9
1
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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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