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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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