#first blood || luther creed

[howwelldoyouknowyourmoon]

Scared of Leaving?

HWDYKYM got this in our ask box about seven years ago:

“I’m a second gen from Australia, and I’m currently questioning the beliefs and customs of the unification church. I just wanted to ask, when you left the church, did you feel scared at all? Did the thought of ‘what if all they taught was right’ ever cross your mind? I’m currently stuck between leaving the church or staying, and am currently exploring other more ‘normal’ religions. Many thanks.”

I decided to share this with some other second generation who left the church and here are some of their responses:

I legitimately wondered if I was going to get struck by lightening or run over by a car for the first year or so. My mom had had a spiritual child that left and then drowned a few months later, so as a kid she drilled into me that that’s what happens when you leave. Plus I was terrified to tell people about where I “came from” because I thought I would be judged or thrown out (like in so many establishments on STF) so it took me a long time to develop my family of choice.

When I was younger I had told my parents that I wanted to explore other religions, and they all but forbid me from doing it. They explained that since they knew that following the church was the right path, there was no point in me exploring others. My response was, “Well if it’s right, then there’s no harm in looking elsewhere, because I’ll obviously find my way back,” but they wouldn’t have it. Whether out of fear or just plain stubbornness I still don’t know. To me that is evidence of the total control the church exerts over its members. It forbids them to have empathy or open-mindedness, and it prevents them from experiencing all the goodness this world has to offer. The Divine Principle teaches that the purpose of life is to attain happiness, and I was anything but happy in the church. Yes I terrified for months before and after I “left,” although I can’t pinpoint an exact event or time. It was more of a series of lifestyle changes that gradually brought me away, but also made me happier and improved my quality of life. As things got better, my fear eventually subsided. My advice? Go explore! Committing to a life of faith is a big decision and should be taken seriously. Land in a place where you are comfortable to be free, express yourself, and explore your unique potential.

I always come back to this answer to the original question: ‘If your parents got to choose their own faith that their parents probably didn’t agree with, why can’t you?’ Isn’t that part of growing? Would they have discovered the UC if they didn’t explore other religions, different from their own parents’? Also the “pure blood lineage” scenario runs through some sects of the Jewish, Muslim, and basically Judeo-Christian teachings, so the UC is not special in that sense. That’s how the church kept me in fear of disbanding. It’s a false-privileged old way of controlling someone, and it’s the very definition of conditional love. I would let this person know that practically all of 2nd gens I know have left the church, because we found that the world is bigger than the narrow confines of the UC. It’s okay to question things just like Martin Luther did with starting the Protestant Church, and Rev. Moon did with the UC, and what the Pope is doing right now.

Something I find comfort in is the idea that good people are good people, that goodness is goodness, regardless of affiliation or belief. It’s  your character and your actions that matter, that determine the quality of your life and the impact you can have on the world, much more than your creed. Even the DP teaches that people with good hearts are the ones actually closest to God, rather than “whitewashed tombs” of people who claim the truth. Even if it turns out that you’re “wrong” in what side of the fence you decide to jump down on, it doesn’t really matter as long as you live your life well. It’s hard to know or sure what’s true. We just have to do our best with whatever knowledge and certainty we do have. If there is a Heaven, I think all the people who are truly loving, generous, and courageous are the ones who will end up there – be they atheists, Hindus, Mormons, or even Unificationists.

From a young age, I knew the cost of being a Unificationist was big, especially if you really believed in it. I’m not one to half-ass anything, and if Moon was the messiah, I wanted to get matched by him, do at least two years of STF, convert all my friends, make the Principle known, create a perfect heteronormative family under the reign of Cheon Il Guk, and pay indemnity for my Japanese sins. But for some reason, I was always suspicious of it all. I felt like I didn’t have enough reasons to believe. I would do conditions of 210 bows for 40 days, cold showers, fasting, etc., to receive an undeniable confirmation that Moon was truly the Lord of the Second Advent, like the myths we heard from early UC history. Nothing ever came. What kept me in for so long was the fact that I never experienced a love like I did among church members. That was my testimony and the reason I put my faith in Moon. Eventually, when I discovered the atrocities done in the name of Moon and by Moon, especially after I read Nansook Hong’s book “In the Shadow of the Moons” I knew I couldn’t stay much longer. I was scared of leaving because of my parents, of course, but also because I thought I’d never have friends like I did in the UC. We constantly heard that rhetoric that friendships outside the Church are pointless and what BCs share is unique, etc. After I left, though, I developed deeper friendships than I had in the church. I had friends who loved me no matter what my views on spirituality were and loved me when I fucked up and I found out what true love—that unconditional love we were told about at camp—was really about. I somehow ending up forming convictions in God, Jesus, etc., that I couldn’t ignore, and despite my cynicism and fear of organized religion, I ended up in a progressive Christian community that could support me in my faith (and me with theirs) and live out these convictions presented by Jesus together. All that to say, it may be really hard leaving, but it will be worth it. Explore your convictions, your ideas, and be the best you. It fucks with Moonies’ heads when they see somebody so clearly living out true love and not buying into their crap—and outright rejecting it.

First I would tell he or she that “religion” should not be perceived as a social group that one just joins. Even though, that’s basically what it is on the surface. You should look deeper inside yourself. Find something you truly believe in. For me it’s God. I’m not religious. I’m spiritual. Which is something all religions can help you discover within your self. But you should not have to need/depend on a religious group to find/keep your spirituality. I mean that’s just my perspective. Just be an open person. Be infinite. Take everything in. And live your life. I was horrified at the beginning. But then you’re just free. And that’s awesome.

I was afraid whenever I’d go against the church’s rules, but I found that more often than not I wouldn’t feel the repercussions of sin that were promised. The more I went against the church, ultimately the less afraid I became. There was a lot of questioning and doubt, I certainly wondered what would happen to me, and what if they were right. I think it’s good to seek out truth for yourself. Ultimately if you find the church is your answer then you can go back. They’re desperate for more members anyway.

While I was questioning my beliefs, I felt a lot of shame and guilt about being ungrateful for TP, and doubting them so much. I feared God would be disappointed in my lack of faith. But the more evidence I found that the faith itself was inconsistent and false, the more boldly I was able to think for myself and discover who I am. It’s terrifying at first to think that everyone you know and all the adults you’ve looked up to are wrong. But it also gives you freedom, when you can ascertain your own beliefs instead of just checking in with what “Father says”.

There are a million and one religions that purport that they are “right” and “the one”. I don’t think God (if you believe in God) would screw the rest of the groups based on what religion they belong to or what specific traditions they encourage, but rather the love we offer to others. Isn’t that unconditional love?

For me leaving the church was a very big deal. I would say that the fear was more to do with losing something I had invested my time, energy and person into. Eventually the cognitive dissonance becomes too strong and the overwhelming conclusion that what the UC teaches is not true just becomes your new normal. The process is real, it takes time though. Joining other religions can help as a kind of a ‘step down’. I’ve explored a few Christian churches and found that in some circles, having been part of another religion that I believed in and left, has made me far more skeptical than most of the congregation. In others I’ve met people who have had a similar journey from conservative faith into something more complex (and liberal).

Not so much fear for me. Maybe little fleeting twinges of it early on. But it was a slower transition and more gradual over time which I’m sure made it easier. Two points to remember: 1)  I’ve never seriously considered that I could permanently lose my relationship with my mother. We’re related by blood. We disagree at times, but if anything threatened my life. She’d only be closer to me, no matter what had divided us. She’s my mother. She loves me. How much more would that apply to my father in heaven. Who not only gave me physical life, but a spiritual nature as well. 2)   Would it make sense, if you invested in my business, that I would tell you…  "Don’t trust information from anyone else but me. Because only my information will help you understand my stock and make the right choice about investing in it. The more you trust my information, and ignore all other information, the better financial decisions you will make!” That doesn’t work for ANYTHING you can name in life! The more diverse information you receive, the more thoroughly you will understand something, and the better decisions you will then make. So why is it that the ones who claim to have the highest, most important truth want to prohibit you from getting information from anyone but them? What are they afraid of? People that have FACTS on their side, never fear any information that would seem to contradict them, because if they have enough facts on their side, they can easily handle any challenge offered. But the UC fears such challenges, and wants you to believe that being fully informed is even “evil” and can undermine the supposed greatest truth there is! But that is ridiculous of course, seeing as how, in ANY question in life—finances, house purchasing, medical issues, intimate relationships, science…  ANYTHING…  the more informed I am, the more thoroughly I understand something, the more I can make the best informed decision!   Hope this helped.  God bless!

Fear is not a good reason to stay in the UC

Indemnity is a Moon Trap

conformity

Bending Truth – Cognitive Dissonance

Sun Myung Moon’s theology used to control members

Fear and Loathing at Cheongpyeong

Where Sun Myung Moon got his theology

The Korean background of Sun Myung Moon’s church

The Moon church is unequivocally not Christian

[deviltoothed]

tag drop || people

[economistadentata]

'The Whites Have Become Black' - David Starkey is a racist

Quite why David Starkey was on the Newsnight panel in the first place remains something of a mystery.  His specialism is the Tudor period, and whilst it might have been enlightening to hear him on the topic with regard to recent events, that’s not what we got.  Neither is he an authority on the history of London, ‘black British history’ or anything other possible research area that springs to mind as being faintly relevant.  One can only presume, sadly, that he was there for his ratings and his ability to ‘generate debate’.  In that at least he turned out to be an ideal booking.

Emily Maitlis asked David Starkey for his opinion on the causes of the riots-he responded by pointing out that as a historian, in one sense he couldn’t say what had caused events, as it was too soon to say.  I was actually quite taken with that response, and thought it spot on.  Then the other shoe dropped:

‘The whites have become black’

This statement assumes 2 things:  firstly that there are such things as ‘white’ and ‘black’ culture.  Secondly, that it was the assumption of ‘black culture’ by white people that has led to the lawlessness and abandonment of fellow feeling, expressed through the riots.

I used to visit my mother in South Africa during the eighties, and lived there for several years in the nineties.  I observed as a teenager & as an adult, the way in which people, sensing that flat-out racism was no longer a la mode, shall we say, would recast their views thus:

‘I’m not a racist.  I’m a racialist. I don’t think people are better than each other, they’re just different.  So why would someone from Khayelitsha want to live next door to me/go to my son’s school?’

I would put Starkey into this camp: A racist, but one who hides his racism under a veneer of ‘culture’. As he said ‘It’s not skin colour, it’s culture’.  He then associates black culture with the rioting on the streets- ‘It certainly glorifies it’.

Later on in the panel discussion, he quoted a text message sent by a girl caught up in the riots, delivered in a faux Jamaican patois.

Young people have always had their own slang/groupspeech.  Judging from my son and his friends, at the moment these consist of faux-Californian, faux-Italian (via Assassin’s Creed), text speak, faux-Essex and yes, faux-Jamaican.  But to suggest that one text message sent by one teenager proves anything, is well, ridiculous.

Which brings me onto the question of technology:  There has been has been much breathless commentary of the role of the Blackberry Messenger system in the riots, and in particular their spread over different districts of London.  Repeat after me-technology is never a cause of events.  It can enable people to act on their impulses, but can never cause them in the first place.  To suggest as some have, that BBM was a contributory cause, is like saying the trains delivering troops to the Belgian front caused the First World War.  After all, if technology was going to prevent crime, you’d have thought CCTV would have been of utility-and that has only enabled the police to do their job after the event.

Starkey, unprompted, brought up Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of blood’ speech.  Now, that speech isn’t just a speech, any more than Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech is just a speech.  It’s a signifier- or, in crude terms, a dog-whistle.  It says ‘I am about to talk about the impact of immigration in terms of race, even if I subsequently deny it.’ Which he duly did.

Later in the discussion, Starkey made reference to David Lammy, saying he ‘sounds white’.  What does actually mean?  Received pronunciation? Scouse?  Brummy?  Scots?  To follow  Starkey’s logic, you’d think he was saying that all whites sound alike, and therefore by extension, so do all blacks.  If that’s not racist I don’t know what is-but I suspect that if interrogated on that point, DS would attempt to move the discussion onto ‘culture’ as per the block quote above.

But Starkey in saying this of Lammy, revealed his true game:  not only to attribute much of the ills of society to the influence of ‘black’ culture on poor whites-but to simultaneously appropriate black Britons in positions of power to the white elite.  Lammy is acceptable, because he is like ‘us’.  

It’s at this point, that I need to answer the question: If not race, what did cause the riots?

Prima facie the criminality and wanton lack of self-restraint of individuals caused what had been a peaceful demonstration related to the shooting of Mark Duggan to mutate with frightening speed into what we saw.  But how did they get to that point?  

‘Shopping with violence’.  It sounds like something out ‘A Clockwork Orange’-but it remains one of the most penetrating observations of what happened I have heard.  For the last 30-odd years, and with increasing speed over the last 15, we as a society have been sold the idea, that we are what we possess.  To be is to consume, the more publicly the better.  Which would be fine (-ish), if everyone had the same access to the means of consumption.  They don’t-although there have been examples of ‘respectable’ (and isn’t that a loaded term in this context?) people caught up in the riots and looting, for the most part were young.  Young and poor.

Added to which is our society’s attitude to children and young people.  We don’t like them.  We say that they are their parents’ responsibility, whilst at the same time allowing capitalism, that provider of shiny things for all, to demand that its needs be attended to before we are allowed to meet those of our children.   We allow the press to routinely slag off single mothers, and by extension their children, as the root of many social ills.  But then we (or rather this government) say that to provide those parents with extra support to fulfil their social contract and their need to work, is to encourage fecklessness and family breakdown.  Idealised children, missing or even dead, gazing from the front pages of the tabloids, we like very much.  But actual children, especially needy, difficult, angry children we do not like at all.

Much has been written about ‘stop and search’ as it related to inter-racial tensions.  But young people, arguably, are the most discriminated-against group of all.  They can be moved on just for there being three of them gathered together.  We have transformed childhood from a time of discovery, to a time of Gradgrindian exams, which are then denigrated as being of less and less worth.  Mind you, given the surge in youth unemployment and the exploding cost of higher education, that won’t matter.  Even if young people jump over the hurdles we call essential, many will fall before crossing the finishing line. And they know it. 

David Starkey touched on none of this.  Instead he spoke about how ‘whites are becoming black’.  How a black MP ‘sounds white’. How black culture ‘glorifies’ street violence.  David Starkey is wrong.  David Starkey is a racist.

[boredroo]

A Messenger pt. 6

Summary: The Council has heard of the names that have reigned down London; the Frye twins have evidently brought upon a change for the better good against the Templar’s tyranny, but order must still be kept.

You have been sent by the Council to evaluate the two sibling assassins, report what is must and maintain control where it must be maintained.

Pairing: Jacob Frye x Reader

Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5

[][][][][][][][]

“Jacob Frye!”

It’s still rather early in the morning, the train is currently at a temporary stop in the peaceful yet awake station in the City of London—That is, until your fury abruptly tears through the quiet, your footsteps heavy as you march into the compartment where Jacob is resting in.

Sitting idly, almost sprawled over the sofa, Jacob looks up as you enter, ready to greet you with a beaming smile before-

“Oof!” He cries when something hits him right in his face.

“What’s the matter here?” Evie steps in just after you, eyes twinkling in amusement as Jacob dejectedly peels off the object you’ve hurled at him. 

“(Y/N), what the hell-” he starts, but you cut him off even more zealously.

“You’ve been reading through my notes! My reports!” You gesture angrily towards your book now held in-between his fingers. “Those are confidential, and are only for my use as well as the Council’s!” 

Jacob shakes his head, eyes fleeting away from you in what seems to be panic. “I have no idea what you’re going on about-”

“You drew a cat beside your name! Filthy liar!” You snatch the book out of his hand, only to smack it against his nose. He cries out in response and claps his hands to his nose, but to your irritation, you only hear a sheepish laugh afterwards.

Evie pipes up rather complacently behind you. “Oh, Jacob. How could you? See, (Y/N)? I keep telling you, he’s nothing but a walking disaster-”

“She helped me steal it,” Jacob blurts with a finger pointed towards her, and you whirl around instantly. Evie is quick to mirror the wry smile her twin brother wore just moments ago, struggling to ignore the raging fury in your eyes.

“Evie Frye...” you trail between gritted teeth, and she laughs weakly.

“I, well... I have something to attend to, actually!” Evie paces backwards, ready to sprint off into an escape from your wrath, but-

“Easy,” Jacob’s voice is gentle as you feel his hand around your wrist. He tugs it back, having you face him instead. Concern and... care are not quite what you expected to see in his narrowed eyes, not when you yourself can’t seem to feel anything but anger at this moment. They’ve wronged you by doing such a thing, to touch your personal affects like that, intruding your privacy, that now, they surely know.

“We had a reason,” he slowly explains, tapping onto the book now tightly clutched into your clenching fist. Fear, anxiousness render the bitter taste in your mouth, expecting what’s to come. 

“And that reason is?” you manage to ask without your voice breaking.

Jacob doesn’t hesitate the least before answering. “I was worried about you.”

“We both were,” Evie joins, now standing beside him. “We thought we could find something that would help us understand, as you refused to tell us what truly happened there in Southwark. At the factory.”

Where you dumbly lost complete control of yourself, your conscience never fails to remind you, of that upsetting event that took place just a few days ago. And as Evie said, you’ve neglected to explain yourself to them, and you’re more than determined to keep it that way.

Your lips purse ever tightly, foot one step back as you fully intend to leave. “I know I’ve blundered, and have regrettably cost your mission-”

“That’s not what this is about,” Jacob interrupts, but you quickly do the same.

“And I’ve decided to quarantine myself in the train from now on should I ever risk failing you again. I take responsibility over my mistake and am punishing myself for it, and I hope you can simply leave it at that.”

“But (Y/N)-” Evie tries, though you’re already turning away, hastening to drop this conversation for good.

However-

“Luther Hart,” Jacob mutters, quiet but enough to have you hear him, just barely. You halt in your steps, the name yet again sets tremors coursing down your limbs, to your trembling fingers.

You don’t turn around, you couldn’t, but he is adamant to continue. Every word spoken has your heart writhing harder and harder. “...That one same name, scrawled all over on a single page. All of them struck out.”

“...Bloodstains visible as well,” Evie adds under her breath. Slightly firmer, “The penmanship frantic, with blood staining the corners.

“Luther Hart was a target, wasn’t he?” she finally asks. 

Something shatters ever-so-violently inside you. Your body is immobilised, its mind washed away by the sea of memories, of those dark days that were once your very own life.

“(Y/N), who was he?” Jacob asks, and softer, quieter, “What did he do to you?”

Your silence only intensifies. But Jacob calls your name again, that just by that, by only his voice, the kindest way he says it...

You heave a long, fatigued sigh. The twins wait as you seemingly muster all that you need to finally face them, and in your hand, you reveal to them; your golden pen lay atop of your palm. A reverie upon it, it is when you feel a hand on your shoulder you break away albeit reluctantly from your suffocating thoughts, that when you meet Jacob’s gentle expression, the darkness fogging your mind clears up. Slowly it does, but it’s dissipating still. 

...Why is he always able to affect you in such a way? 

***

“...I came from a backwater village, just barely by the border of the country,” you begin.

The city and its people are moving along from outside the train, chattering of the few Rooks from the compartment aside than yours fit pleasantly into the backdrop. The usual, contented scene you’ve grown to seeing every day helps eases the weight in your chest.

...As well as the warmth permeating from Jacob, as his side rests gently against yours on the sofa, just as yours rest into him. Evie watches you with patient eyes from the armchair in front of you, though you didn’t miss the curious glance she had when, rather than sitting with the appropriate distance in the middle, Jacob chose to sit as close as he possibly could to you instead.

“After my mother died of illness, my father, my baby sister and I, we had to make do without her with us,” pain singes you now just as it did before, but it doesn’t last too long. You’ve grown past it, at least, this one you have.

“The loss affected my father most, it turned out. His business crumbled for his despair that never cured, and we were taken of everything we had in a single night,” You inhale a breath, and continue. “That was when my sister—Carolyn and I were taken away, to earn to survive. But I had the better end of it, I was a maid for some snob with too much money on her hands, not a child slave, too old for one I suppose.”

“Your sister was forced to work in a factory?” Evie asks, empathy dripping from her voice.

“And this Luther Hart did that to you? To your family?” Intense anger colours Jacob’s instead. You don’t answer, there’s more—more why the taint on your heart will remain black forever.

“...I tried to see my sister every chance I could, between the breaks. The estate I worked for was far, sometimes I barely made it before she would be whipped into working again. ...I distinctly remember how small and weak Carolyn was.”

Silence oozes, as if they’ve understood. They have. It didn’t take much in the first place, but they understand. They know that Carolyn, your younger, darling sister, is no longer of this world.

“We planned to escape, you see? I would take her away when no one’s watching, when the man with the whip wasn’t looking, when the mistress is too busy shagging her gardener behind her husband’s back. I was prepared. I was prepared,” now you’re clenching your teeth, your jaw tensing so tightly, it almost numbs you. Only when Jacob lightly touches your hand you realise, your fingers have tried clawing, digging into your palm, over your golden pen.

 “But I was-I got greedy,” your voice strains. “I tried to release the other children as well, I’d protect each and every one of them, with Carolyn, but-!” you’re quivering in pain, in mourn, in fear—fear that they’re about to catch you, they’re going to recapture the poor children, they’re going to kill them, kill your sister, then you-!

“(Y/N),” Evie’s voice snaps you awake. Her hand is comforting on your shoulder, relieving. She’s bent in front of you to meet your eyes, and when they do, she offers you a firm nod. You take this as a signal to continue, but you feel... calmer, just by a slight bit. You’re safe now, especially with the twins so close to you.

“Sorry,” you say, exhaling. “...As you can expect, I didn’t get far. Not at all. We barely made it out of the building before the guards overwhelmed us. It was an accident, but the building caught on fire, a stray bullet landing into explosives instead of us. Carolyn’s hand slipped out of mine, and I... No one else made it.”

You try to continue, but before your lips even lift, Jacob interrupts you readily. “It’s not.”

“What?”

“You were about to say it was all your fault, weren’t you?” He frowns hard. “It’s not. That’s that.”

Your lips purse, teeth then gnawing anxiously onto the bottom. It’s easy for him to say, but you understand that he’s trying to ease your pain, and that’s more than you could appreciate already, especially coming from him.

“And that bastard? Hart? Did you get back at him?” Evie asks. You can see sheer hatred in her eyes as the name slips past her lips.

You nod. “I did.” And lifting your pen towards them, “With this.

“My father gave this to me on my birthday, my last birthday we spent together. After Carolyn’s death, I was in a low place, and that was when my mentor came in. She trained me to be who I am now. I bound my life to the creed in return, my duties and responsibilities for the Brotherhood kept me sane, intact. But then I heard word of a new institution under Hart’s name, yet another slave-driving fate forced upon the weak.”

You twirl your pen between your fingers, the maelstrom of emotions inside you having alleviated. Peace resonates deeply when you recall the justice you’ve served with your own hands, the deserving death you’ve brought down.

“It was against my orders, as the higher-ups intended to track Hart to the bigger force he was working under and so spared him to live another day, but the thought of him continuing to breathe while my sister had suffocated and died in his smokes made me take up my blade despite it. When he overpowered me, I used this pen and stabbed him deep in the neck.”

You’re mimicking the motions without realising, your movement exact and precise just as the one in the past. The sun glints off on the pen when you raise it high.

“...And now I must come clear to you two, that due to my defiance,” you turn towards Evie and Jacob, both very attentively listening and watching you, seemingly reliving your story as if it was their own. “With acknowledging my value as an Assassin, rather than rid of me completely for my one mistake, the Council instead decided to send me here, in hopes that I would not engage in the field without supervision.”

“Wait, what?” Jacob looks at you in shock. “So what you’re saying is-”

You force a smile. “Yes. I wasn’t sent here because the Council expected the worst out of you two. In fact, you are the best assassins I’ve ever had the honour of meeting. It was, instead, to ensure that I’d be out of their hair.”

Standing up, brushing down your clothes, you’re desperate to not look at them in the eyes as you say, “And I will not let myself get into yours either. Just this morning I’ve sent a letter to the Council to ask to return to my own home.”

“What?!” Both of them are upright in no time, their loud exclaim startling you.

“Oh, please, don’t worry,” you quickly console. “I’ve put in a good word for the two of you so you should be fine-”

To your puzzlement, however, Jacob doesn’t at all listen, hastening past you like a man in a mission. “Frye? Where are you-”

“I’m not letting that letter leave this city,” he simply says, holding your gaze so firmly, before jumping out of the train. You’re left almost bewildered, agape.

Then, Evie is covering your hands with her own. Her smile is kind, yet her expression feels stern all the same, determined. “You better not move a single inch until we get back, do you understand?”

“U-Uh, okay...?” Is there any other option when she’s staring you down like that?

Evie traces Jacob’s steps, though she stops short just by the exit of the train. “Say, (Y/N)? Something still doesn’t add up.”

“Yes?”

“Where was your father when all of that happened to you?”

You stare at her, before occupying yourself by going through your notes. There are so many cats Jacob has drawn... And they’re much worse than yours.

“...My father? Busy expanding his business as Luther Hart I suppose.”

***

By the time the Frye twins return from their unannounced trip, you’re rousing awake from a nap, their voices echoing down the path to where you are. It couldn’t be helped much that you had fallen asleep right where they left you, especially after their claims; Evie with her not-at-all-a-threat coercing, and Jacob having planted a dire concern in you that perhaps he might have went on to assassinate an innocent mailboy.

“Here you are, (Y/N)!” Jacob chimes as soon as he steps into the compartment. His eyes light up, crinkling from the wide smile he can’t seem to help himself giving you at first sight. A white envelope stands out in the hold of his gloved hand.

“You actually retrieved my letter?” your voice nearly cracks, the incredulity of the idea, of what he’s literally done confuses you to the end of the world.

“Your welcome,” he says proudly, either not noticing or outright ignoring the mixture of both shock and flusteration on your face.

“I don’t understand-”

Evie approaches you rather briskly, taking you by surprise when her grip curls around your arm. “We have an idea. Come with us.”

“To where?”

“It’s a surprise,” Jacob takes you by your other arm, that before you know it, you might as well be carried off by them to... wherever it is they’re so insistent in taking you.

And that ‘surprise’ of a place is...

***

“A... fight club?”

Your words inevitably drown under the cheers, the howling, the yelps of pain and victory from the rowdy men encompassing the periphery, or rather, the fighting ring located on a circular roof. 

The city of Lambeth is spread out like a vast sea underneath your high ground, with eager men and women taking leverage of the stage to prove their strength and win rewards. This, for some reason, is the place Evie and Jacob really wanted to take you to.

Jacob spreads his arms wide in a grand gesture, as if showing off something invaluable to you. “What do you think? Thrilling, isn’t it?”

You glance towards the man in the middle of the ring, groaning almost obnoxiously, hands clutching onto his crotch. Oh dear lord, was he kicked in the-

“Jacob and I, you see,” Evie has her hands on your shoulders, perhaps wanting you to take in the scene with a more perceptive eye. “We’ve discussed, and speculated, that perhaps what you need is simply an... outlet. Just a way to relieve yourself of everything that is pent up.”

“Instead of abandoning us completely, that is,” Jacob adds, bitterness and a bit of mockery tinging his words.

Would they rather you don’t leave? Before you’re even able to voice the question, your heart thumping quicker than it’s supposed to, a man dressed rather colourfully steps up to the three of you. Evie tells you of his name before he reaches you; Robert Topping.

“Mr. Frye, Miss Frye!” he tips his hat with a dramatic bow. “It is always good to see you here. Fancy a round or two in the ring? You know how much the crowd loves watching you dear siblings in action.”

“...This is the sort of activity you two get up to at the side?” you murmur, to which the twins merely shrug in response, their eyes squinting in amusement, and none are meeting yours.

“Oh? How about you? You seem like a formidable fellow, yes?” Robert gestures towards you, his grin sly yet harmless, always on a look-out for opportunities. “A friend of the Fryes is surely a force to be reckoned with, that’s what I’ve learnt.”

You promptly fold your arms. “It’s (Y/N), but I’m hardly interested-”

Jacob slaps you in the back, and you quickly meet his smirk with a hard glare.

“Don’t be shy now, (Y/N),” he says, lifting his scarred eyebrow. “Go ahead and unleash the beast.”

He leans in almost conspiratorially as soon as you’re about to protest. “Or are you too scared you’ll humiliate yourself in front of everyone?”

That’s enough to snap something inside you.

Jacob lets out a small ‘oof’ when your coat splays over his face, that when he pulls it off him, his look of surprise turns into one of fixation as you’re vaulting over the fencing bars to position yourself in center of the now empty ring.

 You’re pulling your hair back as you turn to them, noting how Jacob is, unaware even to him, intently watching the way your fingers tread in between your locks. “Sir Topping, what would it take for me to go against him?”

While Jacob barks in laughter as you almost spit out mentioning him, Robert clasps his hands together in keen approval, eyes squinting. “Against the standing champion? Nine rounds, including a match against the runner-up herself-”

Evie thrusts her chin up, her pride evidently casting towards, against you. “He means me, of course.”

“Second place suits you, sister,” Jacob provokes, yet Evie is unfazed, simply rolling her eyes.

“The brains, remember?” she scoffs, then her smirk widening, “At least I have one instead of just punching my way through everything, everytime. No one else could ever compete with you on that one, can they?” A groan as his response, Jacob couldn’t restrain from grinning afterwards.

Amidst the already impatient crowd, you stand just by the boundary, still within the ring. You lean on your arms that rest over the steel bars, surprisingly, with excitement and adrenaline beginning to surge through you. The idea of facing the Frye twins in combat is rather terrifying, and yet, you’re nothing if not eager to potentially get yourself beaten up, perhaps even win—At least, you could dream.

“Eight matches then, before I take on Evie and Mr. Frye?” you reconfirm, no longer able to refrain from smiling in anticipation.

“If you even last that long,” Jacob says with a smug smirk before Robert could answer. “No one ever does.” His last words sound like a threat, yet almost... sultry, especially with that lingering way he looks at you. In return, your eyes narrow in a challenge, one that he seems more than evidently happy to take up.

“Well, what are we waiting for then?” you walk backwards, back to the center of the spotlight, holding firmly onto Jacob’s eyes that trace every single motion you make. “We’ve burnt enough daylight already, haven’t we?”

Robert lets out a howl in a cheer’s stead, surely spurring the audience into wildness. Even Evie and Jacob don’t hesitate to join in the unparalleled energy, cheering and applauding with the crowd, though you send a playful glare when Jacob boos you at one point.

“Ladies and gentlemen, what you’ll witness today will be one of the finest shows you’ve seen in history yet!” Robert calls upon the crowd as he circles you for dramatic flair. Then a pat on your shoulder, he whispers, like a secret to you;

“Shall we begin, my friend?”

And it all erupts. 

You don’t mind the roars of the people, the wind that does nothing to chill the heat kindling in your body, the excitement, the adrenaline—

“Hyargh!” Comes a cry from behind, and the fist that you dodge with ease with a mere spin of your body. Three men are to oppose you for the first round, all three now charging at you with strength surely pulsating through their aiming fists, and...

It’s all ending so quickly.

You’re sure you just finished the very first round, but now Robert is yanking your arm high up in the air, gloating, celebrating your already sixth win. 

“Look here, folks!” He cheers, so over the clouds he is he’s almost slurring his words from how fast he speaks. “Absolutely delightful, this one! Do you not want to see more?”

The people’s response is to scream and whistle louder, an obvious sign that the show must continue, and one that you’re more than willing to give.

Wiping your mouth with the back of your hand, you catch sight of Evie and Jacob at the side. Evie seems to have changed into an attire more appropriate for the ring, and you’re flattered that she’s preparing herself for you already, giving you an acknowledging wave of her hand. Then, there’s Jacob, who seems like he hasn’t been able to stop smiling for awhile now. He, as well, gives you a friendly wave, and, without thinking, you return it with a wink. Jacob’s jaw drops immediately, his cheeks turning just a bit red.

Oh God, did you just pull a Jacob on the man himself?

“Ready for the next round, fighter?” Robert snatches your attention away, fortunately, before you could ponder on what you’ve done. You nod at him, fixing the bandages swathing your slightly sore knuckles and fingers.

One more brawl before you face one of the glorified Fryes.

...And it honestly doesn’t take much, with the wave of opponents ending as the last brute falls to the ground, air completely knocked out of him after a precise shiner up his chin.

As Robert takes over the grand gestures, you’re already turning towards the spot the twins have been making themselves comfortable in. The corner of your lips quirk up as you watch Evie vaulting over the bars to join you in the ring.

“Finally,” you hear yourself saying, and she lets out a light laugh.

“Took the word right out my mouth, (Y/N),” she says, grinning amiably. And that sense of camaraderie vanishes within a second, quickly being replaced when her bright eyes narrow into a fierce, menacing glare. When she takes her impenetrable stance, you know you’re in for one hell of a time now. There’s no turning back.

“And... begin!”

Your cry and Evie’s meld as you lunge at the same time. The blow you take on your cheek whips your sight white for a good second before you reciprocate with just as much strength, right on her face as well.

Evie spits onto the ground after recoiling, and comes back ever-so-relentlessly, her movements fast, accurate, way too calculating for you to try and counter immediately. Your arms grow tired as they shield you from her onslaught, until you catch wind of her attempt to break through, and you take the opening to spin and land a kick into her stomach.

You think you’ve won the upper hand now, but judging from her animalistic growl, it seems you’ve just made her angrier... You’re not sure whether that’s a good thing or not.

That’s when she suddenly sprints towards you, and you receive the answer right at that moment—Evie leaps onto you, her strong legs wrapping around your neck before she twists and drags you down onto the cold, hard ground. Pain inflames through your whole body as you look up to her, wincing and feeling too numb to go on. You’re tempted to admit defeat, when-

“Listen to me, (Y/N),” she speaks quietly, winding her arms around your throat. She’s... masking her conversation with you by holding you in a death grip? “I have no problem throwing this fight to see you go against my idiot brother.”

“Y-Yeah?” you manage through her slowly crushing down your windpipe.

She answers way too happily in response. “Sure! You’ve put on quite a show, if I do say so myself. Consider it a reward, or maybe even a welcome gift for bringing you here, yes?”

“That... does come with you not... killing me on the spot, right? Please?” you choke out, ready to plead when she chuckles.

“Of course. Make it seem like you’ve overpowered me,” she says, loosening her grip. “Don’t disappoint me,” she adds more quietly.

“Evie, wait, I have an idea,” you whisper back. Swiftly presenting your schemes, still hidden from the public, she nods immediately in an agreement, grinning back at you.

In an instance, you take the cue to break her restraint, bumping your head hard into hers. When she balks back, you waste no time in whirling around and kicking her flat in the stomach. She falls down with a surprised yelp, and lifts her hand for surrender. You suppress your smile as she offers you a secret one of her own.

“Unbelievable!” Robert’s voice echoes instantly. The audience mirrors his excitement, hollering with their fists pumping into the air, even going so far to chant your name.

You’re huffing puffs of growing fatigue behind the back of your hand when something emerges into sight just from the corner of your eye—Jacob has entered the ring, and for an embarrassing second, you’re transfixed over his attire, or rather the lack thereof, nothing but fighting bandages and pants. The tattoo covering his chest makes you stare, a dark raven that you’re suddenly desperate to know of its meaning, as well as the subtle cross inked into his left forearm.

“You’re making me blush, love, with such intense staring,” Jacob coos with a hand on his hip, snapping you into attention. You try to glare your blush away, but from the complacent grin he’s wearing, your efforts are paltry it seems.

You’re as if mesmerised as you watch his hand raking through his hair, a scarce sight to behold as Jacob is rarely seen without his hat to compliment the way he’s usually clad in. ...You’ve completely lost control of yourself with the ogling, and worse, he seems to notice from the very start.

“I won’t go easy on you as my sister have, you know,” he declares, standing idly with relaxed arms at his sides. Unlike Evie, Jacob doesn’t even try to take you seriously, which infuriates you more than ever. And by the mischievous twinkle crossing his eyes, you’ve successfully fallen into his trap.

“This is it, folks! Who will stand as victor in today’s battle? Will it be the defending champion, Mr. Frye, or will the newcomer, (Y/N) take his place?” Both your names ring throughout the perennially heated crowd, your blood pumping faster and faster as your eyes lock against Jacob’s, until Robert signifies the start of the fight with an ear-deafening whistle-

You make the first move, deciding that using your better speed is wiser than trying to par against the assassin’s immense strength. And for a moment, you seem to be having the leverage of the fight, with your fast and piercing movements, your punches and kicks nearly overwhelming him. Then, mid-kick, he suddenly grabs hold of your ankle, and throws you back and out of rhythm.

Breath knocked out of you when your back hits the ground, you roll over just in time before he reaches for you, your arms already up to block his next attack—But he’s much stronger, that he’s able to break through still, and your guard ends up completely shattering when he turns and locks you in his grasp, arms positioning around your head in a way that could break your neck if he chooses to.

“Looks like it’s my win this time, huh?” he still finds a chance to taunt you, lips too close to your ear. Seems like he’s just equaled himself against your win in that over-the-rooftop race from before. But, too soon-

“Evie, now!” you demand, and you hear a confused sound from Jacob before he whelps in shock. Forced to release you, you turn to see Evie having jumped onto his back, now trying to break him down. You lend her a helping hand, kicking him hard, and with the element of surprise, Jacob falls down onto the ground on his back.

Snapping out of the shock, he looks up at you in disbelief, and even more as Evie runs up to you and offers you a high-five. The ridiculous, priceless face he makes only has you laughing harder than you already are.

“Oh, what a turn of events!” Robert narrates, amusement pooling down his words. “Looks like our champion’s enemies have joined forces to take him down once and for all! Ingenious play of strategy right there!”

“Hey, you can’t do that!” Jacob complains once he’s found, still, a rather unstable footing. It seems you and Evie had done him in a bit too much.

Evie only laughs in return, sounding more like a sinister villain. You can’t help yourself either, pushing him away by the chest with a finger. “The brains, remember?”

Jacob stares at you wordlessly, an expression that you can’t quite discern playing on his face as he seemingly contemplates between to laugh or scream. As the crowd rouses in celebration, he chooses to laugh in the end.

You let him pull you into an half-embrace, smiling up to your eyes as he nearly meets you forehead-to-forehead. The sheer adoration glimmering in his eyes, towards you, towards your lips, then back to your eyes has you feeling a bit red in the cheeks. You bask in the overwhelming energy the people spill for you as well as for themselves, in Evie’s joyful hug and Jacob’s warm smiles and touches.

...The day goes by rather well, if you could be honest.

***

Night quilts over the city just as you and the Fryes are ready to return to the train. However, Jacob has suggested visiting one of the pubs he and Evie have invested in nearby, and so the party is now off on a carriage to make way.

Sitting next to Jacob on the coach box comes off as a rather surprisingly... calming, insightful experience when the man’s not too busy being chased to death. Your mind is still a bit too wrapped up over the exchange you had with Evie prior climbing on the coach—she had sent you a suggestive smirk as she deliberately pushes you away from joining her inside, and instead forced your way to sit with her brother—when Jacob’s voice, a question gone unheard brings you back to reality.

“I’m sorry,” you quickly say, turning to him apologetically. “What were you saying?”

He simply chuckles. “I asked if you were cold, love?”

You fidget over the casual nickname. He’s rarely used it with you, yet now he does it as if it’s routine. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for asking.”

A glance and a smile, Jacob continues reining the carriage in peaceful silence, apart from the times he’s coaxing the horses. You’ve noticed it from awhile back, but...

“You’re awfully sweet when talking to the horses,” you hear yourself blurt out. Such a contrast between his tough, brash demeanor slightly enlightens you.

“I’m generally a sweet person,” he jokes, and you shake your head in good humour.

“Don’t be so jealous,” he adds.

“I’m not jealous.”

“Sure you’re not.”

“I’m not!” you laugh when he goes to stroke under your chin just as one does to a pet, pushing him away. “Focus on driving!” You give him a light slap on the shoulder, and he finally retreats with an endearing laugh.

The ride falls a bit quieter then, but it is a quiet that you more than welcome, the night life sparking hope inside you, as if no Templars exist, no wars to wage. When Jacob briefly sets the rein aside to blow into the cold of his hands, it becomes almost romantic as well—He doesn’t take his wondering eyes off you when you bring his hands into yours to help warm them up.

...The bar, on another hand, is an entirely different story. Teeming with life, with music, with people, you and the twins have to push through the partners bouncing in dance just to get to the counter. Jacob then excuses himself to the side to greet a group of Rooks, leaving you in the hospitable hands of Evie as she orders your drink for you.

“Fun day, wasn’t it? You were able to let your hair down just as we hoped?” she urges you to take a sip from your cup after she does so with her own. The liquor washing down you is sweet, bubbly, warmer than you expect. From your smile, she seems pleased that you enjoy her taste.

“It was... entertaining,” you say. “And very much relieving. You were right.”

“I always am,” she returns. Eyes casting away for just a moment, she says a bit softer, “Though I can’t quite take all the credit, not when it was Jacob who wouldn’t shut up about finding a way to ease your pain.”

“Mr. Frye?” you inquire. The heat bubbling inside you makes you question whether if it’s the alcohol or... something else.

“That’s what I said. I’ve seen you two, your... interactions. It could be harmless, but I can’t say I’m not fairly concerned. Jacob is emotional enough as he is,” Evie looks at you almost critically. “I doubt having more interference would do him any more good.”

“Is that the sort of thinking that have made you and Mr. Green distant?” you ask before you could stop yourself. You know more than enough that it’s a sore spot to touch on, but you couldn’t help yourself—Being called an ‘interference’, as if you were that much of a burden to Jacob impacted something in you.

Evie’s eyes widen, words slowly stammering. “That is... That’s not-”

“(Y/N), Evie!”

Your lips thin just as you feel an arm lace around your shoulders. Jacob has scooted his way up to you and Evie, the wide smile on his face signifies his obliviousness to the conversation he had fortunately missed.

“Less talking, more drinking already,” he lilts, ordering two drinks. One for himself, the other he shoves to you. Your eyes meet with Evie’s above the cup, and you’re hardly able to bear your guilt as she sends you a puzzled, upset look before scampering away. Jacob steals her seat without noticing, though he does watch her leave in slight concern.

“Something happened?” he asks. You wait for the long, unending chug he takes of his pint before answering, shaking your head.

“It was nothing,” you convince. To distract him, you take a sip of his given drink next. The taste is strong, sharp and-

You cough madly after swallowing, slamming the cup down on the counter. “This is revolting!” you croak, then take another long sip—An abomination, but still addictive. Jacob bursts into laughter, clinking his glass with yours before you two match your next drink out of the cups.

Either the drink’s repulsiveness is slowly making you dizzy, or the alcohol itself is getting to you, you can’t exactly tell. Shaking your head, face twisting the unsavoury taste away, Jacob watches you in amusement. He’s already downing a couple more glasses with much more ease than you are.

“Easy now,” he coaxes, hand brushing on your shoulder as you cough. “There’s no need to force yourself, you know?”

“I’m not,” you drink again, then splutter the content out back into the cup. “Okay, nevermind. Enough of that.”

“Wise choice.”

A hand pressing onto the temple of your head, Jacob’s hand running up and down your back soothes the growing headache, the blurriness that is slowly yet surely taking over your sight. You feel... light. Careless. Free of shackles. You could punch someone right now and you still wouldn’t give a damn.

...Is this what being inebriated feels like?

“(Y/N),” you hear Jacob call, a bit muffled through your ear. “Are you still thinking of leaving London?”

“You’ve already taken my letter,” you say, louder than needed. Words are coming out a bit broken out of you. “Don’t see elsewhere I could go.”

“Not planning to write another letter then?” he asks teasingly and you send a playful glare in return.

“Jacob Frye, sir, are you trying to make me leave by force? How unkind.”

His hands lift in surrender. “Now, now, you know I’d never do such a thing. Not to you, love.” That again. Doesn’t he realise how warm he makes you feel from such a name?

“...I never wanted to leave in the first place,” you murmur. “Didn’t ever want to, even as I was writing that stupid letter to the stupid Council. Still don’t want to.” There’s no filter for you, none whatsoever. Self-control has gone right out the window for tonight.

Even Jacob looks surprised, though he wears a light smile alongside, seemingly enjoying the small rebellion you’re putting up. “Wow, someone’s drank a bit too much, haven’t they?”

You huff at his words, then whirl around to face him. “What of you, then?”

“What? Leave London?” he asks in confusion, and you shake your head with vigour, letting out an impatient whine.

“No! I’ve told you what happened to me, what I’ve been through,” you fish out your pen from your person, then tap the edge of it onto the shilling of his necklace resting on his chest. He blinks in surprise, not expecting you to get a bit too close. “What of this? Did you kill someone with this too?”

You see him refraining himself from laughter. “I know I’m good, but killing someone with nothing but a coin is a bit too much to expect from any assassin, don’t you think?”

“So no hidden meaning?”

“Just that it makes me look more desirable,” he simpers.

You nod seriously. “Understandable.” 

“What?”

“And this?” You tap a finger just by his brow, leaning in for a closer look of the scar right above his right eye. “Where did you get this from?”

He stutters for some reason, then you see his eyes wide, that they’re on you in awe.

“I don’t... remember exactly,” he finally says, voice a tad bit weak.

“Unfortunate. And this,” you reach to trace the scar down his jaw, just slightly grazing his stubble—He tenses immediately when you palm it as gently as you could against your hand. “This must’ve hurt a lot.”

Jacob stares at you in an almost speechless manner, but it lasts for only a brief moment before he visibly softens, eyes half-lidded in what seems to resemble an entrance. There’s something... different—Kind, affectionate in his eyes, something you’ve noticed from time to time, from the moments where he’s looked at you from afar, and sometimes even from when you’re so close to him as you are now, the thrumming of your heartbeat loud and clear for him to hear.

The tender smile he gives you makes you forget of everything, everyone else around you. He intends to say something, perhaps another of his uplifting jokes, one more of the endless row of his sassy remarks, but-

Your name out of his lips isn’t complete, not when you’re now slanting your own in between his. A light touch, a connection that is barely there, yet you feel it more than your body could harbour its weight—The sparks the short, delicate kiss release are enough to finally snap you out of the dreamlike haziness you were losing yourself in. Realisation sets in like cold, freezing water drenching onto you.

With a gasp, you push yourself away from him, dread tearing you down so intensely, you wouldn’t know where to begin to remedy this mess. Did you really just- with Jacob?

“I-” you start, struggling to avoid from looking at him directly, not even a bit if possible. “I’m so sorry-”

“I’m not,” you hear him, just before you feel yourself being pulled right back, into his arms. Whatever it is you try to say, it’s futile now, now when Jacob is relentlessly kissing you on the lips, compensating what you lacked in the one you gave him.

You’re much too bewildered to do anything else but simply stand there, though you do have to brace yourself against his chest when he presses you close, even closer into him. Melting isn’t enough to describe the disastrous state you’ve become, more like... swooning. And it only further intensifies when he hums sweetly against your lips, sounding pleased.

Jacob barely lets you go even after he pulls away. You’ve as if been struck by lightning, staring back at him in horror. It doesn’t help when he only chuckles at your reaction, then stealing just the quickest, softest kiss from your lips, smiling contently all the while, before he’s walking away—He’s completely leaving you, after all that.

A silhouette now fading into the crowd, you’re gaping on your own, never blinking from the spot he disappeared, through the people still dancing, spinning to the music. Everything’s so loud, it’s all ringing and throbbing inside your head, and Jacob’s little surprise only makes it worse, and still counting over the rest of the night.

Swallowing the nonexistent bile in your throat, you turn and sit back on your stool. Your attention fleets towards the bartender currently wiping a couple of glasses, feeling his eyes examining you. Once he’s sure you’re looking at him, he sends you what seems to be a congratulatory wink, signaling towards where Jacob once stood. ...Damn it, he saw all of that?

Beyond flustered, you yank your hood down your face for refuge, and take a sip of your long unattended drink—then spurt it back into the glass.

“...Absolutely disgusting.”

——

haahah a ha a ah this took me so long to finish oh god

Thanks so much for the lovely comments @multi-fandom-ficrecs @carolinecrazyangel @aikeia Gods you guys make it all so worth it 😭😭😭 Also let me know if you’d rather not be tagged like this, I could simply reply back on the post next time!

Thanks so much for reading! 💕💕💕

[prolifeproliberty]

Luther’s Small Catechism - The Apostle’s Creed

II. The Creed

As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.

The First Article.

Of Creation.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason, and all my senses, and still preserves them; in addition thereto, clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and homestead, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods; that He provides me richly and daily with all that I need to support this body and life, protects me from all danger, and guards me and preserves me from all evil; and all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I owe it to Him to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

The Second Article.

Of Redemption.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won [delivered] me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be [wholly] His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

The Third Article.

Of Sanctification.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.

[stpaullutheranchurch]

Wednesday December 8th 2021

Old Testament: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11 (1-4)  

Gospel: Luke 1:57-80

Catechism Reading: Second Article, Large Catechism, par. 25-29

Sermon Text: Large Catechism  

Sermon Title: “Christ, Our Lord”

Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Tonight, we continue our study of the person and work of Christ Jesus our Lord from the Second Article of the Creed and as discussed in Luther’s Large Catechism; which we read from earlier. In his sermon on this article, (for the Large Catechism is a series of sermons on the Small Catechism) Luther hones in on the idea of Jesus Christ as our Lord and what it means to confess, “I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord”. (Small Catechism, WDTM, 1st paragraph) We will get to that momentarily.

Last Wednesday, we focused on the person of Christ; what is called the “personal union”; and how the divine and human natures have been united ever since God became man in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Tonight, I want to start by speaking of why it is necessary for Jesus to be both true God and true man.

A couple of questions from the Small Catechism, ask and answer these questions directly. First; “Why was it necessary for our Savior (Jesus) to be true man? Christ had to be true man in order to act in our place under the law and (perfectly) fulfill it for us”. (This is called His active obedience.) (S. C. # 122 A.) Saint Paul describes this is several places saying “God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption”. (Galatians 4:4-5) And “by one man’s obedience, (Meaning Christ) many will be made righteous”. (Romans 5:19b)  

Christ also had to be true man to “be able to suffer and die for our guilt because we failed to keep the law”, in fact could not keep the law perfectly. (This is called His passive obedience.) (S. C. # 122B.) St. Paul declared, “Christ has now reconciled you in His body of flesh, by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him” (Colossians 1:22) “He made Him to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God” (2nd Corinthians 5:10) “Christ redeemed us from the law by becoming a curse for us”. (Galatians 3:13) “In Him, we have redemption through His blood”. (Ephesians 1:7a)  

The author of Hebrews also wrote, “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22); and “though His death, (Christ) destroyed the one who has the power of death, that is the devil; and to deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” to sin. (Hebrews 2:14b-15) And “by means of His own blood … He secured an eternal redemption … offering Himself without blemish to God … (Hebrews 9:12b, 14b)  

Second, the question is asked, “Why was it necessary for our Savior to be true God? Christ had to be true God, in order that His fulfilling of the law, His life, suffering and death might be a sufficient ransom for all people”. (S. C. # 123 A.) The Psalmist confirms this saying “No man can ransom another or give to God the price of his life”. (Psalm 49:7) Paul again testified, “Christ Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all” (1st Timothy 2:6a).  

Christ also had to be God in order that “He might be able to overcome death and the devil for us”. (S. C. # 123 B.) Again, we hear from St. Paul; “Our Savior Christ Jesus … abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel” (2nd Timothy 1:10) and “Death is swallowed up in victory … Thanks be to God who gives us the victory (over sin, death, and devil) through our Lord Jesus Christ”. (1st Corinthians 15:54, 57) “Christ was delivered up for our trespasses and raised (bodily from the dead) for our justification”. (Romans 4:25)  

Now, in the reading from the Large Catechism, Luther focuses on the words “I believe in Jesus Christ our Lord” and asks “What does it mean “to become a Lord”? It means that Jesus has “redeemed me (purchased and won me) and released me from sin, devil, death, and all misfortune. As we confess in the baptismal liturgy, “we are all conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own … We would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation”. (LSB, page 268)  

As Luther said, “we were under God’s wrath and displeasure … this is what we have merited and deserved” from our Lord. “There was no counsel, no help, no comfort for us until this only and eternal Son of God, (Our Lord Jesus Christ) in His unfathomable goodness, had mercy on us because of our misery and distress, and came from heaven to help us”. (Large Catechism, par. 29) As our loving creator, He had compassion on us; “God so loved the world”. (John 3:16a)

As we read in Paul’s letter to the Colossians last week, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness (Satan’s Kingdom) and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”. (Colossians 1:13-14) Because our Lord Jesus humbled Himself to become man and “became obedient unto death, even death on a cross … God has bestowed on Him, the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow … and very tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord”. (Philippians 2:8b-11a)

Then, in the Gospel for this evening, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, rejoiced at the birth of his first-born son, but also, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he also rejoiced in the long-promised Christ that John would bear witness to. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and raised up a horn of salvation for us … to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, according to the tender mercy of our God … to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death”. (Luke 1:68-69a, 77-78a, 79a)  

As Isaiah the prophet also proclaimed about our Lord Jesus; and we know this because, He applies these verses to Himself in Luke chapter 4; “the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor, He has sent Me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”. (Isaiah 61:1-2a) “He has clothed me with the garments of (His) salvation; He has covered me with the robe of (His) righteousness”. (Isaiah 61:10b)

Jesus read these verses in the synagogue at the beginning of His ministry, saying “today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”. (Luke 4:21b) This He accomplished for us by His perfect life, atoning death on the cross (for the forgiveness of sins) and His bodily resurrection on the third day. As Luther wrote, Christ Jesus our Lord, “has given Himself completely to us, withholding nothing”. (L. C., Second Article, par. 26)  

Our Lord Jesus continues to provide all that we need for the physical needs of this body and life as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer; “give us this day, our daily bread”. Even more importantly, He provides for all of our spiritual needs, giving us the gifts of forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life that He won for us on the cross; which He does in His means of grace, in Word and Sacrament.  

In review then, one final question from the Small Catechism this evening; “What does it mean to confess, I believe in Jesus Christ? It means that I … trust in Jesus Christ (my Lord) as my only Savior from sin, death, and the devil and believe that He alone gives me eternal life”. (S. C. Second Article, Question # 117) As our Lord Jesus Himself declared/promised; “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life”. (John 3:36a) Amen.  

We will conclude our study on the Second Article of the Creed, next Wednesday, with the second part of the explanation.  

December 12/15

Catechism Reading

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day, He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead … who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own, live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness; just as He is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity.

Paragraphs 30-31 from Large Catechism …

[mattchase82]

THE CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT

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The following letter and response were taken from New Covenant, a monthly magazine which caters to those active in the Catholic and Protestant Pentecostal or Charismatic movements.

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"Q: Someone recently attended our prayer meeting and spoke out as a prophecy a word glorifying Satan. He could not be quieted and most of the people attending the meeting were quite upset. What can we do when this type of situation arises?"

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"A: It seems that some kind of evil spirit was attempting to disrupt the prayer meeting. Many prayer groups have had similar occurrences. The group's leaders should do everything possible to comfort and reassure the other members of the group. One of the leaders should publicly explain what has happened and encourage the people not to be fearful or upset. It is especially important if there are newcomers in the group to let them know that these occurrences are not the norm."

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When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He taught them the Our Father. Simple. Not an emotional, energy-packed experience. Not a "gift" which some people receive, while others do not (i.e. praying in "tongues"), but rather a simple prayer which any man, woman or child can say.

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The lives of the Saints clearly reinforce this truth. Their methods of prayer did not resemble sporadic outbreaks in unknown, indecipherable tongues. They became Saints on the traditional prayers of the Church: the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, etc., and of course the constant raising of their hearts in gratitude to God. How many countless Saints have exalted the Rosary? One never hears of satanic occurrences described in the letter above happening in rosary prayer groups.

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The Pentecostal Church began in Topeka, Kansas, in 1900. It is a Protestant movement which has splintered into at least 16 different groups because of dissension and disagreement on how to interpret the Bible. This movement is nothing more than the work of the Evil One. Some of the more outstanding difficulties with "Catholic" Pentecostalism are as follows:

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1. The Charismatic movement magnifies the Holy Spirit. The Bible magnifies Christ. John 16:13-14: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things are to come, he shall show you. He shall glorify me, because he shall receive of mine and shall show it to you."

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2. The Charismatic movement says that speaking in tongues is a sign that you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that it was a sign to unbelieving Jews. I Cor. 14:22: "Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers, but prophecies not to unbelievers, but to believers."

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3. The Charismatic movement says that it is all right for women to speak in tongues in the church. The Bible says that women are to keep silent in the church. I Cor. 14:34: "Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith."

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4. The Charismatic movement places great emphasis on "bodily healing" and tells people that "God is not wanting anybody to be sick", but they have not Scripture to show us where God ever said that. Many of them scoff and sneer at such passages. II Cor. 12:7-9: "And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. For which thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me. And He said to me: 'My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmities, that the power of Christ might dwell in me.'"

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5. The entire movement is founded on a sin against Faith.

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There are three ex cathedra dogmatic pronouncements (infallibly revealed truths through God that can never be changed or revoked) teaching that outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation. The most striking of those pronouncements reads:

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"The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church." (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)

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In perfect continuity with these infallible teachings, traditional Catholic Moral theology, here summarized by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, S.T.D., holds that "A Catholic sins against Faith by taking part in non-Catholic worship, because he thus professes belief in a religion he knows to be false."

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Yet by the admission of Catholic Charismatic pioneer, Kevin Ranaghan, the movement began with Catholics performing the grotesque ritual of seeking a spiritual blood transfusion from the dead corpse of Protestantism, and proclaiming that God "filled them to overflowing with the spirit" for doing so. Such collaborating and "seeking the holiness of the Holy Spirit" from anathematized heretics cannot be a religious movement truly of God.

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Pope Pius XI further castigated interfaith projects in his Encyclical Mortalium Animos on fostering true religious unity, stating, "...It is clear why this Apostolic See has never allowed its subjects to take part in the assemblies of non-Catholics. There is only one way in which the unity of Christians may be fostered, and that is by furthering their return to the one true Church of Christ for those who are separated from Her."

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What has been the result of the Protestant revolt which began in the 16th century?

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An article in the U.S. News & World Report of March 1991 stated that as of 1985, the number of denominations surpassed 22,000 with an average of five new ones being organized each week. The Baptists, founded in 1600, have 27 or more different groups; the Lutherans, founded in 1517, have 20 or more groups; the Methodists, founded in 1739, have at least 19 divisions; the Christian Church established in 1809 has split into three groups. Why are there so many different Protestant sects which claim to be founded on the Bible and the Bible alone? Let us listen to St. Alphonsus Mary Liguori: "Innovators say that the Lord gives each of the faithful a clear knowledge of Scripture. Behold, the 'private interpretation' of the heretics which has produced such a variety of creeds! Hence, after all the Congresses and Synods they have held, they have never been able to draw up a formula of uniform belief; hence, everyone knows that among the Reformers there are as many formulas of faith as there are individuals. This alone is sufficient to show that they are in error and do not have the true faith. God arranged that the true faith would be preserved in the Roman Church alone, so that, there being but one Church, there would be but one faith and one doctrine for all the faithful."

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Even Martin Luther, the originator of Protestantism and instigator of the idea of private interpretation of the Bible, admitted that: "There are almost as many sects and beliefs as there are heads."

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If one wants to acquire a great love and enthusiasm for the Catholic Faith and a knowledge of how to live a good Christian life, then he ought to read the lives of the saints. After Sacred Scripture and what may be described as normal teaching of the Church, probably nothing has been more conducive to the promotion of holiness throughout the ages than the recorded memorials of the saints. One of the greatest proofs that the Catholic Church is the one true Church founded by Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the great saints and holy persons that He has raised up in His Church in every century since Our Lord was here on earth. The gift of miracles has never ceased to show its presence in the Catholic Church. Let us consider a few of the saints that Almighty God has given this gift of working tremendous miracles.

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First and foremost is His Blessed Mother. Consider the great miracle of Lourdes where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. Thousands of miraculous cures have occurred there for over a century. Hollywood even made a movie of this great event called The Song of Bernadette. The great public miracle of Fatima in 1917, witnessed by over 70,000 people, is another tremendous testimony to Our Blessed Mother's great intercessory power with her Divine Son. But even more important than the healing miracles of the body, are the great conversions that have happened at these shrines of Our Lady.

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In this century we have Padre Pio, a Capuchin Monk, who had the stigmata of Christ's wounds for 50 years before his death in 1968. He was known far and wide for the many tremendous miracles that God worked through him during most all of his long life of 81 years.

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Blessed Andre, a humble brother from Montreal, Canada, was another great miracle worker in this century. St. John Vianney, St. Anthony Mary Claret and St. John Bosco are three of the great miracle workers of the 19th century. St. Paul of the Cross, St. Alphonsus Mary Liguori and St. Leonard of Port Maurice of the 18th century; St. Joseph of Cupertino, St. Peter Claver and St. Martin de Porres in the 17th century; St. Francis Xavier, St. Theresa of Avila and St. Louis Bertrand of the 16th century; St. Vincent Ferrer, who lived in the 14th and 15th century worked some 40,000 miracles including the raising of at least 28 persons from the dead and converting some 200,000 souls to the one true Church, including 25,000 Jews and 8,000 Moors. St. Patrick worked tremendous miracles in converting all of Ireland from a pagan nation to a Catholic country. He raised over 30 people from the dead - many of whom had been dead for years. St. Francis Xavier, as a missionary to the Indies, converted over a million people to the Catholic Faith. Almighty God confirmed his work by the many miracles He wrought through him, including many resurrection miracles.

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The working of miracles is proof as we know from the very texts of the Gospel which promises that power to the saints - both of the sanctity of the worker and of the truth of the doctrines which he promotes. "If you will not believe Me", said Our Lord to the Jews, "believe the works that I do." (John 10:38)

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The lives of all of these saints are readily available to all who want to read and be edified by them, but sad to say, most Catholics are not familiar with them due to negligence.

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For those outside of the Catholic Church, let this paper be an eye-opener for you to investigate the doctrinal teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that "outside of the Catholic Church, there is no salvation". So many souls are lost because of ignorance. God wants all men to be saved. He tells us so in the Holy Bible, that He enlightens every man that cometh into the world. He provides us with all the means most proper for us to be saved. Ignorance of the means of salvation is sinful because it is due to slothful negligence. "And they did not understand until the flood came and swept them away." (Matt. 24:39)

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This paper is distributed in Charity for the greater honor and glory of Our Dear Savior and the salvation of souls.

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The following four booklets are recommended for Catholics and non-Catholics alike to better understand and believe what the Church teaches: The One True Church; The Church Or The Bible; The Catholic Church Proved By The Protestant Bible and This Is The Faith.

(www.olrl.org/doctrine/)

[bethestaryouareradio]

Apologies on Freedom Day

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MIRACLE MOMENT®

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” Martin Luther King Jr.

MESSAGE FROM CYNTHIA BRIAN, Founder/Executive Director

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, marks the end of slavery in the South on June 19, 1865. As PBS proclaims, “in this sixth month of the non-stop stunner that is 2020, the country finds itself in a period of education and reckoning of the racism embedded in its birth.”

I write this message to apologize for using the “color blind” analogy in our previous newsletter. After sending out the newsletter to share solidarity, a few of our dedicated BTSYA volunteers politely emailed to inform me that the use of the words “color blind” is offensive in todays vernacular. (You may read excerpts below) I thank these brave individuals for their courage to stand up, express themselves, and educate all of us,

specifically me. One of my mottos has always been “Failure is fertilizer. Throw your mistakes on the compost pile and grow a new garden.” I made a mistake and from that I learned so much. I am sorry.

We are living in unprecedented times and the world is in chaos with Covid-19 and the largest wave of civil unrest since the 1960s, spurred by outrage over police brutality and racism. Here at Be the Star You Are!® we are INCLUSIVE. We don’t tolerate bigotry, racism, or any other negative attitude towards any race, religion, gender, culture, or viewpoint. We stand together as a colorful united family of brothers and sisters from many different countries and backgrounds. Take a peek at our website, https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org or our teen radio show at http://www.expressyourselfteenradio.com and you’ll see that our volunteers represent the nations of the world. We are very proud to stand for freedom and equality for all.

My acting union, SAG-AFTRA released the following statement from President Gabrielle Carteris and National Executive Director David P. White on the murder of George Floyd. It states more eloquently what we at Be the Star You Are!® believe so I share this with you.

“The murder of George Floyd is deeply emblematic of a corrosive inequality and injustice at the heart of America. As protests spread across the country it is not enough to condemn injustice. It’s not enough to demand change. We must recognize that racism lives in our culture and only we can change that. We must speak up in the face of injustice and fight back against the indignities our fellow citizens face every day. We must be defenders and allies. We must be better than this.The ugly truth is that Mr. Floyd's killing was one among many murders of black people over many years. Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile, Michael Brown, Jr., Marsha P. Johnson, Emmett Till, and the list goes painfully on and on stretching back for centuries. It must end. Black lives do matter.”

Again, I apologize if the newsletter offended, Please forgive me. It was never my intention to be offensive in any way.

There is no room for bigotry, brutality, or racism in our world. We are all on a learning curve and open to all feedback. Although we are all sailing together in this time of pandemic, I recognize that we are not in the same boat.

This is a time to be kind. To help one another. To be inclusive. We will not tolerate injustice. When we embrace diversity we increase peacefulness. Let’s remember that love always wins when kindness prevails. Smiles will keep us happy.

Juneteenth is not currently recognized as a Federal holiday but by celebrating it, we take one step forward towards reconciliation and the fight for freedom for all.

We want to hear from you. How do you demonstrate that Black Lives Matter? We’re interested in your thoughts and actions. Send your comments (less than 50 words) to our Kindness Coordinator, Karen Kitchel at karenkitchel@comcast.net by June 30. We will include a variety of responses (first name only) in our July newsletter.

I know I'm going to make many more mistakes. We all will. But let's learn and grow from them. We are COLOR BRAVE!

Be strong, be brave, be safe.

And don’t forget to also celebrate Father’s Day on June 21. A salute to all the great dads of every color and creed.

In solidarity,

Cynthia Brian Founder/Executive Director Be the Star You Are!® PO Box 376 Moraga, California 94556 Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org http://www.BTSYA.org

DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

EXCERPTS FROM TWO POWERFUL EMAILS WITH RESOURCE LINKS

"I'm emailing you now about the newsletter I recently received that was titled Become Color Blind. I understand the need to be in unity in this fight against institutional racism and police brutality, so I do appreciate your response on this. But I feel that asking everyone to "become color blind" is counterproductive and incredibly tone deaf in light of recent events.

Saying you are color blind says that you ignore the fact that oppression/racism exists for people of color like me. As recent events have shown, we are all not treated equally, unfortunately. I in no way mean to attack you, but this was something I found to be offensive. Put short, I feel there are better ways voicing your support.

Here is a video that might help explain some of what I said better. https://www.ted.com/talks/mellody_hobson_color_blind_or_color_brave Sincerely, Anika "

"I admire all of the work you do in order to enrich the lives of young people. I received your email earlier this week regarding the Black Lives Matter movement and in it you stated that your organization is ‘Color Blind’, I know this statement is not meant to have malice or be hurtful. So I felt obligated to explain why this popular statement is damaging and can make people of color feel uncomfortable.

I am Latina and for me this statement, while well intentioned, can feel as if my unique experiences with being Mexican are overlooked. We can no longer be colorblind, we must recognize people’s experiences and understand that someone who is Black has had a different experience than someone who is Asian. To say that your organization is ‘Color Blind’ diminishes the experiences of POC. While we all bleed the same blood we are all experiencing a different reality, while some of us may never struggle because of the color of our skin others will have to live in fear because of theirs. And these differences need to be acknowledged. What you must strive for instead is to not be color blind, but to be actively Anti-Racist. Being anti-racist means that you are actively acknowledging other experiences while educating yourself on how to be a better ally. We must realize and digest how Black people in our country carry the weight of hundreds of years of systematic oppression and learn how to fight for a system that values Black lives. Color blind and anti-racist are not interchangeable and while one diminishes the existence of oppression and experience the other acknowledges oppression and actively tries to counteract it.

I wanted to contact you to explain this because I know that your email had the best intentions and did not mean to diminish any experiences. I am very happy to see your organization be so accepting and so against discrimination. I wanted to mention that I mean no disrespect in sending this email to you and solely wanted to let you know how this term has changed and evolved. I understand that the words I use today when it comes to fighting against discrimination will be replaced in the future with other terms better suited for the fight against racism. I am very happy that I worked with a group that has taken a firm stance on this issue and I wish you all the best.

If my definition was not very clear here are some resources that may explain it better than I could:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/10/05/white-parents-teach-their-children-be- colorblind-heres-why-thats-bad-everyone/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culturally-speaking/201112/colorblind-ideology- is-form-racism

Thank you for reading this and hearing my perspective in this issue. Best, Olivia"

FREE WOMEN'S SUMMIT

Don't live your life by default, live by design.

REGISTER for FREE

Passions into Profits Women's Summit

Hosted by Jane Applegath at http://JaneApplegath.com.

Summit begins on June 20th, 2020 with a special guest featured each day .Be the heroine of your own epic life. Watch and learn from a league of leaders and trailblazers to help you to lead a life you love. Your dreams can be your reality!

Cynthia Brian is the featured guest on June 25th. FREE registration.

http://www.janeapplegath.com. WRITER WEDNESDAYS and SUPER SMART SUNDAYS

As part of our Be the Star You Are! Disaster Relief Outreach program (https://www.bethestaryouare.org/copy-of- operation-hurricane-disaste), Be the Star You Are!® has collaborated with the Authors Guild to showcase the new books launched by many authors from around the country in a variety of genres. We will also be showcasing artists, actors, and musicians, all of whom had had their gigs canceled and are out of work. We believe in supporting creativity and believe that books, art, music, and film provide escape and

joy, especially during tough times. For the next few months, make sure you are tuned in to both StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!® on Wednesdays at 4pm PT for “Writers Wednesdays” LIVE http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2206/be-the-star-you-are as well as our teen program, Express Yourself!TM airing on Sundays at 3pm PT for “Super Smart Sundays”, https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2014/express-yourself

Both programs broadcast on the Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel and will be archived on that site as well as iTunes, Stitcher, etc. It’s a giant artistic festival!

CHECK OUT BOOK REVIEWS

Our Star Teen Book Review Team is busy reading and writing reviews for you to enjoy this summer. Reviews are honest and the personal experience of each writer. Check them out at our website, http://www.btsya.com/book_reviews.html, and at our partner, The Reading Tub, https://thereadingtub.org/books/be-the-star- you-are/. Many thanks to our Book Review Coordinator, Stephanie Cogeos, for keeping us on track. If you are interested in joining our team, you can find the info at http://www.btsya.com/book_reviews.html,.

SHOP ONLINE WITHOUT A MASK!

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1. AmazonSmile donates .5% of purchases https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882 2. Discounted books at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shops/be_the_star_you_are_charity 3. Giving Assistant: Shop. Earn. Give! Use Giving Assistant to earn cash at 3500+ popular online stores, then donate a percentage to BTSYA:https://givingassistant.org/np#be-the- star-you-are-inc

& buy from your favorite stores. 4. Search and GoodShop: Choose Be the Star You Are as your charity to support. You can log in with Facebook, too! https://www.goodshop.com/nonprofit/be-the-star-you-are 5. Shop at over 1300 stores on IGIVE: http://www.iGive.com/BTSYA

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We invite you to volunteer, get involved, or make a donation. Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND and PAYPAL with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Celebrate Freedom Day! 

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Mahatma Gandhi

Be the Star You Are!®

PO Box 376 Moraga, California 94556 Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO EVERY AMAZING DADDY!

[whyischristianitysoconfusing]

Church Doctrines and Why They Don’t Mean as Much as You’d Think

The main branches of Christianity are: Catholicism (50.1%), Protestantism (36.7%), Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Oriental Orthodox Church (the last 2 combined at 11.9%). This means that the top 4 branches make up 98.7% of the people who follow Christianity. 

Now, within these four branches, each has its own subgroups. 

Catholicism has 4 main subgroups and Protestantism has at least 18 subgroups. 

The Great Schism of 1054 was the first huge shakeup in the Catholic Church and can be said it was the beginning of Protestantism. However, it wasn’t until October 31st 1517, when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Thesis on a German church that truly separated the Protestants from the Catholics. 

Why is this information important? Well, it shows that there is so much to Christian Doctrine. Catholics have certain doctrines, certain rules or believes that other groups of Christianity don’t. For example, many Catholics, and several Protestant groups, believe in baptizing babies (and there’s even different types of baptism!), while the Protestant Baptists do not. Many groups believe that you need to be baptized only once, while Baptists believe that every time you rededicate your life to Christ, you need to be re-baptized. (Because of this, I’ve been baptized twice, at 7 and 14). 

Some denominations (or groups) have Communion or The Lord’s Supper every Sunday. Others, once a month. And how people partake in this, varies too. Some denominations use grape juice, to signify Jesus’ blood, shed for us on the Cross. Other’s use wine. Some use bread, some use crackers, Some dip the bread into the wine or grape juice, others eat the cracker, then drink the juice. One denomination* (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) uses water. *Some of the other denominations do not believe this is a true Christian faith...I have no opinion on that, it is not my place to determine that.* [Matthew 7:2  “ For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged;and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. “ (WEB)]

All of this brings me to my point. Much of the Christian Doctrine is not very important. How someone is baptized, how often you have Communion, how long your church service is, or the order of your church service, whether or not your church speaks in Tongues, whether or not you use only Hymnals or add in more modern Christian music. None of that determines your love for Christ or you devoting your life to Him. 

The only Doctrines in Christianity that really matter are these: (Nicene Creed*)

That we believe that there is one God, the Creator of all things. 

That we believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God

That God sent his Son, Jesus to be born of the Virgin Mary, to eventually die for our sins. That he was buried and rose from the dead in three days. 

That we believe in the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost), that he comes from God and His Son Jesus.*

*This has been simplified!!! (to read the entire Creed, click here: https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/creeds/nicene-creed )

Long story short, yes, there may be many denominations of The Christian Faith, but, let’s only focus on what truly matters. 

We all worship the same God. We are all His Children. 

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40 (NIV)

“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[a] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10: 8-10  (NIV)

[encephalonfatigue]

radical theodicy: another withering is possible

this is a review of Engels’ “Socialism: Utopian and Scientific” that i again couldn’t fit in goodreads. i have been wrestling through leftist history the past few months trying to garner a basic sense of the landscape and form some of my own thoughts out of the deluge that is this messy constellation of politics. i have come full circle, in some sense, and am rather convinced that i identify with some sort of libertarian socialist politics, but still believe that the ‘sober-minded’ analysis of more traditional tendencies of the left (such as those from ‘really existing socialism’) cannot be simply ignored. they are a central part of figuring out the tasks ahead.

This was very short. More a pamphlet than a book, but densely packed with many interesting things, such that I had to re-read sections numerous times. Even still, Engels writes with a clarity that Marx’s writings do not have for me, and so I appreciate that he does have his own body of work, which I seem to have read more of than Marx's.

One of the portions I actually enjoyed most from this text was its 1892 introduction, written by Engels almost precisely a century before I was born. It’s a fascinating glimpse into Engels’ views on religion. Near its beginning there are a number of successive excerpts from “The Holy Family” that Engels takes from Marx’s portions of the book. Marx outlines a fascinating history of materialism, tracing his way through the medieval theologian Duns Scotus (who he calls a ’nominalist’, a philosophical rejection of universals, more associated with Ockham of ‘Occam’s razor’), onto Bacon, then Hobbes. The Holy Family is an interesting book because it is mostly Marx shit-talking his doctoral thesis advisor — the liberal theologian, Bruno Bauer, and his circle. I think this was actually the first book Engels and Marx collaborated on. Engels had left Marx with something like fifteen pages, before he departed from Paris. By the time Marx was finished with his portions, the book totalled almost 300 pages.

Anyway, following these excerpts from The Holy Family, Engels then goes on in this pamphlet to denounce agnosticism as a disguised and embarrassed form of atheism/materialism. This was likely one of the most unconvincing parts of this text, but lots of interesting stuff to chew on still. Its thesis is Goethe’s “in the beginning was the deed”, a materialist inversion of John’s Gospel “In the beginning was the word”. Marx’s materialist thesis, at least if one ignores his unpublished works (e.g. Grundrisse), is that material conditions are the primary causal force — much more so than ideas. In other words, the Base determines the Superstructure. Or the 'productive forces' and 'relations of production' determine the 'dominant ideology'. Engels then moves on to a critique of Kant’s ‘thing-in-itself’, an old Aristotelian retort of sorts to Platonic ideals. Aristotle gets his mention in the second chapter. Which leads to 'historical materialism' which Engels defines in fairly clear terms:

"The materialist conception of history starts from the proposition that the production of the means to support human life and, next to production, the exchange of things produced, is the basis of all social structure; that in every society that has appeared in history, the manner in which wealth is distributed and society divided into classes or orders is dependent upon what is produced, how it is produced, and how the products are exchanged. From this point of view, the final causes of all social changes and political revolutions are to be sought, not in men's brains, not in men's better insights into eternal truth and justice, but in changes in the modes of production and exchange."

Before I do move on from this point, I only want to place here a quote I found from an essay by Czeslaw Milosz, included in NYRB’s publication of Simone Weil’s “On the Abolition of all Political Parties”:

“And the problem is: who can justify the suffering of the innocent? Albert Camus, in The Plague, took up the subject already treated in the Book of Job. Should we return our ticket like Ivan Karamazov because the tear of a child is enough to tip the scale? Should we rebel? Can God exist if he is responsible, if he allows what our values condemn as a monstrosity? Camus said no. We are alone in the universe…

But perhaps if not God, there is a goddess who walks through battlefields and concentration camps, penetrates prisons, gathers every drop of blood, every curse? She knows that those who complain simply do not understand. Everything is counted, everything is an unavoidable part of the pangs of birth and will be recompensed. Man will become a God for man. On the road toward that accomplishment he has to pass through Calvary. The goddess’s name is pronounced with trembling in our age: she is History.

Leszek Kolakowski, a Marxist professor of philosophy in Warsaw, states bluntly that all the structures of modern philosophy, including Marxist philosophy, have been elaborated in the Middle Ages by theologians and that an attentive observer can distinguish old quarrels under new formulations. He points out that History, for instance, is being discussed by Marxists in the terms of theodicy — justification of God.”

What I find fascinating is that Marx’s teleological convictions can only be described as religious in nature from twenty-first century eyes. It’s hard to find anyone who talks about history in such a manner. Because History really is deified in the Marxist conception of the world, and it comes through in Engels here too. This is an example of Marx commenting on British colonialism in India:

“England, it is true, in causing a social revolution in Hindustan, was actuated only by the vilest interests, and was stupid in her manner of enforcing them. But that is not the question. The question is, can mankind fulfil its destiny without a fundamental revolution in the social state of Asia? If not, whatever may have been the crimes of England, she was the unconscious tool of history in bringing about that revolution.”

Marx almost speaks of this horrible situation as a necessary stage that India had to endure to ‘fulfil its destiny’. This is the sort of thing Edward Said critiqued Marx for in Orientalism, and Said quotes this precise passage, commenting on it in this way:

“The quotation, which supports Marx's argument about torment producing pleasure, comes from the Westdstlicher Diwan and identifies the sources of Marx's conceptions about the Orient. These are Romantic and even messianic: as human material the Orient is less important than as an element in a Romantic redemptive project. Marx's economic analyses are perfectly fitted thus to a standard Orientalist undertaking, even though Marx's humanity, his sympathy for the misery of people, are clearly engaged. Yet in the end it is the Romantic Orientalist vision that wins out…”

Said goes on to quote Marx again:

“England has to fulfill a double mission in India: one destructive, the other regenerating—the annihilation of the Asiatic society, and the laying of the material foundations of Western society in Asia.”

Edward Said again:

“The idea of regenerating a fundamentally lifeless Asia is a piece of pure Romantic Orientalism, of course, but coming from the same writer who could not easily forget the human suffering involved, the statement is puzzling. It requires us first to ask how Marx's moral equation of Asiatic loss with the British colonial rule he condemned gets skewed back towards the old inequality between East and West we have so far remarked. Second, it requires us to ask where the human sympathy has gone, into what realm of thought it has disappeared while the Orientalist vision takes its place.”

It is this redemptive action of History (as a deity) that Said critiques here in my view. Back to the Engels text at hand, the next portion of the introduction was maybe my favourite part of the whole book. It was a fascinating glimpse into Engels’ take on the Protestant Reformation. I had known Engels had grown up in a Calvinist family, and of course Marx’s family was nominally Lutheran (even if ancestrally Jewish). So this perceptiveness might have been expected, but even still it was surprising for me. I will just leave the excerpts of interest here, because I feel that it is worth reading, even if long:

“every struggle against feudalism, at that time, had to take on a religious disguise, had to be directed against the Church in the first instance… The long fight of the bourgeoisie against feudalism culminated in three great, decisive battles.

The first was what is called the Protestant Reformation in Germany. The war cry raised against the Church, by Luther, was responded to by two insurrections of a political nature; first, that of the lower nobility under Franz von Sickingen (1523), then the great Peasants' War, 1525. Both were defeated, chiefly in consequence of the indecision of the parties most interested, the burghers of the towns — an indecision into the causes of which we cannot here enter.

…The Lutheran Reformation produced a new creed indeed, a religion adapted to absolute monarchy. No sooner were the peasant of North-east Germany converted to Lutheranism than they were from freemen reduced to serfs.

But where Luther failed, Calvin won the day. Calvin's creed was one fit for the boldest of the bourgeoisie of his time. His predestination doctrine was the religious expression of the fact that in the commercial world of competition success or failure does not depend upon a man's activity or cleverness, but upon circumstances uncontrollable by him. It is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth, but of the mercy of unknown superior economic powers; and this was especially true at a period of economic revolution, when all old commercial routes and centres were replaced by new ones, when India and America were opened to the world, and when even the most sacred economic articles of faith — the value of gold and silver — began to totter and to break down. Calvin's church constitution of God was republicanized, could the kingdoms of this world remains subject to monarchs, bishops, and lords? While German Lutheranism became a willing tool in the hands of princes, Calvinism founded a republic in Holland, and active republican parties in England, and, above all, Scotland.”

I just want to interrupt this excerpt by saying that it was this part about Republican revolutions that got me to look into John Knox as a revolutionary. I believe it was Knox who said “Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God” which found its way into one of Emma Goldman’s essays, though she attributed it to a founding father of the United States, most often it’s associated with Jefferson. Roland Boer has an entire book about the revolutionary implications of Calvin, which I hope to read one day, having been raised in the Calvinist tradition.

“In Calvinism, the second great bourgeois upheaval found its doctrine ready cut and dried. This upheaval took place in England. The middle-class of the towns brought it on, and the yeomanry of the country districts fought it out. Curiously enough, in all the three great bourgeois risings, the peasantry furnishes the army that has to do the fighting; and the peasantry is just the class that, the victory once gained, is most surely ruined by the economic consequences of that victory. A hundred years after Cromwell, the yeomanry of England had almost disappeared. Anyhow, had it not been for that yeomanry and for the plebian element in the towns, the bourgeoisie alone would never have fought the matter out to the bitter end, and would never have brought Charles I to the scaffold. In order to secure even those conquests of the bourgeoisie that were ripe for gathering at the time, the revolution had to be carried considerably further — exactly as in 1793 in France and 1848 in Germany. This seems, in fact, to be one of the laws of evolution of bourgeois society.”

I think an important aspect of Engels commentary on religion is the sort of thing you might expect, but it’s really important anyway. It’s the way religion is used to control people. I think this realization came to me when I read Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale for the first time in an undergraduate literature course. Atwood has actually had quite an interesting influence on my theological education. Anyway, the relevant quotes from Engels on this:

“…he was not long in discovering the opportunities this same religion offered him for working upon the minds of his natural inferiors, and making them submissive to the behests of the masters it had pleased God to place over them. In short, the English bourgeoisie now had to take a part in keeping down the "lower orders", the great producing mass of the nation, and one of the means employed for that purpose was the influence of religion.”

“If the British bourgeois had been convinced before of the necessity of maintaining the common people in a religious mood, how much more must he feel that necessity after all these experiences? Regardless of the sneers of his Continental compeers, he continued to spend thousands and tens of thousands, year after year, upon the evangelization of the lower orders; not content with his own native religious machinery, he appealed to Brother Jonathan 1), the greatest organizer in existence of religion as a trade, and imported from America revivalism, Moody and Sankey, and the like; and, finally, he accepted the dangerous aid of the Salvation Army, which revives the propaganda of early Christianity, appeals to the poor as the elect, fights capitalism in a religious way, and thus fosters an element of early Christian class antagonism, which one day may become troublesome to the well-to-do people who now find the ready money for it.”

Fascinating that Moody gets a mention by Engels, haha. He’s still being mentioned in my family’s evangelical church, though certainly not as often as Calvin.

Ok, that was just the introduction. Now onto the first chapter, haha, I’ve already written a book chapter myself. Engels starts by mentioning some folks I’ve been growing deeply fascinated with over the past year or two:

“…in every great bourgeois movement there were independent outbursts of that class which was the forerunner, more or less developed, of the modern proletariat. For example, at the time of the German Reformation and the Peasants' War, the Anabaptists and Thomas Munzer; in the great English Revolution, the Levellers; in the great French Revolution, Babeuf.”

I’ve been very interested in Munzer and the early Anabaptists lately (in fact, that is what got me really into the intersection of radical politics and religion in the first place), as well as Winstanley and the Levellers. (Is it a sin to listen to Chumbawamba???) 

Then Engels moves on to engage the Utopian socialists:

“Then came the three great Utopians: Saint-Simon, to whom the middle-class movement, side by side with the proletarian, still had a certain significance; Fourier and Owen, who in the country where capitalist production was most developed, and under the influence of the antagonisms begotten of this, worked out his proposals for the removal of class distinction systematically and in direct relation to French materialism.

One thing is common to all three. Not one of them appears as a representative of the interests of that proletariat which historical development had, in the meantime, produced. Like the French philosophers, they do not claim to emancipate a particular class to begin with, but all humanity at once. Like them, they wish to bring in the kingdom of reason and eternal justice, but this kingdom, as they see it, is as far as Heaven from Earth, from that of the French philosophers.”

I’m not sure if it’s worth noting that Engels does not mention Cabet, who is alluded to indirectly in the Manifesto when “Little Icaria” is mentioned (there are all sorts of these vague and oblique references throughout the Manifesto, that I had no way of understanding when I first read it; I’m always surprised when people find it a simple read). But I have mentioned these utopian socialists many times in various reviews here. I mentioned Fourier when talking about the protagonist of the 1990 film “Metropolitan” who identifies as a Fourier socialist (it’s a funny film, worth your time, I feel). I recently found out Nathaniel Hawthorne spent some time at a Fourierist commune as an agricultural director and received visits from Ralph Waldo Emerson and Elizabeth Peabody. I’ve also mentioned that there was a radical wing of the early Republican party that had Fourier socialists in it like Horace Greeley, the editor at the New York Daily Tribune who published hundreds of articles by Marx. In fact, it is said that Marx was contemplating moving to Texas, and in fact applied to do so. There was a famous Fourierist commune in Dallas called La Reunion, and I wonder if this was the destination Marx had in mind. I’ve mentioned Sant-Simon when talking about George Sand and Franz Liszt, both involved in Sant-Simonian politics at points of their life. And I’ve mentioned Robert Owen in my previous review of Engels, “The Conditions of the Working Class in England” and talked about how Owenite socialism as well as the Chartist movement were some of the animating forces behind William Lyon Mackenzie’s politics here on Turtle Island. I thought the section on Owen was actually the most interesting part of this chapter. Engels describes how even with all the reforms, far ahead of any other industrialist around at his time, Owen still felt his workers lived in miserable conditions and all his philanthropy was not enough, even with all the adulation he received from visiting statesmen and diplomats.

I was particularly interested in Engels comments on Saint-Simon:

“Hence, to Saint-Simon the antagonism between the 3rd Estate and the privileged classes took the form of an antagonism between "workers" and "idlers". The idlers were not merely the old privileged classes, but also all who, without taking any part in production or distribution, lived on their incomes. And the workers were not only the wage-workers, but also the manufacturers, the merchants, the bankers. That the idlers had lost the capacity for intellectual leadership and political supremacy had been proved, and was by the Revolution finally settled. That the non-possessing classes had not this capacity seemed to Saint-Simon proved by the experiences of the Reign of Terror. Then, who was to lead and command? According to Saint-Simon, science and industry, both united by a new religious bond, destined to restore that unity of religious ideas which had been lost since the time of the Reformation — a necessarily mystic and rigidly hierarchic "new Christianity". But science, that was the scholars; and industry, that was, in the first place, the working bourgeois, manufacturers, merchants, bankers. These bourgeois were, certainly, intended by Saint-Simon to transform themselves into a kind of public officials, of social trustees; but they were still to hold, vis-a-vis of the workers, a commanding and economically privileged position. The bankers especially were to be called upon to direct the whole of social production by the regulation of credit.”

The second chapter on Dialectics was actually very fun. It reminds me of post-structuralist philosophers like Manuel de Landa, Deleuze and Guattari. This wide field of STS inquiries into non-linear mathematics and science as well as chaos studies, that pay homage to the work of Prigogine and Stengers, has much in common with the stuff Engels explores here. I think it is worth mentioning that the economic historian Immanuel Wallerstein was greatly influenced by the work of Prigogine. An example of something Engels says in this chapter:

“This primitive, naive but intrinsically correct conception of the world is that of ancient Greek philosophy, and was first clearly formulated by Heraclitus: everything is and is not, for everything is fluid, is constantly changing, constantly coming into being and passing away.”

I think it is worth noting that Marx actually did his doctoral dissertation on pre-Socratic philosophers of the Epicurean and Demicritean traditions, and while Heraclitus is only mentioned once, I think there is an interesting line from thinkers like Lucretius to Marx’s materialism. Another relevant excerpt from Engels:

“The perception of the the fundamental contradiction in German idealism led necessarily back to materialism, but — nota bene — not to the simply metaphysical, exclusively mechanical materialism of the 18th century. Old materialism looked upon all previous history as a crude heap of irrationality and violence; modern materialism sees in it the process of evolution of humanity, and aims at discovering the laws thereof. With the French of the 18th century, and even with Hegel, the conception obtained of Nature as a whole — moving in narrow circles, and forever immutable, with its eternal celestial bodies, as Newton, and unalterable organic species, as Linnaeus, taught. Modern materialism embraces the more recent discoveries of natural science, according to which Nature also has its history in time, the celestial bodies, like the organic species that, under favorable conditions, people them, being born and perishing.”

There were lots of interesting comments on economics and basic analysis of capitalism, but the last comment I want to make is simply Engels comments on the state:

“The proletariat seizes political power and turns the means of production into State property.

But, in doing this, it abolishes itself as proletariat, abolishes all class distinction and class antagonisms, abolishes also the State as State. Society, thus far, based upon class antagonisms, had need of the State. That is, of an organization of the particular class which was, pro tempore, the exploiting class, an organization for the purpose of preventing any interference from without with the existing conditions of production, and, therefore, especially, for the purpose of forcibly keeping the exploited classes in the condition of oppression corresponding with the given mode of production (slavery, serfdom, wage-labor). The State was the official representative of society as a whole; the gathering of it together into a visible embodiment. But, it was this only in so far as it was the State of that class which itself represented, for the time being, society as a whole:

in ancient times, the State of slaveowning citizens; in the Middle Ages, the feudal lords; in our own times, the bourgeoisie.

When, at last, it becomes the real representative of the whole of society, it renders itself unnecessary. As soon as there is no longer any social class to be held in subjection; as soon as class rule, and the individual struggle for existence based upon our present anarchy in production, with the collisions and excesses arising from these, are removed, nothing more remains to be repressed, and a special repressive force, a State, is no longer necessary. The first act by virtue of which the State really constitutes itself the representative of the whole of society — the taking possession of the means of production in the name of society — this is, at the same time, its last independent act as a State. State interference in social relations becomes, in one domain after another, superfluous, and then dies out of itself; the government of persons is replaced by the administration of things, and by the conduct of processes of production. The State is not "abolished". It dies out. This gives the measure of the value of the phrase: "a free State", both as to its justifiable use at times by agitators, and as to its ultimate scientific inefficiency; and also of the demands of the so-called anarchists for the abolition of the State out of hand.”

What I’ve found fascinating is that both anarchists and communists both share the same ideal, a society where the state no longer exists. The main difference is the path required to reach there. Whether it is a sort of sudden abolition of the state or a ’withering’ away of the state. This is something I understand Lenin talked about in “State and Revolution” one of the few texts by Lenin that Chomsky has some esteem for, though he’s of the opinion that it was a left libertarian text written opportunistically at the time to gain power. I’m not the sort of person to take Chomsky at face value regarding these things. I realize the sectarian discrepancies here can become very intense over these sorts of things. 

What I do think leftists should focus on are the shared ideals they have. That state hierarchy is ultimately something we both want gone. I think old ideas about any immediate abolition of the state or some organic withering away of it merely after some proletariat seizure of state power and private property are both reductive and underestimate the enormous task that such an endeavour involves, and ongoing vigilance it would require even if it were to happen any time soon (which it won’t, if I’m honest). It is a task with so many facets. I think most leftists recognize there are no easy answers about how we are to achieve an egalitarian society without class distinctions. And in most cases, communist states have not withered away but only grown closer in resemblance to capitalist states, citing the ongoing presence of global capitalism as the central reason. And like Fredric Jameson once reiterated: “it’s harder to imagine the end of capitalism, than the end of the world.”

I don’t think it’s naive to continue asserting that the power of the few over the many, whether by way of state or capital, is not sufficiently justified. That something can be done about this, and that another world is possible. We have to learn carefully from the many failures from those before us trying to realize this other world. We must never allow the same atrocities to be committed again in the name of achieving such ends. While prefigurative politics may not be enough, it is a vital part to realizing this other world. We must examine with unwavering self-criticism, the narratives of redemptive suffering used to explicate the errors made at the expense of other workers in the past. We are in no position to determine who can be sacrificed in the name of this cause. We cannot be Abraham binding Isaac because History demands such a faith of us, in fear and trembling. We must recognize the enormous failure of raising class-consciousness and putting forward a plausible framing of 21st century political economy that most people can understand as true and correct, beyond the current capitalist mode of production. 

It’s 1:35 AM and I have no idea why I’m writing this terrible manifesto. I’m going to put an end to this now. Thanks for the provocative thoughts Engels. I have lots to think about. I need some sleep. I’m glad it’s daylight savings time, and I have an extra hour to smooth things out. Cheers.

[howwelldoyouknowyourmoon]

Scared of Leaving?

HWDYKYM got this in our ask box:

“I’m a second gen from Australia, and I’m currently questioning the beliefs and customs of the unification church. I just wanted to ask, when you left the church, did you feel scared at all? Did the thought of ‘what if all they taught was right’ ever cross your mind? I’m currently stuck between leaving the church or staying, and am currently exploring other more ‘normal’ religions. Many thanks.”

I decided to share this with some other second generation who left the church and here are some of their responses:

I legitimately wondered if I was going to get struck by lightening or run over by a car for the first year or so. My mom had had a spiritual child that left and then drowned a few months later, so as a kid she drilled into me that that’s what happens when you leave. Plus I was terrified to tell people about where I “came from” because I thought I would be judged or thrown out (like in so many establishments on STF) so it took me a long time to develop my family of choice.

When I was younger I had told my parents that I wanted to explore other religions, and they all but forbid me from doing it. They explained that since they knew that following the church was the right path, there was no point in me exploring others. My response was, “Well if it’s right, then there’s no harm in looking elsewhere, because I’ll obviously find my way back,” but they wouldn’t have it. Whether out of fear or just plain stubbornness I still don’t know. To me that is evidence of the total control the church exerts over its members. It forbids them to have empathy or open-mindedness, and it prevents them from experiencing all the goodness this world has to offer. The Divine Principle teaches that the purpose of life is to attain happiness, and I was anything but happy in the church. Yes I terrified for months before and after I “left,” although I can’t pinpoint an exact event or time. It was more of a series of lifestyle changes that gradually brought me away, but also made me happier and improved my quality of life. As things got better, my fear eventually subsided. My advice? Go explore! Committing to a life of faith is a big decision and should be taken seriously. Land in a place where you are comfortable to be free, express yourself, and explore your unique potential.

I always come back to this answer to the original question: ‘If your parents got to choose their own faith that their parents probably didn’t agree with, why can’t you?’ Isn’t that part of growing? Would they have discovered the UC if they didn’t explore other religions, different from their own parents’? Also the “pure blood lineage” scenario runs through some sects of the Jewish, Muslim, and basically Judeo-Christian teachings, so the UC is not special in that sense. That’s how the church kept me in fear of disbanding. It’s a false-privileged old way of controlling someone, and it’s the very definition of conditional love. I would let this person know that practically all of 2nd gens I know have left the church, because we found that the world is bigger than the narrow confines of the UC. It’s okay to question things just like Martin Luther did with starting the Protestant Church, and Rev. Moon did with the UC, and what the Pope is doing right now.

Something I find comfort in is the idea that good people are good people, that goodness is goodness, regardless of affiliation or belief. It’s  your character and your actions that matter, that determine the quality of your life and the impact you can have on the world, much more than your creed. Even the DP teaches that people with good hearts are the ones actually closest to God, rather than “whitewashed tombs” of people who claim the truth. Even if it turns out that you’re “wrong” in what side of the fence you decide to jump down on, it doesn’t really matter as long as you live your life well. It’s hard to know or sure what’s true. We just have to do our best with whatever knowledge and certainty we do have. If there is a Heaven, I think all the people who are truly loving, generous, and courageous are the ones who will end up there – be they atheists, Hindus, Mormons, or even Unificationists.

From a young age, I knew the cost of being a Unificationist was big, especially if you really believed in it. I’m not one to half-ass anything, and if Moon was the messiah, I wanted to get matched by him, do at least two years of STF, convert all my friends, make the Principle known, create a perfect heteronormative family under the reign of Cheon Il Guk, and pay indemnity for my Japanese sins. But for some reason, I was always suspicious of it all. I felt like I didn’t have enough reasons to believe. I would do conditions of 210 bows for 40 days, cold showers, fasting, etc., to receive an undeniable confirmation that Moon was truly the Lord of the Second Advent, like the myths we heard from early UC history. Nothing ever came. What kept me in for so long was the fact that I never experienced a love like I did among church members. That was my testimony and the reason I put my faith in Moon. Eventually, when I discovered the atrocities done in the name of Moon and by Moon, especially after I read Nan Sook Hong’s book “In the Shadow of the Moons” I knew I couldn’t stay much longer. I was scared of leaving because of my parents, of course, but also because I thought I’d never have friends like I did in the UC. We constantly heard that rhetoric that friendships outside the Church are pointless and what BCs share is unique, etc. After I left, though, I developed deeper friendships than I had in the church. I had friends who loved me no matter what my views on spirituality were and loved me when I fucked up and I found out what true love—that unconditional love we were told about at camp—was really about. I somehow ending up forming convictions in God, Jesus, etc., that I couldn’t ignore, and despite my cynicism and fear of organized religion, I ended up in a progressive Christian community that could support me in my faith (and me with theirs) and live out these convictions presented by Jesus together. All that to say, it may be really hard leaving, but it will be worth it. Explore your convictions, your ideas, and be the best you. It fucks with Moonies’ heads when they see somebody so clearly living out true love and not buying into their crap—and outright rejecting it.

First I would tell he or she that “religion” should not be perceived as a social group that one just joins. Even though, that’s basically what it is on the surface. You should look deeper inside yourself. Find something you truly believe in. For me it’s God. I’m not religious. I’m spiritual. Which is something all religions can help you discover within your self. But you should not have to need/depend on a religious group to find/keep your spirituality. I mean that’s just my perspective. Just be an open person. Be infinite. Take everything in. And live your life. I was horrified at the beginning. But then you’re just free. And that’s awesome.

I was afraid whenever I’d go against the church’s rules, but I found that more often than not I wouldn’t feel the repercussions of sin that were promised. The more I went against the church, ultimately the less afraid I became. There was a lot of questioning and doubt, I certainly wondered what would happen to me, and what if they were right. I think it’s good to seek out truth for yourself. Ultimately if you find the church is your answer then you can go back. They’re desperate for more members anyway.

While I was questioning my beliefs, I felt a lot of shame and guilt about being ungrateful for TP, and doubting them so much. I feared God would be disappointed in my lack of faith. But the more evidence I found that the faith itself was inconsistent and false, the more boldly I was able to think for myself and discover who I am. It’s terrifying at first to think that everyone you know and all the adults you’ve looked up to are wrong. But it also gives you freedom, when you can ascertain your own beliefs instead of just checking in with what “Father says”.

There are a million and one religions that purport that they are “right” and “the one”. I don’t think God (if you believe in God) would screw the rest of the groups based on what religion they belong to or what specific traditions they encourage, but rather the love we offer to others. Isn’t that unconditional love?

For me leaving the church was a very big deal. I would say that the fear was more to do with losing something I had invested my time, energy and person into. Eventually the cognitive dissonance becomes too strong and the overwhelming conclusion that what the UC teaches is not true just becomes your new normal. The process is real, it takes time though. Joining other religions can help as a kind of a ‘step down’. I’ve explored a few Christian churches and found that in some circles, having been part of another religion that I believed in and left, has made me far more skeptical than most of the congregation. In others I’ve met people who have had a similar journey from conservative faith into something more complex (and liberal).

Not so much fear for me. Maybe little fleeting twinges of it early on. But it was a slower transition and more gradual over time which I’m sure made it easier. Two points to remember: 1)  I’ve never seriously considered that I could permanently lose my relationship with my mother. We’re related by blood. We disagree at times, but if anything threatened my life. She’d only be closer to me, no matter what had divided us. She’s my mother. She loves me. How much more would that apply to my father in heaven. Who not only gave me physical life, but a spiritual nature as well. 2)   Would it make sense, if you invested in my business, that I would tell you…  "Don’t trust information from anyone else but me. Because only my information will help you understand my stock and make the right choice about investing in it. The more you trust my information, and ignore all other information, the better financial decisions you will make!” That doesn’t work for ANYTHING you can name in life! The more diverse information you receive, the more thoroughly you will understand something, and the better decisions you will then make. So why is it that the ones who claim to have the highest, most important truth want to prohibit you from getting information from anyone but them? What are they afraid of? People that have FACTS on their side, never fear any information that would seem to contradict them, because if they have enough facts on their side, they can easily handle any challenge offered. But the UC fears such challenges, and wants you to believe that being fully informed is even “evil” and can undermine the supposed greatest truth there is! But that is ridiculous of course, seeing as how, in ANY question in life—finances, house purchasing, medical issues, intimate relationships, science…  ANYTHING…  the more informed I am, the more thoroughly I understand something, the more I can make the best informed decision!   Hope this helped.  God bless!  

An Open Letter to the Unification Church from a former 2nd Gen.

Dear UC / FFWPU,

The other day I was visiting some childhood friends who also grew up “blessed children.” We realized that if the Unification Church had actually practiced “true love”, embodied God’s love and compassion, and created truly kind individuals, we would probably still believe. But we didn’t encounter that God of love we heard so many speeches about while in the FFWPU. In fact, we encountered the opposite. We encountered a God who shames and punishes his children, a love with countless conditions, and a toxic culture that is constantly creating an “us vs them” dichotomy.

There was no room for those who were politically liberal, LGBT or gender nonconforming, or questioning their faith – and authenticity was hard to find.

We may have been drawn to the UC in the 70s, because many of us are also idealists with big hearts. Perhaps we’d fall in love with the communities of faith that existed in the early UC, and perhaps we’d find individuals with a love for God, a love for people, and ideals and visions that could rock the world.

But that was a faded reality by the time we came around. All talk of peace was for PR. BCs were constantly shamed, and members constantly used. There were remnants of what the First Generation encountered, but that was despite the Church, not because of it.

We left the UC / FFWPU because we could not find that Love we heard about. We were sorely disappointed, and we were unable to muster any faith in this thing. Believe us, we tried. We prayed, fasted, sought answers from elders, took cold showers, went to Cheongpyeong – but everything only confirmed something we knew in our hearts: this movement was not of God. All that was of God among us was despite the movement, not because of it.

We’re gone because you pushed us out. You made no room for us. You didn’t even attempt to live out that new truth you claimed changed your life. You were more focused on promoting and protecting your clan, and preserving and enforcing a questionable moral code, and glorifying a single man.

We were not blessed families. We were cursed.

Signed,

A Former 2nd Gen, and supposedly a “blessed child”.

Fear is not a good reason to stay in the UC

Developing Healthy Boundaries

conformity

Bending Truth – Cognitive Dissonance

Reality and the Sacred – Jordan Peterson, University of Toronto

Indemnity is a Moon Trap

The Four Fallen Natures of the Divine Principle are used as a means of controlling members.

Books and articles written by members who left the Unification Church

My advice on leaving the UC

[easkyrah]

reading angst simply feels so heart-shattering and wonderfully beautiful; an awful, amazing tragedy of the brilliantly broken to inspire the wretched words and crumbling conditions encircling enmity. but writing angst? a smile etches across the face as the thread of forged connection through warmly shaped experiences collapses right under the feet, shaking the ground of rooted foundation, the fingers plowing forward eagerly for more to weld viciously with vices; as the drowning or burning proceeds, whether physically or mentally, the yearning for more pain to inflict drives the next string of sentences. 

in other words, writers display symptoms of the sadists. & that is what makes the pen mightier than the sword, for the noble, fallen knights live by the honor code of valor and pride. the writer knows no boundaries, no limits, no creed. the writer utilizes the commonplace tropes to break the rules artistically, while the sword severs through skin to churn the tide of blood. the knight coexists with the past, present, and future, while the writer transcends the terra to celestial facets, launching into the infinite depths of the imagination. 

writers become their own higher figures, seeing through the perspective of the untold, weaving threads of all times. we become our own oracle. we writers write about the knight, whether from the medieval times or referencing to the trope. we influence the knight, its associations, and its ideologies---merely by the flourish of the pen, armed by the stub of an eraser, we can erase our sentences and forge them into stronger sets, while once the blade sinks through the flesh, the deed cannot be undone. 

too long, many have come to belittle the aspiring authors. did not rachel carson’s silent spring set off the environmental movement? martin luther king jr’s letter in birmingham jail set strides for the  african american civil rights movement? betty friedan’s the feminine mystique spur the second women’s movement? ida tarbell’s and lincoln steffen’s articles expose the horrid business practices during the guilded age to lead to the reform era? 

by unleashing a flood of words guaranteed under the first amendment, the battle first starts by unlocking the gates to the imagination and realizing the trend in not realizing the significance literature harbors today. as abigail adams said remember the ladies, it is history who will remember the writers. or more specifically, the tide of currents the writers have surfed on. we cannot control the sea or the full potential of our mind, but we can guide it and shape the environment, so that the waters are a little clearer for us to swim in.

[raisingsupergirl]

Faith in God, Not Man (My Supernatural Courage, pt. 2)

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians." This was the quote from Gandhi that echoed in my mind after I came to the conclusion that I couldn't support BLM because of some of the extreme actions associated with the movement. How could I, in good conscience, say such a thing when I held Christianity at the core of who I am? There aren't many labels that I mind, but hypocrite is by far the worst. I can't tolerate it. And so, a lot of reading, prayer, conversation, and quiet thought ensued. And, well, I've come to at least some sort of conclusion. But lets talk about the journey before we get to the destination.

First, there's the reading. And the Holy Bible seems like a good place to start. A couple verses in the Old Testament (Leviticus) stood out to me, which stated, "You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly," and, "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Of course, these verses are nestled among the "old" laws commanding things like don't eat the meat of an animal with the blood still in it, don't tattoo your body, and don't shave your sideburns, all of which I violate. So, while they're great advice on treating EVERYONE equally, maybe they're out of date. Maybe we should be looking toward something a little newer...

How about 500-1,000 years newer? That tends to be new enough for most Christians, even though the New Testament was written a little over 1,900 years ago. And if you read it, it feels a lot more in line with current Christian standards (trust Jesus, love your neighbor, have faith and hope for the future, etc.). Unlike the Old Testament, which cautions the early Jews from mingling with other cultures and religions (because of their tendency to adopt literally every belief they encountered, be it outlandish sexual practices, child sacrifice, or just worshiping wooden poles), Jesus encourages Christians to interact with all peoples. We're to find our strength and courage in Christ, being bold and unafraid in order to share the Good News without reservation. In an ancient culture where racism and slavery were not only commonplace but also praised, early Christianity seemed incredibly inclusive. All that to say there's no credible basis for racism in Christ's gospel.

And those tenets of racial equality are ingrained in my heart and my head, so... why have I had any trouble at all with fully supporting the Black Lives Matter movement? Well, as I said previously, I've actually never had a problem with the sentiment. If someone said to me, "Black lives matter," I'd proclaim, "They absolutely do!" But if someone asked me to hold a sign and march on Washington, I would probably pass because of the controversial tactics and outcomes I've seen associated with BLM. And seeing reports of people like Terry Cruse cautioning against idolizing BLM and letting it go to far, only to have people condemn him as a white supremacist in black skin, well... it's a little unsettling.

Then again, maybe he IS biased against black people. How am I to know? Perhaps the statue-tipping, syrup-condemning protesters are right. Perhaps our society needs to be torn down in order to build up something greater. But... just kidding. There IS no "but." I can't see the future. I can't fully separate myself from the zeitgeist veil in order to perceive all things clearly. But (okay, maybe there IS a "but") neither can you. Oh, did I mention that I'm an extreme skeptic?

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians." Maybe Gandhi was on to something, except... there's no real evidence that Gandhi said it (skepticism has its perks when paired with Google). An Indian philosopher said something similar in the 1920s, and it could be said that Christians in the 20s look a lot different than they do today. And even if it was Gandhi, that was just one man's opinion at the current time. I love Christianity. It is the fuel that drives me to be a better person and gives me hope during uncertain times. And despite the fact that there are plenty of professing Christians who spread nothing but pain, fear, and discord in the world, I have no problem wearing the Christian label myself. Then how in the world can I profess a love of equality and a condemnation of racism if I don't fully buy into the BLM movement? Well, I was confused on the topic for a while, but now I have my answer.

It's because I follow Christ, not Christians. I have a gold standard. Christ never changes. His immortal words never change (I have plenty of evidence to support that claim). There are those who will always start fundamentally evil things like the Crusades and the KKK in his name, but ultimately, there is no corrupting his gold standard. He was God incarnate, and he spoke only truth. Unfortunately, there is no human institution that can make the claim to have that same, unchanging fail safe, BLM included. Some will argue with this sentiment, pointing out that the BLM website offers a central belief structure that makes their righteous intent clear, but I'll challenge those people to seek out the evolution of that creed. It now hits extensively on topics that reach far beyond the original focus, and who determines how much it will change in the future? Is it divinely inspired by God? Doubtful, since the creed shows no evidence of any spiritual or religious affiliation (I'm not saying it should. I'm only stating that it doesn't). Another potential gold standard for BLM might be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but even he wasn't infallible, and there are even some in the BLM movement who condemn him for not being inclusive enough (due largely to the fact that he was a Christian).

Gosh, this is a hard topic. It's hard to write about. It's hard to think about and pick out all of the threads. I'm probably not right (in fact, I KNOW I'm not 100% right). Maybe I'm completely wrong. Do I believe black lives matter? Yes. Do I believe proclaiming, "Black lives matter," is more helpful right now than proclaiming, "All lives matter?" Absolutely. Black men and women need to be lifted up. The community needs to be shown extra love and support in this time of healing and restructuring. And I'll have no problem affirming those things for the foreseeable future, which (at least for now) I think is enough. I can support the black community without aligning myself with the official BLM organization. It's the same reason why I don’t claim a specific Christian denomination, political party, or cola brand. I'm free to hold many beliefs in common with other people without holding them all. I'm free to wholly follow Christ without wholly following all Christians. And that's what I'll continue to do.

Lastly, it truly makes me sad that many will read this post and either agree blindly or condemn wholeheartedly. These are MY thoughts and beliefs. They should stimulate beliefs of your own, which may or may not be the same as mine. But even if they're not, they probably won't be much better or worse in the grand scheme of things. Don't die on an obscure hill, please. I wish you followed after Christ as hard as you could (since he's my only source of infallibility), but you don't HAVE to. That's the beauty of it all. I can love you, lift you up as an equal, and even praise the spirit of what you're doing without supporting all of your actions or life choices. And the reverse is also true, so I ask for your grace and respect as we continue to navigate these uncharted waters together. I don't know what path our future will take, but I know the ultimate destination, and even if I occasionally stumble or veer off course, I have complete faith in the compass at the center of my life.

[goddessgardener]

Apologies on Freedom Day

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MIRACLE MOMENT®

“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” Martin Luther King Jr.

MESSAGE FROM CYNTHIA BRIAN, Founder/Executive Director

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, marks the end of slavery in the South on June 19, 1865. As PBS proclaims, “in this sixth month of the non-stop stunner that is 2020, the country finds itself in a period of education and reckoning of the racism embedded in its birth.”

I write this message to apologize for using the “color blind” analogy in our previous newsletter. After sending out the newsletter to share solidarity, a few of our dedicated BTSYA volunteers politely emailed to inform me that the use of the words “color blind” is offensive in todays vernacular. (You may read excerpts below) I thank these brave individuals for their courage to stand up, express themselves, and educate all of us,

specifically me. One of my mottos has always been “Failure is fertilizer. Throw your mistakes on the compost pile and grow a new garden.” I made a mistake and from that I learned so much. I am sorry.

We are living in unprecedented times and the world is in chaos with Covid-19 and the largest wave of civil unrest since the 1960s, spurred by outrage over police brutality and racism. Here at Be the Star You Are!® we are INCLUSIVE. We don’t tolerate bigotry, racism, or any other negative attitude towards any race, religion, gender, culture, or viewpoint. We stand together as a colorful united family of brothers and sisters from many different countries and backgrounds. Take a peek at our website, https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org or our teen radio show at http://www.expressyourselfteenradio.com and you’ll see that our volunteers represent the nations of the world. We are very proud to stand for freedom and equality for all.

My acting union, SAG-AFTRA released the following statement from President Gabrielle Carteris and National Executive Director David P. White on the murder of George Floyd. It states more eloquently what we at Be the Star You Are!® believe so I share this with you.

“The murder of George Floyd is deeply emblematic of a corrosive inequality and injustice at the heart of America. As protests spread across the country it is not enough to condemn injustice. It’s not enough to demand change. We must recognize that racism lives in our culture and only we can change that. We must speak up in the face of injustice and fight back against the indignities our fellow citizens face every day. We must be defenders and allies. We must be better than this.The ugly truth is that Mr. Floyd's killing was one among many murders of black people over many years. Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile, Michael Brown, Jr., Marsha P. Johnson, Emmett Till, and the list goes painfully on and on stretching back for centuries. It must end. Black lives do matter.”

Again, I apologize if the newsletter offended, Please forgive me. It was never my intention to be offensive in any way.

There is no room for bigotry, brutality, or racism in our world. We are all on a learning curve and open to all feedback. Although we are all sailing together in this time of pandemic, I recognize that we are not in the same boat.

This is a time to be kind. To help one another. To be inclusive. We will not tolerate injustice. When we embrace diversity we increase peacefulness. Let’s remember that love always wins when kindness prevails. Smiles will keep us happy.

Juneteenth is not currently recognized as a Federal holiday but by celebrating it, we take one step forward towards reconciliation and the fight for freedom for all.

We want to hear from you. How do you demonstrate that Black Lives Matter? We’re interested in your thoughts and actions. Send your comments (less than 50 words) to our Kindness Coordinator, Karen Kitchel at karenkitchel@comcast.net by June 30. We will include a variety of responses (first name only) in our July newsletter.

I know I'm going to make many more mistakes. We all will. But let's learn and grow from them. We are COLOR BRAVE!

Be strong, be brave, be safe.

And don’t forget to also celebrate Father’s Day on June 21. A salute to all the great dads of every color and creed.

In solidarity,

Cynthia Brian Founder/Executive Director Be the Star You Are!® PO Box 376 Moraga, California 94556 Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org http://www.BTSYA.org

DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

EXCERPTS FROM TWO POWERFUL EMAILS WITH RESOURCE LINKS

"I'm emailing you now about the newsletter I recently received that was titled Become Color Blind. I understand the need to be in unity in this fight against institutional racism and police brutality, so I do appreciate your response on this. But I feel that asking everyone to "become color blind" is counterproductive and incredibly tone deaf in light of recent events.

Saying you are color blind says that you ignore the fact that oppression/racism exists for people of color like me. As recent events have shown, we are all not treated equally, unfortunately. I in no way mean to attack you, but this was something I found to be offensive. Put short, I feel there are better ways voicing your support.

Here is a video that might help explain some of what I said better. https://www.ted.com/talks/mellody_hobson_color_blind_or_color_brave Sincerely, Anika "

"I admire all of the work you do in order to enrich the lives of young people. I received your email earlier this week regarding the Black Lives Matter movement and in it you stated that your organization is ‘Color Blind’, I know this statement is not meant to have malice or be hurtful. So I felt obligated to explain why this popular statement is damaging and can make people of color feel uncomfortable.

I am Latina and for me this statement, while well intentioned, can feel as if my unique experiences with being Mexican are overlooked. We can no longer be colorblind, we must recognize people’s experiences and understand that someone who is Black has had a different experience than someone who is Asian. To say that your organization is ‘Color Blind’ diminishes the experiences of POC. While we all bleed the same blood we are all experiencing a different reality, while some of us may never struggle because of the color of our skin others will have to live in fear because of theirs. And these differences need to be acknowledged. What you must strive for instead is to not be color blind, but to be actively Anti-Racist. Being anti-racist means that you are actively acknowledging other experiences while educating yourself on how to be a better ally. We must realize and digest how Black people in our country carry the weight of hundreds of years of systematic oppression and learn how to fight for a system that values Black lives. Color blind and anti-racist are not interchangeable and while one diminishes the existence of oppression and experience the other acknowledges oppression and actively tries to counteract it.

I wanted to contact you to explain this because I know that your email had the best intentions and did not mean to diminish any experiences. I am very happy to see your organization be so accepting and so against discrimination. I wanted to mention that I mean no disrespect in sending this email to you and solely wanted to let you know how this term has changed and evolved. I understand that the words I use today when it comes to fighting against discrimination will be replaced in the future with other terms better suited for the fight against racism. I am very happy that I worked with a group that has taken a firm stance on this issue and I wish you all the best.

If my definition was not very clear here are some resources that may explain it better than I could:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2018/10/05/white-parents-teach-their-children-be- colorblind-heres-why-thats-bad-everyone/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culturally-speaking/201112/colorblind-ideology- is-form-racism

Thank you for reading this and hearing my perspective in this issue. Best, Olivia"

FREE WOMEN'S SUMMIT

Don't live your life by default, live by design.

REGISTER for FREE

Passions into Profits Women's Summit

Hosted by Jane Applegath at http://JaneApplegath.com.

Summit begins on June 20th, 2020 with a special guest featured each day .Be the heroine of your own epic life. Watch and learn from a league of leaders and trailblazers to help you to lead a life you love. Your dreams can be your reality!

Cynthia Brian is the featured guest on June 25th. FREE registration.

http://www.janeapplegath.com. WRITER WEDNESDAYS and SUPER SMART SUNDAYS

As part of our Be the Star You Are! Disaster Relief Outreach program (https://www.bethestaryouare.org/copy-of- operation-hurricane-disaste), Be the Star You Are!® has collaborated with the Authors Guild to showcase the new books launched by many authors from around the country in a variety of genres. We will also be showcasing artists, actors, and musicians, all of whom had had their gigs canceled and are out of work. We believe in supporting creativity and believe that books, art, music, and film provide escape and

joy, especially during tough times. For the next few months, make sure you are tuned in to both StarStyle®-Be the Star You Are!® on Wednesdays at 4pm PT for “Writers Wednesdays” LIVE http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2206/be-the-star-you-are as well as our teen program, Express Yourself!TM airing on Sundays at 3pm PT for “Super Smart Sundays”, https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2014/express-yourself

Both programs broadcast on the Voice America Network, Empowerment Channel and will be archived on that site as well as iTunes, Stitcher, etc. It’s a giant artistic festival!

CHECK OUT BOOK REVIEWS

Our Star Teen Book Review Team is busy reading and writing reviews for you to enjoy this summer. Reviews are honest and the personal experience of each writer. Check them out at our website, http://www.btsya.com/book_reviews.html, and at our partner, The Reading Tub, https://thereadingtub.org/books/be-the-star- you-are/. Many thanks to our Book Review Coordinator, Stephanie Cogeos, for keeping us on track. If you are interested in joining our team, you can find the info at http://www.btsya.com/book_reviews.html,.

SHOP ONLINE WITHOUT A MASK!

Need a gift for Dad, birthdays, graduations, weddings, or just for yourself? These are on- line shopping portals that will sell you what you need, offer discounts, and assist our mission as a nonprofit. Please use these web sites for all of your shopping essentials,

1. AmazonSmile donates .5% of purchases https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882 2. Discounted books at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shops/be_the_star_you_are_charity 3. Giving Assistant: Shop. Earn. Give! Use Giving Assistant to earn cash at 3500+ popular online stores, then donate a percentage to BTSYA:https://givingassistant.org/np#be-the- star-you-are-inc

& buy from your favorite stores. 4. Search and GoodShop: Choose Be the Star You Are as your charity to support. You can log in with Facebook, too! https://www.goodshop.com/nonprofit/be-the-star-you-are 5. Shop at over 1300 stores on IGIVE: http://www.iGive.com/BTSYA

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Celebrate Freedom Day! 

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Mahatma Gandhi

Be the Star You Are!®

PO Box 376 Moraga, California 94556 Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO EVERY AMAZING DADDY!

[1baddmouthcrown]

1929 January 15 Martin Luther King Jr is born in Atlanta, Georgia.

February 9 after all is said and done, Africans have the same confidence in Marcus Garvey which the Israelites had in Moses." Enock Mazilinko Johannesburg, South Africa the Negro World.

March Garvey publishes the first issue of his daily newspaper the Blackman in Jamaica.

April Garvey purchases a printing press in Kingston and establishes Blackman Printing and Publishing Co. office AT 6-7 Peters Lane.

May 20 Garvey receives death threat from Jamaican group identifying themselves as the Ku Klux Klan group claims execution requested by Jamaica Secret Society of Colored Men.

Samuel Alfred Hayes of the 1919 Belize riot becomes representative of UNIA ACL to Belize. June 23 Riots break out between rival UNIA Inc. and Garvey club New York Tiger Division members at Liberty Hall, New York 8 people are hospitalized and 15 are arrested. July Chief Justice sizes UNIA property.

August UNIA International convention is held at Edelweiss Park. August 2 The Daily Gleaner M. L. T De Mena a striking figure also in uniform strode towards Edelweiss Park mounted on a grey charger with drawn sword. August 6 Garvey is reelected president general of unincorporated Jamaica based wing of the UNIA soon to be known as UNIA August 29 of the world. September Garvey founds the first political party in Jamaica, the People’s Political Party (PPP).

September 26 Garvey is convicted of contempt of court for judicial system in Jamaica, sentenced to 3 months at the district jail in St. Catherine and fined £100.

October Garvey is elected councilor for the Allman Town Division of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

October The UNIA’s Liberty University is closed.

The Littles home in is burned. 

December 19 Garvey is released from the St. Catherine district jail. 1930 Julian at the Emperor Haile Selassie’s pre coronation show, parachutes landing in front of the Emperor, the Emperor grants him citizenship, the rank of colonel as well as the highest honour in Ethiopia, the order of Menelik. Julian at the Emperors coronation dress rehearsal crashes the Emperors personal plane de Havilland Gipsy Moth into a Eucalyptus tree, the plane was given to the Emperor as a gift from Selfridge’s department store in London. January George Seymour defeats Garvey in race for Jamaican legislative council.

President Gerardo Machado y Morales of Cuba signs decree preventing Garvey’s entry into his country.

January 31 The Daily Gleaner The vast influence that Mr. Garvey was supposed to have exercised over the minds and actions of the majority of our people exists only in the mind of those that most fear his propaganda.

February 12 Garvey is reelected KASC unopposed.

February 21 Garvey is tried and found guilty of libel and sentenced to 6 months for his The Vagabonds Again editorial in The Black Man by Kingston Resident Magistrate A. K. Agar.

March 17 Garvey’s and Aikman’s conviction of on seditious libel charges. IS overturn by Jamaica court of appeals.

May International Organizer M. L. T. De Mena replaces Knox as first assistant president general and representive in charge of American field of UNIA.

June 30 Governor Jelf writes to the British Secret Service that Garvey put forward the most grotesque proposals for the improvement of the human race and Jamaica in particular which could not bear even looking into, still less encouraging. 

August 18th Garvey’s play Coronation of an African King, King Cudjoe of Sudan is performed.

September 17 Garvey first child Junior is born in Jamaica. October 4 The Black Cross Nurses of the Garvey Club of New York City hold a medical demonstration at the facilities of the New York branch of the Field of New Thought on 94th Street. The Negro World. November 2 Negus Tafari coronation as Emperor Haile Selassie with wife Wayzaro Manan as Empress in Cathedral of Saint George published on November 3 in Time weekly magazine Volume XVI Number 18 as well in

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. Genesis 49:8-12

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.1 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name. Isaiah 63

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Revelation 17:14 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.

From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16

The Italians build a military fort at the Wal Wal Oasis in the Ogaden desert, Ethiopia and garrison it with Somali dubats irregular frontier troops commanded by Italian officers. 

The treaty of 1908 May 16 had given the border between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland as being twenty one leagues (approximately 118.3 kilometres 73.5 miles) parallel to the Benadir coast.

1931 February 21 Garvey’s Weekly Digest column of the Negro World.

Garvey suspends publication of Blackman.

March 13 Consul Paul C. Squire reports from Kingston that Garveys city water has been cut off and that he is in danger of loosing his printing equipment to creditors and also reports that Garvey is operating an auctioning company out of Edelweiss Park.

April Garvey launches the Edelweiss Amusement Company.

April 18 British military intelligence acknowledges receipt of report from acting Governor A . S. Jelf of Jamaica regarding Garvey’s plan to visit Europe.

May Robinson becomes the first black student to be accepted in to Curtiss Wright Aeronautical school of Chicago where he goes on to become the schools first black graduate and also teaches its first black class.

June 13 informs British military intelligence that Garvey will not be leaving for England and France until fall; also reports on movements of De Mena and Garvey’s secretaries Hazel Escridge and Gladys Warren.

June 27 The white race has a system, a method, a code of ethics down for the white child to go by, a philosophy a set creed to guide its life. The Negro World.

June The Emperor’s coronation is published in the National Geographic Magazine monthly Volume LIX Number 6.

September 10 Belize hurricane.

Seay and the Black Cross Nurse’s assist the victims of the Belize hurricane and organise a program to provide meals for school children. 

September 28 Malcolm Dad Earl Little dies in a streetcar incident on Michigan Avenue and Detroit Street in Lansing, Michigan.

November 17 Garvey returns to Jamaica from England.

1932 February 16 American consul in Jamaica informs Secretary of State Henry Stimson of “Whereabouts and activities of Marcus Garvey”.

June 11 The last issue of Negro World with Garvey listed as managing editor is printed in New York.

July 30 Garvey disclaims any connection to Negro World and refuses to submit any further editorials to the paper. 

Garvey begins publication of New Jamaican.

November Franklin D. Roosevelt President.

November 18 Howell returns to Jamaica.

December Mittie Maud and Gordon founds Peace Movement of Ethiopia in Chicago.

Earnest Alfred Wallace Budge, sometime scholar of Christ College University of Cambridge and keeper of Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities in the British Museum publishes his second edition of the Ethiopic Book of the Glory of Kings.

Du Bois is chosen by philanthropies including Philas Stoke Fund the Carnagie Corporation and the General Education Board to be the managing editor for Encyclopedia of the Negro.

1933 Leonard Percival Howell begins to preach about Ras Tafari as the Messiah in Kingston, Jamaica.

April 1 "The Jews are a powerful minority group,"

"and although they may be at a disadvantage in Germany, they can so react upon things German as to make the Germans, and particularly Hitler and the Nazis, rue the day they ever started the persecution." Garvey in New Jamaican.

April 15 Publication of Negro World resumes with M. L. T be Mena as officer in charge.

May 18 Garvey writes to Earnest Cox informing him that he will loose his house and possessions if he does not pay $10, 000.

July 1 Garvey reappoints Knox as his personal representive in the U.S.

August Julius Garvey is born.

Italy begins to sending equipment to Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. The Emperor’s radio broadcast the following year on September 11.

September Jacques is served a summons for non payment of the years taxes.

October 14 Germany withdraws from the League of Nations.

October 17 The last extant issue of Negro World is published in New York.

November Alfredo Bowman later known as Dr. Sebi is born in the village of Ilanga in Spanish Honduras.

December 4 Garvey Black Man new monthly magazine.

December 5 American consul, Kingston reports on Garvey’s activities to Secretary of State Stimson comments on anti communist stance of Garvey’s new publication.

December Howell holds a meeting of 300 at Seaforth in the parish of St. Thomas.

Constable Gayle, stationed at Seaforth in St. Thomas, said he accompanied Corporal Brooks to Seaforth on the evening of December  last year. It was around seven o’clock. He saw the accused, Howell, seated around a table when he arrived there. He subsequently heard Howell making a speech from a platform made of a barrel with aa piece of board across it.

He sat about 3 yards demonstrated from where Howell was speaking. He heard Howell distinctly. Howell spoke in a loud voice. Both he and Corporal Brooks took notes of Howell's speech in longhand. He noted those parts which he considered to be seditious. Howell spoke at a fairly slow rate, so that he could write down what was being said at the time Howell was staying it. Reading from his original notes, the witness went on to give evidence of words charged in the indictment as having been said by Howell.

There was a pause in the speech and the people led by Howell sang the following "chorus" "Leonard Howell seeks me and he finds me.

Fills my heart my glee That's why I am happy all the day.

For I know what Leonard Howell is doing for my soul. That why I am happy all the day"

Howell offered for sale to the people at 1s each, photographs of Ras Tafari King of Abyssinia to whom he referred to as "The King".

Witness tried to procure one of the photographs. He got one from Howell, but Howell wanted to know his name and address. He asked Howell the reason Howell told him that the pictures would be used as passports when the time came for the people to go BACK TO AFRICA.

Du Bois resigns from the Crisis and takes up an academic position at Atlanta University.

1934 January 1 Howell is arrested at Morant Bay by Detective R. T. Scott.

He had been to Miss Rae's premises at Seaforth and had took measurements.

February 20 Garvey asks President Franklin D. Roosevelt to send delegates to the next UNIA convention to be held from the 1 to the 31 August in Kingston and sends similar requests to the Secretary General of the League of Nations and foreign heads of state.

March 12-15 Howell is tried at the Saint Thomas Circuit Court in Morant Bay and sentence for two years sedition and even blasphemy, 'his disciple' Robert Hinds 'led astray by evil doctrine' is sentenced to one year.

March 15 Thursday Howell, On Trail Says Ras Tafari Is The Messiah Returned To Earth.

Accused in Sedition Case Gives Evidence at Length, Denies Using Words Charged.

ST. THOMAS CIRCUIT

Witnesses Testify Words Were Not Used and Police man Took No Notes.

Was the Judge satisfied with the constable "test" Howell inquired of the Judge.

"You can't ask the court that "the Chief Justice told him Howell (to witness) what do you know about sedition? "No answer. "What do you know about sedition?" The Chief Justice that is a question of law. Howell repeated his question and the judge informed him that fat was a question for the jury. His Honour explained, if they believed the witness, say whether the words he (Howell) was reported to have used, were seditious. Were the people excited? Constable Gayle. They the red what you said. "Did they act as though they were angry with the Government?" "Not at the time." "Everybody was perfectly orderly?" "They cheered." "That is not disorderly?" "No." "Did they feel as if they were being discontented with the British Government?" "Likely not." "Did they seem as if they were?" "I can't answer that." "How often have you herd of sedition?" "Several times." "How many?" "I can't say." "You don't know what it is, do you?" "I certainly do." "Howell to the judge "He says he know what is sedition."

The Chief Justice That does matter what he knows.

Howell (to the witness): What was the nature of the meeting that afternoon?

Gayle I don't understand.

"What was the topic of the meeting?"

"Political."

Further on the witness said he saw no other meeting beside the prisoners that evening.

Howell: Did you hear anyone speak disrespectfully of the law and Government of Britain?

Witness yes

"Who?"

"You were."

"Who else? Were the 30 0people doing something?"

"Yes they cheered."

Later on the witness said it was likely that the

PEOPLE WERE SATISFIED with the conditions of the Government of the country. He could not say.

He went into the drawing room of Miss Rae's house.

Howell: What was in thee?

Gayle: Furniture (laughter).

"Did it have a door?"

"The door was wide open."

The cross-questioning was next directed to the circumstances of Miss Rae's house, in the drawing room of which the policemen said they made notes of the prisoners speech.

Gayle said it was an upstairs house. The drawing room was about 1 feet off the high ground.

Howell was however standing on a barrel (laughter).

Witness denied the suggestion that he had been unable to see the accused from the drawing room in question.

Howell wanted the place inspected by the Court.

Further cross examined, the witness said that most of the time of the meeting was taken up by the accused making speeches. A lighted lamp was about 3 feet away from Howell on the barrel.

The meeting lasted around two hours from  7 o'clock. It did not last until midnight. He did not know if the Corporal started to write at the same time as he. The Corporal might have. The Corporal stopped before he did. He did not know if his notes and the Corporals notes ended at the same point of Howell's speech.

examined by Mr. Radcliffe the Constable said that Howell spoke slower at the meeting than he did in Court, when he was dictating to him to write down.

Detective R. T. Scott now stationed in Kingston said he stationed in Morant Bay on January 1 this year. That day he arrested Howell at Morant Bay on a warrant he now produced. (Warrant tendered in evidence.)

He read the warrant to Howell and cautioned him, Howell made no statement.

He had been to Miss Rae"s premises at Seaforth and took measurements. The witness gave the of the measurements he took and the observations he made from Miss Rae's drawing room with referencing to the size of the at which the accused lectured in the evening in questions.

In answer to Howell, the Detective and he arrested him on the sane say at Port Morant on another warrant charging him for sedition. At Morant Bay: he arrested Howell on the warrant in this case.

HOWELL IN BOX

At  the preliminary examination Howell his defence.

He now to give evidence but refused to swear by the Bible. He said he was a Mohammedan and desired to be sworn “by water.”

He refused to swear by the Koran (the Mohammendan Bible) and eventually affirmed.

He denied having used the words he was said to have used. The nature of his meeting, he explained, was “to tell of Johovah’s Kingdom.”

He asked and was allowed to hold the meeting by somebody who was holding a meeting there when he arrived and to whom he explained the purpose of his meeting.

Howell said he began his meeting with a popular hymn. “Holding up a picture of King Ras Tafari he demonstrated, “I told the people that he was a descendant of the same man who told Peter “Put up thhy sword. He who lives by the sword, shall perish by the sword.” And “My Kingdom is not of this world.”

“I told them of His crucifixion and His ascension, and that us Ethiopian sons and daughters we would enjoy in the near future His Kingdom.

“That He went before to prepare a place of rest.

“That we were told that we were Gentiles, but thanks be to God we had awakened from out sleep by the coming of the Messiah, to a fuller understanding to know that we were the Jews. That the reason why

WE WERE SLEEPING

Was just because our last King of Israel, Hezekiah, had his eyes plucked out by Nebuchadnezzar and the head of his two sons taken off and we went blind from then, and could never see the light of the Lord God of Israel, until the Messiah in the person of Ras Tafari came back in this world.

“That his Kingdom shall have no end a kingdom that all kings of the earth had to bow down to as he was the obnly king in the world to-day as an ancient king.

“I told them that at his coronation, all the powers of earth sent down deplomatical (diplomatical) presentations, namely, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, to denote Marriage, Death and Birth. That the King of England sent down his third son with great gifts. Those gifts had never left England before: such wonderful and glorious gifts never had been given to other kings of the earth as were sent to Ras Tafari. I told the people of the gifts that they weighed a ton in gold. That the Duke of Glouchester represented King George The Fifth of England at Abyssinia at King Ras Tafari’s coronation, and representives all over the world went to pay tribute to the greatest king. I told them that as Etheopians, we were worshipping the god of idolatry the king which Nebuchadnezzar set up in Babylon for the people to worship after he overthrew King Zedekiah. Nebuchadnezzar placed an image in Babylon and called the governors and chiefs of far and near, to come to Babylon and worship the image he had set up. But there were three Jews who refused to worship the god which Nebuchadnezzar set up, and they said to Nebuchadnezzar: ‘We shall not worship that god which you set up.’ And Nebuchadnezzar said: ‘Then I will place you in a furnace of fire.’ And they accepted, saying that they knew their God. They were put in a fiery furnace made seven times hotter and the God of Israel saved them.”

Howell gave the names if “three Jews” who refused to worship the image set up as a god by Nebuchadnezzar.

Continuing, he said he told the people that the leaders of Nebuchadnezzar saw another man besides the “two Jews” they had placed in the furnace of fire. They told Nebuchadnezzar.  And Nebuchadnezzar said to the “two Jews” in the furnace: “Come hither. The God you worship is the true and living God.”

“I told the people, Howell proceeded, “that the same God had come back on earth to lead mankinf in the path of righteousness. “His kingdom was not in those days. “He was 33 years and six months when He was crucified. He must come back on earth and take up

HIS FULL POWER

To reign when the same 33 years and 6 months had expired. I told them, ‘ As it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the ends.’ The same 33 years and 6 months had come back. Now they were standing in 33 years and the 6 months would start in the month of April which would soon be coming. He promised to come back the same way as He went away Jerusalem was troubled.” He referred them to the words of the “two men in white apparel.” When He was ascending: “in like manner this Man you see now going up in the clouds will return back. He told the people that the return must be identical and be along the line of David’s descendants. The world was to last 2,520 years. It started in 606 and should end in 1914.

In 1914 there was war in “Jugo.” (The Great World War) which proved the coming back of Jesus Christ to earth to reign as a righteous king and set up righteous laws.

The World War lasted from 1914 to 1918.

Every nation was present at “that funeral procession.” The like of which had never been seen before.

The Court adjourned for 5 minutes and the resumption the luncheon adjournment was taken as one of the jurors sitting on the case was absent.

It transpired that the juryman in question mistook the 5 minutes adjournment for the luncheon interval.

AFTERNOON SESSION

At the afternoon session, the trial was continued.

In answer to the Judge, Howell who resumed the witness-stand, said he never used the words charged in the indictment. He then continued to what he said he told his audience at the meeting in question Howell said “I told them that on November 9, 1918 a man was seen at the river Jordon, and some said He was Christ Himself On the 11th of November an EAGLE WAS SEEN. That same day, the war closed and the Armistice was signed.

“Fifty days after that the Lord God of Israel started His reign.

“That was 1919 the first day of the first month of the first year.

“Christ returned to earth to kill Nebuchadnezzar’s image.”

The prisoner them delved into the

NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY

For references to make present day comparisons, with a rambling so called religious story which ended with prognostications in connection with Armageddon.

“In 1120, Howell said he told his hearers, Why and Bishop Jewel proclaimed Anti Christ in England, and the same was still on earth.

“That England, the mother of all the nations, promulgated the identical religion over the earth but a stone of power shall come and smash it to pieces.

"I asked them as beloved Ethiopians to stamp in their heart the image of Ras Tafari, who said; I am the beginning and the end."

"I quoted to show at man he was, that when only 12, he told Moses he was before him."

"And Your Honour (he broke off) if I have time I will read 2 Thessalonians verse 11 and Revelation chapter 17 verse 5."

After doing so, he said that at no time he had it in mind to speak words disrespectful to anybody, at Seaforth. I said: 'People you are poor, but you are rich, because God planted diamond and gold for you in Africa your home."

He told them that 700 billion pounds had been sent from Africa to England, and urged them to go back to Africa, the home of their forefathers.

"I told them that our King had come to redeem them home to their Motherland Africa.

"That there was a vast amount of people who believed that they were British subjects, but the British were only protecting them until their king came, and when he came, the Crowned Head of England would turn them over to their King

"1934 was the starting of a better turn of success for you."

"Wouldn't they be glad to see better times?

"The people replied: Sure"

He might be found guilty, but what he told the people was nothing disrespectful to any Government or to create disturbance in the minds of the people.

He had only been counselling them to be satisfied

Up as they were only “empty shells.”

He told them that their King was Ras Tafari, who waws the “king of kings, lord of lords, elect of God, conquering lion of Judah and of the world to come.” (laughter)

The English Government accepted their king because they sent diplomatical presentations and promised to serve Ras Tafari.

He also urged the people to be respectful.

He told them that Ras Tafari was the true Messiah (laughter). That Hitler and other men wanted nothing but pure hearted men in Germany. He told the people that they had wonders for example, men flying in the air like birds as promised. He told them also that he had photographs of Ras Tafari which they could obtain at 1/ each as he wanted them to love each other like Ras Tafari.

He wanted their names and addresses, because if the photographs were given away any rasta could stretch forth his hand and get one. He told them too that the Lord said He had prepared a mansion for them, but they were not living in any mansion in Jamaica. They were living in small huts for which they were compelled to pay taxes. Constable Gayle was taking up.

HIS VALUABLE TIME

By arguing with him about the photograph of Ras Tafari and he had to attend to some other person, He sold a vast number of the pictures. The meeting closed at midnight.

He told the people at the close that when they were singing the National Anthem, they should think of Ras Tafari as he was their King That King George had told them so by his representatives And they were only sheltering under the British flag.

CROSS EXAMINATION

Mr. Radcliffe (cross-examination)

You rather preached that Ras Tafari is the Messiah come back to eatth?

Howell: Yes, Your Worship.

Have you had any commination with Ras Tafari?

No.

Never? No.

Did you advise the people to Abyssinia where  Ras Tafari is?

No sir.

What is the good of the pictures?

To know Ras Tafari their king.

Not as a passport? No sir.

When did you first conceive the idea that Ras Tafari was the Messiah?

Through the prophets.

Is it a long time since you made the discovery? Yes, since 1930.

Up to then you didn’t know of it? Was that the time when Ras Tafari was crowned? Yes, Your Worship.

Where were you at that time?

Have you been to Africa? Yes All over Africa.

Were you born in Jamaica? Yes.

Lived away all the t time? Yes.

When did you come back? December, 1932.

Have you been preaching ever since? Yes, I started in January 1933.

Where you started? In Kingston.

Have you always been preacing about Ras Tafari as the Messiah? Yes.

Is that your chief subject No. not the chief. I showed the people the wealth of Africa.

Have you ever advised them to fo to Abyssinia? No; never.

“What do you mean by ‘gigantic people would be coming from Europe to tell you of your home?”

“To explain to them of their happy land, Ethiopia.”

“Are you sure you did not tell

they met together.

He took up collections.

Mr. Radcliffe: For yourself?

Howell: No, Your Worship, not for myself.

"What for?"

"Like buying gas for the lamp: and if a man is in need, I help him."

"Does any part of it go to yourself?"

"No. Not unless any Is left over. When I go out with Mr. Hinds, I let him keep it." (Laughter)

WOMANS STATEMENTS

Rachael Patterson was the first witness for the defence. The purpose of her testimony was that on the night of the meeting at Seaforth she saw both Corporal Brooks and Constable Gayle and they were not taking notes of Howell’s speech as they had said. She made out that Brooks was intoxicated.

Alberta Laloo was called to give evidence of a conversation between herself and Gayle with reference to the case.

Constable Gayle was recalled at the request of the accused as the conversation had not been suggested to him in cross examination.

He denied the allegation.

Mrs. Laloo then testified to having been told by Gayle that the charge against Howell with reference to Port Morant was weak, but the other, the present one, which had to do with the meeting at Seaforth was strong, and that it was the Inspector who had caused Brooks and himself to make the case.

Florence Jackson, a resident at Seaforth, testified to having been present at the meeting and listened to Howell’s speech.

Like the other witness, she denied that Howell made at the meeting the seditious utterances with which he is charged.

She also said that she did not see the Policeman making notes.

Mr. Radcliff cross examined the witnesses and at the conclusion of his cross questioning of the last witness, the trail was adjourned until today at 10.15 o'clock in the forenoon.

In reply to the Chief Justice, Howell said he had eleven more witnesses for his defence.

March 17 Saturday

CHIEF JUSTICE DENOUNCES LEONARD HOWELL AS A FRAUD

Self Made Disciple of Ras Tafari Criticized For His Pretenses

ETHIOPIAN MUSE

Robert Hinds Gets 12 Months for Speech Against Jamaica Government,

(Continued from page 1)

Sedition against Howell and Hinds each, but in view of the verdict against them in the other cases, the charges were not proceeded with.

A feature of the trail of both men was the great deal of amusement afforded by the fanatical utterances they made before the three hundred numbers of the labouring community of Seaforth, a district not more than seven miles from Morant Bay, where they have a large following.

Mr. H.M. Radcliffe, K. C. Assistant to the Attorney General represented the Crown at the session, which have been concluded: having lasted five days.

Mr. J. L. Candall, Clerk of the Courts, and inspector W.P.C. Adam were present in their respective capacities.

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS

The trail of Robert Hinds for sedition was resumed.

Constable Enos Gayle of Seaforth, who accompanied his Corporal to the meeting place, read the notes which he made of Hinds speech from Miss Mand Wray’s house the meeting.

Extracts of the speech Hinds made were

“The persons them take oath with the Governor not to preach Ethiopian d if they disobey and peach it Sunday, the Governor hang them Monday morning.”

“Anywhere I go with my Angels flood come. I went to Kingston, flood come. And I went to St. Elizabeth, and now St. Thomas. You better mind I don’t call down my Angels and let flood come.”

“The Governor of this country lend out £20,000,000 at interest, as belonging to the people, and wont pay it back for 95 years. He lend it to the white man to settle on their estates.”

NOT TO PAY TAXES

There were also references to the Governor of Jamaica, and admonitions to the audience not to pay any more taxes from that night, as the land belonged to the black people.

One passage told of the time when Hinds would “get over to England and conquer the land.”

He was then “going to tell King George that two kings cannot reign in the same land, and the Ethiopian king must rule.”

It is hardly necessary to mention that the humorous passages provoked a great deal of mirth among the spectators.

In his cross-examination of the Constable, Hinds suggested that the notes made of his speech were incorrect; that the police witness misconstrued what they heard him say.

Detective Scott gave evidence of Hind’s arrest at Port Morant, and was very briefly cross-questioned.

The Crown rested its case.

Before the Magistrate, Hinds reserved his defence.

He now elected to give evidence and was sworn by the Bible.

HINDS TESTIMONY

He said he was at Seaforth on the Sunday evening in question and was keeping a meeting with Leonard Howell, whom he called L. P. Howell.

He opened the meeting. The meeting was under the auspices of the “king of kings, lord of lords, light of the world, conquering lion of Juda and father of the world to come.”

I said to my people, Hinds continued, “Beloved,  I am here to in the names of the Father that Jesus Christ the Son of God, come again a second time to judge the world and we read from the Bible, Revelations Chapter 19, whereby his name shall be called king of kings.”

I told them that we found out that he has come in Africa (laughter): that we got it from a magazine that he was crowned in 1930 November 2 and that his coronation lasted until the 11th.

That we found out that all the powers of Europe and Asia went to the coronation and adored him: that he is the Son of God to govern all mankind, whereby his name shall be called “Lord of our righteousness.”

A man from the crowd asked  What sort of man is he?

I answered: He is a black man.

The man said: Jesus is a Jew. How you call him black?

“JEWS ARE ETHIOPIANS.”

I said: We are the Jews. We are called Israelites, otherwise Ethiopians.

They (the people) said they had heard that Jesus Christ was a white man, and I told them to read Jeremiah chapter 8, verses 20:22. I said the verses from memory.

Hinds paused and quoted the passage referred to.

A person said he thought that Christ would come in the Spirit, and I said that I would prove it to them from my brain that Christ would come in the flesh.

Hinds recited a passage from the Scriptures, which he said he told the people from his “brain”>

After he has also quoted chapter 1 of the Epistle of John, the people were satisfied that Christ would come in the flesh. Some said they had not known that before.

“Then I edified the people that He mist have a son when He came on earth again to reign.” He went on. “I told them that if He came in the Spirit, He could not have a son. If he came in the Spirit He could not wear a crown.

“I held up the picture of Ras Tafari and showed them the crown of gold on the head of the king.”

He also quoted the 18th chapter of the Book of Revelations to show that the crown should have twelve stars, and showed them the 12 stars in the king’s crown in the picture, which he again displayed to them.

Then he urged repentance, urged fasting and prayer, told them that they should not blaspheme should “sin not with thy tongue” (laughter) and quoted from the Bible again. He recited the passage.) “MOUTH TAXES.”

With reference to taxes, he spoke to the people of “mouth taxes” (more laughter). He told them that there was one king of tax he saw them paying which was not necessary for them to pay. It was well for them to pay taxes for land water and houses, carts and motor vehicles, but as for  “mouth taxes.” the Government of the country was against it and the Law of God was against it.

Hinds explained to the Court that by “mouth taxes.” He meant fines imposed by the Court on persons for using indecent and obscene language. He urged the people to avoid paying any more of what he termed “mouth taxes.” Because they were also taxed for motor vehicles. The police witnesses. Hinds declared, misunderstood and mis-interpreted what he said. In telling the people of the “coming of the king” he said he referred to the Governments of the world collectively; not to any individual government. He told them that the nations would be warring agaist one another and they could not be in it, because they could not make bombs, submarines, aeroplanes, ect., in fact they could not even make a knife. They Should therefore hold their peace and if any fighting was to be done their king would fight for them.

Here Hinds paused to quote a passage from Daniel which he said he recited to the gathering to support his last statement.

Resuming, he said he told of the rise to power and the fall from power of one government after another the Persian, the Greek and the Roman, who were succeeded in power by that of Great Britain.

ELECTION CAMPAIGNER.

In cluding Hinds said he campaigned at the last general Legislative election in St. Thomas and the Hon. R. Ehrenstein, whom he supported, was very pleased with and rewarded him, for the way in which he organised meetings and also for his “lectures” in behalf of his candidature.

How then, he asked could it be said of him that he spoke against the paying of taxes?

RAS TAFARI’S IDENTITY

Mr. Radcliffe (cross-examining) You say King Ras Tafari is Christ?

Hinds: Yes sir.

When was it you first heard that was so? Not until L. P. Howell came sir (laughter). But I read od the king of kings in the Bible.

Answering further, Hinds said he saw photographs of Ras Tafari before Howell came there. He saw a man from Cuba with one and he saw a magazine with pictures of the coronation.

Mr. Radcliffe: Did Howell tell you that you are a Jew?

Hinds: No, sir. It was not Howell who tell us.

How you knew? We found it in the Bible. The brethren, who could write, search the Bible and use  adictionary and we find out that we were Ethiopians.

You go around with Howell, don’t you? Yes, sir.

You preached before Howell came? Yes, sir. Long before.

You didnt preach about Ras Tafari before?  No sir. But I found that out afterward.

You preached that Ras Tafari was the king above all other kings Didnt you think he was the only person to whom tribute or taxes should be paid? No sir.

Later on Hinds said he did not tell the people that the land was belonging to the balck people. On the contrary he told them it did not, that in 1494 when Colombus discovered Jamaica

ONLY RED INDIANS

Were living here, and they (the people) came here afterward as slaves.

Mr. Radcliffe: You spoke about taxes?

Hinds: Yes, sir.

What taxes? “Mouth taxes” (laughter).

Why did you speak about mouth taxes? The Bible, sir.

Is there a passage in the Bible which refers to “mouth taxes”? If so, I have never heard about it. Yes sir. About blasphemy (laughter).

Hinds also denied saying that the Governor of Jamaica lent out £20,0000,000 of the peoples money and would not pay it back. He said he told the people that he read in a book that Slavery was abolished in 1838 and when took up the pen to sign, he said: “I thank God that the English people have agreed to pay “20,000,000 sterling to free slaves. The monster is dead” (laughter.)

He denied too that he spoke about the Governor at all.

“KINGS TO CONSULT.”

He told the people that after the 1st of August, 1934, they would know when they were going to Ethiopia, because the King of England and King Ras Tafari were going to hold a consultation over that matter, and the King of England would take them over in ships to Ethiopia and hand them over to their kinf (laughter).

He told them he was going to free the people.

Mr. Radcliffe: But aren’t they free?

Hinds: Yes sir.

Were the people delighted at the idea of going over to Abyssinia? Yes, sir. They said they would like to see the king (laughter). (Smiling: I myself would like to see the king (renewed laughter).

Didnt you tell the people not to pay taxes to King George, as he was not their king? No sir.

But you told them that Ras Tafari was their king? Yes sir. I told them he was Jesus Christ Son of God, King of kings.

Hinds said he could not read.

Mr. Radcliffe: You have a wonderful memory, How do you remember that?

Hinds: I got a reader to read for me (laughter).

Doesn’t your tongue sometimes get away from you? No sir.

“MY PEOPLE.”

The Chief Justice: You say “my people”> What do you mean?

Hinds explained that he meant all the people of Jamaica black and white, rich and poor (laughter).

Mr Radcliffe: Didnt you tell them that Ras Tafari will rule for ever? No sir.

He denied again that he told the people not to pay any more taxes. He admitted it would be wrong if he did so.

He volunteered the information that he told the people that he marched along with Bedward from August Town to Halfway Tree: that some of them were “caught up.” On the Hope Road by the police and charged, and that a lot of them were punished, but he was not.

The judge said he was mad and he was locked up but the doctor said he was not mad and he was afterwards sent out.

This concluded Hinds testimony He called no witnesses but made a short speech to the jury.

Mr. Radcliffe waived his reply and the Chief Justice sent the case to the jury after a brief but comprehensive charge.

The jury were out deliberating for about ten minutes.

FOUND GUILTY

They found Hinds guilty of the charge.

When the verdict was announced, he bowed and saluted.

Mr. Radcliffe, asked bt the Judge if he wished to say anything observed that the jury, by their verdict, accepted that Hinds used the words he was charged for using The language spoke for itself.

OTHER CHARGES DROPPED.

He intimated to the Court that in view of the verdicts against Hinds and Howell, he did not propose to proceed with the second charge against each of them.

SIMILAR CASE POSTPONED.

On Mr. Radcliffe’s application the case against Osmond Shaw, who also is charged for sedition, was postponed for the next sessions of the Assizes.

In the meanwhile, it is understood, the Attorney General may be advised to consider entering a nolle prosequi in the matter.

The Court was then adjourned for 15 minutes, for the Judge to consider the sentences of the convicted men.

Before adjourning the Chief Justice thanked the jurors for their services and formally discharged them.

On the resumption, Howell was brought in.

HOWELL SENTENCED.

Addressing him, the Chief Justice said: Howell, you have been convicted by the jury of uttering seditious language: that is, such language as is calculated to cause disturbance and violence among ignorant people of this country.

I agree with the jury that the language proved to have been used by you is language which tends to have this very unfortunate effect.

“YOU ARE A FRAUD.”

I consider that you are a fraud that you pretend you have been to Ethiopia when you have never been near the place. You say you are a Mohammedan, when as far as I can see, and I have had experience of Mohammedans you are nothing like one.

“Simply, you are a fraud. But that unfortunately has not any effect, because people take you for what you say you are.”

Concluding that he considered his conduct to be dangerous to the people of the country, the Chief Justice told Howell he would be imprisoned for two years.

Howell (bowing): I thank you.

12 MONTHS FOR HINDS.

Hinds was next put up for sentence.

The Chief Justice said: Hinds you have been convicted  for using language calculated to stir up people against the Government of this country and do acts of violence, and if a mistake not, you have already succeeded in making people discontented and commit acts of violence.

"LED AWAY BY HOWELL."

I take into account, in your case, that, to a considerable extent, you were led away by Howell, who is a fraud: who knows nothing about Ethiopia. I have spent a long time in Africa, and at one time was quite near to Ethiopia.

Howell says he is a Mohommedan. I have had to do with Mohommedans, and Howell is nothing like one

Unfortunately, his evil doctrine has got into your brain and you want to put it into others.

I have seen the consequence s of it in other countries, and the result has been serious rioting.

In view of your ignorance, I am going to pass a comparatively my light sentence on you, in the hope that in the future you will reflect before saying anything against the Government which is calculated to make people rebel against it.

You will be imprisoned for 12s months.

Hinds saluted.

APPEAL DISMISSED.

Garvey praises Hitler as a wonderful personality and lauds German leaders nationalistic plan for German people recommending that black read Mein Kampf.

Porters are granted rights under federal law with amendments to the Railway Labor Act President Franklin D Roosevelt.

May 3 British government officials decide not to give official recognition to upcoming UNIA convention branding Garvey Shady and Seditious.

May Robinson Tuskegee.

June Du Bois resigns at The Crisis to work at Atlanta University.

July Garveys‘s "Night in Hell" poem is performed at musical and poetic program held at Wards Theatre in Kingston.

July 25 Chancellor Dollfuss of Austria is assassinated by Nazis.

August the Italian government begin assembling troops, military aircraft, tanks and other war materials of all sorts. The Emperors’s speech to the Ethiopia parliament the following year on July 18.

November 3 Garvey praises New York UNIA division president A. L. King for his work in movement and informs him that he is trying to make arrangements to move the UNIA HQ from Kingston to London.

November 23 The Ethiopian and British governments send a boundary commission of Ethiopian and British technicians accompanied by an escort of 600 Ethiopian soldiers to Wal Wal to ‘determine by inspection on the spot the place where the British Somaliland tribes were putting their herds to pasture as had been permitted to them by treaty’,

British Commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel Esmond Clifford is denied permission to camp in by the Italian commander Captain Roberto Cimmaruta.

Fictorari Shiferra the Commander of the Ethiopian escort makes camp and Clifford withdraws the British contingent to Ado 20 miles (32 km) to the north east the Ethiopian commissioners go with them but the Ethiopian escort stays behind, the Italian aircraft begins patrolling.

A series of conflicts take place between the escort and Italian and Somali’s.

The Ethiopian escort receives reinforcements of 1, 500 men and the Italians 50.

December 5 The Italian aircraft attack dropping bombs but miss their targets,  and also shoot a machine gun from an armoured car killing 107 Ethiopians 45 wounded, 30-50 Italians and Somalis are also killed, with 100 wounded. 

December 14 The Emperor makes Ethiopia’s first appeal to the council of the League of Nations.

December Garveys Edelweiss Park HQ is sold at a public auction after the mortgage is foreclosed. Howell publishes his own version of Fitz Balintine Pettersburg’s "Royal Parchment Scroll of Black Supremacy" entitled "the Promised Key" under his alias Gong Guru Maragh. A copy of the front cover of this text which has been retained bares the name of Nigerian Pan Africanist and first President Nnamdi Azikiwe who was then editor of the African Morning Post in Accra, Gold Coast. The members of the League of Nations especially France and Britain failed to comply with Article X of the covenant and did not act to assist Ethiopia under Italian aggression, they wanted Italy as an ally against Germany, it was Italys plan to make Ethiopia an East African colony along with Eritrea and Italian Somalian. 1935 January 7 Ethiopia Christmas Day The Swedish H. R. H Crown Prince Gustaf Adolph hier to the throne arrives in Addis with his wife Princess Louise, his daughter Princess Ingrid and his son Prince Bertil.

The French foreign minister Pierre Laval and Italian Prime Minster Benito Mussolini sign the Franco Italian agreement giving Italy a part of bordering French Somliland (now Djibouti) as part of Eritrea as well as the Aouzou strip in French Chad as part of Italian Libya.

January 19 The League of Nations Council at session decide that the Wal Wal clash should be resolved by arbitration arbitrators should examine the interpretation of the frontier treaty of 1908 May 16 by investigation as according to articles 5 and 7 of the 1928 treaty as to wither Wal Wal is part of Ethiopia or Italian Somaliland.  Du Bois publishes his Black Reconstruction in America. March 16 Garvey travels to London on the SS Talapa.

March 17 Ambassador Takla Howargat makes submission to the League invoking Article 15 of the covenant.

March 28 General Emilio De Bono is named commander in chief of Italian armed forces in East Africa and force invading from Eritrea.

April Britain, France and Italy sign the Stresa.

May 16 The Emperor sends message to Geneva 

‘We request that, if Italy refuses to accept that the arbitration should examine and adjudicate upon all the attacks that have been made in the vicinity of the Somali-Ethiopian border since last December and should pronounce  upon the interpretation of the treat of 1908 May 16, the Council itself will take the investigation in hand and resolve matters by a full examination on basis of article 15 of the covenant.’  

May 25 As a result of the Emperor’s second submission the League decides arbitrators should be chosen.

‘Because it was Ethiopia’s desire that the judgement to be pronounced should be impartial and on an absolutely legal basis, she on her part chose arbitrators two men who were legal experts, one French Albert de Geouffre de La Pradelle, professor of law in the University of Paris, and one American Pitman B. Potter professor at the Graduate Institute of International Studies at Geneva who were very well known for their knowledge and refinement in international law.’ 

‘Italy on her part selected two Italians from among Italy’s government officials.’

Ethiopia’s clear conscience was aware of the rights due to her and We, therefore, submitted immediately our request to Italy to settle the matter on the basis of the text of the treaty, referring to the treaty concluded in 1928, by which Italy had undertaken that peace and friendship should forever persist between us and that, if a quarrel arose between us, this quarrel should have a peacful outcome on the authorative verdict of arbitrators. To this request, which we had presented, the reply was an absolute refusal, and Italy revealed her inflexible resolve to have the demands which she had submitted fulfilled in their entirety without investigation and without adjudication in the proper manner.

The Emperor on July 18 of the same year. 

May Robinson arrives in Ethiopia.

Garvey speaks at Hyde Park speakers corner.

Garvey publishes Black Man monthly magazine from 2 Beaumont Crescent, West Kensington with Una Marson who would later work for the BBC Caribbean service as his personal secretary.

Seay becomes the second woman in awarded member of the Order of the British Empire presented to her by Governor Burns and agrees with Womans League and Labourers and Unemployment Association on womens suffrage for voting age to be lowered to but proposes unemployed women rather than to be given suffrage be given land grants. 

1935 June 25 Joe Louis Detroit's "Brown Bomber", scores a decisive technical knockout over the Italian Primo Carnera in the sixth round of their bout at the Yankee Stadium.

Louis had knocked down Carnera 3 times in the sixth round.

June "When the danger became more urgent, being aware of my responsibilities towards my people, during the first six months of 1935 I tried to acquire armaments. Many Governments proclaimed an embargo to prevent my doing so, whereas the Italian Government through the Suez Canal, was given all facilities for transporting without cessation and without protest, troops, arms, and munitions." From the Emperors speech to the League on June 30 of the following year.

3000 white and black men volunteer through the UNIA to fight.

Garvey cautions Mossolini against aggressive action towards Ethiopia.

Bayen graduates from Howard University medical school. July 8 Garvey in the Black man.

July 10 Bayen leaves the U. S. for Ethiopia.

July 18 The Emperor delivers speech to parliament.

During the Ethiopian Crisis people from all other the world rallied support for the Emperor.

July 23 The members of the International African Friends of Ethiopia with their various roles including C. L. R. James as Chairman, Amy Ashwood Garvey as Treasurer and Jomo Kenyatta as secretary hold their first meeting.

July 28 Sunday The International African Friends of Ethiopia hold meeting at Faringdon Street, Memorial Hall.

August 18 I.A.F.E. hold meeting at Conway Hall Treaty and lift arms embargo.

August 26 IAFE hold rally at Trafalgar Square.

THE DEFENCE OF ETHIOPIA

The International African Friends of Ethiopia. (Formerly The International African Friends of Abyssinia)

If devilish force prevails and causes a war then Abyssinia will arise; and, with its Emperor leading, followed by his people, whose courage and valour are known, will defend its country against the invader to the last drop of its blood. Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, at Addis Ababa, August 12th 1935.

THAT IS THE POSITION WE ADOPT.

Come to THE CONWAY HALL, Sunday August 18th, 1935 at 8 p.m.

Resolutions demanding that the British Government keep their Treaty obligations by

(a) Supporting Ethiopia in its struggle against Italian Fascism.

(b) Raising the embargo on the export of Arms to Ethiopia will be moved.

SPEAKERS: Dr. WILLIS N. HUGGINS, Ph.D., from America who has carried the protest of 40 organisations, both black and white, to Geneva, and will tell of the efforts of the Friends of Ethiopia in the United States of America.

Mr. C. L. R. JAMES Mr. J. M. KENYATTA Chief TUFUHIN MOORE Dr. SANDRO MAGRI, An Italian Anti-Fascist. AN ETHIOPIAN.

August 12 Ethiopia also pleads for the embargo to be lifted.

August Garvey praises the Emperor as a gentleman and calls Mussolini a barbarian guilty of savagery.

September 2 Amy Ashwood and the International African Friends of Ethiopia held a rally in London at Trafalgar Square. 

Afterwards, Amy posed for a photograph with two of the sons of the Ethiopian Minister Dr. Warqenah Eshete (aka Dr. Charles Martin), Benyam and Yosef (2nd and 3rd from the right). 

Both sons were Co-Founders of the radical and militant Black Lion Organization that was involved in liberating Ethiopia from Italian occupation and tyranny. 

Unfortunately, shortly after taking this photo the two were arrested in Ethiopia and summarily executed for the attempted assassination of the Italian Viceroy Marshall Rodolfo Graziani. — at Trafalgar Square.

August Garvey praises the Emperor as a gentleman and calls Mossolini a barbarian guilty of savagery.

September 3 The Wal Wal clash is adjudicated by arbitration niether Ethiopia or Italy responsible for the clash, Italy stops compensation.

September 4 Italy submits memorandum of complaints to the council of the League of Nations.

September 11 The Emperor makes radio broadcast.

September 11 The Jamaica Gleaner

The Honorable Amy Ashwood Garvey speaks before a London crowd at Trafalgar Square, denouncing the Italian invasion of Ethiopia.

“No race has been so noble in forgiving, but now the hour has struck for our complete emancipation. We will not tolerate the invasion of Abyssinia.“

Mrs. Garvey said: "In this struggle, the black women are marching beside the men. You white people brought us out of Africa to Christianize us and civilize us, but all the Christianity and civilization you gave us for 320 years was slavery. You have talked of ‘The White Man’s burden.’ Now we are carrying yours and standing between you and Fascism.”

She warned the British Government that if this became a struggle between the “Blacks” and the “Whites” that three quarters of the people of the Empire are colored.

September 15 Nuremberg laws in Germany

October 3 5:00 AM General Emilio De Bono, without a declaration of war, advances into Ethiopia from Eritrea crossing the Mareb river in the north by plane.

Graziani implements the Milan plan all along the southern front to remove Ethiopian forces from various frontier posts and to test the reaction of a series of probes there. The Emperor orders a general mobilization. October 5 Italian I Corps take Adigrat and the League’s Committee of 13 report on the details of events occurred after the month of December of the previous year and up to October 3 of the present year. October 6 Italian II Corps take Adwa where the Italians were defeated 40 years ago in 1896 on March 1.

Robinson witness’s the bombing’s of both Adigrat and Adwa.

The Emperor orders Ras Seyoum Mangasha commander of the army of Tigre to withdraw a days march away from the Mareb river.

The Emperor orders his son in law Dejazmatch Haile Selassie Gugsa to move back 89 and 56km (55 and 35 miles) from the border.

October 10 The International African Friends of Ethiopia at a meeting at Clarks theatre in Castries, Saint Lucia protest the Foreign Enlistment Act and pass the following resolution in view of the provoked aggression of Italy against unarmed Ethiopia the penal clause of the above act be waived so far as it applies to west Indians to permit. October 11 Dejazmatch Haile Selassie Gugsa surrenders to the Italian commander with 1, 500 of his men at Adagamos the Italian outpost and defects to the Italian side leaving Makale, his capital in eastern Tigre at 1:00 am with 50 of his men meeting with the Italians.

Bono at his HQ with Gugsa on the left.

October 14 with De Bono proclaimed the end of slavery, with the livestock having been moved to the south to feed the army those no longer slaves were left with no other option but to loyal to the Italians.

I am obliged to say that the proclamation did not have much effect on the owners of the slaves and perhaps still less on the liberated slaves themselves many of the latter the instance they were set free, presented themselves to the Italian authorities asking and now who gives me food. October 15 De Bono forces advance from Adwa occupy Axum, Bono loots Obelisk.

October 19 The Bishop of Udine [Italy] writes, 'It is neither timely nor fitting for us to pronounce on the rights and wrongs of the case. Our duty as Italians, and still more as Christians is to contribute to the success of our arms.' 

Ras Mulugeta is given orders and parades with army. October 21 The Bishop of Padua writes 'In the difficult hours through which we are passing, we ask you to have faith in our statesmen and armed forces.'

A. L. King and his Provisional Committee for the Defense of Ethiopia ship medical supplies to the Emperor. October 24 The Bishop of Cremona consecrated a number of regimental flags and said 'The blessing of God be upon these soldiers who, on African soil, will conquer new and fertile lands for the Italian genius, thereby bringing to them Roman and Christian culture. May Italy stand once again as the Christian mentor to the whole world.'

The Somali villages of Kelafo, Dagnerai, Gerlogubi and Gorahai in the Oganden are taken by the Italians.

October 27 To His Excellency Graziani. The use of gas as an ultima ratio to overwhelm enemy resistance and in case of counter-attack is authorized. Mussolini.

November The League of Nations places economic sanctions on Italy excluding oil. November 3 20 aeroplanes from the Regia Aeronautica drop bombs at Gorrahei the stronghold of Sayyid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan known to the British as Mad Mullah.

Grazmatch Afawarq is hit on the leg by a bomb splinter whilst firing with a 37 mm Oerlikon named after the suburb of Zurich where these guns are made taking aim to bring down a plane.

November 4 Waves of 20 Aeroplanes bomb Gorrahei. November 8 I Corps and Eritrean Corps take Makale. November 13 Graziani moves his headquarters to Baidoa.   

November 16 De Bono is promoted to the rank Marshall of Italy.

November 19 The Emperor leaves for Jijiga the capital of Tigre.

November 20 Grazmatch Afawarq is posthumously conferred upon with the rank of Dejazmatch. 

November 28 The Emperor leaves Addis for Dessie in the province of Wollo.

November 30 The Emperor moves his HQ to Dessie. 20 killed 100 wounded.

December 4 Ras Imru advances from Gojam, his forces are bombed.

December 5 The Italians take Abbi Addi.

December 6 Lethbridge Herald newspaper

THIRTY ITALIAN BOMBERS RAIN DEATH ON CITY AS EMPEROR AND SON WATCH

Incendiary Bombs Set Field Hospital Palace of Crown Prince Wrecked by Blasts from Air 200 Injured Protest Attack on Red Cross Hospital

Death Stalks Ethiopian Hillsides

War is never a pleasant thing, and the current Italo Ethiopian war is no exception. Here is a new photo that graphically illustrates the tragedy of war. Two native soldiers who will probably never be honored by burial shot down by Italian planes. Similar scenes were witnessed today in Dessye where Italian bombers wreaked havoc before the eyes of Emperor Haile Selassie.

By CHRISTIAN OZANNE (Copyright, 1935, by the Havas New Agency) ADDIS ABABA Dec 6 (C.P. Havas) Thirty two persons were killed and more than 200 injured when 30 Italian planes bombed Dessye today before the eyes of Emperor Haile Selassie and his, 11 year old second son, Prince Makonnen.

Protests To League

By JOSPEH E. SHARKEY (Associated Press Foreign Staff)

GENEVA, Dec. 6 (A.P.) 

Emperor Haile Selassie, who escaped death in an Italian air bombing raid on his headquarters at Dessye today, protested directly to the League of Nations a few hours later against the bombing of Red Cross hospital.) Emperor Haile Selassie, who escaped death in an Italian air bombing raid on his headquarters at Dessye today, protested directly to the League of Nations a few hours later against the bombing of Red Cross hospitals and the killing of women and children.

The Ethiopian monarch declared the American hospital at Dessye which was struck by bombs had displayed the authorized insignia of the Red Cross. Emperor’s protest The emperors protest stated (Continued on Page Two.)

Ethiopian Emperor Fire Machine Gun Himself During Bombardment Of Dessye By Italian Squadron

By James A. MILLIS (Copyright. 1935, the Associated Press.)WITH EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE AT DESSYE, ETHIOPIA.Dec. 6 Italian war planes struck at Emperor Haile Selassie’s headquarters today, bombing and machine gunning troops, civilians, the emperor’s palace, and hospitals indiscriminately.The emperor himself fough against the attack which lasted 17 minutes while more than 1000 bombs were dropped and at least 12 persons were killed and 200 wounded,The little, bearded man was talking to Dejazmatch (general) Birru and a doctor named Zeryos when the thunder of the bombing planes was heard (Continued on Page Two)   

December 10 The British and French foreign ministers Samuel Hoare and Pierre Laval Pact make an underhand agreement to sign Ogaden Tigray and Southern parts of Ethiopia away to Mussolini, the pact is leaked by a French newspaper and the foreign ministers are forced to resign. December 15 The Emperor launches the Ethiopian Christmas Offensive/Counteroffensive also refered to as the Dolo offensive.

December 15 

Ras Seyoum Mangasha and his army of Tigre with 30, 000 men Abiy Addi Beles River the Ethiopian center, Ras Kassa Haile Darge and his army of Beghemder province in Gondar with 40, 000 advance from Dessie to join Mangasha in the center, Ras Mulugeta Yeggazu Minister of War advances from Dessie with 80, 000 to Amba Aradam the steep sided flat topped mountain on the right of the Ethiopian center blocking the Italian advance to Addis Ababa, the Emperor with 40, 000 men advance from Gojjam towards Mai Timket to the left of Mangasha and Darge, the Ethiopian center.

1,000 Ethiopians cross the Tekeze river and advance toward the Indabaguna Pass.

The Ethiopians attack the Italian commander Major Criniti’s forces composed of 1, 000 Eritrean infantry and L3 tanks, the Italians fall back to the the Indabaguna pass where 2, 000 Ethiopian soldiers are already waiting, the Ethiopians then encircle Criniti’s force.

The Ethiopians kill two Italian officers and Criniti is left wounded.

The Italians try to break out using their tanks which are immobilized by the terrain, the Ethiopians kill the infantry and rush the tanks killing their two man crews.

The Ethiopians ambush the Italian relief column of ten tanks, two trucks and infantry sent to Criniti.

The Ethiopians roll boulders infront and behind several of the tanks to immobilize them and then pick off the Eritrean infantry and the tanks.

More tanks are immobilized by the terrain and two are set on fire.

Criniti breaks out in a bayonet charge.

There were 31 Italian casualties, 370 Askari were killed and five Italians were taken as prisoners, the Italians claim that there were 500 Ethiopian casualties which is a figure believed to have been much exaggerated.

Next the Ethiopians plan for Ras Kassa and Ras Seyoum to split the Italian army in two and isolate the Italian I Corps and III Corps in Mekele and for Ras Mulugeta to Amba Aradam to crush both Corps. After Ras Imru retook Adwa he would invade Eritrea.

December 17 De Bono recieves state telegram 13181, and is replaced as Marshall of Italy by Pietro Badoglio.

December 18 Harvest of Gold.

December 19 Thursday Daily Mirror SIR S. HOARE RESIGNS

Decision on Eve of Critical Debate

LAVAL MAY GO

By OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT 

SIR SAMUEL HOARE, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, RESIGNED LAST NIGHT.

His drramatic decision, taken on the eve of the most critical debate the National Government has ever had to face, followed Mr. Anthony Eden’s virtual admission at Geneva that the Italo-Abyssinian Peace Plan of which, with M. Laval, Sir Samuel was the author was dead.

It was all the more startling because it means the fall of one of the most important, most powerful, and most highly respected members of the Government which only a month ago won a great victory at the polls.

The resignation, which has come as a direct result of the storm of disapproval that has been aroused by the Government’s peace proposals, created a sensation abroad.

His Successor

Geneva was saying last night that Laval will resign now. Rome, where the Fascist Grand Council was meeting, was dismayed and bewildered but reticent. Paris feared Laval’s early downfall.

London was already talking of a possible successor. Three names were mentioned: Mr. Anthony Eden, Sir Austen Chamberlain (regarded as the most likely) and Sir John Simon.

Many M.P.’s say that if Mr. Ramsay MacDonald had been returned to Parliament he would have made an ideal Foreign Minister.

Today's commons debate on the peace proposals will be doubly exciting.

After questions this afternoon Sir Samuel Hoare will rise as a private member from a seat on the benches below the gangway on the Ministerial side and make “personal explanation”.

Doing “Right Thing”

Mr. Attle will move the vote of censure calling for repudiation of the peace terms. Mr. Baldwin will reply and Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer will wind up.

An amendment to the Opposition motion has been tabled assuring the Government of support in pursuing the policy outlined in the General Election manifesto.

If Sir Samuel Hoare takes full responsibility  for the peace proposals the Governments position will be eased considerably.

Members say the late Foreign Secretary has done the right thing by resigning. (Continued on back page)

December 21 Friday morning 21 aeroplanes bomb Dessie.

December 22 Ras Seyoum retakes Abbi Addi. 

December 30 Red Cross unit at Dolo is bombed, Egyptian ambulance at Bulall attacked and Egyptian medical unit at Daggah Bur. December Julian arrives back in New York on the Cunard liner Aquitania. 

The Emperor attends a church service after the bombardment of Dessie

The Emperor is named man of the year by TIME weekly magazine.

1936 January 11 Samuel Haynes Garvey’s national UNIA representative openly criticizes Garvey for his failure to endorse black American efforts to extend aid to the Emperor.

January 12 to 16 Battle of Genale Doria.

Ras Desta another of the Emperor’s son in law’s and his army at Negele Born offensive marching south to the town of Dolo and attempt to invade Italian Somaliland.

Ras Desta’s forces advance in three columns, two led by his two Fitauris Ademe Anbassu and Tademme Zelleka, Kenyazmach Bezibeh Sileshi commands a relatively modern guard battalion

The first column on the Italian right advance up the valley of the Genale Doria River, in the center the second column advance toward Filtu and on the left the third column advance up the valley of the Dawa River.

January 12 The Italian Royal Air Force drop mustard gas on Ras Desta’s advancing forces and attacking them for the next 3 days.

January 15 Graziani’s three columns advance, Ras Desta’s forces make a series of retreats.

January 16 Kingston Gleaner page 29

Abyssinians Claim Victory Over Armed Force Of Invaders

Renewed Fighting Along Entire Somaliland Front Concentration Under Ras Destu Scattered 65 Italian Prisoners, Macine Guns and Ammunition Captured.

LEAGUE COUNCIL MAY PA THE CONFLICT IN EAST

LONDON Jan. 15 Following the reports of the strengthening by 75, 000 men of the southern Italian forces in Abyssinia, come reports of renewed fighting along the entire Somaliland front and that Abyssinian forces  in the south under Ras Desta have been  routed by Facist troops.

An official communiqué issued in Rome this afternoon by the Ministry of Press stated “Abyssinian armed forces commanded by Ras Desta, which had been gathering several days between Genale Doria and Mana Forma to attempt to place pressure upon our Somaliland front in the Dolo sector, have been routed by Italian forces. On the 12th instant General Graziani rommenced a vigorous action against the troops of Ras Desta. The Abyssinians were successfully routed and persued. Fighting continues along the entire front. Our losses so far have not been serious. Upon the Eritrean front intense activity of our aircraft had been recorded.”

A statement made by the Abyssinian military headquarters in Addis Ababa stated: “Italian planes again flew over Dessye to day. In the north, Abyssinian forces under Ras Seyoum have successfully defeated an Italian armed force and have captured 65 prisoner as well as machine guns and ammunition.” Gleaner Wireless

Italians Fire Bombs Destroy Church.

DESSYE, Ethiopia, Jan. 15 (Havas) Italian fliers dropped fire bombs on St. Mary’s Church at Sakota wounding ten worshippers and reducing the building to a pile of flaming wreckage, Empeor Selassie’s headquarters here charged last night. Canadian Press by D. W. L Cable Co.

Ras Desta’s army fight the Italians at the Juba River merging point of the Ganale Dorya River and the Dawa River.

Ras Desta army is defeated.

Graziani’s three columns arrive at Genale Doria River, Filtu, the Dawa River.

Edward VIII becomes King of England. January 19 Badoglio orders General Ettore Bastico, commander of the III Corps, to leave Makale and occupy Nebri and Negada blocking the road to the Tembian to stop Ras Mulugeta from sending reinforcements to Ras Kassa and Ras Seyoum. 

January 20 to 24 The First Battle of Tembien.

The Italians continue their Northern offensive in the broken terrain between Warieu pass and Makale in the province of Tembien.

January 20 cking the road to the Tembian to stop Ras Mulugeta from sending reinforcements to Ras Kassa and Ras Seyoum. 

January 20 On the left of the Italian center; the Eritrean Corps, the 2nd Eritrean Division advance in two columns through the area around Abaro Pass.

On the right of the Eritrean Corps, the 3nd "28th October" Blackshirt Division advance towards the Beles River. 

The Italian III Corps hold Nebri and Negada.

The 2nd Eritrean Division fall back to Abaro Pass and the 2nd Blackshirt Division on the Italian right are driven back to the Warieu Pass where they and the garrison are besieged.

The Ethiopians attack those Italians at Warieu Pass.

Badoglio commands the 1st Eritrean Division to join the 2nd Eritrean Division at Abaro Pass and orders General Achille Vaccarisi, the commander of the 2nd Eritrean Division to advance on the Warieu Pass to relieve the Blackshirt Division and the garrison there.

January 23 the Blackshirt division and garrison at Warieu Pass are relieved by Vaccarisi and his Eritreans.

Ras Kassa and his forces are defeated, the Regia Aeronautica Italiana target Ras Kassa’s forces with Phosgene gas and encircle Makale. 

January 24 

Italians casualties 1, 082, Ethiopian 8, 000. Ethiopian wireless message intercepted by the Italians. It was at the time when the operations for the encircling of Makalle were taking place that the Italian command, fearing a rout, followed the procedure which it is now my duty to denounce to the world. Special sprayers were installed on board aircraft so that they could vaporize, over vast areas of territory, a fine, death-dealing rain. Groups of nine, fifteen, eighteen aircraft followed one another so that the fog issuing from them formed a continuous sheet. It was thus that, as from the end of January, 1936, soldiers, women, children, cattle, rivers, lakes and pastures were drenched continually with this deadly rain. In order to kill off systematically all living creatures, in order to more surely to poison waters and pastures, the Italian command made its aircraft pass over and over again. That was its chief method of warfare.

February 3 The Italian high command claimed control of a vast area in southern Ethiopia extending from Italian Somaliland to Addis Ababa.

The hard riding "Hell on Wells" column, driving up the valley of the Female Doria from Dolo, has forced the Ethiopians back 80 miles farther from Neghell toward the vital town of Allata.

(This would place Gen. Rudolfo Graziani's merchandized column 275 miles northwest of Dolo, starting point of the offensive and about 225 miles directly south of Addis Ababa, with some 50 miles to go to).

Water supplies seized

At the same time, the column advancing along the parallel valley of the Dawa Parma has pushed.

The Italian high command claimed control of a vast area in southern Ethiopia extending from Italian Somaliland to Addis Ababa.

The hard riding "Hell on Wells" column, driving up the valley of the Female Doria from Dolo, has forced the Ethiopians back 80 miles farther from Neghell toward the vital town of Allata.

(This would place Gen. Rudolfo Graziani's merchandized column 275 miles northwest of Dolo, starting point of the offensive and about 225 miles directly south of Addis Ababa, with some 50 miles to go to).

Water supplies seized

At the same time, the column advancing along the parallel valley of the Dawa Parma has pushed north about 200 miles, capturing approximately 10, 000 square miles of new territory. This advance, farther to the southwest along the British Kenya colony border, Italian officers said, has given the mobile units of the Second Italian division control of all water supplies in southern Ethiopia half-way from Dolo to Addis Ababa.

The Genale Doria offensive, launched Dec. 12 from Dolo, on the Erhiopia-Itatlian Somaliland frontier, continues with the motorized cavalrymen relentlessly perusing Ras Desta Demtu, son in law of Emperor Haile Selassie, toward his capital. Advance units of the cavalrymen are approaching Allata, and have overcome a fierce counter attack.

Ethiopian Retreatinig

The Ethiopians are retreating in virtual panic, but are fighting desperately as they are overtaken by the Italian machine gunners and infantry. Afoot or with only camels for mounts, the natives are unable to flee as fast as the Italian trucks can pursue.

The drive from Neghelli to a point 80 miles to the northwest involved a full day and night of fighting all along the route, but the Fascist troops seldom stopped, being determined to advance even though they became cut off temporarily from their Dolo base.

This correspondent accompanied the Nenoa Dragoons, one unit of the “Hell on Wheels” column, which occupied Deideo, radio station centre for Ras Desta Demtu. It was there that the Ethiopian retreat began in full force.

Ethiopian dead were scattered over the battlefield, and hundreds of prisoners were taken by the Italians.

The whereabouts of Ras Desta himself remained a mystery, Several of his high officers, including the court chamberlain, who were taken into the Italian lines, asserted they were ignorant of his movements.

February 9 Badoglio attack Mulugeta and his army at Amba Aradam on the Ethiopian right. 

February 10 to 19 Battle of Amba Aradam/Enderta. 

February 10 8 a. m. Badoglio begins his attack, Regulars and Blackshirts lead the Italian advance with an Eritrean Askaris reserve.

The Italian corps and Italian II corps advance crossing the Calamino plain both corps are positioned on the banks of Gabat River.

Scout plains of the Regia Aeronautica from Badoglio’s HQ the Italian artillery observation post circle the front. Photographs taken from the plains showing an attack from the Plain of Antalo south of Amba Aradam, Badoglio decides to encircle Amba Aradam and attack Mulugeta from the rear once at Antalo.

February 11 the 4th “3rd January Blackshirt Division and the Pusteria Alpine Division of the I Corps advance from the Gabat the west side of Amba Aradam and the II Corps the east side.

February 12 Afternoon the Ethiopian forces from the western slopes of Amba Aradam attack the 3rd January Blackshirt Division, the Pusteria Alpine Division continue to advance to Antalo.

February 14 The Italians begin to encircle Amba Aradam.

February 15 The Italians encircle Amba Aradam, the Ethiopians from the western slopes of Amba Aradam towards Addi Kolo and attack the Italians.

The Italians capture Amba Bradam, the 1st “23rd March” Blackshirt Division hoist the Italian flag on Amba Alagi. 

February 16 Wallaga Betaddad Makonnen Dansair abandon two fortified encampments at Qayhata is injured by a bomb and dies.

The Italian Air Force use mustard gas.

February 19 Ras Imru detach’s part of his army sending them towards the Mareb river. When they reach the meeting point of the Asmara and Adwa roads, the Italians shine a light on them. They at once began shooting, killing five men and wounding a few. The Italians, however, announced that they had killed 45 and wounded more than a thousand.

February 26 Mulugeta's son Tadessa Mulugeta, the Asmach on Amba Aradam is killed by the Azebu Galla who were bribed by the Italians, Mulugeta himself is also killed by a bullet from the air.

6, 000 Ethiopian dead and 12, 000 wounded the Italians altogether 800. 

February 24 TIME Weekly magazine 

February 27 to 29 Second Battle of Tembien a month after the first battle of Tembien, Ras Kassa and Ras Seyoum the Ethiopian center army are defeated.

February 29 Badoglio Battle of Shire Italian II Corps advance from Axum 30 miles south of and Italian IV Corps south from the Eritrean border on Ras Imru’s left flank.

Peace Movement of Ethiopia, Inc., rival wing of unincorporated movement of the same, formed in Illinois under direction of Garvey’ites Charles Watkins and Ethel Waddel, Waddel accuses movement founder Mittie Mord Lena Gordon of incompetence and hostility toward Garvey.

March 1 The Emperor arrives at his new headquarters in Quorom.

March 2 Winnipeg Free Press

SECOND ETHIOPIAN ARMY DESTROYED IN BIG BATTLE

Five Thousand Survivors Are Faced With Extermination With the Northern Italian Army in Ethiopia, at the Front, March 1. (AP) The Ethiopian army of Ras Kassa in the Tembien area was destroyed Sunday like that of Ras Mulugheta was two weeks ago. Kassa fled with a few followers, leaving heavy losses in men, animals and munitions.

Five thousand Ethiopians left in the Tembien area are completely surrounded but still holding Abbi Addi. They face extermination or necessary surrender as the third army corps of white soldiers and an Eritrean corps pour artillery fire into the town. Planes are drenching the towns with bombs.

Round Italian estimates placed the Italian losses at 10, 000, and the Italian losses at not over 1, 000, from a serious of sharp engagements starting the night of Feb. 26.

Planes are following the retreating warrior columns across the Gheva and Takkaze rivers, bombing them heavily. Italian pilots reported the Ethiopians are throwing away their guns, swords and munitions in order to appear as peasants.

March 4 Red Cross camp at Quoram is attacked by Italian aircraft.

March 7 Hitler Re-militarizes the Rhineland. March Battle of Shire. 969 Italian.

March 2 II Corps advance Ras Imru’s rear guard.

March 3 The Regia Aeronautica drop bombs on Ras Imru’s army at the Tekeze River and also use mustard gas.

March 11 The Italians aircraft use mustard gas and Yperite poison, Ras Imru withdraws to the rear.

March 14 

March 19 2:00 a. m. The army officers from the offensive at Tembein reach Quoram and reunited with the Emperor.

March 20 The Emperor recieves news that the Italians have passed Amba Alage and are encamped at Maychew and takes the guard of honor waiting with him as rearguard, as well as the army from Tembein.

20:00 The Emperor sets out from Quoram and proceeds towards  the war front at Hayo mountain pass between Amba Alage and Maychew.

March 21 The Emperor spends the day at a place, a little beyond Lake Ashange suitable for protection against aeroplanes and at night marches to Hayo. The aircraft drops many bombs and sprays yperite poison ‘that was flowing like water’.

sends a radio message to his Wife the Empress Menen Asfaw.

March Ras Kassa and Ras Seyoum make their way to Quoram. March 22 The Emperor spends the day encamped at Hayo upon an arid amba, a place suitable for observation of aircraft.

20:00 The Emperor assembles the army officers and chiefs explaining to them the plan as regards the battle tactics and the order of muster and directs them, on their part, to express their views in what manner the wagging of the battle might be improved. 

March 23 Chiefs of the Tchartchar in the Wag region some 40 miles eat of Quoram come with rifles and ammunition which they had received from the Italians and express their sentiments of loyalty.

18:00 The Emperor departs from the barren amba and, marching through the night camps at the Ba’tawayo cave. This place is a vis-a-vis the Italian camp.

The Regia Aeronautica bomb Harar and Jijiga.

March 24 The Italian aircraft at Ba’tawayo spends the day going to and fro dropping bombs.

18:00 A large plane arrives and flying low, drops bombs, the Ethiopians fire machine gun volley hitting the plane and setting it on fire. The plane falls beyond Dubbar mountain pass 7 or 8 miles west of Aya, The Italian radio confirms that the plane is burnt with its crew of 4.

March 25 The Emperor stays at Ba’tawayo preparing militraty plans during the next for days.

The Italian aircraft going to and fro in great numbers drop bombs and poison gas every day as a result of our soldiers fire, these planes were seen to be burning and to emit smoke, going towards the Tchartchar lowland.

An aircraft is hit by an Oerlikon gun and comes down near, many aircraft arrive dropping bombs and poison, and many people are killed and injured.

28 March The Emperor summons the army commanders and gives them guide lines.

March 29 Sunday Graziani sends 33 aircraft to bomb the town of Harar. Aircraft at Ba’tawayo camp coming and going continuously, spends the day dropping bombs and poison gas. The Emperor gives orders for the battle to begin the next day.

17:00 The Emperor sets out to approach more closely to the place of the engagement and spends the night at Mahan mountain pass near Maychew.

March 30 The army grouped into its various contingents not fully assembled March 31 The Battle of Maychew on St. George’s Day.

05:45 The Emperor attack Italians.

Kassa with 15, 000 advance's against the Eritreans at Mekan Pass on the Italian left flank.

The Emperor sends the Imperial Guard, under the command of Ras Getachew Abate, against the Eritreans.

The Emperor orders an attack along the front.

The Emperor sends three columns.

23:00 The battles comes to an end with the Italians having defeated the Ethiopian counter offensive, the Regia Aeronautica attack with mustard gas at Lake Ashangi. Stresa Front.

March Garvey describes Black Man monthly magazine as “a kind of universal University to educate those who want to be educated in our school of thought.” Black Man

April 1 Gondar, the capital of the Begemder Province is captured by Fascist Achille Starace’s column, the East African Fast Column, a motorized infantry column composed of Blackshirts

The Emperor spends the day at Mahan and gives orders for the wounded to be carried in and the dead to be buried. Some troops, their ardour having been aroused, go to the enemy trenches and spend the day fighting there.

April 2 The Emperor orders retreat of columns towards Lake Ashangi and the highlands of Quorom.

00:00 The Emperer leaves Mahan.

The Italians leave their trenches and enter Mahan

April 3 Friday The Ethiopian column arrive at Quorom, Starace.

The Azebu Galla attack the flanks and Italian aircraft arrive. 

The Imperial Guard, as part of the rear guard commanded by Asmach Getachew, loose more men over the next two days than were lost during the battle of Maychew.

Starace’s column also reaches Lake Tana.

The Emperor whilst at Ba’tawayo cave learns that the Italians have reoccupied their fortified positions abandoned on March 31 and directs an army contingent guarding the mountain passes be stationed at the places said to be suitable for defending the surrounding of Bat’tawayo, so as to enable us to resist the invading army; We then proceeded to devise military plans for the future in consultation with the arm commanders.

the Emperor transmits orders to the various commanders to take up positions for immediate running fire, in order to fight from those positions.

he enemy aircraft going to and fro  hits the Emperors camp uninterruptedly, the Emperor fire the Oerlikon.

The Italian army fire their guns hitting the Ethiopian soldiers camp with long range artillery.

The army turn around to march towards Quoram.

The Emperor arrives at Lake Ashangi. April 4 Saturday morning the Emperor and army arrive at Lake Ashangi and the Regia Aeronautica coming in great numbers hit the marching army at Ashangi with bombs.

mustard gas at Lake Ashangi.

April 5 Sunday The Emperor spends the day at Enda Agafari.

The Italians send their army at Qorbata a mountain west of Ashangi nea the road to Saqota, down in the Tchartchar plateau of intermediate elevation running east of the line Qorbata and Alamata lowlands, in order to encircle the Ashangi region.

18:00 The Emperor departs from Enda Agafari and marches through that night resting at the village of Lat Giyorgis near the Wamberat mountain range, a little to the north of Marawa at a cave called Gureza.

April 6 Monday The Emperor spends the day at Lat Giyorgis.

18:00 The Emperor marches to Gura Maryam.

April 7 17:00 The Emperor departs from Gura Maryam resting at Marawa at Maryam Mahdar.

April 8 Wednesay The Emperor leaves Mahdar at 16:00 for Azazge.

00:30 The Emperor continue to march reaching Lasta Geraretch where they rest. 

April 11 Saturday The Emperor crosses the Takazze and arrives at Telasfarre Selassie spending the night at church to celbrate the festival of the Resurrection (Easter). April 12 Easter Sunday The Emperor spends the day at Telasfarre Selassie and transmits order to the army advanced ahead to stop and wait at the various places encamped.

April 13 Monday 3:00 The Emperor sets out from Telasfarre Selassie marches to the churches of Lalibella.

22:00 The Emperor reaches Lalibella and stays the night in the house of H.H. Ras Kassa.

4:00 am The Emperor attends mass at Beta Maryam.

April 14 Tuesday The Emperor tours and visits all the churches of holy Lalibela.

The Emperor is received by American missionaries at Lalibela and offer the Emperor hospitality.

The Emperor visits Ashatan Maryam the church east of Lalibela.

The Emperor spends the night at Ras Kassa’s house.

Graziani orders all three column of his army to advance towards the Ethiopian defensive lines with The 29th “Peeloitana Division and the 6th “Tevere” Blackshirt Division in reserve.

The Battle of Ogaden

Grazian’s first column commanded by General Guglielmo Nasi and including the Libyan Division, on the Italian right break through defenses at Janogoto and Dagahamodo the Ethiopian left.

The second column commanded by General Luigi Frusco to move forward to the pivital point of the Hindenburg Wall named after the German defensive line of World War trenches Nasibu chief of staff General Mehmet Weheb Wehib Pasha Ottoman army.

The third column commanded by General Agostini on the Italian left to engage with the Ethiopian right flank.

A king has fallen on the field- The field of war, but not by shot, Nor even through a broken shield: He died in exile-awful lot! Ras Nasibu of Ogaden Is he-the greatest of his tribe- The man who led his valiant men With Wehib Pasha at his side.

fie died in Switzerland-afar, Of broken heart in his exile: He saw the end of that sad war In which he fought without a smile. The Brute of Italy had sent His liquid flames of steady death And tanks that ploughed and also rent The land and stole the hero’s breath.

This Mussolini, vile of heart, Who plagues the world with devil tricks, Has caused a king to lose his part In building glory with his bricks. The dream of Abyssinia, great, Was dear to Nasibu’s own heart; But he has met an awful fate, And failed in this to do his part.

The Negroes of the world shall wait To take their stand against the foe, And when they fight to win their State They’ll make Italians drink their woe. A Fascist king shall never rule The Blacks of all the lands we know: The Negro shall be no foot-stool, But give to all the seeds they sow.

Let’s honour Nasibu’s fair name, And damn the Mussolini tribe: This Abyssinian’s splendid fame Shall live through pen of Negro scribe. Look out for time, that’s comin’ soon, To strike Italian Fascists down: To us ’twill be a glorious boon To have them sprawling on the ground.

April 15 2:00 The Emperor departs beginning march.

Morning the Emperor pays homage from afar to the Church of Holy Na’akweto La’ab about half an hour from Lalibela and then pass on to Gannata Maryam where the priests say nesebho prayer (the Magnificat) and receives him with songs.

18:00 The Emperor returns to Telasfarre where he writes and issues proclamation as well as transmits orders to the army marching with him.

The Emperor leaves Lalibella and his army towards Dessie.

The column turn towards when receives news that fallen.

The Emperor and the column go to Fikke in Salale.

The Libyan Division.

April 20 Selassie reaches Addis and Badoglio flys to the town of Dessie in the Wollo Province.

April 21 Badoglio’s motorized infantry column or merchanised column meet in Dessie. The column consisted off 12,500 Italian troops, 1,785 cars and trucks, a squadron of light tanks (L3s), eleven batteries of artillery, and aircraft.

April 23 Graziani’s three column’s arrive "Hindenburg Wall."

April 24 Two battalions from Starace's column, the "Mussolini" Blackshirt Battalion and the 111th Native Battalion make a surprise attack on Debre Tabor where Ras Kassa was rumored to be.

Badoglio also sents two columns of 4,000 Eritreans ahead of his motorized column to protect them.

The Ethiopians on the southern front attack the Italians along the whole front in an attempt to assist at Hindenburg Wall.

April 25 The Hindenburg Wall.

April 26 Badoglio begins his March of Iron Will advance from Dessie to Addis Ababa with a motorized infantry column or a merchanised column.

April 30 Degehabur is taken, Nasibu withdraws to Harar.

Robinson leaves Ethiopia.

The Emperor orders that the government be relocate to Gore in the southwest, that  the mayor of Addis Ababa is to maintain order in the city until the arrival of the Italian’s and appoints Ras Imru Haile Selassie as his Prince Regent during his absence.

A. L. King endorses racially integrated demonstrations in support of Ethiopia cause.

May 1 Friday night the Emperor takes the train to Dire Dawa.

May 2 Saturday The Emperor arrives at Dire Dawa riot Addis looting many houses being set on fire 'We learnt from the newspapers, after passing through Djibouti, that the Italians had spread the exceedingly shameful and despicable falsehood that it was the departing Emperor who had given instructions that the city be set on fire and property looted.'

His Imperial Majesty boards the train from Addis Ababa to Djibouti, with the gold of the Ethiopian Central Bank. According to Barker, A. J. (1971). Rape of Ethiopia, 1936. New York: Ballantine Books, Graziani suggested to Mussolini that he have the train bombed which however he didn’t see fit to do so.

The Emperor and hunting party in Ethiopia before the Italian invasion drove him into exile. It was taken on the Addis Ababa to Djibouti railway line in the early 1930s just after he’d been officially crowned as Emperor.

Tyrone Daily Herald newspaper Tyrone, Pennsylvania.

May 3 10.30 a.m. The Emperor arrives in Djibouti.

May 4 The Emperor sails from Djibouti in the British cruiser HMS Enterprise and Haile Mariam Mammo’s forces ambush Badoglios March of Iron Will column at Chacha near Debre Berhan. 

The Ethiopians kill 170 Italian colonial troops and captured four Italians, two of those being doctors who they later released.  May 5 4:00 p. m Badoglio’s column arrive in Addis Ababa, order is restored, white flags lead the way to. 

Badoglio's 5:45 p. m. Badoglio’s entourage pulls up in front of the Italian legation and hoist the Italian flag.

At the Palazzo Venezia in Rome Mussolini.

Badoglio leads the Italian troops into Addis. 

May 8 The Emperor arrives at Haifa and sails from Mandatory Palestine to Gibraltar on the way to Britain and Graziani arrives in Harar.

May 10 Italian troops from the northern and southern front meet at Dire Dawa. June Rome promulgate their Africa Orientale Italian constitution bringing Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. 

June 5 To His Excellency Graziani. All rebels taken prisoner must be killed. Mussolini. 

June 8 To His Excellency Graziani. I have authorized once again Your Excellency to begin and systematically conduct a politics of terror and extermination of the rebels and the complicit population. Without the lex talionis one cannot cure the infection in time. Await confirmation. Mussolini. June 11 The Italian Marshall Graziani assumes second Viceroy and Governor General. 

June 21 Aberra Kassa, Bishop Abune Petias and patriot leaders at Debre Abanos plan to storm Addis but coordinate due to  lack of radio equipment and transport. June 25 The Emperor along with Ras Kassa, Dejazmatch Nasibu, Blattengeta Heruy, Ato Walda Giyorgis Walda Yohannes, A to Lorenso Ta'ezaz and Ato Efrem Tawalda Madhen leaves London for Geneva via Paris.

June 26 The Ethiopian Black Lions organisation destroy three of the Italians aircrafts in Nekemte and kill Air Marshall Vincentzo, Graziani’s deputy, Graziani in retaliation, orders the town to be bombed. June 30 The Emperor himself addresses the League of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

When we went there on the appointed day and stood by the lecturn, the Italians who had come there for news reporting started to whistle continuously with the intention of obstructing our speech and rendering it inaudible. At this moment, the Rumanian delegate, M. Titulescu, remarked to the President of the Assembly, M. van Zeeland 'For the sake of justice, silence these beasts!'

The President of the Assembly, seeing the rude behavior of the Italians in front of so many international representative s, ordered the guards to expel the Italians by force; they then seized them and ejected them.

"There is no precedent for a Head of State himself speaking in this assembly. But there is also no precedent for a people being victim of such injustice and being at present threatened by abandonment to its aggressor. Also, there has never before been an example of any Government proceeding to the systematic extermination of a nation by barbarous means, in violation of the most solemn promises made by the nations of the earth that there should not be used against innocent human beings the terrible poison of harmful gases. It is to defend a people struggling for its age-old independence that the head of the Ethiopian Empire has come to Geneva to fulfil this supreme duty, after having himself fought at the head of his armies."

July 4 The League of Nations votes to lift sanctions imposed against Italy. July 15 Sanctions lifted.

August 6 The Emperor leaving the Royal Baths after his first cure treatment. Bath & Wilts Chronicle & Herald.

August 31 Garvey prints letter from Una Brown, read of Black Man upset by his criticism of the Emperor Garvey upholds his negative opinion in his reply blasts the Emperor for trusting white advisers.

September The Italian column in Addis Ababa leaves. 

September 2 The Emperor leaves Bath. Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald newspaper.

October 10 The Emperor takes up residence at Bath. Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald newspaper.

October The Italian column from Addis Ababa occupy Gore. 

December 17 Ras Imru’s forces trapped between the Italians and the Sudan border surrender, Imru is flown to Italy and imprisoned in the island of Ponza and the others taken as prisoners in camps in East Africa and Italy. 

December 19 The Emperor surrenders at the Gojeb river and Wondosson Kassa is executed near Debre. 

December 21 Aberra Kassa and Asfawossen Kassa are executed in Fikke. Howell marries Teneth Bent. Du bois visits Nazi Germany, China and Japan. Mussolini and Hilter become allies Spanish Civil War The pullman company negotiate with the BSCP.

Garvey travels from London to Canada where he visits Toronto and Ontario. 1937 January 11 The Daily Gleaner.

Ras Tafari Members Attacked by People in St. Thomas Parish.

PORT MORANT, Jan, 10 (by telegraph from our correspondent).

"Civil War" Started between members of the Ras Tafari cult here and the masses of the township on Saturday night at 10 o'clock.

The latter broke in and ravaged the cult's headquarters, and sent the whole party of Ras Tafarites flying all over the district, beating some as they went. The commander, Leonard Howell, had to be locked in his house to keep him out of reach.

The police, under Inspector Waters, had a very hard time saving the Ras Tafarites from serious injuries. Howell left the district by bus this evening.

January 14 Thursday The Daily Gleaner page 44.

Ras Tafari Cult Leader Forced To Leave Port Morant.

CROWD BREAKS UP CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES AND URGES CHIEF TO DEPART.

January Garvey blasts Haile Selassie in editorials; blames Emperor for Italian defeat and praises Mussolini as “an astute diplomat and statesman.” 

February 19 Abraha Deboch and Moves Asgedom attempt to kill Graziani with hand grenades during a public ceremony at the vice regal palace in Addis.

Italian security guard fires into the crowd killing 300.

Blackshirts massacre thousands over the next 3 days.

March UNIA members express criticism of Garvey for his negative statements about the Emperor and some refuse to continue supporting the UNIA.

May 30 Garvey calls the Emperor a dumb trickster. Randolph Bunche dairy entry.

Garvey is heckled off the platform at Hyde Park by students angered over his criticism of the Emperor.

June Jacques, Junior and Julius arrive in Avonmouth, England.

June 19 Trinidad oilfield strike. The police try to arrest Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler at a meeting a Fyzabad, policeman Charlie King set alight and dies, colleagues riot, 14 dead, more than 50 casualties and hundreds arrested.

August Garvey travels to Toronto for the annual UNIA Conference.

August 25 Bayen founds the Ethiopian World Federation in New York.

August 29 Garvey ‘risk their employment for the sake of the agitators in London who have nothing to loose’.

September 1-23 Garvey serves as the principal of the School of African Philosophy at 355 college Street, Toronto and leads daily classes in day and evening sessions. 

October 1 Garvey makes speech at Menelik Hall in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

October 14 Garvey visits Trinidad.

Garvey seen here in the Port of Spain with Trinidad City Council and Mayor Alfred Richards.

October 17 Garvey visit’s St. Lucia.

October 18 Garvey visits Barbados.

October 19 Garvey visits St. Vincent.

October 22 Garvey visits British Guiana.

October 14 

October 28 Ship returns to Barbados.

November 5 Ship returns to Bermuda Garvey is again refused.

November 20 Garvey arrives in England.

Junior and Julius attend County School in Kensington Gardens.

Mexico, China, New Zealand, the Soviet Union and the Republic of Spain do not recognize Italys occupation of Ethiopia. 

Randolph The Black Sleeping Car Porters and the pullman company enter contract together.

December 21 Amedeo, 3td Duke of Aosta is appointed new Viceroy and Governor General of AOI.

December UNIA was before Mussolini and Hitler ever were heard of. Mussolini and Hitler copied the programm of the UNIA---aggressive nationalism for the black man in Africa. Black Man.

The School of African Philosophy has come into existence after twenty-three years of the Association's life for the purpose of preparing and directing the leaders who are to create and maintain the great institution that has been founded and carried on during a time of intensified propaganda work. The philosophy of the school embodies the most exhaustive outlines of the manner in which the Negro should be trained to project a civilization of his own and to maintain it.

December-1938 January cane cutter’s strike for higher wages at Serge Island Estate in Seaforth, Saint Thomas 1, 400 workers, armed 24 injured, 60 arrested.

63 St. Thomas laborers are tried in the Residents Magistrates Court in Morant Bay in the 3 day hearing.

3 declared by His Honor Mr. Ansel O. Thomson tried the charges of intimidation after their arrest in connection with the cane cutters strike the worst of the lost are sentenced to prison each to one month with hard labor.

18 are fined, 7 fine 2 with the alternative of 30 days imprisonment and the other 11 1 each or 21 days imprisonment.

The remainder of the 63 are admonished and discharged, found guilty of the charges against them.

March Germany seizes Austria.

April 10 First Ohio State Caucus of UNIA and ACL August 1929, of the World is held in Cleveland, presided over by State Commissioner James Stewart and Secretary Theresa Young.

April 29 Westmoreland strike 4 killed, 13 injured and 105 arrested. Garveys son Junior measles rheumatic fever and is hospitalised.

May 3 St. William Wellington W. Grant joins Alexander Bustamante in leading worker protests during Jamaican general strike. May 23 Kingston strike.

May 24 Grant and Bustamante are arrested for their role in labor protests.

May 28 Grant and Bustamante are released from jail Bustamante founds his Bustamante Industrial Trade Union.

June 11 Last major demonstration takes place in Manchester Parish. August 1 8TH International UNIA Convention convenes in Toronto.

August 12 Convention delegates pass resolution supporting efforts of Sen. Bilbo on behalf of black repatriation. September Jacques sails from Royal Albert Docks on the SS Casanare. Howell is sent to Bellevue Asylum. Seay survey West India Royal Commission. Malcolms Mother Louise Little committed to Kalamazoo State Hospital. 1939 April Howell founds the Ethiopian Salvation Society and purchases 485 acres in the hills of Saint Catherine, 5 miles on the road to Sligoville, Saint Catherine also being the parish with the most number of active sugar plantations at the time Howell established this settlement which became to be known as Pinnacle.

Sligoville, the free community was founded in 1843 by English Reverend/Baptist Minister James Mursell Phillippo and named after the 2nd Marquess of Sligo, Governor of Jamaica. April Mussolini invasion of Albania. May Italy and Germany Pact of Steel.

June 5 Monday The Daily Gleaner page 34.

E.SS. PRESIDENT PLANS BUSY TOUR.

Mr. Leonard P. Howell, President of the Ethiopian Salvation Society in Jamaica, with headquarters in New York, had arranged a very ambitious programme during his stay abroad.

Mr. Howell will be leaving the island in July for New York and London. He will be away for about six months. In America he will be attending the convention of the Association, which will begin on July 16 and will last for one month. From the States, he will embark for London, where he will remain for a short time. In the Mother land he will be paying a visit to Mr. George Padmore, of the African International Bureau, and also to Mr. Ladigo Solanka, Secretary General of the West African Students Union.

From England, Mr. Howell will proceed to the West Coast of Africa, where he had an appointment to visit the Prince of Larthard to make preparations for a grand jubilee which will be held in Jamaica in August 1940, at which it is hoped that several dignitaries from Africa will be present.

It might be mentioned that the Society was founded, many years ago, in America; but the branch in Jamaica was formed since January and Mr. Howell and his associates are meeting with much success in their efforts.

AIMS OF ASSOCIATION

Mr. Howell informed a representative of the “Gleaner” that the aims and objectives of the Association were very simple. They had no race prejudice and the Society was formed for the benefit and advancement of the masses. Since the Association was formed he was pleased with the results so far and when he returns from abroad it was his intention to operate branches in different parts of the island.

The Association was recently registered. The Secretary is Mrs. T. Howell; First Vice President, Mr. Theophilus Jackson; Assistant Secretary, Miss M. Falconar; Treasurer, Mr. H. Bolton; Trustee, Mr. N. Francis. Members of the Managing Committee are Mr. C. Dalhaye, Mr. Thomas McCaila, Mr. William Johnson, Mr. L. Walker, Mr. David Hill, Mr. C. Fairweather, Mr. R. Marshall, Mr. Titus Thomas and Mr. D. Bailey.

The aims and objects of the organisation are now being printed and will be circulated among members as early as possible. Members of the Society are making arrangements to give a fitting send off to Mr. Howell on the eve of his departure from the island. 

June 22  The provincial commissioner of Nyanza province sends an intelligence report to the chief secretary in Nairobi, Kenya, reporting that collections are being taken up in North Kavirondo, Kenya, to pay for Garvey's correspondence course. Kenya National Archives, “Nyanza Province Intelligence Reports, 1939 1942″

September 1 German battleship opens fire on the Polish garrison.

September 3 Britain and France declare war on Germany. Du Bois publishes his second autobiography “Dusk of Dawn”. Malcolm moves in with his sister Ella Little Collins in Roxbury, Boston. 1940 February 9 Friday The Daily Gleaner page 23.

Governor Puts Ban On "Rastafari" Meeting.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR has issued an order placing a ban of a meeting announced by a group of "Ras Tafarites" for Sunday at Port Morant.

Yesterday's "Jamaica Gazette" contained the following order under the Jamaica Defence Regulations, 1939: "whereas I am satisfied that the holding of the meeting hereinafter referred to would be likely to cause a disturbance of public order or so promote disaffection.

"Now therefore, in exercise of the powers vested in me by Regulation 25 (2) of the Jamaica Defence Regulations, 1939, and of all other powers hereunto me enabling, I do hereby prohibit the holding of a meeting of the Ras Tafari sect or Ethiopian Salvation Society at or in the neighborhood of Port Morant in the Parish of Saint Thomas on Sunday, 11th Day of February, 1940, whether such meeting is held under the auspices of Leonard Howell or any other person.

A.F. RICHARDS, Governor. "

"Kings House, " 6th February, 1940."

June 10 Garvey passes at age 52. Mussolini declares war on France and Britain and attacks British and Common Wealth forces in Egypt, Sudan, Kenya and British Somaliland.

August Mussolini conquers British Somali land. September Italy and German sign tripartite with Japan.

Du Bois publishes his second autobiography “Dusk of Dawn”.

1941 January 18 The Emperor crosses the border by plane from Sudan near the village of Um Iddla into Ethiopia.

January 20 The Emperor meets with the Gideon Force.

Orde Wingate, the Gideon Force commander, talking with the Emperor.  

February 27 The Gideon Force harass the forts at Bure.

March 4 Natale retreats for Dembacha on the Debre Marqos road.

March 14 The Emperor enters Bure.

April 6 Selassie enters Debre Marqos and Addis Ababa is captured from the south.

May 5 Exactly 5 years to the day, the Emperor returns to Addis Ababa with the East African Campaign in a procession.

The Emperor attends a thanks giving service at St. George’s cathedral and then heads to the palace the Emperor is given a 21 gun salute and as he arrives back at the palace is welcomed by Lieutenant General Cunningham.

And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.1 Samuel 18:6-7

And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. 1 Samuel 17:32-51 America joins World War Two. July 14 Pinnacle is raided for first time, the police arrest 72 people. July 24 Howell is arrested and sentenced to 2 years released 1943 April.

August 19 The Daily Gleaner.

Howell was charged with Assault Occasioning actual bodily harm Spanish Town R. M. Court His Honor C. M. Mac Gregor charge with assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Jeremiah Simpson Evelyn Magee Nathaniel Osborne and assaulting Standford Edwards pleaded not guilty. Mr. N. A. Clare, Clerk of Courts for Saint Catherine prosecuted while the defense was conducted by Mr. F. A. Pixley large number from Pinnacle also came to the courtroom until restrained from entrance the prosecutions case was incompleted and further hearing was postponed until Saturday. 

 PROSECUTION

Witnesses for the prosecution who testified for the day were the four complainants, Iris Young and Dectective Corporal Samuels, of the Spanish Town Police.

Nathaniel Osborne, in corroborating statements made by Standard Edwards, said that he was a cultivator living at Ringrose, near to Pinnacle. On the 3rd July he was enganged in burning coal on his property when a group of people called ‘Pinnaclemen’ came to his cultivation and spoke to him. The men carried sticks and supplejacks, which they brandished, and he had to run.

Mr. Pixley objected to this evidence on the grounds that it was not evidence against Howell.His Honour: I cant see that its not evidence.

During the argument that followed Mr. Pixley asked His Honour to note the objection because Howell was not present.

The witness continuing said that when he returned his coal was gone. On the 6th July he went to Pinnacle, with Jeremiah Simpson and Iris Young to complain to Howell about the loss of coal. At the gate he saw Standford Edwards, Amanda Hamilton, Evelyn Magee and others. They asked for Howell and the gateman sent some one to call him. Howell soon afterwards came down to the gate, riding a horse flanked on either side by guards, with a crowd of men behind him, all armed with sticks and supple jacks. He ordered the gate to be opened, and Simpson and himself were let inside.

The others were outside. They had gone to Pinnacle to ask about their bags of coal while some of the others had gone to buy beds, which they had heard the people at Pinnacle were selling.

MATTER OF TAXES 

Howell asked them if they payed taxes and they replied ‘yes’ to the collector at Spanish Town, Howell then said: Take this man (meaning him Osborne) aside and give him 96 lashes and to Osborne, ‘I will teach you that you are not to pay taxes. Neither you nor the Government own any lands here. 

I am Haile Selassie.’ Five men then held him, and he was stretched over a table formed of sticks and with Cecil Delahay counting, the man lashed him with their supple jacks. Jeremiah Simpson was treated likewise, and he received 110 lashes while Evelyn Magee who had bawled out when he, her uncle, was getting flogged was ordered to be caught by Howell. She was caught and she received 52 lashes in her hands. Howell also boxed her for refusing to take the flogging and drawing away a supple jack from one of the men, deal him (Osborne) a blow as a king of parting shot.

They were all so badly beaten, except Edwards who had received a blow from Howell, that they had to be taken up and thrown outside of Pinnacle and after being carried a short distance down the road the police van came from Spanish Town and took them to the hospital.

Jeremiah Simpson made similar statements and so did Evelyn Magee and Iris Young who said that she had been able to elude the people Howell had sent after the people at the gate, when Magee had fallen into their hands.

Detective Corporal Samuels, of the Spanish Town Police, told the Court that Howell had been arrested at his home at Pinnacle about 12 o’clock one night about two weeks after the incident at Pinnacle.

Witnesses were cross examined by Mr. Pixley. 

In cross examination, Osborne said that he became unconscious when he had received about fifty lashes, and Simpson said the same when questioned.

Only Dr. L. L. Freeman D.M.O in charge of the Spanish Town Public Hospital is to give evidence for the prosecution and Mr. Pixley told the Court that he had 12 witnesses to call for the defence.

His Honour, after fixing Saturday morning, at 9.30 o’clock, for the continuation of the hearing in respect of these charges, extended Howell’s bail, which had been fixed by His Honour Mr. Dan Marchalleck, R. M. for St. Catherine, at £100 with one or two sureties.

Du Bois is fired from his job at Atlanta University. Saey becomes inspector of midwives.

King jumps out of the window of a second story building. December 23 Howells Wife Teneth Bent Howell dies, Howell is accused of murdering her and arrested but acquitted 1944

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New Post has been published on Literary Techniques

New Post has been published on https://literarytechniques.org/repetition-in-a-sentence/

Repetition in a Sentence

Repetition is one of the most popular ways to emphasize an idea or make a point. There are several examples of repetition that can be found in speeches, songs, and important documents that highlight key themes and emotions a speaker wants their audience to embrace.

10 Examples of Repetition in a Sentence

The Great Dictator speech by Charlie Chaplin

“You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate— the unloved, and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!”

Charlie Chaplin’s famous speech from the movie The Great Dictator is one that stands out in the memories of viewers because of his passion and his repetition of key ideas. Chaplin’s rousing speech to his people as he is impersonating the satirical Adenoid Hynkel, dictator of the fictional Tomainia, inspires them to fight for justice, rather than hate. Chaplin’s repetition of the ideas to not fight for hate, but to fight for liberty instead, underscores the differentiation between a Fascist dictatorship and democracy.

I Have A Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I say to you today, my friends, though, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evidence, that all men are created equal.'”

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s repetition of the phrase “I have a dream” continues the theme throughout his speech that one day, true equality will be possible for people of all colors in America. He juxtaposes his own dream next to the ideal of the American Dream itself, which is the reason why the nation was established in the first place: to reward hard work and determination with a decent living and freedom from oppression.

We Shall Fight on the Beaches by Winston Churchill

“We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender…”

Churchill is addressing the Parliament of Britain during the Battle of France on June 4, 1940. These particular words which Churchill chose were carefully calculated to prepare Britain of a possible Nazi invasion, and to steel the nation against the disheartening fact that France was likely to fall to the Nazis very soon. Despite this sense of impending doom, Winston’s repetition of what the British people would continue to do: defend, fight, never surrender, are key themes of resilience and national pride to bolster their morale and assure them that the Nazi regime would never win.

Inaugural Address by John F. Kennedy

“Ask not what your country can do for you– ask what you can do for your country.”

John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech came at a time when the country was facing yet another threat: the spread of Communism and the arms race with Russia. President Kennedy uses repetition of the words “ask… your country” to remind the people that they don’t have to sit back and wait for progress; instead, they can contribute to both the success of the nation and the progress of peace in the world. Rather than continuing to focus on nuclear weapons, Americans should be using their combined experiences– honed through two world wars and the Great Depression– to improve international relations and spread the ideals of democracy to all nations.

Speech to the Second Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry

“Give me liberty, or give me death!”

This famous phrase ended Patrick Henry’s rousing speech to the Second Virginia Convention, rallying the members of the Convention to draft the resolution declaring the severing of the Colonies from England, and starting the Revolutionary War. The ultimatum Henry gives with his repetition of “give me” liberty, or “give me” death shows that for Henry and other Colonists who were tired of England’s oppression and unfair taxation, there was no alternative but to go to war.

­The Declaration of Independence

“Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence.”

The Declaration of Independence outlined the Colonists’ reasons for declaring their separation from England, listing grievances against King George III and Parliament, and addressing the steps the Colonies had already taken to try to resolve these issues. In this section from the Declaration, the authors reiterate with repetition the attempts the Colonies have made: “we have” warned, reminded, appealed, and conjured our “British brethren.” The point of this repetition is to show not only that well-meaning steps have already been tried, but that they have failed, leaving the Colonies with no other choice than to declare their independence from an oppressive government, even if it means starting a war.

The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

“But in a larger sense, we can not dedicate– we can not consecrate– we can not hallow– this ground.”

Abraham Lincoln’s speech at the dedication of the Soldier’s National Cemetery in Gettysburg is his most memorable speech, and for good reason. It was not very long, but it was powerful, honoring the men and their sacrifice on the battlefield during the Civil War. When Lincoln repeats the phrase “we can not” and then follows it with powerful words of honor like dedicate, consecrate, and hallow, he is drawing attention to the fact that nothing the crowd or this national cemetery could do could make the ground more holy than the blood that was already spilled by the soldiers who gave their lives for a righteous cause.

Independence Day speech by Bill Pullman

“And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: ‘We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive!’ Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!”

Often touted as one of the most famous speeches in a movie, Bill Pullman’s character, the President of the United States Thomas J. Whitmore, gives this speech to boost the morale of the men about to undertake a dangerous mission to save Earth from the invading alien forces once and for all. After several failed attempts before, everyone is apprehensive that this plan will not work, but President Whitmore assures the world and the pilots with his repetition of the words “we will not” and “we’re going to” of the human race’s resolve to defeat these aliens and take back the planet. The repetition of action verbs such as “we will” and “we’re going to” gives hope to a future beyond the crisis.

The Third Philippic by Demosthenes

“It is folly, and it is cowardice, to cherish hopes like these, to give way to evil counsels, to refuse to do anything that you should do, to listen to the advocates of the enemy’s cause, and to fancy that you dwell in so great a city that, whatever happens, you will not suffer any harm.”

This speech by Demosthenes to the Athenians warned of an impending invasion by Philip II, the Macedonian king, after an Athenian general thwarted a key city in Philip’s campaign to establish an empire. Demosthenes uses repetition to warn the Athenians that sitting back and doing nothing would spare them from Philip’s wrath. He tells them that to “cherish, give way, refuse, fancy,” and “listen” to the falsehood that their city was too great to be spared “is folly” and “is cowardice.” Philip would need to be challenged, or the Macedonians would overrun Athens.

I Corinthians 13:11

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”

This verse from I Corinthians, written by the Apostle Paul, highlights the differences between childlike thinking and adult mindsets. In the larger sense of the chapter, Paul is discussing the nature of love, and his repetition of “like a child” shows that a child’s understanding of love is not equal to that of an adult’s. By contrasting the thoughts of a child with that of a grown man’s, Paul shows the maturity that comes with understanding the true nature of love, and how that understanding is something to aspire to reach.