At this time, information marching was introduced. Publishers wore signs on the front and back and carried others overhead. On them appeared pointed questions, such as: “Fascism or Freedom​—Which Do You Choose?” To passersby the booklet Fascism or Freedom was offered. Other publishers put illuminated signs in the windows of their homes, with such slogans as: “God’s Kingdom Rules​—Is the End of the World at Hand?” and “Which Do You Choose​—Theocracy or Dictatorship?”

The war scare was making everyone jittery. The authorities were concerned lest they offend Hitler. But when his armies marched into Poland and when France and England were drawn into the war, more people began to listen to Jehovah’s Witnesses. The message contained in the book Enemies and the booklet Fascism or Freedom, which were then being distributed, was trenchant. As a result, literature was confiscated, and its distributors were imprisoned. Often the charge was that they had ‘insulted a “friendly statesman,”’ meaning Hitler, who had instilled great fear into the hearts of many in responsible positions.

Distribution of the booklets Face the Facts and Cure, with their powerful exposés of the Catholic hierarchy, stirred up the ire of the clergy. Arnold Werner, the branch servant, was summoned to appear in court in Haarlem to answer the charge of insulting a group of the Dutch populace. The summons contained an impressive list of quotations from these booklets that were alleged to be criminal in nature. Special prominence was given to excerpts that charged the Roman Catholic hierarchy with fraudulently extracting money from the people by claiming to free the dead from a place where they are not​—from purgatory, the existence of which, it was said, the Church could not prove.

For the trial on October 5, 1939, Catholic Action sent in its heavyweight, “Father” Henri de Greeve. He was to appear in court as star witness for the hierarchy. On the stand he declared that he was present as representative of the Dutch Catholic priesthood and that all priests and other clergy were much insulted by the contents of the booklet Cure. He wailed: “My biggest grievance is that an outsider could get the impression that we priests are just a bunch of villains and swindlers.” The State Attorney demanded a fine of 300 guilders or three weeks in jail for Werner.

Arnold Werner then took the stand. Using the Catholic Petrus Canisius translation, he proved that what the booklet said about Catholic teachings was in accord with the Catholics’ own Bible. When he further stated that Jehovah’s Witnesses were friends of sincere Catholics, de Greeve hissed with rage. The Society’s attorney then asked de Greeve if he was a member of the hierarchy. He replied that he was not. When asked if he could prove the doctrines of hellfire and purgatory, he answered: “I cannot prove it; I only believe it.” Since the booklet had said that they fraudulently obtain money for things they cannot prove, the charge against our brother was dropped. De Greeve rushed out of the courthouse in a rage, a beaten man. For the brothers, it was a day of victory and rejoicing.

RELEASED FROM BONDAGE

Amid the increasing pressure, the preaching of the Kingdom message continued, and people were being set free from spiritual bondage. Henk Toonstra was in the medical corps when he received some of the Society’s booklets from his brother-in-law. Upon realizing what the Bible teaches, he found it difficult to continue to pursue the life of a soldier. He sent some of the literature to his older brother Oeds, saying: “I know that you have a clear mind and a good knowledge of the Bible. Now don’t begin by compassionately laughing, but read these booklets attentively and especially critically.” This Oeds did. Then he let his wife read them. They both fervently thanked God for this newly found truth.