Rutherford’s Hostile Welcome in New Zealand

When “Judge” Rutherford visited New Zealand in 1938 he met a mostly hostile reception. As Rutherford was driven to the Auckland Town Hall to deliver a lecture, “…his attention was drawn to a newspaper placard bearing a distortion of the title of a lecture he had given years earlier.” [Watchtower, March 1, 1985, p. 28]

What was the name of that original lecture? What was the theme and promise that was part of Watchtower president J. F. Rutherford’s world famous public-speaking program that began on September 25, 1920 and continued for many years after?

“Millions Now Living Will Never Die”MillionsNowLiving

In 1920, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society also published a booklet of the same name. On page 97 it stated:

“…that the new order is coming in, and that 1925 shall mark the resurrection of the faithful worthies of old and the beginning of reconstruction, it is reasonable to conclude that millions now living will never die.”

The passing of 1925 and the embarrassing failure of these predictions by the Watchtower under the direction of “Judge” Joseph F. Rutherford were well-known and remembered by many people living in 1938.

The people of New Zealand were slow to forget or forgive. It was no wonder that on that newspaper placard displayed upon his arrival in Auckland it was written in big bold letters:

“Millions now living would rather die
than listen to Judge Rutherford.”


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Jose S.

Jose S.

Gracias Barbara A. Por subir esta informacion, Siento mucho respecto por usted y por las cosas que su valor y coraje le permiten decir con mucha propiedad. Muchas Gracias. J.S.

hagblay

hagblay

All millions are now dead including the Judge. A mind is a sad thing to lose

Pitman Browne

Pitman Browne

How sad for s man to use maths to try to go inside gods mind!