Publication date
5/1/14
Volume
35
Number
9
The WatchTower
Views From The Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1914/9/1914-9-1.html
 
 
 
 
VOL. 
XXXV 
------~~------=--=-.=-===.=- 
= 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
MAY 
1, 
1914 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
No.9 
"IN 
UGLY 
TEMPER" 
FOREBODINGS 
OF 
THE 
DUKE 
OF 
BEDFORD 
In 
a 
lettrr 
of 
apology 
for 
absence 
from 
the 
dinner 
of 
the 
Bletdlley 
(Bedfordshire) 
Working 
Men 
's 
Unioni~t 
Association, 
the 
Duke 
of 
Bedford 
says: 
"The 
prospects 
with 
which 
1914 
opens 
are 
nowhere 
en­ 
couraging. 
Unrest 
prevails 
in 
every 
quarter 
of 
the 
habitable 
globe-from 
China 
to 
Peru. 
The 
difficulties 
of 
Great 
Britain 
are 
as 
great 
as, 
if 
not 
greater 
than, 
those 
of 
her 
neighbors, 
and 
her 
means 
of 
defense 
are 
less, 
for 
her 
Constitution 
has 
been 
de­ 
liberately 
destroyed 
to 
serve 
the 
cause 
of 
party. 
"The 
House 
of 
Lords 
is 
only 
retained 
to 
supply 
the 
Radical 
Party 
with 
money 
for 
electioneering 
purposes. 
The 
House 
of 
Commons 
is 
muzzled 
and 
gagged, 
and 
the 
salaried 
representa­ 
tives 
of 
the 
constituencies 
serve 
the 
electorate 
or 
earn 
their 
salaries, 
not 
with 
their 
brain~ 
or 
their 
judgment, 
but 
with 
their 
legs; 
they 
walk 
into 
the 
voting 
lobbies 
whenever 
the 
Govern­ 
ment 
Whips 
give 
them 
their 
ordprs. 
Legislation 
is 
a 
mere 
ques­ 
tion 
of 
shoe 
leather. 
"When 
constitutional 
safeguards 
are 
swept 
away 
and 
no 
guidance 
is 
forthcoming, 
the 
only 
method 
of 
expressing 
dis­ 
content 
which 
remains 
is 
civil 
war. 
This 
is 
what 
we 
are 
now 
finding. 
, 
, 
Now 
a 
new 
danger 
looms 
before 
us. 
It 
looks 
as 
if 
the 
problem 
of 
naval 
defense 
would 
be 
shirked, 
that 
a 
body 
of 
men 
led 
by 
persons 
with 
ostentatiously 
German 
names 
may 
continue 
the 
support 
of 
the 
Radical 
Party. 
Anu 
meanwhile 
by 
assiduous 
appeals 
to 
envy, 
hatred 
and 
greed, 
Ministers 
have 
spoiled 
the 
temper 
of 
the 
nation. 
The 
nation 
is 
not 
only 
out 
of 
temper, 
but 
in 
an 
ugly 
temper.' 
'-London 
Daily 
Mail. 
* 
* 
i(- 
tion 
the 
titles 
of 
lords, 
nobles, 
dukes, 
kings 
and 
emperors 
will 
he 
merely 
empty 
reminders 
of 
a 
darker 
time. 
T~enceforth, 
either 
by 
Parliaments 
or 
Congresses, 
the 
people 
WIll 
manage 
their 
own 
affairs, 
using 
the 
ballot 
for 
that 
purpose. 
This 
condition 
of 
things, 
which 
has 
been 
coming 
upon 
the 
world 
gradually, 
is 
evidently 
quite 
right, 
quite 
in 
accord 
with 
the 
Golden 
Rule. 
True, 
it 
would 
have 
appeared 
nobler 
had 
t~e 
titled 
aristocracy 
voluntarily 
surrendered 
to 
~he 
peop:e 
then' 
rights. 
But 
we 
must 
remember 
that 
all 
mankmd 
are 
mnately 
selfish, 
and 
hence 
disposed 
to 
look 
upon 
matters 
from, 
the 
st,a?d­ 
point 
of 
their 
own 
personal 
interest 
and 
that 
of 
theu 
famllles. 
It 
has 
been 
fortunate 
for 
the 
world's 
peace 
that 
this 
turning 
of 
their 
rights 
over 
to 
the 
people 
has 
been 
proceeding 
gradu­ 
ally, 
rather 
than 
by 
violent 
revolution. 
Inch 
by 
inch 
the 
people 
have 
been 
taking 
back 
their 
rights, 
in 
proportion 
as 
they 
be­ 
came 
intelligent 
enough 
to 
appreciate 
them. 
Perhaps 
sometimes 
in 
their 
zeal, 
they 
desired 
too 
much 
or 
sought 
to 
grasp 
too 
much, 
or 
at 
least 
sought 
to 
grasp 
more 
than 
they 
were 
qualified 
to 
use 
wisely. 
No 
wonder 
if 
many 
of 
the 
aristocracy 
feel 
deeply 
grieved, 
as 
does 
the 
Duke 
of 
Bedford. 
N 
a 
wonder 
if 
many 
of 
them 
have 
dark 
forebodings 
respecting 
the 
future. 
N 
a 
wonder 
if 
it 
seems 
to 
them 
as 
if 
justice 
is 
being 
violated. 
They 
have 
lost 
the 
proper 
perspective 
of 
the 
situation. 
They 
fail 
to 
see 
that 
as 
elder 
brothers 
to 
the 
remainder 
of 
the 
race, 
they 
should 
recognize 
that 
the 
masses 
are 
no 
longer 
"like 
dumb, 
driven 
cat­ 
tIe." 
They 
should 
recognize 
that 
a 
great 
awakening 
has 
come 
within 
the 
last 
century, 
and 
they 
should 
be 
as 
anxious 
to 
turn 
over 
the 
inheritance 
to 
their 
brethren 
as 
the 
latter 
are 
anxious 
to 
receive 
it. 
THE 
NATIONS 
HURRYING 
TO 
ARMAGEDDON 
The 
foregoing 
shows 
some 
of 
the 
troubles 
of 
worldly 
princes 
The 
political 
battle 
which 
has 
been 
in 
progress 
in 
Great 
and 
aristocracy. 
We 
cannot 
avoid 
a 
feeling 
of 
deep 
sympathy 
Britain 
in 
recent 
years, 
and 
especially 
within 
the 
past 
two 
for 
the 
aristocracy 
in 
their 
present 
conditions. 
Jesus 
long 
ago 
years, 
is 
exciting 
the 
astonishment 
of 
the 
world. 
Kings 
and 
foretold 
the 
conditions 
of 
our 
day, 
saying, 
especially 
of 
the 
rich 
princes 
and 
nobles 
are 
in 
alarm, 
fearfnl 
of 
the 
results. 
The 
and 
titled, 
"Men's 
hearts 
failing 
them 
for 
fear 
and 
for 
looking 
Bible 
alone 
makes 
the 
situation 
dear. 
It 
alone 
shows 
us 
that 
forward 
to 
the 
things 
coming 
upon 
the 
earth' 
'-upon 
society. 
the 
wonderful 
changes 
of 
our 
day 
are 
incidental 
to 
the 
transf!'r 
Special 
privileges 
have 
so 
long 
been 
enjoyed 
by 
the 
aristocracy 
of 
the 
kingdoms 
of 
this 
world 
to 
become 
the 
kingdom 
of 
God's 
that 
it 
is 
only 
natural 
that 
they 
should 
feel 
that 
these 
privileges 
dear 
Son. 
are 
theirs 
by 
divine 
right. 
We 
should 
not 
be 
misunderstood, 
however: 
We 
have 
no 
On 
the 
other 
hand, 
the 
world 
of 
mankind 
are 
learning 
how 
thought 
that 
the 
change 
of 
parties 
or 
of 
party 
leaders 
or 
of 
the 
control 
of 
the 
earth 
came 
into 
the 
possession 
of 
so 
few 
peo- 
party 
policies 
in 
Great 
Brit~in, 
or 
in 
any 
other 
n~tion, 
wil~ 
pIe 
in 
olden 
times. 
They 
are 
learning 
that 
in 
less 
civilized 
make 
that 
nation 
a 
holy 
natIon, 
a 
member 
of 
the 
kmgdom 
of 
times 
the 
better 
educated 
and 
more 
influential 
gradually 
gath- 
God. 
Indeed, 
we 
have 
no 
reason 
to 
believe 
that 
Socialists 
as 
a 
('red 
property 
and 
titles 
into 
their 
own 
hands. 
These 
have 
been 
whole 
would 
or 
could 
give 
the 
world 
the 
blessing 
of 
perfect 
transferred 
to 
their 
children 
from 
generation 
to 
generation, 
earthly 
government 
establish 
human 
rights, 
etc. 
On 
the 
con- 
and 
laws 
have 
been 
framed 
which 
recognize 
their 
titles, 
until 
trary, 
we 
are 
to 
r~member 
that 
while 
kings 
and 
princes 
have 
now 
any 
other 
laws 
which 
in 
any 
measure 
abrogate 
the 
title, 
or 
ruled 
sometimes 
with 
a 
heavy 
hand, 
nevertheless, 
in 
recent 
limit 
the 
special 
privileges, 
are 
felt 
to 
be 
unjust, 
ungodly- 
years 
at 
least, 
they 
have 
found 
it 
necessary 
to 
give 
the 
people 
robbery. 
and 
their 
interests 
greater 
consideration 
than 
ever 
before; 
Much 
could 
be 
said 
on 
both 
sides 
of 
the 
question. 
It 
is 
and 
that 
their 
experience 
and 
their 
education 
doubtless 
qualify 
ours 
to 
consider 
God's 
view 
of 
the 
sihation 
and 
the 
relation- 
them 
above 
the 
average 
of 
their 
fellows 
for 
the 
management 
of 
ship 
of 
the 
whole 
to 
the 
Golden 
Rule-the 
divine 
law. 
Viewing 
large 
questions 
of 
national 
import. 
mat/PI'S 
from 
this 
standpoint, 
the 
majority 
can 
agree 
that 
even 
Besides, 
the 
sudden 
change 
would 
involve 
not 
only 
great 
if 
there 
was 
an 
excuse 
in 
the 
past 
for 
the 
usurpation 
of 
titles, 
hardship 
to 
these 
lords 
of 
the 
land, 
but 
probably 
great 
distress 
privileges 
and 
possessions 
of 
land, 
those 
privileges 
would 
cease 
and 
hardship 
to 
the 
masses 
as 
well. 
Indeed, 
this 
is 
just 
what 
with 
changed 
conditions. 
In 
other 
words, 
if 
there 
was 
in 
the 
the 
Bible 
points 
out 
to 
us. 
We 
are 
living 
in 
the 
time 
of 
Christ's 
past 
a 
time 
when 
the 
masses 
of 
the 
people 
were 
too 
ignorant 
presence. 
The 
selection 
of 
the 
church 
of 
Christ 
to 
be 
the 
bride- 
or 
too 
superstitious 
to 
appreciate 
self-government 
and 
to 
exer- 
consort 
in 
the 
kingdom 
is 
nearly 
completed. 
The 
kingdom 
will, 
rise 
it 
properly, 
and 
if 
at 
that 
time 
it 
was 
in 
the 
interest 
of 
all 
therefore, 
sqon 
be 
established. 
But 
those 
possessed 
of 
the 
that 
the 
land 
and 
the 
privileges 
were 
seized 
by 
the 
more 
fit 
of 
power 
and 
authority, 
not 
realizing 
this, 
are 
holding 
fast 
to 
all 
the 
race 
for 
the 
general 
welfme, 
this 
did 
not 
mean 
that 
matters 
that 
was 
seized 
by 
their 
forefathers 
under 
different 
conditions. 
must 
so 
continue 
forever. 
It 
did 
mean, 
rather, 
that 
with 
general 
To 
our 
understanding, 
the 
Bible 
teaches 
that 
this 
conflict 
of 
pduration 
and 
general 
fitness 
for 
self-government 
all 
such 
privi- 
interests 
is 
about 
to 
precipitate 
a 
great 
time 
of 
trouble, 
the 
like 
leges 
should 
be 
relinquished 
or 
abrogated. 
of 
which 
never 
was 
before. 
(Daniel 
12: 
1) 
Nobody 
wants 
the 
THE 
PROPER 
PERSPECTIVE 
OF 
THE 
SITUATION 
trouble 
everybody 
will 
be 
injured 
by 
it, 
and 
yet 
everybody 
is 
To 
state 
the 
matter 
in 
different 
terms: 
If 
the 
educated 
rushing 
toward 
it. 
Both 
the 
aristocracy 
and 
the 
masses 
are 
in 
times 
past 
believed 
that 
they 
followed 
the 
Golden 
Rule 
in 
goaded 
on 
by 
fear. 
The 
former 
fear 
the 
loss 
of 
their 
earthly 
seizing 
land 
and 
authority, 
the 
same 
Golden 
Rule 
would 
de- 
all' 
the 
latter 
perceive 
that 
the 
money 
of 
the 
world, 
and 
the 
mand 
that 
their 
power 
he 
used 
in 
the 
public 
interest 
and 
wel- 
land 
the 
basis 
of 
all 
wealth, 
are 
in 
possession 
of 
the 
aristocracy. 
fare-that 
the 
public 
be 
educated 
and 
that, 
as 
the 
masses 
be- 
The 
masses 
realize 
that, 
with 
the 
bountiful 
blessings 
which 
came 
capable 
of 
self-control, 
power 
and 
authority 
should 
be 
God 
has 
been 
pouring 
out 
upon 
the 
world 
during 
the 
past 
gradually 
delivered 
to 
them. 
The 
whole 
question, 
according 
to 
century 
through 
increase 
of 
knowledge 
and 
invention, 
the 
this 
standard 
of 
the 
Golden 
Rule, 
would 
therefore 
be, 
Have 
the 
world 
is 
becoming 
fabulously 
rich; 
and 
that 
these 
riches 
are 
masses 
yet 
attained 
that 
degree 
of 
development 
which 
would 
gravitating 
toward 
the 
same 
hands 
that 
control 
the 
land. 
They 
permit 
them 
to 
handle 
their 
own, 
or 
should 
the 
aristocracy 
con- 
are 
fearful 
that 
if 
they 
do 
not 
improve 
the 
opportunities 
now 
tinue 
to 
handle 
it 
for 
them 
under 
the 
plea 
that 
the 
public 
is 
not 
passing 
they 
or 
their 
children 
will 
in 
time 
again 
become 
slaves 
competent-not 
wise 
enough 
to 
manage 
its 
own 
estate' 
or 
serf~. 
Hence 
the 
turmoil 
of 
speech 
and 
the 
conflict 
between 
Whenever 
the 
majority 
of 
the 
people 
reach 
the 
conclusion 
classes, 
which 
are 
hurrying 
us 
toward 
the 
vortex 
of 
the 
great 
that 
they 
are 
competent 
to 
manage 
their 
estate, 
and 
whenever 
Armageddon.-Revelation 
16: 
16. 
they 
learn 
that 
God 
gave 
thE:). 
earth 
and 
its 
fulness 
not 
to 
the 
MAN'S 
EXTREMITY 
GOD'S 
OPPORTUNITY 
few, 
but 
to 
the 
many-then 
the 
people 
will 
take 
up 
their 
own 
Although 
we 
are 
powerless 
to 
hinder 
either 
party, 
we 
are 
inheritance 
and 
exercise 
their 
own 
control; 
and 
in 
that 
propor- 
,1eeply 
interested 
in 
both, 
and 
sympathetic 
toward 
both 
jour 
(131- 
132) 
[5448] 
Von. XXX “IN UGLY TEMPER’’ FPOREBODINGS OF THE DUKE OF BEDFORD In a letter of apology for absence from the dinner of the Bletchley (Bedfordshire) Working Men’s Unionist Association, the Duke of Bedford says: ‘‘The prospects with which 1914 opens are nowhere encouraging. Unrest prevails in every quarter of the habitable globe—from China to Peru. The difficulties of Great Britain are as great as, if not greater than, those of her neighbors, and her means of defense are less, for her Constitution has been deliberately destroyed to serve the cause of party. ‘<The House of Lords is only retained to supply the Radical Party with money for electioneering purposes. The House of Commons is muzzled and gagged, and the salaried representatives of the constituencies serve the electorate or earn their salaries, not with their brains or their judgment, but with their legs; they walk into the voting lobbies whenever the Government Whips give them their orders. Legislation is a mere question of shoe leather. ‘‘When constitutional safeguards are swept away and no guidance is forthcoming, the only method of expressing discontent which remains is civil war. This is what we are now finding. “‘Now a new danger looms before us. It looks as if the problem of naval defense would be shirked, that a body of men led by persons with ostentatiously German names may continue the support of the Radical Party. And meanwhile by assiduous appeals to envy, hatred and greed, Ministers have spoiled the temper of the nation. The nation is not only out of temper, but in an ugly temper.’’—London Daily Mail. * * * The foregoing shows some of the troubles of worldly princes and aristocracy. We cannot avoid a feeling of deep sympathy for the aristocracy in their present conditions. Jesus long ago foretold the conditions of our day, saying, especially of the rich and titled, ‘‘Men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking forward to the things coming upon the earth’’—upon society. Special privileges have so long been enjoyed by the aristocracy that it is only natural that they should feel that these privileges are theirs by divine right. On the other hand, the world of mankind are learning how the control of the earth came into the possession of so few people in olden times. They are learning that in less civilized times the better educated and more influential gradually gathered property and titles into their own hands. These have been transferred to their children from generation to generation, and laws have been framed which recognize their titles, until now any other laws which in any measure abrogate the title, or limit the special privileges, are felt to be unjust, ungodly— robbery. Much could be said on both sides of the question. It is ours to consider God’s view of the situation and the relationship of the whole to the Golden Rule—the divine law. Viewing matters from this standpoint, the majority can agree that even if there was an excuse in the past for the usurpation of titles, privileges and possessions of land, those privileges would cease with changed conditions. In other words, if there was in the past a time when the masses of the people were too ignorant or too superstitious to appreciate self-government and to exercise it properly, and if at that time it was in the interest of all that the land and the privileges were seized by the more fit of the race for the general welfare, this did not mean that matters must so continue forever. It did mean, rather, that with general education and general fitness for self-government all such privileges should be relinquished or abrogated. THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE OF THE SITUATION To state the matter in different terms: If the educated in times past believed that they followed the Golden Rule in seizing land and authority, the same Golden Rule would demand that their powcr be used in the public interest and welfare—that the public be educated and that, as the masses became capable of self-control, power and authority should be gradually delivered to them. The whole question, according to this standard of the Golden Rule, would therefore be, Have the masses yet attained that degree of development which would permit them to handle their own, or should the aristocracy continue to handle it for them under the plea that the public is not competent—not wise enough to manage its own estate? Whenever the majority of the people reach the conclusion that they are competent to manage their estate, and whenever they learn that God gave the earth and its fulness not to the few, but to the many—then the people will take up their own inheritance and exercise their own contro]; and in that propor (131-132) BROOKLYN, N. Y., MAY 1, 1914 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER No. 9 tion the titles of Jords, nobles, dukes, kings and emperors will be merely empty reminders of a darker time. Thenceforth, cither by Parliaments or Congresses, the people will manage their own affairs, using the ballot for that purpose. This condition of things, which has been coming upon the world gradually, is evidently quite right, quite in accord with the Golden Rule. True, it would have appeared nobler had the titled aristocracy voluntarily surrendered to the people their rights. But we must remember that all mankind are innately selfish, and hence disposed to look upon matters from the standpoint of their own personal interest and that of their families. It has been fortunate for the world’s peace that this turning of their rights over to the people has been proceeding gradually, rather than by violent revolution. Inch by inch the people have been taking back their rights, in proportion as they became intelligent enough to appreciate them. Perhaps sometimes in their zeal, they desired too much or sought to grasp too much, or at least sought to grasp more than they were qualified to use wisely. No wonder if many of the aristocracy feel deeply grieved, as does the Duke of Bedford. No wonder if many of them have dark forebodings respecting the future. No wonder if it seems to them as if justice is being violated. They have lost the proper perspective of the situation. They fail to see that as elder brothers to the remainder of the race, they should recognize that the masses are no longer ‘‘like dumb, driven cattle.’? They should recognize that a great awakening has come within the last century, and they should be as anxious to turn over the inheritance to their brethren as the latter are anxious to receive it. THE NATIONS HURRYING TO ARMAGEDDON The political battle which has been in progress in Great Britain in recent years, and especially within the past two years, is exciting the astonishment of the world. Kings and princes and nobles are in alarm, fearful of the results. The Bible alone makes the situation clear. It alone shows us that the wonderful changes of our day are incidental to the transfer of the kingdoms of this world to become the kingdom of God’s dear Son. We should not be misunderstood, however: We have no thought that the change of parties or of party leaders or of party policies in Great Britain, or in any other nation, will make that nation a holy nation, a member of the kingdom of God. Indeed, we have no reason to believe that Socialists as a whole would or could give the world the blessing of perfect earthly government, establish human rights, ete. On the contrary, we are to remember that while kings and princes have ruled sometimes with a heavy hand, nevertheless, in recent years at least, they have found it necessary to give the people and their interests greater consideration than ever before; and that their experience and their education doubtless qualify them above the average of their fellows for the management of large questions of national import. Besides, the sudden change would involve not only great hardship to these lords of the land, but probably great distress and hardship to the masses as well. Indced, this is just what the Bible points out to us. We are living in the time of Christ’s presence. The selection of the church of Christ to be the brideconsort in the kingdom is nearly completed. The kingdom will, therefore, soon be established. But those possessed of the power and authority, not realizing this, are holding fast to all that was seized by their forefathers under different conditions. To our understanding, the Bible teaches that this conflict of interests is about to precipitate a great time of trouble, the like of which never was before. (Daniel 12:1) Nobody wants the trouble, everybody will be injured by it, and yet everybody is rushing toward it. Both the aristocracy and the masses are goaded on by fear. The former fear the loss of their earthly all; the latter perceive that the money of the world, and the land, the basis of all wealth, are in possession of the aristocracy. The masses realize that, with the bountiful blessings which God has been pouring out upon the world during the past century through increase of knowledge and invention, the world is becoming fabulously rich; and that these riches are gravitating toward the same hands that control the land. They are fearful that if they do not improve the opportunities now passing, they or their children will in time again become slaves or serfs. Hence the turmoil of speech and the conflict between classes, which are hurrying us toward the vortex of the great Armageddon.—Revelation 16:16. MAN’S EXTREMITY GOD’S OPPORTUNITY Although we are powerless to hinder either party, we are aceply interested in both, and sympathetic toward both; our [5448]

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