JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24449, 7 November 1940, Page 10

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

CO THE . EDITOR Sir —All lovers of freedom should join in a strong protest against the Latest action of the Government in suppressing the sect known as “ Jehovah s witnesses.” As an Atheist and Fieethinker. I have no use whatever mr their peculiar religious notions, but whether one agrees with these or any other ideas, there is absolutely no justification for suppressing this sect. They may have peculiar notions of past and future events and they may roundly condemn earthly Governments, but to call that a seditious belief, or teaching, when all religions preach exactly, the same idea in some form or another, is making use of war-time regulations and powers to get rid of inconvenient critics. No sect favours democracy more than these followers of Judge Rutherford, and if they are always lamenting the shortcomings of earthly governments it is only because they vision a “Theocratic Government” under Jehovah. That may be fantastic. but is certainly not seditious. When Jehovah’s Witnesses have been proved disloyal or convicted of making untrue statements against a religious bodv in an open forum, then appropriate action could be taken. /To make use of war-time regulations, against which there is apparently no appeal, savours far too much of the very thing we are at war to destroy. No body of religious people has been more in favour of freedom of speech and has lamented the lack of freedom in the world to-day than Judge Rutherford’s followers. It staggers one to see them suppressed when charged with the very offences which only they have had the courage to openly attack in a forthright manner! Surely the press, and the liberty-loving public are not going to tamely submit to these methods— l am. etc.. E. W. Flint. Auckland. October 3,1