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on it.
Brethren, REMEMBER what I wrote in my last letter. This is
drawing all our brethren closer together than ever before--BUT IT
MUST ALSO DRAW US CLOSER TO GOD! I called a day of fasting and prayer
for last Sabbath. If any did not receive that letter in time, then
FAST AND PRAY on the very next Sabbath--both that we shall all be
drawn closer to GOD, and that God will release this grip of the STATE
over God's Church.
I KNOW that neither Mr. Rader nor myself have siphoned off any
money for our own use. Our system of records and book-keeping is
such that it COULD NOT happen, without being detected! We have one
of the finest accounting systems in the world.
We now begin to notice a little change in attitude in the press.
At first news reports were slanted, practically condemning us as
guilty without any evidence or proof. Now they are more objective.
The Attorney General's office has changed its language from using
the terms "siphoning off", and "pilfering" to "possible mismanagement",
at least in the last newspaper notice.
Some of our enemies have tried to construe my work of personally
walking into opened doors to carry Christ's Gospel Message INTO NATIONS
AROUND THE WORLD as "mismanagement", and "siphoning off" money so
spent for our own personal use! THAT IS SIMPLY A LIE! Before my
marriage nearly two years ago now, I took my elder daughter Beverly
Gott with me as hostess--for there were many banquets, receptions,
luncheons and dinners at which I was privileged to speak to people
high up in various nations, and even royalty. This required additional
and better clothes, and some jewelry that was not mere "costume jewelry."
But EVERY SUCH ITEM was paid for by my own personal money on which
both federal and state income tax had been paid. Later I had to
purchase the same sort of things for Ramona my wife--OUT OF MY OWN
MONEY--not a cent from corporate funds or expense money. While I
think this should have been a legitimate expense, I did not so construe
it, and all such purchases, were paid out of my personal funds.
And Mr. Rader did the same.
For our protection from such false charges of "mismanagement"
which might possibly come later, I enclose a statement which I would
like for you to sign and return to me IMMEDIATELY. I am sure you
realize that when I am meeting with kings, emperors, prime ministers
and presidents of nations, it is needful to stay at the best hotels.
I REPRESENT YOU in these meetings, which pave the way to carry Christ's
Message into their countries.
They have tried to treat as "extravagance" such things as the
purchase of Steuben crystal--which is about the only type of art
object made in this country fitting for presenting to a King, President,
or Prime Minister. Look into your Bible, Matthew 2:11, and see that
the wise men presented GIFTS to Christ as an infant. This was not
a birthday present, for it was many days after His birth. But since
long before Christ IT HAS BEEN CUSTOM TO PRESENT A GIFT WHEN VISITING
A KING OR HEAD OF GOVERNMENT. It would indeed look strange if we
did not present an acceptable gift when visiting a monarch.