The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-03-06

VI JuSIlCS WOulu Oily reply. II is
not our duty to advise anyone but
government officials. We prosecute
violators of the law" Finally the
interview ended by the representative
of the department of justice saying:
IF the association cared to do so it
might have its attorneys take up the
matter with them" A few days later
the attorneys of the association called
at the department of justice with the
result as was thought, that the mat
ter would be dropped, and the ar
rest of colporteurs cease. Attorneys
advised the association accordingly.
But the arrest of young women
and young men continued and many
were thrown in Jail without bond and
without formal charge or trial. The
Catholic agents, through the press,
were busy working up public senti-
ment, publishing and republishing
the wireless lie and other false state
ments such as Hun Agents." "Hun
Propaganda" etc. Naturally, this
led to mob violence. Bible classes
and religious meetings were broken
up, the teachers and leaders chased
from one town to another by mobs
headed often by men who claimed to
be officers of the law, some being
tarred and feathered, while others
were beaten and cruelty used. Prop
erty and books were seized without
warrant and many deeds of violence
were done. This continued until the
8th day of May, 1918, when Joseph
F Rutherford, w. E. Van Amburgh.
c. J. Woodwork, George H. Fisher,
A. H. Macmillan, F. H. Robson, R.
J. Martin and G.. DeCecca were in
dlcted and arrested. The Indictment
| charged that defendants some time
between April 6, 1917, and May 8.
! 1918, had unlawfully conspired and
agreed together to cause insubordina-
ton, mutiny and disobedience in the
army and navy of the United States.
The overt acts charged being the pub
lIcation of 1.-THE Finished Mystery"
and writing letters to young men sub
Ject to military draft.
The case went to trial June 5, 1918.
By that time excitement over the war
| was at fever heat and it seemed but
necessary to charge one with being
IN league with the enemy in order to
secure his conviction. There was
no possibility of deferring the trial
even for sufficient time for defend
ants to prepare their case. The court
room was frequented by many Cath
Ole priests and Knights of Columbus
| throughout the trial, and it was clear
| ly to be seen that the stage was set
for the drama and the Catholics and
their aides would have their victims
| as IN the ancient inquisition.
The government proved not one
| thing showing a conspiracy among
defendants. The Finished Mystery
was offered in evidence and the few
pages that had been removed read,
but the court would no; permit the
whole book to be read to the Jury.
which if read would convince them
that the book is what it claims, an
explanation of the Bible.
Principles of |. b. s. A.
The principles of the |. b. S. A. as
set forth in the writings of Pastor
Russell, and in harmony with the BIZ
| bic, prevent its consecrated members
from engaging in war. Briefly stated,
they hold and teach thai the govern
! ment has the right to declare war and
draft its citizens; that anyone of the
world may engage in war, but when
one consecrates himself to the Lord
he cannot then take human life; but
ne has agreed to be governed by the
word OF God, which says: Thou shalt
not Kill; that If conSecrated Chris
tan violates his covenant of conse-
Grafton by willingly killing another
| he thereby forfeits his own eternal
existence and is forever lost, hence
holding these principles he is preclu-
ded from engaging in war.
Congress recognized the right of
such persons and inserted section 4
IN the selective service law for the
very purpose of covering such cases;
therein providing that no such person
should be compelled to engage in any
military service except such as the
president might define and declare
non-combatant service. 1t will be
recalled that President Wilson did not
define non-combatant service until the
spring of 1918.
Members of the |. B. s. A had long
had the habit of writing Pastor Rus
sell about all questions relating to
I their private affairs. Being unable
to attend personally to all such cor
respondence he assigned a part of
this work to others. The same prac-
| tlce continued under the administra-
ton of Mr.. Rutherford.
When the time came for classified
ton under the selective service law.
naturally members of the association
wrote their head office for advice.
Mr.. Rutherford and his co-laborers
aided such in preparing their affida-
Wits as required by law, setting forth
! the principles or creed of this reGg-
lous association This was done in
pursuance of section 4 of the draft
law. The late General ]. f. Bell, in
December, 1917, called on Messrs.
Rutherford and Van Amburgh, and
fully discussed with them the draft
law as relating to religious, consci-
entious DIRECTORS. The General at
that time stating that it was his I'M
derstanding that the president would
not define non-combatant service I'M
til some future time. A notice COW
ering this point was published in The
Watch Tower for December, 1917.
All the letters written by defen-
dants, officers of the association, were
letters of advice concerning the legal
rights of members of the |. B. S. A..
and written in answer to INQUIRIES
| made bV Such ,1oanoherc &c 70 H., -