After a while the clergy saw that they could not match the symbolic locusts who were wreaking havoc to their religious pasture. (Joel 1:4) Nor could they keep the symbolic horses in check who were stinging them left, right, back and front. (Rev. 9:7-10) Therefore, in one desperate move the Protestant organization called the Christian Council sought the aid of the colonial government to pronounce Brother W. R. Brown, who was directing the work from Nigeria, a “persona non grata.”

BAN AND RESTRICTIONS

The ban on W. R. Brown’s further entry into the Gold Coast was not communicated to the brothers at the time the decision was made. How did they get to know about it? Brother Brown himself explains:

“We remarked in last year’s report [1936 service year] that we had determined to put in more hours this year and, if possible, to triple last year’s output of books and booklets. We therefore planned to make a record drive on the Gold Coast with the sound car, beginning with the ‘Battle Shout’ period, October 3-11, 1936.

“An order was sent to Brooklyn for 20,000 Who Shall Rule the World? booklets and 20,000 Government booklets, to be landed on the Gold Coast. On the first of October we left Lagos by boat with sound car and 40 cartons of books and booklets to arrive at Accra a day before the period. On the steamer’s arrival at Accra the sound car and 40 cartons went ashore before the immigration officer arrived on board. When the officer did arrive all foreign passengers appeared before him with their passports. I handed in mine, was told to wait until he was through with the passengers, after which I was called and informed that I would not be permitted to land on the Gold Coast. When the brethren ashore, who were expecting me, heard of it, they called on the immigration officer with sixty pounds cash as a deposit toward my landing, but that was refused. On the following day I was placed aboard another boat with car and baggage and sent back to Lagos and was compelled to pay the return trip.

“Later on we were informed that the so-called ‘Christian Council’ there had decided that the Society’s representative be debarred from further activities on the Gold Coast because of the response given to him a year ago by the people and the daily papers when Judge Rutherford’s lectures were delivered to a crowded house of approximately 2,000 souls.”

On February 17, 1937, the brothers petitioned the governor, Sir Arnold Hodson, asking for the release of the shipment of books that were sent to the Gold Coast a month after Brother Brown was denied entrance, but which were banned by the customs authorities. They were in the custody of the comptroller of customs. The governor’s reply came, dated March 18, and said that the publications were seized under the laws of the Gold Coast and that he had no intention of reversing the decision of the comptroller of customs in that matter. Later, in June of 1937, the 69 cartons containing 22,245 pieces of literature were burned.

The branch office in Lagos immediately directed the brothers in the Gold Coast to contact a lawyer to see what could be done to get redress in law.

What was wrong was not the Customs Ordinance as such but, rather, the prejudice and malice with which it was being applied. By the look of things the comptroller of customs and his officials were well insulated against prosecution in the application of the ordinance, and that was by the discretion of the governor.

On August 24, 1937, the lawyer wrote to Brother Brown in Lagos enclosing copies of the correspondence between him and the government. He said:

“It is clear that owing to certain consequences likely to follow, the gist of the matter submitted for the Governor’s consideration was not squarely faced in the Colonial Secretary’s letter. It is therefore open to us to take such steps as may induce the Government to give us a satisfactory reply. Further, although I have not given up the idea of addressing a formal petition to the Governor on the whole subject, it is most unlikely that, unless outside pressure were brought to bear upon the Gold Coast Government, any voluntary step will be taken in Accra to satisfy and compensate the Gold Coast branch of your Society.”

He then talked of a survey he was undertaking to assess public opinion in connection with the publications and the activities of the brothers in the country. This he hoped to incorporate in the petition. He drafted the petition and had the brothers check it. When approved, it was put in final form and presented to the governor. The reply came on January 26, 1938, saying: “His Excellency has carefully considered the petition of your clients, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Gold Coast Branch, and is not prepared to make any such general declaration as requested in paragraph 18 of the petition.”

SOUND CAR UPSETS THE ENEMY

Later W. R. Brown sent S. Ogunde to the Gold Coast with a sound car to use in spreading the Kingdom message.

TRANSCRIPTION MACHINES AND SPEAKING TRUMPETS

Before Brother Brown was put out of the country at the time of his brief visit in 1938, he was able to leave three transcription machines and sets of phonograph sermons with Brothers A. W. Osei and J. B. Commey. With this new equipment the brothers could reach many towns and talk to great multitudes at a time.