets, films, sound tracks, cartoons, photographs— … without any admission that any alteration had been made.— Nineteen Eighty-Four, G. Orwell (Signet ed.) p. 36-37
Motivation for the Watchtower Society's alterations has not always been the same. During 1981 and 1982 an ad for Johnnie Walker Red scotch whisky appeared in several major magazines, including the September 1982 Reader’s Digest (certain editions only, p. 37). The ad depicted a red sunset silhouetting a building with two people standing on an elevated porch. It had first been run in the June 29, 1981 U.S. News and World Report, and was copyrighted, according to the liquor company’s staff attorney.
Then The Watchtower of September 15, 1982, appeared with the same picture on its cover (slightly modified—the Watchtower Society’s artist cut off the left edge of the building and removed one of the people from the porch). This misuse of the liquor ad picture was exposed in the October, 1982, issue of Comments from the Friends .
As a result of such publicity the liquor company, Somerset Importers, Inc., contacted Watchtower headquarters through their legal staff. The Society agreed, out of court, to stop using the ad on its cover. So, when the year’s magazines were reprinted as a bound volume at the end of 1982, the cover of the September 15th issue featured a different picture—a landscape showing trees with mountains in the background, predominantly blue instead of red. Foreign language editions—those printed after the U.S. English edition—also carried the new cover. The Watchtower issue with a liquor ad picture on its cover is now a collector’s item.
Compare page 13 of the June 1, 1989, Watchtower with the bound volume reprint of the same magazine. The original issue features a photograph of a married couple over the heading, “God’s Word says, ‘Let marriage be honorable.’” In the bound volume reprinted at the end of the year, a different couple’s photograph has been substituted. Again, no explanation is offered. And, again, reminiscent of The Commissar Vanishes —dictator Josef Stalin's similar altering of pictures — and Big Brother in George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Amazingly, the average Jehovah's Witness accepts the altered illustrations without comment and pretends that nothing is wrong — just as did the oppressed populations in Stalin's Soviet Union and in Orwell's nightmarish novel.

16

Watchtower will NOT accept legal responsibility

by VM44 in

i posted this in another thread, but this comment from the watchtower deserves a thread of its own.

here is what the watchotwer wrote back in 1952 concerning legal liability and vaccinations.

i am sure they feel the same today, the watchtower will not assume legal liability for any misrepresentation it has made concerning blood transfusions.

Atlantis

http://www.ajwrb.org/watchtower/card.shtml

Advance Directive

The first example shown is one of the older versions of the blood card that Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) carried. You will note its clear and uncompromising statement about the use of blood. It says specifically "I demand that blood, in any way, shape or form, is NOT to be fed into my body..."

This statement is quite interesting for two reasons:

We no longer hear the Watchtower Society (WTS) talk in terms of blood transfusions being a "feeding" on blood. This is because they now know that a transfusion is not a feeding on blood, but rather an organ transplant. The old view was based upon outdated medical views that were discarded nearly a hundred years ago. Today the WTS is forced to speak in terms of how it is wrong to "sustain one's life" by means of blood. As we have seen, however, the Bible no where talks about blood in this way.
The other interesting thing about the wording in this card is that it would clearly prohibit a Witness from taking any blood components such as those now on the Society's approved list. It accurately reflects the position taken by the Society in the following quote:
Whether whole or fractional, one's own or someone else's, transfused or injected, it is wrong - The Watchtower 09/15/1961 p. 559

What follows below is the current "Advance Directive" being used by Jehovah's Witnesses:

The current blood card, or "Medical Directive" is no longer able to make the same uncompromising statement. Why? Because the WTS has gradually modified its once firm position and now allows many parts of the blood to be transfused or injected in various forms.

A doctrine that made little sense to begin with, now makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Are you still carrying this document in your wallet? If so, why? It may well become a warrant for your untimely death.

Children of Jehovah's Witnesses, though not even baptized, are called upon to carry a similar card. It can be viewed in the section "A Parent's Perspective."

16

Watchtower will NOT accept legal responsibility

by VM44 in

i posted this in another thread, but this comment from the watchtower deserves a thread of its own.

here is what the watchotwer wrote back in 1952 concerning legal liability and vaccinations.

i am sure they feel the same today, the watchtower will not assume legal liability for any misrepresentation it has made concerning blood transfusions.

Atlantis

Blood Card Directives and Power of Attorney:

Please allow a minute or so for download.

http://www.ajwrb.org/2003WThealthcaredocs.pdf

328

Journal of Church and State: WT NO-BLOOD EXPOSE'

by AndersonsInfo in

(baylor university, waco, tx) an essay entitled, "jehovah's witnesses, blood transfusions, and the tort of misrepresentation," found in the autumn issue of baylor universitys prestigious journal of church and state, published december 13, 2005, exposes the vulnerability of jehovahs witnesses religious organization to massive claims for compensation because of the religions misrepresentation of the medical risks of blood transfusions.

this milestone essay critically examines one of the religions main publications for teaching their children and new recruits about their blood beliefs, how can blood save your life?

the peer-reviewed essay details many misrepresentations of medical facts, which the religion partly relies on to support its blood prohibition, thus denying its members from making fully informed medical decisions.

Atlantis

Can Jehovah's Witness adults or mature minor children make serious life threatening decisions according to their faith, when the very information they are suppose to follow is denied them?

How can Jehovah's Witnesses provide support when a Witness patient is alone or at night, unless other JWs are lurking around them on an hourly basis?

What other necessary information or forms do older Witness patients need assistance with? Their "will" perhaps?

Is it wise to move a child who is in a serious medical condition to another city?

Compare:

http://img33.exs.cx/img33/4048/hospliason7xa.jpg WATCHTOWER Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. Hospital Information Services 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483, U.S.A. Phone: (718) 560-4300 Fax: (718) 560-4479 Email: [email protected] HIM:HIF April 19, 2004 Congregation Jehovah's Witnesses, Attention Body of Elders C/O BROOKLYN MAIL CARRIER Dear Brothers: Enclosed is an updated list of the members of the Hospital Liaison Committee (HLC) to which your congregation is assigned. Each elder should make several copies of this letter (including the information on the reverse side) to have available at all times--at home, at work, and in his book bag. Please do not make copies of this material for publishers, or post it on the information board, or read it to the congregation. Remember that the HLC is a valuable resource, since these brothers have developed a close working relationship with medical personnel. As emphasized in previous years, it is wise to contact the HLC in advance for assistance. This is especially important in the following areas: * Older ones--Time may be needed to assist these publishers in filling out the health-care durable power of attorney (DPA) form and other necessary paperwork. Also, since some may not have Witness family members, it is vital to provide support to ensure that the brother or sister, when alone or at night, is not subjected to intimidation. * Pregnant sisters-- For various reasons, complications can arise throughout the pregnancy. If the doctor is not prepared or experienced to handle situations that include massive bleeding, valuable time is lost. The health and very life of the sister could be in danger. * Children-- The legal reality is that when true emergency situations exist, physicians can treat with standard practice (which may include blood) without parental consent. Therefore, the degree of cooperation and the experience of the physician are of utmost importance. Parents need to consider their best option when seeking care for their child, perhaps even locating such a physician in another city with help from the HLC. Regarding the legal provision of mature minors making their own health-care decisions, parents should carefully review information in The Watchtower, June 15, 1991, pages 15-18. Due to privacy regulations, hospitals are legally required to control access to patient information. Therefore, Witness patients should specifically request, at the time of admission, that they receive a visit from a minister of Jehovah's Witnesses. Be assured that we appreciate your support and assistance when brothers face challenging medical situations. We send our warm Christian love. Your brothers in Jehovah's service, Watchtower B. T. Society of New York, Inc. Hospital Liaison Committee

21

Rutherford and Elevators -- All Others Use the Stairs

by VM44 in

during the olin moyle court case, some of the "jehovah's witnesses" witnesses were asked on the stand if they knew if the elevators were held at ground floor at lunchtime so that rutherford would not have to wait to use them when he returned to the building.. other people had to use the stairs; the elevators had to be kept ready for rutherford.. the jw witnesses denied knowing anything about this.

but in reading the transcript of the trial, one gets the impression that none of the jws wanted to admit anything negative about rutherford, for instance, that rutherford would give "trimmings" (verbal scolding) to individuals at lunchtime was not readily admitted by even clayton woodworth, a person who had direct experience being reprimanded by the "judge"!.

trying to get info from the witnesses appeared to be like squeezing water from a stone!

Atlantis

http://www.geocities.com/paulblizard/deed.html

Rutherford with his Cadillac and one today
In the 19could only be afforded by the ultra-rich30's a car like this

21

Rutherford and Elevators -- All Others Use the Stairs

by VM44 in

during the olin moyle court case, some of the "jehovah's witnesses" witnesses were asked on the stand if they knew if the elevators were held at ground floor at lunchtime so that rutherford would not have to wait to use them when he returned to the building.. other people had to use the stairs; the elevators had to be kept ready for rutherford.. the jw witnesses denied knowing anything about this.

but in reading the transcript of the trial, one gets the impression that none of the jws wanted to admit anything negative about rutherford, for instance, that rutherford would give "trimmings" (verbal scolding) to individuals at lunchtime was not readily admitted by even clayton woodworth, a person who had direct experience being reprimanded by the "judge"!.

trying to get info from the witnesses appeared to be like squeezing water from a stone!

Atlantis

Internal Database (Watchtower Observer)-Kent Olin R. Moyle Olin Moyle was an attorney who was asked to come to Bethel in 1935 to help the Watchtower Society in its freedom-of-worship legal cases. He discovered that Bethel was anything but the "spiritual paradise" the Society claims it is.His letter of resignation is a very revealing one, particularly in light of the fact that when Jehovah allegedly pronounced that the Watchtower Society was in a "cleansed" condition and worthy of His selection as His sole mouthpiece, the one man in charge of everything done or said by of the Watchtower Society was none other than Joseph F. Rutherford himself. This letter reveals much about what kind of a man Rutherford was and what kind of an environment he fostered at the worldwide headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses.

This letter is written as dignified and reasoned tone that could be expected, considering what subjects it is addressing.

Rutherford responded to this letter in the October 15, 1939 Watchtower. Rutherford's response in what was supposed to be a "Bible-based" religious journal further confirmed just what sort of man he was. Moyle responded with a lawsuit for libel. After Rutherford's death he collected $15,000 plus court costs from the Society.

The letter as reproduced below was "Exhibit 4" in the libel lawsuit against Rutherford and the board of directors of the Watchtower Society.

Here Is his letter:

OLIN R. MOYLE Counsellor
117 Adams Street. Brooklyn. New York
Telephone Triangle 5-1474
July 21, 1939
Judge J. F. Rutherford, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Dear Brother Rutherford:

This letter is to give you notice of our intention to leave Bethel on September 1st next. These reasons for leaving are stated herein and we ask that you give them careful and thoughtful consideration.

Conditions at Bethel are a matter of concern to all of the Lord's people. Nowhere among imperfect men can there be perfect freedom from oppression, discrimination and unfair treatment, but at the Lord's headquarters on earth conditions should be such that injustice would be reduced to the minimum. That is not the case here at Bethel and a protest should be made against it. I am in a good position to make such protest because your treatment of me has been generally kind, considerate and fair. I can make this protest in the interests of the Bethel family and of the Kingdom work without any personal interest entering into the matter.

Treatment of Bethel Family

Shortly after coming to Bethel we were shocked to witness the spectacle of our brethren receiving what is designated as a "trimming" from you. The first, if memory serves me correct, was a tongue lashing given to C. J. Woodworth. Woodworth in a personal letter to you stated something to the effect that it would be serving the devil to continue using our present day calendar. For that he was humiliated, called a jackass, and given a public lambasting. Others have been similarly treated. McCaughey, McCormick, Knorr, Prosser, Price, Van Sipma, Ness and others have been similarly scolded. They have been publicly called to account, condemned, and reprimanded without any previous notice. This summer some of the most unfair public reproaches have been given. J. Y. McCauley asked a question which carried with it a criticism of the present method of Watch Tower study. For that he was severely reprimanded. Your action constituted a violation of the principle for which we are fighting, towit, freedom of speech. It was the action of a boss and not that of a fellow servant. Securing an efficient mode of study with imperfect study leaders is no easy task, and no method yet produced has proved to be one hundred per cent perfect. You stated that no complaints had come to you concerning this method of study. If that be the case you have not had all the facts presented to you. There is complaint in various places that the Watch Tower studies have degenerated into mere reading lessons. It may be that the present method is the best that can be used, but in view of known limitations honest criticism should not be censored nor honest critics punished.

Brother Worsley received a public denunciation from you because he prepared and handed to brethren a list of helpful Scripture citations on fundamental topics. How can we consistently condemn religionists for being intolerant when you exercise intolerance against those who work with you? Doesn't this prove that the only freedom permitted at Bethel is freedom to do and say that which you wish to be said and done? The Lord certainly never authorized you to exercise such high handed authority over your fellow servants.

Since the Madison Square Garden meeting there has been a distressing condition of restraint and suspicion at Bethel. The ushers were placed in a tough spot but did an excellent piece of work. They exercised care and diligence in watching arrivals at the Garden, and prevented a number of suspicious characters from entering. They were on the job immediately when the disturbance started and quelled a disturbance which would have otherwise reached serious proportions. But for two weeks following the convention there has been constant criticism and condemnation of them from you. They have been charged with dereliction of duty and labelled as "sissies". To see some of these boys break down and cry because of your unkind remarks is, to say the least, saddening.

The brethren at Bethel have thoroughly demonstrated their loyalty and devotion to the Lord, and do not need to be berated for wrong doing. A suggestion or a kindly admonition from you would be more than sufficient to check any wrongful action, and would eliminate resentment and induce greater happiness and comfort for the whole family. You have stated many times that there are no bosses in the Lord's organization but the undeniable fact cannot be evaded that your actions in scolding and upbraiding these boys are the actions of a boss. It makes one sick at heart and disgusted to listen to them. If you will cease smiting your fellow servants Bethel will be a happier place and the Kingdom work will prosper accordingly.

Discrimination

We publish to the world that all in the Lord's organization are treated alike, and receive the same as far as this world's goods are concerned. You know that is not the case. The facts cannot be denied. Take for instance the difference between the accommodations furnished to you, and your personal attendants, compared with those furnished to some of your brethren. You have many homes, to wit, Bethel, Staten Island, California, etc. I am informed that even at the Kingdom Farm one house is kept for your sole use during the short periods you spend there. And what do the brethren at the farm receive? Small rooms, unheated thru the bitter cold winter weather. They live in their trunks like campers. That may be all right if necessary, but there are many houses on the farm standing idle or used for other purposes, which could be used to give some comfort to those who work so long and so hard.

You work in a nice air conditioned room. You and your attendants spend a portion of the week in the quiet of country surroundings. The boys at the factory diligently work thru the hot summer months without such helps, or any effort made to give them. That is discrimination which should receive your thoughtful consideration.

Marriage

Here again is shown unequal and discriminatory treatment. One brother left Bethel some time ago for the purpose of getting married, and, so I am informed, was refused the privilege of pioneering in New York, apparently as an official disapproval of his action in leaving Bethel. On the other hand when Bonnie Boyd got married she didn't have to leave Bethel. She was permitted to bring her husband into Bethel in spite of the printed rule providing that both marrying parties should have lived there for five years.

Harsh treatment of one and favoured treatment of another is discrimination, and should not have a place in the Lord's organization.

Filthy and Vulgar Language

The Biblical injunctions against unclean, filthy speaking and jesting have never been abrogated. It is shocking and nauseating to hear vulgar speaking and smut at Bethel. It was stated by a sister that was one of the things you had to get used to at Bethel. The loudest laughter at the table comes when a filth or near filthy joke goes through, and your skirts are not clear.

Liquor

Under your tutelage there has grown up a glorification of alcohol and condemnation of total abstinence which is unseemly. Whether a servant of Jehovah drinks alcoholic liquor is none of my business, except in giving a helping hand to a brother who is stumbled thereby. Whether I am a total abstainer is nobody's business but my own. But not so at Bethel. There appears to be a definite policy of breaking in newcomers into the use of liquor, and resentment is shown against those who do not join them. The claim is made, "One can't be a real Bethelite without drinking beer." Shortly after we arrived it was arrogantly stated, "we can't do much with Moyle, but we'll make a man out of Peter." A New York brother intimated that I was out of harmony with the truth and with the Society because I didn't drink liquor. A New York sister stated that she had never used liquor or served it until some of the Bethel boys insisted upon it. A brother who used to drink liquor to excess became a total abstainer after getting the truth. He knew that a single drink of liquor would start him off to his former drinking habits, but in spite of that brethren from Bethel insisted upon his imbibing liquor and inferred that he was out of harmony with the organization through refusing. Total abstainers are looked upon with scorn as weaklings. You have publicly labelled total abstainers as prudes and therefore must assume your share of the responsibility for the Bacchus like attitude exhibited by members of the family.

These are a few of the things which should have no place in the Lord's organization. There are other more grievous injustices but I have had no personal contact with them and therefore do not discuss them.

It hasn't been an easy or pleasant task to write these things to you, and it's still harder to make this protest effective by leaving Bethel.

We sold our home and business when we came to Bethel and fully intended to spend the rest of our lives at this place in the Lord's service. We leave in order to register most emphatically our disagreement with the unjust conditions related in this letter. We are not leaving the Lord's service but will continue to serve Him and His organization as fully as strength and means will allow.

Neither am I running away from battling the Devil's crowd in the courts. I expect to return to the private practice of law, probably in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and hope to be in the fight in every way possible. With this letter I am enclosing a statement of the major cases now pending in which I am actively participating. It would be unreasonable and unfair to drop these matters into your lap without further assistance or consideration. I am ready and willing to press these issues in the courts just as vigorously and carefully as though I remained at Bethel, and will do so if that is your desire.

We have considered this action for some time, but this letter is delivered to you just as we are leaving on a vacation trip for very specific reasons. First: It is desirable that you take time for thought and consideration of the matters herein set forth before taking any action. Hasty and ill considered action might be regrettable. Second: Frankly I have no desire for a verbal argument with you over these matters. I have had plenty of occasion to observe that a controversial matter does not receive a calm and reasoned discussion of the facts. Too often it turns into a denunciation of some person by you.

I am not interested in that kind of a wordy battle. These statements are the reasons presented by Sister Moyle and myself for leaving Bethel. If we speak erroneously or wrongfully we are responsible before the Lord for so speaking. If we speak truthfully, and we stoutly content that everything here related is the truth, then there is an immediate responsibility on your part to remedy the conditions necessitating this protest. May the Lord direct and guide you into fair and kindly treatment of your fellow servants is my wish and prayer.

Your Brother in the King's service,

Olin R. Moyle.

P.S. Should you desire to write to me concerning these matters during vacation a letter will reach me at Ticonderoga, New York, General Delivery after July 29th.