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    HARVEST SIFTINGS

    "For toe wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of thes.world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."—Ephesians 6:12

    THE EVIL ONE AGAIN ATTEMPTS TO DISRUPT THE SOCIETY

    CONFIDENTIAL STATEMENT OF FACTS BY REQUEST

    To International Bible Students Associated throughout world Deas Brethren in Cheist:—

    In this hour of sorrow, mingled with joy, we thenk of the words of St. Peter, so appropriate at this time: “Beloved, thenk it not strange concerning the fire among you that is to try you, as though some strange theng had happened unto you." (1 Peter 4:13.)

    Time and again our dear Pastor warned us of this coming time, and now it is here. In The Watch Tower under date of 1897, page 44, he said:

    “Fiery trials are therefore to be expected by all of the Lord’s people, especially in this day of the Lord. As surely as we ire sons of God we shall have them; and when they come we should promptly recognize their mission to us and lee that we are exercised by them unto godliness, sobriety and deep and fervent piety.”

    Who then, wit! be able to stand? The Lord answers, Everyone whose heart is perfect.—3 Ch ton. 18:0.

    Seeing the activities of the Adversary, and that a great trial was coming, I had hoped and prayed that the Church might be spared from it if it be the Lord's will, but evidently it is His will that the fire shall bum out all dross; that only the refined gold shall remain. I assure you, dear brethren, that in making this statement I have no unkind feeling toward anyone. As I search my heart I am •ure It is perfect toward all. The Lord is my judge. I feel, under the circum-itances, that I owe it to you to take you into my confidence and make a plain statement of the facts, and then let each of you judge as to what leemelh good, and may the Lord guide you in hearing. I ask each one of you to be calm, watching and praying while you read, and see that you have no prejudice or feeling, either (or -or against; and that you do not form any distinct opinion until you have read all this statement. In order for you to understand, It will be necessary for me to speak of the brethren involved by name, even if it is painful so to do. Brother Russell long warned us that the evil spirits would exercise great power in the closing hours of the Church's pilgrimage, and I am wondering if they are the cause of thes fearful trial. He will make it clear in due time. Read Rev. 7 comments In Vol. 7 of SouPTuax Sruuixs.

    RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WATCH TOWER Bible AND TRACT SOCIETY

    the President of the WATCH TOWER Bible AND TRACT SOCIETY Lm thes day made a e Interne at In writing ba fora tho nndanlrnadi, who are bow member® of tha Board of Directors, ssttlnf forth hl* mU dan a and performed eLao* ths death. Brother Ku a sell, and hie election as President and

    “AND WHEREAS, Lt la His aeaad of thes Board that the President should prepare and publish, for tbs benoflt of the Church at Larre. * statem«nl of facts concernlnr hl a sold activities)

    "AND WHEREAS, It la wall known that opposition, has orison njalBit the President}

    “AND WHEREAS, wo have hoard n StatertJent a* lenrth by Brothart Rutherford, Hirsh, Tlssklna, Wright, Ritchie, Macmillan. Van Amburgh. Baenerlola aad others;

    "AND WHEREAS, It appear* from th* fasts brcoyhl before bi that Brothers I. X. Hoskin*, R. H. Hirsh, A. I. Rite hie end J. D. Wrlcht have not boon legally member* of the Board of DLrociort cf ths WATCH TOWER Bible AND TRACT SOCIETY for mare than, six months prior thereto, and are not now member* thereof i and ths nocots I ty Rawin r arisen for a full sad eonpisli Board of Directors; and the President, acting under the power and aathority conferred upon Mm by th* torm* of the CbarUr and the Lsei of the State of Bannay I Tula, has appointed four members to complete eaid Boult

    -NOW, THEREFORE, DE IT RESOLVED, that wo, ths Bnder-tlrnod members of the Board -of Directors, do hereby express our hearty approval of the acts and conduct of our President and Geuenl Manayer and Executive Offlcor of ths WATCH TOWER Bible AND TRACT SOCIETY, which dutlpe wo do*tro him to continue; and wo take thes occnalon to express our utmost eon-f.deaoo in him M a brother sad servant in the Lord, and to. commend him, with Iovine prayore ud asaarance of our Support, to all who love our dear Brother Russell and who believe that he was sent to be ths ("aide of the Church to the end of her way;

    “AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we believe that our dear Brother Rutherford la the man. th* Lord has chceeu to carry on the work that yet re mala* to bo dons In Factor BameeU'a name and In 'the name of tho Lord; and that no other lin the Church I* as well qualified a* he io de thes work; or could have received *s the Lord** hand rr Oster owl donees of B.1* love and: favor!

    "AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President be. and he le hereby roquoeted to prepare a fcU statement of the facte loadlnr Bp to tho eonditlono now existing lu the work at Brooklyn and a full statement of the necessity axlalny for th* appointment ef member* of the Board of Director* and whj th* same is done; and such other facto as may be necessary In theo connection for tho rood and welfare of the Church at larrei and that said Statement bo published If doemed necessary.

    In the name of the Master of the Harvest. our Lord and.

    Bavlaur Jesus Christ, Amen f


    “Brooklyn, New York, “July 17th, 1917.”


    That you may understand why I was led to appoint four members of the Board of Directors in order to lave the Society’ll money from being .tied up by law ■uits and its work wrecked, both of which have been threatened, it is needful that I relate to you some thengs that have occurred since I became your President To do this, I am impelled to tell you what occurred in Great Britain with reference to Brother Johnson, whom I have loved very dearly. Some of the four brethren hereinafter mentioned, members of the Bethe! Family, acting under advice of a lawyer who is not too friendly toward the Truth, and under the advice of another who is not a lawyer, have been about some of the classes making derogatory itate-ments against the President, Secretary and Treasurer and others

    “A N. Pierson, “W. E. Spill, ”W. E Van Amiuigh, “J. A. Bohnet, “A. H. Macmillan, "Geo. H. Fisher.”


    . a .                      of the Society with a

    view to creating a sentiment in the minds of the friends against these brethren. They have done thes while traveling at the expense of the Society and as its representatives. Since they have made it public and disturbed the minds of many of the friends, it becomes my duty to you to make a statement of the facts.

    EPITOME OF FACTS HEREINAFTER ESTABLISHED

    That you may intelligently follow the evidence hereinafter «t forth, I first give a brief outline of which the facts prove:

    • ■ “      (1.) That Brother P. S. L. Johnson was eent to Europe last November to do pilgrim work for the

    WATCH TOWER Bible AND TRACT SOCIETY and, in order to procure a passport, was given a letter P of authority which he understood in fact limited him to preaching the Gospel and ascertaining by Inquiry ■Z certain facta about the work there and reporting them to the Society; that for some cause he overstepped Z- his authority; that he charged'several brethren with disloyalty to Brother Russell; that he discharged, with-

    • ■ ■ out authority, two of the managers of the Society's London office and compelled them to leave the London S Bethel

    • ■ ■      (2.) That the Executive of the Society appointed a commission of five able brethren of Great Britain

    • ■ Z  to go to London and investigate in thn fart* Td report; that Brother Johnson attempted to unduly Influence

    • 5  this commission before it met; and being unable to do so, he repudiated It and refused to appear before it;

    •c that he was recalled from England by cablegram.

    (3.) That Brother Johnson announced in various places La England that he was the "Steward* of the Z"  "Penny* mentioned in the Lord’s parable (Matt. 20:8), and claimed all the pourers and authority that Brother

    • •Z   Russell possessed; that he had a well-laid plan to take full control of all the Society's work in Great

    p  Britain and to cstabliah a new WATCH TOWER there; that he announced to the friends Ln Great Britain

    • ■Z that he should have been the Society's President but declined to accept.

    (4.) That when the commission met Ln London for the purpose of examining Into the facta, Brother P Johnson then repudiated the action of the Shareholders in electing the President of the Society at Pitts* ■. burgh, January 6, 1917, and Ignored the President and began to communicate with Brother A. I. Ritchie and, (through him, to appeal to the Board of Directors.

    (5.) That when he was resisted by Brother Hemery, the remaining manager Ln the London office. Brother Johnson, togedier with an accomplice, got possession of the keys and forcibly took possession of the London office, the Society's mail, opened the safe and extracted therefrom a large sum of money belonging to the Society and then instituted a law suit Ln the High Court of Chancery in London, In the name of the > Society by himself as special representative, against the manager of the London office- and against the Bank •Z where the Society's funds were deposited and tied up the money in the Bank; that this law suit was decided Z« adversely to Brother Johnson, and his solicitor was required by the High Court to pay the cost, and that P later Brother Hirsh snd allies and at the Instance of Brother Johnson tried to have the Society pay Brother Johnson's solicitor Ln the case, but failed.

    6. That everytheng at the Brooklyn office was moving smoothly, with no discord, until Brother John* ■Z  son demanded of the Society's President that he be returned to England and, being refused, then exercised

    Z«  his Influence over Brothers Hirsh, Hoskins, Wright and Ritchie and induced them to believe that the Preai-

    I  dent was ignoring them. He Influenced them to ask for a meeting of the Board of Directors to give him

    • *.  the therd hearing about what he did Ln Europe; that when the President refused to call a meeting for that

    Z«  purpose, then he advised them to act aside a by-law which the Shareholders had passed and which the

    • •Z   Board of Directors had passed, and take away from the President all of the authority and turn it over to

    5   these four brethren.. Brother Johnson, on the 23th day of July last, admitted that the trouble hereinafter

    ?*   described was the result of the refusal of his demand for a re-hearing with a view to his being sent back to

    England.

    ■Z (7.) That the other four brethren, acting under the advice of Brother Johnson, began a systematic cam* p palgn amongst the brethren, charging that the'President is ignoring Brother Russell's will and going con* ■Z trary to the precedent established by Brother RusselL That a plan was outlined by them and they, acting under Z«   the advice of Brother Johnson and the lawyer, set about to influence some of the prominent brethren against

    I  the President and bring pressure to bear upon him to surrender his authority of the Society to these four

    '■ brethren. That they outlined a course exactly parallel to that pursued by Brother Johnson in England, and p openly stated that it the President and the PEOPLES PULPIT ASSOCIATION resisted their action that ■Z they would resort to the courts of law and tie up all the money of the Society, so that it could not be used, and that they would either run the Society or wreck it; and that their wrongful action was prevented by P the President.

    BROTHER JOHNSON GOES TO ENGLAND

    Brother Russell had arranged last Fall for Brother Johnson to visit Europe, and those left in charge after Brother Russell's departure thought well to carry out his wishes and send him. Brother Johnson called at the State Department at Washington, and the Bureau of Ctixenship In New York for information concerning passports. Returning he informed the Committee that it was necessary for him to have credentials showing that jt was imperative that he visit the foreign countries in the interests of the Society; otherwise the government, because of the war, would not grant the passport Myself and Brother Johnson together prepared a letter to present to the State Department, with the understanding that it was for the procuring of a passport. When it came to the signing of the letter Brother Van Amburph, the Secretary, refused to sign, because it granted sweeping authority to Brother Johnson. Then it was explained in the presence of Brothers Van Amburgh, Ritchie and myself, and Brother Johnson, that the only purpose of the letter was to enable Brother Johnson to procure a passport, and that his authority would really be the same as any other pilgrim or lecturer. Brother Ritchie then remarked to Brother Johnson that it would be well for him to Inquire at the Society's offices he visited in Europe and get all the information he could about the manner of conducting the work, to all of which Brother Johnson agreed. It then became necessary for him to have a letter of introduction to the London office, and of course thes had to be written consistent with the other letter, because the Government of Great Britain would examine all of his papers when he arrived at the bordei, and anytheng inconsistent would probably result in sending him out of the eountry, hence we wrote a similar letter to the London office with ths same understanding,

    TROUBLE BEGINS IN ENGLAND

    About the Sth of February a cablegram was received from Brother Johnson, reading as follows:

    "Situation intolerable. Sheam. Crawford, dismissed. Appealing to you. Withhold answer pend* ing my mail."

    About the same time another cablegram was received from Brothers Sheam and Crawford, as follows:

    "Astounding developments, office and Tabernacle.

    Please deter all judgment*

    The Ixtwmhonal Bmlx Stvoixts Assooattok, organised under the laws of Great Britain, has a council of five members. Brothers Hemery, Sheam and Crawford constituted the members in England, while Brother Russell snd myself were the two members here. The same three brethren

    “Johnson rampaging. He [and] Housden seizing mails and cash. Hasten sealed cancellation authority. Cormack two others sympatheze with him. Solicitor recommends Johnson’s forcible ejection. Have placed embargo on bank."

    After the commissioners were appointed, and Brother Johnson learned that they were to go to London to investigate the facts and report, oin'Kdl rac/i owr of them ptrjonaify and tried to influence them in his behalf and against the others. This fact is proven by the following letters from Brother Crawford:

    LETTERS FROM BROTHER CRAWFORD

    January 20, 1917.

    “Lancaster Gate, London, England.

    Mr. J. F. Rutherford

    and The Executive Committee, Watch Towxa Biaut and Tract Society, Brooklyn, N. Y.

    “Dear Brethren in the Lord:

    Briefly, the circumstance^ are as follows. About a month or so before our dear Brother Russell passed beyond, the Elders of the Landon Tabernacle —realizing that the arrangements then existing in the Tabernacle were not giving complete satis faction to the members of the Congregation—unanimously agreed to call a meeting and inquire into al! the circumstances which lay at the root of the trouble.... “Shortly after, word eame that Brother Johnson was on bis way, and we wondered if by chance he had been charged by Brother Russell with the expression of his mind on the matter. When Brother Johnson arrived, however, he knew notheng of the correspondence and at once set about, as he thought, to set thengs in order in the Tabernacle. We all wished him God speed and gave him every .assistance possible. Judge, then, of my surprise when, a few days later, I found all the eleven Elders condemned by Brother Johnson, and myself with two other brethren of the Office staff charged by him on the following three counts:—(1) With attempting to deceive Brother RusselL (2) With concealing the real purpose of the Resolution. (3) With having an evil motive tn signing same.

    “At first I did not take the matter seriously and tried to believe that Brother Johnson surely did not mean to brand all the eleven Elders of the Tabernacle as hypocrites, etc., without any proof or hearing whatever, and the three brethren of the Office uneven worse.—1 Tim. 6: 1, 19.....

    "The ^situation that was created became impossible, because, in the first place, neither of the three involved were conscious of any sin or evil motive nor had they wronged any one either by word or action; secondly, to relinquish Eldership meant to expose two of them (myself included) to the probable operation of the Military Act, a step which, to every reasonable mind would surely seem wrong. Brother Johnson’s reply to thes point was that having committed thes sin I must now bear the consequences: in the therd place, thes procedure was altogether contrary to the policy advocated by Brother Russell— whose recommendation was that the Pilgrims and Office workers who represented the Society as lecturers should be Elders either in a home Church or in the Tabernacle.

    "A few days later Brother Johnson came tc London, when I had a further word with him and endeavored to point out how unreasonable his attitude was. .. . .

    “Your brother and servant in the Anointed.

    “W. Crawtord "

    Also the following letter written ten weeks later will be of interest;

    “42 Selbome Rd., Ilford E., April 3, 1917.

    “Dear Brother Rutherford :

    “Doubtess Brother Johnson informed you that he t      dismissed me and my wife from the office and home

    >       and instructed us to leave the premises immediately.

    As I had no time to make any arrangements and Brother Johnson threatened to put my furniture out or have it used if not removed at once. I was forced to have it taken to the above address to be stored r "I am sorry to say that Brother Johnson seems to

    be going from bad to worse. To my mind he is


    above mentioned were the manager« of the London office, conducting the work there.

    Knowing that Brother Johnson had no authority to discharge Brothers Shearn and Crawford, and being doubtful of the situation, I sent the following cablegram to Brother Johnson:

    "Have contending sides sign agreed statement of » facts and send for my decision."                          t

    Then Ln a few days I left for California. Some time after ’ I reached Los Angeles I received information from Brothers ] Crawford and Shearn, also from Brother Johnson, that the two brothers mentioned had been discharged from the London office and the London Bethel I appointed five able brethren la Great Britain as a commission to investigate, and then sent the following cablegram:

    “Shearn, Hemety, Crawford, Johnson, London:

    "Shearn, Crawford dismissal absolutely without authority. Restore them immediately. Must have fair trial before my commissioners. Show cable commissioners. Report awaited."

    The next day I received a cablegram dated Liverpool, February 24, 1817, and reading as follows;

    "Rutherford. Watch Tower Society, Brooklyn, N. Y.

    “Surprised at cablegram. 'Have you not received my letters second, eleven, twenty-one. January? Shearn, Crawford, leading sixth sifting. Ezekiel Nine Beware. Cablegram campaign engineered Crawford, Shearn. Ears Nehemiah Mordecai experience type mine here. Since January Twenty-eight am Steward Matthew, Twenty, eight Shearn, Haman then hanged on gallows for me. Was then given Esther Eight, Two Fifteen powers like Russell's. Crawford, San-ballat. Shearn, Tobiah. Guard Senior, Ghhen. Will you be my right hand? Must keep my hands on.

    “Johnson."

    (This, and subsequent cablegrams sent out by Brother Johnson cost the Society hundreds of dollars for their ■transmission.)

    Withen the next two or three days I received the following cablegram from Brother Hemery, dated London, Feb. 25th:

    “Johnson claims full control everytheng. I resist as your representative Dispute with co-managers his* not mine. Los Angeles cable baa attention. What are Johnson's powers F*

    On the ITth of February I cabled Brother Johnson as follows:

    “Your work finished London; return America, important."

    Believing from the information that I had, and from the language used by Brother Johnsoi? in. his cablegram, in which he stated that he was “steward" with all powers formerly held by Brother Russell. I was convinced that his mind was deranged and that he was disturbing the work in Great Britain. Thereupon I cabled from Los Angeles to Brother Hemery as follows:

    “Johnson demented. Has no powers. Credentials Issued to procure passport Return him America. Sympathy.’’

    A cablegram dated London, March 7, 1917, addressed to Brothers Ritchie and Van Amburgh, was received from Brother Johnson, which Is as follows:

    "Society’s interest demand I retain powers Board, not executive committee, gave me. I appeal Board through you against Rutherford's repudiating Board's representative. He is subject Society. Society's representative subject to it as against him. Letter follows. Continue letter appointment and credentials. Increased injury otherwise, ‘Congregation unanimously voted me confidence appreciation against Shearn, Crawford. Rutherford's committee approves me. Disapproves him. Bethclites approve dismissals. Acted 'harmonious with my powers. I protest in God’s name to Board through you."

    Later, Brother Hemery, learning of thes cablegram, sent the following, dated London, March 18th, addressed to Brother Rutherford:

    “Understand Johnson cabled untruths Ritchie. Hope soon report his collapse"

    The following cablegram was received from Brother Hemery, dated March 14th, London, addressed to myself:

    cither under the influence of spiritism or else has temporarily lost his balance of mind. No sane man would act or do the thuajn that he has done during the last month or so. For no cause whatever but merely evil surmising on his part he has denounced me for hours in the Tabernacle, telling them that I was dead spiritually and no longer a brother, etc, etc. He has also gone to my wife when I was absent on more than one occasion, telling her the same ridiculous story and tried to separate us. Once he gave her such a talking to in thes way that when I came in I found her weeping and almost in hysterics.

    • **.....Brother Johnson has been telling the

    classes that he is the steward of the parable of the Penny and that he would have been the president only he refused to allow hie name to go forward for nomination.

    “A peculiar delusion of his which he has been preaching to the classes is. Brothers Shearn and Guard and I are fulfilling certain types recorded in Nehemiah, Chap. 2: 4 and 10. He says that I am “Sanballat,” Brother Shearn, ‘'Tobiah,' and Brother Guard •'Geshem.'

    “The classes here are in sore straits through his visits. He seems to have unsettled nearly every class he visited. The brethren have been much relieved however by the receipt of your cable and are Siad to know that his doings did not represent the odety.

    “Brother Johnson, however, does not now acknowledge your authority to counsel his dismissal and says that can only be done by the Executive Committee. He refused to allow either Brother Shearn or me to be reinstated.

    • " . . . , Now just a word about the Commission of Inquiry. It was very kind of you to make this arrangement and I mudi appreciate your efforts to have justice done. I would like however to make a few remarks regarding the members of the Commission and bow the inquiry was carried out. It was no fault of the members of course that they had all been interviewed by Brother Johnson and their minds influenced to some extent by Brother Johnson's views of things. Brother Johnson had spent several day/ in Brother M, Ctefi home trying to convince him of bis views of things, and indeed was there when your cable of instructions was received.

    “Yours by His grace,

    "W. Caawroao."

    BROTHER JOHNSON WRITES BROTHER HEMERY We also quote a letter addressed to Brother Hemcry, written and signed by Brother Johnson. This letter appears as an Exhibit in the High Court of Justice in the case wrongfully instituted by Brother Johnson in the name of the Society against the London managers. The document follows:

    "1917 W. No. 541.

    “IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CHANCERY DIVISION MR. JUSTICE EVE

    WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY

    HEMERY AND OTHERS

    “This is the Exhibit marked 'J. H. 4.’ referred to in the Affidavit of Jesse Hemery sworn herein this 22nd day of March, 1917, before me, “A. S. JACKSON, “A Commissioner of Oaths.

    “A. J. Greenop & Co.

    a                  Bush Lane House.

    Cannon Street.

    London. E. C., 4.”

    “BIRKENHEAD, 24th February, 1917. “Mr. J. Hemery,

    34 Craven Terr., London, W.

    “Dear Brother Hemery:

    “Grace and peace. Glad to receive your letter. Will answer it first, and then give you something I else.

    “Re a further trip. I had better remain at London from the time of my arrival there until the following Thursday or Friday then go to Glasgow, with possibly a day off at Manchester. I will wait and see what Manchester develops next week. On the way back, so far as I can see, I would like an appointment at Edinburgh so as to set matters clearly before the Edinburgh Church. Everywhere Z go I am now giving an account of thej trouble. This must be done to circumvent the mischief that they are already working. They are working on quite a campaign, and this we must frustrate. Shearn is spreading the report that I have interfered with his success in the Military matter. As to whether I will have appointments after Edinburgh or not will depend on what develops. Keep your eyes open, please, for sore spots. These are the places to which I wish to go.

    “Thanks for information about Sister Annie, and the adoption. I understand your letter to mean tha.t I wont even have to go to Court to have it settled—that our agreement before the Bethel family made it binding and legal; am glad.

    “Re food: I wish, dear Brother, that you would follow mv suggestion on this line. I am speaking very advisedly when I say it is imperative that staple articles be gotten and stowed in s safe place, safe from men and from rats. Please let them be bought at different places. I would suggest, the making of a false ceiling as a receptacle, and. let it be lined throughout with tin, as a safeguard from rats. Wheat is the special theng needed, and monkey nuts. The famine will be very sore shortly, and the prices very heavy. You will notice Elisha calls attention to the famine, and that is what I have in mind. You will remember that I told you when I came at first, that there would be this condition shortly, and now I know it is at the very doors.and therefore suggest that it be done immediately,' for the good of the family. I have a way of answering questions that would be perfectly right, and will secure the food. Will tell you about this when I see you.

    “Re Brother Shearn's furniture: I thenk you did very well on what you have bought However, the balance of his furniture must leave the house as soon as possible. We will wait for indications and so, for the present, will let the furniture stand as it is.

    COMMISSIONERS INTERVIEWED BY BROTHER JOHNSON

    'Thank you for the Manchester matter. I have it under advisement; also Brother Smedley. I am going to dictate a form letter to all of the eight brethren who furnished me names, asking them to come to Bethel for a Conference with me, March 3rd at 2 p. m. I am going to lay the whole position before them. Brother Rutherford has af~ pointed four of these eight ax a Committee to investigate; Brother Housden is the fifth member of the Committee.

    “I trust Sister Cormack has returned, and thank you for what you have done re Elders and Deacons. Re Brother Cormack: Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will do as you suggest; we must put an end to grasping for power on the part of everybody concerned. I will write him today on this line, sending the letter to the office. ,

    “Re the six Elders elected who signed the Resolution: You will notice in Esther that on the 1st day that the Jews stood for their lives, which, I understand, would refer to last Sunday, the ten sons of Haman are spoken of simply as slain and that in the 2nd day they were hanged up. This 2nd day I understand, will be March 4th. At that time, since they are the sons of Haman, the Aga-gite (an Agagite represents a sinfully ambitious person), I am sure that everyone of those brothers were ambitious, and their ambition moved them, along with other things, to sign that Resolution, and I will therefore, after proving this point recommend their dismissal. This process will be their

    har.jinf. Fint, however, we will eettle the matter with Shearn and Crawford, but the whole theng will be settled March 4th and after that there will be joy and rejoicing on the part of the faithful and many new ones will come into the Truth to take the places of others. I increasingly fear that Brother Cormack is the ion-in-law of Sanballit. and what you write me only atrengthens that fear. If .that prove* to be true I will'chase him from me.*

    **Thanks for the cablegram from Brother Rutherford. He Is undoubtedly the victim of a cablegram campaign, engineered by Shearn and Crawford. This morning I sent Brother Rutherford a long cablegram tdling him that I was antityping Ezra,. Nehemiah, Mordecai, and that on the 38th of January, after hanging up Brother Shearn on the scaffold that he had prepared for me, I was af pointed by the Lord according to Esther 8: 2. IS, the Steward referred to in Matt. 20: 8. I asked him to be my right hand man. I expressed astonishment at his cablegram, and inquired whether he had not received my letters of Jan. 3ad, 11th and 31st; told him that Haman represented Shearn In Esther, and Tobiah represents him in Hcb, while Crawford was represented by Sanballat, and Geshem. represented Guard Sent. I trust this will change hi* attitude, for he is evidently becoming exated. I told him I could not keep hands off. Now, my beloved Brother Hemery I will be responsible for everytheng. I thenk you see enough to see what the Lord has been, and is, doing for me. I believe that you consider that my deductions from these Books are correct Everytheng that unfold* from them makes it all the clearer to my mind, that the Lord has given me the proper light on the books, I did not mention in my cablegram to Brother R-, and that again by forgetting, that the congregation unanimously voted confidence In me. and approval of what I have been doing for them against Shearn and Crawford. Seemingly the Lord permitted this forgetting again in order that you. as Chairman and Brother Seeck, as Secretary, might convey the news. We have been somewhat too inactive. with cablegrams and have allowed the other side to keep the wires hot However, the Lord is on our side against all them that rise up against us. I notice from Tax Town, that Brother Rutherford is in Santa Barbara, on the 25th. I trust my cablegram reaches him. I thenk the Lord is going to let him mix things up quite thoroughly, until He shows him who has been His choice as Brother Russell's successor, Brother Rutherford wrote me that the Executive Committee is not in existence any longer. I am wondering how this is. Seemingly from this, he is acting wholly alone as the authority. It may be all right, but I do not understand it I thenk Brother Rutherford will come to see the position properly in a very short time. My cablegram this morning ought to open his eyes.

    "Re the Elders and Deacons: I had better see the Elder* and Deacons together for part of the time, and then the Elders alone the rest of the evening. What do you thenk of Brother Dingle as an Elder and speaker in the Tabernacle? Please let me have your opinion. Have you any other recommendations? According to Neh. there will be twelve Elders in that congregation, and not eighteen. Notice the passage that speaks of Ezra arising with six priests on each side. This is at the water gate, which I understand to refer to the Elders. One after another of these gates are becoming clear to my mind. I have nearly al! of them now, and will have them all, I believe, in due time.

    “Am not at all well. My brain is quite weary, and the Lord, seemingly in compassion for me, has arranged but one meeting a day for me until this trip is finished. Annie is a great help to me, I am sure that the Lord has given her tp me to give me much needed relief. If this relief would not have been forthcoming, I am satisfied I would have had a repetition of my 1910 breakdown, but the Lord will sustain me to finish the work that he has given me to do.

    "I send the family, the associate managers, your wife and your.elf, much Christian love. The Lord bless and keep this.

    "Your brother and servant,

    "P. S. L Johnson."

    SUIT INSTITUTED WITHOUT AUTHORITY When Brother Johnson was unable to Influence the Commissioner, he remained quiet for a day or two, and then suddenly it occurred to him to deny that I had been elected President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. He began to cable Brother Ritchie; and write him letters, and then proceeded to forcibly take possession of the mails and money in the London office, and employed a lawyer and instituted a suit in the High Court of London in the name of the Watch Tower Biots and Taxer Socxzir and against Brothers Crawford, Hemery and Shearn, and the bank where the Society*, money is kept, and tied up ail the fundi of the Society. Brother Hemery thereupon cabled me as follows:

    “Johnson applying court Friday next for injunction restraining bank. Cable us instructions immediately."

    I immediately eabfed Brother Heinen* to oppose injunction and in reply received from him the following cablegram:

    “Am consulting Greenop. Please cable him direct to oppose injunction and take necessary steps, restraining Johnson's interference as not representing Society any capacity."

    Thereupon I cabled Mr. Greenop, London solicitor for the Society, as follows:

    “Resist Johnson's injunction. Does not represent Society. Restrain him."

    On -March »4th Brother Hemery cabled me:

    "Johnson business frazzled. Situation normal. Most money received. Deposits safe. Johnson's supporters repented. He left Bethel suddenly by upper room window."

    On the same day Brother Hemery wrote me in detail a letter, of Which the following is a copy:

    LETTER FROM OUR LONDON MANAGER “24 March. 19IT.

    "Mv Dias Bacmza RuTHraroan —

    “At last I am able to write to you with some measure of satisfaction with reference to this sad business which has been the subject of so many cablegrams exchanged between yourself and us in

    London. . . .

    'The immediate situation is this, as my telegram would indicate. Johnson’s rebellion, and his attempt to seize the whole of the British work, and its funds in bank deposits, has failed, though the matter of the injunction is not yet out of the High Court be-cause of the question of costs. Judge Peterson adjourned the hearing of the Motion until next Friday. But the case will not again come into the Court. On receipt of your cablegram of the 10th, in which you instructed me to take full possession, I, knowing something of Johnson's mind, immediately got in touch with the bank to safeguard the deposit of £800. I was none too soon: he was there immediately after me. endeavoring to use his tetters from head office to gain control of the money. We fought for it At last he issued an injunction through the High Court for a claim on the money, and against the bank for withholding it. The writ was returnable yesterday. However, when the case came before the judge yesterday, Johnson's counsel said, after reading my affidavit, that be did not propose to proceed with his motion: but we here, trying to protect ourselves, had made a little slip, and thus gave them a chance to haggle over the costs for the action, and this is al! that remains to be settled as far as the motion is concerned. This will Me1?J?hL‘hcfcbank ‘J.CQUn,t •‘“be in the names of Brothers Shearn, Crawford and my own, and this

    arrangement will suit very well until any further readjustment needs to be made according to whatever you may decide to do.

    "Now I must tell you how the immediate events developed. After your telegram giving cancellation of all Johnson's activities, he was quiet for twenty-four hours or so, then suddenly blossomed out with the statement that the election of the President of the Society was absolutely out of order. He asserted his right to sit at the head of the table In the Bethel family, and in order to make sure of his right, he went and sat in the Chair before the family assembled. I refused to acknowledge him as having the right

    • to represent you, and Baid to the family that this was open rebellion. I called upon them to give no adherence to the rebellion against yocr authority ns representing the Society. To my surprise most of the brethren stayed with Johnson, and they continued to handle the work. That morning Johnson raved at me for a couple of hours and dismissed me half a dozen times or more. His insistence, and his moutheng, made some of the brethren thenk that he war the person in authority, and they had, unfortunately, listened to his claim of being the antitype of many Scripture characters and, as they now say— for they have repented—they seemed to have lost their reasoning faculties. It was “about the middle of the week when I began to discern the true inwardness of the situation, that Johnson was not merely intending to take control of the office in the meantime, but that he had an ulterior purpose in mind: gaining the whole control of the British field, of its resources, and running a separate Watch Tower. Looking back I can see many things which show the working of his mind, but which he carefully hid. I tried to rally the family, but three brothers staved by him. enabling him to carry on the execution of of the orders, while Brother Cormack preferred, as he said, to be neutral, though his neutrality gave him a good deal of intercourses with Johnson and none with me I demanded of them a statement of the monies received and expended, but was refused this. In the meantime I was in constant communication with cur solicitors, Messrs. Greenop, doing everytheng to safeguard the financial side of our work, and felt quite assured that, though we might have some present difficulties, the sum could never be handled oy Johnson. Brothers Shearn and Crawford, as members of the Council of I. B. S. A. and as associates in the work, were called in. ...

    "Last Saturday I called together in the city a few of the Elders and Deacons of the London Church, and told them the situation. They immediately began to take steps to relieve the situation, and from Sunday night last, we have had someone in the house all the time A plan we had for the beginning of the seizing of the mails on Monday morning, failed through an act of treachery, but we began on Tuesday morning, and since then every letter delivered has come through my care Johnson was furious. He, and Brother Hoosden with him. spent much time in meditating over the situation. I asked again for the money and statement, believing that the money was safe in the safe. As refusal was made, it seemed necessary to take some more stringent measures, for we had found it impossible to do anytheng in the way of arresting Johnson for lunacy.

    SOCIETY S FUNDS TAKEN FROM SAFE

    "So on Wednesday both Brothers Johnson and Housden having gone to bed rather early, Johnson’s door was held while Brother Cronk, one of our Elders, and I went up to Housden's room and demanded the keys. Two helpers were nearby, and on Housden's refusal to hand them over, they were taken out of his pocket, though without any violence, for he made no resistance. On going down to the safe, I found the money gone. They had scooped a deposit of £50 in gold which we had by us. about £40 which had been given to the relief of the Military situation, and which was neither the Society's, nor the Church's money, and a good sum of about £150 besides, the takings during the days when they held the maxL Besides this sum there was a cheque of £350, a donation, and which I believe we shall vet save to ourselves, though at the moment there is a ‘ little doubt Housden refused to say where the money was, and we had to talk to him pretty plainly. He promised however, that he would not aid Johnson any more. We had spoken to him about the possibility of the police coming in. I should here tell you that the day before. Brother Dingle, who had his head twisted with Johnson's talk, saw the folly of the situation, end apologized and repudiated Johnson's position. He, feeling some responsibility, had gone up to Brother Housden’s room to plead with him. The window-blind was up. Brother Dingle switched on the electric light, and got so busy talking with Housden, that neither of them noticed that they were breaking the lighting regulations. About 11 JO p. m. the door bell rang, and I went down to see what was the matter. A constable was at the door wanting an explanation of this violation of the very stringent London lighting regulations. He insisted upon seeing those who were responsible, and I had to take him upstairs. You can imagine the situation I Here was a constable appearing at the bedroom door immediately after our talk about the constable coming. However, that matter was soon over, and the constable went away, knowing notheng, of course, of our conversation.

    LEAVES BETHEL THROUGH UPPER WINDOW

    "About 6 o'clock in the morning Brother Johnson's foot began pounding on the door, end he had not a great difficulty in driving away the bit of wood that had been wedged against it to keep him within bounds. It had been his habit of late to go wandering about the house between two and four in the morning, evidently seeing if his possessions were safe, for he is a very suspicious character. Brother Cronk, who was sleeping in along with another brother, spoke to Johnson, told him he could go into the bathroom if he wanted, but he must remember that he could not have things his own way, and that a constable had been up to see Brother Housden the night before. Of course this was a bit of bluff to help to keep Johnson within bounds. He went up to Housden's room, and when he found that Brother Housden would not come out to him, he began to thenk there was something wrong with 34, Craven Terrace. Instead of going into the bathroom, he hastily dressed himself, left his baggage open, got out on the balcony, and then the milk deliverers saw the ludicrous sight of a man in a tall hat and frock coat and, as they said, with goloshes only, letting himself down from the balcony into the street. It the matter were not so serious, the ludicrous side comes on this, because it was only the fear for his skin, impelled by an evil conscience, that made him do this foolish theng. The front door was loose, he could have walked down and walked out We wondered what had become of him, but one or two strange telephone messages through the day assured us that be was standing by the speaker endeavoring to get some knowledge of his friend, Brother Hous-den. He turned up at the Court yesterday, and saw his failure written large across the happenings at the Court Afterwards he said he was willing to go back to America, and Brother Housden expressed his readiness to go also, putting it as if he thought he should go to take care of Johnson, but, as I believe, with the fear in his heart that this embezzlement of the money might bring serious consequences (o him.

    "During the day Brother Housden delivered to Brother Gentle, who had had some talk with him. a package of money containing about £220 in gold, treasury notes and other paper, but here seemed a little trickery, because he has said he was willing to deliver up the money to me, for Brother Gentle 'phoned to say that the money bad been placed in his care, but he was to hold it until be had a note from Johnson’s solicitors giving him liberty to hand it over. I immedately reminded Brother Gentle of his danger in handling what was practically stolen property* *°d of what he himself has said to Brother

    Housdea on this milter. He had no difficulty In coming to a decision, and I got the money, £217, last night They have paid out £40 to their solicitor to meet preliminary expenses, but we are asking for a full statement of receipts and expenditures, but whether we shall get it or not we do not know. The cheque for £330, which Brother Housdcn had said was in the package, was not there—I had the money counted over in Brother Gentle's presence.

    I am at 'the moment waiting for news respecting 'this cheque, and may be able to report something before this letter is despatched.

    (Later.—Cheque was returned to drawer, and is safe from Brother Johnson's hands.)

    **The costs in this case must be heavy, for Johnson had to employ not only Solicitors, but Counsel. The writ was served on the Bank as well as me, and they employed their Solicitor and Counsel, and it was necessary that we should do the same. The law is that a solicitor who enters Into in action of this kind becomes personally responsible for costs If. this case fails. I should judge from the look of the Solicitor which they employed, that he has not much money, hence his desire to get £40 to go on with. It may be that they have paid him more, but I know of no payment beyond this. Our Solicitors, Messrs. Green-op, are intending to push this matter somewhat as a lesion to Brother Johnson's solicitor, and, of course, in our own interests. Johnson has made an awful mess of this business, for the Bank’s position is that the account is really not the Watch Town account but was under the control of the original signatories. The question of the validity of his letters of accreditation did not arise, for the simple reason that my affidavit killed the business. Had this question of validity been raised at all, probably they would have been rejected because not notarily signed before the British Consul in New'York. It is not at all likely that we shall have any further trouble with these letters, but for safety’s sake it Is to be hoped that the cancellation papers have the British Consul’s signature on them, and you might note this for any future use of such papers.

    ",Johnson speaks of being willing to time to America, but what his movements will be remain to be seen. He is foiled in all his efforts, and there is notheng more ludicrous in the whole business, and which may be said to be a proper ending to all his abnormal claims, that this Plenipotentiary— a word which he has used a hundred times of late— charged with full powers of authority, who for fear of his skin and with a coward's heart and an uneasy conscience getting over the rails outside hif bedroom window with his tall hat escaping from no danger but that which was created by his imagination.

    A CASE FULL OF LESSONS

    "We received him as a good brother, accepting him at bis own estimation of himself, and now have to admit that we were imposed upon, and to say that he has been here as an imposter. But in saying this. I would nor at all have you thenk that his life and work here have been that of a hypocrite. The whole case is a strange one. and has been full of lessons to us—the ways of working of Divine Providence. From the moment that Brother Johnson got off the steamer St. Louis at Liverpool, he ceased not to talk about himself. It was not easy to measure him, for, being an unusual man, and the' circumstances being unusual, it seemed better to wait until we could Know more of him. For a while he seemed to act very cautiously and wisely, but meeting a little opposition. as he thought, and which perhaps was actually present, he developed a severe side of character. From a time when he thought he found some opposition in Brother Shearn and Crawford, and he had asserted authority, he visibly swelled in importance. As I have previously told you, I believe that the work he did here, though done in so rough a fashion, was according to the

    Lord's providence, and I say this after much time for reflection, and even though I am so nearly related to the affairs. But the unusual situation in which Brother Johnson found himself, allowed his mind to develop very rapidly some things which had been there for six or seven years. From time to time he had told me of thoughts in his mind, and of some of the happenings during hit nervous breakdown in 1910. (You will perhaps remember that when I wu with you in the United States in 1910 Brother Johnson was then sick, and I did not see him.) From what he has said, I have no doubt that he has seen himself in his Imagination as successor to Brother Russell The voices which he heard in 1910 have left their impression upon him. Coming over here he seems to have thought that his work was antityped by Ezra's commission to help the spiritual work of Jerusalem. His smashing blow against Brothers Shearn and Crawford at once made apparent a reconstructive work. It was easy then for him to thenk of Nehemiah and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He seems to have ipent almost every moment of available time in watching his work, and before he left us the other day, he had found twenty-five to therey instances where, from point to point in what had been done or said to a brother until something else was said, fifty-two days had elapsed. It is surely true, as I told him, that there was some sort of connection between Nehemiah and himself, not only that both of them ■were Jews, but Nehemiah's way of tearing the hair of his opponents, and in telling the Lord that he should be remembered in all the work he had done. After seeing himself In Ezra and Nehemiah as, first his Pilgrim work, secondly his commissioners work, he began to hint that he had seen a possible further work, and that this was typified in Esther. He did not say what It was, but at last hinted that he thought may be he would be forward.

    CLAIMED TO BE ’STEWARD'

    “Going down to Liverpool, he lost such reserve as a Plenipotentiary ought to have, and he proclaimed himself openly as the "Steward of the Parable* I heard of his cable to you; and of what he had said, and I immediately, as I informed you, took a stand- in opposition to his claims. From that time his hidden scheme got a shock, for he saw that he would have little hope of making great progress here as a leader if I -were not with him. He tried to coax, cajole, and to some extent by flattery, but on my refusal to compromise one little bit, he came in open opposition. I cannot say that Brother Johnson is insane, but there is a sort of madness of pride that is in his heart. That he lacks balance is clear, for he would not have sent such telegrams had his mind been in proper balance. He has played for high stakes, and there seemed to his mind two weeks ago, a chance of winning his game. Now he is a pricked bubble. I regret to have to say that 1 have no confidence in him whatever. He has such cunning which is not insanity, and he is so capable of attending to his affairs, that I gee no other conclusion but to say that he has been attempting a great imposture upon those whom he hoped would be with him, and by whom he hoped to continue his scheme.

    ’'There has been no greater surprise to me in all this strange business that certain members of our family should cast in their lot with him. I mentioned the name of Brother Cormack in my cablegram to you. He has, to my mind, taken an ignoble part in thes sad business. Instead of taking the only stand that could be taken by one who was loyal to the work, for some reason or other as between himself and the Lord he said he preferred to wait until Brother Johnson’s cancellation papers should be here. In other words he ignored your telegrams and the telegrams which were sent over the signature of the Watch Tower Society. Brothers Dingle and Guiver

    who gave me great disappointment by their ac-lion, have come to see the foolishness at their way in aiding Brother Johnson, and have expressed deep and, as I believe, sincere apologies. Brother and Sister Cormack are the only ones in the house who are waiting tor the cancellation of Johnson's papers, for Johnson is, of course, out of the house, and Brother Housden has gone home. I believe that if Brother Cormack, whose long association with the work should have given him a more decisive character, had taken the only stand that could properly be taken, that neither Brothers Dingle nor Guiver would have been so led astray by Johnson's words, and—I rather think—promises. I do not know what to say about Brother Cormack. The situation here under the National Service Scheme is that no one can take on a new employee unless by special permission. I do not feel it right that Brother Cormack should stay longer in the home, and I am doubtful about his staying on in the Pilgrim service. I do not feel that I can commend him to your favorable consideration, but I am glad to think that you know him and know of his long service in the cause of the Truth, and also to believe that the Lord will guide you as to what you may decide In his case. In respect to Brothers Dingle and Guiver, I feel that their repentance is so sincere that I would suggest they be allowed to continue In the work in each way as may seem good here. Brother Guiver so far has been saved from the operation of the Military Service Act, because of an endeavor we made to save some of our helpers. If his work here is discontinued, he immediately comes under the claims of the Military. Brother Dingle is beyond age, and we would be thrown under the National Service scheme aforementioned. But I believe their hearts ere now right, though their standing in the Church will surely be affected. As for Brother Housden, I do not know yet where he stands. He has returned the money, but I believe it is more for fear of what he has done than belief in the fallacy of Brother Johnson's claims. I want to keep in touch with him to save him, if thes is possible. In the meantime we are now quite capable of going on with our work as In normal times. Brother Kirkwood can do the general office work—-the execution of orders, etc., and he is a very useful brother. We have good stenographic help, and indeed, have no difficulties in the work.

    “As I wish that you should have the foregoing as soon as possible, thes portion of my letter is now mailed. The second portion shall be sent shortly. In it I shall hope to give you my thought of the relation of thes matter to the general work in the country, and an account of the Church in London, and. I hope, information of Brother Johnson's return.

    "In the meantime, with warm love in the Lord, and prayers that the Lord will guide you in all your way, I am, dear Brother Rutherford.

    "Your brother and servant in Him.

    “J. HEMERY."

    BROTHER JOHNSON LEAVES ENGLAND

    Brother Johnson, as seen from the above, left the London Bethel and his whereabouts were unknown, until on April sth when the following cablegram was received from Brother Hemery, dated London:

    "Discovered Johnson sailed (Steamship) St. Louis Saturday."

    Learning thus that Brother Johnson was on his way to America, it was arranged that brethren should meet him at the dock and bring him to Bethel. I had been personally requested by -his wife to keep him here until he recovered. When he appeared in the Bethel Home, to all intents and purposes he was sane upon every point except himself. He asked me if he might have a hearing before the Board. I called the members of the Board to the Study, and several other brethren, and we listened to Brother Johnson for two hours. I presented to him a copy of the cablegram which he had sent me wherein he claimed to be the "Steward" of Matt. 20:8. and asked him if he sent it After much effort he finally acknowledged that he did.

    On another occasion the Board and other brethren sat and listened to Brother Johnson for two hours describing how the Scriptures foreshadowed his experience in England, and his activities there. It was the unanimous consent of all present that Brother Johnson was of unsound mind. I then stated to him, in the presence ot the others, in substance: Brother Johnson, for the purpose of thes matter we will concede that you thought you had authority to do what you did io Great Britain, and that you were acting honestly. ‘Let us drop the matter now and not thenk of it any more. We all shook hands kindly, and he went to his room. He continued in the Bethel home uninterrupted for two months, except on one occasion he announced at the table that he is the "Steward" mentioned in Matt. 20:8, but in a few days thereafter withdrew the statement Our hope was that he was recovering, and we rejoiced.

    THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE IN AMERICA

    "However, some time near the latter part of June he approached me Ln the dining room and said, "I fed able now to go back to England and take up my work there." I replied, “Brother Johnson, you are not going back to England: you have no work there." He insisted that he should go, but I told him that he could not go. He left me then, with the statement that he would appeal to the Board. (On July 21, 1917, Brother Johnson admitted to me that his appealing to the Board is at the bottom of the trouble with Brothers Ritchie, Hirsh, Wright and Hoskins.) In about two days be came back and insisted that I call a meeting'of the Board of Directors; that he might appear before them. I declined to do so, saying to him that the matter was entirely closed; the Society would not send him back to England, and the best theng for him to do would be to remain quiet When I firmly refused to call the Board he became agitated and said: "You are a usurper and I wilt appeal to the Board and I will see that I have a hearing"; or words to that effect The next morning he approached me in the dining room and handed me a paper, of which the following is a copy:

    "Brooklyn, N. Y., June 18, 1917. “Dcai Bbothoi Rurnnroiu):—

    "We, the undersigned members of the Board of the W. T. B. « T. S. herewith kindly request that you call a meeting of thes Board to hear Brother Johnson on his activities in Great Britain and to examine the facts of the case. We will be glad to have you call thes meeting at as early a date as possible.

    "Praying the Lord's blessing on our deliberations on thes matter to the end that it may be to the Lord's glory and the good of the cause we all love, we remain with much love,

    "Your Brethren and Servants in the Lord.

    "Isaac F. Hoskins, "A. I. Ritchie, "R. H. Hirsh,

    ,      "J. D. Wright.”

    This paper had been written by Brother Johnson himself, and he had taken it to Brothers Hoskins, Ritchie, Hirsh and Wright, and had them to sign it, asking me to call a meeting of the Board, when two of these brethren sat at the same table with me at every meal, and one just immediately to my left, and all four of them in the dining room regularly and could easily have spoken to me direct about the meeting. They had not mentioned thes matter of a meeting to Brother Van Amburgh, who is also a member of the Board. It seemed rather a strange thing that they should lake thes procedure, so I called them into the drawing room for a conversation about the matter. These four brethren insisted that J should call a meeting of the Board of Directors to hear Brother Johnson. I finally told them that the matter had already been closed; that it was not a matter for the Board now to take up; st was folly to thenk about sending Brother Johnson back to England; that he should not go; and that I would not permit him to force a meeting of the

    Board in the way that he wu proceeding; but I asked the four brethren named to have an interview with him and go over the facts if they desired and report the same at a meet* ing of the Board. I thereupon delivered to them the commissioners' report. and thy findings upon the report, and other documents bearing upon the case.

    COMMISSIONERS EXPRESS VIEWS

    The following letters from Brothers MacKenzie, McCloy and Warden, three of the Commissioners who examined into the London affair, also letters from other representative British brethren, show bow Brother Johnson would be received in Great Britain now:

    "Glasgow, 4th July. 1917.

    "Dear Brother Rutherford:—

    **Gr««impa/ In my little note to you on vour appointment to be President of the Society 1 indicated that I hoped to write you more fully . soon, and let you know how we are getting on at Glasgow. Since then, however, much has transpired and somehow I delayed writing until now.               •

    “You are often in my thoughts, and am constantly remembering you at the throne of Heavenly Grace, realizing more than ever your need of help and strength in the arduous duties that devolve upon you.

    "I would like to express to you my appreciation of your confidence in me in selecting me as one of the Commissioners in connection with the London difficulties, and my willingness to do anytheng that I could in the matter; and I would like to tell you how much I appreciated your calm, charitable judgment, and your firm but loving recommendations to those concerned, and my regret that they did not fall in with them at once. I enclose copy of letter that I wrote to Brother Crawford (after your judgment had been communicated to him) in reply to some letters I had from him; thes letter will indicate to you mv view of the whole matter.

    ’ ’'Brother P. S. L, Johnson was evidently used of the Lord in bringing to light much of the discord and lack of harmony that existed in the London Tabernacle and Office, but he aurely did not go about the matter in the right way. He came to us with great messages of love and comfort and to encourage us, but am afraid he did not by any means succeed in his mission; he rather caused a great trial to come upon the brethren.

    "He began his work well, and we were all impressed with his earnestness and zeal, and it may be we took too much out of him, and so helped to bring about his breakdown.

    "Some of the statements he made, such as who he was and what he was, and that only himself and Brother Russell got the truth apart from the Saurrvu Studies, or could get it, made us wonder what he wanted to be at, and then when we heard of his doings and sayings at London we concluded the poor brother had gone off his head, and suspended arrangements to have him with us in St Andrew’s Hall Then when I went to London and saw and heard of his actings there I had no further doubt but that his mind was unhinged. Of course, we do not blame our dear Brother Johnson; he was not responsible, but really what took place after that and before his departure to the United States was the most undignified conduct of any brother I have ever heard tell of. It was a great relief to know he had ultimately returned to Brooklyn, and I sincerely hope he is getting restored to health and strength of body and mind, and that his heart is right

    "Some one has said that he (Brother Johnson) feels that there is more work for him to do in Britain. Well I feel sure that if he comes over again having the same great ideas of himself, and such small ideas of mostly everybody else, he would neither be welcome nor a help here, but if he is fully restored and has now the mind of Christ Jesus (the humble mind) we would all be delighted to have him again. But dear Brother Rutherford, is it not withen the limits of possibility for you to come over yourself. You know how we would welcome you, and wbat a comfort and help you would bring us. .The Lord would take care of you crossing over if he wants us to get a verbal message through you.

    "Now I have said notheng about how we are getting on at Glasgow, and will not wait to write much now, only to tell you that there is a good deal of harmony in our midst, and we are endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. The number of those who are appreciating the Bcrean Studies so especially commended by our dear Brother Russell and so warmly recommended by you, is increasing, and those of us who have learned to appreciate these fully are waiting on the Lord, greatly desiring that the blessings obtained through these Studies may extend to all.

    “With much love to you and to all,

    “Yours in the one great Hope,

    “Gllbzit Mackxnzix."

    “Birkenhead, June 29, 1917. “Dear Brother Rutherford:—

    "Have just seen our Brother R. G. Smith and glad to get your love. I am very pleased to hear that Brother Paul Johnson is improving in health and hope the rest may do all that is required for him. He tells me that it is Brother Johnson's wish to return to thes country to correct the wrong impressions he made here. His desire is good, but I think it would be a very unwise procedure indeed, and I feel sure with your sounder judgment you will not permit him to come over here again for a good long time, until his visit has died a natural death. If his interpretation of the Scripture is as when be was here, it would only result in disturbance instead of a comfort to the brethren. I am sure Brother Johnson would see the wisdom of your reasoning, if he is now well in mind and body.                                         *

    "I am sure, dear brother, your hands must be full just now, but we all pray for you and feel sure the Lord will give you all you need. Faith can firmly trust Him, come what may. Is Brother Johnson in communication with Brother Housden and influencthg him in his views? I am inclined to thenk so. I don't thenk he should do that now.

    "Now my beloved brother in the Lord accept our united love.

    "Yours in the same hope, "Thomson McCloy."

    "Dumbreck, Glasgow.

    "Dear Brother Rutherford:—«

    "I have heard that Brother Johnson has the desire to return to Great Britain to finish what he considers his work here.

    "Previous to Brother Johnson's dismissing Brother Sheatn and Brother Crawford from the office in London I received a letter from him which I read to the Elders of the Glasgow Class, who were all unanimous in the opinion that Brother Johnson's mind had lost its balance, and we accordingly communicated with London and cancelled a meeting arranged for him in the St. Andrews Grand Hall, Glasgow. The incidents that happened from then up to the time of Brother Johnson's departure from Great Britain further confirmed us in the decision that we -had come to, and personally think it would be to the advantage of the brethren here if Brother Johnson did not return at present

    "We at Glasgow, with many of the other classes, have little difficulties of our own at present, and it is only with special care and the spirit of the Lord being manifested amongst us that these difficulties can be adjusted to the benefit of the brethren, and unless Brother Johnson has improved in his health I do not thenk he would be of any help to us. This does not mean that Brother Johnson was of no assistance to the brethren when he

    first came to Britain: in fact, I am of the opinion he helped us over here in many ways, but meantime we do not ice any reason to agree with his interpretation of the Scriptures regarding "the steward."

    “We daily remember you, dear brother, before the Throne of Grice, having tome idea of the many difficulties that you have to contend with, and how much you will need to use that wisdom which come th from above. May our loving Father continue to guide and direct you in all your labors of love for his dear children.

    “Yours in One Hope, “W. O. Warden."

    NOT WANTED AGAIN IN ENGLAND

    “Manchester, June 30, 1017.

    “My Deai Bmothe! RuTHixroao:—

    “Greetings in our dear Lord.

    "The purpose of my writing at present is just to give you somfc idea of the influence our Brother Paul Johnson exercised when on his Pilgrim trip in Great Britain.

    "The first time I came in contact with him was at the Manchester Convention last New Year. While I could sec he was a brother of great ability, yet I was not fully satisfied with his presentations, particularly bis interpretation and application of the Parable of the Penny. He evidenced great loyalty to our dear Brother Russell, which pleased me much. Yet there was as I have proved since, an over statement of just what were Qur dear Pastor's views, I met him later at Glasgow and Aberdeen, .and then finally spent two days with him here in 'Manchester. These two days proved to be very saddening and just went to prove some of my earlier suspicions regarding his mental condition. You are of course conversant with the fact of his several claims which it is not necessary for me to further detail, but my purpose is to write and say that instead of his presence being a comfort to the brethren it proved rather the reverse. Had he been allowed to continue his tour further the result must have been serious trouble in many of the Churches. I can assure you that if it were proposed for his return to Great Britain most of the brethren would refuse that he be not received. If Brother Johnson feels he has a work to do in thes country it is certainly not the Lord’s work unless he has altered his many strange interpretations and personal applications. He told us in Manchester here that it was his sure belief that Brother Russell had been exalted to the Lord’s right hand and that the left had been reserved for ANOTHER.

    "You must understand the spirit in which I am writing you thes note and trust it may be helpful for you st thes time.

    “Your brother by His grace.

    “John J. Cochran."

    A letter from Brother Hemery, dated London, June 20, 1917, says:

    "Brother Johnson came to us as if charged with a special mission to comfort the British brethren. It was quite apparent that he had a considerable idea of his privilege, and also of his ability to do thes work. It was strange to me that his-public ministry was so unproductive, and that from almost every point of view. He neither comforted the public, nor, except in the earliest part of his ministry, the brethren amongit whom he ministered. His later claims put him out of the means of being a help to the brethren, for they want to be faithful to the channel which the Lord has given, and they could not understand anyone attempting to set themselves up as the Lord’s channel, and yet in opposition to the main spokesman for that channel. Brother Johnson might thenk that I im speaking my own feelings when I say thus, but I am putting these out of account, and looking at the matter from the point of view

    of the Lord's work as I see it. I am very sure that if I were to ask the representative brethren of the country, they would, with a unanimous voice aay, 'Do not on any account tend us Brother Johnson.' His talents were esteemed; he himself was also esteemed until he put forward his strange claims, and showed io clearly that he had a desire for plaet on J /atom A return visit now, even if he were quite right in his at-

    ■ titude, would be too near his former mistakes in point of time, and such a ministry would inevitably be received with suspicion, and would fail of its desired effect”


    OTHERS DISCOVERED IN CONSPIRACY

    Early In the Spring of 1217 Brother Ritchie made a pilgrim trip to the Northern States and portions of Canada. Reports began to come in that he was stating to some of the friends that a division was talcing place at the Bethel Home, and that had he been elected as an officer of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society he woufd have considered himself a member of the Great Company Uass. These reports came from numerous sources and were calculated to disturb. I had a personal talk with Brother Ritchie about the matter, in the presence of Brothers Van Amburgh and Pierson. He acknowledged that he had made such statements, but promised to do so no more. But within a week he violated that promise by making a similar statement to Brother Hazlett. A short time before that, Brother Sturgeon had made a statement to me that it was generally understood in the Bethel Home that I had used political methods to secure my election as President of the Society. Pressed for names of some who said so, he gave the name of Brother Ritchie. On a certain morning at breakfast, while Brother Pierson was present I mentioned the matter publicly to the family, and thereupon Brothers Pierson, Van Amburgh and Macmillan, who had cast most of the votes at the convention, each in turn made a statement that I had never so much as spoken to them about the election prior thereto.

    I take thes occasion to say that there is no person on earth who can truthfully say that I ever asked them directly or indirectly to vote for me. I thoroughly believed that whomsoever was selected to that position would be selected by the Lord, and I would not permit anyone to be influenced by anytheng I should say.

    Brother Sturgeon further called in question the fact that some of the classes had elected me as counselor, saying that I was creating an office in the Church in order to gain prestige and power. I tried in kindness to point out to the brother that I had no desire or intention along the lines he mentioned; that I am a counselor by profession, and have been for more than 25 years; that I was counselor for several years for Brother Russell, and the Society; as well as serving many of the friends throughout the country in thes same capacity.

    For more than thirty years, the President of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society managed its affairs exclusively, and the Board of Directors, so-called, had little to do. This is not-said in criticism, but for the reason that the work of the Society peculiarly requires the direction of one mind. There are so many small details that if several persons had to direct them, more than half the time would be used in consultation. This was clearly demonstrated by the Executive Committee, and it was found that it took three men two hours a day what one could do in a therd of that time, because of the time consumed in consultation about details, and these brethren on the committee worked in exact harmony at the same time.

    In harmony with the expressed wishes of the Shareholders voiced by unanimous vote at the election in Pittsburgh, January o, 1917, as the President of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society I have attempted to manage the affairs thereof. How well I have succeeded it is not necessary for me to say. On the 17th of July, 1917, I made a report to the full Board of Directors as to what had been accomplished, and'amongst other thengs pointed out how I had been enabled, by the Lord’s grace, to save the Society since the death of Brother Russell more than $50,000. It will be readily understood that thes is not due to mismanagement on any one's Eart; but after Brother Russell's death, he having peculiar knowledge of the affairs, necessarily it was with difficulty that anyone would attempt to take them up. We found some arrangements made with outside parties concerning certain work, which parties attempted to repudiate contracts or to

    claim damages; and out of two of these cases $40,000 in actual cash was saved. Out of another matter which required quick action, $11,000 was saved, and had it been necessary to stop and consult the Board of Directors it would probably have been too late to have saved any of it In addition to the above we obtained a favorable decision In the Supreme Court with reference to taxes, which will probably save the Society more than $20,000 additional. Within the time mentioned I also was permitted to recover, in a contested case, more than $5,000 for the Society. It was also my privilege to handle a lawsuit in Los Angeles in.behalf of some of the brethren that has resulted in a great witness to the Truth. In addition to thes I had been giving attention to the arrangement of the foreign work, and was enabled to make better progress therein because of my personal acquaintance with the managers in these countries, having visited each European branch more than once. It would have taken me much longer to acquaint others with the facts than to attend to the business myself.

    Shortly prior to Brother Russell's death he removed Brother Ritchie from the management of the office and placed him at some work at the Bethel home, and placed Brother Martin as office manager.

    BROTHER RUSSELL'S ARRANGEMENT CONTINUED

    The following extract from the minutes of November 7, 1916, will be of interest:

    “The following resolution was presented to the Board by Brother Isaac Hoskins, to wit:

    "Whereas, Pastor C. T. Russell, the President of the Corporation, on the 16th day of October, 1916, reorganized the working force of the office at 17 Hicks St. and also the work at the Bethel Home on Columbia Heights, and designated certain persons to be In charge of the respective departments of the work, to wit:

    “Brother A. L Ritchie to have the oversight of the Library Office; the Parlor, and all visitors on important business at the Bethel Home, etc.: to handle such mail as may be addressed to Brother Russell: and to receive telegrams;

    "Brother R. J. Martin to have supervision over the office force and the work at the Tabernacle at 17 Hicks St;

    "Brother J. L. Cooke as Superintendent of the Angelophone Company and the work In connection therewith;

    "Brother Emerson to have charge of the seating of the Bethel Family at the tables, and the care of the baking for the Family, under the supervision of Brother Macmillan;

    “Brother Baker, under the supervision of Brother Macmillan, to have the care of all the food supplies for Bethel, including coal, butter, etc.; also of the laundry, kitchen, cellar, and such other work as may be directed by Brother Macmillan:

    “Sister Roberts to have supervision of the Bethel affairs as Matron, and to take supervision of the sisters and the work in the dining room and the house work in general, except the parlor; under the supervision of Brother Macmillan:

    “Amo Whereas, It is the sense of thes Board to continue said departments in the same manner as was left by Brother Russell;

    "Resolved, ar it Resolved, That the persons above named be. and they are hereby requested to continue to hold their respective positions and perform the duties required thereunder, and to make report to the Executive Committee, through its representative. until further order of the Board of Directors.

    "Brother Hoskins moved the adoption of the resolution, which being seconded by Brother Pierson, was unanimously adopted by the Board.

    “Motion was made by Brother Van Amburgh. and seconded by Brother Wright, that Brother A. H. Macmillan be appointed to the position of Representative of the Executive Committee, to perform such duties as said Executive Committee shall direct, and to report to ‘said committee from time to time upon request. Unanimously carried."

    Among other changes, Brother Russell took Brother Hoskins out of the Colporteur Department, and assigned him

    to other work. He brought Brother Macmillan in off a Pilgrim journey and asked him to take charge of the office work as General Supervisor and as the Presidents representative in all tilings about the work of the Society at headquarters. We here produce his letter to Brother Macmillan as well as a facsimile of his autograph letter to the Tabemade and Bethel force, also a letter of instruction to Brother Martin, who succeeded Brother Ritchie as Office Manager.

    "August 6, 1916.

    "Mr. A. H. Macmillan, Brandonville. W. Va.

    "Dear Brother Macmillan:—

    "Yours of the 3rd Inst is at hand. Having mentioned the matter to you, I asked the Lord to direct you as respects either accepting or declining the suggestion. I accordingly accept your reply as being an indication of the Lord's will in the matter, and bid you a hearty welcome.

    "When may we expect you?

    "With much Christian love to yourself and family and all the friends in the Truth in those parts, as ever,                           .

    "Your brother and servant in the Lord,

    “C T. Russell."



    "October 16. 1916.

    “Dear Brother Macmillan:—

    “While as you know Brother Macmillan in filling the office of Assistant to the President has a general supervision of all of the work, yet In Brother Ritchie's absence there ought to be some person there at the Tabernacle who would have a special supervision of the affairs (co-operating with Brother Macmillan). . It Is my request, dear brother, that you accept thes position, which I am sure, in connection with a certain portion of the mail, wiU keep you very busy.

    "With Christian love,

    "Your brother and servant in the Lord.

    “G T. Russelu"

    THE LORD’S BLESSING HAS FOLLOWED

    Brother Macmillan accepted thes position as Assistant to the President and has performed his duties well, and through the efficiency of himself and Brother Martin in carrying out instructions which Brother Russell gave a short time before his departure, the office to-day is on a strict efficiency basis and is managed better than it has ever heretofore been, to my knowledge. The whole office is happy and harmonious and doing splendid work. After my election as President I deemed it the Lord’s will that I should keep everyone in the position where Brother Russell had placed him, if possible. Hence Brother Macmillan was appointed to the same position he held with Brother Russell, and he has proven faithful and loyal Brothers Hoskins and Hirsh brought to me complaints against Brother Macmillan. When I went into the office as President I made the rule to receive no accusations against a brother or sister unless the one accused was present to defend himself or herself. I so announced thes rule to Brother Hirsh, and said to him, "If you desire to bring any accusations against Brother Macmillan let us three 80 now and talk the matter over.” He declined to do thes.

    >n three different occasions he attempted to talk to me against Brother Macmillan and I declined to listen unless Brother Macmillan be present, as that teemed to me the Lord's appointed way. The brother became quite incensed against Brother Macmillan.

    For more than three months after my election everything with the Board of Directors was running smoothly. We have met more frequently than the Board ever met in Brother Russell’s day, as is indicated from the following few extracts from the Minutes:

    At a meeting of the Board of Directors held November 7, 1910. Present: Brothers A. I. Ritchie, A. N. Pierson. J. D. Wright, W. E. Van Amburgh, H. C. Rockwell, I. F. Hoskins and J. F. Rutherford.

    Again, November 17, 1910, there was a Board meeting to pass on some formal matter.

    A meeting held December 13, 1910—all the members being present Minutes show that Brother Hoskins made the following motion and seconded by Brother Wright which was duly carried, "that the Executive Board be directed to report to the Board of Directors at any meeting of the Board upon any matter which the Board might request the Committee to report.

    On January 4, 1917, meeting of the Board of Director*. All the members present, except Brother Hoskins, who was sick. At that time the matter of disposing of the Drama to Brother John G. Kuehn was discussed and a motion to sell the same was unanimously carried—all present voting for it

    The contract for the sale of the Drama was signed by Brother Ritchie, as Vice President, and Brother Van Amburgh, as Secretary and Treasurer.

    On January 19, 1917, there was a joint meeting of the Board of Directors of both The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Soarry and the Peoples Pulpit Association, at which meeting the resolutions and by-laws passed at the annual meeting held at Pittsburgh were adopted and spread upon the record by the Board of Directors, and was unanimously carried.

    January 31, 1917, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held, at which certain matters of the Society was passed upon.

    On February 3. 1917. a meeting of the Board of Directors was held, at which meeting Brother Ritchie made a report concerning the Angelophone Co., of which he was in charge. There was then in the bank to the credit of the Angclophone Co. approximately 318,000 of the Society’s money. Brother Ritchie proposed that thes be turned over to him and he would assume the obligations of the Angelophone Co. and attempt to have the parties who made the contracts with the I. B. S. A. substitute him for the Society and the I. B. S. A., and he would conduct the business in his own name. Brothers Ritchie and Wright voted for such a proposition, but it was rejected.

    Subsequently, the Angelico Co. was turned over to Brother Cooke, the Society reserving the records and all rights thereto. Brother Cooke taking only the right to manufacture and sell our machines, which the Association or the Society has no right to do. Brother Cooke stated that thes was the original idea of Brother Russell

    On February 8. 1917, the Board met—all present—at which time the resignation of Brother Rockwell was offered. It was filed and no action taken. At that meeting the motion was unanimously carried not to complete the sale of the Drama to the Mena Film Co., but to take it back.

    February 18, 1917, the Board met again.

    March 29, 1917, there was another meeting of the Board of Directors.                      t

    The record shows that at thes meeting Brother Rutherford reported the condition of the work in England and the situation in reference to Brother Johnson and what he had done.

    April 16, 1917, was the next meeting.

    SEEDS BEGIN TO BRING FORTH

    Some time about the latter part of April Brother Hirsh began to show a desire to exercise authority upon the Board and to transact the duties of the Executive Officer. I gently called his attention to the fact that the matter mentioned was entirely withen the province of the Executive and not a matter for the Board to attend to. This displeased him. Later he brought to me a letter he had written to a brother, in which he stated in substance that the Board of Directors were the managers and the President was subject to their control. I kindly remarked to Brother Hirsh that it was hardly in harmony with the facts and that I did not see the necessity of sending out such a letter. That displeased him.

    Similar objections were made by Brother Hoskins and on several occasions he stated that "We. the Board, are the managers and we will give the orders.

    Notwithstanding the shareholders at Pittsburgh passed a by-law (declaring .that the President shall always be the Executive Officer of the corporation and General Manager, which by-law was later passed by the Board of Directors, these brethren disregarded the same and insisted that the Board should manage the Society’s affairs. I tried to reason with them, but in vain. On the 20th of June,a meeting of the Board was called for the purpose of hearing the report of the Committee on Brother Johnson’s visit to England. After thes business was disposed of satisfactorily to all persons, Brother Hirsh drew from his pocket a resolution which he had prepared in advance and offered the same, which resolution provided that the management of the corporation should be taken out of the hands of the President, and that the Board should take charge and give directions as to what should be done. Brother Hoskins said, "We have been consulting lawyers and we know what we can do." I tried to point out to them that such a resolution would be. overriding the wishes of the shareholders at large. To thes they replied, “The Board of Directort art not antwerable to the shareholder/.” Brother Pierson then kindly remonstrated, saying: “Brethren, I thenk we had better not try to disturb what the shareholder/ have done** After considerable discussion it was agreed among all persons that the Board should adjourn for one month, at which time the question would be taken up and settled. Brother Pierson announcing that it would be inconvenient for him to return before a month.

    When in conversation with Brother Johnson he stated to me that he could take a Pilgrim trip. I asked the office to make out a route for him, which was done, and the friends notified along the way. On the same day a pilgrim route was made out for Brother Hoskins for two weeks. He was doing practically notheng, and the opportunities for service being good, we thought it well that tie go out on a trip. I was taking a trip for the same two weeks. We asked Brother Hoskms to go. The next morning I received a note from Brother Hoskins, declining to make thes pilgrim, trip. The same morning I met Brother Johnson in the dining room and he approached me, saying, "I do not feel able to go on thes pilgrim trip." I suggested that he have only one meeting a day, and that he go as far as Columbus, his home, as he had not seen his wife since last November. Then he said. "No, I decline to go.” I said, "Brother Johnson, some of the friends in the house believe that you are fomenting trouble, and that you are engineering a conspiracy to try to break up the work here as you did in Great Britain. Now I ask you. in the interest of peace and harmony, that yon go away from Bethel." He replied, "I decline to do it: the Lord is displeased with you; you are a usurper: I will not go." Then I said. "Brother Johnson, I demand that you leave the Bethel Home." He retorted, "I appeal to the Board of Directors." and left me. The next morning Brother Johnson came to me and said. "Why can't we talk thes matter over?" I said. "Very good, but I have not time now." He began to say a few words about my being a usurper and the Lord being displeased with me. and I replied. "Brother Johnson. the Ix>rd is my judge and not you." Then in a heated manner he said, shaking his finger at me. are consulting lawyers and we know what we can do with you." Brother Martin and Brother Eshleman were near by and I called them to witness what he said, but he left in anger and refused to repeat it.

    WOULD FORCE HIS RETURN TO GREAT BRITAIN

    The very same day, to wit, June 21, 1917, I received the following letter:

    "Bethel, June 21, 1917. “Dear Brother Rutherford:—

    "In view of matters which require early attention, we, the undersigned, request that you call a meeting of the Board of Directors of The Watch Town Bible and Tract Society to convene not later than Wednesday, June 27th. This will aHow ample time to notify all the members of the Board.

    “A. I. Ritchie, "J. D. Wright, "R. H. Hush, "I. F. Hoskins."

    Tn reply to thes letter I spoke to the brethren personally, saying it would not be convenient to have a meeting because Brother Pierson could not come. They came next day and insisted that I should call the meeting anyhow. I told them I would write Brother Pierson and see if he could come His reply was that he could not, because he had made arrangements with his son to remain at his place of business until the middle of July. Later, I received from said brethren the following letter:

    "Bethel, June 27, 1917.

    “Deas Brother Rutherford:--

    "Whereas the former petition did not meet with the President's approval, we, the undersigned, mtm-bers of the Board of Directors of The watch Town Brim ano Tract Society, hereby repeat our request for a meeting of the Board, on the following grounds: That we, members of the Board of Directors, desire information regarding the ‘'Temple,” also in respect to the financial condition of the Society, and other matters of importance—Conventions, etc: and for the transaction of such other business of the Society as might properly come before the Board.

    "It is not, however, our thought at thes meeting to attempt to pass on 'the unfinished business of the previous meeting of the Board.

    "While Brother Ritchie was in favor of leaving the unfinished business of the last meeting, until a later meeting of the Board, in July, still he insisted that according to our request, you should be respectful of our petition and call a meeting of the Board of Directors to-day.

    "A. I. Ritch i«,

    *T. D. Wright, "Isaac F. Hoskins, "R. H. Hixsh."

    To thes I replied as follows:

    "Massas. A. I. Ritchie, R H. Hirsh,

    • I. F. Hoskins and J. D. Wright;

    "Bethel

    "Dear Brothers :—

    "Your note of thes date, handed to me after the noon meal by Brother Hirsh, is before me, in which you request a meeting of the Board to-day on the ground stated therein.

    “As to the financial condition of the Society, no one could give that information in detail except Brother Van Amburgh, and he is out of the city. I have no information of any consequence that I could give you.

    "As to the Conventions, etc., alt the information that I have I furnished to the Editorial Committee, and it is now in print, except the programs, which the Pilgrim Department with Brother Macmillan, is now making up. I will request them to submit to you a copy Of the Program, or anytheng in connection with the Conventions.

    • *'I believe thes covers everything that you have asked, and I have answered as fully as I can,

    "Your brother and servant by His Grace.

    “J. F. Rutherford."

    Brother Van Amburgh, the Secretary, was then away and it was impossible to give them the information desired. I went away for two weeks. During the major portion of the time of my absence Brother Van Amburgh, the Secretary and Treasurer was at home. Brother Macmillan who is Vice President of the Peoples Pulpit Association, which owns all the property in New York and controls the office and home, and who is also the Representative of 'the President, was in charge.

    From time to time some of the four brethren above mentioned intimated to various members of the office force that they would soon be In charge, and that the work would be conducted in a different manner. This created a disturbance in the office, because the office force were not willing to work under the direction of the brethren above mentioned, because they seriously doubted their ability to manage the work, as well as their authority to do so.

    OPENLY DEFIED RULES ALL HAD SOLEMNLY AGREED TO

    The office has a set of rules which are printed, and each one of the force and all in the Bethel Home have copies. These rules were read both at the Bethel Home and Tabernacle, after being approved by the Board of Directors, and everyone, with uplifted hand, agreed to abide by them, including Brothers Hirsh, Hoskins. Wright and Ritchie. One of the rules of the office is as follows:

    "It is understood that no member of the Board of Directors has any authority to give orders or directions about the work individually; that the Board acts in an official capacity when in in session of a board, and while any member of the Board is engaged in office work he will be subject to these rules the same as though he were not a member of the Board”

    “The office is private during office hours, and only those who are employed in the office shall be admitted there during such hours, except officers of the Society or their secretary or representative, or members of an official committee may be admitted at any time."

    The four brethren above named were neither officers nor representatives of officers nor members of any official committee.

    These four brethren, covering a period of three or four weeks, held conferences several times during 'the day at the Bethel Home, in various rooms, disregarding and neglecting the work of the Society. On the 5th day of July, while having one of these conferences, one of the members was overheard to say: "Let us go to the office right now and demand" so and so. The hearer understood • them to mean that they should command control. Communicating thes fact to the office, withen a few minutes thereafter the four arrived in a body and approaching the manager of the office, Brother Martin, demanded to know why he had given certain orders about admittance to the office. He produced the rules and showed it to them. While thes conversation was in progress Brother Macmillan, the Vice President and General Manager, in the absence of the President, approached the four and said, “Brethren you are disturbing the office force, contrary to the rules." To thes Brother Ritchie replied, "You go and sit down; that is none of your business" Brother Hirsh, waiving his fist at Brother Macmillan, said, "You are a big bluffer; you can't bluff us." Brother Hoskins said. "We, the Board of Directors, put you where you are and we will give you orders." This unusual language and conduct in the office disturbed the office force. Brother Macmillan three times invited them outside the office to talk the matter over, and three limes they declined.

    REMEMBERS SEIZURE OF LONDON OFFICE

    Brother Macmillan having a few minutes before received a telephone message from the Bethel from the one who had overheard a conversation by these four brethren that they were going to the office to take charge; and having knowledge of what Brother Johnson had done in England in forcibly taking charge of the office, the safe, and the mail, and tying up the money In the bank by litigation; and having been instructed by myself to guard well the Treasurer’s office and the safes, and to see that no one took forcible charge, and, fearing these brethren went there under Brother Johnson's direction to forcibly take charge, he called a policeman, to put these brethren out In the meantime they approached the office of the Secretary. Brother Van Amburgn. and demanded that he join them in a meeting of the Board. The Secretary refused, saying that the President was absent and he declined to have anytheng to do with any of their meetings.

    This information being communicated to me by wire to Duluth, Minnesota, where I then was, and being also informed that they were consulting a lawyer whom. I knew, I wired him, "Please let the matter stand until I return.”1

    On the 10th and 11th of July I was in Chicago, engaged in the trial of a lawsuit for one of the friends. Qn, the night of the 10th of July, Brother Wisdom arrived at the hotel where I stopped and informed me that he had made an extra long journey in order to see me on a matter of great importance. He then told me that while at Bethel a few days before he had had a talk with some of the above brethren and found them in very bad spirits. Among other things he said, "Evil speaking is being freely indulged in by these poor deluded brethren. I pity them from the bottom of my heart.” He then informed me that he had traveled on train on Saturday night for more than five hours with Brother Hirsh, and that they had discussed the matter of the Society’s affairs. I quote Brother Wisdom's language: "They

    (referring to the above four) are set, therefore, upon breaking you, and say emphatically that notheng will break their purpose save the death of one of their members of the Board." Brother Wisdom further said, "I tried to reason with thes poor brother, but reason seems to have gone from him altogether." Further Brother Wisdom said to me: “I learned from them that they are determined to oust Brother Macmillan and permit you to continue as President without power and that they are to run things, you to give your approval, your consent is not to be asked for." Brother Wisdom further said that Brother Hirsh stated to him that if they could not get control by peaceful methods then their purpose is to invoke the law of man, tie up the money of the Society in the Bank so no one could draw it except themselves." He further said, “Then if you will not bow before them it will prove that you are rebellious." They further said to Brother Wisdom “If ruin follows in the wake, it will be the 'Judge* (referring to myself) who will be responsible altogether."

    BROTHER WISDOM’S LETTER

    A few days later, Brother Wisdom wrote me the following letter:                                                  ,

    "Deajl Biot ho Rutherford

    “In view of the trying experiences through which you and your associates are passing it seems proper that I should give you in writing a brief summary of what I said to you in person while in Chicago.

    "The essence of the charges made against you by. the 'Board Member,' who apparently assumed to speak for the other three with whom he is in league, might be comprehended in one sentence: You are a usurper of authority. But to particularize briefly: You have over-ridden the Charter of the Society, set aside its By-laws and ignored the Will of the Founder. In short that you are running everywhere with a high hand, without regard to the law of God or man.

    “The 'sore spot’ seems to be that you have not 'consulted* what some one has dubbed the 'Big Four* in every little detail pertaining to the management of affairs—in other and plainer words that they would and should be the Real directors of things.

    "It is openly charged—and thes was repeatedly stated to me, that you are set upon ruining the Society if you cannot run things your own way, in other words, you are actuated altogether by a Rule or Ruin Spirit Quoting the words of our victorious Pastor, 'They seem to be guilty of the very things they charge against you.’ (This from a letter written just a short time before his death, a copy of which is in my possession.) They say they are regarded as but 'Dummies,' and apparently they would make of you a Tigurehead.’ This seems to be their real purpose—to take all power out of your hands save what they are willing that you should exercise.

    "It is freely charged that you have set aside Brother Russell’s arrangements in the conduct of affairs at headquarters. They specialize in thes the contract of sale of the Drama, the 'throwing out,’ as they expressed it, of the Anglophone, and changing the methods of conducting the Pastoral Work. Then you have set Brother Macmillan over everybody and everything, one whom they brand as a Czar and scoundrel. They seem to think no more of 'evil speaking* than of the anticipated pleasure of sitting down and eating a good dinner. I could not repeat the awful things they said to me about dear brother Mac—not merely the case of a wrong head but wrong heart, that in effect he is a disgrace to the Lord’s cause I listened to all thes without remonstrance for I wanted to see how far they would go and how much of the Spirit of the Adversary they would manifest, besides I well knew that reproofs would be worse than useless, a waste of energy. I feel sure that thes was but the work of the Devil. From certain other information that came to me, I believe I would be warranted in surmising that thes 'evil speaking*" is being freely indulged in by these poor deluded Brethren. I pity them from the bottom of my heart, for I love them all.

    "So thes is the kind of a man you have chosen for your Lieutenant and they are resolved that 'thes man shall not rule over them.’ They are set therefore upon ’breaking you,’ and say emphatically that nothing will change their purpose, save the death of one of their members of the Board—the officers are not considered as members—THEY are THE Board of Directors.

    "For some reason the Lord seems to have purposed that I should have become possessed of these facts, for I really tried to evade what came to me. (The manner I have already explained to you.) I tried to reason with thes poor Brother but reason seems to have gone from him altogether. I then warned him of what the results would be if they pursued the course outlined to me—that it would surely wreck the work of the Society. He freely admitted that he too saw thes, but there is a GREAT Principle at stake which to forsake would mean the loss of his crown, the Prize. Therefore to my warning he was immune. I then pleaded with him to let Brotherly Love continue, to control. He professed deep Love for you, but protested that he .must be faithful to his stewardship or lose the Crown promised to the faithful stewards. He just had to do what he did not like to do, etc. So all my efforts were in vain. I made no impression whatever, though we continued thes talk from a little after eight o’clock till a quarter of one A. M.

    "The gist of their purpose being to oust Brother Mac and permit you to continue as President without power—what they call 'The Board,' the 'Big Four,' are to run things, you to give your approval, your consent is not to be asked for. If they cannot get control by peaceful methods then their purpose is to invoke the law of man, tie up the money in the Bank, so no one but these of their designation can draw. They protest however that thes would not be appealing to Caesar, but I would like to know what else it in reality is, as I said to the brother. Then if you will not *bow to them,’ it would 'prove that you are rebellious,’ etc. What next they would do was not explained, but if ruin follows in the wake of such course it would be the 'Judge' who would be responsible altogether. You are not spoken of as Brother by these, it seems.

    "There may be other points I touched upon in my talk with you which I have omitted; if so, it is merely because they have slipped from my mind for the moment However, if you recall any points which in your opinion would be of service to you, then refresh my mind please.

    "In closing, I think I should say that if I did not firmly believe you and your co-laborers to be in the absolute right in thes controversy, I would say so just as freely as I made the statements herein. I am not thenking or considering man's approval. I stand for what I believe to be the Lord's arrangement The Lord put you Brethren where you are, not man. It is hard therefore for me to believe that man should put you out But His will be done.

    "In sincerest love and sympathy, "Your brother by His Grace.          •

    "W. M. Wisdom."

    Learning that it was the determination of these brothers to take charge of the Society and run it or wreck it (which in my opinion would be the sure result if they did take charge) and knowing that they had no legal right to do so, I considered seriously what my steps should be. I consulted some prominent and wise brethren as to my course. I asked, "Shall I resign as President and let these opposing ones take charge?" Each one of the brethren replied, "Brother, the Lord put you where you are, and to resign or quit would be disloyal to the Lord."

    SOCIETY’S ONLY POSSIBLE COURSE

    I left Chicago on the night of the 11th and went to Pittsburgh, and there took legal action to have a proper and legal Board constituted as hereinafter explained. I did thes as a last resort. On Friday, the 13th, I arrived at Brooklyn, and that day I had a conversation with Brother Ritchie and stated to him that I probably would have to be away the latter part of the week and suggested that we meet as a Board on Tuesday, the 17th of July. He replied, "I think that will suit us better." I thereupon sent notice to Brother Pierson, and served notice on each of the brethren above named, calling the meeting for Tuesday. July 17th. The next

    day the four brothers addressed a letter to Brother Pierson saying that the meeting would not be held on the 17th. Receiving thes information Brother Pierson telegraphed me to know why. I wired him that I had no notice that the meeting could not be held; that the four brethren were at the Bethel Home and the meeting would be held, and for him to come. On the afternoon of Monday, July 16th, the following letter was handed to me by Brother Hirsh:

    "J. F. Rutherford, “Bethel.

    “Dear Brother:—

    “Your note is received adviaing us that a meeting of the Board of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is called for Tuesday morning, July 17. Thanks.

    “In reply we would say that your course has been such in respect to the matter in question as to complicate it to such an extent that we will not now be ready to have a meeting of the Board before the 20th.

    “We have recently handed you three or four re-?uests for a meeting, at which we hoped that our af-airs might have been settled amicably and in short order; but we were refused. Additionally, untrue and false talk has been spread abroad about us, and threats of violence have been issued by your 'special representative'—violence being attempted, and that against four of the legally constituted managers and officers of Our Society. We have only to repeat what we say above: There will be no Board meeting before the 20th instant, if th tn.

    “We will advise you when we shall be in a position for a Board .meeting.

    Very truly,

    "R. H. Hirsh,

    “J. D. Wright, “A. I. Ritchie, “L F. Hoskins."

    WHO CONSTITUTE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS?

    Having in mind the experiences of the meeting of the Board held on the 20th day of June, and seeing that these brethren were showing a bad spirit, I saw it was necessary for me to disclose what I had known since January, 1909, but which no one else except Brother Russell knew, so far as my knowledge goes or had occasion to find out In order that you may understand why I took the action hereinafter mentioned, I briefly describe the legal status of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and the Ptoruts Pulpit Association.

    The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is a Pennsylvania corporation, and its operations from a legal standpoints are confined tb that State. The law, as well as its charter, requires that the Board of Directors and officers must be chosen at meetings held in the State of Pennsylvania, and no where else. The provision of the Charter is that where vacancies occur in the Board of Directors these vacancies shall be filled by the remaining members thereof within twenty days after the vacancy occurs, and failing to fill such vacanqr or vacancies within thirty days the President is then authorized to fill such vacancy or vacancies, and the person so selected by either method shall hold office as Director until the next annual election to be held by the shareholders.

    The Charter also provides that the Board of Directors shall hold office for life, but thes part of the Charter is contrary to the statute of Pennsylvania which provides that he shall hold for one year. The facts show that Brother J. D. Wright was elected in 1904 by the Board of Directors, and his term of office therefore expired in January, 1905. I. F. Hoskins was elected by the Board in 1908 and not re-elected since. A. I. Ritchie was elected in 1911 and afterwards elected to office as Vice President, his term expiring January 6th, 1917, when Brother A N. Pierson was elected as his successors. Brother R. H. Hirsh was elected by action of the Board, so-called, at Brooklyn in March, 1917. Neither of these brethren have resided in the State of Pennsylvania for more than five years. Neither of these brethren were legal members of the Board of Directors, as would appear from the legal opinion by Mr. H. M. McGaughey, a well known corporation lawyer of Philadelphia. We quote from his written opinion as follows :—


    LEGAL OPINION

    “With respect to the first question: Is there a legal Board of Directors? If so, who are members of the Board? Section 17 of the statute expressly provides that the Board shall be chosen annually by the shareholders or members. This Eroyision of the Act is mandatory, because it is well settled y judicial authority that the charter of the corporation cannot grant powers or privileges contrary to or inconsistent with the statute; in which case all acts done in pursuance of such legal power embraced in articles of incorporation would be invalid. (10 Cyc. Law ∧ Procedure 222-223, Albright vs. Lafayette Assn. 102 Pa. St 411.)

    “Again ‘where the statute authorizes the election of the Board of Directors, any scheme or organization which dispenses with the statute may be regarded as a fraud upon the corporation.' (10 Cyc L. ∧ P. 318.)

    “Therefore, it is obvious that the directors who were not elected by the vote of the shareholders cannot serve the corporation in that capacity, nor exercise any of the rights and privileges attaching to said office. Otherwise, the Board would be exercising greater authority than that granted by the Act of Assembly, giving corporate existence to the Society itself. In a word, the directors of the Society can possess or exercise no greater authority than expressed by the Act of Assembly. The Society is the creature of the Act of Assembly, and all rights and liabilities of the officers and directors must be controlled, governed and regulated by the provision of the Act

    “Further, any provision of the charter which is contrary to the statute will be disregarded and that part of the charter which is in harmony with the statute will be upheld. Hence, that part of the charter providing that the Board shall hold office for life, is obviously of no legal effect, because expressly repugnant to the Act of Assembly which states that the directors shall hold office for one year.

    “Paragraph Sth of the charter will be construed to mean what it says; namely, that where I vacancy occurs in the Board of Directors, then the remaining members of the Board may within twenty days meet and fill such vacancy, and if the vacancy be not filled within thirty days, then the President may appoint some one to fill the vacancy, but the person so selected by either method could hold office only until the next annual election held by the members or shareholders. This is the only construction in harmony with the statute. In fact, it is a rule of law that where the subject matter contains no ambiguity and is free from difficulty, it will be construed to mean exactly what the words imply. Therefore, the conclusion is irresistible that Messrs. Wright, Hoskins, and Ritchie are in no sense of the word legally members of the Board of Directors and any acts performed by them in that capacity would be void and of no legal effect and they would be answerable individually to any persons dealing with them.

    "With respect to Mr. Hirsh, the facts show that he was elected by the Board of directors after H. C Rockwell, whom he succeeded, had resigned. Rockwell himself under the facts, was never legally a member of the Board.

    "But grant, however, that a legal vacancy did exist, for argument sake, the charter expressly provided that if the Board neglects to fill the vacancy within thirty days, thereupon and in that event, the President has exclusive authority to supply the vacancy. Rockwell’s resignation was accepted February Sth, 1917, and Hirsh was elected by the Board of Directors March 29th, 1917, more than thirty days after Rockwell’s resignation. The right to fill the vacancy at that time rested with the President and the act of the Board, so called, was a usurpation of the authority of the President, and in direct conflict with the charter, and for that reason, of no avail. An additional reason why that the election of Hirsh was wholly illegal, is that the meeting was held in the State of New York, while the charter provides that the meetings shall be held in the City of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. His election to the Board was wholly extra-territorial and for that additional reason, absolutely and indisputably illegal and void. Under no circumstances then can it be held that Hirsh is a legal member of the Board and any acts done or performed by him in that capacity would be void and of no legal effect

    OFFICERS ARE ALWAYS MEMBERS OF BOARD

    "As to who are the legal representatives of the Society, it is apparent that Messrs. Rutherford, Pierson, and Van Antburgh are the only persons who are qualified to act as such. They were elected to office at the annual meeting of the So-

    cietv's members or shareholders on the 6th day of January 1917, In pursuance to a vote of the shareholders legally present and represented in Allegheny, Penna. The shareholders exclusively possess the elective franchise and they alone can exercise constituent powers, and they alone have the right to elect officers. * This meeting was held in strict compliance with the provisions of the charter Itself. It follows that these men alone, possesr the authority to act for and in behalf of the corporation. The fact that the full Board of Directors was not elected is wholly Immaterial. The shareholders did elect three officers, who by virtud of their election to office, and the terms of the charter naming the first Board of Directors, possess all the rights and privileges of Directort. In short, It being admitted that there was a meeting of the members held at the principal office of the corporation in pursuance to the provisions of the charter, at which Messrs. Rutherford, Pierson and Van Amburgh were elected, they are charged with the responsibility of the administration of the affairs of the Society and cannot be held responsible to any one but the Society. They can be held responsible and are responsible to the shareholders who elected them at 'the regular annual meeting. There being a vacancy in 'the Board of Directors and the shareholders neglecting to supply that vacancy, and no Board of Directors having supplied it within thirty days, the President could appoint members to make up the full Board, provided that the minimum number of directors required are residents of Pennsylvania when io appointed.13

    THE PEOPLES PULPIT ASSOCIATION

    In 1909 Brother Russell desired to move the work of the Society to Brooklyn. I was at Pittsburgh at the time, at his request, looking into some legal matters for the Society. Brother Russell asked me to see if the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society could be registered as a corporation in the State of New York. After a thorough examination of the matter I told him it could not be done, because it is a nonstock corporation organized under the laws of Pennsylvania and there b no provision in the law of the State of New York for registering such a foreign corporation. Asked, then, what could be done, I told Brother Russell that a new corporation could be organized in the State of New York, to do the Society’s work there; and he requested me to prepare a charter and organize such a corporation, which I did.

    In the Spring of 1909 the Peoples Pulpit Association was organized under the membership corporation law of New York State. Just about that time, as many will remember, a conspiracy arose against Brother Russell, in which the conspirators were attempting to oust him as Pastor of the congregation at Pittsburgh, and also to wreck the Society. Brother Russell asked if some provision could be made as a protection against such rebellions, in the organization of the new corporation. I remember replying to Brother Russell to the effect that I would draw such a charter as would make it impossible for any of the rebels to get him out during his life time. I wrote the Charter of the Peoples Pulpit Association, which charter gives the President thereof the absolute power and control of everything in the State of New York, pertaining to the Society"* affairs. A Provision of that Charter reads:

    "The said corporation shall have as officen the following: A President, who shall be elected by 'the Board of Directors at the first meeting thereof, and shall hold his office for life, and whose duty shall be to preside at the meetings of the corporation or of the Board of Directors and have the general supervision and control and management of the business and affairs of said corporation."

    The work thereafter was moved to the State of New York and all the property purchased in the name of the New York corporation, and all the legal affairs of the Society were done in its name.

    THE LEGAL STATUS

    The question then arose between Brother Russell and myself as to what would be the privileges of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society from a legal standpoint in the State of New York. I advised him. that it had no legal standing in New York. Then he replied, *T would like to preserve the name and have the correspondence done in its name as the friends are better acquainted with The Watch Tower Society" I replied that thes could be done so long as no one raised any legal question, and the Society would be maintained with all of its original powers provided the annual elections are held in Pittsburgh.

    The statute of Pennsylvania, under which the Watch Towta Bible and Tract Society b organized cxprcssely provides that" at least three members of the Board shall be residents of the State of Pennsylvania, and that the members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by a meeting held In the State of Pennsylvania. by the shareholder^ and. vacancies filled, by the Board or the President, in the State of Pennsylvania.

    After the outbreak by Messrs. Hirsh, Hoskins and others at the Bethel Home, I saw some action would be necessary. I tried to tell them sometheng about the legal status of the two Societies, but did not succeed. I saw it would be necessary to submit some legal proof. Brother Ritchie remarked that, “If you can show me by the law that the President is entitled to be the manager, then I will submit: I want to do the right theng." As I considered the matter I thought it best to procure a legal opinion from some lawyer who had no Interest in the matter, and conscouently I called upon a well known corporation lawyer in Philadelphia, who Is thoroughly familiar with the laws of that State, and submitting to him a copy of the official records and. 'the 'Charter, he prepared a written opinion, and he held, as seen by the opinion foregoing, that neither Wright, Ritchie. Hirsh nor Hoskins were legal members of the Board of Directors and that the President had the right to appoint four members. The directors of the corporation should have been elected at Pittsburgh at the annual election in January.

    Naturally, you will ask. Why, then, did you not give such advice at thes election? My reply is that I had known thes condition since 1909; but had I so stated at Pittsburgh in January, I would have hid myself open to the criticism that I was at once beginning to upset the course Uken by Brother Russell, and subsequent criticism by certain brethren proves that my conclusion in that respect was right I reasoned that we would let it stand as tong as everything went harmoniously, as Brother Russell and myself had once agreed; then there would be no occasion to disturb that course.

    MOVING CAUSE FOR APPOINTING FOUR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

    When I went to Pittsburgh to appoint four members of the Board, the following facts were in my sbd:

    The four brothers mentioned had expressed their determination to take the management of the affairs of the Society out of my hands where it was legally placed, both by the snare-holders and the Board of Directors, and put it in their hands.

    The Bethel Family was in a high nervous state because of the course of conduct 'the four had been pursuing for some weeks.

    The office force was disturbed, and threatened to leave the moment these four took charge.

    Several of the pilgrims had expressed their determination to quit the work if these four took charge.

    Some of the four had stated that they were consulting lawyers to see what they could do with me.

    One of their number had made a covert threat to me in the presence of others that the Watch Tower Bible and Taxer Society could take away the funds, so that the Peoples Pulpit Association could not operate in New York.

    The statement made to Brother Wisdom by Brother Hirsh, one of the four, to the effect that they were set upon “breaking me** and nothing' could change their purpose save the death of one of their members, and if they could not get possession by peaceful methods they would break the law, and tie up the money in the bank so no one could draw it but them; and that if I would not bow before them it would prove that I was rebellious and if the rum of the Society should follow I would be to blame and responsible altogether.

    This threat, coupled with the action that Brother Johnson had taken in England in actually going into the courts and tying up the money of the Society, and taking money out of the safe and forcibly taking possession of the office, and knowing that he was advising these four brethren and directing their course led me to believe that they fully intended to attempt the carrying out their threat

    The question with me, then, was: SWf I stand by and see the work of the Society wrecked and disrupted, or jrAdl J wre tAr power which the Lord has put in my hands by reason of putting me in the office of president to prevent thes wrongful act being perpetrated upon you and all the shareholders throughout the world ?

    I meditated -and prayed over the matter very much, besides consulting other brethren as above indicated. I came to the conclusion that it was my duty to use the power which the Lord had put into my hands to support the interests of the shareholders and all others interested in the Truth throughout the world who are looking to me to perform my duties in a faithful manner; and to be unfaithful to them would be unfaithful to the Lord. I resolved to take action.

    Knowing that the law required three members of the Board to be residents of the State of Pennsylvania, and that the appointment should be made in Pennsylvania, I went to Pittsburgh, and on the 12th day of July. 1917, there appointed Dr. W. E Spill and Brother J. A. Bohnet, of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and Brother George H. Fisher, of Scranton, Pennsylvania; and Brother A. H. Macmillan, of New York, as members of the Board of Directors.

    Each of the above named brethren signed a written acceptance of such appointment We then had a full and complete Board of seven members, to-wit: Brothers Van Am-urgh, Pierson. Spill, Bohnet Macmillan, Fisher, and Rutherford. All of these brethren signed a statement consenting to a meeting of the Board of Directors, agreeing that meeting of the Board of Directors should be held July 17, 1917. I had given notice of thes meeting to the above aforesaid brethren. Wright Ritchie, Hirsh and Hoskins, as will be seen by the correspondence hereinbefore set out and had their acknowledgment of receipt of such notice and a declination to attend the meeting that time because they were not yet ready. On the morning of the 17th of July I again announced at the Bethel table the meeting of the Board of Directors, and one of the above four approached me and in a very insolent manner said, “There will be no meeting of the Board of Directors to-day; you understand thatr I merely replied, “Very well, brother.

    At the hour designated, the duly and legally constituted Board of Directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society met, as per notice and consent in writing, and transacted business in proper form. At that meeting I made a written report of the activities and work of the Society since the death of Brother Russell, and after hearing the report, the Board of Directors prepared and signed and passed a resolution, an exact copy of which appears on front page.

    The actions of at least two of the four brethren above named taken subsequently to their threats shows their intentions of carrying into effect their threat Their scheme was to get up excitement amongst the friends on the score that I was overriding the wilt and ignoring the Board of Directors in the management of the Society, and after creating considerable sentiment against me, then to pass a resolution taking out of my hands the management of the Society's affairs. They expected a meeting of the Board of Directors to be held on the 20th of July. On Sunday night, the 15th of July, and before they had any intimation that I had taken action to appoint members of the Board, Brother Hoskins cancelled his appointment at Bridgeton, N. J^ and met Brother Hirsh at Philadelphia, neither of them having an appointment there, but they both appeared, and at a meeting of the Ecdesia made accusations against Brother Van Amburgh and myself and had the friends very much stirred up. The day before, I had called a meeting of the Brooklyn congregation for another purpose to be held on Wednesday night, July 18th. Their purpose was to prevent a meeting of the Board until after the Brooklyn congregation had met. at which time they expected to start another row and then on the 20th meet as the Board of Directors to tie my hands and, if I protested, they would tie up the funds of the bank. To be discredited before two congregations would have appeared as some justification to deprive me of the management of the Society.

    All of this they were doing, because they had not been honored as much as they thought they were entitled to be.

    The Philadelphia Class invited me to come there on the night of the 20th and make a statement of the facts. In the afternoon before I started to Philadelphia Brother Hirsh came to me and said: “Brother Rutherford, can’t we fix this thing up?” I replied: “I am always willing to fix up anytheng if it can be done right" He said: “Can’t you put us back as we were before?” I said: “No, Brother Hirsh, I cannot and there is no use to discuss this point” He then said: “If you will put me back on the Board, I will go out to Philadelphia to-nignt and make it more than right with them and satisfy everybody." This I-promptly declined. saying: “No, Brother Hirsh, I shall offer you notheng to take that stand; go to Philadelphia and tell the truth. You did very wrong in going there the other night and saying what you did. Now, if you want to do the right thing, go and tell them the truth, if you think the Lord would have you do

    that, but*! shall make do agreement with you to Induce you

    NO REAL FAULT FOUND •

    At no time have the above named four brethren or any other person shown or made any charge that the President has in any manner misconducted or mismanaged the corporation. They seem to have suddenly taken on an unfortunate desire to receive honor as members of the Board of Directors and to insist on exercising authority in giving orders about how the work should be done I cannot so well express it myself as it is expressed in a letter written me by one of the pilgrim brothers, which I hereto attach:

    "Waynesboro, Va., July 9, 1917.

    “Dear Brother Rutherford:

    “My heart rejoices, after my stay at Bethel, to note the loyalty, moderation, and wisdom from above displayed by the brethren, specially on the part of those left in charge to represent the Society's Management With both sorrow and chagrin I observed the fallacious reasoning of some who think it is a serious blunder that they are not made more prominent From my observation at home and in the field, I fear that these same brethren, instead of stirring up the pure minds of the friends, are sowing disloyalty to the Truth and to the service.

    “Instead of this procedure meeting with sympathy it is revealing how great a disadvantage to the work it would be were such granted greater power. It is also observable that the wrong spirit is leading to misapplications of Scripture and the very Scriptures which read rightly would reveal the wrongness of their course, misread, prove to them that they are right How sad to see dear brethren approaching the 'outer darkness.*

    “It would not be your fault, dear Brother Rutherford, if a brother's over appreciation of his selfish interests, and his under appreciation of the interests of the Lord’s people, limited his usefulness and consequently his prominence in the service. How evident it is that loving service toward the brethren is given second place or completely lost sight of when such seek to stir up human sympathy on their side. What can this be but the arm of flesh? The grievance is not that the Lord's people are not served, nor that the service Is hindered, but the entire grievance is: thry art not honortd. These seem willing that the cause shall suffer in order that their precious end may be attained.

    “What power is there in Christ except that given by the Head? The Church is not a democracy, as these seem to think. When men seek by influence, majorities, sympathees to gain power and prominence not given by the Lord they surely overlook the Divine authority in the Church. On the other hand, dear brother, you io carefully seek the mind and will of the Lord that it gives the brethren confidence in you.. Because of this the love and esteem they give you is more to be valued than that based on human favoritism.

    “We can well tremble to think of the possible consequence of rebellion against our covenant of obedience to the will of Christ in favor of our human will.

    “Be assured that if some make evident that they no longer hold the Head* in proper esteem, others of us are drawn yet nearer to our Head, nearer to each other, and closer to yourself and in loyalty to the service which it is our meat and drink to accomplish.

    “Praying that every test may find us loyal to His will and our covenant of sacrifice. I remain.

    “Yours in the love and service of Christ,

    “M. L. Heu."

    THEIR GRIEVANCES AND INTENTIONS

    The four brethren who have taken a position in opposition to the affairs of the Society and refusing to attend the meeting of the Board of Directors, and the Bethel family being so disturbed about the conditions prevailing, it became necessary for me to make a statement publicly in the Dining Room, which was done Tuesday, the 17th of July, at the conclusion of which the attorney for Messrs. Hirsh, Hoskins and others made a lengthy statement, followed by impas-

    atoned speeches on the part of Brothers Hirsh and Hoskins. In the course of his remarks, Brother Hirsh stated that the intention of the four was to put Brother Macmillan out of the position where Brother Russell had placed him; that they thought he should be punished. Finding notheng serious that he could charge me with. Brother Hirsh there, for the first time, charged that I had gotten my articles in The Watch Town instead of articles written by Brother .Russell. To show that his statement was unfair, I asked him publicly who was in possession of the manuscript that Brother Russell left, and he answered that he was, which was true. It was placed in his. possession shortly after he became a member of the Editorial Committee, and I have never at any time interfered with the publication of any of it On the contrary, I prepared three articles on faith, hope and love, and it was at the urgent request of Brother Hirsh that two of these have been published and that the other may be published. I have not asked that these be published. In fact, there has never been a disagreement between the Editorial Committee as to what shall go in, and no one member has attempted to dictate, but the committee has left it largely to Brother Hirsh to select the copy and submit it to the others for approval. He made a similar charge with reference to Tax Bible Students Monthly—"Why Do the Nations War?" I desire here to state what I stated before the family, that it was at the urgent request of Brother Hirsh, supplemented by the requests of Brothers Van Araburgh and Sturgeon, that I consented that this volunteer issue be gotten out. I in no wise requested it myself.

    ABOUT 1917 VOLUNTEER MATTER

    In support of this I append hereto an affidavit of Brother Hudgings, who has charge of all the printing for the Society, and which he prepared wholly without my knowledge or request:

    “I. William F. Hudgings, hereby certify under oath to the following facts known to me personally to be correct and true:

    "(1) That all matter appearing in the current volunteer issue of The Bible Students Monthly, Vol 9, No. 5, was selected and arranged for publication by Brother Robert H. Hirsh; that he very earnestly urged the publication of two of Brother j. F. Rutherford’s sermons therein, entitled 'Why Do the Nations War?’ and *Why the Clergy Attack Pastor Russell?*^ that Brother Rutherford took little or no Personal interest in the issuance of this volunteer num-er, that no instructions, written or oral, were given by him to the Society's Printing Department, relative thereto, and that he was away on a lecture trip at the time the matter was set up and arranged into pages; that Brother R. H. Hirsh attended to such arrangement of pages, captions, halftones, etc, on his own initiative, and that Brother Rutherford did not see proofs of the final composition until after the plates had been made and put on press and a quantity had been printed; that the said R. H. Hirsh voluntarily declared to me personally that he believed said volunteer issue to be the best number ever published by our Society, and that he would not suggest anv different matter or arrangement of the matter whatsoever.

    "(2) That Brother R. H. Hirsh suggested and composed the article, and caption thereof, appearing on the rear pages of the Second Edition of the Memorial Number of The Watch Tower, entitled'Pastor Russell’s Successor, Judge Joseph F. Rutherford’; that he insistently urged the publication thereof under the direct protest of both Brothers Rutherford and Van Amburgh: that the printing of this Second Edition of said Memorial Number was delayed for more than two weeks at Brother R. H. Hirsh’s request, he explaining to the undersigned that he desired time to communicate again with Brother Rutherford (who was then out of the city) to see if he could not ultimately persuade him to consent to the insertion of this said article which Brother Hirsh had written with his own hand; that the portraits and sub-titles thereto, in the aforementioned article, were suggested and arranged bv R. H. Hirsh. •

    “(3) That the foregoing facts were freely discussed by Brother R. H. Hirsh and the undersigned, in full faith and confidence prior to the time the former’s attitude towards Brother Rutherford underwent a change; that any assertions or insinuations contrary to this deposition are opposed to the facts as I personally know them to exist

    “(4) That this affidavit Is made wholly of my own will and volition, without even a suggestion or the knowledge of anybody else, and entirely, from a personal desire for truth and justice concerning matters which have been improperly construed.

    "William F. Hudgings.

    "Subscribed and sworn to before me this 24th day of July, 1917.

    "Edward Stevenson,

    “Notary Public, Kings Co., N. Y.

    “(My commission expires Meh. 30, 1918.)"

    BETHEL FAMILY LOYAL

    To show that the office force and members of the family are in accord with me, I append hereto a statement, prepared and signed by them without my knowledge, and, of course, without my request:

    "July 18, 1917.

    "To Whom It May Concern :

    "We the workers of the Tabernacle wish to express our appreciation of our President as the Manager of the work as directed in the office of which we are servants, to the effect that not once was- an unkind word uttered to any of us during office hours, or at any other time. We have observed improvements and efficiency in the Office which has been gratifying. Never has the President (Brother Rutherford) ever showed any desire to domineer or boss the work. Very few times has he visited the Tabernacle, or in any way put himself forward. We wish to openly state that it is our desire to faithfully serve the Lord and His people under the direction of the present management, as we believe the Lord is blessing this arrangement We have not one fault to find, but can truthfully say that it is a pleasure to work in the Office as it has been directed since the Election of Brother Rutherford.

    "W. T. Hoora "S. Levi nx "J. A. Baeuerlein "Mary U. Woodard "Gertrude E. Penny "J. A. Mecgtson "Hermann H. Bodner “Gordon Sturgeon "Lute T. Van Amburgh ”W. Bella Lusk "Mary T. Harriman "Ida Wilson

    "Sistex Millex "Pearl Ellis "M. E. Woodley "J. De Cecca "A H. Macmillan "Mabel A Russell

    “J. L. Mayxx

    "G. S. Millex

    "N. Guzzetta "Harriet Barber "Florence Pack “Abner J. Eshleman "Helen May Cohen "A S. Eshleman "Pearce R. Arnold "W. H. Baeuerlein “J. W. Ferguson "W. E. Van Amburgh "M. L. Roberts "Wm. F. Hudgings "A S. Zakian "Sr. M. E. Woodley "F. G. Mason “Fred L. Mason "Theo. Boernex "A. Donald "R. J. Martin.”


    A similar statement was handed me by the workers in the Bethel:

    “July 18, 1917.

    "Dear Brother Rutherford:

    "Realizing that you are under a great strain at the present time as a result of the false accusations that have been made against you,—we the undersigned desire to express our love and appreciation to you for your faithfulness in the Lord’s service, and by the Lord's grace and help we will stand by you through theck and then unto the end.

    "Bro. Mayberry "Sr. Mayberry “Lewis T. Cohen "George Jones "A G Anderson "W. T. Baker "Fred G. Wheaton "Q E. Frost "Mrs. Jennie M. Barber

    "Hilma Nylin "Sr. Hudgings "Sr. J. DeCecca "Mary Bajlber "Florence Roberts “C. Tomlins "V. France "Eugene Kellenbexger."


    The brethren living at the New York Temple sent the following:

    “July 18* 1917.

    "DEAl BtCTHDL Rutherford:

    "We with at this time to assure you of cur fervent Christian love and to express our appreciation of your loyalty to the Lord and faithfulness to the Cause of the Truth and the Brethren.

    "Daily we pray the Lord’s continued blessing upon your services.

    "THE TEMPLE FAMILY.

    “L M. Knowles "H. E. Hailett “R. E. Paine “G. E. Stoffer "R. H. Loan

    “J. A. MacMann."

    Additional to the foregoing, several individual comforting assurances have been handed me by various members of the Bethel Family, of which the following are samples:

    “July 2J, 1917.

    "DtAM Broths Rutherford:

    “We cannot tell you how sorry we are that this present cloud is resting upon the home. We have prayed earnestly for every one of the dear brethren involved in this difficulty, hoping that matters could be adjusted, and that brotherly love might continue.

    "This evening, we are praying that the Lord's overruling providence will enable all to see eye to eye, not only for their own sakes, but for the good of the Church at large.

    "If there is anytheng that we could do to assist, we would be most happy to be used of the Lord in any way, not feeling that we have special ability, but knowing that the Lord can make use of weak and imperfect instruments—the praise belonging to Him.

    “We want to assure you, dear brother, of our love, sympathy and prayers in this severe trial

    “Your sisters in the Lord,

    "Louise Hamilton.

    . "Justine G. Hui."

    “July Twenty-fourth, 1917.

    “Diai Brother Rutherford:

    "Even our Master, who was perfect, craved the human sympathy of His friends. We know of no way to tell you of our love for you, dear Brother, except io words. We believe by far the majority of the dear Bethel family feel toward you as these words express. Our association yesterday in mailing the Memorial Tower with your biography brought to our hearts tender feelings toward you. It is our earnest desire that this expression of our love may be a measure of strength and comfort in the peculiar trial of the hour. You are always a strength and comfort to the loyal faithful brethren, who discern in you the spirit of our dear Lord and Head. He who has placed you to represent Himself as the head of the family of God at Bethel will surely give you His wisdom. His courage, His unfailing power. We have time, 'this morning for the signatures only of the little group mentioned, but we represent the sentiments, dear Brother, ©f every loyal heart in Bethel and of every faithful member of Christ on earth, united to Him in the spirit 6f our begetting as New Creatures.

    "Your brethren in His love, in the esteem born of loyalty and faithfulness, and in fellow-service in Christ

    “M. L. Hui

    “Asner H. Eshleman “Stella M. Wilson "Ida C. Wilson “Florence Pack "Hasuqkt Bauer.”

    “Brooklyn Bethel, July 4, 1917.

    “Our Beloved Brothers Rutherford

    "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you peace!

    “Although I have diligently refrained from discussions as requested, I was drawn into one last night against my will and purpose, and I see clearly that it does no good. Henceforth, counting the Lord Jesus as my sufficiency, I will refrain absolutely, asking your pardon for seeming over warm, though I was but apologizing in defense of your position.

    “With malice toward none and judging none, but trusting in the Precious Blood and In the promise of grace sufficient.

    "Your sister in the Christian faith, hope, love and joy,

    “Amat L. Darltncton*

    ALL CHARGES WHOLLY WITHOUT WARRANT

    The four brethren accuse me of disregarding Brother Russell’s will Such a statement Is wholly without foundation. Brother Russell's wilt was written in 1907. In 1908 Jud^e Carpenter, who was leading counsel for Brother Russell in some litigation in Pittsburgh involving his voting shares, to my personal knowledge told him that these voting share* could not be transferred by will or tn any other manner. The-same question came up it the trial against us in the ease of the “Brooklyn Eagle," and I discussed this matter with him again. Brother Russell never changed his will in this regard; in fact, it was sealed up in 1910 and never opened thereafter prior to his death. Within a short time after his death I informed the Board of the facts above stated and suggested that by voting these shares they were wrong. We would set a precedent, so that if someone else died whose relatives were against the Truth they might vote their share* to the disadvantage of the Society; and with the knowledge and consent of the Board we procured the opinion of a firm of lawyers in writing which was read to the five sisters by Brother Van Amburgh, and they fully agreed that it was not wise to vote those shares. They would have voted for me. and it surely cannot be said that I disregarded the will for any ulterior motive.                         t

    Brother Russdl did not by his will appoint the Board of Director*. The law* of Penna, and the Charter alone can provide for such. There is not a single instance where it can be pointed cut that I have disregarded Brother Russell’s will, except when I voted for Brother Sturgeon for the Editorial Committee. It was Brother* Ritchie and Van Amburgh who signed die contract to sell the Photo-Drama, and in that they were supported by the other four brethren. It was Brother Ritchie who first proposed before the Board that the Ange lophone be sold to him and that the Society turn over to him the $18,000.00 that was then in the bank to the credit of the Angelophone Company and which belonged to the Society, and that he would assume the contracts outstanding. I prevented this from being done.

    In harmony with the laws of New York and to protect the Peoples Pulpit Association, and in harmony with Brother Russell's wish, as previously expressed to Brother Cooke, the manufacturing part of the Angelico Company was sold to Brother Cooke and the Society reserved the right to make and furnish the records which it still has.

    The Second Edition of the Memorial issue of the Watch Town, which contained i brief bio<raphy of myself, was sent out over my repeated protest Brother Hirsh insisted that it should be done in the interest of the work. The other members of the Committee eventually sup-ported' him and finally I said; “Brethren, you may do m you please, but you must take the responsibility."

    Thus it will be seen that the opposition arising has not been caused by any alleged mismanagement or misconduct of affairs. The whole trouble has arisen because of the desire of the brethren named to put Brother Macmillan out of the position in which he was placed by Brother Russell and put themselves in control and so tie my hands that I could practically do notheng. I submit these facts, therefore, to the brethren, everywhere in explanation of what I have done, and leave it to your judgment to determine whether or not I acted in the proper manner.

    SEVENTH VOLUME BORN IN TRAVAIL

    We are reminded of a coincidence that we here mention. This has indeed been a great trial upon the family and upon others of the dear friends throughout the country who have heard of it Brother Russell once said that the Seventh Volume would be given to the Church in the hour of its direst need, to encourage and comfort them, and the Scriptures point out that there would be murmurers, complainers, etc. The Seventh Volume, a* you know, is now published. The first copies were in the Bethel Dining Room at the noon hour on Tuesday, June 17th, and at the conclusion of my statement to the family of what led up to the conditions, I stated that the Seventh Volume was there to be distributed to any who desired It; and immrrfttHr/y thereafter the attacks began upon me by Brothers Hirih and Hoikins.

    Wc believe that a careful and prayerful reading of the Seventh Volume, which is now in your hands,'will enable all the dear friends everywhere to be comforted and helped, and to determine what your course should tfe in. the present crisis.

    The compilation of the Seventh Volume had been in progress since shortly after the death of Brother Russell. The manuscript was all ready for publication about the time the opposition above mentioned began. I was about to submit the printer's proofs to these and other brethren at the time this trouble arose, but seeing their violent opposition I knew that the publication would be long delayed if they insisted on reading the manuscript and giving the objections first I consulted Brothers Van Amburgh, Macmillan,, Martin and Hudgings, and it was concluded that in view of the fact that the best opportunity to publish It was now, because of the rush that comes to the,printers in a short time, that the publication should proceed. It was remarked that probably these brethren would raise the question that we had misappropriated funds for the publication of this volume. The Lord seemed to provide at once to meet any such objection. Some time after Brother Russell's death a very -dear brother In the Truth wrote to me, saying that he had tome money that he would like to use in some special work if I would let him know that it could be done at any time. Seeing that the Eublication of the volume was approaching, I wrote this rother that the Seventh Volume was about to be published, and, having in mind his previous kind offer, I merely reminded him of it The next mail brought to me a draft in a sufficient amount for its publication, and I used this _money for the purpose of paying the printers instead of asking the Treasurer to pay for the same, and used it with the full knowledge, consent and direction of the brother who furnished it,

    Desiring that the brethren throughout the land should have this book as quickly as possible, because -of being die Last heritage of our beloved Pastor to the dear Israel of God, we arranged to send it forth by mail so that each one would receive it practically at the same time; and the money from the above mentioned dear brother paid the postage likewise.

    SUMMARY BY BROTHER HEMERY, LONDON BRANCH MANAGER REVIEWING THE BRITISH SITUATION

    The following summary of the lituation in England was given by Brother Hemerv, the Manager of the So-det/s London office, before the London congregation on Sunday, April 1, 1017:

    "Last Sunday Brother Thackway said sometheng should he stated by me relative to Brother Johnson and his position. I am glad in one way to have the privilege of speaking about this matter to relieve some anxiety that you must have, but at the same time I am sorry that it is necessary to have to say it You gathered from what Brother Thackway said a fortnight ago that the situation then was a serious one. It is serious, and it is ■ very sad one.. To my understanding. it is one of the saddest thengs that will have to be chronicled in all the matters relating to the Harvest Work; I cannot help but feel that it is tragedy, for we have been running pretty close to the most serious of al! matters that we have to do with, in Brother Johnson. Brother Thackwa/s statement to yon a fortnight ago was, it may be said, complete in itself, but there have been some developments since, and it may probably be considered necessary to say sometheng more to you. There is a right that you have in this matter being so intimately associated with the W. T. B. & T. Soc. whom Brother Johnson represented. Brother Thackway spoke of rebellion, i strong word, but a true word, for Brother Johnson was not merely disloyal to his superior in the work, but in active opposition in the face of direct instruction. He took another course and denied all authority that should be given under the circumstances. I will very briefly recapitulate the circumstance, without going into details however, for a good many of these are familiar to your mind.

    "You know that soon after Brother Johnson came here he found, as he believed, opposition to his course, and that which he considered to.be against the best interests of the work, in my two colleagues, Brothers Sheam and Crawford, and you know how he dismissed them from the office, They accepted their dismissal; then, since our Church ejection was due, he took opposition to their names being put forward for election because of the matter that they, and some other elders were involved in, That matter you partly decided, but so far as Brothers Shearn and Crawford were concerned, their nomination still stands good before you, and we are waiting for a report from Brother Rutherford of his decision after he has read all the facts of the case from the Commission which he himself appointed.

    "Brother Johnson in his claim asserted that he had the full right to control the office, and full right to control the British work. I wondered at it at the time, but he assured us that he had discussed his credentials with the

    Executive Committee in Brooklyn, and we had no other way of acting than by viewing him as a good brother, as we received him at his own estimation, -except that there was some doubt -or limitation in our mind. However, he acted thus, and we agreed, but when Brother Rutherford knew of what Brother Johnson was doing, he repudiated his action, and he wired for him that it was not authoritative. Later Brother Johnson, seeming to grow by the power that he was exerting, and finding the others submissive, put himself in a higher position than apparently he had the authority to do, and began to think rather highly of himself, and began to see, to his own satisfaction, that he was fulfilling Scriptural types, and types which were leading «him on to higher and bigger things, and he began to see himself as a rather important personage. Cables were exchanged between him and Brother Rutherford, and communication, having gone over from this side to Brother Rutherford, Brother Rutherford sent a telegram, which was read here on Sunday, March 4th, by Brother McCloy, addressed to four of us, Brothers Johnson, Shearn, Crawford and myself, saying that Brothers Shearn and Crawford were to be reinstated In the office, and that Brother Johnson’s action was absolutely without authority. That week Brother Johnson went to Liverpool. There in Liverpool he openly declared to the brethren there that he was the '"Steward” of the Parable (Matt. 20:8). That was a bold claim to make; that meant he was Brother Russell’s successor, and while a number of votes might put a President as the head of The Watch Tower Society, that the Lord Himself had made Brother Johnson “Steward" of all His goods, .and to distribute the opportunities of service which might be. Brother Johnson hinted sometheng of this to, me in a vague sort of way, but when he publicly declared it in Liverpool, I immediately wrote to tell him that I was in opposition to him, not personally, but I disbelieved in his claim, disavowed it altogether, and .that if he persisted in it, it meant that Ms work in Great Britain was finished, for I said that it was Impossible that the "Steward" should be in Great Britain, and the President of the only channel of blessing to the Lord’s people which I know or acknowledge, in America. I urged him to go to America at once, and if he felt he had a real claim, to put it to headquarters. I did not say he was not, it was the Lord's business, but I did not believe it, I urged him to go to America, and lodge his claim there. While in Liverpool he sent a long cablegram to Brother Rutherford who was then, away in California—he sent it direct to California— telling'him of certain things he had done. I won't repeat it, but in the telegram he said that since he had done certain things in the Tabernacle on Jan. 28th. he had been appointed by the Lord "Steward" of the Parable (Matt.

    20:8), and had left the Tabernacle clothed as Mordecai was clothed when he left the presence of the King (see Esther 8:13). He asked Brother Rutherford to be his righthand man—•nice of him to ask that—and that he could not keep his hands off the work here. Brother Rutherford wired back that his work in London, that is his representative work, was finished, and that he was to return to America immediately. He wired to us in the office that Brother Johnson’s work here was finished, and that he had no further authority to represent the Society in any way, and that we should ship him back to America immediately. Easier said than done. Brother Rutherford's position was this, that a man who would send such a cablegram as he sent wasnot in a fit condition of mind to represent the Society, so he asked him to return, and bid us cancel any work and return him.

    “Brother Johnson came back from Liverpool, and was quiet for some days, accepting this. He called it a setback. but believed it could not last very long, for Brother Rutherford could see his. Brother Johnson’s, position. He came back to London the weekend the Commission sat All that weekend he was comparatively quiet, but he came to the conclusion on the Saturday night that he would not attend the Commission because he said it had no authority, and he being the “Steward,’’ was superior to it, and he repudiated it and denied its authority. Then he said he would require the same kind of cancellation of his papers—that is, sealed papers such as had been given him when he received his commission as the Society’s accredited representative.

    “A little later he denied that Brother Rutherford had any authority, and that his election to office was illegal. He was continually going step by step denying every cablegram, and every authority. In the home he reasserted his claim, and it fell to me, as representing the President, to tell him that while he stayed in the house awaiting his return to America, he could stay as an honored guest for his work’s sake, but that he must keep his hands off the management He had said he would not and furthermore declared in that week, the Wednesday after the Commission had gone home, that his purpose was to come back in this Church the following Sunday, and, to use his own words, hang those elders which he had slain some weeks before, to take out of office again the brethren whom you had elected to office, whose names had been on the letter which brought so much trouble to the Church. Now I told him I should resist him in this, and I told him too that he would find no favor with you in what he did, but he said the type clearly showed that it had to be done, but when he saw I was determined he should not do it, he went back to look at the type and said it showed sometheng different, and he would be content for the time being. However, the following weekend he came out in full rebellion against Brother Rutherford, declaring there was no President of The Watch Tower, that his election was illegal, and that he Intended to take full control of the British work. This was notheng less than rebellion, as I told him. We received another telegram, signed not only by Brother Rutherford, but by The Watch Tower Society r saying that all Brother Johnson’s activities of every kind in this country were cancelled. There could be no clearer authority. Here was Brother Johnson sending cablegrams and getting no reply whatever, whereas my cablegrams were being answered regularly and quickly. That pat division in our house, for fie went to extremes. He did not like my opposition. I had no other course but to oppose him. There was no reason for thinking that The Watch Tower, which is the official journal of the Society, was in league with some conspiracy in America, or that there was sometheng wrong there; tiiere was no reason to believe that The Watch Tower told lies, or that the authorities had been careless in their work when they elected Brother Rutherford President He disobeyed all instructions. Then he took his last step that he could take in this way, and I have to tell you that a fortnight ago on Monday he dismissed me from the office. He dismissed me quite a dozen times, and when he found I would not go, he suspended me. It did not make much difference personallv. only the unfortunate part of the matter was that there were some in the bouse and office who were seeing things from Brother Johnson’s point of view, and Brother Housden and three other brethren in the office were co-operating with him. They said they believed Brother Johnson was right; another brother took no sides whatever he raid, but he certainly rhowed some sympathy with Brother Johnson. Do you know that the whole of the week before last they kept from me every letter that came in, with the exception of those few which happened to come in ray own name. I was not allowed to see a letter, and they handled business they did not know about They kept me from the telephone, and when I wanted to telephone they would neither let me, nor my secretary use it, and also would not allow messages to come through to my office. Meantime, Brother Johnson was trying to pet the money we had at the Bank. He was persuaded in his own mind he said, and certainly he seemed to have persuaded those with him, that it was in the very best interests of the British work that he should control the money, and of vital interest to the work that I should be gotten out of the way. How fie found that out I don’t know; I expect it was by some type he saw. He persuaded the brethren with him that this was the right theng, and they acted on it. A sorry theng indeed. Well,. I am very glad to tell you that three of the brethren who acted with him, one after another came to see their mistake, and they came very humbly expressing their sorrow to me for the treatment they measured out to me, and for their attitude towards the work.

    “We are beginning to get the work into shape again now, but there has been a real set back to it which has caused some fluttering about the country wondering what is happening. Meantime Brother Johnson put an action in the High Court to restrain me and those associated with me. from handling Tat Watch Tower money. Why he wanted this for himself <he best knows, I don't, but he tried bard to get at what money there was, a matter of about £1500. Owing to the formalities of the law there are already costs amounting to about £150. That was to get me out of the work particularly, and to get himself installed in care of the British branch in face of all the evidence against him.

    “Now Brother Johnson’s action is repudiated by Brother Rutherford for two reasons. First,, that he was never charged with such work as he took upon himself. Brother Rutherford tells me in a letter I received a day or two ago, that it was well understood when they wrote out those credentials, with the gold seal which you saw on them, that it was in order for him to get a better passport into, this country, and Brother Johnson fully understood this, and^not at all to interfere with the British work. Brother Rutherford said that Brother Johnson knew this, and I would rather believe Brother Rutherford than Brother Johnson. Besides, Brother Rutherford’s repudiation of Brother Johnson is since he sent the foolish cablegram, and because it showed that he was not in a fit mental condition to represent the Society, or indeed, anybody else.

    'Well now, brethren, this is why Brother Johnson has not appeared before you. He will not appear here, or anywhere else as representing the Society. It cannot be under such conditions. It Is one of the most awful things we •have had in the whole of the Harvest work, and I see no other explanation of it than this. Brother Rutherford suggested that Brother Johnson has lost his balance of mind, and coupled with this an inordinate value of himself in the British work. He has had thoughts in his mind for a long time before he came to Britain which enabled these things to act quickly upon him, but in charity to him we wilt say that it was owing to a weak state of mind because of a strain he had. To say we are sorry is a poor theng. The chief trouble is, so far as we are concerned, that there has been work done in the hearts and minds of the brethren which is bound to hurt them for some time to come.

    "Brother Rutherford, in his letter to me, sends a message to the congregation. He says how sorry he is that Brother Johnson took the course he had to, and yet how he feels that all these things have been allowed of the Lord tn order to do any work that the Lord may have, i he Commission made their report to America about the work, and when that report has been considered and we have heard, then there will be sometheng more to say relative to the relationship of Brothers Shearn and Crawford in the office. In the meantime Brother Rutherford says, after sending his love to the Congregation: 'I have received numerous letters from the congregation at London. I have not time now to answer them alt I therefore ask you in my behalf, to please state to the London Congregation that as President of the Society I heartily disapprove of Brother Johnson's action either in making charges against the brethren or dismissing them, and that I attribute his action not to a wrongful condition of heart, but to a disturbed mental condition; that you will please ask the congregation to suspend judgment against all persons and to calmly and serenely await the direction of the Lord, knowing that in due time He will -cause even this great trial to work out for good to all who have had the experience and who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.*

    “Of course we have done that: we have left the election of the two brethren in abeyance. The office matter does not specially concern us as a Church, except as we said some while ago, that it might prejudice the minds of the brethren in dealing with the election. However, we have left that, and we do leave it until we hear from the brethren on the other side. It Is a very loving letter that Brother Rutherford sends, and I don't know what more to say. It is another instance of what our dear Pastor so often reminded us of, that when approaching the time of the Memorial there are bard times for the Church. ' It seems that the Lord allowed

    Satan to come near to the Church and the Lord's people at this time. But, as we have so often said, notheng can harm us while we continue to wait upon Him. Let ua do that, brethren, so that when we come back this next week on Thursday evening, we may come with clean hands and pure hearts, and if there has been anytheng of bitterness, malice, or evil surmising*, that we may take this to the Lord and cleanse ourselves. For my own mind I feel sure that the Lord's hand has been in all this for good in the Harvest Field, and to ourselves. There was certainly sometheng here in London that was causing a strain—I believe the Lord will have it removed. I believe we shall enter into fairer waters; we shall sail on to sweeter prosperity. I believe the Lord is preparing us that the work may go on in the country more sweetly, that it may gather In the last grains of wheat Let notheng disturb you, brethren. Whatever strange reports you may hear, and there have been strange doings tn all this matter, take it to the Lord. Don't talk about ft; don't ask everybody you meet if they have heard the latest news. Take it to the Lord, and if there are matters relative to the office to bring before you, we will bring them before you in due time. Since the office is wedded to the Church, the relationship has to be taken into account Keep your souls in patience, and remember that the Lord is our strength."

    OUR SUMMARY OF THE FOREGOING EVIDENCE

    a The coarse pursued in Great Britain, which almost dis* rupted the work there, has likewise been followed here.

    Brother Johnson, the ablest brother in all the land, has been the chief instrument in this sad affair.

    Brother Johnson set about in Great Britain to take complete charge of all the work there, announcing himself as the Steward with all the powers possessed by Brother Russell, and declared his intention of establishing a new Watch Town in that country.

    To accomplish this purpose be made charges against a number of the brethren, that they were disloyal to Brother Russell and the Society, and that they were disregarding his expressed wishes. Without right or authority, he discharged two of the managers of the London office, who are members of the council of the International Bible Students Association, drove them from the London Bethel, and attempted to drive out the therd and only remaining one of the Managers. He went about the country telling all the class of the terrible condition of affairs that he had found and poisoning their minds against these brethren.

    When his European tour was cancelled and he was recalled to America and a commission of five brethren appointed to ascertain the facts and report, he then repudiated the election of the Society's President and appealed to the Board through Brother Ritchie; ignored the commission, and refused to appear before it

    In his winning manner, and by the wrongful application of much of the Old Testament, he induced some of the members of the London Bethel to support him. He did not wait for instructions from America, but with an accomplice he obtained possession of the office keys, forcibly took possession of all the mail, the office and everytheng in it, and took a large amount of money out of the safe and carried it away.

    Failing to influence the commissioners before they met, and seeing that his designs were failing, he took all the money he could lav his hands on, some of- it belonging to the Society and some a special fund that had been raised to help the poor brethren in their defense against the Military Act Then he employed a lawyer, paid him $200 of the Society’s money, and instituted a lawsuit in the name of the Society and himself as Special Representative, against the London managers and against the bank, and tied up the Society's funds and stopping the work there until the suit could be finally determined.

    Seeing the Court had decided this cause adversely to him, and that his last desperate attempt had failed, he left the London Bethel by letting -himself down from the roof and concealing himself about London until he sailed for America.

    SECOND PART

    At Brooklyn, Brother Johnson had two hearings before the Board and other brethren, accupying four hours, at the conclusion of which all present agreed that Brother Johnson was laboring under some mental delusion.

    We refrained from telling even the Bethel family about these things, desiring to protect him. He remained quiet in the Bethel for about two months. Then he came to me and said he was ready to return to Great Britain. When told that he could not return, that there was notheng there for him to do, and Chat the British brethren did not want him, he became excited and declared he would appeal to the Board of Directors., He demanded that I call a meeting of the Board, which I declined to do. Why did he want a meeting of the Board? We answer—He hoped that the Board would overrule the President and send Brother Johnson back to Great Britain. Notwithstanding the fact that Brothers Hirsh, Hoskins, Wright and Ritchie bad knowledge of his exploits in .Great Britain, they listened to him and at his request signed a demand upon me to call a meeting of the Board of Directors to hear him. Why should they listen to his appeal in this behalf?

    SUGGESTED REASONS

    Brother Russell bad appointed Brother Macmillan to the position of Representative of and Assistant to the President, with full powers as overseer of the entire work and had removed Brother Ritchie as Manager of the office and Brother Hoskins from the Colporteur departs ment The Executive Committee appointed Brother Macmillan to the same place. When I became President I continued Brother Macmillan in that position. Brother Hoskins, Hirsh and Ritchie were displeased with Brother Macmillan's appointment by Brother Russell, and with what he had done and said to them. They wanted- to deprive him of his position and his power. Each one of them had spoken to me against Brother Macmillan and I had declined in his absence to heed their speech. Brother Ritchie had not felt kindly about the management of the Society since he failed of election at Pittsburgh.

    Brother Johnson, in his persuasive manner, induced these brethren to believe that I as President was usurping power which they should exercise. “Usurpation of power” is a favorite charge of Brother Johnson's against his brethren. See his letters hereinbefore set out (page 4). If he could induce the Board to take charge of the management, then his hope was that he would be exonerated in his course In Great Britain and sent back to that country. It was easy to see that if these four brethren could take

    charge of the management, they codd oust Brother Macmillan and have the honor of running the Society. A conipiracy Is an agreement to accomplish a wrongful purpose. Was there an agreement between these brethren? The circumstances show there was. Circumstantial evidence is often stronger than direct. It was to the advantage of all. these brethren, as they reasoned, to deprive me of the management At once they joined forces. Brother Johnson's superior ability dictated the course.

    Why should Brother Wright join with them? Poor Brother Wright—the others induced him to believe that he was being Ignored as a member of the Board and that it was his duty to stand by them to maintain the dignity of the Board. Brother Wright has said several times since the trouble began that he had been dragged Into this iff air and induced to believe that if he did not stand by the other three he would be unfaithful; that he wished he was out of it I feel deep compassion for the dear brother.

    Notwithstanding these four brethren were in the dining room three times each day, and saw me and had never requested a meeting of the Board, and I had never declined to call one. and they had no reason to believe that I would decline if they asked me, at,the instance of Brother Johnson, and upon his advice, tiiey signed s paper which Brother Johnson had written, asking that a meeting of the Board be called for Brother Johnson’s benefit, and Brother Johnson brought the paper to me. They did this although they knew that he had had two hearings and knew that I had told Brother Johnson he could not go back to England.

    I was surprised at this action. I at once scented that a conspiracy was developing to disrupt the work here and to get Brother Johnson back to England for more trouble there I immediately called Brothen Wright, Ritchie, Hirsh and Hoskins and Brother Van Amburgh to a conference in the drawing room. This was not a meeting of the Board. I asked these brethren why they had sent me this paper through Brother Johnson. I told them why I would not can a meeting of the Board at his instance; that he was trying to force my hand and force himself back into Great Britain. To show that he had been consulting with these brethren with reference to depriving me of the management, Brothers Hirsh and Hoskins came to this conference, thinking, doubtless, it was a meeting of the Board, armed trifA wAurA fAry jkrodsefd and read in tn attempt to show that it was the wish of Brother Russell that the Board should manage the affairs of the Society, and not the President I was astonished at their attitude. Brother Hirsh then drew from his pocket a copy of a letter which I had written to Brother Johnson in England* before the election, in which be attempted to show that I had agreed that the Board was in control. Ho could not have obtained this letter from anybody else except Brother Johnson. Brother Hirsh then tried to force a motion for a hearing of Brother Johnson, but was told that the Board was not in session. I then said, “Brethren, this English affair is strictly a matter for the Executive to handle, and. I have handled it without objection from anyone up to this hour, but I do not care to keep any facts from you." I thereupon submitted to these four brethren the commissioner's report and my findings upon that report, and asked them to examine it and confer with Brother Johnson and report to a meeting of the Board which I would call a week later.

    At this meeting, and after these brethren had conferred with Brother Johnson for a week, they appeared with a report which exonerated Brother Johnson in all he had done tn England, and recommended that the Society pay $300 to Brother Johnson’s solicitor, notwithstanding the judge of the High Court had compelled the solicitor to pay this money as a penalty for wrongfully prosecuting a suit without authority and after having notice from the President of the Society that such suit was improper. Brother Hirsh introduced a resolution to carry this into effect, and moved its adoption, and I ruled it out of order and prevented the Society from being deprived of $300.

    As further evidence that there was a conspiracy between the parties, Brother Hirsh immediately drew from his pocket a resolution which had been prepared, and offered it, which resolution attempted to repeal the by-law passed by the Shareholders and by the Board of Directors, and to take the management of the Society out of the President’s hands and put it into the hands of these four. What followed I have heretofore stated.

    Again Brother Johnson and his allies were frustrated in their move. Following the same tactics which he had adopted in Great Britain, Brother Johnson and these other brethren


    set about to stir up the minds of the friends against the management here. Both Brothers Johnson and Hoskins had declined to take a Pilgrim trip, even for a short period. Their time was being occupied In consultation between themselves and with lawyers, and doing absolutely notheng in the Harvest work, although living at the expense of the Society. But now they began to go about and visit the friends and pour into their ears accusations against the management of the Society, exactly ax Brother Johnson had done m Grral Britain.

    Following his exinn plc. Brother Hoskins cancelled his meeting for Sunday evening, July 13th, and by previous arrangement met Brother Hirsh at Philadelphia. Both of theae. brethren had been held in high esteem by the Philadelphia ecdesia. They hoped now to get the influence of this class behind them. At that Sunday night meeting they belched forth their accusations against Brother Van Amburgh and myself and others. For the safety of the interests of the friends, I am compelled to refrain from publishing some of the things that they stated at that time. These brethren, together with some others, at a meeting of the Brooklyn congregation held while I was at 'Chicago;, attempted to get a motion before the congregation to oust me from the Chairmanship of the congregation. In this they failed. When I returned I called a meeting of the congregation for Wednesday night,, July 18th. These brethren, and their allies were there, loaded and ready for the fight, intending to accomplish their purpose. Their leader faded them and became flint-hearted, they did not attempt to carry out their design. The result was, the Lord's blessing was upon the meeting, and it was turned into a Love Feast, and these ©pposers went away disappointed.

    Their purpose was to discredit me before as many friends as possible, and then pass a resolution depriving me of the management of the Society. They had told me they were consulting lawyers. Brother Johnson had said, are consulting lawyers and wc know what we can do with you." Again they were thwarted tn their purposes. Following the same course pursued in Great Britain, he attempted to ingratiate himself with the Bethel family here. He had not seen his wife since November last, and although knowing she was not well and the Society had offered him transportation to Columbus, he declined to go; but he found both ability and time to go about the country to stir up strife. He had been living at Bethel for several weeks, in open defiances of my order to go away. Seeing now that their well laid plans were failing, Brother Johnson came to me in a different guise.

    About the 20th of July he came to me in the capacity of * mediator or peace-maker, expressing a desire to establish peace. I let him pursue his course. He did not deceive me at ail. He said, “Now, brother, this matter should be adjusted, because if it goes before the Church you will be discredited." This seemed never to have occurred to him when he was taking, it before various members of the Church, both in a public and private way, and when Brothers Hirsh and Hoskins were doing likewise. He suddenly became very aolicitous for my welfare. I replied, “Brother Johnson, I am not seeking public approval; I am here to do my duty, regardless of who is for or against me. I am seeking only to protect the interests of the Society and to please the Lord. You, Brother Johnson, have been the cause of this trouble here You desired to go back to England and because I declined to send you, this trouble was begun." He admitted that the trouble was the result of my refusal to give him another hearing before the Board with a view to sending him back to England.

    And now,.dear brethren. I submit that it can hardly be said that I have acted from any selfish or ulterior motive. I was advised by one of the best corporation lawyers in Philadelohia that these four men were not legal members of the Board, and that I had the legal authority to appoint a new board. I appointed this Board not for a selfish purpose, but to protect the Interests of the Society.

    The Board is now composed of Brothers (Doctor) Spahr; J. A. Bohnet, George H. Fisher, A. H. Macmillan. A. N. Pierson, w. E Van Amburgh and myself, all of whom Brother Russell fully trusted and in whom he had the fullest confidence. I believe the friends throughout the country have confidence in these brethren, that they will safeguard the interests of the Society. This Board hai agreed to meet once each month for the purpose, of looking after the interests of the Society. The Ptortes Putrrr Association is the legal corporation in New York, with full power of management, and I have asked that Board to create an Executive Committee to act together with me

    to manage and manage the interests of the Lucd'a work here,

    Brother Hirsh offered to withdraw his wrongful statements • made at Philadelphia if be and the others were placed back on * the Board. Why should these brethren insist now on being on the Board, which would result in immediate disruption of the work at Bethel and Che Tabernacle, because the majority of the workers would decline to work under their management? Will the interests of the Society be safer in their bands, or do they seek honor and preferment?

    When I declined Brother Hirsh's proposition to place himself and his colleagues on the Board, upon the condition that he go to Philadelphia and "make it more than right,” he at once took the opposite course: went to Philadelphia and made his statement before the congregation even worse than he had made it at first, and when I told that congregation of his offer to go and make it right with them upon the condition that he and the others be put on the Board, he did not deny it Were these fire brethren then seeking the welfare of the Society and its work, or did they hare some other motive?

    The opposers have never pointed out a single instance wherein I have mismanaged the affairs of the Society. They have not suggested a single improvement in the management Their policy clearly is a desire for honor and “rule or ruin.”

    As conclusive proof that these conspirators, following the example set by Brother Johnson in England, intended to carry out the threat made by one of them to Brother Wisdom, namely, to resort to the civil courts in their attempt to get control of the Society and to tic up the money of the Society so that the work would be hindered, we append the following notice served upon Brothers Van Amburgh, Pierson and myself:

    Sa:—

    PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, That the undersigned, being a majority of the Board of Directors of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, hereby call a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the said Society, to be held at the Sl George Hotel, Brooklyn, New York City, on Saturday, July 28, 1817, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon of said day, for the purpose of transacting the following business:

    1. To take such action as may be necessary to prevent, prohibit and restrain the persons now styling themselves a Board of Directors of thes Society from undertaking to interfere in or control the management of its affairs as Directors.

    ENDORSEMENT

    We, the undersigned, having carefully read the foregoing and having compared the letters with the originals, and being personally acquainted with the facts, desire to express our approval and endorsement of the actions of Brother Rutherford in his official capacity as President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society as herein stated.

    We believe that the evidence herein produced has been arranged by the Lord for the purpose of acquainting His dear ones with the subtle manner by which the Adversary has endeavored to overthrow the work which we so dearly love and which is causing the rapid overthrow of his empire. Surely he has great wrath, for he sees his time is short. The Lord is for us, who can be against us I

    W. E. Van Amburgh

    A. H. MACMILLAN W. F. HUDDINGS

    Of Brooklyn Tabernacle and Bethel

    D. J. COHEN

    Under Brooklyn Conference

    2. To prevent, hinder and restrain the officers of the Society from paying out funds except by the consent and under the direction of the Board.

    3. To take such action as may be necessary to restrain any officer of the Society from acting in excess of the Powers conferred upon him by the Charter and by-laws of the Society and by law.

    4. To take such action as may be necessary to prevent, prohibit and restrain any officer of thes Society from disposing of its records, books and papers except with the consent and under the direc--Cion of thes Board.

    6. To take such action as may be necessary to prevent, prohibit and restrain any officer of thes Society from paying out funds of thes Society to the Peoples Pulpit Association except upon the consent and unde? the direction of thes Board.

    The reason why a special meeting of thes Board is being called -by the undersigned is that the President of the Society has undertaken, without any warrant, to consider that the affairs of the Society are under the exclusive control of himself and of certain other gentlemen who do not compose the Board of Directors.

    Yours, etc.,

    T. D. WMIGHT

    I. F. Hoskins

    A. L. Ritchie                               R. H. Hirsh.

    Brother Ritchie said "Had I been elected to any office at Pittsburgh I would have considered myself a member of the Great Company class.” Since he is striving now to get the management of the Society in his hands, is he seeking to get into the Great Company class?

    This whole affair has been a sad one. It has been a great trial upon the Bethel family. It has greatly interrupted the work here. We have wondered why the Lord permitted it to come. He knows. This is the time of fiery trial. In thes connection we strongly recommend a rereading of the article, "The Hour of Temptation," written and published by Brother Russell just before his death. His expressions there seem to be prophetic, and are now having fulfillment Beloved in the Lord, let us keep our hearts, watching diligently and seeing that no rodt of bitterness springs up against any one. Let us keep ourselves in the love of God, and while the fire burns fierce, know that His everlasting arms are beneath us and He will sustain us and He will bring through thes fiery trial everyone who is properly exercised thereby, purified and made more fit for the Master's use

    My heart bleeds for these brethren. I would that I might help them.- But they are in the hands of the Lord, and I pray He may deal mercifully with them and that they may be fully recovered if that be His holy will.

    And now, dear brethren, I have placed before you the facts. I am conscious of the fact that I have done right Others may disagree with me. I am reminded that it is only five months until my term of office expires. I pledge you, by the grace of God, that I will strive to hold the affairs of the Society together and see that no ambitious person wrecks it withen that five months. At that time I feel sure that the Lord will direct his dear people what course to take. I have no ambition except to please the Lord. I have had the blessed privilege of a little part In placing before the Church Brother Russell's last work, the Seventh Volume of Studies in the Scriptures. I have tried to be faithful. The Lord is my judge. Earthly reputation counts notheng and thes life is not dear unto me. This has been a season of extremely fiery trial, but I count it a privilege to suffer with my Master in doing what I believe to be the right thing. »

    Let us judge mercifully, seeing that no bitterness is in our hearts. Let us be of sober mind and watch unto prayer. The end is at hand. Above all thengs, let us put on love which is the bond of completeness.

    Praying the Lord's blessings upon every one of you, and asking your prayers in my behalf, that I may be given wisdom and grace from on High and more of the Lord’s spirit to perform the duties that He has placed in my hands, in a faithful manner, until finished, and with much love, I beg to remain.

    Your brother and servant by His grace,

    J. F. RUTHERFORD.


    ARVEST SIFTINGS

    . (PART II.)

    "Fur we wrestle no! against flesh and blood, butagainst principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of thes world, against spiritual wickedness in high place s.*'—Hfihesiaiis 6 rt2.

    Oct. 1         *                              BROOKLYN, N. Y,                                         No. '2

    _____ _________________________;__,____________ i

    ' A REPLY TO THE PAPER CALLED “ LIGHT AFTER DARKNESS”

    (Prepared bv the President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society by request of the Board of Directors. Not for general .                                               distribution but sent free on request.] "

    ~“       "11 TH one accord, I believe, all the consecrated

    (““          will agree that our great Adversary would be

    ^LA/7--    pleased to have us occupy our time in the dis-

    jTraJ cession of our differences, to the neglect of the

    Harvest work, especially as the Harvest work is drawing to a close and greater efforts in that direction must be put forth.

    All of us are inclined to exclaim, "How •             strange that we should have such trials in the

    Church now I" Then we are reminded of the

    .-------- words of St Peter, "Beloved, think it not -

    strange concerning thes fire among you." (1 Peter 4:12.) It will require calmness, sobriety of mind, purity of heart and an increased measure of the Lord's Spirit to weather the storm. The Lord will supply all the needed grace to those who keep-in mind the ultimate purpose of our warfare. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and everytheng that can be shaken will now be shaken. ('Hebrews 12:26-23.) Chir great desire is to enter into that Kingdom. Uppermost in the mind of every Christian should be the thought, What can I do to insure my gaining that great prize?

    To say that any of us are free from mistakes is not in keeping with the truth. We are all imperfect, and. the Judgement of everyone is more or less warped. Surely it is due time for us to heed the words of the Apostle, "Above all thengs, have fervent [overspreading] love amongst yourselves, for love covers a multitude of defects?

    "Light after Darkness" is a misnomer for a paper issued by. Brothers Hirsh, Hoskins, Wright and Ritchie, and is not in fact a reply to Harvest Siftings. I shall refer to it herein as "Opponents' Paper,” having in mind the brethren who prepared and published it. Among them are not included Brother A. N. Pierson, because, as I am advised, he had no part in the publication of said paper. When it was ready to be published he was asked for his signature, but refused to sign it, and stated he would have notheng more to -do with their publications, or words to that effect. It will be observed, however, that a letter formerly issued at Boston and containing the name of Brother Pierson was so adroitly arranged at the conclusion of "Opponents' Paper" as to lead the unsuspecting to believe that said document had been signed and issued by Brother Pierson. The authors of the "Opponents' Paper," with freedom of speech declare that Harvest Siftings contains no less than one hundred untruthful charges and mis-■ leading statements, and since there are much less than half

    -that number of points discussed in Harvest Siftings, it follows that the authors of "Opponents' Paper" place myself, Brothers Van Amhurgh, Hudgings, Macmillan, Wisdom, Cohen, Herr, Hemer)’, Warden, McCloy, MacKenzie and members of the Bethel_ family in the Annanias Club. The rashness of such a charge must be apparent to all who look at the facts from an unbiased viewpoint. I am reminded that St. Jude said that even our Lord did not bring a railing accusation against^Satan, but contented Himself by saying, "The Lord rebuke thee."—Jude 9.

    ‘J THE REAL ISSUE

    , Let us look for a moment at the real issue in thes matter. The issue is not Brother Van Amburgh and Brother Rutherford vs. the others named—far from it. We have notheng against any of those brothers, but would be glad to help them.

    Neither is the issue whether they were pvt out as members of the Board of Directors in a proper or improper man


    ner, because they were not legal members of the Board, and therefore could not be put out. The President has no power to put anyone off the Board. I never attempted such a thing. There were four vacancies on the Board, and the Charter provides that the President, after these vacancies have existed for thirty days, shall appoint proper persons to fill such "vacancies. That is all J did. The reasons for making the appointments are set forth in Harvest Siftings, pages 16 and 17.

    Neither is the issue whether or not -the Directors were Brother Russell's Directors and whether the present Board ■ar? Brother Rutherford’s Directors, Brother Russell never had a Board of Directors, I have none. The Directors of ’ the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society hold office by reason of the law of the State of Pennsylvania and the Charter of the Corporation. Brother Russell's Will did not name any person as a member of the Board of Directors,

    The real issue is, Was the President justified in appointing four members of the Board of Directors, which he did on the 12th day of July, 1917, to fill vacancies then existing, and to » hold office until the next annual election to be held by the Shareholders on the 8th day of January, 1918? Anytheng aside from the facts bearing upon-thes question beclouds the issue. The paper published by our opposing brethreiT^seeks ’■ to bring in a great many other thengs which have notheng to do with the real issue, but which have a tendency to confuse. They even attempt to show that some of us are criminals and should be sent to jail because of the action taken to safeguard the interests of the friends generally. Not in defense of myself do I publish thes statement of explanation, but that those who desire an explanation may have it To thes end, and that the side issues may be eliminated and that the friends may see the real situation, I am making thes reply, which will be sent to those who wish it.

    Having reviewed in Harvest Siftings the facts leading up to the action taken by myself, I now here call attention to some of the statements made in the "Opponents' Paper" relating to the facts in connection therewith, and let everyone of you determine whether or not I am "a liar," a "usurperand am "grasping for power",, as I have been charged. Personally, the charge does not effect me, but I have been reminded by some of the brethren that my position is more or less a public one, hence it is due others that I make thes statement. First let us dispose of some of the side issues before examining the real issue. -

    brother russell’s will and -charter b

    The "Opponents’ Paper" charges (page 3"second column) ' that "Brother Russell had not been dead more than a few* days when his Will was declared to be illegal, ;2Ttd therefore not binding." The evident purpose was to convey the thought that I am the guilty one. I here state that I have never declared Brother Russell's Will illegal and therefore not binding. The only qu estipn ever raised about Brother Russell's 'VMall was concerning his. voting shares, the facts of which are clearly set forth on page 19, column 2 of Harvest Siftings, which it is not here necessary to repeat.                   7

    Some were disappointed when they heard Brother Rqs-sell's Wil! read: I wits not among that class. Shortly thereafter Brother Hirsh began to sound out the friends to sec what would be the sentiment with reference to setting aside Brother Russell's Will. In proof of ihis I submit herewith the affidavit of Iwo witnesses:

    r5                                                                                     .

    AFFIDAVIT

    State of New York)

    County of Kings ) '

    WE, the undersigned, Mrs. J. B. Walbach and Miss Mary B. Walbach, both of Brooklyn, New York, do voluntarily make the following statement under oath:

    That on or^bout Nov- 2dr 1916, about two days following Brother Russell's death and prior to the arrival of his body in Brooklyn, Brother R. H. Hirshcame out of the Bethel Home and joined us on the opposite side of the street and walked with uS two blocks, during which time he made the following remarks in our presence; the time being about 2.30 in the afternoon, following the reading of our dear Pastor's Will in the Bethel Dining-Room at the noon meal. He said: ** “What do you think of Brother 'Russell's Will? I, . myself, do not think it represents his more recent wishes.

    It was written, as you know, many years ago; and I think it should be broken. The Will as it stands, is not the best arrangement for carrying on The Watch Tower, and is really unjust to members of the Bethel Family. Most of the brethren whom U mentions for the Editorial Committee are not now members of the Bethel Family, ar.j haven't had experience with such work anyway; whereas there are brethren right here in the Home, now myself, for instance, who have had years of experience in arranging matter for the Tower; and I am certain that if Brother Russell had written that Will more recently he would have made it different, particularly in connection with the Editorial Staff. It takes experience to publish The Watch Tower properly."                  ■

    The above quotation is as nearly verbatim as it is possible for us to recall. The conversation is quite clear in our minds as it made a lasting impression on us both. We felt appalled that Brother Hirsh, or anyone else, should be discussing or even thenking about such matters at such a time, even before our beloved Pastor had been buried. When he asked us if we did not agree with him that sometheng should be done to break Brother Russell’s Will we merely replied that we had notheng to say about it. He was much exercised, and it was readily apparent that he was grieved over net having been mentioned in the Will as a regular member of the Editorial Committee instead of being only named as a substitute. He declared to us that three of the Committee should be asked to resign.                              '

    Mrs. J. B. Walbach [Seal.)                           Mary B. Walbach

    Subscribed and sworn to before me thes 1st day of October, A. D., 1917, ' OSCAR L. OBERG

    Notary Public.’

    I My commission expires March, 1918.)

    WILL AND CHARTER JUGGLED

    "Opponents' Paper" has so juggled the Will of Brother Russell, the Charter of the Corporation, and the paper written in 1894 by Brother Russell, as to confuse in the minds of the reader the whole matter, and anyone not familiar with these papers is apt to be misled.

    The Charter, of course, provides for a Board of Directors, but not one of the off osers is named in that Charter, nor did Brother Russell ever name them, or any one of them, as Directors in his Will or in any document he has ever written. Brother Russell's Will only incidentally mentions that “The Society's Board of Directors shall make proper provision for the Editorial Committee." No one is named in his Will as a member of the Board of Directors. Why. then, should these brethren continually hold before your eyes the thought that the President has set aside Brother Russell's Board of Directors? Notheng is further from the real truth.

    Time and jacain they quote from a booklet issued by Brother RusseOjn 1894, more than twenty-three years ago, at ?,1Cime lle'?vas calling attention to why he and his wife. Mrs. Russell, should control the Society, Therein he said. Their [the Directors] usefulness it was understood would come to the front in the event of my death." When he wrote lireS-C wor<ls had n.° thought of either Brothers Ritchie, Wright, Hoskins or Hirsh, because at that time none of them were connected with the Society. These words do not occur m Brother Russell's Will, nor in the Charter: then it is manifestly unfair that an attempt is made to try to incorporate these words in Brother Russell’s Will, or in the Charter.

    Another evidence of unfairness is clearly manifest by the statement on page 5, column I in "Opponents' Paper" There they quote extracts from the Will of Brother Russell and

    Brooklyn, N. Y.

    from the Charter with the evident purpose of trying to show that they were in the mind of Brother Russell at the liw he wrote his Will, and that he was safeguarding them against a spirit of ambition, or pride, or headship. By carefully reading it you will see that the first quotation from his Will refers to the fact that he was 'o have control of The Watch Tower and other publications during Air life. This had no reference whatsoever to the management of the detailed affairs of the Society. It will be noted that the quotations from the Will refer in express terms to the Editorial Committee and have no reference whatsoever to the Directors, for the manifest reason that Brother Russell knew that no one person can name and provide for the Directors of a corporation. After quoting these statements from the Will with reference to the Editorial Committee, then the “Opponents’ Paper" proceeds to draw a conclusion, saying, “Thus it will be seen that after Brother Russell's death the Board of Directors became Air successors in the control of the Society's affairs," whereas not one word in the Will even intimated such a thing.

    Permit me to say here that I have never for one moment denied or even questioned the right of the Board of Directors io control the affairs of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. The Board of Directors are now in control, but there is a vast difference between being in control and wishaging the details of the work of a corporation. My position has always been, and now is, that the four brethren in question were not legally members of the Board of Directors in July of thes year, and because of their avowed threat and purpose io disrupt and disorganise the work, I exercised the power which the law and the'Lord had placed in my hands to appoint members of the Board of Directors who would work in harmony and for the. Society's general welfare. Had the four brethren continued in a quiet, orderly manner to perform their duties, and had not manifested a disposition to disrupt the work and made threats that they would tie up the funds by law suits and wreck the Society, there would never have been any attempt even to coll in question the legality of their office. The step was taken only as a last resort and as a safeguard until there could be an election held by the Shareholders, and a Board elected. I have set forth in Harvest Siftings, particularly on page 16, the moving cause for appointing the four members of the Board.

    "Opponents' Paper", page 4, paragraph 21, says, "The purpose of the Directors wishing to amend the By-laws was not that the four members of the Board might take over the control of the Society, but that the Board might be restored to its proper position according to Brother Russell’s Will and Charter." Again we reiterate that Brother 'Russell’s Will did not name a single one of the four as members of the Board of Directors, nor did he attemiit to do that which he could not do. namely, provide in his Will for a Board of Directors The Charter, of course, orovides for an organised Board for the Society, which the Society now has, and which in faci is in control of the affairs of the Society, and which is work inz in harmony with the Shareholders’ wishes and the polic* followed by the Society for the past therty-three years, namely, that the President shall be the executive officer and veneral manager, subject, of course, to the control of the Board of Directors, and the Board subject to the control of the Shareholders.

    THE BY-LAWS

    “Opponents' Paper”, in an attempt to convey the thought that I am an autocrat, in a bold headline on page 5, says, "Brother Rutherford's By-Laws Passed,” We sometimes wonder why men can so far forget themselves in making statements! Why do they have such_ a lapse of memory? With stronger reason should brethren in the Truth speak in harmony with the facts.

    Shortly before Brother 'Russell's' death he had stated that he desired to put the Society more particularly on an efficiency basis, and that all who remained at Bethel should be able to render and should render efficient service. Such facts were brought to the attention of the Executive Committee, which was composed of Brothers Ritchie, Van Amburgh and myself. We discussed ’ the matter and decided to ask the Shareholders to pass some by-laws-at Pittsburgh, proceeding uncm the theory that the voice of the people, the Shareholders, should be heard. Accordingly’. I was requested by the other members of the Executive Committee, presumably because T am a lawyer by profession, to draw up such by-laws and submit them to Brothers Van Amburgh and Ritchie, which they fully approved, Brother Ritchie, as Chairman of the Annual Meeting at Pittsburgh, appointed a committee of three brethren to examine and report to the convention these bylaws and resolutions. He carried these by-laws to Pittsburgh and by his own hand delivered them to the committee. When the committee returned 1 asked if I might see their report. Now note the discrepancy between the statement of ''Opponents' Paper*' and the real facts. "Opponents* Paper" deliberately states that I had a well laid plan to get control of the affairs of the Society, and that by threats and intimidation I forced the committee to report a by-law giving me control. The facts are, not one word was said about that section which refers to the executive officer and tnanaper of the corporation, and the word "control” does not even appear in the by-laws. The by-laws, as drafted, provided that the President might appoint an Advisory Committee of three to advise him Upon such matters as he might desire. The cow-uiittee on resolutions had changed these by-laws to read that the Board of Directors, and not the President should appoint the- Advisory Committee.- This was the only question discussed between myself and the committee. Neither the law nor the Charter provides for any Advisory Committee whatsoever, but 1 thought it well that anyone who succeeded Brother Russell in office as President should have the benefit uf wise counsel from other consecrated Shareholders, either in or outside of the Board, to whom he could refer any mailers of importance, and that therefore the President alone should be privileged to select Air advisors. If you desire to employ a lawyer, you wish to have the choosing of that lawyer; if you desire to employ a physician, you desire to select the physician, because it involves you personally. On the same theory, if the President needed and wished advice he alone should be privileged to select his advisors. Thus I argued with the Committee and they agreed with me. Brothers Ritchie, Hirsh and Wright were present and heard this discussion, and they know that my statement here is the exact truth. Why they have had such a lapse of memory I am not able to state. I append herewith the statement of a member of the Committee on By-laws who was present and who corroborates my statement, and which shows that the charge that I was attempting to get control is absolutely untrue:

    LETTER FROM MEMBER OF COMMITTEE

    "N. S., Pittsburgh, Pa.

    "Mr. J. F. Rutherford,

    "Dear Brother in Christ:—In reading the paper ‘Light after Darkness* I am sorry to see matters put in such an unfair way by the authors.

    "In the first article, ‘Our Present Counselor’, the qualities of justice and niercy seem to me to be sadly lacking. 1 cannot help wondering if the author believes the words of the Master in Matt 7:2, 'With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged/ and if so, why he should wish the Lord to deal so unmercifully with him,

    "I also see that the By-laws passed by the members of the Society at the election last January are mentioned in in a way that would convey to the mind of the reader that you had demanded many changes to be made so as to put more power into your hands. You perhaps remember what the point of difference was. It was not whether the President should be the Executive Officer or whetiier there should be an Advisory Committee,—these things had been passed upon. It was merely as to who should appoint the Advisory Committee. The By-laws provided that the Secretary and Treasurer should always be a member of the Advisory Committee, and two others to be appointed. The thought of the committee on by-laws was, that these two members should be appointed by the Board of Directors, while your thought was, that as this committee was to be the President's Advisory Committee, that the President should appoint these two members of the Committee. One of the members of the Board of Directors (possibly more) was present at that time and he agreed with you on the matter, and the committee then made the change, giving the President authority to appoint these two members of his Advisory Committee.

    “This was before the election, and had some one else been elected it would have applied to him just the same as to you. 2s?

    "The bringing up of thes matter nf the By-laws has helped us to form a better estimate of the vdlue of the remainder of“/Light after Darkness', and make a large discount. T

    "I wish to say, dear Brother Rutherford, that I still believe that 'The Lord of the -Harvest' has full control of the situation, and that He is amply able to direct the work, yes, even without the aid of a Board of Direclorc at all. I believe that the Lord makes no mistakes, and I am sure that if the Lord wanted these four brethren io direct the affairs of the Society, that there is no power in Heaven or on earth that could hinder their doing so.

    "The words of the poet express my confidence and the desire of my heart in thes and all things:

    'Peace, troubled eoull thou need not fear;

    Thy great Provider still Is near; .

    Who led thee last will lead thee still;

    Be calm, and sink into His Will.1 _   ~

    "May the Lord continue to bless you in the service, and grant you the needed strength to finish the great work that the Lord has placed in your hands, is the earnest prayer of,

    “Yours in the service of the Master, ’ *

    R. H. Bricker.”

    At a meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting, these by-laws were passed by the Board of Directors because that is the technical and legal requirement of the Charter. Then you might ask, why were they presented to the Shareholders? I answer, because the Shareholders constitute the Corporation, and while, technically, the power to enact by-laws resides in the Board, yet everyone should desire to abide by the voice of the majority of the Shareholders, believing that the Lord would speak through them. We are ail familiar “with the time-honored statement, "The voice of the people is the supreme law.rj It is recognized that Congress alone has the right to pass laws, and yet Congress must respond to the voice of the people who are, in fact, the Government On the same principle, the Board of Directors of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society would have no moral right to utterly disregard the wishes of the Shareholders. These by-laws passed.were not my by-laws, but the by-laws of the Society, first approved by the Shareholders, and then passed by the Board of Directors. Their enactment constituted a solemn compact which should be binding on the parties unless their enactment was procured by fraud or coercion. The brethren in question seem to thenk it necessary to charge me with fraud and coercion in order to show some excuse for their trying to set aside the wishes of the Shareholders. At the time of the passage of these by-laws Brother Hirsh was not on the Board, but later he joined three others with the avowed purpose of trampling under foot the wishes of the Shareholders, trying to repeal the by-laws which were passed without question, and take the management of the Society's affairs out oi the President's hands and put it into the hands of the “four” to manage the same. I have never attempted at any time to get control of the Society. I have merely diligently tried to perform the duties of manager, and there is no corporation in the land, of any consequence, but what has a manager aside from the Board of Directors. None of the four brethren, or any others to my knowledge, have found fault with my management, or shown any instances of mismanagement

    The Peoples Pulpit Association Charter gives the executive absolute control. I have stated heretofore why that Charter was thus written. I have asked the Board of Directors of that corporation to provide for an Executive Committee of four to perform certain duties with reference to the control of the Bethel Home and office, but. thes does not in any manner effect the office of the President as General Manager, There must be one head to every institution. I am free to confess many might have been found to perform thes duty better than myself, but since I had notheng to do with putting myself in office it can hardly be consistently charged that I am responsible for being there, .

    REMOVAL FROM PEOPLES .PULPIT ASSOCIATION

    On the 31st of July Brothers Hirsh and Hosldns were removed from the Peoples Pulpit Association for good cause. In thes connection “Opponents’ Paper" charges that other brethren and myself are “guilty of. criminal offenses, subject to criminal indictment and to swift and severe punishment" The evident purpose of thes is to-create prejudice in the minds of the friends against us, and to show that we brethren are high-handed lawbreakers. New, if-the. brethren really believe thes charge, thejr should at once-cease to address either of us as "brother.” For thes reason I feel sure that they do not believe the charge.                       S’

    In 1911, at the instance of Brother 'Russell, a by-law was passed providing for' the removal of a member of the Peoples Pulpit Association upon grounds therein stated.* The by-law provides that the removal shall take place at the annual meeting. Of course it is understood that when the annual meeting is convened it can be legally adjounied from time to time until final adjournment, and each adjourned session is still the “annual meeting." At the annual meeting, January last, several of the brethren who could not be present gave their proxies to others. The proxy, of course, carries the authority to the holder to vote on anytheng that comes before the annual meeting. The annual meeting adjourned until some date in March, to take up unfinished business. At the subsequent meeting the President was absent and adjournment was had to a still later date. The record shows that the annual meeting was regularly, legally and propetly adjourned until the 27th day of July, 1917, and of course when it met at thes adjourned session of the annual meeting its powers were identical to what they were at the first meeting. All proxies were slill in force,-^unless revoked in writing. Ope brother who had moved away held some of these proxies and new proxies were afterwards given to other brethren to vote, thereby revoking former proxies. They were in proper and legal form. The Peoples Pulpit Association convened on the 27th day of July in regular order and legally so. Previous notices had been given to Brothers Hoskins and iHirsh that at that meeting charges would be held against them. They were present at the meeting on the 27th of July; a number of other brethren were also present. All the proxies represented were presented at that time. The charges were read to them and they both asked that the meeting be further adjourned to give them, more time. The record discloses that at their instances the motion was made and passed that the meeting again adjourn until the 31st of July, which was done. On the 31st of July the adjourned annual meeting convened again, legally and in the proper form. The charges were read and testimony was heard on both sides, and then votes were taken. Five votes were legally cast that the two brethren named should not be removed, and one of these was a proxy—they claimed seven votes, but the two implicated brethren could not legally vote on a question involving their own removal from the Association. Twenty-three votes were' legally cast in favor of removing the brethren named, and hence they were removed, as provided by the by-law'. Nearly all of those who voted by proxy have since addressed letters to the brethren who held their proxies, approving the action; and thus they were not only legally eftst but subsequently had the approval of the members. These facts are shown by the official record of the Peoples Pulpit Association, which any one is at liberty to inspect.

    "BROOKLYN EAGLE" ATTACKS

    Personally, I do not know who gave the information to the "Brooklyn Eagle", which, it published. I do know that a reporter from that paper called on me and related the details of the trouble with the brethren--who issued "Opponents' Paper". I asked the reporter to state who told him what he had just related, and he refused to tell me. The reporter then called upon me to make a statement. My only reply was, "I have notheng to say." I do know that the statement in the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" seriously reflected upon Brother Russell as well as other brethren. Subsequently I had a talk with Brother Hirsh about the matter. He stated to me that on the. 17th of July (while he was making an impassioned speech in the Bethel dining room), a newspaper reporter was waiting in the parlor and had called for Mr. Hirsh. Brother Hirsh said he refused to see the reporter at that time, but that a few days later he did meet thes newspaper reporter on the street and told him something about the matter. It is due for me to state here that thes newspaper reporter was not an accredited reporter of the ' Brooklyn Eagle." Whether he gave the information to the "Brooklyn Eagle," or not, I do not know.

    THE PILGRIM BRETHREN CHARGED

    ’ "Opponents' Paper" charges that the president and others have been secretly carrying on a campaign amongst the Bethel Family and the Pilgrim Brethren, spreading false reports regarding the Board and others, and that the Pilgrim brethren were sent out to spread these things among the classes. As to the truth or falsity of thes statement I call upon everyone of the Pilgrim brethren in the service to make known if any such representations have been made to them and if they were asked to spread, any charges. Prior to the breaking of the storm I talked: with not a single Pilgrim brother aside from B.rother Wisdom, and it was Brother Wisdom who brought the information; to me at Chicago. For three months while I was being harassed at the Bethel Horae and in the work by these brethren-some of whom did no work, several of the Pilgrim brethren visited the Bethel and not one word was uttered by me to them about the difficulty. Sp far as I have knowledge, the matter was not discussed by other members of the Family. Some of the Pilgrims have voluntarily written me.about thes. 1 here append some of their letters:

    "Lansing, Mich., Stpt. 18th, 19J.7.

    "Dear Brother Rutherford ;—          • ■

    “I feel constrained to write you in regard to a statement appearing in the pamphlet, 'Light after Darkness.' 1 am not writing thes with any feeling of ill-will toward the brethren instrumental in writing that pamphlet but I feel it is really my duty to refute, in my case at ■"> least, the statement in the above mentioned pamphlet regarding some of the Pilgrim brethren being brought into the Bible House, filled with information and sent out. I was not once approached,"by any of the brethren implicated, so far as they personally were concerned.

    "Yours with brotherly love in the only theng worth entertaining,            .   • M. A. Howlett."


    "Sept. 26, 1917. ' Dear Brethren :—

    "in the paper issued by the opposition, 1 noticed a statement to the effect that the members of the Bethel Family, the brethren at the Tabernacle, and the Pilgrim brethren had either been bribed or intimidated by the President and therefore were permitted to remain in the service of the Society.

    "As one of the brethren above designated, T enter my protest against such a-false assertion.

    "During the month of August last I was privileged to be at Bethel and in all those four weeks, not once was I approached on the subject: Not a word was written to me by the Society either before coming or since my going away from there, regarding the matter.

    "With Christian love, I remain.

    "Your brother in Christ,          W. J. Thorn.”

    "Mason City, Iowa, Sept. 23, 1917. "J. F. Rutherford,

    "Brooklyn, N. Y.                                 -

    "My Dear Brother Rutherford:—

    "Greetings 1 I am writing you in regard to your letter in the last Tower just read. The statement on page 0 of 'Light after Darkness' regarding the Pilgrims' being influenced by anytheng.outside the publications, which have come into my hands docs not in any sense apply to me. My judgments are formed wholly from the statements received from the Society and the brethren who have a grievance. I feel thes confidence, that thes Society has its work to do. It cannot be hindered, nor in any sense be interfered with until thes-work is completed. Then will be the time for it to go to pieces, but not before.

    "Your brother in the Blessed Hope of joint-heirship with Christ, and the Divine Nature,

    "J. A. Gillespie."

    . "Clayton, N. M.. Sept. 26th, 1917.

    "Dear Brother Rutherford:—

    "1 see by the pamphlet entitled 'Light after Darkness' on page 9 that you or 'your representative' is accused of 'whispering in the ears of the Pilgrim Brethren and poisoning their minds' concerning the former Board of Directors. I will sav the first ■Whispering' I heard was from the four brethren who make the accusation. In the first pamphlet they sent out I first learned of the trouble.

    "'Yours by the Lord's grace,                  ■

    "R. O. Hadley/' "Logansport, Ind., Sept. 18, 1917.

    "Dear Brother Rutherford:—

    "Since reading ‘Light after Darkness' which would more properly be styled, 'Darkness after Light1, I have decided to write you so as to le| you know that you have my entire confidence, as well as. all the support I can give you in any and every way. The Lord’s hand is so manifestly on your side in thes whole matter, that I have not the slightest doubt that He has overruled it, and that His wil] has been done,                      ’          t

    _ "The charge made in 'Darkness after Light’—that the minds of the Pilgrims have been poisoned by your representative, Brother Macmillan, is surely false, as far as I am concerned or have any knowledge.

    "It appears from ‘Darkness after Light’ that they ate being actuated by passion instead of principle and that they arc appealing to the sentiment of the friends instead of to their sanctified reason. This is manifest by their use of our Pastor’s picture on the front cover,

    "Yours in Him joyfully,

    °M. E, Riemer."

    CONCERNING "AUDITORS" LETTER

    The "Opponents' Paper" contains a letter front Brother F. G. Mason which could well be submitted without comment. I shall not here attempt to discuss it. In big headlines it is designated as the "Auditor's Letter,” and the writer himself so styles himself in the communication. Brother Mason was never Auditor of the Society at any -time. He was a subordinate clerk in the Purchasing Department at the time he was asked to leave Bethel. Previous to that he had been working in the Shipping Department and his treatment of other brothers and sisters working with him' had been so unkind and rough that he was removed from there and put as a subordinate clerk in the Purchasing Department. Bills checked by him were not paid until verified and passed upon by others, particularly by the one who has charge of the Purchasing Department. Everyone who knows Brother Van Amburgh well knows that he has safeguarded the treasury and never paid any bill unless he had a voucher for it and knew that it was correct. The charge that hundreds of dollars are being paid out without record is wholly out of harmony with the truth. Several years ago a system of vouchers was put in force and approved by Brother Russell, ably assisted by Brother E. W. Brennciscn. who is a trained accountant and auditor. This system eliminates a lot of unnecessary bookkeeping and was adopted to save . time and that more time could be devoted to other important work. However, the system fully safeguards every avenue. The brother's criticism, therefore, is not a criticism of myself, but of Brother Russell, who adopted the system used by the Society for years and which I have not changed. His letter refers to an invoice of $11,000, which he says he refused to check up. The fact is that he could not check it up, because he was not familiar with the account, and was not an experienced bookkeeper or accountant. The account was checked by Brother Hudgings, who has charge of that department and who had several years - training under Brother Brenneisen. It was paid in the regular course, and a proper record thereof exists. There were many similar instances in which Brother Mason showed his unfitness for office work where special care is required. On one occasion he drew a voucher asking the Treasurer to issue a check for $950.00 in payment of a small bill of $9.50. The matter was caught by the head of the department before the voucher reached the Treasurer's office. »After repeated blunders of serious nature Brother Mason admitted that he had "never kept books or done office work in his life" previous to his being transferred to the department from the shipping room at the Tabernacle, a few weeks previous.

    Brother Mason was asked to remove from the Bethel because of his uncouth conduct, and because of his seemingly uncontrollable disposition <0 be unkind and rough with others, and because he showed his disloyalty by openly announcing that the "Brooklyn Eagle" had published a "corking good article about the trouble," and that he approved the same, which article was a direct rejection upon Brother Russell. After his departure he offered for sale to the Society some of his household goods, which we bought to help him out. While endeavoring to make the sale he affected great loyalty to the Society’s management, volunteering the information that he had been asked by the opposing brethren to "write sometheng for their answer to Harvest Siftings" but that he "positively refused.” The other statements in Brother Mason's letter are not worthy of consideration here.

    No one has ever been‘asked to leave Bethel because they refused to sign a paper or endorse the present administration. Some who were engaged with others in disturbing the Home and office devoted the larger portion of their time in talking about the difficulty, striving to foment trouble, and were asked to go. The thought of the management is-that those who receive the benefits of the Home and Society should render adequate service therefor, and that the Bethel should be a place of peace and quietness and consecrated labor for the Lord, not a ■ place of ■ dissension. It has always been the recognized rule, long ago made by Brother Russell,, that "it is a privilege to be at"fhe Bethel Home, not a right,” and anyone's stay may bc“ terminated at any time.

    It is needless to say that no force was used on Brother Johnson the day he and some others started a disturbance in the Bethel dining room. They were asked to be quiet, nnd when he refused, he was taken by the coat sleeve and oiked to go out. No force whatsoever was applied. He

    was at the Bethel Home fomenting trouble, in open defiance of the management, and repeatedly said he would not go unless the Board said so, meaning by the "Board" the four alleged members who were supporting him in the conspiracy against the Society. After several weeks of defiance, and when he thought probably he would have to go, he packed his baggage and left it in his room. He went out on the street without his hat and remained out for several hours. His hat and baggage were taken to the front hall, and when he returned they were handed out to him on the doorstep and admittance was refused. He was then offered some money to pay his expenses to his home in Columbus, Ohio, where he had not been since last November. This he declined. We feel sorry for Brother Johnson and regretted that it was necessary to publish as much of the facts as we did relating to his episodes, but since he was repeatedly found in consultation with Brothers Ritchie, Wright, Hoskins and Hirsh, and several times approached me saying that I should yield to them, that I was a "usurper" and that the Lord was displeased with me, that the Scriptures proved it, and that "we are consulting a lawyer and we know what we can do," and many other statements which were in identical language to that used by the four who were opposers; and seeing they had adopted a scheme or plan identical to that which he had pursued in England, it seemed imperative that I publish what I did. What Brother Wisdom told me was sufficient to put any reasonable man on guard, and to warrant him in taking action to safeguard that which was placed in his hands.                                            ■

    BIOGRAPHY AND AFFIDAVIT

    With the evident purpose of trying to prove that I have been seeking notoriety, the "Opponents' Paper" sets forth at length a statement about my biography. Evidently Brother Hirsh wrote this part of "Opponents' Paper." The inconsistency of it is apparent. He attempts to show that he had been trying to keep it secret, but that now he must publicly declare that I had written my biography. He there says, "I had thought I would never mention this matter to anyone, but since the dear Brother [Hudgings] swears that Brother Hirsh composed the article, etc, I see no good reason why our lips should longer be sealed." One would infer he had never mentioned the matter before. Why, then, should Brother Hudgings think of making an affidavit about it at all? The facts are that Brother Hirsh made this charge against me openly and publicly in Philadelphia before a large audience on July 19th, notwithstanding he had inadvertently taken to himself full credit for the Memorial Tower biography article in his impassioned speech in the Bethel dining-room two days previous. Those who heard him in Bethel on July 17th were somewhat surprised that he should reverse the matter so soon thereafter. Evidently his memory is very deficient. Brother Hudgings, hearing these charges -and knowing that they were false, voluntarily made the affidavit without my knowledge and handed it to me just before Harvest Siftings went to press, and it was inserted. The facts are as follows:

    A week or ten days prior to the Shareholders meeting of hast January, Brother Sturgeon called at my office and said that a newspaper man and a lawyer were in. the Home and were talking to Brother Hirsh; that they were anxious to meet me. I first declined to see them, but on reflection agreed to see them a few minutes. These two gentlemen, together with Brothers Hirsh and Sturgeon, came into my room and the newspaper man and the lawyer plied me with questions for two hours and elicited from me all of my personal experiences from my youth up. A few days later Brother Hirsh called on me and stated, in substance, “Brother Rutherford, everyone knows you "are going to be elected President." To this I did not reply. Continuing, Brother Hirsh said, "If you will keep your hands off and not interfere I would like to prepare sometheng for the press, and the newspaper man who was here to see mc-the other night wishes to give it out to the Associated” Press. Then he said,"Would you mind dictating to your” stenographer those points about your life?” There beingr no secret about this, and'no reason why I should decline,? I dictated to my stenographer a brief statement of my? life experiences, which Brother Hirsh took away, and after-' wards, with the aid of the newspaper man mentioned, he prepared a notice for. the press which I did not see until it was published. Based upon this, Brother Hirsh afterwards prepared a similar article for the second edition of the Memorial Tower, as set forth In the affidavit, and which

    I am informed he had the printers reset three times at unnecessary cost, before he got it composed exactly as he wanted it. Brother Hudgings, seeing the manifest injustice Brother Hirsh was now trying to do, voluntarily made this affidavit clearly, setting forth the.;«xact facts. Like other thengs published in the “Opponents'■ Paper,” this matter of the biography is immaterial to the issue, but it is told in an evident attempt at discrediting me as much as possible in the eyes of the friends, and further beclouding the real-subject. The various other points in the affidavit Brother Hirsh did not' even attempt to deny.

    "the president's management"

    At a Board meeting Brother Van Amburgh requested the objectors to point out a single instance in which the President had mismanaged the affairs of the Society, and they were unable to do so. Seeing the importance of this admission, the "Opponents’ Paper,” on page 12, attempts to find sometheng that they can lay as a charge against the management of the Society. They; first mention Ilie Photo-Drama of Creation. The “fact is, it. was Brother Ritchie as Vice-President who signed that contract, and it was the Board of Directors that instructed me to enter into an arrangement with the purchasers to take it back.

    With reference to the Angclophone Company, Brother Ritchie, as shown by the minutes of the Board, had charge of this and acted under the Board's instructions. It is untrue that Brothers Van Arnburgh, Macmillan and myself ever despised anytheng that Brother Russell inaugurated. The Angclophone Company had been involved in contracts, which, because of Brother Russell's death, threatened a heavy loss to the Society, the outstanding obligations amounting to approximately Forty Thousand dollars, Brother Ritchie once said to me that he would assume the obligations and take over the Angclophone Company. It was then that I told him-that I would not wish to see him incur a burden which he could not carry. It was later at a Board meeting that he asked that the Eighteen Thousand Dollars be turned over to him, as set forth in Harvest Siftings. , It is not true, as stated in "Opponent’s Paper” that "a. sister from Illinois came forward and paid $1,500 to have the lectures recorded." This money was paid by the Society, as shown by the books.

    BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    The new members of the Board of Directors were not appointed because 1 had any desire to injure anyone. They were appointed to fill vacancies and to prevent those who were not legal members from carrying ouc a threat Io institute Segal proceedings, stop the work and tie up the money of the Society and wreck it unless they could get control. I acted out of necessity, not out of choice. 1 would not have appointed these members if this threat had not been made because we got along smoothly for several months until the opposing brethren began to hinder the progress of the work. .

    WHY SENT FROM BETHEL

    These brethren in question were asked to leave Bethel because of the constant disturbance created by them, and their opposition to the work. The entire Bethel family and office force was kept in a state of constant apprehension, and the work could not progress satisfactorily under such conditions. The opposing brethren were constantly spending their time in holding conferences during office hours in total disregard of all rules, and doing no Harvest work They were preparing to institute legal proceedings, and would have done so, doubtless, if Brother Pierson had not prevented it. I called them to a conference and asked them to tell me what they intended to do; that I was going away on my western trip, for two months, and wished to make arrangements for the work before going; that if they intended to institute an action in court I desired to make certain arrangements before I left I said, ' Brethren, do you^ntend to institute legal proceedings, or will you quit your disturbance and get to work?" They replied, "We will not talk with you unless our lawyer is present." I replied”"Sure1y it is not necessary to have a lawyer present in order to talk over these matters.'’ Thcj refused to give an answer. Then-Bsaid, “I will give you an ultimatum; if you are going to fight you must go outside of this Home to cany* on your fight. You cannot remain here and continue this fight to$the injury and disturbance of the Harvest work." pf

    A few days later Brother Pierson came to see me and ■ poke to me in behalf of the four brethren. Brother Pierson asked if there was not some way by which these brethren could be kept in the work. 1 replied, ■'Yes, 1 would be glad to have them stay in the work. Brother Ritchie is a Canadian citizen. Our American Pilgrims cannot well go into Canada. If Brother Ritchie will go to Canada, take up the Pilgrim work and stop this disturbance and preach the Truth, the Society will be glad to send him and provide for the support of his wife there also." _ I further declared, "The -Society will make similar provision for Brother Hoskins and his'wife in the United States if he will go into the Pilgrim service, preach the Truth and that alone. As to the other two brethren, we will make suitable provision for them to remain in the work-also, upon condition :hat we have peace." Brother Fierson expressed himself-as much pleased at this suggestion and immediately went to the brethren with the proposition. Within an hour he returned to me saying that they had refused to accept such an arrangement. Then I said to Brother Pierson, "I am going away on a two months convention tour. 1 cannot leave this Home and the office In this state of turmoil; these brethren cannot stay here under present conditions." Brother Pierson replied, in substance, “I can see that you are right about that, brother/' Then I said, ‘Brother Pierson, 1 suggest that the four brethren go away for a vacation, at the expense of the Society, for a period of two mouths. Let them leave their rooms furnished as they are, go away and study and pray over this matter, and when I return at the end of two months we will see if we cannot continue the work in peace." This proposition he also submitted to them, and they refused to accept it, saying that they did not want a vacation. Then I said to' Brother Pierson, "They must go away; I have done all I can do." Then Brother Pierson asked, "Cannot some provision be made for their support for a while; they should not be turned out without some money.” To this I agreed. When Brother Pierson asked how much should they have, I replied, "Brother Pierson, you fix the amount and I will agree to anytheng you say.". Brother Pierson then suggested three hundred dollars for each. To this I agreed,

    I said, "Now Brother Pierson, suggest to them that they take one hundred and fifty dollars of this and go away for two months on a vacation, or each take the three hundred dollars and get out tomorrow without any conditions.” Brother Pierson communicated this to them, and returned to me Within a short time saying that they preferred to accept the three hundred dollars and get out the following day at noon. The next day at noon three of them went out, in a quiet and: peaceable manner, tach taking with him $300. My heart was sad to see them go, but what else could I do? The work must be done, and wc must have peace in order to do the work. I would be delighted to see each one of them get back into the Harvest work any day if they would cease opposing and zealously engage in the work of the Harvest Their present course only tends to hinder.

    OPPOSITION TO THE SEVENTH VOLUME

    Volume Seven is published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and we have every reason to believe it has the approval of the Lord. The greater majority of the brethren throughout the world are rejoicing to have it. It is "meat in due season" for the household of faith. It is helping many to stand and to rejoice in tribulation. It contains the message for the smiting of Babylon. Its distribution is now very' important in the Harvest, work. "Opponents' Paper".shows that these brethren are against the Seventh Volume. They say (Page 14), "Let us be careful how we receive the so-called Seventh Volume." Thus they would retard rather than aid in the Harvest work, which is now drawing sq, near to its close.

    "Opponents’ Paper," for the first -time, denies Brother Hirsh came to me and offered-, if he was placed back on the Board, to go to Philadelphia and “make it more than right" by retracting the statements made. The fact remains, however, that Brother Hirsh himself, before the Philadelphia cccksia, on the evening of July jpth, repeated a part of the conversation held that-same afternoon between us in the Study, and thereby licensed me to tell all he had said to me in the drawing room, as it has been heretofore published in Harvest Siftings; and although Brother Hirsh followed me in a speech from the same platform that evening he did not then deny that he had made such an offer, and several of the brethren afterwards commented upon the fact that he ha-i not denied it.

    REAL ISSUE EXAMINED

    Having disposed of the immaterial issues, which lend to confuse, let us now look for a moment at the real issue, namely—Was the President justified, in view of all the. facts and circumstances, in appointing four consecrated brethren to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors to act as such until the annual election to be held next January?

    ’.s FACTS CONCEDED’

    The following facts are admitted by the opponents and by all who know anytheng about the situation:

    That the President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society acred as its manager, without question, from organization until his death last year; that the Shareholders at the annual meeting in January, 1917, by unanimous vote, expressed the wish that the President shall always be the executive and manager of the Society's work. -

    It is further admitted by opponents that the Board of Directors, without a dissenting voice, thereafter passed a similar by-law with reference to the management, and placed it upon record, and thereby solemly bound themselves to stand by the same as the law of the Society.

    It is further admitted by the opposing brethren that everytheng about the Society at the office headquarters was working smoothly and without a hitch until about June, 1917; that in that month, at a meeting of the Board of Directors, one of the brethren, who was a party to "Opponents' Paper," introduced a resolution to repeal the by-laws and to take the management of the Society out of the hands of the President, where it had been for therty-three years and where the Shareholders expressly stated it should continue to be.

    It is admitted by them that the consideration of Brother Johnson's episodes in England was the beginning of the present trouble; and that the consideration thereof, which occurred some time after his return from England, led to the introduction of the resolution to repeal the bylaws. "Opponents’ Paper" expressly admits (Page 6, column 2) that "thus, the real issue, the management of the Society, came to the front and led to the resolution to repeal the by-laws.’'             .

    It stands admitted and not denied that the four brethren in question, as a committee, spent a week in examining the papers relative to Brother Johnson's English episodes and in consultation with him; and that they reported to the Board of Directors a resolution approving Brother Johnson's course there-—even that part of his action, namely, the institution of a lawsuit and the tying up of the money of the Society1— and that Brothers Hirsh, Hoskins, Wright and Ritchie, as a committee, by a resolution, called upon the Board of Directors to appropriate $500 of the Society’s money to reimburse Brother Johnson's solicitor, for money which he had paid out as a penalty assessed against him by the High Court of London for his wrongful act in proceeding with the lawsuit after such solicitor had received notice from the President of the Society not to do so. (Brother Hirsh introduced this very resolution, which the chair ruled out of order, and then Brother Hirsh retained the copy. Had it been filed with the Secretary it would be published here.) The President ruled the resolution out of order on the ground that it is the duty of the executive and manager of the Society to recall any Pilgrim brother when necessity arises, and that the lawsuit had been instituted by Pilgrim Brother Johnson without any rightful or legal authority, and that it was the duty of the President, as the executive officer, to act quickly to stop such lawsuit. I niled that the Board of Directors had no right or .authority to reverse such action and appropriate the money of the Society to pay a solicitor who had wrongfully—instituted and carried on such lawsuit at the instance of -Brother Johnson; especially when the High Court of London had decided that the President had the right to staple case and that the solicitor, because not doing so, should suffer the penalty which the Court assessed against Km. It was this ruling of the President that precipitated the trouble.

    Immediately following this ruling Brother Hirsh, acting for himself and his colleagues, drew from his pocket and introduced a resolution to repeal the by-laws, taking the management out of the President's hands and placing it in the hands of.the Board of Directors, and the four, being a majority, would control, of course. Thus Brother Johnson’s English episodes would have been fully approved and the Society's money appropriated to pay the solicitor above mentioned.

    "Opponents' Paper” expressly admits (Page 6, column

    2) that thus the real issue of the management (not control) of the Society came to the front and led to the introduction of.the resolution to repeal the by-law. Be it known that this was the beginning of the trouble on the Board and that there had been no trouble whatsoever on the Board prior to the consideration of Brother Johnson's episodes. Having in mind that the President was then the manager, by virtue of the Jong continued custom of the Society and by virtue of the by-law duly passed and approved both by the Shareholders and by the Board, the question now here for consideration is           *

    WERE THE FOUR BRETHREN JUSTIFIED in seeking co put through a resolution approving the actions of Brother Johnson above stated? Or were they not, in so doing, wrongfully attempting to override the Shareholders and the executive and disregard the action which he had taken legally and properly as the manager, in his effort to safeguard and protect the interests of the Society?

    When the Chair ruled that the resolution thus offered was, out of order, the brethren did not attempt to pass it over his veto and thus assume all, the responsibility, but, as above stated, one of them immediately produced and introduced another resolution previously prepared, to deprive the President of the management of the Society and to put it into the hands of the four mentioned. Up io this point everytheng the President did relating io the controversy was wholly on the defensive.

    Were they justified in attempting to repeal a by-law to which they had solemnly agreed and which’by-law the Shareholders, as the Lord's representatives throughout the land, had by unanimous voice expressed as their wish and therefore as the Lord’s will? Mark you, the President had done notheng as manager and president to which they found objection up to this time except declaring out of order the resolution with reference to Brother Johnson, as above stated. In doing that he was acting clearly withen his authority under the Charter, under the Jaw and the by-laws of the Society. It was at that time that Brother Van Amburgh called upon these four brethren to name one misdeed of which the President was guilty, and they were unable to do so. It was at that same time that Brother Pierson said to them, "Brethren, 1 think we had better not try to disturb what the Shareholders have done."

    At this stage the Board adjourned for four weeks. Tn the meantime, in view of the statement by Brother Ritchie that he wanted to do the right thing and that If I could show him the law he would do the right thing, I deemed it wise, to procure the legal opinion of some disinterested lawyer and at the next, meeting submit this to the brethren and show them wherein they were wrong- I submitted the facts bearing upon the legal questions to said lawyer without intimating to him that there was any trouble in the -Society; and to this day, so far as I am advised,.he does not know that there is any trouble. This legal opinion was based entirely upon’ the facts as shown by the minutes of the Society. During the three or four weeks following, the four brethren in question were holding repeated conferences with each other, and with the brother who had caused the trouble in Great Britain, and were consulting lawyers about what course they should take. They made three or more attempts to force a meeting of the Board in the absence of Brother Van Amburgh and Brother Pierson. Brother Johnson had said to me, in substance, "You are a-usurper; you are grasping for power; you are wrong; the Lord is displeased with you; you should submit to the will of the Board (meaning the four in question] and if you do not submit you will find yourself in great disrepute amongst all the friends. We are consulting lawyers and we know what we can do." In view of the fact that the other four brethren, on different occasions, had said practically the same thing, would any sane man for a moment hesitate to believe that all five were consorting together? In addition to this I personally saw them together several times,-: and time and again other members of the Bethel family. reported to me that they were in conference in the Bethel Home.'

    Now in view of all the facts and circumstances,-was the: President justified in appointing four good, able) consecrated’; brethren, true and tried, io fill the vacancies on the Board of Directors in order that a legal Board might perform its duties and thus protect and safeguard the interests of the Society until the next election? Put yourself in his place and ask yourself, What would I have done? Of course the President could have stepped aside and said. "I will let them have if they they wish,” but would not that have been unfaithfulness in the performance of duty devolving upon him in the position he occupied ?

    Suppose a person had attempted to destroy your property and was foiled by your prompt action. Then suppose, a few weeks later, the .same person who had thus attempted to do you injury was found consulting and advising with others, of which you had knowledge; and then reliable information was brought to you that these -persons, combined, intended to destroy your property; would you sit idly by and wait ujitil they had destroyed it, or would you take a reasonable course, acting quickly, to" prevent such destruction? Is there any doubt about .what's reasonably cautious person would do under such circumstances? As President of the Society I was face to face with this situation :

    A DIFFICULT SITUATION

    One,brother, acting in Great Britain, had discharged two of the-managers of the London office, forced them out of the house, had taken possession of the books, mail and money of the Society, had instituted a law suit in the High Court of • London, and tied up the funds of the Society and thus hindered the work. This brother had returned to America now, ;and because he could not have his own way about what action should be taken in returning him to Great Britain, he appeals to the four brethren whom he supposed to be legal members of the Board of Directors. He writes out a paper and takes .it to these four and has them sign it, and then he himself presents it to the President of the Society demanding that the Board of Directors be convened to give him {Brother Johnson) another hearing. (This would have meant -the therd hearing.) This led to the offering of the resolution by Brother Hirsh, hereinbefore mentioned, approving Brother Johnson's course in England; and that being overruled led to the introduction of the further resolution to take the management of -die Society's affairs out of the hands of the President where it was legally placed by'the Shareholders and the Board of Directors and to put it into the hands of the four who were advised'by Brother Johnson.

    ■ . * This trouble continuing for several weeks had resulted in •'’a disturbance of the office force by the four brethren in question/ and also a disturbance of the Bethel family. A number of the office force had expressed their intention to leave if the.four brethren got control of.the management, One of the’four brethren mentioned had made a covert threat to me *.*4 ..in the presence of others with reference to tying up the funds .of the -Society.

    I expected a. meeting of the Board shortly after my return from Chicago. If I waited until the meeting and resisted their course of' action then it was reasonable to expect that they would carry out their threat without delay and institute such a suit before I could do anytheng. Was it wise, then, for me to wait, or was it the part of wisdom to act quickly? After a prayerful consideration of the matter, I deemed’ it for the best interests of .the work for me to act without any delay, hence I went from Chicago directly to Pittsburgh and appointed the four able brethren heretofore named to fill the vacancies upon such Board.

    • :* When L procured the legal opinion from the Philadelphia counsel it was not my purpose then to appoint others to fill the vacancies cm the Board, but to be able to convince the brethren of . the true situation. Not until Brother Wisdom submitted to me the facts as heretofore published, which showed the dangerous situation and the necessity of immediate action, did I determine what to do. It was then ■that I'decided to fill those vacancies. I called a meeting on the-17th of July, inviting Brothers Wright, ‘Ritchie, Hirsh and Hoskins to be present, with the purpose of reading to . them the legal opinion, then to advise them of the situation;

    and. was.hoping that they would quietly acquiesce, that the trouble would be ended and the work go on smoothly. They were all in the Bethel Home that day but refused to come to ' the meeting, and thus they forced me to make a statement in the dining room before the family and others with reference to the appointment of Brothers Spill, Bohnet, Fisher and Macmillan su'd the reason why I had taken this action. This occurred ortthc same date the Seventh Volume was first announced and given to the family, and because of which 1 had asked ah the^family to be present at the noon meal.

    Was I moved- by any personal feeling against the four brethren in taking this action? No, not at all. I have no ill-feeling against them .now and never have had. I shall be delighted to do anytheng that will Wp them to again actively engage in the Lord's Harvest work and to work in harmony.

    Have .the four.brethren, namely w^Brothers Hirsh. Hoskins, Wright and -Ritchie, been injured by'my action in filling these vacancies? None whatsoever, unless it may be considered that they have not received what some may term honor and that thereby they are injured.

    Has the Society' or its work suffered any injury whatsoever by my action in filling these vacancies?,. None whatsoever. On the contrary the facts show that the work has been on the increase every day since that time. Every branch of the work has advanced.

    The point is raised that if the four members mentioned were not legal members of the Board how was it possible for Brother Van -Amburgh, Brother Pierson and myself to become legal Directors elected at Pittsburgh? I answer, we were elected by a vote of thy Shareholders as officers of the Society, and by virtue of such' election we are legally members' of the Board of said Society, both under the terms of the law and the Charter, "Opponents' Paper" publishes what purports to be the Charter, but paragraph VI. thereof they changed from what the original -Charter is, by omitting the official titles of the dected members. The original Charter, paragraph VI. follows, to-wit:

    • VI. The Corporation is to be managed by a Board of Directors consisting of seven members, and the names of those already chosen Directors are as follows• • President, Charles T. Russell,        Wm. C. Macmillan,

    Vice President, Wm. I. Mann, Simon O, Blunden, Sccy. and J teas., Maria F. Russell, J. B. Adamson, .

    Joseph F. Smith.

    If "Opponents' Paper" had quoted the Charter correctly it would have shown the facts as they exist, namely, that it was the intention of the author of the Charter and of the court granting the same, that the President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer, by virtue of their election to these respective offices, are members of the Board of Directors. From the date of the organization until his death, Brother Russell was never voted for at an annual meeting for the place of Director on the Board, but his annual election as the President constituted him a member of the Board of Directors. The same was true as to the other two officers. Hence the election of the three officers,- viz., President. Vice President and. Secretary-Treasurer, at the annual election in January, 1917, thereby constituted them legally members of the Board. Brother Ritchie became a member of the Board of Directors only by virtue of. his election as Vice President in 1916 and prior thereto, but he ceased to be a member when Brother Pierson was elected as his successor. The other three were never elected at any time, and therefore were never -legal members of the Board. The law requires that the members of the Board of Directors shall be elected annually.

    MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

    A few letters have reached me asking that I call a special meeting of the Shareholders to -settle this difference. Such a meeting would cost much time and money and the loss of opportunities for labor in the Harvest field. It is.-only a short time until the 5th of January, when the regular, annual -meeting must be held for the election of a new Board of Directors and officers. Shall we stop the work now and come together to settle the question as to whether or not these four' brethren were legal Directors and whether they shall serve as such for the few remaining weeks of thes year until the next annual election ? Or would it be more pleasing to the Master of the Harvest for us to unitedly bend our efforts toward getting our work done and leave thes other matter until the annual election?

    As for myself, I prefer to see the work done, but I do not wish to be arbitrary and will do as a majority of the Share- ’ holders request. My desire and purpose is to serve the Lord and His people. I have no ambition for earthly power or honor. I did not seek election to-the office of President, and I am not seeking reelection. The Lord is able to attend to his own business. ■           •

    At a board meeting when this disturbance -was first begun by the opposing brethren, 1 then and there offered to resign as President if such resignation would bring ptace. I afterwards made a similar statement in the dining room in the presence of the entire family, and in the presence of these four brethren. I greatly deplore strife and trouble; such will tend to keep out of the Kingdom all who engage in it. I want to get into the Kingdom above all things. . That is my greatest desire for my brethren, I have tried to avoid thes trouble. "

    Let us have peace 1 The Harvest’ work is of paramount importance above the honor or interests of any man. Let us honor the Lord first, and above all let us unitedly go forth into His work. The words of* the Apostle seem' so appropriate at this time:

    "Look to yourselves, that wc lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."

    With much love for and prayers on behalf of all of God's dear children, I beg to remain

    Your brother and servant by His grace,

    J. F. RUTHERFORD.