Publication date
1/1/17
Volume
38
Number
1
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1917/1/1917-1-1.html
 
VOL. 
XXXVIII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
JANUARY 
1, 
1917 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
No.1 
God's 
children 
appreci&te 
the 
fact 
that 
his 
Word 
is 
a 
"light 
investors 
one 
billion 
dollars 
upon 
unsecured 
treasury 
notes, 
unto 
their 
feet, 
and 
a 
lantern 
unto 
their 
pathway." 
To 
the 
which 
have 
no 
basis 
for 
issue 
and 
are 
strictly 
fiat 
money. 
Some 
divine 
Word 
and 
providence 
they 
look 
for 
guidance, 
instructiOIi 
time 
prior 
to 
this 
attempt, 
the 
BritiSh 
government 
ootained 
and 
comfort. 
They 
believe 
the 
Word 
of 
God,and 
rely 
upon 
it, 
credits 
in 
the 
L:nited 
States 
to 
the 
amount 
of 
$1,100,000,000. 
and 
thus 
walk 
by 
faith. 
They 
view 
current 
events 
in 
the 
About 
one-half 
of 
this 
amount 
was 
obtained 
upon 
unsecured 
light 
of 
divine 
prophecy. 
For 
several 
years 
Bible 
students 
have 
paper, 
and 
was 
taken 
largely' 
by 
munition 
manufacturers 
and 
been 
expecting 
a 
grea.t 
international 
war, 
followed 
by 
revolu- 
other 
large 
creditors 
who 
expected 
to 
make 
enou~h 
profit 
out 
tion 
and 
a.narClhy. 
(1 
Kingll 
19: 
11-13) 
They 
expect 
the 
great 
of 
the 
sale 
of 
munitions 
to 
cover 
any 
10s8 
that 
mIght 
occur. 
ecclesiastical 
systems, 
conceived 
in 
sin, 
born 
in 
iniquity 
a.nd 
About 
the 
first 
of 
December 
last, 
the 
President 
of 
the 
operated 
in 
fraud 
and 
deceit, 
to 
be 
swept 
away 
with 
a 
great 
United 
States 
became 
aware 
of 
the 
attempt 
of 
the 
BritiSh 
gov­ 
besom 
of 
destruction. 
(Revelation 
18 
:5-21) 
They 
have 
looked 
ernment, 
through 
its 
American 
agents, 
to 
sell 
to 
American 
in­ 
for 
the 
governments 
of 
earth, 
built 
upon 
fahe 
and 
unrighteous 
vestors 
a 
billion 
dollars 
of 
flat 
credits, 
designated 
as 
"short 
foundations, 
to 
crumble 
away 
amidst 
a 
great 
storm 
of 
human 
time 
treasury 
notes." 
Foreseeing 
the 
uncertainty 
of 
the 
pay­ 
pa3sion. 
(Psalm 
18:7-19; 
Jeremiah 
25:8-38) 
They 
have 
ex- 
ment 
of 
such 
notes, 
President 
Wilson 
and 
the 
Federal 
Reserve 
peeted 
a 
dark 
night 
just 
preceding 
the 
ushering 
in 
of 
the 
board 
exposed 
this 
dangerous 
scheme 
by 
warning 
American 
in­ 
glorious 
kingdom 
of 
Messiah. 
(Isaiah 
21: 
11, 
12) 
They 
expect 
vestors 
against 
the 
purchase 
of 
these. 
Discussing 
this 
questi9ll 
these 
things 
because 
the 
Bible 
says 
so. 
God's 
'Vord 
is 
true. 
editorially, 
one 
of 
the 
leading 
American 
dailies 
recently 
said: 
For 
the 
encouragement 
of 
his 
followers, 
the 
great 
Master 
"When 
the 
British 
government 
came 
back 
for 
more 
said, 
"When 
these 
things 
begin 
to 
come 
to 
pass, 
then 
look 
credit 
and 
wanted 
a 
real 
loan 
in 
Wall 
Street, 
then 
'Vall 
up 
and 
lift 
up 
your 
heads, 
for 
your 
deliverance 
draweth 
nigh." 
Street 
was 
not 
60 
certain 
of 
the 
value 
of 
the 
treasury 
(Luke 
21 
:28) 
"Be 
patient, 
therefore, 
brethren"; 
the 
kingdom 
notes. 
It 
wanted 
security 
in 
the 
shape 
of 
Amerioan 
stocks 
of 
Messiah 
is 
at 
the 
door.' 
and 
bonds, 
and 
insisted 
upon 
having 
it. 
BXPBC'rATIO)TS 
Bl3XG 
B.'BAL1Z:BD 
"The 
British 
government 
has 
no 
America.n 
stocks 
and 
Current 
events 
confirm 
our 
expecta.tions. 
The 
new 
year 
bonds 
and 
not 
a 
great 
deal 
of 
gold 
to 
spare. 
After 
having 
dawns 
amidst 
great 
strife, 
turmoil 
and 
bloodshed. 
Fot 
nearly 
taken 
care 
of 
Wall 
Street's 
prl'ferred 
loans, 
still 
it 
wants 
two 
and 
one-half 
years 
a 
mighty 
conflict 
hac 
raged 
amongst 
more 
American 
money 
on 
credi,t. 
So 
certain 
English 
the 
European 
nations, 
and 
the 
storm 
of 
destruction 
continues 
agents 
among 
American 
bankers 
attempted 
to 
persuade 
unabated. 
In 
that 
time 
more 
than 
a 
dozen 
kingdoms 
and 
na- 
American 
investors, 
through 
American 
banks, 
to 
buy 
tions 
have 
been 
involved; 
and 
upwards 
of 
thirty 
millions 
of 
one 
billion 
dollars 
of 
unsecured 
treasury 
notes, 
when 
Wall 
men, 
armed 
with 
the 
most 
deadly 
weapons 
known 
to 
modern 
Stroot 
was 
unwilling 
to 
lend 
half 
that 
amount 
against 
a 
science, 
have 
engaged 
in 
wholesale 
destruction 
of 
human 
life 
year 
ago 
without 
additional 
collateral 
American 
security. 
and 
property. 
Approximately 
seven 
millions 
of 
men 
have 
been 
"It 
is 
probaJble 
that 
these 
Anglo-American 
bankers, 
killed, 
and 
many 
more 
millions 
are 
insane 
or 
nervous 
wrecks 
whose 
prestige 
is 
very 
grea.t, 
would 
have 
carried 
this 
dis- 
by 
reason 
of 
the 
indescribable 
experiences 
through 
which 
they 
astrous 
'Scheme 
th~ough 
without 
It 
hitch 
had 
not 
the 
Presi- 
have 
passed. 
dent 
and 
the 
Federal 
Reserve 
Board 
interferred 
with 
their 
Jehovah, 
through 
his 
Prophet, 
foretold 
the 
coming 
of 
this 
warning. 
great 
storm, 
describing 
it 
as 
a 
"great 
and 
strong 
wind 
which 
''Thelie 
notes 
are 
unsecured, 
and 
are 
subject 
to 
the 
rent 
the 
mountains 
and 
brake 
in 
pieces 
the 
rocks 
before 
the 
hazard 
of 
defeat 
in 
war, 
Of 
national 
bankruptcy 
through 
Lord." 
The 
Bible 
deals 
largely 
in 
symbols. 
"Wind" 
is 
a 
prolong'lttion 
of 
war, 
and 
of 
repudia.tion 
in 
Cll,se 
of 
social 
symbol 
of 
war; 
"mountains," 
II. 
symbol 
of 
kingdoms 
or 
gov- 
revolution 
after 
war. 
ernments, 
and 
"rocks" 
a 
symbol 
of 
the 
solid 
or 
more 
stable 
"They 
have 
no 
gold 
basis; 
for 
the 
British 
government 
parts 
of 
the 
governments. 
In 
this 
picture, 
therefore, 
the 
rocks 
has 
already 
outstanding 
more 
of 
their 
promises 
to 
pay- 
would 
very 
fitly 
represent 
the 
financial 
strongholds 
of 
the 
gov- 
more 
of 
this 
fiat 
mMey, 
in 
fact, 
than 
all 
the 
gold 
that 
has 
ernments. 
When 
the 
financial 
strength 
of 
a 
government 
is 
been 
produced 
since 
the 
Christian 
era 
began 
could 
redeem. 
gone, 
the 
government 
itself 
is 
practically 
gone. 
"There 
is 
not 
gold 
enough 
in 
all 
the 
countries 
of 
Europe 
It 
is 
apparent 
to 
all 
observing 
ones 
that 
the 
warring 
na- 
combined 
to 
pay 
ten 
cents 
on 
the 
dollar 
of 
the 
paper 
fiat 
tions 
are 
on 
the 
verge 
of 
bankruptcy. 
For 
the 
purpose 
of 
pro- 
treasury 
notes 
that 
have 
already 
been 
issued 
by 
Great 
curing 
money 
with 
which 
to 
conduct 
the 
war, 
the 
belIigerenta 
Britain." 
have 
borrowed 
fabulous 
amounts, 
for 
which 
they 
have 
issued 
Financiers 
everywhere 
are 
trembling, 
and 
"men's 
hearts 
bonds, 
treasury 
notes 
and 
other 
promises 
to 
pay. 
The 
amount 
failing 
them 
for 
fear, 
and 
for 
looking 
alter 
those 
things 
which 
of 
bonded 
indebtedness 
of 
the 
warring 
nations 
is 
now 
so 
are 
coming 
on 
the 
earth." 
(Luke 
21 
:26) 
All 
these 
things 
enormous 
that 
there 
is 
not 
enough 
money 
in 
all 
the 
earth 
to 
that 
we 
see 
are 
but 
the 
beginning 
of 
greater 
sorrows. 
The 
end 
pay 
the 
interest 
on 
that 
indebtedness. 
How 
then, 
will 
it 
ever 
shall 
be 
"a 
time 
of 
trouble 
such 
as 
was 
not 
since 
the 
begin- 
be 
possible 
to 
pay 
the 
principal? 
ning 
of 
the 
world." 
Great 
Britain 
and 
her 
Allies 
have 
borrowed 
heavily 
from 
Each 
warring 
nation 
has 
hoped 
for 
victory, 
but 
it 
has 
not 
Americans 
through 
the 
instrumentality 
of 
certain 
American 
come. 
Discouraged 
and 
dismayed 
at 
the 
utter 
failure 
to 
deal 
financiers. 
These 
nations 
are 
desperately 
attempting 
to 
nego- 
a 
crushing 
blow, 
the 
rulers 
of 
some 
of 
the 
nation~ 
have 
im­ 
tiate 
other 
loans 
through 
the 
same 
channels. 
As 
an 
evidence 
'pressed 
their 
strongCllt 
men, 
that 
mightier 
efforts 
might 
be 
put 
of 
the 
desperation 
to 
which 
these 
ftations 
are 
driven, 
we 
cite 
fortq. 
In 
desperation, 
government 
officials 
have 
resigned 
their 
the 
recent 
attempt 
of 
Great 
Britain 
to 
borrow 
from 
American 
positions; 
and 
others 
have 
been 
asked 
to 
take 
their 
places. 
[6025) 
(3-4) 
a | wild of rists Presence BROOKLYN, N. Y., JANUARY 1, 1917 Vou. XXXVITI VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER God’s children appreciate the fact that his Word is a “light unto their feet, and a lantern unto their pathway.” To the divine Word and providence they look for guidance, instruction and comfort. They believe the Word of God_and rely upon it, and thus walk by faith. They view current events in the light of divine prophecy. For several years Bible students have been expecting a great international war, followed by revolution and anarchy. (1 Kings 19:11-13) They expect the great ecclesiastical systems, conceived in sin, born in iniquity and operated in fraud and deceit, to be swept away with a great besom of destruction. (Revelation 18:5-21) They have looked for the governments of earth, built upon false and unrighteous foundations, to crumble away amidst a great storm of human passion. (Psalm 18:7-19; Jeremiah 25:8-38) They have expected q dark night just preceding the ushering in of the glorious kingdom of Messiah. (Isaiah 21:11, 12) They expect these things because the Bible says so. God’s Word is true. For the encouragement of his followers, the great Master said, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your deliverance draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28) “Be patient, therefore, brethren”; the kingdom of Messiah is at the door.’ EXPECTATIONS BEING REALIZED Current events confirm our expectations. The new year dawns amidst great strife, turmoil and bloodshed. Fort nearly two and one-half years a mighty conflict hag raged amongst the European nations, and the storm of destruction continues unabated. In that time more than a dozen kingdoms and nations have been involved; and upwards of thirty millions of men, armed with the most deadly weapons known to modern science, have engaged in wholesale destruction of human life and property. Approximately seven millions of men have been killed, and many more millionga are insane or nervous wrecks by reason of the indescribable experiences through which they have sed. Jehovah, through his Prophet, foretold the coming of this great storm, describing it as a “great and strong wind which rent the mountains and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord.” The Bible deals largely in symbols, “Wind” is a symbol of war; “mountains,” a symbol of kingdoms or governments, and “rocks” a symbol of the solid or more stable parts of the governments. In this picture, therefore, the rocks would very fitly represent the financial strongholds of the governments, When the financial strength of a government is gone, the government itself is practically gone. It is apparent to all observing ones that the warring nations are on the verge of bankruptcy. Fer the purpose of procuring money with which to conduct the war, the belligerents have borrowed fabulous amounts, for which they have issued bonds, treasury notes and other promises to pay. The amount of bonded indebtedness of the warring nations is now 80 enormous that there is not enough money in all the earth to pay the interest on that indebtedness. How then, will it ever be possible to pay the principal? Great Britain and her Allies have borrowed heavily from Americans through the instrumentality of certain American financiers. These nations are desperately attempting to negotiate other loans through the same channels. As an evidence of the desperation to which these nations are driven, we cite the recent attempt of Great Britain to borrow from American [6025 } investors one billion dolHars upon unsecured treasury notes, which have no basis for issue and are strictly fiat money. Some time prior to this attempt, the British government obtained credits in the United States to the amount of $1,100,000,000. About one-half of this amount was obtained upon unsecured paper, and was taken largely by munition manufacturers and other large creditors who expected to make enough profit out of the sale of munitions to cover any loss that might occur. About the first of December last, the President of the United States became aware of the attempt of the British government, through its American agents, to sell to American investors a billion dollars of flat credits, designated as “short time treasury notes.” Foreseeing the uncertainty of the payment of such notes, President Wilson and the Federal Reserve board exposed this dangerous scheme by warning American investors against the purchase of these. Discussing this question editorially, one of the leading American dailies recently said: “When the British government came back for more eredit and wanted a real loan in Wall Street, then Wall Street was not so certain of the value of the treasury notes. It wanted security in the shape of American stocks and bonds, and insisted upon having it. “The British government has no American stocks and bonds and not a great deal of gold to spare. After having taken care of Wall Street’s preferred loans, still it wants more American money on credit. So certain English agents among American bankers attempted to persuade American investors, through American banks, to buy one billion dollars of unsecured treasury notes, when Wall Street, was unwilling to lend half that amount against a year ago without additional collateral American security. “It is probable that these Anglo-American bankers, whose prestige ia very great, would have carried this disagtrous scheme through without a hitch had not the President and the Federal Reserve Board interferred with their warning. ‘These notes are unsecured, and are subject to the hazard of defeat in war, of national bankruptcy through prolongation of war, and of repudiation in case of social revolution after war. “They have no gold basis; for the British government has already outstanding more of their promises to — more of this fiat money, in fact, than all the gold that has been produced since the Christian era began could redeem. “There is not gold enough in all the countries of Europe combined to pay ten cents on the dollar of the paper fiat treasury notes that have already been issued by Great Britain.” Financiers everywhere are trembling, and “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” (Luke 21:26) All these things that we see are but the beginning of greater sorrows. The end shall be “a time of trouble such as was not since the beginning of the world.” Each warring nation has hoped for victory, but it has not come. Discouraged and dismayed at the utter failure to deal a crushing blow, the rulers of some of the nations have imipreased their strongest men, that mightier efforts might be put forth. In desperation, government officials have resigned their positions; and others have been asked to take their places. (3-4)

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