New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-07-25
BITTER DISPUTE
over AIR sermon
Rutberford'S Address From To-
ronto Causes Much Comment

New York, July rs (UP) - The
ether, newest of all backgrounds,
was given its first major test as a
field for religious dispute yesterday,
and the National Broadcasting COM
pany studio was swamped today by
letters and kilograms Of vigorous
comment.
By a curious quirk, Joseph F.
Rutherford. leader OF the Interna-
tional Bible Students association,
who has charged that orthodox
Christian churches have monopoly
of the air, was able to broadcast his
message that Million Now Living
Will Never DE-" over the greatest
hookup ever assembled-53 stations,
two more than the previous record
hookup which broadcast the Demp-
sey-Sharkey fight.
Rutherford's speech at the con-
vention of the organization at To-
ronto, Canada, was broadcast from )
to 4:30 p. M. E. D. THE sun
day afternoon period ordinarily de-
national program of the Greater
New York Federation OF Churches.
His speech was partially devoted to
a bitter attack on organized Chris
tianity," and many orthodox listen
ers, who had tuned in expecting to
hear the usual religious program.
were stirred to protest by telephone,
telegraph and letter.
The cost of the widespread broad
cast TO the Bible students could not
be definitely learned, but it was
known that only a few stations
which refused to accept it as part
of the regular National Broadcasting
company hookup program received
pay at the usual rate of $50 an hour.
WEAF' not only made no charge, but
even furnished an announcer free
and paid for the telephone hookup
between Toronto and New York,
from where the speech was broad
cast and distributed to other sta
tons.
Thus, the cost to the Bible stud
ents must have been very small IN
proportion to the millions of listen
ers obtained from coast to coast and
even in foreign countries, for the
hookup included short wavelength
broadcast,
Charges Monopoly
The unusual situation was under.
stood to have developed during
hearings on radio wave control IN
Washington. Rutherford, pleading
for a favored wave length for the
private station of his association
charged the federation of churches
and other Orthodox organizations
had a. monopoly Of the regular sta
tons. Merlin H. Aylesworth. presi'
dent of the National Broadcastlne
company, commended that firms sta
tions were open to anyone at any
time, and offered Rutherford the
privilege of the,air whenever nj
wanted IT.
Rutherford made no move to &C
cept the invitation until recently
when plans for the association
Toronto convention were announced
Then he demanded the right K
broadcast his speech to the conven
ton, setting the time at the hour the
federation usually broadcasts. Ayles
worth accepted. although it was IN
derstood he had some difficulty II
persuading the federation to change
its hour for the day.
The federation. when it went or
the air at 4:30 yesterday. hastily ex'
planned that There will follow
the only service broadcast today by
the greater New York Federation Of
Churches"
The federation does not pay fol
its weekly hour on the air.
Rutherford pleaded with his radio
audience to desert organized
Christianity, which is an unholy al
lance against the common peoples
of the earth
He assailed the organized clergy
for its support of the United State:
governments policies during the
World War. His sect is pacifist. ane
he and many of his assistants faced
charges of obstructing the draf
during the war
Jehovah, the only true God NJ
said, 'graciously used the NatloIa
Broadcasting company TO PERM
the beliefs of the Bible Students as
sociation to be spread abroad. Sucf
sign of Gods grace he cited a.
proof that Gods kingdom is here.
PROMINENT GENTLEMAN DIES
g. LII. o Id "a