FREYTAG PREPARES A TAKEOVER

Starting with the April 1919 issue, Freytag printed his name on the second page of each French Watch Tower, no longer as “manager” of the Geneva office, but as “editor” of the Watch Tower. As the official French edition of the Watch Tower represented less and less the English edition, some brothers in Switzerland took it upon themselves to publish a more accurate translation of the English-language Watch Tower. Thus there were for a time two French editions of the Watch Tower circulating among the brothers!

In August 1919, Freytag transferred a part of the Society’s literature stock and other property to his own address. Knowing that in January the Paris Congregation had informed Pittsburgh of what was going on, and that on March 25, 1919, Brother Rutherford had been released from prison, Freytag doubtless realized that the Society would certainly soon take action against him. So he began stowing away the property that he intended to keep for himself.

Finally, in the September 1919 issue of the French Watch Tower, Freytag wrote an article in which he claimed that God’s truth was now to be found through him in Geneva.

AN EVIL SLAVE IS DISMISSED

The very next issue of the Watch Tower contained a letter from Brother Rutherford addressed all French readers. It read:

“Dear Brothers in Christ,

“. . . Acting as the Lord’s representative, several years ago Brother Russell established in Geneva, Switzerland, a branch office of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, appointing Brother A. Freytag as its local representative. Brother Freytag’s position was that of a simple servant of the Society and of the Lord. . . . He was never authorized to publish any magazine or tract or to distribute any publications apart from those written by Brother Russell or under his direction. . . . His case appears to be very serious, since now he claims that the Lord has appointed him as his special messenger entrusted with finishing the Church’s work.

“Because of his unfaithful conduct, the administration of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society has dismissed him and relieved him of all business to do with the French-language branch, replacing him by Brother C. C. Binkele. Brother Binkele has been authorized to choose, subject to my approval, a French brother to manage the French work under his oversight.”

The work in the French-speaking field got off to a fresh start. After the Freytag affair had been handled, the French brothers held a small convention in Paris on September 28, 1919, at which a fine spirit of unity and peace was manifest. The brothers resolved to work in harmony with the brothers appointed by the Society’s president. The “Centralizing Committee” was dissolved, as it was only a ‘defensive measure’ against the dealings of the Geneva office until the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society reorganized the work.

Once again there was just one French Watch Tower, with Brother Adolphe Weber back on the translation committee.