Minor War In Fiji
pp. 38-39 · Read in the full issue
"Jehovah's Witnesses" and the Government
PEOPLE of an older generation have heard of Bible-banging sects and tub-thumping sects. Their modern equiv alent is the amplifier sect. This very noisy American organisation of prosely tisers, who call themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses”, or the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, led by a Judge Rutherford, advertises their brand of religion by sending vans through city streets equipped with loud-speakers, from which there issues a most dreadful vol ume of sound.
It is an idea of Christianity that is loathed by normal, well-balanced people; and, if the sect has one effect more than any other, it is that it brings religion into disrepute.
This sect is now extending its activities into certain of the Pacific territories. A representative of the “P.1.M.”, recently in Papua, discovered that a young gentle man there was doing his best to per suade the woolly-headed Papuans to be come “Jehovah’s Witnesses”.
A friend in Fiji has sent us an inter esting collection of literature from that colony.
It appears that Judge Rutherford’s apostles have been busy in Suva, evi
dently with the idea of establishing “Jehovah's Witnesses” among the Fijians and the Indians. It is indicated that, when the Governor of Fiji (Sir Harry Luke) discovered the kind of invasion with which his fair land was threatened, he, or his officials, took steps to prevent the importation of the Watch Tower Society’s literature.
The Suva representative of the Society made a frightful row about it—as has been already stated, they are very noisy people—and in April he instituted police court proceedings against the Comptroller of Customs. The case, of course, was dis missed. Then “Jehovah’s Witnesses” issued circulars fiercely attacking the “Fiji Times” because the “Fiji Times”, in their opinion, did not adequately report their case against the Comptroller of Customs.
THIS was followed up by cablegrams to King George VI. One is signed by “H. Gill, Watch Tower Society, Suva”, and the other by “A. Macgillivray, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society”.
The cablegrams attacked the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji—although what on earth the Roman Catholics in Fiji had to do with the matter was difficult to see —and furiously demanded the recall of the Governor. The text of the cablegrams was printed in a circular which was widely distributed in Fiji.
Another circular is an “open letter” to the Governor, the Government Secretary, and all members of the Legislative Assembly of the colony of Fiji. This runs over four pages and is signed by “Harold E. Gill”, and dated May 1. 1939. and it protests in the liveliest fashion against the refusal of the Government to permit the importation of something "called “Bible Helps”. Mr. Gill, at great length, argues that the Roman Catholics are re sponsible for the Government’s attitude towards his “Watch Tower” activities, and he proceeds to attack Roman Catholicism generally. He even goes back to 1914-18, and the long-forgotten war between Archbishop Mannix and “Billy” Hughes.
THEN there is a circular in flaring red.
“Plot to Control Government De partments from Rome—Pope De mands Civil Service be 100 per cent.
Catholic —Dastardly Anti-British In trigue Exposed” are some of the headings, in the choicest style of the American yellow press.
In another circular, the Suva “Watch Tower” makes an attack on Police In spector Tucker and Hon. A. A. Ragg.
“The Strange Case of Inspector Tucker — Robbery by Police?—Who Gives Bishop Nicolas Instructions?—ls it the Vatican City?” howls the Rutherford propagan dist.
It is to be hoped that the Governor of Fiji has made a collection of these leaf
lets. They are very amusing; but, also, they represent complete justification for the Government’s attempt to keep this noisy and unpleasant organisation out of Fiji.
Already, there are too many sects in the Pacific Islands. How can primitive peoples be expected to understand the rivalries and differences of the various churches? But, at least, those who already are established uphold European prestige and justify their presence there by their good work in educating the natives and giving them medical as well as moral help.
The introduction of “Jehovah’s Wit nesses” could not confer any material benefit upon the natives; and, judging by their record elsewhere, they probably would cause disturbance and discord.