The Jehovah’s Witnesses have never been overly shy to use the latest communications technologies to publicize their message. In the 1880s, Pastor Charles Taze Russell built a publishing and distribution empire around the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in order to let people know that the end of the present age was at hand, and that salvation was freely available to all. Not only did the Watch Tower Society put books, tracts and pamphlets in the hands of millions, but Russell also used the telegraph to syndicate his sermons in American and Canadian newspapers, a phenomenon called “newspaper gospeling”.

Russell even used motion picture technology to create his Photo-Drama of Creation, an epic overview of biblical prophecy that wowed audiences in 1914.

Doorstep ministers put Russell’s six-volume Millennial Dawn, later re-titled Studies in the Scriptures, in the hands of readers from coast to coast. When Russell died on the lecture circuit in 1916, he left notes for a seventh volume. His successor, Joseph Franklin “Judge” Rutherford appointed members of Russell’s inner circle to complete that final volume.

The Finished Mystery, as it was called, was published in 1917, and was immediately controversial. Judge Rutherford’s opponents within the Watch Tower Society disputed its authenticity. It couldn’t have been written by Pastor Russell, they objected. It’s nothing like the other six volumes! For one thing, it has cartoons!

Yes, The Finished Mystery contained a number of political cartoons. While they won’t win your admiration for their achievements in caricature or satire, they are certainly direct and unambiguous. I know this is April Fool’s Day, but I am not making this up. Here’s a sample:

This is one of several attacks on the various Protestant denominations, and Roman Catholicism, all of which use creeds as part of their confession of faith. Witnesses condemn these creeds as human creations. They are not found in the Bible. By using them, the Christian churches lead believers astray, separating them from God’s coming salvation. Leading believers astray is frankly heinous, in the view of groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses who believe that the Second Coming is imminent.

The Finished Mystery not only had a confrontational approach to Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, it had a really confrontational attitude towards the Christian clergy:

The Finished Mystery criticized the Christian clergy of the day for incorporating so-called “modernist” concerns into their preaching and missions. Apparently, their pews were nearly empty, and this was the reason!

Another favorite target of the Witnesses, and of millennial movements in general, is “Babylon,” the utterly godless worldly power described in Revelation, the final book of the Christian Bible. Pastor Russell taught that the beginning of the end of history occurred in 1914, when Jesus took his place as King in Heaven. Satan was banished to earth, and all earthly governments therefore answered to Satan. Hence, human governments are the Babylon of Revelation. But the worst of the worst are the harlots of Babylon — the Catholics and the Protestants!

Here’s one of the finest pieces in the book, at least from an aesthetic view. You can probably read this one’s meaning for yourself, if you’ve stuck with me this far!

The Finished Mystery was responsible for a great deal more than stirring controversy within the Watch Tower Society. It landed Judge Rutherford and several other Watch Tower leaders in Atlanta’s penitentiary, sentenced to 20 years for violating the Espionage Act. You see, The Finished Mystery also argued that nowhere in the New Testament can one find support for patriotism. The book opposed World War I, and reminded people that to fight for any earthly government was to fight for Satan. Better to hold on and wait for Jesus.

The convictions were overturned and the Watch Tower leaders were released after nine months in damp cells, and Rutherford spent the rest of his life coping with a lung disorder.

I’m not sure the clergy ever recovered from the sustained ridicule of The Finished Mystery!

— beth