1948

YEi\RBOOK
of Jeho\7ah's witnesses
containing mpod
fat' the set'\7ice yeat' of 1947
Also daily texts and comments
Oorporate Publishers
Watch Tower Bible &. Tract SOciety
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc.
International Bible Students A ociation
124 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn 2. N.Y .. U.S.A.
Branch offices appear on last page
Copyright. 1947. by
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society
Made In the United States of America
\V A TCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
OFFICERS
N.H. KNORR
President
F. W. FRANZ
Vice-President
GRANT SUITER
Secretary and Treasurer
I
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, INC.
OFFICERS
N.H. KNORR
President
H. C. COVINGTON
Vice-President
GRANT SUITER
Secretary and Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS
N.H. KKORR
President
A. PRYCE HUGHES
Vice-President
E. C. CHITTY
Secretary
GRANT SUITER
Ass't Secretary and Treasurer
INDEX OF COUNTRIES
Page
Alaska ............................ 52
Albania ................................ 147
Argentina ..................... 57
Australia ................................... 59
Austria ................................... 70
Bahamas .................................. 52
Belgium ................................... 73
Bermuda ................................ 53
Bolivia...................................... 79
Brazil ............................. 80
British Guiana ............................ 83
British Honduras ........................... 85
British Isles ............................... 88
British West Indies ....................... 95
Burma .................................... 159
Canada ., ........................... 98
Ceylon .......................... 160
Chile .............................. 104
China .................................... 107
Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 109
Costa Rica ......................... 111
Cuba ................................ 115
Cyprus ........................... 53
Czechoslovakia .................. 118
Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 121
Dominican Republic ...................... 124
Ecuador .......... 53
Egypt ................................... 127
Eire ............................... 93
EI Salvador .............................. 129
FIJI ................................. 64
Finland ................................... 131
France .................................. 134
French Guiana .......................... 204
Germany .............................. 138
Gold Coast ................................ 217
Greece ..................................... 143
Guadeloupe ............................... 54
Guatemala ......................... 148
Haiti ............................... 150
Hawaii ............................... 151
Honduras ............................... 153
Hungary ........................ 155
Iceland .......................... 54
India .... , .................................. 156
Italy ........................................ 161
INDEX OF COUNTRIES
Page
Jamaica .................................... 163
Japan .............................. 165
Lebanon and Syria ........................ 54
Liberia...................................... 55
Luxembourg ...................... 77
Malta ....................... 55
Mexico .............................. 166
Netherlands .............................. 168
Netherlands East Indies ................. 66
Netherlands West Indies ........ ..... 56
Newfoundland ...................... 172
New Zealand ....................... 175
Nicaragua ........................... 176
Northern Rhodesia ......................... 198
Norway ........................... 178
Nyasaland ......................... 199
Palestine ........................ 66
Panama ................... 181
Paraguay ...... .............. 183
Persia ......................... 160
Peru ................................... 67
Philippine Islands .......................... 186
Poland ............................ 187
Portugal ............................. 190
Portuguese East Africa .................. 201
Puerto Rico .................. 192
Rumania .................... 194
Russia ....................... 191
St. Helena ................ 202
Slam .................... 67
Sierra Leone ....................... 218
Singapore and Malaya ................. 69
South Africa ........... . ............... 196
Southern Rhodesia ................... 202
Spain .................... 203
Surinam .................. 203
Sweden ................... 205
Switzerland ................. 208
Tanganyika ................. 202
Turkey ........................... 148
United States of America .................. 26
Uruguay ............................ 210
Venezuela ...................... 212
Virgin Islands .................... 67
West Africa [Nigeria] ...................... 214
Yugoslavia ........ 218
1948
YEARBOOK
of Jehovah's witnesses
J
EHOVAH God is the great Life-giver. Even the
short span of life that we enjoy now is a gift from
Jehovah God. It is only by his grace that we exist
and are able to move about in the earth and make ex-
pression of our thoughts to others and to do the work
that we do. Man should appreciate what God has done
for him, but, unfortunately, the majority of men do
not know God and little do they try to find out any-
thing about him. Man is self-satisfied.
Those who are now acting as Jehovah's witnesses
have an appreciation of Almighty God, the Creator
of heaven and earth. They know he created man from
the ground and placed him upon the earth and that
man was instructed to subdue it and bring it to a
perfect, beautiful state as well as to multiply and
fill it with his kind. (Gen. 1: 28) The servant of
Jehovah God knows that he gave man life and that
in his due time men of good-will are to receive power
and authority to do this grand work of beautifying
the earth and populating it under the Kingdom. Jeho-
vah's witnesses further recognize that to maintain
this gift of life and the privileges that go with it
they must always honor their Creator and bring praise
to him. However, men of this wicked world choose to
be fools (Ps. 14: 1) and they ignore God, his wisdom,
his works, and his almighty power.
The apostle Paul had mankind pretty well sized
up in his day, and since Paul's day man has not
improved in knowledge of the Supreme One down to
the present time, but he continues on in his selfish
6
Yearbook
way and continues to try to suppress the truth. Paul
set forth in his epistle to the Romans (1: 18-23) the
following:
"For God's anger is breaking forth from heaven
against all the impiety and wickedness of the men who
in their wickedness are suppressing the truth. For
all that can be known of God is clearly before them;
God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation
of the world, his invisible nature-his eternal power
and divine [personJ-have been clearly perceptible
through what he has made. So they have no excuse,
for, though they knew God, they have not honored
him as God or given thanks to him, but they have
indulged in futile speculations, until their stupid
minds have become dark. They called themselves
wise, but they have turned into fools, and for the
splendor of the immortal God they have substituted
images in the form of mortal man, birds, animals, and
reptiles." -An Amer. Tmns.
Today men generally are of the same mind as the
people that lived under the Roman rule in Paul's day.
The rulers have not changed, neither have the people,
in this respect. The rulers of the Roman Empire
pushed God out of the picture for their concept of
"one world" and forgot that God created the earth;
they forgot that even the little life they had, the short
existence being enjoyed by men then, was only by
God's grace. Then the big idea was the Roman Empire
under Caesar. Today it is the "one world" under the
United Nations; but today as then the selfishness,
greed, and idol-worship remain the same, if not
worsened. In the days of the Lord Jesus Christ it was
an all-out support for the sprawling Roman Govern-
ment that was demanded. Jesus was willing to render
to Caesar of Rome the things that were Caesar's, but
that could go to only a certain extent. There was
something else in the Scriptures upon this issue for
the people to consider, namely: "And [render] unto
Cod the things that are God's." (Matt. 22: 21) Ren-
Yearbook 7
dering to Caesar the things that were his was all right
as far as it went; but the doing of this could not
rightly interfere with the proper worship, the true
worship of Jehovah God the Life-giver. They killed
Jesus because he did not go all-out for the Roman gov-
ernment and because he held to preaching the kingdom
of God as the only hope for humankind and because
he held to giving praise to God, which praise rightly
belonged to his Father in heaven. So they killed Jesus
because he was different from this world.
What, now, will you do, Mr. Reader1 Will you be
like the men Paul described and "indulge in futile
speculation" such as the delegates to the United Na-
tions do, putting your trust in men, politics, milita-
rism, religion and images? or will you be different
and follow Jesus' counsel and keep God in mind and
serve him? Will you also render to God that which is
God's? Jehovah's witnesses choose to be different; nay,
more, they are under obligation to God to be different.
They recognize Jehovah as the only true Sovereign
worthy of praise and render to him all that is due to
him as their Father in heaven. They fully appreciate
that Satan the Devil is the "god of this world" and that
he is determined to try holding on to his power which
gave him the opportunity, for a time, to be the mighty
invisible ruler of this world. (2 Cor. 4: 4; John 14: 30)
It was back in the garden of Eden that Satan turned
man against God through deceptive promises that he
made to man, saying that man would be like God,
knowing good and evil. Adam was selfish, and he
rebelled against God. He disobeyed God's plain state-
ments that would have led to life, and became the
worshiper of a demon, as the Scriptures say the Devil
is. "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft." (1 Sam.
15: 23) Adam no longer looked to his Father in
heaven as the great Life-giver to whom he owed every-
thing. Because he was still alive after sinning against
God, he may have thought he would be able to main-
tain his life. He idolized himself or worshiped himself,
8
Yearbook
for this is indicated by the stubborn course of action
he took in disobeying God. The Lord's Word sets
forth the principle, "Stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry."
From that time on stubborn man has substituted
images in the form of mortal men, birds, animals and
reptiles, to which to give his worship. Man thinks a
lot of himself, and he thinks he is able to do something
that God alone says He will do. Men think they can
set up a human organization, the United Nations, as
the only hope for world peace and prosperity, and by
so doing they ignore God's kingdom, for which Chris-
tians have been taught to pray, "Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is done in heaven."
Man, under the rule of Satan the Devil, "the god of
this world," has indeed become a stubborn creature,
so that now the heads of the governments of this
world, of all the nations and their peoples, come to
worship a United Nations, a form of world govern-
ment. They want all the commercial organizations, all
the political organizations, all the religious organiza-
tions, everything in society, labor, culture, science,
yes, all of them, to support and become part of this
international creation of theirs, a United Nations
organization. So man goes on indulging in futile
speculation, until his stupid mind has become grossly
dark. "They called themselves wise, but they have
turned into fools." The wise men of this world do not
see the need of God: "the fool hath said in his heart,
There is no God." (Ps. 14: 1) Such wise men no
longer recognize him as the great Life-giver.
THE PECULIAR PEOPLE
But there is a people that are different, Jehovah's
witnesses. This small group of people are looked at
by the governments of the earth as an obstinate people,
a people that just will not fall in line and that will
not accept this man-made thing as their savior. The
world, through its judges and its rulers, demands that
Yearbook 9
Jehovah's witnesses render to Caesar the things that
are Caesar's, and more too, for they forget the rest
of the command: 'Render to God the things that are
God's.' These witnesses, no matter under what nation-
ality or form of government they happen to be born,
always comply with the rules and regulations of that
nation. They pay their taxes; they speak the language
of the nation; they accept the education of the nation
through its schools. They support all the laws of the
land that are in full accord with God's principles of
truth and righteousness. They follow most of the
customs and habits of the people. But one thing
Jehovah's witnesses cannot do, and that is, violate
their conscience; and their conscience has been trained
according to God's Word, which says: "Give God what
belongs to God."-lI'loffatt.
Because they do not violate their consciences or
disobey God's law, the governments of the earth have
cast them off as a peculiar people, not orthodox, hard
to deal with. Yet, all in all, they observe that they are
an honest, upright people, persons of good habits and
easy for their neighbors to get along with. However,
being honest, upright, and loving their neighbors does
not suit the rabble-rousers of the world. Preaching
peace and prosperity under the kingdom of God is
not supporting or being part of a political or religious
organization. 'If these people are left alone,' they say,
'the whole world will be following after them.' The
rulers of the nations then say respecting them: "Stop
their talk!"
In 1933, when Hitler came into power in Germany,
Jehovah's witnesses were doing much preaching in
all parts of that land, advertising the Kingdom as the
only hope of the world. They had to be stopped! So
propaganda was sent forth through the government
agencies that 'Jehovah's witnesses were Communists;
they were Jews; they had to be silenced!' They would
not "heil" Hitler; they would not support the new
"master race" ideas. They clung to their simple be-
10
Yearbook
liefs and the truths they had gained from God's Word,
the Bible. As time went on, Hitler with his supporters
and idolizers moved forward to rule the world. Then
the following notice was issued to all the superior
officers throughout Germany: "The teaching of the
Bible Researchers [Jehovah's witnesses] represents a
disguised form of Communism. The destruction of the
nations of the world in the battle of Armageddon, the
lifting of all national distinctions, the inauguration of
Jewish legislation and Jewish dictatorship, the lifting
of all racial distinctions: these are the objectives of
Jewish world Bolshevism, and have absolutely nothing
to do with religion! Setting up the Jewish world rule
under the cloak of religious activity, that is the way
the goal of the International Bible Students may best
be described."
Hitler and his government could find no cause
against Jehovah's witnesses; so they made mischief by
framing laws. (Ps. 94: 20) By this means thousands
were put in concentration camps. More than a thou-
sand died in these camps, and hundreds of others
were tortured and killed, because they were serving
God rather than man.
In the democratic countries, while the second world
war was on, Jehovah's witnesses were accused of being
Nazis. In still other countries, as in Germany, they
were accused of being Communists. The religionists
joined in in the loud cry against Jehovah's witnesses,
and an expression typical of them is found in the
religious magazine Catholic Mind, namely: "What-
ever may be the professions of Jehovah's witnesses,
there is no room for doubt that the practical effect of
the Watch Tower activities is to stimulate Commu-
nism, not to say anarchy, and to undermine all feeling
of reverence for authority." From other countries,
like Greece, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt, the cry
comes forth that the work of Jehovah's witnesses is
a promulgation, of Jewish propaganda, and so the
Greek Orthodox religious organization has recently
Yearbook
11
distributed pamphlets stating that Jehovah's wit-
nesses are financed by Jews. On the other hand, the
Jewish organization in Greece protested to the head
of the Greek Catholic religious system, saying that
their statement is false and that the Jews have nothing
to do with Jehovah's witnesses, nor Jehovah's wit-
nesses with the Jews.
WillIe there are several thousand of Jehovah's
witnesses in Russia, hundreds of them have been sent
to Siberia and put in work camps because they prefer
to serve God rather than man and to proclaim a
kingdom of righteousness, a new world that will be
governed by a righteous overlord, Christ Jesus, and
not by Communist rulers. Why should Russia treat
Jehovah's witnesses that way if they are "Commu-
nists"? It is thus seen that Jehovah's witnesses are
juggled around in every nation to suit their oppres-
sors. The point in common is: Annihilate Jehovah's
witnesses; get rid of them.
Let us then, briefly, look at Jehovah's witnesses of
the present day and see how they view conditions in
the world, and let us get their viewpoint. Who are
they Y Where did they get their instructions? and why
do they appear to be a different and unwanted people?
A CLOSE-UP SCRUTINY
These servants, who worship the Supreme One of
all the universe, believe that Jehovah God alone is the
Sovereign Ruler and that all worship, honor and glory
are due to him. They believe he is the great Source of
life and is able to save all who come to him with
humble hearts. Those who have come to the Lord God
and accepted his Word and abide by it are blessed
of God, and they become his witnesses. And to these
the Lord says, in Isaiah 43: 10, 11 (Lim. Stan. Ver.) :
"Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant
whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe
me, and understand that I am he: before me there
was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
12 Yearbook
I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no
savior."
Men and women from all parts of the world, from
all nations, kindreds and tongues, have come to the
Lord because of a study of his Word, and they have
accepted his Word as truthful and right, and are
abiding by it. They appreciate that in Isaiah 61: 1-3
a commission is set out for those who consecrate them-
selves to serve God as followers of his Son. They know
that this message which they are commissioned to
preach offers comfort and hope to all nations of the
earth. They know, too, that Jehovah's chief witness,
Christ Jesus, who was born a Jew and under the
Mosaic law, did not compromise with the nations of
the world, but stood firm for the preaching of Jeho-
vah's Word and of his government of righteousness
that he promised to set up in the earth. At the time
Jesus was on earth a call went forth for many of the
Jews to enter into a new covenant with God; but
when that Jewish nation did not respond, the call
was extended to go on out to the ends of the earth, to
the Gentiles, and God selected a people who would
have the law of God written in their hearts, and whom
nothing could turn away from the service of the Most
High.
It is therefore stated, at 1 Peter 2 : 9, 10: ''But ye are
an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people for God's own possession, that ye may show
forth the excellencies of him who called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light: who in time past
were no people, but now are the people of God:
who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy."-Am. Stan. Ver.
These people of God's mercy have become different
and peculiar in the eyes of the world because they
are determined, by his grace, to serve the only living
and true God. They have become his chosen people.
They have heralded forth his message of righteous-
ness; and thousands upon thousands of others have
l"earbook 13
heard in these last days of the Devil's organization
and have sought refuge within God's organization.
These have taken up the same call and are saying to
all nations, kindreds and tongues: 'Come, and drink
of the water of life freely.' So today, from one end of
the earth to the other, there are thousands of persons
that say: "1 will sing praises unto thee among the
nations." (Ps. 57: 9, Am. Stan. Ver.) They cannot
sing the praises of the worldly nations, single or as
United Nations, nor of any sect or religion, because
all of these are exposed by God's Word as being idola-
trous. They have the Lord's Word and in it they find
God's instruction to praise him and thus gain life
everlasting. By preaching they save themselves as
well as others who hear them. (1 Tim. 4: 16) They
receive from God his holy spirit or active force, and
they go forth speaking the truth, a "pure language",
as it were.-Zeph. 3: 9.
The witnesses of Jehovah, who have been called
from all nations, kindreds and tongues, being all of
one mind, have cut through all boundaries. Language
has been no barrier to their unity. Religions, politics,
the ideas that men have tried to instill in the hearts
of individuals, have all been cast to the winds. There
is no divisive force that can stand in the way of
Jehovah's witnesses' having one mind, which mind
is the mind of Christ. Regardless of the country in
which any witness of Jehovah lives, he is all-out for
supporting God's kingdom and preaching it. He is an
ambassador for Christ in this respect. Being an am-
bassador in this old world, at the same time being no
part of it, he certainly is not opposed to the present
governments of the earth; nor will Jehovah's witnesses
ever try to fight against them. Nor should they fight
against such governments. They have no reason to do
so, for Jehovah God allows the governments to remain
until he shows fotth his power, and this he will do at
the battle of Armageddon.
14 Yearbook
NONPOLITICAL
When Jesus Christ was upon the earth, he was not
opposed to the Roman rule which existed over Pales-
tine. He lived under it in that land. lIe complied with
the regulations that e x i ~ t e d , and he paid his taxes,
too. But he was not devoted to the Roman government,
nor would he defend it. He was a minister of the
kingdom of God. His saying is well known, namely, 'If
my kingdom were of this world, then would my
servants fight; but my kingdom is no part of this
world.' (John 18: 36) The same evil, selfish organiza-
tion, only operating through different governmental
authorities as far as human creatures are concerned,
still exists today. It is under the same management
that the Roman Empire was under, namely, Satan the
Devil, this world's god. So the invisible ruler has not
changed.-l John 5: 19, Am. Stun. Ver.
Now, then, Jehovah's witnesses not being for this
old wicked rule that exists in all the nations of the
earth, but being for the kingdom of God which will
rule in righteousness, it can easily be seen why they
are not divided as are the Roman Catholics, the Prot-
estant organizations, the Jewish organizations, and all
other religious bodies throughout the world. The
people of all the different religions in the various
lands, being of different nationalities and political
connections, are divided against one another. This
state will not be found among those consecrated to
Jehovah as God. They are one organization, no matter
where they reside. Difference of speech does not hold
them apart. Customs do not divide them. Even the
governments over them do not matter. It makes no
difference what form of government may rule over
them, democratic, Nazi, Communistic, Jewish, totali-
tarian, or autocratic, s,uch governments are not al-
lowed to stand as a barrier to Jehovah's witnesses in
their united service for the Almighty. They are not
of this old world, but are for the kingdom of God by
Yearbook
15
his Christ. In this way they are different, not con-
formed to this world.-Romans 12: 2.
In the days of Hie early church the apostles and
their fellow Christians of that time followed the
command of Christ Jesus: "Go ye therefore, and make
disciples of all the nations." (Matt. 28: 19, Am. Stan.
Ver.) So they went into Greece, Italy, Egypt, Baby-
lon, and Asia Minor, even though there were people in
those places with different habits, customs, and forms
of governments, most of them under Roman im-
perialism. But people who loved righteousness there
learned the truth and became Christians. They left
all their former religious idol-worship and their po-
litical organizations, and followed the teachings of
Christ. A complete change took place in their lives.
It did not take them long to see that it was better to
obey God rather than men; for the only way to receive
life would be by being faithful to the great Life-giver
in heaven. As God said, he himself is the Savior, and
it is he alone that can give everlasting life and bless-
ings in the new world.
The political systems and nations of the world have,
for centuries, yes, for thousands of years, tried to
give the people better government; but will anyone
today say that conditions are better in Europe, in
Asia, in Africa, and in America, than they were
twenty years ago? a hundred years ago' or a thou-
sand years ago? One will argue that living conditions
are better; but who say so, and where? Only in a few
countries. The point is, Is man more unselfish? Does
he love his neighbor more? or is he the same stubborn
idol-worshiper that he was in all times pastT
It is true that among the ranks of the witnesses of
the Lord God you will find persons from every walk
of life, from every nation, from every kindred, and
from every language, but, different from this world,
they have all the same spirit of love and peace toward
their neighbor, and a desire to praise the one God,
Jehovah, and to sing his praises unto all the nations.
16
}"earbook
Their indefeatable zeal is a thing that, even though
the worldly governmental authorities try to do so,
they are unsuccessful in breaking.
MINISTERS OVER OBJECTIONS
In many parts of the world that have come under
the power of great religious influence the authorities
in power do not like to recognize Jehovah's witnesses
as ordained ministers, although they are commissioned
of God as such. The authorities object because these
ministers are different. They do not realize that one
man cannot make another man a minister of God.
Being a minister of God is by reason of his pouring
upon his servant the holy spirit or active force from
on high; and this outpouring the Most High God
says he will perform upon those who love him in truth.
God has poured out his spirit "upon all flesh": men
and women, young and old, bond and free. He did
this to the faithful remnant at the time of Pentecost
A.D. 33, and he is doing it to a like remnant at the
present time. (Joel 2: 28, 29; Acts 2: 17, 18) His
spirit motivates those who have made a consecration
to serve him to preach the gospel, and it makes no
difference whether those individuals be young or old.
If the heart of each one is right and is seeking right-
eousness and is fully devoted to the Lord God, he will
be favored of Jehovah God with his spirit through
Christ.
The objection is made by many rulers and judges
that young people are not qualified to preach the
gospel. They think that a person has to become old
and hoary of head before being able to have wisdom
and understanding. They forget to take into account
the activities of the person in making their decision as
to whether that person is an ordained minister or not.
Christ Jesus was busy about his Father's courts when
at the age of twelve. (Luke 2: 42-49, The Emphatic
Diaglott; An Amer. Trans.) The apostle Paul's com-
Yearbook
17
panion, Timothy, was a young man when he was
called and anointed of the Lord to preach the gospel,
and the churches as well as Timothy himself were
advised not to despise his youth. (1 Tim. 4: 12) The
Bible presents, in fact, a long record of young persons
that have stood for the Lord God and fought valiantly
in their youth as well as in their older age for the
preaching of the message of God's 'Vord. Jeremiah,
Samuel, and others, were recorded as excellent ex-
amples of youths taking up the ministry of God as
preachers.
Coming down to later, secular history, let us take
John Calvin, the sixteenth century reformer and stu-
dent of the Bible and minister of religion. Was he not
recognized as a chaplain at the age of twelve years 1
Yes; and if this John Calvin could be recognized and
put in office as a minister of religion, certainly young
men and women of today who are as devoted to God
as John Calvin ever was can also be acknowledged by
worldly authorities as ministers of God. Not only was
John Calvin a preacher in the Roman Catholic reli-
gious organization at the age of twelve, but his revenue
from preaching was sufficient to assist him in going
through school in his later years. It is recorded in the
Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume 4, edition of 1892,
that John Calvin, who was born in 1509, was made a
chaplain as described: "In his thirteenth year his
father; whose circumstances were not affluent, pro-
cured for him from the bishop the office of chaplain
in the Chapelle de Notre Dame de la Gesine. A few
days after his appointment he received the tonsure
and on the 29th of May 1521, he was installed in his
office." Centuries earlier, Benedict IX was installed
as pope at the age of 12 and continued in office from
1033 to 1056.
Certainly, if John Calvin qualified as a minister or
chaplain in the Roman Catholic religious system, and
if Benedict IX qualified as pope of Rome, both at
the age of twelve years, then hundreds of Jehovah's
18 Yearbook
witnesses, who have made a careful study of the Bible
along unsectarian lines, can qualify for ministerial
status, while yet in their teens, before governing
bodies in the world today. There are hundreds of
young men and women from sixteen to twenty-two
years of age that have gone out into the missionary
field work, many to foreign lands, learning tongues
not their own, in order that they may there preach
the gospel. Youth is no barrier to one's becoming a
minister. One who does become a minister for the Lord
will daily preach the good news. It has always been
recognized that ministers would take a neutral po-
sition as to world affairs and that they are indifferent
to the controversies of the world, because they are not
of this world nor a part of it, although they are in it.
(1 John 2: 15-17) In the same way Christ Jesus was
not of this world. He was in it, but this was for the
sole purpose of preaching the gospel and vindicating
his Father's name.
C h r i ~ t Jesus, in a prayer to his Father in heaven,
requested him that the same spirit that was poured up-
on him be poured upon all his followers, and he asked
his Father not to take them out of the world but to
leave them there that they might preach the good
news of the Kingdom and so some could be saved.
(John 17: 14, 15; 14: 16, 17) This makes it plain that
age is not the determining factor with God's ministers,
neither is sex; but the thing that qualifies one as a
minister is his knowledge of the Lord's Word and his
zeal and devotion to the Most High Sovereign, Jeho-
vah, and, most importantly, the spirit of the Lord God
upon him.
NONNATIONALISTIC ORGANIZATION WORLD-WIDE
From time to time government officials in various
parts of the earth make claims that Jehovah's wit-
nesses are controlled by an American organization
and that Jehovah's witnesses are spreading American
propaganda. However, it will readily be understood
Yearbook
19
by all persons reading any of the publications of
Jehovah's witnesses that are printed and distributed
through the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, a
Pennsylvania corporation in America, that none of
their teachings are nationalistic. They set forth the
belief in the kingdom of God as the only hope of the
world of mankind. That kingdom is what the witnesses
serve, and they look to Christ Jesus as their Com-
mander and Leader, who is above all nations and
political parties. Just that the Watch Tower Bible
& Tract Society happens to be formed in the United
States and is used by Jehovah's witnesses of that
country and of many other countries to carryon their
ministerial activity is no reason for persons to say
that the organization of Jehovah's witnesses all over
the earth is an American organization.
In different countries of Latin America and through.
out Europe and on the other continents of the earth
Jehovah's witnesses have formed local organizations,
or societies within the country in which they reside,
so as to further the interests of their ministerial
activity there. Such societies are just as necessary
locally as the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society in
America. And just because a society is formed in one
particular country, it would be no reason to say that
Jehovah's witnesses of that respective country are
French or German or Brazilian. Jehovah's witnesses
world-wide have one aim in life, and that is to magnify
the name of their heavenly Father, Jehovah, and to
share with Christ Jesus in the vindication of his name
and Word. They realize that he has gathered together
the persons of good-will who love him into one organi-
zation, and that is, a Theocratic organization. Theo-
cratic, yes, but not nationalistic are these witnesses
of Jehovah. Because governments of men have set up
boundaries and have adopted certain languages for
certain territories, and because some of God's conse-
crated people live in those particular lands, these
are no reasons for believing that they are separate
20 rearbook
and distinct from all the other witnesses of the Most
High God throughout the earth. They are not. They
are one body in the Lord, one organization, with one
God Jehovah and one Lord Jesus Christ and one law.
That is the law God has given them, namely, to minis-
ter to him and to preach the gospel of the Kingdom
in all the world for a witness to all nations.
NONPARTISANSHIP
There you have the reason why Jehovah's witnesses,
scattered in scores of lands, will not engage in carnal
warfare one against another, because they will not
violently fight their brethren. At the same time the
Lord's faithful servants will not interfere in a violent
combat between nations. They are neutral as to the
political affairs and military operations of nations,
and they look to Jehovah God as the one that gives
life and has the right to take it away, and the One
who can also preserve them into the new world of
uprightness where they will enjoy peace, prosperity
and everlasting life. They fully appreciate that God's
Word says that his servants will come from every
nation, tribe and tongue but that, because of having
his spirit, they will be one people to him, a chosen
generation, devoted to peace. Knowing that they are
his chosen people under the one Theocratic law, they
serve him with undivided attention. They have the
proper fear of God, for they hate the evil, the arro-
gance, the pride and Godlessness of this world. There
is no room for partisanship among them. All are for
the one ideal, the new-world government by Christ
Jesus.
Logically, in obedience to the divine commands for
this day, such persons as these are putting forth
every effort to push forward the principles of truth
and righteousness and to turn the minds of the people
toward the one true Deity and his gracious Word, the
Bible. This they will continue to do right on down
Yearbook 21
to the final war, the long-predicted Armageddon.
Come opposition, trials, persecution and other troubles
from the governmental agents or the governments
themselves, they. will move ahead fearlessly and cou-
rageously, standing for Jehovah's "King of kings and
Lord of lords", Christ Jesus. This has been wonder-
fully demonstrated, during the year of 1947 just gone.
An unbiased person has just to read the Yearbook
covering this past year's activities throughout the
world by Jehovah's witnesses to grasp with ease that
these are one people, one organization, a Theocratic
organization; and that they look to Jehovah God and
his Son, Jesus Christ, as "The Higher Powers" who
are guiding and directing their activities. The reader
of such Yearbook, after considering the reports from
88 nations or individually governed territory should
be helped to realize that the witnesses are not serving
any man or any worldly organization, and that the
organization which the witnesses have is not American,
German, French, Communistic, or Jewish, but is a
God-directed organization, or Theocratic, and that the
members thereof are interested solely in the lasting
peace and good-will of the peoples everywhere.
What time do they have for dabbling in political
campaigns and battles, or in trying to influence the
secular governments as to what course of action they
should take in the present-day struggle for w{)rld
domination? Their commission to preach takes the
best of their time, and their devotion to the principles
of truth and integrity and uncorruptness grips them
all their time. They fully know and are persuaded that
the only way for peace and perfect happiness to be
brought to the human family is by man's accepting
Jehovah God as the Supreme One of the universe and
also accepting his Son, his chief witness, as the Ran-
somer of mankind and as the rightful King of the new
world. This One, before his own death on the tree of
torture, said in prayer to his heavenly Father: "This
is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true
22
Yearbook
God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." (John
17 : 3) Ah, yes, Jehovah God has made the provisions
for man to get life through his Son. Jehovah is the
real Life-giver, and all human creatures that hope
to have life in the beautified, peaceful world without
end will have to abide by his provisions and accept
him as God and his Son as the Redeemer and King.
Jehovah's witnesses are different from this old world
because they conform to these divine requirements for
life. Thousands upon thousands of persons of good-
will who love truth and who have turned a hearing ear
to their message have sought the Lord God and have
associated themselves with the Theocratic organiza-
tion of Jehovah's witnesses and have joyfully joined
them in proclaiming the message of the Kingdom.
THEIR PROOF OF MINISTRY
Speaking one language, the truth, from one end of
the earth to the other, Jehovah's witnesses in the
service year 1947 have piled up a mighty 'heap of
witness' to the honor and glory of Jehovah's name.
Again they have proved themselves to be a society of
ordained ministers. They have faithfully preached the
good news of God's kingdom to millions of persons and
have shown what the 'joy of all the people' really is.
Throughout the year 181,071 of Jehovah's witnesses
have regularly preached the gospel, in 86 different
lands-the principal nations, the isles of the sea, and
the colonies of the great powers. They are found
working in the states and provinces of all countries,
the cities, the towns, and the rural countryside. The
world is their field, and they are trying to reach the
people in it.
Dming the service year of 1947 these hard-working
servants of the Most High devoted 43,842,305 hours
to preaching. Their devotion to the truth and minis-
terial work resulted in many associating with Jeho-
vah's witnesses, and these persons faithfully followed
Yearbook 23
Christ Jesus and became publishers of the Kingdom,
too. A newall-time record was reached, namely, 207,-
552 ministers participating in the field-service work
during the year 1947. It is sincerely hoped that all
these persons will be regular publishers in 1948, so
that the command of Jesus, "Go ye therefore, and
make disciples of all the nations," may be accomplished
on an even greater scale in the years ahead before the
final battle of Armageddon.
These new publishers of the Kingdom, along with
those who have been in the way for many years,
realize that it pays to be different from this old world.
The broad way leads to destruction; the new way,
God's way, leads to eternal life. This narrow way will
bring reproach, suffering and persecution to the serv-
ants of God, but they appreciate that their faithful
continuance and endurance will bring life and con-
tentment. They have come to know the only God,
Jehovah, and his Son Christ Jesus. They have learned
of God's kingdom and the blessings it holds, and it is
their keen desire to share in these blessings and bring
praise unto the Lord forever. It is now said by them:
"1 will sing praises unto thee among the nations"
(Ps. 57: 9, A.S.V.), which is Jehovah's witnesses'
yeartext for 1948.
It is of real interest to consider the work done by
Jehovah's witnesses during the past twelve months.
They distributed 20,472,739 books and booklets, in
scores of languages, in 86 countries, provinces and
isles of the sea. In addition to this they placed 12,049,-
344 individual copies of the magazines The Watch-
tower and Awake! and these in many languages. Not
only that, but they interested the readers of these mag-
azines to subscribe for a full year, and the number of
new subscriptions obtained by the publishers was
563,101. In a four-month campaign for Watchtower
and Awake! subscriptions they obtained 313,786 such
subscriptions. Jehovah's witnesses are grateful to God
for the opportunity of placing with the people some-
24 Yearbook
thing that they could read and study in their own
homes, especially the Bible and books to help one
understand the Bible. Since 1920 they have placed
513,186,451 books, Bibles and booklets with the people;
but they know this is not all that is necessary. If peo-
ple are to come to a knowledge of the truth, they
need personal help, and to this end Jehovah's wit-
nesses make millions of calls upon them. Invitcd into
their homes, they sit down with the people and answer
their questions and look up scriptures in the Bible to
prove their teachings; and thus they truly bring
comfort to those who mourn in all the earth.
Not only do Jehovah's witnesses preach the gospel
from house to house and publicly, but they spend
much time in giving private instruction, as a minister
of God should. World-wide, Jehovah's witnesses made
11,710,832 visits to the homes of persons interested. In
fact, every week there are conducted throughout the
world 113,035 book studies. In these little private
home meetings there are usually from two to eight
persons who study regularly every week some publica-
tion of the Society, along with the Bible, under the
private instruction of a minister, one of Jehovah's
witnesses.
While much attention is given to the private study
with individuals, Jehovah's witnesses make public
proclamation, too. Thousands of auditoriums, public
parks and other open-air meeting-places have been
used by Jehovah's ordained ministers for public meet-
ings. In all nations and languages these meetings have
been carried on during the past year, to the extent of
101,632 different meetings. The attendance at these
meetings runs into the millions. On one Sunday alone,
when a check was made of attendance, 252,582 persons
in all parts of the world listened to the good news.
Jehovah's witnesses today are like the apostle Paul
in that they do not need a letter written in ink by
someone to prove they are ministers of the gospel.
Paul said: "For I am no peddler of God's message,
Yearbook 25
like most men, but like a man of sincerity, com-
missioned by God and in his presence, in union with
Christ I utter his message . . . Do I, like some people,
need letters of recommendation to you or from you?
You are my recommendations, written on my heart,
for everybody to read and understand. You show that
you are a letter from Christ delivered by me, written
not in ink, but in the Spirit of the living God, and not
on tablets of stone, but on the human heart." (2 Cor.
2: 17; 3: 1-3, An Amer. Trans.) The 158,034 of Jeho-
vah's witnesses in the field during 1946 have a letter
of commendation that is a real recommendation of
their faithful ministry, for in 1947 there were as-
sociated regularly with them 181,071 publishers of
the Kingdom, or an increase of 23,037. And there are
many more now that are showing zeal for the only
righteous cause, which will succeed.
Do Jehovah's witnesses need letters written by
men? or do the facts prove that they have recom-
mendations written in the hearts of those who love
the Kingdom? All the world knows that Jehovah's
witnesses have proof of their ministry, but it is not
orthodox; however, they do their work like the Master,
Jesus. They are not 'peddlers of God's message, like
most men'. Jehovah's witnesses are devoting their
time, their money, their strength, their all, in the
service of God. During the past service year the
Society sent from the Brooklyn office alone to Branches
and missionary homes $256,661.77 in cash to help the
expansion work, this in addition to supplying the
Branches with literature valued at $388,606.44.
Neither do Jehovah's witnesses neglect the associa-
tion of themselves together; for throughout the world
there were 10,782 companies organized. At these
meetings Jehovah's witnesses come together to further
fit themselves for the ministry. At the company meet-
ings every week they study the Watchtower magazine,
which contains spiritual food. They have their service
meetings, where they learn ways and means of better
26 Yearbook
presenting the gospel to the people; they have a
course in Theocratic ministry, which equips them all
to make better expression of the Lord's word to others.
Truly they are ministers of God, equipping them-
selves for every good work. To all these study meetings
people of good-will are invited.
Jehovah's witnesses have an unusual privilege and
responsibility. They accept it and are glad that they
are the servants of the Most High God. They are
diligently putting forth every effort to turn the minds
of all men and women, no matter of what nation,
kindred or tongue, to Jehovah God in true worship.
It is their desire to see all people singing Jehovah's
praises, so that they may gain life eternal and live in
the New World of righteousness where peace and
prosperity will be the heritage of the nations. Yes,
they are determined by God's grace to give proof of
their ministry to many thousands more who join
with them in the grand song of praise to Jehovah
among the nations.
So that the readers of this Yearbook may have some
idea of what is being accomplished in the many na-
tions and lands of the earth a table is set out giving
some of the details. (See pages 28 to 31.) The reports
from all these nations prove beyond question that
Jehovah's witnesses are taking an uncompromising
stand for God's kingdom, and that all of them every-
where are singing praises unto Jehovah among the
nations. (Ps. 57: 9, A..S.V.) What a joy is theirs!
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Jehovah's witnesses in the United States of America
have enjoyed Jehovah's rich blessing. His ministers in
this country have done excellent work in preaching
the glorious gospel of the Kingdom and, by the Lord's
grace, they have used every instrument provided for
the advancement of the Kingdom interests.
It was back in 1884 that a group of Christian men and
women gathered together and formed the Watch Tower Bi-
Yearbook
27
ble & 'rract Society, a corporation. In these
modern days Jehovah's witnesses use this corporation, the
first association of men and women dedicated to the pur-
pose of promulgating the message concerning God's kingdom
established for the blessing of all people, to further their
activity. The work of this Society now reaches out into
many nations of the earth, where Branches have been estab-
lished and. missionary homes set up, all of which come Ull-
del' the d.irection of this Pennsylvania corporatioll.
In the year 1909 it seemed advisable to open offices in New
York to more efficiently direct the work in the United States,
and so what is now known as the Watchtower Bible and.
Tract Society, Inc., was formed. This New York Society,
also used. by Jehovah's witnesses, operates a printing plant
and maintains a large Bethel home to house the volunteer
workers engaged in service at the plant. It also owns and
operates a radio station, WBBR, faithfully serving New
York city and its adjoining communities with God's Word
of truth. In these various institutions, as well as at the
Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, South Lansing, New
York, the Society trains ministers for missionary service.
As Jehovah's witnesses grew in other countries additional
societies were formed, all of which work in conjunction with
the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, for their aims and
purposes are the same. '.rhe Christian people who were meet-
ing together in London, England, formed a society in 1914
known as the International Bible Students Association. This
Association owns certain properties, housing a Branch office
of the Watch Tower Bible & 'l'ract Society, printing plant
and shipping department. In other nations of the earth it
has been advisable to establish corporations to facilitate the
work of Jehovah's witnesses; and the charters of these cor-
porations have provisions similar to that of the Pennsyl-
vania corporation, the principal one being that which pro-
vides for the preaching of the gospel in all the world for a
witness. Jehovah's witnesses world-wide, who are of all na-
tions, kindreds and tongues, stand shoulder to shoulder in
their one activity; and, while they may use different in-
struments to promulgate their work, their purposes are all
the same.
BETHEL HOME
In the United States all activity of Jehovah's witnesses
centers around the Bethel home, situated at 124 Columbia
Heights, Brooklyn 2, New York. This home houses the prin-
cipal offices of the various societies, and it is from this place
that the work throughout the world is directed. Approxi-
mately 280 men and women, all ord.ained ministers, live in
(Continued on page 32)
No.
Tot. Av. Total Total New Individual Back- Book Peak Com-
Pubs. Literature Hours Subs. Magazines Calls Studies Pubs. panies
U. S. of America 67,680 10,166,629 17,386,001 308,618 7,092,651 4,622,064 49,608 73,512 2,879
Alaska 17 4,840 12,075 286 5,529 4,054 24 28 3
Bahamas 17 6,245 6,910 345 664 2,710 67 41
Bermuda 4 878 2,600 23 178 1,285 35 7
Cyprus 37 12,650 13.296 82 3,562 2,241 23 68
Ecuador 14 4,110 7,439 43 1,831 2,397 21 24 1
Guadeloupe 13 280 6,246 7 233 257 1 18 1
Iceland 3 6,978 2,455 220 956 443 7 3
Liberia 3 424 708 4 8 206 4 3
Malta 6 94 612 22 79
Netherlands W. Indies 28 13,373 9,207 638 5,579 3,140 32 42
Palestine 4,734 3,952 200 507 15
Peru 22 10,625 13,951 422 1,019 5,232 85 30 2
Syria - Lebanon 99 10,448 22,409 274 9,459 3,803 39 115 7
Virgin Islands 17 8,672 4,531 766 1,043 2,683 54 17
Argentina 679 125,719 184,925 1,841 36,618 54,238 416 790 39
Australia 3,284 312,292 746,501 10,987 358,263 188,337 1.762 3.516 201
Fiji 6,665 2.039 101 720 621 12
Java [N.E.I.] 11 472 406 171 129 13 1
Slam 21 17,441 11,003 443 1,876 1,771 23 31 2
Singapore 6 2,299 1,988 62 217 631 13 16 1
Austria 751 173,301 162,383 5,373 38,762 69,407 432 941 96
Belgium 876 189,013 238,506 1,198 49,072 44.005 415 1,038 29
Luxembourg 47 3,911 14,430 38 9.609 4,023 56 59 3
Bolivia 16 7,571 14,078 338 1,422 4,877 63 26 1
Brazil 648 440,865 313.820 6.144 43.690 62.661 508 786 47
British Guiana 134 40,013 67.059 386 15.715 18.040 260 185 8
British Honduras 38 5.222 17,566 139 2,786 5,767 82 50 5
British Isles 12.149 2,237,380 3,489,000 77,232 77,067 1,099,510 7,015 13,670 601
Eire 37 14,328 28,706 342 42 8,237 31 53 3
British West Indies 700 89,070 223,423 1,864 94,241 58,666 764 905 31
Canada 11,224 728,517 2,129,473 38,392 817,542 445,891 4,611 12,093 521
Chile 137 43,152 55,201 1,039 10,212 15.238 197 175 11
China 9 7,034 6,592 28 661 488 5 14 1
Colombia 29 23,903 26,033 713 4,363 8,647 88 34 4
Costa Rica 449 31,333 116,263 720 20,027 27.405 427 576 17
Cuba 3,199 214,691 774,875 4,040 81,341 164,944 2,276 3,682 91
Czechoslovakia 1,251 296,451 228.172 2,205 62,433 69,040 478 1,412 166
Denmark 2,724 313,427 389,657 6,328 253,789 112,144 862 2,977 155
Dominican Republic 59 23,951 41,851 272 6,487 17,303 293 84 2
Egypt 68 8,040 16.449 92 1,453 3.345 53 79 5
EI Salvador 80 18,207 35.796 422 7.135 12,861 176 136 2
Finland 2,281 525,325 507,983 12,444 270,862 97,166 717 2,696 383
France 2,184 187,102 361,866 3,298 51,748 109,778 1,028 2,380 104
Germany 15,856 42,553 3,589,030 1.957.525 7.394 20,811 1,441
No.
Tot. Av. Total Total New Individual Back- Book Peak Com-
Pubs. Literature HourI! Subs. Magazines Calls Studies Pubs. panies
Greece 1,891 77,799 225,783 6,028 168,146 56,968 384 2,367 212
Turkey 6 117 767 110 6 1
Guatemala 75 24,809 .8,108 783 13,034 16,076 244 112
Haiti
16 11,900 13,834 42 3,622 4,537 48 26
Hawaii 129 56,657 49,750 3,430 13,117 13,428 174 163 7
Honduras 45 10,097 24,707 196 3,291 7,352 116 70
Hungary
989 126,059 184,089 991 11,868 88,806 740 1,253 147
India 198 36,039 75,380 2,413 12,300 13,938 223 225 26
Burma
19 7,608 7,085 728 984 2,036 21 24
Ceylon
12 3,505 5,048 319 1,579 1,321 15 22
Persia 1 1 6 1 1
Italy 152 57,943 22,275 315 704 5,204 68 178 35
Jamaica 1,185 98,915 306,173 833 54,693 68,193 1,182 1,411 132
Mexico 4,125 405,091 910,134 4,513 119,761 145,433 2.228 4,867 245
Netherlands 3,764 349,798 951,844 4,115 234,694 169,191 1,204 4,247 102
Newfoundland 54 16,695 21,183 1,091 6,063 6,965 45 90 10
New Zealand 678 131,246 171,642 6,012 96,327 41,138 384 779 48
Nicaragua 36 9,748 18,598 271 4,500 6,767 83 65 2
Norway 799 317,996 175,697 4,972 131,535 41,501 366 972 78
Panama 175 45,995 67,591 1,249 34,225 26,334 388 215 9
Paraguay
34 8,820 17,774 260 5,151 5,731 69 47 6
Philippine Islands 2,471 419,890 621,659 992 107,723 60,249 654 2,902 178
Poland
6,334 291.081 941,743 9,148 233.547 349.593 3.642 7.703 470
Russia 3.498 17.780 152.069 2.452 24,067 41.458 1,220 3.917 124
Puerto Rico 87 40.235 43.951 1,420 11,039 15,216 183 119
Rumania 1.990 450.940 303.668 87.170 55.140 2.419 2.685 389
South Africa 3.843 369.935 1.235.017 8.428 211.858 251.091 2.995 4.163 228
Northern Rhodesia 6.114 1.134 1.982.983 6 199,847 3.869 8.007 252
Nyasa1and 3.542 1.303 1,077,894 289.810 4.740 4.154 374
Portuguese East Africa 214 66.197 18,688 293 381 28
St. Helena 17 22 620 18 61 4 17 1
Southern Rhodesia 2.572 33,843 750.568 208 2.513 122.205 1.630 3.044 82
Tanganyika 198 41,781 7.145 108 237 8
Surinam 55 15,452 22.202 92 4.179 6.869 105 75 2
French GUiana 465 646 4 63 225 14
Sweden 2.894 323.284 551.932 9.274 537.598 122.890 843 3.092 367
Switzerland 1.512 189.735 238.686 3,137 445.902 53,355 559 1.645 84
Uruguay 175 38,904 80,358 825 16,858 27.613 379 211 8
Venezuela 29 13.065 23.684 151 4,576 5.646 67 47 6
West Africa [Nigeria] 3.710 78,533 1,039,620 248 4.637 43.641 768 4.111 201
Gold Coast 360 8.619 70,077 38 832 3.813 98 575 24
Sierra Leone at 2.876 4.268 12 357 10 38 1
Yugoslavia 120 1.327 7.847 1.095 120
TOTAL 181.071 20.472.7:l9 43.842.305 563.101 12.049.344 11.710.832 113.035 207,552 10.782
1947 ServIce Year
32
Yearbook
(Oontinued from page 27)
the Bethel home, and their lives are consecrated to the
doing of the Lord's will. These Individuals reside at Bethel
voluntarily. All receive the same allowance each month,
namely, $10.00, which covers incidental expenses. Adequate
provisions are made for their care, so as to keep them in
good health and able to perform their respective duties in
and about the home, radio station, factory and offices.
The IJroadcasting station, WBBR, had its studios at 124
Columbia Heights up until recently, when the city of New
York began the construction of a super-highway in the
Borough of Brooklyn. The city needed some of the property
on which the Bethel home was situated and therefore in-
stituted condemnation proceedings in the courts to obtain
this property. Such action made necessary considerable
changes in the Bethel home, and also compelled the Society
to make preparations for the construction of a large addition
to the present home. The studios of WBBR have been trans-
ferred temporarily to the transmitter site at Staten Island.
At the same time the Society made application to the
Federal Communications Commission for permission to in-
crease the power of the station. This has since been granted,
and pr-eparations are under way now at Staten Island for
the erection of three large antennre towers and installation
of sufficient new equipment to bring the power of WBBR
up to five thousand watts. The station lays down a good
signal over all of New York city and vicinity, and this gives
opportunity to millions of persons to hear clearly explained
the good news of God's kingdom. With the new equipment
and resultant increase In power a much greater area will
be reached, thus expanding the radio service in this territory.
Because of the city's taking away the greater portion of
the old part of the Bethel home, the family has been bro-
ken up. That Is to say, many of the brethren working full
time In Bethel service are now living In other quarters. The
Society has obtained properties adjoining the present Bethel
home for the construction of a new building; however, full
possession of the property cannot be gotten until the tenants
renting apartments in these homes move out It is believed
that all these apartments will be vacant by the early part
of February, and then demolition proceedings can begin and
construction start on the new and enlarged Bethel.
It Is planned to include In this new building Improved,
modern studios for WBBR, as well as a large assembly room
accommodating at least four hundred persons. This latter
room will be used for the Bethel family's Watchtower study,
service meeting and other general assemblies. A new kitchen
and dining room will also be part of the new structure,
because these facilities were lost in the demolition of the
Yearbook 33
older part of the home. Provision is being made for a larger
laundry, as well as for many other conveniences that will
aid the members of the family in their service for the King
and the Kingdom.
ORDAINED MINISTERS
Regular study and instruction are given to all persons
living in the Bethel home. They are ordained ministers and
have proved themselves as such by their good works, but
they never cease to study the Lord's Word, which is "meat
in due season". Practically all these ministers are assiglled
special duties in the preaching of the gospel. Many of them
serve congregations in New York city; others are sent out
regularly to near-by company organizations and serve on
week-ends. In addition to those who live in the Bethel home
there are hundreds of other ministers that the Society di-
rects and sends from place to place. Those ordained minis-
ters who come under the direct supervision of the Society
are listed below. However, it should be kept in mind that the
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society is a SOciety of minis-
ters; and Jehovah's witnesses world-wide have all prepared
themselves for ministerial duty. "Go ye therefore, and make
disciples of all the nations," said Jesus. This Jehovah's
witnesses are doing in all nations. They are desirous of
guiding the people into the way of life, and they accept as
their commission Isaiah 61: 1-3 and Matthew 24: 14, along
with the many other commands of God to preach this gospel.
ORDAINED MINISTERS APPOINTED TO SPECIAL SERVICE
Abbuhl. David
Abt, Harald
Adams, Don Alden
Adams, Elmer Polk
Adams, Joel Cameron
Adams, John Edward
Adamson, Eduardo Diego
Adler, Friedrich
Airas, Arvo
Akpabio, Asuquo Obot
Albu, Pamtll N.
Allan, Joseph
Allen, Malcolm Stanley
Allen, Paul Arthur
Alpiche, Lorenzo Daulong
Alspach, Russell William
Amaya, Crispin
Amores, Victor Casas
Anderson, Donald Everett
Anderson, Fred August
Anderson, John Henry
Anderson, Marvin Ferrol
Anderson, Raymond Lee
Andersson, Henry
Andersson, IvaI
Andersson, Onnl
Andrews, Albert Frederick
Andros, Thomas
Arend, Benjamin
Argentos, John S.
Arnold, Edward
Atkinson, George
Attwood, Anthony Cecil
Aura, Mlkael
Avey, Arthur William
Babcock, Earle
Babinski, Joseph E.
Badgett, Chester
Baeuerlein, John Adam
Bagley, Clifford Daniel
Bahner, Jose
Baker, Glenn Seymour
Baker, Paul Southgate
Bangle, Aleck
Banks, Thomas Edgar
Barber, Carey Walter
Barford, Wallace Leon
Barman, Mlkael
Barnes, Augustus F. J.
Barnes, George Quincy
Barnett, Arthur Eugene
Barney, PaUl Joseph
34 Yearbook
Barr, John Edwin
Barrett, George C.
Barry, William Lloyd
Bartha, Andras
Bartlett, Milton Everett (Jr.)
Bartrip, Trevor Gordon
Bartzach, Otto
Baswel, Macario B.
Bauer, Herschel Weert
Baur, Otto
Bautista, Jose G.
Baxter, Donald Edward
Baxter. Wallace Hendrie
Beck, Paul Boone
Becker, Edward William
Becker, Wilhelm
Beedle, Charles Joseph
Behunick. Stephen
Beier, Hans
Belinger, Hans
Belokon, Nicholas
Belscher, Delbert Clayton
Benesch, Howard Joseph
Benson, Joe Ricketts
Bernard, Dalways
Bernard, John Russell
Betley, Samuel
Bevington, George William
Bible, Reginald Allen
Bible,. Richmond Loyd
Bible, Roland Wallin
Bljl, Glsbertus N. van der
Billeter, Max
Bjorklund, Josef
Black, Harry
Blackburn, Woodrow W.
Blair, Mortel Isldor
Blaney, John Beech
Blumel, Richard
Bobb, Edwin Elmer
Bogard, John
Booth, John Charles
Borys, Emil Fredy
Bosshardt, Walter
Botterill, Frank
Boyd, Donald Archie
Bradburne, Thomas Randall
Bradbury, David Martin
Bradbury, Rupert Martin
Brame, Ea.rle Roy
Brannick, Joseph Benjamin
Brehmer, Otto Theodor
Britten, Eric
Droad, Albert \Villiam
Broad, Edward Stanford
Broadwater, Lloyd
Brodie, Ralph
Brooker, Gerald Bennett
Brown, David Wallace
Brown, Monte Cristo
Brown, Peter
Brown, Robert Mantell
Brown, William Roland
Bruderer, Oskar
Bruton, John Gist
Brzozka, Franciszek
Buenger, Philip
Buffa, Paul
Bullock, Wilmer Charles
Bumphrey, Floyd Ossian
Bunt, Wallace Edwin
Burczyk, Benno Oskar
Burkhardt, DOnald \Vllson
Burt, Donald Herbert
Burtch, Lloyd Byron
Bussanyl, Laszlo
Butts, Paul Allen
Byriel, Andrew
CRIl, William Eugene
Cantwell, Henry Albert
Carnie, Wilham
Carpenter, Charles Ernest
Carron, Steven Louis
Casola, Peter A.
Castille ira, GUillermo
Catanzaro, Angelo A.
Cater, Harold George
Chapman, Perey
ChappUiS, George
Charles, Cyril William
Charlwood, Edmund
Chlmal, Miguel
Chimiklis, John Peter
Chinula, Joseph A.
Chipeta, Pharaoh M.
Chitty, Ewart Charles
Choma, Hieronim
Chongo, Yolam
Chornenky, Theodore
Chyke, Calvin Michael
Clay, Edgar Allan
ClRyton, Charles Milburn
Clemons, Charles Stephen
Collier. Roland Edward
Collms. Wallace Allen
Colunga, Benjamin
Comldoy, Leovihildo S.
Commey, James B.
Comstock. Eli Hall
Conrad, John .Jacob
Coon, Rex Raymond
Cooper, Carleton Davia
Cornelius, Russell Stewart
Cornwell, Royce Allen
Cotterill. Richard Sheldon
Couch, George M.
Couch, William D.
Coultrup, Charles Russell
Coup, Carmon LeRoy
Coville, Allan Stanley
Covington, Hayden Cooper
Craddock. John AlexRnder
Crapp, Eric George Martin
Crockett, Neil John
Cross, Arthur Bright
Crowley. James Edmond
Cumming, Albert Edward
Cummings. Marshall Henry
Cummings, Morris Zebron
Cutforth, John Ashlin
Yearbook
35
Dague, Harry
Daniels, Edwin Grant
Danley, Albert Franklin
DassieI', Fritz
Davis, James Edward
Davis, Robert Leonard
Dawkins, George Carter
DeBoer, Adrian
DeCecca, Giovanni
Decroly, Firmin
DeFehr, John Frank
DeJager, Petrus Johannes
Delonnoy, Emile
Demorest, David
Deninger. OrvllIe Edwin
Derderian. Dickran Philibbas
Dey, William
Didur, Alex Mitchell
Diehl, Willi
Dilling, Robert J.
Dillon, Lee Edward
Dingman, WIlliam Robert
Dionisio, Adolfo F.
Dockey, Emanuel L.
Doering, Jeremiah
Donaldson, Norman
Dondore, David Russell
Dopklng, Frank
Dossmann, Paul
Dow, Meredith Montague
Downie, Malcolm MacPherson
Drenth, Adriaan Arend
Droge, George Henry
Duerdan, Harold
Dutfteld, Harry Walter
Duncan, Harold BlIIet
Duncombe, Yorke Michael
Dunham, Alfred P. R.
Dunlap, Edward A.
Dunnagan, James Henry (Jr.)
Dwenger, Heinrich
Earle, Kenneth Perry
Eaton, Andrew Kirk
Eckley, Fred Garfield
Eichelberger, Ira Romain
Eicher, Charles Emile
Eklof, Valter
Ekman, Daniel Valentin
Ellis, Robert Franklin
Eloranta, Vllho
Els, Christe>ft:el F.
Elvy. Charles E.
Emery, Wilfred Vryburgh
Eneroth, Johan Henrik
Engel, Wilhelm
Ewetuga, Amos
Fairfax, Harry Carlyle
Farmer, Herbert James
Fekel, Charles John
Feller, Jules
}I'ellow, Donald Dean
Fellows, Edward Ted
Ferrari, Charles Lucian
Ferrari, Joseph
Ferrari, Salvino
Feuz, Arnold
Feuz, Gottfried
Field, Thomas Kenneth
Finch, Henry
Fischer, William Raymond
Fitzpatrick, Charles Edward
Fletcher, Jack
Fleury, Maurice
Forster, Johannes
Forsyth, Thomas
Fraftke, Konrad
Franks, Frederick Newton
Fransch, Daniel R.
Franz, Fred Wl11iam
Franz, Raymond Victor
Frederiksen, Holger
Fredette, Roland Harvey
Fredianelll, George
Friedrich. Jozef
Friend, Maxwell Godward
Friend, Samuel Benson
Frobus, Richard
Frost, Charles Edgar
Frost, Hugo Erich
Fuelo, Anthony
Fulton, Paul T.
Galbreath, Douglas Milton
Galczynski, Jan
Gammenthaler, Adolf
Gangas. George Demetrius
Garal, Mihaly
Garcia, Samuel
Garrard, Gerald Bayliss
Garrett, Floyd Franklin
Gawlor, Jan
Geiger, HenrI
George, Hugh Clarence
Gertz, Arthur Georg
Geyer, Benjamin Philip
Gibb, George R. W.
Glerlach, Antoni
Gigliotti. Peter
Glllatt. Clement
Glandln, Oskar
Glass. Rus&ell Ellsworth
Glass, Ulysses Vanell
Gluske, Walter
Gluyas, Harold John
Gobltas, William Henry
Goings, Chester
Golles, Peter
Gonzalez, Raymond Manuel
Gooch, Wilfred
Goodman. Claude Stanley
Gosclnskl. Mitchell Ben
Goslin, Elijah W.
Gough, Robert
Goux, Arthur R.
Greenlees, Leo Kincaid
Grigat, Ernst
Grlica, Peter
Groh, John O.
Grossmann, Paul
Grover, Erwin Albert
36 Yearbook
Gruber, Kurt Paul
Guiver, Ernest James
Gunda, Grant
Haapanen, Vilppu Urpo
Hackenberg, Chalmers F,
Haenni, Fritz
Haigh, Joseph Horace
Hakansson. Oscar
Hall, Sydney
Hamann, Otto
Hamann, Walter
Hamilton, Joseph Ora
Hammer, Paul
Hananuja, Isaac
Haney, Arthur
Hanke, Emil Otto
Hannan, George Edwin
Hannan, William Trenchard
Harburn, Alfred E.
Harker, Claude Percival
Harriman, Volney Allen
Harrop, Stuart A.tkin
Harteva, Elon
Harteva, Kaarlo Jalmarl
Hartman, Daniel David
Hartstang, Frederic
Harvey, Roy Wesley
Haslett, Donald
Hatzfeld, Robert Henry
Hau, Aage
Hau, Jorgen
Heath, William Pratt (Jr.)
Heinicke, Willi
Held, Douglas Ede
Held, John Austin
Held, John Jacob
Hemery, Jesse
Hemmaway, John Tom
Hemmings, Henry Reginald
Hemstad, Hans Peter
Hendrix, John Noel
Henning, Max
Henry, Herbert T.
Henry, Robert Charles
HenSChel, Milton George
Hensman, Clifford Henry
Hepworth, Charles
Hernandez, Leonard Alvin
Hershey, Monsell
Hessler, Charles Russell
Heuberger, Heinrich
Hibbard, Orin J.
Hilborn, Howard Max
Hllldrlng, Thurston Andrew
Hille, Curt
Hinkle, DWight David
Hofer, Jacob
Hoffman, Albert Manley
Hoffmann, Filip C. S.
Hoffmann, Oskar
Hoglin, Frank
Hollister, Frederick Stevens
Hollister, George Stevens
Holmes, Calvin Henry
Holms, Robert Arthur
Homer, David
Homolka, Charles Peter
Honey, Robert Reed
Hopley, Alfred
Hopley, Randell
Hoppe, Karl
Horton, Bert
Houseman, Martin Burdette
How, William Glen
Howlett, Matthew Arnold
Howlett, Wilfred Arthur
Huber, Emil
Hughes, Alfred Pryce
Hughes, Gwaenydd
Humphrey, Tillman Eugene
Hunt, Leonard Alfred
Hutrl, Emil
Ihrig, Elmer Carl
Ilett, Ambrose Emmons
Insberg, Ana
Iszlaub, Percy
Jack, Andrew
Jackson, William Kirk
Jacobs, Edward A.
J ames, Alfred Irving
Jankovich, Steven
Jankowiak, Bronislaw
Jansen, Gerrlt
Jaracz, Theodore
Jenkins, Fred William
Jensen, Henning A.. L.
Jensen, Ingvard
Jensen, Klaus Monrad
Jenssen, Finn A. R.
J ewulski, Theodore George
Jobin, Charles
Johansson, Elias
Johansson, Erik V.
Johansson, Gosta
Johansson, Gustav
Johansson, Hans
Johansson, Sven
John, Howard
Johnson, Curtis Knute
Johnson, James Wilbur
Johnson, Lennart A. S.
Johnson, William Everett
Johnston, Elmer
Johnston, Reginald Watson
Jones, George
Jones, Roscoe
Jones, Stanley Ernest
Jorgensen, Svend Aage
Josefsson, Lennart
Joseph, A. Joseph
Judson, Henry George
Kabaso, Jonathan
Kabungo, Oliver
Kadzlela, Eugenlusz
Kalltera, Edwin
Kalle, Rudolph
Kallio, Leo Donatus
Kamlnarls, Mlchall E.
Kankaanpaa, Erkkl
Kankaanpaa, Tuomo
Yearbook 37
Kapasuka, Llfeyu
Kapinus, Frantisek
Karanasslos, Athanaslus I.

Karlsen, Nils
I{atzmier, Leonard
Kedziora, Josef
Keen, Grant Street
KeJlaris, Alexander Nicholas
Keller, Eduardo Francisco
Kelley, Nell Webster
KeJly, George Way
Kennedy, Edgar Claire
Kettelarij, Willem
King, Harold George
Kirk, Robert William
Kirkland, Powell Means
Kirscht, Karl
Klvimaki, Yrjo
Kjellberg, Gustaf
Kjorlien, Donald Otto
Klapproth, Karl
Klebbe, Wilhelm
Klein, Karl Frederick
Klein, Theophilus Erhart
Kleine, Edwin John
Klohe, Georg
Knecht, RUdolf
Knight, Donald Gene
Knorr, Nathan Homer
Koclenlewskl, Stanislaw
Koekebacker, Harry Earl
Koelmel, Richard Charles
Konrad, Janos
Koral, Antoni
Korhonen, Mauri
Korttua, Kalev!
Koskinen, Johannes
Kovalak, Nicholas (Jr.)
Krebs, Karl
Krochmal, Chester
Kubarycz, Jan
Kugler, Hubert
Kugler, Otto
Kuhn, Wenzel
Kunz, Hans
Kurzen, John Godfrey (Jr.)
Kurzen, Russell Walter
Kusiak, Michal
Kutch, John Andrew
Kwasniewski, Peter
Kwazlzlrah, Gresham
Kwiatosz, Edward

Lampinen, Pentti
Landrum, Swepton James
Lang, Albert Sherman
Lang, Julius
Lange, Wilhelm
Lantunen, Kasrlo
Larson, Max Harry
Larsson, John
Larsson, SVen Erik
Latyn, Mike
Laufer, Karl
Laurlx, James Wells
Lazenby, Robert
Learned, Alvin Eugene
Leathco, Charles Dillard
Leeds-George, Lambert Cyril
Leffler, Ralph Homer
Legler, Paul Arthur
Lehti, Eero Kalervo
Lehtinen, Viljo Felix
Leino, Armas
Leistikow, Raymond
LeKock, Alexandra M.
Lemm, Irvin
Lemmons, Paul H.
Lester, Cornelius
Lewis, Julius Franklin
Lichti, Charles
Licznerskl, Alfons
Lin, OJdrich
Lindal, G. F.
Lindau, Alvin Diedrich
Linder, Emil
Lindsay, Ludwell Moses
Llukko, Emil
Livingstone, Lance George
Llwag, Salvador A.
Lochner, Hamilton
Lopez, Flavio
Lorek, Jan
Lorenz Paul
Lottenbach, Hans
Lovell, A. Leslie
Lubeck, Joseph
Lucas, Reginald Ernest
Luck, Frederick H.
Ludke, Walter Arthur
Luka, James
Lukus, Fred
Lukus, Peter Harry
Lundgren, H. B.
Lunstrum, David A. T.
Lunstrum, Elwood
Luts, John
Maas, Ransom Chrest
MacAulay, Daniel Fred
MacLean, Donald Howard
Macmillan, Alexander Hugh
MacNamara, Fred John
Maday, Caesar WllIlam
Madomba, K. Ellya
Madorskl, Frank
Magdziarz, Czeslaw
Magyarosl, Martin
Mahler, Bernard Paul
Mals, Montague
Majewski, Wlodzlmlerz
Makela, Otto
Makinen, Laurl
Mangaoang, Clrllo
Mann, Albert Henry
Mann, Charles Stewart
Maples, Lovlc Raymond
Marcussen, Gunnar
38 Yearbook
Marks, Peter
Markus, John Frederick (Jr.)
Martikkala, Emil Alfred
Martinez, Nicolas
Martinsen, Martlnius
Mason, Benjamin Brock
Matare, James
Matilainen, Eino Antero
Mattson, Robert Warren
Matungwa, Ishmael
Matwicio, Steve
Maurer, Charles
Maykut, Frank
McClanahan, Thomas F.
McDonald, Donald
McGrath, Henry Joseph
McKay, Homer
McKee, George Lemuel
McKenzie, Samuel
McLamb, Frank Algernon
McLemore, Lester Loran
McLuckie, William
McLuhan, Roy G.
McRoy, George Edward
McWiIliams, Robert Garland
Mdema, John Young
Mefful, Samuel Anthony
Melofsky, Frank (Jr.)
Metcalfe, Geoffrey Russel
Meyer, Johannes W.
Michalec, Edward Alexander
Michalowski, Marian
Michel, Jacques
Michiels, Alphonse
Mickey, Lyle Rodney
Mickey, Orville Weston
Mickey, Piercie Lee
MlIes, Thomas Garnet
Millar, John Evans
Miller, Grant Dallas
Miller, James Merritt
Miller, Robert Marion
Mlnet, Jose Nicolas
Mlamlell, Bennett
Mleczak, Stanislaw
Mock, Russell Vincent
Mock, Wayne Hubert
Moe, Trond
Molbech, Svend Aage
Moller, Carsten
Moller, Gert Kaj
Montantes, Antonio
Morales, Israel
Morgan, Robert Emil
Morgan, Roger Lee
Morozuk, Pavel
Morris, Harold Albert
Morris, Leland Bernard
Morrison, Donald John
Mortensen, Ejner PedeI'
Mortiock, Albert Reginald
Moss, WiIllam Henry
Mostmckx, Theophile
Moyle, Roy Leonard
Mpendeka, David
Muhaluk, Paul
Muller, Bohumll
Muller, Dawld A,
Muller, Jacobus P.
Muku8wani, Jonathan
Muniz, Juan
Munsterman, Donovan Roy
Muntener, Christian
Murasasu, Teodor
Murphy, Henry Ollltt
Muurainen, Eero
1I1wambulah, Lettatt
Mwamza, Ariel
:\'abialczyk, Stanislaw
Nagy, Ferenc
:-:astanskl, Franelazek
Nathan, John H.
Keave, William
l\'egria, Nick
:\'01, Gert C,
:\'elson, James LeRoy
Nervo, Toivo Israel
Neubacher, Johannes
Nevalainen, Laurl
Newell, Earl Edwin
Ngobese, Timothy B.
Kguluh, McCoffie P.
:\'gwaya, Albert
Nikklla, Tarmo Kalervo
Nilsson, Verner
Nlronen, Eero
Nisbet, George
Nisbet, Robert
Nnabuko, James
Nwachukwu, Anthony Frank
Nyendwa, Harrison
Oakley, Joseph Arthur
Obrist, Paul
Oertel, Henry Carl
Ogunde, Seth Adebayo
Oja, Aarne Elmer
Ojanen, Lennart
Olander, Werner
Olinski, Stanislaw
Olson, Nels Willis
Olson, Vernon Glenn
Olsson, Hilding
Oltmanns, Gerhard
Oman, Enok
Onafowokan, Joseph Labinjoh
O'NeIll, Samuel Calvin
Ooijik, Willem van
Orrell, Eugene Dallas
Ortiz. Genero
Ott, Carlos
Owepa, Joshua Ilevborebo
Paine, Robert EdWard
Pajasalmi, Esko Kalervo
Pallarl, Matti Johannes
Pallari, Vaino Jaakko
Pap adem, George Drakos
Papageorge, Demetrius
Papargyropoulos, Aristotles p,
Papp, Laszlo
Pappas, Gregory Charles
Yearbook 39
Parker, John Nathan
Paschall, Arthur Lee
Pastwinski, Boleslaw
Pate, Arden
Percival, McKay Don
Perez, Paul Peter
Perry, John Alves
Peters, August
Petersen, Henry Stefan
Petersen, Hermann
Peterson, Charles T. R.
Peterson, William
Petersson, Viktor
Phillips, Frederick Edward
Phillips, George Ross
Phillips, Llewelyn
Phillips, Wendell
Photinos, Peter
Pillars, Oscar Lawrence
Pinda, James
Pinder, Jack
Pino, Rogelio del
Pittman, Roy Truman
Platt, Frank Gordon
Pletscher, Reinhard
Plumhol'f, Fred Henry
P o g g e n s e ~ Russell Taze
Ponting, John Herbert
Potzinger, Martin
Powell, George Raymond
Powers, Jack Daniel
Pow lett, Felix Adolphus
Pramberg, Jack David
Pratt, Orman Donald
Prewitt, James Fred
Price, William Frank
Proost, Jan
Prosser, Calvin Sheridan
Prostak, Alojzy
Puckett, Joseph O.
Pulver, Harold Merle
Pysh, John
Quackenbush, Colin Dale
Quackenbush, Myron Neil
Queyroi, Jean
QuintaniIIa, Jose
Raczkowski, Wlncenty
Radosevich, William
Rainold, Alfred
Ranca, Petre
Randall, Charles Alfred
Rann, George Alexander
Raper, Archie Vernon
Rasmussen, Christian
Rasmussen, Johannes E. F.
Rawls, John Wesley
Ray, Gordon Orv!lIe
Reed, Homer Franklin
Reed, Joshua James
Reeder, Maurice Charles
Rees, Philip D. M.
Reeves, Louis Edgar
Reid, Walter A.
Reljntjes, Willem CorneliuB
Reimer, RUBsell A.
Reingruber, Ernst
Rennalls .... Julius Oliver
Renye, charles Francis
Reusch, Lyle Elvern
Reyes, Martin
Reynolds, Stanley Edward
Rhyne, Robert Wyatte
Richards, David John
Richards, Robert
Richardson, Francis N.
Richardson, George Wilson
Riemer, Hugo Henry
Riffel, Julius
RoaCh, Gordon
Robb, John Birrell
Robbins, James Charles
Roberts, Claude
Rocha, Gregorio Gallegos
Rockwell, Linley
Rodriguez, Gonzalo
Roe, Webster Lawson
Rohner, Charles
Rohning, Frank Monroe
Rohrer, Arnold
Ropelius, Kurt
Roper, Lester Lee
Rose, Edmund Joseph
Rose, Raymond Ralph
Ross, Marion Wilfred
Rosser, Aubrey Arthur
Ross-Jensen, William R.
Rowe, Leonard Vincent
Rushton, Robert Charles
Russell, George Mouat
Ruth, Wilmer B,
Rutlmann, Alfred
Rutlshauser, Albrecht
Ryan, Roy Ansi!
Sabunl, Leonard
Salamone, Albert
Salavaara, Kaarlo Olavl
Saltmarsh, George Henry
Santos, Joseph
Sasso, Albert
Saumur, Laurier
Saungweme, Daniel
Schallebaum, Paul
Scheffel, Hermann
Scheider, Wilhelm
Schillinger, William Matthias
Schlumpf, Walter
Schmidt, Alfred
Schmidt, August
Schmidt, Waldemar
Schnell, Wiktor
Scholes, Norman
Schram, Bernard Lambertus
Schroeder, Albert Darger
Schutz, Hermann
Schwafert, Erwin
Seal, Alfred Wayne
Sebln, Jan
Secord, Arthur Henry
Seliger, Ernst
40
Yearbook
Semere, Andreya
Sergios, VaslIios George
Shawver, Windell Gilbert
Short, W. Clayton
Sibamba, Moffatt
Sideris, Anthony
Siebenllst, Theodore Hess
Siemlniak, Andrzej
Sillaway, Charles Eugene
Silva, Benedlcto Maximo da
Silva, Jose Rutlno
Simpson, James Claude
Singh, George P.
Sioras, John Peter
Sipavich, Hipolito
Skelparick, Nick
Skinner, Francis Edwin
Sklenak, Josef
~ ~ ~ r l : ~ ~ b e r t F.
Smedstad, Hubert A.
Smerchek, Eugene
Smith; George W.
Smith, Graham
Smith, Hollis Adrian
Smith, Keith Neville
Smith, Leonard Ernest
Smith, Thomas Erskine
Sonjabl, Pontlrlo
Sonnenschein, Heinz
Southworth, Charles Herbert
Souto, Djalma Mendes
Spencer, James W. (Jr.)
Spiropoulos, Panayotls C.
Sporrl, Walter
Stallard, Leonard Kent
Starbuck, Floyd Bailey
Staub, Paul
Steele, Charles Arthur
Steele, William Herman
Steelman, Joshua Monroe
Stein, John H.
Steinemann, Hugo
StC'nersen, Leiv Willy
Stephens, Emmett Woodrow
Stephens, Ross L.
Stewart, Earl Kltchener
Stewart, Harold Lloyd
Steyer, Johannes
Steynberg, Wilfred L.
Stickel, Ludwig
Stierle, Walter Reynold
Stoermer, Clarence Adolph
Stover, George William
Strege, William James
Stuber, Alfred
Stuetloten, John W.
Stuhlmiller, Alols
Suiter, Grant
Sullivan, Thomas James
Sumen, Hemming Arthur
Sun, Hutton H.
Sunnari, Penttl
Supera, Molses G.
Suvak, Andrew
Svennback, Alfred Georg
Svensson, Curt
Svensson, Huf'o
Swearingen, Lewis
Swebelele, Alfred S.
Swingle, Lyman Alexander
Sydlik, Daniel
Taavltsainen, Elal Salomo
Taclak, Charles Alexander
Takala, Tauno
Talarico, Ernest Alfred
Talma, Gilbert Louis
Tambala, Ogala
Tangolls, John
Taylor, Clarence
Taylor, Edward
Televlak, Michael J:ames
Tembo, James
Teran, Rodollo Pardo
Tetradls, John
Tharp, Alexander Erwin
Thieme, Paul
Thomas, Fritz Hans
Thomas, Robert Wayne
Thompson, A. K.
Thompson, Adrian
Thompson, Rayburn Dale
Thoren, Aaron Theodore
Thorn, Walter John
Thornton, Worth Leonard
Tkachuk, William
Tornlund, Martin
Toutjlan, Shield H.
Tracy, Frederick Allison
Tracy, Robert Nelson
Tracy, William Amos
Traub, Ricardo
Travers, Paul Elwin
Tucker, Cecil A.
Turpin, James Lyle
Tuttle, Donald Lester
Vchman, Jan
Udoh, Reuben
Ulrich, Clarence
Umlauf, Jacob
"aile, Charles Mack
Van Baalen, Sherman W.
Van Daalen, Arthur Frederick
"an Daalen, EmU Henry
Vandenberg, Matthew Manuel
Van Horn, Alan George
"an Horn. Frederic
\' anlee, Ernest Ray
Van Sipma, Samuel Martin
Van Zee, Fred Post
Vasquez, Sergio M. (Jr.)
Vereghese, Karote Mathew
Vethiwa, P.
Villarreal, Filomeno
Vlahakis, John George
Vliet, Frans H. van
Voigt, Walter
Voigt, Walter Erdmann
Voss, Adolfo
Voss, Russell Taze
Yearbook 41
Wagner, Andrew Koch
Waldron, Richard John
Wallace, Francis Brady
Wandres, Albert
Wargo, John Michael
Wargo, Michael (Jr.)
Wargo, Peter James
Wasitis, Frank Wllllam
Watt, Alexander James
Wauer, Ernst
Weber, Jean
Webster, James Oscar
Weckstrom, Erik Anders
Weden, Erik
Well, Albert
Weller, Arthur F.
Wenge, Erich
\Vengert, William Robert
Wentzel, Petrus J.
Werden, Claude Herbert
West, Albert James
'Wetzler, Harold David (Jr.)
Wheelock, Richard Carl
White, Victor
Wiberg, Carl Emil
\Vlcke, Alfred Emil
Wicks, Joseph
Wledenmann, David
Wieland, Edward Ernest
Wieland, Edward Walter
Wiens, Benjamin John
Wiesner, Ernest
Wihlborg, Ingvar
Wilda, Charles de
Wildschut, Johannes
Wilk, Bronislaw
\Vililams, George Alvin
Wllllams, H:l.rry R.
Williams, Noble Merritt
Wilson, Ennis Robert
Wilson, Herbert Francis
\Vilson, Reginald Asa
Winberg, Arne
Winkler, Robert Arthur
\Ylodarczyk, Jozef
Wojciechowski, Stanley
Woodard, Hermon Alexander
Woodburn, James Hardy
Woodburn, Sydney
\Yoodworth, Clayton James
\Yoodworth, W. Eldon
\Vorsley, Arthur Albert
\Yosu, Amos Anucha
\Vynes, Emlyn
Wynn, John Alfred
Yacos, William
Yeatts, Andrew Warren
Yount, Warren
Yuchniewlcz, Stanley
YuUle, Nathaniel Alston
Zaklan, Arthur S.
Zamora, Bellsario
Zatko, Ondrej
Zavltz, Gerald
Zedl, Ernst
Zennig, Gerhard
Zilke, Otto
Zook, Aquilla B.
Zuercher, Franz
Zullo, Mario Charles
WATCHTOWER BIBLE SCHOOL OF GILEAD
This Christian school, operated by the New York
corporation, trains men and women for foreign mis-
sionary service. A call has gone forth throughout the
land for ordained ministers who are willing to go into
other countries, there to preach the gospel of the King-
dom in the languages spoken by the people that they
go to serve. Men and women alike, all ordained min-
isters who have proved faithful in their service for the
King and the Kingdom over a period of years, arc
invited to this school. All expenses of the ministers
brought to Gilead are paid by the Society. Rooms and
meals are provided, and free education is given to
them, because the Society is anxious to fulfill its mis-
sion of carrying on the expansion work of preaching
the gospel. The word Gilead means "heap of witness",
and certainly from this school have gone forth many
42
Yearbook
zealous ministers to foreign missionary fields, there
to assist "other sheep" of the Lord, feed them and
establish them in the truth.
From year to year the courses at Gilead are changed to
keep abreast with the brilliant flashes of light that burst
forth continually from the Lord's temple. The instructors,
also ordained ministers, are alert and constantly strive to
improve their instruction methods. Their principal objec-
tive is to aid the student in better wielding the "sword of
the spirit", and to teach him how to more adequately em-
ploy the shield of faith.
During the service year 1947 two classes completed their
studies, the eighth and ninth, graduating 201 students from
this Theocratic school. Since the founding of the school in
February, 1943, 909 persons have been enrolled. Of this
number 860 have finished the course of study, and 801 re-
ceived diplomas of merit.
The school was not established for the exclusive benefit
of ministers in the United States; therefore the Society
brings to the school ministers from all parts of the world
who are qualified for missionary work. During the past year
the Society was able for the first time to enroll many min-
isters from other countries. In fact, eighteen nations were
represented in the eighth class at Gilead. These consecrated
men and women have since gone out to many countries of
the world, carrying to the people of the earth the good
message of God's kingdom, which is their only hope. It
WI.S on February 9, 1947, that 714 people gathered together
for the midwinter graduation exercises. Ninety-nine finished
the course, 94 of whom received diplomas of merit; but all
qualified to be representatives of the SOCiety in doing mis-
sionary work.
GRADUATES OF THE EIGHTH CLASS, FEBRUARY 9, 1947
Arnott, Harry Walker
Attwood, Anthony Cecil
Baker, Alfred George
Barnes, Augustus Fredrick
Berner, Alice
Bobb, Edwin Elmer
Bobb, Gertrude Agnes
(Mrs. E. E.)
Borys, Emil Fredy
Bowdery, Stanley Arthur
BridIe, Peter Langford
Brown, Harold Anthony
Bruhn, Cecil William
Burch, Ruth Evelyn
Burroway, Virginia Ruth
Carmichael, Hendry D.
Checkstleld, Arthur William
Cooke, Eric Rushton
Cooke, John Roy
Copson, Sylvester William
Cotterl11, Richard Sheldon
Coysh, Eric George
Cutforth, John Ashlin
Danley, Albert Frank
Diehl, Willi Emil
Fairweather, Kathleen F.
Fergusson, John
Finlay, Roy Verdun
Finlay, Nancy (Mrs. R. V.)
Fleury, Maurice Joseph
Gale, Harold William
Garcia, Samuel Medina
Gonzalez, Ramon Manuel
Griffiths, George
Hall, Sydney
Hlmm, Lew Tt
Hoffmann, Filip Soby
Jacobs, Edward Augustus
Jansen, Gerrit
Jones, Stanley Ernest
Jorgensen, 'Verner
Karshens, Sophie
King, Harold George
Kopp, Merrill Ray
Larsen, Leo Edvin
Lemmon, Fred Leander
Lewis, Norman Emanuel
Lukuc, Fred
Masinick, Horace
Matthews, David Ray
McKay, Homer Kenneth
McKay, Ruth Clayton
(Mrs. H. K.)
Miller, Stephen George
Monroe, Doris Eileen
Monroe, Marian Lee
Moreton, Ernest Vernon
Nironen
t
Eero
Pearson, AnaJda Mary
Pearsoll, Dorothy
Pemberton, Linnie Fern
Pemberton, Martha Fay
Phillips, George Ross
Phillips, Stella Irene
(Mrs. G. R.)
Porter, George Cattell
Porter, Nancy Evelyn
(Mrs. G. C)
Powell, George Raymond
Pramberg, Jack David
Prince, Coaker Ford
Pulver, Frieda Mae
Yearbook
Pulver, Harold Merle
Pulver, Naomi Ruth
(Mrs. H. M.)
43
Quell, Emily Gladys
Rasmussen, Christian Marius
Rasmussen, Johannes Frost
Rees, Philip David
Rendell, Donald
Heynolds, Stanley Edward
Hountrce, Nettie Bell
Salavaara, Kaarlo Olavl
Siemens, Leonard Edwin
Skinner, Francis Edwin
Smedley, Frederick Burgess
Smith, Elliot Kelvin
Smith, Graham Dean
Stebbing, Frank George
Stewart, Earl Kitchner
Taavitsainen, Elai Salomo
Taylor, Frank Leslie
Taylor, Christine Mary
(Mrs. F. L.)
Tognarelli, Alma Loretta
Torvinen, Armas Velkko
Van Bortel, Gladys Caroline
Van Bortel, Marian Ariene
Wargo, John Michael
Wargo, Olga Connie
(Mrs. J. M.)
White, Victor
Wilkes, Dorothy Ann
Wilkinson, Sidney
Woodburn, Sydney
Yaremchuk, William
It was just two weeks after the graduation of the eighth
class that the ninth class matriculated to start its training
for foreign service. Of the 105 8tudents registered, 64 came
from Canada, direct from the fighting front at Catholic
Quebec. These, along with other brethren, were brought to
the school to receive special training in ministerial work
and missionary service for that part of the world, as well as
to study the }<'rench language so as to be better equipped
for the preaching of the gospel in Quebec territory. This
was the first time that French was taught in the school;
theretofore Spanish 'I'as the language in which instruction
was giyen in preparation for foreign service.
On Sunday, August 3, a beautiful summer day, the gradua-
tion exercises for the ninth class were held outdoors on the
school's campus. An audience of l,8iJ7 assembled, hundreds
of them coming from Canada and distant parts of the United
States. Finishing the course were 1 0 ~ students, and of these
88 received the award of a diploma,
GRADUATES OF THE NINTH CLASS, AUGUST 3, 1947
Allen, Ellen Margaret
Bailey. Olive Frances
Bangle, Isaac
Beck, Paul Boone
Beck, Anna Margaret
(Mrs. P. B.)
44
Yearbook
Brodie, Mae Louisa
Brodie, Robert Alexander
Butts, Paul Allen
Butts, Chloe Jane (Mrs. P. A.)
Cadman, Bessie Olive
Cammers, William Edgar
Chant, Kenneth Laurence
Clark, Alice Elizabeth
Cummings, Marshall Henry
Deines, Gilford Eugene
Dldur, Alexander Michael
Domonkos, Emil
Dopking, Fern Eileen
Dopking, Frank Williamson
Dougaluk, Helen
Dougaluk, Victoria
Drinkle, Harvey
Dufour, Jos Amedee
Elvy, Charles Edwin
Engstrom, Dorothy Lenca
Evans, Walter Lloyd
Faust, Frank Jarome
Faust, Taretha (Mrs. F. J.)
r<'raser, Maud Emelie
Glass, Ulysses Vanell
Glass, Ann Marie (Mrs. U. V.l
Greisen, Bernice Elnora
Hamamy, Lillian Helen
Hannigan, Muriel Esther
Hastings, Gertrude Maxine
Hawrysh, Olga
Headworth, Russell Herbert
Held, John Austin
Hofer, Jacob
Hofer, Mary Evelyn (Mrs. J.)
Homer, David
Homer, Celia Cornelia
(Mrs. D.)
Honey, Robert Reed
Honey, Elaine Fay
(Mrs. R. R.)
How, John Maynard
lngwaldsen, Ragna Severine
Jarvas, Marjorie
Jensen, Orlo Hilmer
Johnston, Elmer Delbert
Jones, Cecil Leslie
Jones, Margaret Lawrence
(Mrs. C. L.)
Kemmet, Amanda Annetta
Kemmet, Harold John
Lamb, Ida Louise
Latyn, Mike Frank
Legler, Paul Arthur
Lindhorst, Kathryn Ann
Lolos, Emily Speros
Lolos, Mary Speros
Lukuc, Harry Peter
Lundell, Olive Hildegard
MacIntyre, Florence Madeline
MacLean, Donald Howard
Mais, Montague
McCully, Joyce Marie
Nelson, James Leroy
Nelson, Ernestine Virginia
(Mrs. J L.)
Olson, Vernon Glenn
Nicoll, Lloyd Badley
Nicoll, Myrtle Laurence
(Mrs. L. B.)
Parsons, Winifred
Plexman, Elizabeth Henrietta
Plexman, Emma Josephine
Rae, John Fowlie
Rlshton, Dorothy Antolnl'\,tte
Rishton, Emily Elizabeth
Roach, Edwin Charles
Roach, Marion Geraldine
(Mrs. E. C.)
Roach, Gordon Archibald
Robert, William Carlstatte
Rohe, Elsie May
Sarinotf, Sophie
Saumur, Laurier
Sawatsky, Sadie
Schneider, Marie Helene
Sipavlch, Hipolito Joseph
Smart, Robert Francis
Spicer, Wilfrid Shields
Spicer, Marie Blanche
(Mrs. W. S.)
Strege, William James
Strege, lone Marie
(Mrs. W J.)
Stricker, Mary Catherine
Stuetloten, John W.
Stuetloten, Mary Elizabeth
(Mrs. J. W.)
Stull, Lloyd Brooks
Tangolls, John Peter
Thompson, Marguerite Eliza
Tkachuk, William
Toews, Hilda
Werden, Bernice Ina
Werden, Mona Eileen
Yanish. Edward
A report Oll the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead would
not be complete without mentioning the school's new library
lJUilding. The students of the seventh, eighth and ninth
classes assisted other brethren called in to construct this
library. It is a two-story reinforced concrete-brick structure
of beautiful design. The entire first fioor comprises one
grand hall, with fir wood paneled walls, an acoustically
treated ceiling, and red rubber tiled fioor. It is altogether
Yearbook
45
a very lovely building, richly and most modernly equipped
and furnished. The school's library of five thousand volumes
is well classified and shelved at one end of the hall. The
books in the library deal mainly with Bible subjects and
are Bible reference books. At the oppOSite end of this beau-
tiful hall is a modernly equipped classroom. The name
given to the library building is Shiloah, which means "send-
ing forth", Surely the Lord has blessed Gilead in sending
forth such a heap of witness, even unto the ends of the
earth.
This school of Bible learning is located on a farm owned
and operated by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society,
Inc. The men and women who operate this farm are also
ordained ministers and are of great assistance to the stu-
dents who come to the school. In addition to working on the
farm and taking care of necessary details about the campus,
these brethren also serve congregations in evenings and on
week-ends. The crops raised on the farm make it possible
for the Society to give good, wholesome food to all the
students, as well as supply large quantities of nourishing
provisions to the Bethel family in Brooklyn. During the
season of the year when many of the crops are being har-
vested much of the produce is canned for use during the
winter months. An efficient, progressive organization exists
on this farm associated with Gilead school, and all persons
work together as one big family, helping one another in
studies and in preparation for work in missionary homes
in other lands.
117 ADAMS STREET
In the year 1927 the Society completed its own new
factory building at the above address in Brooklyn,
N. Y. Twenty years ago this provided ample room for
the work to be done and, so it appeared, plenty of
room for expansion. But after ten years this large
eight-story building (100 x 100 feet) became over-
crowded and an extension was built to the factory.
This was in 1937. Now, in 1947, everything in the fac-
tory is overcrowded and it seems advisable to build
another addition just as soon as arrangements can be
made to do so.
But overcrowdedness was not the only difficulty the
printery had during the 1947 service year. In August, 1946,
it was announced at the Cleveland assembly that the maga-
zine Awake! would replace Oonsolation. Right after this
46 Yearbook
convention the Society was notified that the newsprint mill
from which we had been purchasing paper and with whom
we had contracts year by year for seven consecutive years
would not now renew the contract for 1947. The Society
felt sure that the new magazine, with its change in con-
tents and literary style, along with some improvements in
its appearance, would be accepted readily by the public-
and it was. The problem now was the procuring of sufficient
paper. ThirtY-Six paper mills and distributors throughout
the United States and Canada were contacted in search of
paper, but to no avail. Small quantities were obtainable
from time to time and, with the reserve on hand, it was
possible to publish every issue of Awake! during the year.
Exorbitant prices were paid for whatever newsprint paper
the Society was able to purchase. Some of the European
paper purchased cost 21 times as much as the standard
newsprint price in the United States, but It was impossible
to buy paper in the United States.
In order to satisfy the subscribers for Awake! making
certain that they received their magazines each month,
every conservation had to be made in the use of paper.
In order to keep the Awake! magazine going the Brooklyn
factory had to cease printing booklets, which used news-
print paper. By the Lord's grace the year was finished and
not an issue of A wake! failed to make its appearance on
time. It was necessary, however, to cut down on the print-
ing requirements for all issues. As the year closes the So-
ciety still has some paper, and it is hoped that more will be
available in 1948 so that the printing of booklets can be
started again, especially in languages other than English,
so that our European brethren may have supplies to carry
on their service activity.
The shortage of paper for booklets did not interfere with
the operation of the presses, because at all times we were
able to obtain book paper and sufficient to keep the maga-
zines going. This resulted In 1947's being a book and maga-
zine year, with an all-time high production for both of these
types of publications. A new peak was reached in the pro-
duction of bound books, which peak was 4,261,345 volumes.
The highest all-time peak previous to this was 3,786,630
books. The greatest demand was for the publication "Let
God Be True". There were more than 2,700,000 copies of
this book printed and prepared for the publishers during
the year. A consideration of the following table, which sets
out the production of the factory, is very interesting and
encouraging. It shows great increases in the production of
books and magazines, but a decrease in booklets, the latter
being due only to the shortage of paper.
Yearbook
PRODUCTION REPORT
Books and Bibles
Booklets
"The Watchtower"
"Awal{e!"
Total books. Bibles.
booklets and magazines
"Kingdom News"
Advertising leaflets
Calendars
Miscellaneous supplies
Magazme bags
Total miscellaneous printing
1947
4.261.345
4.822.309
15.557.141
13.121.300
37.762.095
None
73.208.000
103.000
22.860.486
43.031
96.214.517
47
1946
3.642.036
12.042.345
14.559.150
10,683,200
40,926,731
11,184,000
30,861.000
92,082
19.038,476
None
61.175,558
In order to produce the above quantities of publications
it was necessary for the Society to increase the number of
brethren working at the factory to 211, in addition to the
64 serving in the Bethel home full time, The brethren in
the Bethel home recognize and accept their privilege of
service as a rich blessing from the Lord and appreciate that
they work under His direction. The Bethel family cherishes
its God-given treasure of serving the brethren in all the na-
tions. As the call for more literature comes from the breth-
ren throughout the world. their hearts are made glad and
they are anxious to render additional service, if need be,
by working extra time in evenings or on week-ends. They
are unselfishly devoted to the Kingdom interests and are
striving diligently to meet the increased demands for lit-
erature. It is an honor and a privilege to be a member of
this fine family of Christian men and women. Each one has
taken good care of the work assigned to him in the Bethel
home, factory and office, all fully appreciating that their
service is as unto the Lord, not unto men.
All the brethren are delighted with the expansion pro-
gram. Even though they live under conditions not as pleas-
ant as in the past, because of being scattered about the city,
still they look to the progress of the work. One of the first
moves in the expansion program was the purchase of a new
525-horsepower, 6-cylinder Diesel engine, which will pro-
duce electncal power for the present factory and the new
addition the Society hopes to construct soon. This Diesel
supplements the two similar engines in service for the past
twenty years. Before another service year goes by the mem-
bers of the family hope to see good progress in the con-
struction of the new Bethel home.
48 Yearbook
FIELD WORK IN THE UNITED STATES
Outstanding in the service year 1947 were the new in-
struments placed in the hands of the publishers: the
magazine, which was used early in the year for a
special campaign, and the new books "Let God Be True"
and "Equip'ped for Every Good Work", which were used
extensively in the educational campaign throughout Ameri-
ca. "'The Prince of Peace" booklet had a good start but, due
to the shortage of paper, did not get the distribution it
ordinarily would haye had. The Watchtower and Awake!
campaign, during January to April of the year, was very
successful. 'l'he brethren in the United States turned in
more than 210,000 subscriptions as their part of the world-
wide quota of 300,000 n<'w suuscrilltions for the magazines,
which was reached by Jehovah's witnesses throughout the
earth during the four months of the campaign's duration.
The publishers appreciate the need of placing The Watch-
tower in the hands of the people, especially those of good-
will; therefore they have stressed this journal and The
Watchtolcer took the lead over I during 1947.
A great work was accomplished in the United States,
especially in the rural areas, when the brethren distributed
three bound books on a contribution of $1.00, including
"Equipped for Every Good lVo/k" and "Let God Be True".
The public meetings played their- part in the rural sections,
as well as in the cities, and the brethren arranged for
37,359 public meetings, to compare with 28,703 of the pre-
vious year. There were printed 92,057,200 handbills for the
publishers to use in advertising these public meetings. This
is probably the greatest number of handbills ever distrib-
uted by the SOCiety through Jehovah's witnesses in one
year's time in the United States. A marvelous witness
was given.
The servant to the brethren work played an important
part in organization, and the circuit assemblies were great-
ly appreCiated by the publishers. These small conventions
every Six months, situated conveniently for the brethren in
ditl'erent sections of the country, have helped the publishers
of the Kingdom to appreCiate to a greater extent their priv-
ilege of advertiSing the King and the Kingdom. The Lord
has richly blessed the work in the United States and has
gathered together many of the "other sheep". In April of
]947 a new peak in publishers was reached, namely, 73,512
singers for the King and the Kingdom. What a tremendous
work has been in all forty-eight states! Yet
there is much work still to be done. The company publish-
ers, who represent about 95 percent of all publishers in
the country, are doing splendid service. They are aiding
Yearbook 49
the people of good-will through book studies antI back-calls.
Five percent of the total number of publishers are pioneers,
and there is plenty of territory for more pionePrs in the
United States. For some reason or other the average nuIU-
bel' of pioneers in the field monthly decreased. There were,
on the average, 352 fewer pioneers during the service year
1947 than during the previous year. It is hoped that many
of those who have stepped aside for a short season will
be able to again take up the pioneer service, so that the
millions of people in the United States who have not as yet
been reached by the message of the Kingdom may be aided.
The Society aided full-time ministers in the United States
to the extent of $227,705.75.
The greatest event of the year in the United States, and
that which brought the service year to a close, was the
"All Nations Expansion" Assembly of Jehovah's witnesses
in Los Angeles, August 13-17. The brethren worked hard at
home throughout the year and made preparations for the
trek to Los Angeles. Early in August the cross-country
highways began to be traveled by cars, trailers, trucks and
busses, all with that telltale Theocratic assembly look, as
brethren from all parts of the United States and Canada
converged on Los Angeles. Then came the special trains
and planes with thousands more of the brethren, until the
attendance at Los Angeles swelled to 30,000. It cost the
brethren much financially, and also a great physical effort,
but they did appreciate the rich blessing poured out upon
them during the five days of the assembly. They appreciated
the world-wide expansion work and the share they them-
selves had had and will continue to have in the United
States.
From beginning to end the assembly was packed with
Theocratic truths and high-lighted the theme of advancing
true worship. The talk "All Nations Expansion" given by
the president of the SOCiety on Friday evening showed clear-
ly the course the organization must take. Each individual
should clear the decks for all-out ministry for the King-
dom. No leaning on the arm of flesh nor trusting In what
any man may say; but each one must go forward, relying
upon God's Word as the guide. Our brethren in many coun-
tries have pressed on, singing the high praises of God even
though not in direct communication with their fellow serv-
ants at Brooklyn. Did they not continue to preach, though
they had no literature? though they had no visible organi-
zation locally? and even though they had no one to whoIU
they could report? With the ministry most important all
nonessentials must be swept aside, even to the point of
disposing of Beth-Sarim. This rule of action was applied:
Everything that might be a hindrance or is not needed in the
50 Yearbook
advancing of the Kingdom interests should be done away
with. The brethren appreciated this theme and looked for-
ward to the coming year with joy to praise the Lord by
showing forth their good works.
Expression was made on the part of all attending the
assembly of their keen desire to help the brethren in Eu-
rope by making financial contributions to the Society; also,
they expressed themselves willing, if the call came, to sup-
ply more clothing, particularly if such can be gotten into
Germany. They were going to support any work that would
advance the preaching of the gospel in other lands. The
conventioners were delighted though no new publication
was released at Los Angeles, because they knew that the
Society had to get out translations of publications already
in use in the English language and that this was keeping
the presses busy. They were happy to hear that "Let God
Be 'l'rue" and other publications were being translated and
shipped into other countries so that the work might expand.
'Ve in America can get along very well with our present
supplies and instruments.
The climax of the convention came on Sunday afternoon
when the public talk was delivered on the subject "Perma-
nent Governor of All Nations". Everyone was surprised and
pleased when it was learned that 45,729 persons had packed
out the stadium, filled all the seats placed on the playing
field, overflowed the tents adjOining the stadium, and pro-
vjded a goodly number of listeners at the trailer camp.
More than 10,000 strangers and persons of good-will attend-
ed the public meeting.
The year 1947 saw expansion in the United States, but
not without its trials and difficulties for the publishers in
the field. The Legal Department points out that there have
been numerous instances of threats of arrests by police offi-
cials, but that when these officials were confronted with the
law and the buttress of decisions gained by Jehovah's wit-
nesses during the past several years they backed down, fail-
ing to carry out their threats of arrest. Violence was ex-
perienced by brethren in some parts of the country, but
these instances were very few compared with former years.
The biggest opposition experienced in the field has been
because of the public meetings in parks and halls. Wide-
spread advertising of public lectures in some communities
stirred the enemy up to opposition to the progress of The
Theocracy due to these public meetings. Pressure was exert-
ed upon the private owners of halls to cancel contracts,
sometimes at the last minute, including public parks and
municipally owned auditoriums; but even these cancella-
tions due to religious and political pressure were few com-
Yearbook 51
pared with the large number of public meetings held
throughout the United States.
One of the most notorious instances of violent opposition
was in Lacona, Iowa. There the brethren were mobbed on
September 8, 1946, and prevented from holding a public lec-
ture in the town park of Lacona. The details have been pub-
lished elsewhere regarding this particular case. Jehovah's
witnesses instituted an injunction suit in the United States
District Court of Des Moines. The judge of that court ruled
against Jehovah's witnesses, but tire case has been appealed
to the Federal Court of St. Paul, Minnesota. This case was
argued in the summer of 1947. The decision of the court
had not been given by the end of the service year.
The Legal Desk handled many matters involving taxes,
work with the Department of Justice, Supreme Court cases
in connection with the Selective Service Act, as well as
will-contest matters to protect money left to the Society
against the demands of disgruntled relatives of brethren
who desired to give their funds to advance the Kingdom
work. Relatives often do not like to see the wishes of the
deceased person carried out, and therefore they take the
matter to court. Brethren can very easily a void this action
on the part of relatives by consulting the Society and mak-
ing their wishes known before death comes.
There are many problems arising outside of the country
that need the attention of the Legal Desk, too, and much
counsel and advice has been given to Branch offices relative
to the handling of legal matters.
Despite the difficulties experienced by Jehovah's wit-
nesses in the United States they have moved forward and
are determined, by the Lord's grace, to endure to the very
end. They are determined to carry out their ministry. They
do appreciate that there is still much work to De done, not
only in other lands but also right here in the United States.
This being their aSSignment, they rejoice in it.
OTHER COUNTRIES UNDER
THE UNITED STATES BRANCH
There are certain publishers in various parts of the
earth that are not directly under any near-by Branch,
and therefore these brethren are requested to report
to the United States Branch. Last year there were
199 isolated publishers reporting from outlying coun-
tries, but this year the number has increased to 294.
This is mainly due to the fact that the Society sent
missionaries into some countries to stimulate the work.
52
Yeat'book
The literature placement has increased in these four-
teen countries, too. In the last twelve months 82,928
books and booklets were placed, to compare with
60,101 for the previous year. With Gilead graduates
now working in almost all the countries briefly re-
viewed after the conclusion of this paragraph, the
work is on the increase. Knowing that the back-calls
are stepping stones to real instruction, the publishers
in these different places conducted 29,221 back-calls
in the year, as against 16,513 last year. On the average,
they are conducting 398 book studies with interested
people. While the average number of publishers in the
field for the year was 294, we did reach a new high
of publishers of 514 in the month of August. This
shows that in the islands and isolated spots throughout
the world, where not much Kingdom work has been
carried forward, there is a definite increase and a de-
sire on the part of the people to know the truth.
ALASKA
The high cost of living and the indifference on the part
of the people make it quite difficult for the publishers of the
Kingdom to make progress here. There are great haruships
to overcome, both climatic and because of the high degree
of transiency among the people. The work is seasonal, so
that people coming into the country live there for a few
months and then travel back to the United States again.
However, the publishers for the Kingdom are earnest in
their endeavor to advance the Kingdom work.
During the year there was an average of seven special
pioneers working in different parts of Alaska. Associated
with them were ten publishers, making an average of seven-
teen publishers for the Kingdom in that territory. They did
not make as many back-calls or conduct as many book
studies as in the previous year, but the decline has been
very slight. There are three small companies organized,
and we hope these will grow. The desire of the people in gen-
eral is to make money fast, and this leaves them little time
to study the truth or even to listen to it.
BAHAMAS
Excellent work has been accomplished in these small
islands. A year ago there were only three publishers there.
The Society was able to send four special publishers into
Yearbook 53
the Bahamas, and now there are seventeen publishers all
together. There has been a real distribution of literature.
Distributed were 5,245 books and booklets, to compare with
the 20 volumes put out last year. The back-call work is mov-
ing along splendidly, as well as the book-study activity.
Fifty-seven book Rtudies are being conducted monthly by all
the publishers. A company has been organized and the
servants of the Lord comprising this company, assisted by
the Gilead-trained missionaries, are making good progress.
The August, 1947, report showed 27 publishers now con-
ducting a total of 114 studies in the territory. This means
that more people will be reached with the good news of the
Kingdom.
BERMUDA
During the past service year it was possible for the So-
ciety to send two graduates of Gilead to Bermuda. There
were already two publishers of the Kingdom in these
islands and they needed help. A good distribution of litera-
ture was made, but the brethren are meeting up with some
difficulty, particularly with the authorities, who do not like
to hear the truth preached to the people. However, the
obstacles are being overcome and the brethren are conduct-
ing many book studies, 35 in number. Good interest is shown.
CYPRUS
A brother who speaks Greek and English, a graduate of
Gilead, was sent to Cyprus to help the small organization
of Jehovah's witnesses in that island. The early church
preached the Kingdom message in that territory, and now
the preaching work is being revived again. Five companies
have been organized, and 37 praisers of the Lord are asso-
ciating themselves together to look after the Kingdom In-
terests. They distributed 12,650 books and booklets, as well
as 3,562 magazines. Many back-calls are being made, and
23 book studies are being conducted regularly every week,
to compare with 17 a year ago.
ECUADOR
This is a new country that has been opened up by Jeho-
vah's witnesses for the preaching of the gospel. Four Gilead-
trained missionaries are now working in the capital, Quito.
Associated with them are ten company publishers, making
fourteen of Jehovah's witnesses in the land. It takes real
determination on the part of missionaries to go into a land
where they are total strangers and where no one is in sym-
pathy with them or believes the truth as they do, and then
march ahead fearlessly and courageously, knowing that the
Lord will back them up in their efforts. This the graduates
54
Yearbook
of Gilead have done, and the Lord has blessed their efforts.
Twenty-one book studies are now being conducted by the
missionaries, and undoubtedly many of the persons attend-
ing these studies will be trained well in the handling of the
"sword of the spirit". The call to "praise Jehovah, all ye
nations" is being sounded in new territory, Ecuador. The
Lord's servants will plant and water, anrl Jphovah will give
the increase. There are three million people in this land that
we should like to reach. 'l'liere are m a n ~ ' blessings in store
for these publishers, who are fighters for the New \\'Olld.
GUADELOUPE
This is a small French island in the Caribbean. Some
brethren have been holding high the message of the Lord
and sounding his praises. Due to their good efforts there
are now 13 publishers in Guadeloupe. It is the intention of
the Society to send some missionaries to that territory to
strengthen the organization and to seek out the people of
good-will. There is one pioneer there now, working with the
company Imblishers. Back-calls are being made, but not as
many as should be made; and hardly any book studies are
being conducted. The training that the missionaries can
gi ve the local publishers will be very beneficial.
ICELAND
J!'or many, many years a lone pioneer served in this land
far to the north. Two Danish brethren who finished the
course at Gilead have been sent to Iceland to work with this
brother to see what can be done to further the interests of
the Kingdom. These brethren placed 5,978 books and bOOk-
lets, along with 956 magazines. The back-call work is gOing
on very well, the brethren having made 443 calls during
the year; and they are now beginning to get book studies
started. With the three pioneers having a full year ahead
of them, it is believed that much good work will be accom-
plishell in that land.
LEBANON AND SYRIA
A markell increase has been shown in the land of Lebanon
and in near-uy Syria during the past service year. It was
the good pleasure of the president of the SOCiety, along
with his secretary, to visit the brethren in Lebanon and
hold meetings in the city of Tripoli. Interested persons and
publishers from all parts of the land came to that assembly
and received good instruction. Two Gilead graduates have
also been sent to Lebanon and there they are endeavoring
to organize the brethren according to Theocratic arrange-
ment. Their efforts have been blessed.
Yearbook 55
During the year the publishers increased from 40 to 99,
on the average. SeveR companies are now in operation, and
a good distribution of books and booklets was made. Placed
in the hands of the people were 10,448 pieces of literature,
along with 9,459 magazines. Instead of spending 8,000 hours
in the field work, as was done in 1946, 22,409 hours were
devoted to the preaching of the gospel. 'l'his is a splendid
increase over the previous year. The back-calls show a like
increase, jumping from 839 to 3,803. The thing that brings
about real progress In any land or territory is the devotion
of the publishers to the people of good-will, which is shown
by their going to the homes of such people and studying
with them. Thirty-nine book studies are now conducted
throughout the territory, to compare with 9 during the
previous year.
The missionaries from Gilead have visited the various
companies and have counseled them and helped them In
organization; and they have taken the people who love
the Lord out In the field service with them. This not only
has been an encouragement to the new witnesses of the
Lord, but has taught them how to properly present the
message to others. The Lord's blessing has been very mani-
fest upon the work in Lebanon and Syria, and we look for
a continued increase.
LIBERIA
There Is much work to be done here. Two Gilead mission-
aries have been sent to Liberia, there to preach to the people
of this Negro republic. We have only two months' reports,
but in that little time something has been accomplished.
The brethren made 206 back-calls and are conducting regu-
larly 4 book studies. Associated with them is one company
publisher. The work 'v ill. we feel sure, be on the increase.
MALTA
This small British colony off the island of Sicily, to the
south of Italy, has finally been penetrated by Kingdom pub-
lishers. Two missionaries from the Gilead school have been
working there for several months, but they were arrested
shortly after commencing their work. The Catholic re-
ligionists who dominate the officials have seen to it that
these missionaries are taken to court, and they have put
forth every effort to stop them from speaking the truth.
Why the Catholic organization should be so fearful of just
two missionaries who are talking the Bible is hard to un-
derstand. These two missionaries have spent as much time
in the courts and with the officials of the land as they have
in performing their ministerial dUties, just because of the
oppOSition of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. The priests
56
Yearbook
say that Malta belongs to the Catholics and everyone else
must get out.
But these two faithful publishers have not run away, and
will continue to stay in Malta as long as they can. They
will remain at least until they ascertain whether there is
freedom of speech in this particular part of the British
Empire. Perhaps Malta doesn't believe in the Four Free-
doms; or is it that they don't apply there? It takes courage
to stand alone in a land and fight for freedom and for the
right to preach the gospel, but these brethren are doing it.
We rejoice with them.
NETHERLANDS WEST INDIES
Two hard-working missionaries, graduates of Gilead, are
pushing ahead in the island of C u r a ~ a o . With them now
there are some company publishers, increasing from 19 to
28 during the past year. During 1946 the publishers put
out 3,353 books and booklets, but during 1947 they placed
13,373. This shows a marked interest on the part of the
population. Thousands of back-calls were made; and now
the special publishers, along with the company publishers,
are conducting 32 book studies, to compare with 22 a year
ago. Two companies have been organized, and all publishers
are very anxious to help the Dutch-speaking people. Here
in the little islands of the Netherlands West Indies some
people are singing the praises of God to all the nations.
PALESTINE
This country and its internal affairs have held front-
page notice in practically all countries of the world. Thc
issues are political and religious, but it is certainly not the
deSire of the Jews to praise the name of Jehovah God in
their effort to return to Palestine. It is merely their desire
to have a homeland or country of their own, and this has
nothing to do with the vindication of Jehovah's name and
'YoI'd. They are not anxious to heal' the truth.
The president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract So-
ciety made a visit to Palestine and was able to contact
some of the brethren serving the Lord in that land. It was
eaSily seen that the Jews, of all people, are not hearkening
to the message. Those interested in the truth are mainly
Arabs. There are a few publishers in Palestine. eight now
that are witnessing regularly. However, there are about 50
persons who are seeking after the Lord and studying their
Bibles with Society publications. An excellent distribution
of books and booklets was made, namely, 4,734. Many back-
calls were made by the few publishers there, and the people
of the land appreciate such efforts; but the work is not
being done among the Jews who claim to be God's chosen
Yearbook 57
people. They are not hearkening to the Bible; their inter-
ests in Palestine are selfish. However, progress Is being
made. While the year report shows an average of 8 pub-
lishers, in August, 1947, 23 ministers of the gospel went
forward to bring comfort to that strife-torn section of the
world. We feel that a real groundwork has been laid for
further increases in Palestine.
PERU
Here is another country opened up to the message of the
Kingdom during the 1947 service year. It was possible to
send to this lovely country on the Pacific side of South
America 8 hard-working missionaries. During the year 14
publishers joined them, and their report shows 22 servants,
on the average, preaching the gospel each month. These
publishers placed 10,625 books and booklets with the people
while working 13,951 hours. It is good to see how hard
these missionaries are working. They have averaged 174.1
hours per month during the time they have been in Peru,
making an average of 69 back-calls and conducting 10 book
studies. We feel sure that excellent progress will be made
in the 1948 service year. All countries in South America
now have Jehovah's witnesses at work preaching the gospel.
VIRGIN ISLANDS
This is another new field just opened up. For the first
time the message of the Kingdom has gone into the Virgin
Islands under direct supervision of the Society. Two Gilead-
trained missionaries have organized the work there. The
year's report shows that there was an average of 17 pub-
lishers in the field, but at the close of the year, in August,
a new peak of 29 publishers was reached. The missionaries
are setting an excellent example in that they are averaging
193 hours per month in the field and conducting 139 back-
calls and carrying on 22 book studies every month. These
two workers have been well repaid in interest shown by
the people who are now associated with them in the Lord's
organiza tion.
In the comparatively short period of time that these
ministers of God have been in the Virgin Islands they have
taken 766 subscriptions and have distributed 1,043 maga-
zines, in addition to the books and booklets placed. This
has been truly virgin territory.
ARGENTINA
This Spanish-speaking country at the southern tip
of South America has made marvelous progress dur-
58 Yearbook
ing the service year 1947. The publishers have in-
creased from 489 to 679 on the average every month,
reaching a new peak in August of 790 publishers. The
splendid progress made in one year's time is attrib-
uted to the circuit assembly activity and the servant
to the brethren meetings with the companies regu-
larly. Jehovah's witnesses in Argentina are concerning
themselves with the preaching of the gospel. Knowing
that they must sing praise unto all peoples, they have
made the Kingdom work their chief business. They are
not interested in the politics of the land, nor the in-
fluence of religion upon these politics; but they have
made their big interest the Kingdom and its preach-
ing. This is indicated by the faet that the brethren put
in 184,925 hours and made 54,238 back-calls. The book
studies have increased over last year, too, for now they
are making 416. This is evidently all attributed to the
good work and influence of the circuit assemblies, for
this is the factor that the Branch servant, who makes
the following report, stresses.
Coming to the close of the service year is a joyful occa-
sion for any Branch office. It affords a few moments to re-
flect and think of the Lord's bleSSings through the year;
and it certainly gives joy to the heart to refresh our minds
on the manner in which he has blessed our efforts in his
service, to his honor and glory.
We, in this country have much to be thankful for. Besides
having the privilege of another peak year in publishers, as
the annual report shows, and also in hours as well as In
book studies and back-calls, it seems that the newly in-
terested ones get on to the work of witnessing much sooner
than they used to. One thing that seems hard here is to
increase in pioneers. In fact, in this latter case we are in
the situation described at Acts 16: 9. But we are hopeful
that some day we shall get more pioneers and probably some
Gilead graduates, for whom there is a good field here. We
have many cities of fair size that are practically untouched,
and others that have some persons interested who cannot
be properly attended to for lack of capable brethren to do it.
As we now have two servants to the brethren, there are
two districts; and so we divided the country in two, and
therefore we have a better-organized work. The companies
are better served and new ones are coming up, and, of
course, that is very encouraging.
Yearbook 59
In May we held the first circuit assembly. As the city of
Cordoba is the most centrally located in the district No.1,
we arranged to hold the first circuit assembly in that city.
Cordoba is called "Argentine Rome" because of its having
more churches than any other city in the country; and
there is a Catholic university, and many monasteries. It is
one of the oldest cities in the country, with many historic
churches and other buildings dating back to the time of its
colonization. They consider it the staunchest religious city
in the country, and it is; but, with Jehovah's help, the So-
ciety has there the second-largest company in Argentina.
So it was thought to be the best place for us to start
assemblies.
The assembly was fixed as to program, and the 23rd,
24th and 25th of J\Iay were the three days set forth. The
friends commenced to set plaeards on the posts and walls
on \\ednesday. Soon the police took them in because they
did not have a permit to do so, as is required; and, as the
placards advertised the main feature, the Sunday lecture,
with the name of the speaker, the police wanted to know
who that man was. They are very suspicious, but only on
aceount of their politics. The district senant arrived Thurs-
day morning, and he had to go immediately to the police
headquarters. There he spoke to the officer in charge and
the vermit to advertise was given, so many thousands of
advertisements were set out without any more interference.
Then came our second assembly, in circuit No.2. This
also was very well attended; and the newspapers inserted
our program. A good witness was given and everybody was
happy with the opportunity of meeting one another and
making use of the great privilege with which Jehovah pro-
vided them, that of witnessing in his name and for the
Kingdom. A feature that drew the people's attention was
the street work with La Atalaya and i Despm-tad! which
had never been carried out in that city of Bahia Blanca.
Nearly all the publishers ran out of magazines in a few
hours' work.
Now we are ready for another year and will try our best
with the many features and possibilities to increase in pub-
lishers and announce the King and his Theocratic King-
dom that is here, to the yet so lDany good souls that do
not know anything about it.
AUSTRALIA
l\Iany problems faced Jehovah's witnesses the early
part of this service year, but the majority of these
we:'e cleared up during the year, as is indicated by
the Branch servant's report. As the readers of the
60 Yearbook
Yearbook may remember, there has been a constant
decline in the number of publishers in Australia for a
number of years. Now, in the latter half of the 1947
service year, the number of brethren active in the
field service has begun to climb again. The Kingdom
interests are becoming paramount in the minds of
more of the people of Australia. The faithful servants
of God in Australia have continued through many
years of trials and difficulties and have come out vic-
torious. They are rejoicing now that the people of
good-will are associating themselves with Jehovah's
witnesses and are sharing in the grand privilege of
promoting the Kingdom message in Australia.
The country has been divided into thirteen circuits,
and this reorganization of the work in Australia has
helped greatly. It is hoped that more servants to the
brethren who have finished the course at Gilead can
be sent to Australia. In addition to this, plans have
been made to bring a number of Australian
ers to the United States to train them at the Watch-
tower Bible School, and probably some of these will
return to help in the reorganizational work that is
going on in Australia.
The Society has a fine location for its Branch office
in this country, and there is a very energetic family
looking after the Kingdom interests there. We have
a printing plant, but there was not a great deal print-
ed therein this year because most of the literature
used by the brethren was sent there from the United
States. Some publications were produced for the breth-
ren on the Fiji Islands, and there was also some litera-
ture printed in the Maori language for the publishers
in New Zealand.
The new Branch servant, who was appointed during
the 1947 service year, reflects the feelings of the
brethren in Australia in his report about the work
there. Portions of it are herein reproduced.
The "largest island and the smallest continent" well de-
scribes this vast land, famous for its kangaroos and koala
Yearbook 61
bears. Although only 7! million people make their homes
here, this island-continent is only a shade smaller in size
than the United States. Here, too, Jehovah's witnesses come
from all walks of life, kindreds and tongues, and included
among their numbers are quite a few of the Australian
aborigines or natives, one of the oldest and most primitive
races in the world. Irrespective of their location, color or
language all of these consecrated servants of the Lord daily
sound forth the life-giving call to the people, "Oh praise
Jehovah, all ye nations."
Previous annual reports of our Kingdom work have shown
a decline in the number of publishers and activity; and this
fact has given us great concern, especially when we read
about the great increases evident in all the world. We
entered the 1947 service year with questions like these in
our minds: Would this year's service show another falling
off? Or would the Lord bless the work of his servants with
an increase?
Early reports indicated a continued drop, but then came
the five-day "Glad Nations" Assembly held in the Sydney
Town Hall on December 25-29. Would this Australasian COD-
vention mark a turning pOint in the general downward trend
of Theocratic activity? By far the great majority of the
publishers on the continent attended and some even came
from New Zealand and Siam. It proved to be a joyful occa-
sion indeed, with the attendance reaching 4,034 on Sunday
during the public lecture "The Prince of Peace". The joy
and enthusiasm of the brethren knew no bounds at the
release for the first time in Australia of the two very latest
aids to study and gospel-preaching, the books "Let Goa Be
True" and "Equippea tor Every Gooa Work".1:t was good,
too, to have with us the two brothers from Gilead who had
recently arrived from the United States. The assembly closed
with the joyful announcement that Brother Knorr, the
SOCiety's president, would visit us in March.
Interference by the police with our placard witneSSing in
the streets, which interference had been going on for some
months throughout the country, came to a climax during
the assembly when thirteen brethren were arrested for
wearing placards. While in jail one of the publishers wit-
nessed for two hours to two of the arresting constables
who showed interest in the Kingdom message. On Sunday
they kept their promise and attended the public talk. The
next day the thirteen brethren had their cases dismissed
but the magistrate warned them not to engage in placard
advertiSing again. The by-law used against them was en-
acted in 1901, so that horses would not be frightened by
displayed placards. This regulation as well as others like
It throughout the land cannot be challenged in higher law
62 Yearbook
courts, since Australia has no bill of rights to protect its
citizens. Time previously spent in placard witnessing is
now devoted to house-to-house witnessing and back-call work.
As we returned to our homes from the "Glad Nations"
Assembly all hoped that the many blessings received from
the Lord would add the necessary impetus to our work so
that it would show an increase. However, the increase
anticipated did not come. What was the matter? Would
it never come? But wait! What about that announcement
made at the assembly about Brother Knorr's coming visit?
Would the Lord use this occasion to reveal what has been
impeding the progress of the "expansion" work?
A few short weeks passed, bringing us to March 11, the
day that Brother Knorr and his secretary, Brother Henschel,
arrived. How glad we were to see them and to know they
would be with us for more than two weeks! Almost imme-
diately Brother Knorr and his traveling companions began
visiting principal cities throughout Australia where arrange-
ments had already been made for one- and two-day assem-
blies in six different centers.
It was at these assemblies that we got the answers to our
long-harbored questions about the work's decline. Brother
Knorr pointed out that the Society in Australia had in past
years engaged in vast commercial activities and enterprises
and that through such mixing in with the affairs of this
world we had deviated from our commission to preach the
gospel, thus incurring the Lord's disfavor. Then Brother
Knorr urged those assembled to publicly acknowledge the
wrong before the Lord, asking His forgiveness. Upon his
presentation of a resolution to that effect it was unani-
mously adopted by the brethren at all six assembly points.
Unburdened hearts! Countenances radiating joy and glad-
ness! The occasion was a time of rejoiCing such as had
not been experienced in this land for many years as we
anticipated for the days ahead Jehovah's complete favor
and bleSSing, a definite indication that we had received of
the Lord's forgiveness.
Besides showing us the proper course to take before the
Lord, Brother Knorr gave us much helpful counsel and ad-
vice about the work in the Branch office at Strathfield. A
much-needed reorganization of the routine was accomplished
so that the office and Bethel home would operate more
efficiently and in line with the Brooklyn headquarters. The
Bethel famlly thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship and the
kind and helpful instructions of Brother Knorr and Brother
Henschel.
Almost immediately after the president's visit a nation-
wide Increase in publishers and activity was noted. What
a time of joy and gladness it has been during the past few
Yearbook 63
months! We see in this increase positive evidence that the
Lord has forgiven us for our past mistakes and transgres-
sions. How blessed it is to see the Lord's spirit once again
flowing toward his organization in Australia! More than
ever before we realize the great truthfulness of the proph-
et's words at Zechariah 4:6 (A.S.V.): "Not by might, nor
by [human] power, but by my spirit, saith Jehovah of
hosts." Also we realize the absolute necessity of praying
for and following the lead of that holy spirit daily, obeying
the inspired instruction, "Quench not the spirit."-l Thess.
5: 19.
While this year's average field-service report shows no
increase over that of last year, still the figures for the past
few months show that more publishers are reporting now
than at any time during the last two and a half years. The
average number of publishers for the last six months has
been 3,433, which figure does give an increase over lust
year's average of 3,294 publishers. Servant to the brethren
reports show that new publishers are starting out in the
service in almost all companies. One servant to the brethren
says of his recent visit to a small company: "It is raining
this afternoon, but the clouds did not frighten three new
publishers from coming out in the work today." Moreover,
several companies have recently hit all-time peaks in pub-
lishers and hours. The company publishers are also con-
ducting more book studies at present than at any time dur-
ing the past two years. Back-calls too show an upward
trend. With all this, it makes us wonder why a higher
number are not engaging in the Lord's pure worship each
month.
An outstanding event during the year was the two-month
Awake! campaign, during which time 4,935 new subscrip-
tions were obtained. Then came the four-month Watchtower
campaign. There were 2,413 new subscriptions obtained for
this magazine, and also 2,804 more Au.;'uke! subscriptions
were taken. That made a total of 5,217 new subscriptions
during the Watchtower campaign. As will be noted in the
above figures, the people accept the Awake! magazine much
more readily than they do The Watchtower. The reason is
that religion is very unpopular with the majority and they
find it difficult to see that religion and the Bible conflict.
Thus they are skeptical of all literature dealing with the
Bible.
There are more than 100 isolated publishers reporting to
us regularly. Arrangements have recently been made to
have the servants to the brethren visit some of these many
brethren scattered here and there away from companies.
All those who have requested such a visit are being called
on and helped to do the Lord's service.
64 Yea1'book
The lesser number of specials reporting than last year
is partly due to the fact that several of these have since
become servants to the brethren. Throughout the year the
Australian Branch spent 4,626 from the "Good Hopes"
fund to finance the field-service activity. The majority of
this amount was used to aid the special pioneers, the rest
being used to meet servant to the brethren, legal and mis-
cellaneous expenses.
Outstanding in the last few months has been the sudden
rise in the number of book stunies conducted by the special
pioneers. During the first 9 months of the year their avel'-
age number of studies per puhlisher was only 4.5. The last
3 months' average shows 6 studies per publisher.
It is with a fervent prayer of thanksgiving to Jehovah
that we end this service year. Words are truly inadetluate
to express the joy and peace within our hearts since our
heavenly Father has begun to bless the work of our hands
with an increase. It has brought "the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding". (Phil. 4: 7) Not with perplexity
and misgivings, therefore, but with complete confidence, we
enter into the new service year, reaIlzlng that "God is with
us". We are determined that, by his grace, we shall never
again turn aside from or allow any part of Satan's world
to encroach upon our God-given commission to preach the
gospel and thereby vitiate our service to him.
FUI
There are several territories in the Far East that
come under the jurisdiction of the Australian office.
One of these is Fiji, another the Netherlands East
Indies, as well as Siam, Singapore and the Malay
States. The Fiji Islands are in the South Pacific and
are populated by upward of 200,000 people, chiefly
Fijians, Indians and Europeans. On one of the main
islands of the eighty that are inhabited, namely, Viti
Levu, there is a small group of Kingdom publishers
who are located at the capital city of Suva. In 1946
two American graduates of Gilead en route to Austra-
lia had a short visit with the brethren at Suva. Later
on Brother Knorr and Brother Henschel made a brief
stop at the Fiji Islands while on their trip around
the world. The brethren were then told that shortly
two Gilead graduates would make Fiji their perma-
nent home. These ministers, specially trained to carry
Yearbook
65
on missionary activity, would associate themselves
with the few publishers in th!' Fiji Islands and help
them in every way possible. The report that follows
comes from the brethren in Fiji.
Although it is very interesting to witness amon:.: the
humble and meek colored folk, yet it is difficult to make
ourselves undprstood because of the langua:.:e barrier and
the lack of education on the part of the people. TlH'se dif-
ficulties are overcome to some extent by using the youll:.:er
childrp[l to act as interpreters. All the children of the Fijians,
Indians, Europeans and others learn English at the various
schools that they attend. Howe,-er, the problem is not
entirely soh-ed with this; for all the schools are missionary
schools owned by the different religioUS systems, and that
means that the min!ls of the children are filled with unscrip-
tural religious doctrines. By working slowly and patiently
with constant back-calls we are able by .Tehovah's grace to
clear away the traditional man-made teachings and give
the honest ones the pure truth of God's Word.
We have had very good success placing literature in
house-to-house witnessing, the field being practically virgin.
'l'he bulk of the placemcnts have heen among the colored
people. In fact, many of these people come running up to us
in the streets asking for more literature. They also call in
at the Kingdom Hall asking especially for the Fijian book-
let, Na Sereki E Na Vuravura Vou (Freedom in the New
World). We have many interesting experiences as a result
of thc'se requests.
Early one morning a young Fijian walked into the King-
dOIll Hall and asked for six Fijian booklets. After he had
obtained tl\em he made several inquiries about our work.
He repeated this action three times in about a fortnight.
Then one Sunday evening he called for more booklets on
his way to the Methodist church. This was just before our
Watchtower study; so one of the Fijian brethren entered
into a conversation with him. We soon learned that our
frequent caHer was very much interested in the Kingdom
message, and that he was sending many of the booklets to
his folk back home in his native village. We invited him to
our meetings, and Since then he has attended Illany. He has
also brought along seven others; so now we have a regular
study with these truth-seeking ones using the booklet j .... a
Sereki E Na Vuravura Vou. It is possible now to invite
others whom we meet in the field work to this Fijian study
at the company headquarters. This good-will person informed
us that he wants to go back to his people and preach the
truth to them. He has left his church and two of his friends
are following him.
66 Yearbook
Our work is not without opposition. It comes chiefly from
the religious element of the European population. Many
show prejudice against the Watchtower Society, no doubt
baving in mind tbe ban that the Fijian government placed
on our literature from 1940 to August, 1945. Although the
proscription was eased and literature can be imported with
the governor's approval, still some try to use their influence
against us. '1'0 illustrate, one of the Gilead graduates was
witnessing in a local village recently and the archdeacon
of the Anglican church threatened to get the government
after him if he called on the people of his flock. The pub
lisher went right ahea<l and enjoyed many interesting ex
periences, especially with the village schoolteacher. Another
example: When three Gilead brethren stopped in Suva, not
long ago, on their way to New Zealand, they waved their
'Watchtower magazines so that we could recognize them.
One of the Customs officials took a magazine away from
one brother and told him that such publications were 1I0t
allowed into the colony, which, of course, is an untruth.
We are having good results in the magazine street work.
A good witness is given to the Kingdom, for much curiosity
is aroused by tbe two "white" men "selling" magazines on
the street corners.
NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES
Internal strife troubles this territory, and fighting goes
on between the Indonesians and the Dutch. This makes the
Lord's service difficult to engage in, but a few publishers
there, 11 in number, are doing good work. Studies are eon
ducted regularly in the Malay language. A Duteh study has
also been arranged for those reading that language.
Due to the lack of literature it was impossible to do much
work during the past year. Recently, however, some litera-
ture arrived in Java which had been sent to the br<>thl'en
thel"e from Holland. No large st()(;ks can come into the coun-
try, due to shipping conditions. However, the brethren are
now going from door to door with what little literature they
have and beginning Bible studies. The back-eall work has
started and book studies are now being conducted.
One of the publishers reports that a Eurasian woman
who took some booklets and copies of The Watchtower has
become very much interested. She was formerly a CathOlic,
but now she is anxious to study the books in the Dutch
language. While a study was being carried on with this lady,
a person who understands Malay better made iuquiry and
asked if a study could not also be started with her. The
interest is there. It just takes time to find it.
Yearbook 67
SIAM
This is one of the many countries that was visited by the
president of tIle SOciety on his world tour. It is a peaceful
countty; however, all around it there is trouble. China Is
embroiled in war. The Netherlands East Indies is patrolled
by armed police. We read of assassinations of ministers and
high government otlicials in Burma and of the never-ending
turmoil and rioting in India. Amidst all this trouble in the
l.'ar East, Siam remains peaceful. She has even allowed tens
of thousands of Chinese to flee into her cOlllltry to get away
from the crimes and calamities and intetnal warfare of
China.
Although Sium has been spared from these disasters up
to the present time, she is burdened with religious customs,
suffering, poverty and disease. While the lowly people of the
land work diligently and hard so that they might reap some
fruits from their labors, organized gangs rob them of what
little they have saved. The havoc wrought in other countries
startles the world and is widely publici7.ed, but not so with
the little troubles in Siam, which do not make the front
pages of the newspapers, although they certainly affect the
Ii ves of the people.
As one travels through the land he makes the same ob-
servations that the apostle Paul did while preaching the
gospel in the market plac('s of Athens, namely, that in every
way the people are very religious and superstitious and they
follow their objects of worship blindly and wi1lingly. It is
our privilege to make known to them the truth as to what
is the pure and undefiled worship of the true and living God,
Jehovah, who does not dwell in shrines, wats, or temples
made by men's hands; but, says the scripture, "Heaven is
my throne, and the earth is my footstool."
Our service year opened with a constant stream of good
news from the "Glad Nations" Theocratic Assembly at
Cleveland, at which assembly Siam was represented by our
depot servant. 'l'he pictures, large and small, as well as the
copies of The M eS8cnger and the new books released at this
assembly, made us shout for joy, and enabled us to have a
rich portion of the feast which our heavenly Father had
arranged for_
We also have received regular supplies of literature from
headqUarters throughout the year_ The shipment of Chinese
publications has been a great help to the publishers, as a
good percentage of the population of Siam consists of
Chinese, and we had for a long time been practically without
literature in this language. With the arrival of the new
mimeograph machine, stencils and paper, we were able to
68
Yearbook
start again duplicating The Watchtower in Siamese. Since
January we have made 200 copies of each issue.
The English booklet "The Kingdom of God 18 Nigh" was
translated into Siamese toward the beginning of the year
and 5,000 copies were printed. However, the high cost of
printing, which has to be done by outside firms. made it
impossible for us to continue printing literature in this land.
Here again the Lord has opened the way for us, and in the
future all our needs for Siamese literature will be supplied
by the Society's printing plants, either in Australia or in
America.
The main event by far during the year was the visit of
the president of the Society, Brother Knorr, and his secre-
tary, Brother Henschel, who were with us from April 8 to 12
inclusive. This visit of our dear brethren proved to be a
very pleasant one for all of us and we felt greatly refreshed
by their fellowship which the great Theocrat had provided
for us. 'I'he visit was marked by the thrilling event of the
first convention ever held in the history of the Lord's people
in Siam.
A good witness was given to the citizens of Bangkok
through the advertising of the public lecture "The Joy of
All the People".
After the lecture two of the local newspapers, Chart 'l'hai
and La Liberte published false reports about the speech.
They stated that Brother Knorr, in the course of the talk,
had greatly defamed the Buddhist religion and that because
of this many people had run away from the lecture hall,
refusing to listen to the remainder of the talk. Such action
brought the C.LD. officers to the Society's depot, who asked
for a copy of the lecture. Upon receiving the same and
perusing its contents they immediately decided that no such
defamation of the Buddhist religion had been made by the
speaker. They then advised the acting depot servant to see
the editors of the above-named newspapers and ask them to
stop misrepresenting the facts, and if they would not stop
publishing false reports, they, the C.LD. officers, would take
action against these editors. The result was that these
editors did apologize for misinforming the Bangkok citizens
and for the injustice done to Brother Knorr and the Society.
They stated that they had relied entirely upon the infor-
mation of the Buddhist priest and their correspondent. One
of the articles appearing in the La Liberte newspaper crit-
icizing Brother Knorr was written by a Buddhist priest.
He later willingly apologized for the untruths appearing in
the article, stating that for his information he had relied
wholly upon an earlier article in the Chart Thai newspaper.
Several of the newspapers published the Society's answer
to the criticism, and thus another good witness to the people
Yearbook 69
was given by this means. Thus the Devil's attempt to
counteract the good effects of the public lecture servcd only
to bring about an even greater sprl'ading of the truth than
was originally anticipated!
It was during the visit of Brother Knorr that arrange-
ments were made to get the work hetter organized, and the
news that the Bangkok depot would become a Branch on
September 1 brought much joy to all of us at the Bethel
home.
SINGAPORE AND MALAYA
During the war years the work of Jehovah's witnesses
came to a standstill in Singapore and the Malay Statl's.
Many of the interested onl'S were taken to prison, and others
fled [rom the country. Even at the end of hostilities, after
the people were libC'rated from .Japanese rule, there were
still no regular meetings conducted nor was service work
carried on, due to the lack of organization.
"In March, 1947, the brethren remaining were privileged
to have a visit from Brothers Knorr and Henschel, who
visited Singapore on their Far Eastern tour. Shortly there-
after, in April, two graduates from Gilead arrived in Singa-
pore to take up millsionary work. Heorganization of the work
began immediately with the gathering of the brethren for the
Memorial celebration on April 6, the lVatchtou;cr study being
resumed on the same evening. Other company meeting'S
were started, including the Theocratic ministry school. '1'11e
attendance has gradually increased as newly interested ones
have b(:gun to attend. The attendance increased from an
averag'e of 8 in April and May to 16 in August. A company
was organized, and the number of publishers has more than
doubled.
"The group represents Illany different nationalities, such
as Chinese, Ceylonese, '1'amil, Eurasian, and European, which
is a good representation of Singapore's cosmopolitan popu-
lation. English is widely spoken, so all the studies are
conducted in the English language. Malay, however, is the
language most widely used by the native population, and
for this reason the two Gilead brethren are attending Malay
classes to equip themselves for witnessing alllong these
people. Further, a booklet has been translated into the
Malay tongue and will shortly be used in the great educa-
tional work in this land.
"There are many persons of good-will here who are
hungering for the truth. Due to the overcrowded living
conditions, many of these 'sheep' are literally hidden in the
kampong8 and attap8 (thatched shacks). A pioneer brother
who was working such an attap compound was informed by
70 Yearbook
the occupants of a hut at the entrance that none of thpse
people could read and besides they were all Buddhists and
Moslems. Nevertheless the karnpong was worked and a Eura
sian lady contacted who manifested good interest. A back-
call was made on her ami her husband and it was found
that they both were well educated and lived in the atiap
because of the housing shortage. Both the message and
the method of study impressed them very much, and it was
not long till he began to speak to his neighbors and relatives.
Now there is a group of seven attending this study. A m ( ) l l ~
these is a Malay Moslem who began manifesting interest
since being shown the difference between imitation Chris-
tianity and true Christianity. To find some of these 'sheep'
requires real 'hunting and fishing'.
"One good-will person who receiYed some of the publica-
tions from his daughtpr in Batavia durIng the war was so
impressed with the message that he immediately set about
to get in touch with Jehovah's witnesses. He visited the
yarious Bible societies in town but none of them wpre Je-
hovah's witnesses and none could give him any information
as to their whereabouts. Finally one of the pioneers recently
called on him at his home in a congested Chinese area.
Now he is rejoicing with Jehovah's people as he feeds at
the Lord's table with us."
AUSTRIA
It is thrilling to see the zeal of the Austrian breth-
ren, which they have expressed in the form of hours
devoted to the King and the Kingdom. In the year 1946
the publishers devoted 34,600 hours to witnessing;
whereas in the last service year the number of hours
spent in the field increased to 162,383. These figures
themselves bespeak the zeal shown by our brethren
in this war-torn country. Even though many of them
spent years in concentration camps and lost their
homes and all of their property, even though they have
no food and very little clothing, still they are pressing
on, knowing that there is only one hope for the world.
Although the government has aided all political
prisoners of the Nazi organization, it has not gone
out of its way to assist Jehovah's witnesses who took
a definite stand against Nazi rule. However, they
didn't go to concentration camps for any personal
gain they might get later; they went there because
Yearbook
71
they were standing for truth and righteousness and
were neutral toward the politics and religious activi-
ties of the old world. They are still of the same mind
and rejoice that they have the opportunity of singing
the praises of Jehovah God unto all the nations.
The Branch servant and his wife had the blessed
privileges of attending Gilead, and the convention at
Cleveland, and of spending a number of months in
the Brooklyn Bethel home and factory, where they
received special training before returning to Austria.
l<'ollowing is the report of the Branch servant.
It is a real joy to give this report of the activity of
.Jehovah's people in this country. It shows very great prog-
ress in alI the features of the work. Most certainly .Je-
hovah has blessed his people. In spite of the difficulties,
which are still numerous, the hrethren went forward. The
conditions are far from normal. 'l'hat the food situation is
had is generally known, but there is also no possilJility to
buy a suit or a pair of shoes. So you can imagine how glad
the brethren were when they rE'<:eived the many ~ i f t boxes
from their brethren in America and Swib:erland last year.
Indeed, some confessed that it was only by the generosity of
these brethren that they could go out in the work. There
are other difficulties, but I shall not talk about these things
that you can read in every newspa.per; I should like to
talk about better things.
Till April, 1947, the ollice work was done in the kitchen
of brethren. Then we moved into a school building which
was partly destroyed by bombs. We occupy a big room which
for the present suits our purpose quite well. But we cannot
stay here for good, and it is not really what we permanently
need. As you already gave us permission to look for some-
thing better, a brother who is an architect made it his
business to search for rooms so that we can store our books
whicl1 we are sure will come some day! and where the of-
fice work can be done, and also some rooms be had to live in.
I am glad to report that the Society is now registered
again as a Branch of the Brooklyn office, under the same
name and under the same conditions as before we were
banned. That is, of course, a help to carry out the work.
The great event of the past year was the convention.
When we were able to announce it, we expected quite a
number, but we did not expect to see a thousand brethren
in Vienna. We knew all about the hardships the brethren
would have to overcome. Only the other day, when I went
to visit some of the companies, I had to go to the station
72 Yeal'book
a day before, to get a permit for traveling, So many people
were waiting that, although I was at the station already
at 7 o'clock, I had to line up tilI 1: 30 p.m.; and this is
only a smail example of how much time has to be spent
during which nothing is accomplished. But as we had the JOY
to announce that a special representative from headquarters,
the vice-president Brother Covington, would attend the
assembly, everybody did his utmost to overcome any handi-
cap. It was a long time since there was a personal link
between headquarters in Brooklyn and Austria. You, dear
Brother Knorr, were the last visitor from there, and many
brethren still remember the happy time when you came to
the office and the convention in Vienna in 1933. Then came
the many years of the Nazi occupation when no official
meetings could be held. So you can imagine how glad the
brethren were to have again, after fourteen years, a special
representative of the Society in their midst. The convention
was a really joyful and blessed gathering. As we were not
able to rent a bigger hall, the public talk had to be given
in a hall which seats little more than 1,000 people. So we
were not able to make public announcements, but only back-
calls were invited; with the result that, all together, the
brethren included, 1,700 were assembled long before the
beginning. The police had to close the hall because it was
overcrowded, and many could not get in. On Sunday mol'll-
ing an immersion service was arranged, and 131 symbolized
their consecration to Jehovah God. Brother Covington's talks
were not only instructive and helpful, but also extn'mely
encouraging for the brethren.
Although we are very short of literature, on the whole
the brethren made the best of it. The distribution of books
shows an increase of more than 6,000 over last year. Of
course, a great part of these are Bibles. And the booklets
show an increase of more than 100,000 over last year. They
consist mainly of the booklets "Be Glad, Ye Nations" and
The "Commandel' to the Peoples", for both of which you had
arranged that they were sent to us from Switzerland. There
is a real shortage of the latest books, but we are glad to say
that Switzerland will print 10,000 "The Tmth Shall lJIake
You Free" for us which will be used for tbe arrangement of
book studies only.
It fills the heart with gladness that the expansion of true
worship of the Most High God can also be seen in this
country. While last year the Lord's people were organized
in 52 groups, this year there are 96 groups where the mes-
sage of God's kingdom is held high. 'hese brethren appre-
ciate so much when I tell them of my visits at Gilead and the
work in Brooklyn and the States. They have read about it,
but it helps them to hear it all described and explained by
Yearbook 73
BOmebody who was there. The brethren, athough some of
them are living high up in the mountains or in isolated
valleys, feel closely united with the brethren in the other
parts of the world. They put forth every effort to follow
faithfully the organization Instructions; even those who are
very simple do their utmost to learn the best way to serve
in full harmony with the instructions coming from the
center of the Lord's organization here on earth.
Last month we had in Klagenfurt the first circuit assembly
for Carinthia. All the companies were very well represented.
The brethren showed a good spirit; and they workd very
harmoniously together. There was also an immersion service,
and 55 brethren symbolized their consecration.
Brother Covington announced at the convention that there
is now the possibility of entering the full-time service. We
are glad to say that so far 11 have aIt'eady started. May
Jehovah graciously give his blessing on this so very impor-
tant part of the work.
Dear Brother Knorr, I should like to express my deep
appreciation and gratitude to you for the many privlleges
Sister Voigt and I enjoyed last year, attending Gilead
School and the Cleveland convention, and working for three
months in the different depaltments in Brooklyn. There is
abundant proof that all this is a great help for me in carry-
ing out the work here in the same way as it is done in the
States. I also want to express my thankfulness for all the
help the Society has extended this country which made it
possible to carry out the work.
BELGIUM
The Theocratic organization in Belgium is more
stable, healthy, and more prosperous than ever before.
This is due to a better organization. Belgium finds it-
self in a better condition than most of its European
neighbors. It has recovered economically quite rapidly.
Clothing is no longer rationed and larger quantities
of food are available now. Prices are rising, however;
but as far as living conditions are concerned, these
are much better than the conditions still to be found
in countries harder hit by the war. Because of Bel-
gium's present prosperity, many foreigners have been
attracted to the country to work in the mines and find
employment in other industries. Due to this influx of
people from other countries it is necessary for the
74 Yearbook
Branch office of the Society to have literature in 20
different languages so that these people can be served
with the truth in printed form.
Although the Catholic organization collaborated
with the Nazis during the war, still the Catholic priests
of Belgium have great influence over the people, and
they warn their parishioners that it is dangerous to
i'ead the Bible. The majority of the people continue
on in darkness, hut some are awakening to the fact
that the Catholic church is just giving them husks
and no real food.
The Branch servant, a Gilead graduate, is glad to
be in Belgium and work with the brethren there. His
report follows.
The dominant religion of Belgium is Roman Catholie, the
Protestant and Jewish sects forming a very small minority.
The land is famous for its andent religious edifices, which
attract thousands of tourists each year. There are lllany
religious which are celebrated with ceremonies and
processions. Often the people take advantage of these holi-
to hold thl'ir popular fesH va Is and the day is spent
in Singing and in tile streets and elsewhere. It is
easy to see that the object of these religious festivals is to
keep the people satisfird with religion, and many spend their
lives looking forward from one festival to another. However,
this ill not the case with all, as is shown by the following
experience reported by a pioneer. He writes: "Being stationed
at my post with my books Sunday morning, a procession
passed, and just before me many persons were prostrating
themselves before the procession. I noticed a man who was
not doing as the others. This intl'rested me, so I approached
and asked him why he was not doing as the others. He
answered that his conscience would not permit him to do it.
This, of course, gave me the opportunity to give him a good
testimony, which he accepted with much pleasure. He then
took 2 books, 4 booklets and a Watchtower. Eight days later
he came to find me and took 3 books and 4 booklets. The
following day he came again to get books in German and
also gave a subscription for The Watchtower. He is already
announcing the good news to his acquaintances."
When those of good-will learn the wonderful truths con-
cerning Jehovah's kingdom their joy knows no bounds.
Recently a man who lives in an isolated territory, which is
worked by a pioneer, received some of the literature and
immediately accepted the truth. He was so overjoyed that he
Yearbook 75
telephoned the Branch office to tell us about it. He realized
the necessity of witnessing, so he immediately set himself
to work; but, not being acquainted with the organization, he
naturally did not know how to go about the work. He bought
an amplifying system and installed it in front of his house.
Each day he read from the Society's publications over his
loud-speaker system so that his neighbors could hear the
good news. Soon there were complaints and the police told
him that he would have to cease his broadcasting because
he was disturbing the peace. He wrote us for advice and we
advised him to comply with the order of the police. We told
him that in a few days we would send someone to show him
how to properly carryon the work. The following week the
servant to the brethren was able to visit him. The servant
to the brethren explained how to do the work, and he imme-
diately joined with him in the work. They worked together
for three days. He was pleased to learn how to witness
properly. It was explained to him how he would be able to
put his amplification system to good use also. The new
publisher was very grateful for this Theocratic instruction.
He opened his house for a Watchtower study and other
meetings, and now a small group meets there regularly. He
has also provided lodging for some vacation pioneers who
are working that territory.
During the past service- year we had three conventions in
Belgium. The first was our "Glad Nations" Assembly, which
followed the great international assembly by this name at
Cleveland. It was a three-day convention held at Brussels
from the 4th to the 6th of October. The talks that were
presented were from the Cleveland assembly. This conven-
tion was conducted in the two languages of Belgium, that
is, French and Netherlandish. On Sunday the public talk
"The Prince of Pettce" was delivered to an audience of 1,700.
The model service meeting, Theocratic ministry school and
WatchtQWef' study were much appreciated by all.
The outstanding event of the year was the vIsit of
Brothers Franz and Suiter, from Brooklyn headquarters,
during the month of June. During this visit two conventions
were held: one for the Netherlandish-speaking brethren at
Antwerp and one for the French-speaking at Brussels. From
the discourses of these two representatives of the governing
body of the Lord's earthly organization, the brethren were
enabled to get a clearer understanding of how the Lord's or-
ganization operates than ever before. It was emphasized that
the Theocratic organization cannot be nationalistic, because
Jehovah does not respect persons. When the question was put
to them by Brother Franz, as to the country to which they
looked to locate the governing body of the Lord's organization,
they were all of one accord that they do not look to any gov-
76 Yearbook
ernment on earth, not even to political America, though It
happens that at the present time the governing body of the
earthly organization of Jehovah is found within the political
boundaries of that country. Yes, they look to the I,ord's
'l'heocratic organization for instructions, and that Theo-
cratic organization is located on God's footstool.-Isa. 66: 1.
Brothers Suiter and Franz also brought messages of love
to the Belgian witnesses from their fellow sen-ants of many
nations. This enabled them to understand more deeply how
Go<l's people are united in the bonds of an unselfish devotion
which lifts thpm IIp above all the petty quarrels and selfish
desires which divide the nations of this world.
'l'hree weeks after the visit of Brothers Suiter and
we had the privilege of being visited by Brothers Knorr and
HE'nschel here at the Branell ollice. This visit permitted
Brother Knorr to inspect the Society's property at Brussels
which he had not seen, and to discuss many problems
with the Branch servant relative to the pushing of the
expunsion. As a result many "bottlenecks" were eliminated
and the way was prepared to push the advance of true
worship with greater vigor. Brothers Knorr and Henschel
were able to speak to the two units of tile Brussels company
during their visit; which was very encouraging to them.
As a climax to terminate this most joyOUS of all service
years came our first circuit assembly, at La Louviere. It was
most enthUSiastically supported by the publishers. During
the last six months there was an average of 295 publishers
for this particular circuit and on Sunday at the assembly
263 reported; which shows that the biggest part of the
publishers in the circuit were present. All servants in the
circuit except two were present. There were 36 persons im-
mersed, and 485 attended the public meeting. All were
bubbling over with enthusiasm. 'l'he circuit activity meeting
was specially interesting and instructive, and was well at-
tended, the servants and publishers alike taking part.
From every point of view the service year just ended has
been the best yet for Belgium. Although the expansion may
not have been as great as in some other countries, yet the
report shows that we have expanded; and that is encourag-
ing. Much has been accomplished in laying the groundwork
for further expansion; the cords of the tent have been
lengthened and the stakes strengthened. (Isa. 54: 2) Last
year 1,099 attended the Memorial. This year there were
1,525 who attended; which shows an Increase of almost 500.
During the coming year many of these persons should realize
their privilege and be counted among those of all nations
who are praising Jehovah. So it is with joyful anticipation
that we look forward to the coming year.
Yearbook
77
BELGIAN CONGO
The government of Belgium has control of a large terri-
tory in Africa called the Belgian Congo. There are two
publishers of the Kingdom living in that territory now,
and they have been sending in some reports to the office in
Brussels. 'l'his vast territory we hope will open up some
day so that the gospel of the Kingdom can be preached there.
The Catholic Hierarchy, which !Jas for many years tried
to control Belgium completely, has a great influence on the
population of the Belgian Congo. It is reported that they
dislike Jehovah's witnesses very much and are trying to
keep them out of that country; but, if the Lord wants the
truth to go in there, his spirit will so direct and nothing can
stop it. We sincerely hope that the two witnesses of Jehovah
now in the Belgian Congo will find much interest and that
their efforts at witnessing will be blessed.
LUXEMBOURG
'l'he Grand Duchy of Luxembourg includes that portion
of the wooded highlands called the Ardennes, which lies to
the southeast of Belgium. This small state, about the sl?e of
Rhode Island in the United States, comes under the juris-
diction of the Belgian office. The population of Luxembourg
is about 300,000.
Due to certain laws in the country, it is impossible for
the brethren to go from door to door with literature,
placing it as they travel; but they are able to witness with
the Bible and later on make back-calls and conduct book
studies. The literature can then be left with the people who
are Interested.
Over a period of years there had not been much of un
increase in publishers in this land; however, the servants
of the Lord have worked faithfully and now Jphovah is
giving the increase. The report for 1937 shows that there
were 2fl brethren in the country at that time, and in 1946
the report showed an average of 30 publishers a month dur-
ing the year. However, the report for this year shows a
good increase. They have averaged 47 publishers a month
and have attained a peak of 59 publishers during the year
just ended. Thus the Lord has richly blessed the efforts of
his people in this land.
During the past year the brethren have succeeded In in-
corporating a SOCiety which is called "The \Vatch Tower
Bible & Tract Society" and which has been a great help to
them in getting the work properly recognized before the
authorities. 'rhey are now pushing the work more boldly
and have organized several public meetings.
78 Yearbook
The following experiences sent in by the depot
will give an idea of what witnessing is often like in the
Orand Duchy. "In a villatie a sister was going from house
to house, giving tllE' witness of the Kingdom. Soon a group
of chil(lren was following ber and yelling, 'Go away bibel-
forschl'r; get out of our village, old witch.' The sister con-
tiuued her work, not becoming irritated. The group of chil-
dren increased, and began throwing stones at the Sister, who
still continued her way. The village people were at the
windows and doors watching the stoning, the greater part
of them rejoicing over their brats, and thus showing their
goo!l e!lucation. Finally the publisher gained entraJl(e at
one of the houses, and the lady of this house observed that
her daughter was also one of tile 'defenders of the church'.
'rhe mother called the daughter and gave her the lluni::;hment
that she deserved. 'Hold on tllE're,' said the sister. 'It ii'i not
tllp children who are responsible for this. 'riley are only
in the service of their educators.' 'Who told YOU to do that?'
the mother asked her eli i \(]. 'The teacher," was the reilly.
'She told us to chase this woman from our village.' '\Ye
expect this,' said the 'because the Lord has already
said, at John 15: 20: "If they have persecuted me, they will
also persecute you." 'Ve cannot, therefore, be surprised be-
cause of this opposition, silJC'P the truth is not for those
persons, but for men of good-will, who rejoicp over the good
Hews. It is for this reason that we will continue regardless
of everything.' "
During the year the SOCiety held the first real convention
ever to be held in Luxembourg. It was the privilege of
Brothers Franz and Suiter to serve on the program of this
assembly. As can well bi' it was a time of great
joy for the Luxembourg brethren. They were thankful for
the 'l'heocratic instruction and encouragement recehed.
'l'he three companies of Luxembourg are included in a
circuit with some Belgian companies across the border, and
are served regularly by OlJe of the Belgian servants to the
brethren. They have not yet had a circuit assembly, but there
wil! be one for their circuit soon, to which they are all
looking forward.
The report for Luxembourg shows that Jehovah's servants
there have worked well in his service, and that he has In
turn blessed them with a fine increase. It is with joy that the
publishers look forward to another year of activity in his
service, and are determined to push the advance of hue
worship in this country, during tile year ahead, more vigor-
ously than ever before. They are convinced that if they do
their part, then Jehovah will give the increase that he has
promised.
Yearbook
79
BOLIVIA
This country has known little about the truth, be-
cause it has been only recently that publishers of the
Kingdom have entered into the land to make the proc-
lamation. The principal activity is carried on in La
Paz, the capital city, where the first two graduates of
Gilead to enter the country began their service. There
are many obstacles to meet in this country due to the
fact that many of the natives of the country are
Indians who have received no education. The only
way that the message can be presented to them is by
word of mouth, as they are unable to read and study
for themselves.
However, for the present the work is chiefly con-
fined to the cities of La Paz and Cochabamba. There
is plenty of room in Bolivia for more publishers, and
the Society hopes to send some there during the 1948
service year. At the present time there is an average
of 16 publishers, and the peak reached during the
year was 26. The Branch servant sent in an interesting
report, part of which is published here.
During the course of the year our book studies turned ont
some really zealous publishers. Two of the pioneer sisters
started a book study in English with a lady who had been
to the States for a time and who knows English quite well.
A young university student became interested in learning
English. However, he soon became much more interested in
the truth than in English. At his first service meeting during
the SeptemberOctober campaign for A.wake! subscriptions
he wanted sample copies of the magazine and the book to
go along, so that he could make "propaganda" among hIs
fellow students. At that time he became disgusted with the
students because of their indifference. In the December book-
let campaign he placed many booklets among them, however.
His first day out in the door-to-door work, at the second
door called on, he decided it would be better if he took the
opposite side of the street alone. The pioneer taking him out
gave him his own bag of books, retaining only one for
himself. The young publisher soon got out of sight, working
his side of the street, and returning on part of the other
to meet the pioneer. Running over with joy and having
placed all of the books in the bag, he said, "Caramba! We
80
Yearbook
will have to take more books along next time," and also
cOllllllentetl on the joy and freedom one experiences in the
service. Since then he continues full of zeal for the Kingdom.
During the magazine campaign of 1947 J1(> took up vacation
pioneer service, as the university turns out from l\lar('h to
]\fay. In March he first set a quota for himself at 20 sub-
scriptions for the month, but, as he soon surpassed that, he
set it at 40, and at the end of the month he had obtained 44.
One who can now give trst imony to the Indians who speak
the AymHrn dialcC't is a (Ie\'oted Indian brother who has
come into the truth quite recently as a r(>sult of a book study
held with him for not so long a period. He has shown much
zeal in all ff'at ures of the work, but recently he has been
arranging for ba(t-calls wit]J all kinds of people that corne
to his barlJ('l'sllOp, and then he and a pioneer brothel' look
tlwse up and make calls on them. In the door-to-door work
the Indians and mestizos (mixed race) listen to him more
rf'atiily than to the American brethren.
In Oruro a young brother who learned the truth through
a few Watchtolcer and book studies he attended now makes
visits to his home town, a small village, some way out of
Oruro on the Altiplano, Bolivia's high plateau, and always
takes a qUlIntity of literature, which he places with the
people.
The brethren in Bolivia are very grateful to Jehovah God
for making the necessary provisions to preach glad tidings
to the nwek of this large inland nation and for now bringing
forth fruit for their labor. The good seed is being sown by
printed page and by wortl of mouth and now the Kingdom
message is being heralded forth for thc first time in other
new tongues. 'Ve are rejoicing to see the response of this
nation to the invitation "Oh praise Jehovah, all ye nations"
and look forward to a greater praising of his name in the
~ ' e a r to come.
BRAZIL
This great country sprawls over a territory as vast
as that from Florida's tip to Hudson Bay and from
Philadelphia to Salt Lake City. Its 45,000,000 inhab-
itants are divided among 20 states and 7 territories.
The larger part of the population is scattered along
the coast. Jehovah's witnesses, being few in number,
have a great problem in reaching all of the people of
Brazil, and constantly the call is for more publishers.
A new peak was reached in the number of servants to
Yearbook 81
the Lord in Brazil during the service year, when 786
witnesses reported. Quite a few brethren 'from Gilead
have entered the service in Brazil, and we hope to send
more to open up new fields through the missionary
activity.
The Branch servant and his wife, along with other
Brazilians, attended the assembly in Cleveland and
also had the opportunity of getting special instruction
at the Society's headquarters at Brooklyn before re-
turning to Brazil. They were happy to get back and to
push ahead with the great expansion work that is
going on throughout all the earth. The Branch serv-
ant's report this year is very interesting, and parts of
it are printed here.
The year opened with the echoes of the "Glad Nations"
Assembly in our hearts stirring all to action. The Awake!
magazine took the prace of Consolation in Portuguese and
a two-month campaign brought in 2,740 new subscriptions,
the best subscription campaign to that date.
From October 17 to 20 the Brazilian "Glad Nations" As-
sembly was held in Sao Paulo, the most joyful of all con-
ventions. The Teachers' Institute Center was used for all
meetings except the public lecture, '''rhe Prince of Peace,"
on Sunday afternoon, for which the Municipal Theater,
Sao Paulo's best, was t'ngaged. The attendance of 500 on the
first day rose to 814 on Saturday night. The public meeting was
well advertised by radio and sound-car announcements, 2,000
placards, and 150,000 handbills. One of the principal daily
newspapers gave a good two-column news item. The tireless
efforts of the 297 publishers who participated in the field
service house-to-house, with magazines and handbills and
other means of advertising, were well repaid, for on Sunday
afternoon, half an hour before the lecture began, the hall
was packed out with 1,700 persons, Brazil's largest attend-
ance by far. Eighty-three were immersed on Sunday in the
Eden Swimming Pool near the Assembly auditorium.
In November a Gilead graduate took up the southern
circuit as servant to the brethren, covering the states of
Sao PaUlo, Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do SuI.
Both he and the brethren whom he visited report many bless-
ings from his visit with them, h e l p i n ~ them to better their
organized service for The Theocracy. On his return to Bethel
after six months' absence, it is noted that he is speaking
the language quite fluently. He encouutered some hatdships
82 Yearbook
and difficulties in his travels, especially In the interior,
whel'e accommodations, if founu, are primitive. Upon his
visit to a person of good-will in a town in Santa Catarina,
he accepted the only accommodation this friend, a police ser-
geant, could offer, and slept with him in the jail. But these
experiences were as nothing compared with the blessings
which Jehovah poured out for him in his ministrations to the
"sheep". On one of his long journpys by omnibus, two fellow
travelers were Pentecostal missionaries going to the same
town as he, to meet in a conYcntion of that sect, that is,
they were Pentecostal missionaries at the beginning of tlte
trip. The sen-ant soon engaged them in conversation ant!
they began a Scriptuml discussion which ended in their
attending the meetings of Jehovah's witnesses inst{'ad of the
Pentecostal meetings when they reached their journey's end.
They were baptized, remained with the brethren to leal'll
the Theocratic way of preaching the gospel, returned by
way of Sao Paulo to associate with the organized ('ompany
there and learn still more, then to their home in the interior
of the state of Sao Paulo, where they are faithfully carry-
ing on the witness work, having already added another
publisher to their ranks.
In February, five girls graduated from Gilead arrived, and
remained in Rio de Janeiro for a few weeks before joining a
brother and a sister in the missionary horne in Sao Paulo,
the first in this territory, Quickly overcoming the difficulties
of a strange tongue, different customs and climate, they are
gOing ahead nicely and finding exceeding gladness in the
work of discipling the many nations in Brazil. One sister
already has 13 stUdies.
In April the second home was established in Rio de Ja-
neiro for the three brothers who had arrived the previous
July and who had been working at the Branch office.
The last two Gilead graduates to arrive came by boat to
Rio de Janeiro in May and went immediately to their terri-
tory in Salvador, Bahia, where there now is a third home.
In the cities of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador
are the largest organized groups of witnesses, and the pres-
ence in these cities of the Gilead-trained miSSionaries, eager-
ly looked for and so much desired, is expected to greatly
aid in the expansion work.
During the second week-end of March, Brazil's first circuit
assembly was held in Assis, in the interior of the state of
Sao Paulo_ This was a great blessing to many of the brethren
who are scattered in small groups or isolated in that part of
the territory. Considerable interest of the "other sheep" was
Yearbook 83
shown and the companies have profited by the Theocratic
instructions received.
TIle service year was crowned by two more assemblies, one
in nio de Janeiro in July, the other in Sao Paulo in August.
'rhe Rio de Janeiro assembly was outstandingly JUYous.
At the meeting of the servants it was noteworthy that all
the prohlems and questions bore on the pOint of "How can
I as a servant improve my Theocratic service to the breth
ren?" rather than the attitude of "How can we servants
make the publishers do the work'l" 'l'here was no evidence
o[ friction in the companies nor between the companies.
The lon' that was manifested by the brethren in all com
panies for each other and their consideration of thc new
('omers in their midst was noted by these people. '1'he Lord
of the harvest has great blessings for his servants who
faithfully continue to bid all the nations "Praise Jehovab !"
BRITISH GUIANA
There are 400,000 inhabitants in the poor colony
of British Guiana, a part of the British Empire. The
only real hope that can be held out to the people is
that given them by Jehovah's witnesses, Who are try-
ing to show them that the only hope of the world is
God's kingdom. A marvelous increase has taken place
in British Guiana during the past year, as the report
shows. The clergy have been forced to notice the Lord's
blessing'on the Watch Tower Society, and, to counter-
act the growth of the work, are now instructing their
people to burn the Society's books and to refuse to
listen to Jehovah's witnesses and their comforting
message. But their talk will never stop the onward
flow of truth. Even some of the East Indians are sep-
arating themselves from the Mohammedan and Hindu
beliefs and are listening to the truth,
One of the outstanding things in the report from
British Guiana is the tremendous increase in the num-
ber of back-calls being made, namely, 18,040 during
the year. The brethren see the need, too, of conducting
book studies, and 260 of these are being handled reg-
ularly by the publishers each week, Interesting high
84
Yearbook
lights of the year are set out in the Branch servant's
report.
There is little opportunity for Yearbook readers to visit
British Guiana, so it is our annual privilege to relay to you
all the report of the Kingdom work in this small South
American colony. Continuing where the 1946 account left off,
we held our anticipated convention, October 4-6. This was
the big event of the past service year-a year of expansion
and advancing of true worship in this land.
Our Kingdom Hall in Georgetown was the center of much
activity for the three convention days. Printed letters one
foot high strung from post to post along the front of our
upstairs hall announced: "Jehovah's witnesses Assembly."
Sixty-nine publishers marched throughout the city on Satur-
day with placards advertising the public lecture, "The Prince
of Peace." Our efforts were well rewarded with a packed-
out Town Hall audience of 541 persons.
A few days later in October four Gilead graduates arrived
to join the one already here. These five brethren have worked
diligently during the year to aid the local witnesses in be-
coming more efficient in the service. Despite a scarcity of
houses in Georgetown, a missionary home was estahlished
in a desirable location, and the Gilead graduates are content
with their assignment.
In November a special representative from the Society's
headquarters, Brother Steelman, visited the companies in
British Guiana in his tour of the Caribbean branches. His
two months' stay helped to establish a new peak of 144 pub-
lishers for December.
The year 1947 began with exceedingly dry weather, devel-
oping into one of the longest droughts in British Guiana's
history. We took advantage of this by holding many public
lectures, totaling 116 for the year, to compare with 35 for
the previous twelve months. Several local brothers, trained
in Theocratic ministry school, joined the two Gilead grad-
uates in delivering these talks at Georgetown and in villages
along each side of the Demerara river, where three more
companies can be found.
June rains did not dampen the zeal of Kingdom publish-
ers, as a new high was attained, 146. Then July saw 154 out
in service, and August became the third consecutive highest
month, with a grand total of 185 "turning in the report".
Thus at the end of this service year the number of witnesses
in British Guiana has doubled!
Enough of figures. Now what has been the attitude of the
religious organizations to this growth of the Lord's work in
Yearbook
85
British Guiana? Certainly these groups have felt the heat
of the witnesses' activity, as evidenced by their opposition
in the smaller villages especially. At several places where
pioneers have been assigned, the preachers warn their
parishioners from pulpit and street corner about "false
prophets". At New Amsterdam, a village up the eastern
coast, a Pilgrim Holiness parson stood under a street light
one 8aturday evening berating Jehovah's witnessps before
100 or more persons. lIe stated that "there are fnlse prophets
going around the town telling the people that there is no
hell, but there are plenty of scriptures to prove that there
is". Yet he failed to show his audience any of thes(> scrip-
tures! Then the ,vitnesses gave their answer to this man by
their house-to-house coverage of ;'IIew Amsterdam the next
week during th(> visit of the servant to the brethren. Ail
week they str(>sst'd the fact that "there is a hell, and it is
the grave". It was noted that fully nine-tenths of the people
agreed with them.
The past twelve months saw many visible evidences of
the Lord's rich blessing upon us. We rejoice that one of our
local brothers had the privilege of attending the Los Angeles
convention. As the new year begins we eagerly await his
return with firsthand reports of the "All Nations Expanshm"
Asst'mbly, as well as our second circuit assembly for 1947,
and many other unforeseen blessings that are in store for
ali who love and serve Jehovah God.
BRITISH HONDURAS
The good work of preaching the gospel continues in
this land. The field service report tells a very inter-
esting story of finding new interest and shows, too,
how this new interest readily takes hold of this mcs-
sage of truth, soon becoming ministers of the gospel.
Up until recently the main activity of Jehovah's wit-
nesses in British Honduras was in the principal city,
Belize; but now there are sufficient witnesses to ar-
range for some to go out into other parts of the terri-
tory. As the work begins to branch out, more opposi-
tion appears, espccially from the religious folk.
Even though they had an average of only 13 pub-
lishers last year, the brethren were not hesitant in
putting into effect all of the organization instructions
such as the Theocratic ministry school, public mcet-
86 Yearbook
ings, advertising with placards and the holding of
circuit assemblies. All of these instructions were fol-
lowed out, and the Lord blessed their efforts. Instead
of having 13 publishers now, there is an average of
38, with a peak of 50. You will enjoy reading the
Branch servant's report.
Although no one from British Honduras had the privilege
of attending the "Glad Nations" Theocratic Assembly, held
in the city of Cleveland, OhiO, U. S. A., in 1946, yet we were
'glad with his people' as reports of the convention came
through the mails. The Messenger almost made us feel we
were there in attendance as we read the various discourses
and viewed the wonderful pictures of the various features
of the glad event. But this was not to be the sum of our joy.
Shortly after the convention we had further occasion to
be glad. I<'our more missionaries were scheduled to come
directly to British Honduras from the convention. They
brought further details of the convention, along with some
of the gladness which they still had from having attended
in person.
Even before this glad event in Cleveland arrived in Au-
gust, word from the president's office in Brooklyn had
reached us that we were to have a "Glad Nations" Theocratic
Assembly here in Belize, the capital of British Honduras.
This was to be one of a series of smaller conventions to be
held in Mexico and throughout Central America after the
one in Cleveland. Brother Knorr was sending his special
representative in the person of Brother T. H. Siebenlist
and Sister Siebenlist, who had been called to attend the
convention in Cleveland and then to receive some speCial
training at Bethel. This was due to further reflect the glad-
ness from the convention held in U. S. A. We were all well
pleased by the evident results.
This was to follow close at the heel of the colony's big
day of celebration, the 10th of September. Our assembly
was to be on the 13th, 14th and 15th of September. We had
speculated beforehand on what the results would be at such
a time, but nothing can stop the onward march of Jehovah's
Theocratic organization. And this time it was a literal
march. Placards were used here during this assembly for the
first time in advertiSing the talks. The talk scheduled to be
delivered as the high light of the assembly was the one
given at Cleveland, "The Prince of Peace." The brethren
did literally march; all over town they went, distributing the
handbills inviting the people to hear the subject discussed.
Yearbook
87
For days, yes even for weeks, we heard the people say as
we passed, "Heal' 'The Prince of Peace'." Some of the native
brethren were at first reluctant at taking part in this feature
of advertising, but when they once got into the swing of it
they thoroughly enjoyed it.
'l'he first two days of the assembly did not look promising,
as it rained off and on, but we continued advertiSing the
talk, which was slated for Sunday at 3 p.m. The brethren
had many blessed experiences in this new feature of the
work, and were now assembled to hear that which they
were sure would well repay them for all the efforts they
had made to advertise it. As is usually the case here in this
small country, very few were present at the bpginning of the
talk, but continued to stream in all during the first half of
the discourse until they filled all the seats and some had to
stand. The final count was 160.
At the beginning of the service year in British Honduras
there was only one company in the whole colony, which had
set its quota of publishers at 15. In the first month of the
year we had gone well over the quota, chalking up 24 pub-
lishers in September. In December we followed the sug-
gestion as set out in the Informant, that is, inviting all our
study attendants to take part in booklet distribution. Much
to our joy we found at the end of December we scored a
new peak of publishers, company publishers soaring to the
high of 40!
Then, keeping in step with the Theocratic organization in
all parts of the earth, arrangements were made for a circuit
assembly, to be held in connection with tile celebration of
the Memorial of Christ's death, on the week-end of April 6.
This proved to be the Lord's arrangement, as was borne
out by the results of the assembly. In this month of April,
no doubt due to the assembly, we reached another peak of
publishers, this time going to 50, including all publishers in
British Honduras.
During the past year the Lord provided the local company
with a Kingdom Hall, which has had its good effect on the
work. Good benches were provided, too, and all other things
necessary, sufficient to take care of both the regulat com-
pany meetings and at least a part of the public talks.
The world may put their trust and hope in the U.N., but
we will continue to look to Jehovah and his Theocracy for
protection and salvation. The brethren all seem determined
to push on in this postwar era, come what may, until all
nations shall be found praiSing Jehovah.
88
Yearbook
BRITISH ISLES
This report includes England, Scotland, Northern
Ireland, Wales and the Channel Islands. The country
of Eire, or Ireland, also comes under the direction of
the London Branch office, but in view of the fact that
it is an independent country a separate report is given.
Within the bounds of the British Isles there are now
approximately 45,000,000 people. Most of the territory
is closely populated, with the people living in towns.
Over these people hang clouds that are low and
very dark; there is a crisis in England. 'Men's hearts
are failing them for fear, and for looking after those
things which are coming on the earth.' From one end
of the British Isles to the other new restrictions and
regulations are being placed upon the people. The con-
ditions today are comparable with those of the war,
if not worse. The war left the country in a very poor
condition; and now, with severe measures' being
placed upon the people, they should really be aroused
to look to the Lord's Word for help rather than to
the promises of men. The British people have had
their troubles, like every other people and nation;
and their only hope, whether they know it or not, is
God's kingdom.
It is good to note an increase in the work done by
the British' brethren. They are accepting their respon-
sibilities before the Lord; and, by God's grace, they
will continue to sing praises unto the Lord in all the
nations. The report of the Branch servant is very in-
teresting, and we can catch the spirit of the British
brethren in the report which follows.
We in Britain have had abundant evidence of Jehovah's
direction of our affairs, and therefore to him is due all
praise for the safeguarding of the Kingdom interests and for
graciously committing to us the privilege of carrying his
message to the people of this land. In some respects the
year has been an exceptional one. The recovery from the ef-
fects of World War II has been slow. Addpd to this, the
terrible winter of 1946-47 will long be remembered as the
Yearbook
89
worst In living memory. So severe were the wintry condi-
tions that whole areas of the country were Inaccessible for
weeks at a time. This was followed by floods which resulted
in the low-lying districts' being completely inundated for
two or three months' duration. The press reports tell of over
3,000,000 sheep lost in the snow and the floods. These things
are mentioned here because these conditions, together with
sickness ariSing out of them, seriously affected the Kingdom
work in the first half of the service year. But we are glad
to report that a wonderful recovery took place in the re-
maining months of the year. A new peak of publishers was
attained in April, and this was outstripped with a new
all-time peak of 13,670 during August, the final month of the
service year. 'rhis is an increase of 786 over our peak of pub-
lishers for the previous year. This steady rise in number of
publishers in the latter part of the year gives evidence
of being maintained during 1948.
The British brethren gladly recognize Jehovah's direction
of his work through his visible organization, the Society,
under the leadership of Christ .Jesus, and today there is with
him "a band of men, whose hearts God had touched". (1 Sam.
10: 26) Through the steadfast service of such lUany of the
"other sheep" have been brought into the fold in response
to the Good Shepherd's voice; these are now feasting with
us in the rich pastures of Jehovah's providing.
It has been a great help to us to have the magazines for
street work. We again received bulk supplies during the
year, and this has enabled the publishers to again appear on
the streets. l\Iany are the happy experiences encountered by
the publishers while witneSSing on the sidewalks.
'l'he public meeting work has been kept up during the year.
Both indoors and out in the open spaces the Kingdom mes-
sage has becn heralded far and wide. Over 13,000,000 hand-
bills have been distributed and over 9,700 meetings held.
There can be no doubt that these meetings and the activities
in connection therewith have done much to keep the King-
dom truths before the people. During April alone 1,786
meetings were held in Britain.
The pioneers have e n j o ~ ' e d the most blessed of all priv-
ileges in being in the forefront of the Lord's army of King-
dom publishers. True, they have endured many hardships,
but their joys have been boundless, for this is testified
to by many letters received telling of their appreciation of
their privileges. It is a joy to report that many brethren
are now entering the pioneer ranks.
At the writing of this report the number of pioneers is
riSing again to the 1,000 mark. We have hopes that lllany
90 Yearbook
more who can will yet see their privilege of frl'eing them-
selves from the ties of this old world and living in full
enjoyment of life as full-time Kingdom- publishers. We re-
joice that over twenty pioneers from the British field have
heen called to Gilead and have now passed on to service in
foreign fields. We have them in remembrance before the
Lord as they carryon thE'ir work in distant lands.
The provision made by the Society for the pioneers to
meet the rising costs of living has been a gracious arrange-
ment, and as one expressed it, "Just like the Lord to meet
the need at the right time." Where possible, we have as-
signed the special pioneers to the outlying territories, and
!!;ood work is being done in opening up new companies.
Special pioneers in Northern Ireland ha\'e met up with hitter
opposition. The hatrpd of the Protestant organizations to-
wanl the truth is as deep as that of the Roman Catholics.
Two piont'ers write, "Within two weeks both local Protes-
tant newspapers have given five inches of publiCity, but the
people of good-will are disgusted because the individual did
not give his name, merely signing himself 'Evangelist'.
'I'here is a good reHponse to the message and \\ e have heen
blessed by helping new publishers into the field."
'I'he outstanding event of the year was the "Praising Na-
tions" Assembly at Earls Court, London. 'i'his was by far
the largest assembly ever held in this country. We prayed
earnestly that the Lord would direct all things according
to his sovereign will, and this was realized in full measure.
From the time of the first inqu!i'ies for tIle auditorium
until the end of the assembly itself, there was clear evidence
that the Lord was directing the issue to his praise. One
very marked evidence of the Lord's blessing was seen in the
rooming arrangements for the numbers coming into London.
The housing problem is acute, but, despite that fact, in
record time and to the utter amazement of so many, over
3,000 people in the city opened their homes to the brethren;
and it can be recorded that much interest was aroused
through the brethren staying in the homes. Many interesting
experiences have followed and numbers of book studies
established.
The presence of yourself and the other brethren from
the Brooklyn Office was a real jOy to the more than 13,000
brethren and good-will interest present. 'l'he discourses were
greatly appreciated. It was truly inspiring to witness the
close attention given at the public address, "Permanent
Governor of All NatioDs," when 18,000 were in attendance.
Never have we witnessed such an intensely quiet audience
with periodic outbursts of applauding. There were roughly
about 5,000 of the public present. Had It not been for the
Yearbook 91
strike of the London bus service on the same day, when
80 percent of the busses were tak<'n out of the service, there
can be no doubt that the attendance would have been much
larger. It so happened that the day of the public diseourse
was proclaimed by the king as a national day of prayer,
and special services were arranged in St. Paul's Cathedral,
with the k i n ~ and the queen and the prime minister in
attendance. The press reports that only 2,000 were present
whereas over 5,000 were expected. 'l'he following press report
is Significant:
"]for four days last week there was held at Earls Court
what was called the Theoeratic Assembly .... the publie
was invited to henr an address on the 'Permanent Governor
of All Nations', and, judging by the crowds attracted ...
the people of London, groping in darkness, and apt to become
a prey to those who offer an easy solution to their troubles,
are seeking guidance. Last Sunday, in any ease, was devoted
by the churehes to a 'Call to Prayer' so that the people if
they were really seeking guidance had no excuse for being
diverted to seek it from Jehovah's witnesses."
The joys of the eonvention were many. 'l'he detailed ac-
counts of the travels in Europe and the Far East by the
brethren brought real joy to the eonventioners. What a joy
it was to learn of the marvelous increase in the work in
Germany despite the havoc wrought by war! Then, too,
there were greetings received by telegram from distant
parts of the earth. The fine weather lasted throughout the
assembly period, and this enabled more than 4,000 to engage
in street advertising with the placards in all the busy
thoroughfares of the city. Also the joy of seeing 420 step
forward as candidates for immersion and entering more
fully into the blessings of the Kingdom. It was overwhelm-
ingly agreed by all that this was the greatest and the grand-
est eonvention we have ever had in Britain, and we believe
that its results will be felt throughout the field, as indeed we
have seen already.
The lightning tour of the British field by Brothers Franz
and Suiter was much appreciated. Meetings were held in
eenters eonvenient to the brethren, and it was good to see
them make the effort to attend. Many are the expressions
of gratitude for the ministrations of these brothers. The
reminder both at the eonvention and during these visits that
there are no national barriers between the Lord's people
but that all are one, serving the same great cause and
joined with their brethren in all other lands, has had the
effect of binding the Lord's people into a doser unity.
It seems quite appropriate again to mention the real profit
derived from the Ministry Course. Those who have followed
92 Yearbook
the course consistently have received much valuable help
in fitting them for a fuller service. The ""ritten Heviews'
ha ve proved an inestimable blessin):(. i\Iany brdhren while
not attaining the full marks agree that tlley are better
equipped with a knowledge of the Bible than formerly. That
is the spirit of the brethren generally. Undoubtedly, the
fundamental facts concerning the Bible itself with the aelded
proof of its authentic-ity will do much to equip the zealous
publisher to be furnished for "eYery good \york". Ali this
provision from the Lord for our good calls for deep gratitude,
and all the evidence shows that the brethren in Britain have
much appreCiated it. This together with so much of the good
things from the Lord's table constantly confirms our confi-
dpnce in the "faithful anel wise servant" ami binds us still
more closely to the one organization of the Lord's choosing.
The brethren at Bethel have had much joy in serYing
their brethren in the field. They have been kept through-
out the year. The large volume of new subscriptions entailing
the dispatch of the first few issues from this office has kept
us gOing continually. The printery has produced an output of
18,000,000 pieces, consisting of booklets, placards,
handbillS, etc. The printing of booklets here and by outside
printers amounted to well oyer :!,OOO,OOO. '1'here has been a
steady inel'ease in the number of letters received and dealt
with, the number for the year being 72,310. The family have
been happy to share with their brethren in the field ,,"ork
as they have opportunity, particularly at the week-ends.
We greatly enjoyed having you with us together with the
other brothers from headquarters. We are thankful for the
unity that exists among us as we work together to the one
common end-the vindication of Jehovah's name.
The coming months will demonstrate to what extent the
Lord's people will be affected by the new regulations. One
thing is certain, they know that no man-made remedies can
bring lasting benefits to the people. We have bc>en informed
over the radio by a government spokesman that we must
expect restrictions in respect to food, clothing and other
commodities much more severe than anything experienced
so far. We look to Jehovah to direct our course as we meet
up with the problems which will surely come, but we do
sci with bright hope for the future while our hands are full
with his service. There are multitudes of people in this land
who must yet be reached with the Kingdom message. In the
language of the Resolution supported by all at the London
convention we say. "With a greater sense of our responsi-
bility, we are resolved to press forwanl the preaching of the
Kingdom with increased zeal and alertness, so that the
Kingdom work in this land may prosper as never before."
Yearbook
93
EIRE
Next to Vatican City itself, probably Ireland is influenced
more by the Catholic priests than any other place on earth.
The northern part of Ireland, known as Ulster, comes under
the British Crown. Twenty-six counties in the southern
part of Ireland are known as Eire. Eire has its own govern-
ment and is no longer tied to the British Crown, except that
it is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Approximately 95 percent of the people are Roman Catholics.
Despite the strong influence of the priests over the people,
the message of the Kingdom is reaching some of them. The
Lord's command is, "Go ye therefore, and make disciples
of all the nations"; and that would include Ireland. We feel
sure that there are some people in this land who want to
praise the Lord and gain life eternal. The pioneers in Ireland
are having a very interesting time, although they experience
many difficulties.
From time to time in the last twenty years the Kingdolll
publishers have been badly treated in Eire. Open attacks
were made upon them, and their literature burned in public,
and they were driven from the country by mobs. But of
recent years more progress has been made. In fact, during
the past year or two the work has progressed steadily and,
although still small, there is a band of fifteen pioneers and
three companies in the country. In Dublin the company has
an average of 19 publishers for the year. The other two
companies, at Slane and Sligo, are quite small.
The pioneers have continued their work against great odds.
In the city of Cork a band of pioneers have kept up their
efforts with good results. A report from them says: "As the
figures show, many people in Cork have been willing to take
the literature. A good number of such people have allowed liS
to make several back-calls on them; a few have appreciated
the discussions and are now having book studies. After
the encouraging attendance of 23 persons of good-will at a
public lecture by the servant to the brethren, our next plans
are to give a series of Six lectures, beginning next month."
Later their report says: "At the last two series we had an
attendance of 18 persons at each meeting. It is remarkable
that different ones attend each time in the main. If this
continues next week, we shall have had at least fifty dif-
ferent persons attending the series." There are good pros-
pects of a company being formed in Cork in the near future.
Sometime last year efforts were made to get pioneers
established at Limerick, a city of about 40,000 population.
Their own efforts were soon cut short, for throughout the
city they were boycotted and forced to leave through lack
94
Yearbook
of accommodation. Priestly fear preypnted some persons'
providing them with rooms who otherwise would have done
so. Howeyer, these pioneers faithfully recorded the results
of their work and during the past year two young brothers
were sent to Limerick. They have held on grimly to their
assignment, remaining in their rooms only a few days and
being fon'ed to move elsewhere. One of these writes: "I
have enclosed two newspaper cuttings which I am sure will
be of interest to you; they have caused quite a stir and
many honest people have been prompted to speak on our
behalf. Our work in Limerick is prollucing really wonllerful
results, and we have met some very sincere God-fearing
peollie of good-will. I am sure that if we are only permitted
to stay in the city we will see some great things." Extracts
from the newspaper reads as follows:
"Doing Evil 'York - Base ActivitiE'S in Limerick - Limerick
city is at the moment sheltering two preachers over from Kent
going to Kileely selling and giving books ag-aillst the Catho-
lic church. A vast sum of money comes from Ameriea to
finance these two vampirE'S, who attend no e1ml'ch, but say
they are messengers or witnesses of Jehovah and trying to
diRturb the minds of the good people of the city of St. Mun-
chin and St. Ita."
Another pioneer writes: "It seems the priest got to know
where I was, undergoing treatment in hospital. He was in
a great rage, shaking all over with temper. He first asked
llIe where I was from and then raged at me, saying I was
gOing about with scurrilous literature, etc" that I was to
leave hospital that day and that I was to get out of town,
and i:( I didn't he would get his mob to kick me out."
Still another writes: "The parish priest raved around the
town, walking into homes and burning the literature; enter-
ing the schools to shame the children whose parents had
taken the literature at the doors; telling the children that
Bible men had been run out of town with picks and shovels,
also making the people with whom the pioneer stayed confess
that they had sinned in harboring a 'communist',"
It has always been so in Eire, that the priests have held
great power over the people, who are only too ready to
follow their bidding to take mob action against any and all
who do not fall into line with the "church", The Irish people
are kindly and ever ready to show good-will to strangers,
but the moment the priest starts to incite them, they take
action that knows no bounds and they will stop at nothing
to carry out his wishes.
The visit of Brother Suiter to Dublin in June was much
appreciated. The brethren from all over Eire mme in to
Dublin on that occasion and the meetings rl'sulted in much
Yearbook 95
encouragement to the brethren to carryon their work. More
pioneers are scheduled for Eire and we hope to see further
progress during the coming months.
The report for the year shows good increase over the
previous year, the results being over 100 percent increase in
most features. We look for far greater things for Eire in
the year before us while we rejoice with those who are now
leading the way in that priest-ridden land.
BRITISH WEST INDIES
The location of the Branch office is in Port of Spain,
Trinidad, but the territory under the Branch is scat-
tered throughout the Caribbean sea. The British West
Indies Branch territory is made up entirely of a chain
of small islands which stretch in a semicircle from
Trinidad at the south end near the coast of Venezuela
northward for 800 miles to Puerto Rico, where it
ends with the British Virgin Islands. The islands of
Trinidad and Barbados have the largest populations,
and scattered throughout all these islands we will find
1,133,000 people. It is the Society's hope that we can
send more Gilead graduates to help this Branch in its
organizational work.
Splendid work has been done in the past year, and
we believe a similar activity will continue during the
service year 1948. The servant to the brethren problem
is a big one here. Brother Steelman, who is serving all
of the companies throughout the Caribbean area,
served the British West Indies Branch with very good
effects. The report which follows shows what splendid
work the graduates from Gilead have accomplished
along with the local publishers, who are truly zealous
for the Kingdom_ They have one thing in mind, that
is, praising the Lord. The Branch servant's report is
very interesting, and excerpts therefrom are printed
here.
Time spent in praising Jehovah passes swiftly by and
leaves no regret when it is past. Instead comes the satisfy-
Ing joy of expansion and the joy of having had a share in
96 Yearbook
such advancement of Kingdom interests. So it has been here
in the British West Indies Branch during the past year.
As the year progressed we rejoiced to read the accounts
in The Watchtower amI in cOIn-ention reports of the growth
of the various Branches in other parts of the earth. At the
same time we were experiencing a similar increase as more
and more heeded the gracious invitation to jOin in praising
Jehovah's name.
At the end of the ypar 31 companies were on the list and
seattered over nine of the islands, which was an increase of
() over the previous year. The brethren of the companies are
poor in this world's goods but have the durable treasure
of serving God. That they appreciate this treasure is shown
by the field-service report for the year. RemarkablE' increases
are noticed in all features of activity.
Beginning with the Awake! campaign and continuing on to
the four-month sub:,;cription campaign with both The -Watch-
tower and Awake! subscriptions and individual magazine
distribution increased more and more. We hoped to get 1,000
subscriptions during the four months. As week after week
}vent by and more subscriptions continued to come in, it
b e ~ a n to look as though our hope would be realized. It was
gratifying at the end of the campaign to count 622 WatCh-
tower and 502 Awake! subscriptions. What an increase over
the total of 410 subscriptions for the campaign last year!
Turning now to the expansion of the number of publishers,
we can trace much of this to the work of the Gilead gradu-
ates who have been assigned to work with this Branch. The
three that were sent to Barbados ('ontinued to do a good
work in aiding the brethren there to become more efficient
publishers of the Kingdom message. Better organization of
the companies was effected by these three sel'ving them as
servants to the brethren. Two new companies were organ-
ized. 'rhe aid thus rendered and the bringing in of the
good-will interest bullt up through back-calls and book
studles caused the number of publishers on the island to
expand from 137 to 286. In Bridgetown alone a peak of 178
was reached. Now the missionary home in Barbados has
been closed, its work being done, but the stimulating effect
on the work is still felt and continues to spur the brethren
on in Kingdom service.
We were happy in Trinidad when on October 4 the plane
swooped down with its 8 Gilead graduates for Port of Spain.
They had been long awaited, and now they were here to
work out from the Branch horne. A short period of getting
settled and acclimated and then they were out in the field
going from door to door, making back-calls, conducting book
studies, supporting public meetings, and, most important,
Yearbook 97
taking the local publishers and persons from back-calls
along personally in the field to give them Theocratic instruc-
tion in properly praising Jehovah's name.
Results were not long in showing up. Publishers began to
take more interest in giving a good witness and not just
showing some pretty Bible books or some magazines. They
began to equip thrmselves with bookbags and snpplies of
literature to bave on hand and place with the people in
door-to-door work. The importance of making back-calls on
those taking literature was more fully appreciated, with
the result that back-calls and book stur1i('s grew in nutnber.
This could enf! in nothing else than more publishers; it did.
Last October, when the Gilead graduates arrived, there were
33 publishers for that month In Port of Spain. In August at
the enf! of the year there were 159, a 200 percent increase!
What about back-calls? book studies? Yes, they were the
same. II'rom 78 hack-calls In October there was an expansion
to 618 in August. Studies increaser! from 13 to 81. Surely
here is abundant evidence of Jehovah's blf'ssing on the
provision to send Gi/ead brethren to other countries.
These brethren have had many experiences while in the
service of our !\faster. One related the following:
"Aftf'r having about five studies in 'Let God Be True',
Mrs.- decided to come to the Watchtower study, then all
the rest of the meetings. Her hubby and self study from the
'Truth' book almost every night. He never came with her to
the study.
"One Sunday night she carne to the study, and on arrival
horne he was not there and did not come until late that
night. Upon his return she learned that he had gone to a
friend and had taken the 'Truth' book, question booklet and
Bible and had several hours of study with this friend, having
a time of his life. The next week he came to the Watchtower
study and enjoyed it very much."
Another had this experience:
"One night I was hurrying to get home, so decided I would
take a short cut through the cemetery. This has high walls
all around with gates on all sides of it. As I walked along a
young woman approached me caIling me by name. I didn't
know her, so she explained she was from the country and
had met me previously.
"Her father-in-law had died, so they had come in to bury
him; she had come ahead of the rest. Seeing he had died
so suddenly they had not time in which to get anyone; so
she wondered if I could say a few words. By this time the
rest had arrived; so with m ~ ' P.ihlf' I said a few words . "
98 Yearbook
Another important factor in unifying and expanding the
work was the spnding of Brother Steelman to act as tempo-
rary servant to the brethren amI to report on the needs of
the Branch. the time he began to serve the companies
in January there were remarkable increases in the companies
he served. Invariably during the month of his visit to a
company there would be a peak of publishers for that com-
pany which often was double or even triple the previous
peak. This was accomplished by making a dptermined effort
to contact all the irregular and inactive associated on the
first clay of the visit and arranging for them. to go out in
the service with him or some good publisher during the
rest of the week. It was found that many went out in the
field but did not report their time. At one company, several
times while the servant to the brethren was witnessing from
house to house someone would greet him, "Good morning,
brother." To which he would respond, "Good morning, are
you a publisher?" "Yes, brother." "Do you turn in reports?"
"No, brother." By getting all the reports and taking out the
inactive and irregular brethren he was able to have the com-
pany report 61 for that month instead of the previous 12
or so.
Some who have entered the pioneer field have done so at
an early date after contacting the truth. One young brother
learned of the truth by attending a public meeting series
last fall. He began to attend the company meetings in No-
vember and shortly afterward went out in the sen ice. He
heeded the invitation of the special letters sent out by the
Society to the companies in the spring and applied for
pioneer service. Now he is an energetic and capable pioneer
who is doing especially well in back-call activity. These
hard-working pioneers together with the conscientious com-
pany publishers have contributed their share to the increase
of Kingdom Interests.
So ends our report for the year. We have enjoyed many
blessings at the hands of Jehovah and look forward to
future privileges of service and increase. 'Ve, also, hope that
it will be possible for you to serve this Branch and aid us
to more effectively praise our God "whose name alone is
Jehovah".

Jehovah's witnesses in Canada have taken an all-out
stand for the Kingdom. This they did many years ago.
When the crisis of World War II struck the Canadian
government and their people, a ban was enforced upon
Yearbook 99
Jehovah's witnesses; but this did not stop the preach-
ing of the Kingdom message there. While it was
unlawful to be one of Jehovah's witnesses, they, never-
theless, faithfully carried on. During these years of
war the work increased tremendously in that land
and more publishers associated themselves with the
true gospel-preachers. Since the war like increases
have been made because of the faithfulness on the
part of Jehovah's witnesses.
Today they are fighting for freedom with the same
zeal and energy that they showed during the war
years, and they know that Jehovah God is backing
them up. While they have been reinstated as good
citizens of Canada, they are not recognized as such
in the province of Quebec, where, by the Lord's grace,
they have been trying to help the people get an un-
derstanding of the Bible. The Catholics there have
objected strenuously to the people's reading the Bible
or anything that pertains to it. The year-long battle
in Quebec, which has involved all of Jehovah's wit-
nesses in the country of Canada, has. been a most
interesting one. The report by the Branch servant
which follows deals particularly with this interesting
affair, for it has become a national issue. The issue
is freedom of worship. The busy witnesses in Canada
have been richly blessed in finding many people of
good-will who have now associated themselves with
the Lord's organization and are proclaiming the 'good
news unto all the nations'. Those who fight for right-
eousness will never fail, and the Lord's blessing will
go with them.
Praising the name of Jehovah in the Canadian field during
this past year has yielded rich increase and brought much
gladness to all of the Kingdom ministers. The expansion
work is on, and the year has been filled with the marvelous
exhibitions of Jehovah's loving-kindness and mercy, and now
as the totals for all fields of service are gathered together
we cannot help but express with deepest gratitude: "Thou
crownest the year with thy goodness 1"-a year of Intense
activity, of unremitting fight against great odds, and yet
100 Yearbook
of forward movement and advance of the true worship of
Jehovah. On high the message has been lifted and into
the limelight Jehovah's devoted people have stepped, anu,
though at times perils have beset us, yet always we have
been confident that 'he hath made our feet like hind's feet',
so that we have been sure of footing and hau great peace
as our minds were stayed on him.
The key position in the Lord's organization is that of the
Kingdom publisher, and therefore we are delighted to note
that there has been a 10-percent increase in the average
monthly number of publishers. The peak of 12,093 reached
in January was the highest ever for Canada. The zeal and
enthusiasm of all these ministers of God have certainly
made an impression on the country during the year. More
than 2,000,000 hours spent in various features of field service
has meant an increase of more than 200,000 over last year's
total.
The true worship of Jehovah was due to be expanded in
Quebec and tbe Maritime provinces. It was therefore deter-
mined to move ali the special publishers from various parts
of this farspread land to the east, and a call was also sent to
our general pioneers inviting them to volunteer for a share
in this trek to Quebec and points east. 'l'here are 127 full-
time ministers now preaching in Quebec prOVince, 85 of
these being special pioneers. Other pioneer brethren continue
to make request for assignment on this eastern front, vol-
unteering to study the French language and so push the
auvance of true worship in darkest Quebec. This movement
has taken much tillie, effort and money, but we are sure
the Lord's direction is with us. Grateful are we to the 1\[ost
High God for causing his faithful children to respond and
travel such great distances. More full-time preachers are
required. The number could easily be trebled and still there
would be a cry for 'more laborers, for the fields are white
to harvest'. Especially is this true in the concentrated popu-
lations of the east.
The special campaigns set for the year were partially
broken into through emergency service anu special work,
which had to be arranged due to hatred and opposition
from the province of Quebec, where the brethren were
being sorely tried. Your visit last November to Montreal,
Quebec's largest city, to comfort, strengthen and direct
as to further activity was the springboard from which
the greatest battle for truth in Quebec was launched. So
great had been the opposition by the Hierarchy in that prov-
ince that the time had certainly come for her exposure,
Yearbook 101
and hence publication of the leaflet "Quebec's Burning Hate,
for God, and Christ and Freedom!" In a lightning, 16-day
campaign this leaflet In English, French and Ukrainian was
distributed from coast to coast. '1'he Hierarchy set up a
howl of rage and counter-attacked; not with denial of the
uisgraceful account of her actions, but with her favorite
weapons of slandl'l', lies, violence and the pressure of Que-
bee's corrupt political machine upon the law-enforcement
bodies. In 16 da.) s 260 arrests were made in the l\lontreal
area though not one arrest was made in any other part of
Canada. On December 4. 1946. l\Iaurice Duplessis, Fascist-
minded premier of Quebec and tool of the 'Church', hurled
a hoomerunc; that devastated his o\\'n ranks when he delib-
erately ruined thc prosperous business of one of Jehovah's
witnesses whose only offense was that of supplying bail for
his brethren. This abuse of political authority for such
obvious "religious" persecution aroused the ire of freedom-
loving CanlHlians throughout the entire country. It brought
nation-wide publicity and lllany expressions \\'ere made
championing the cause of Jehovah's witnesses and denounc-
ing his actions. Protest meetings were held throughout the
country by val'ious organizations; resolutions passed and
forwarded to the Duplessis government; newspaper writers
branded Duplessis "a sawdust Caesal... a "minor-league
l<'ranco". as "the focal point of fascism", etc. One paper
remarked. "The cause of Jehovah's witnesses has aroused
the Canadian people more than anything else for a long
time."
The opposers of truth in Quebec were showing by their
bitterness that the title "Quebec's Burning Hate, for God
and Christ and Freedom" was an understatement. It becalJle
necessary in our fight for freedom of worship to make public
her insane persecution of the Lord's children, that it might
be a testimony against herself before all liberty-loving
people. '1'he second leafiet, "Quebec, You Have Failed Your
People!" was distributed country-wide in three languages,
and completed in frigid January weather. There were arrests
daily (as many as thirty thrown into jail in one day) some-
times for no greater offense than boarding a streetcar.
Court appearanees were both during day and at night. To get
bail, arrange release and keep track of the hundreds of
charges was a heavy burden. At the same time appeal cases
and other special legal proceedings were being conducted.
During the four months, November to February, there were
843 arrests, bringing the total cases pending in the courts
to more than 1,300. The majority of the arrests were on
trumped-up charges of "peddling", etc. So enraged were the
opposers that 64 brethren were charged with "sedition" and
102 Yearbook
"seditious conspiracy". This serious charge is not new to
Jehovah's witnesses, for it was leveled against us prior to
'Vorld War II. Indeed the apostle Paul was charged with
being "a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all
the Jews". Our Princely Leader, Christ Jesus, also was
with sedition.
This fierce, mad rush of the enemy did not shake or move
the true ministers of the Most High. They stood their ground
and endured hardness as good soldiers. Again the forces
of righteousness were called in to support the fight, and on
March 2 every company in the land put on or supported a
special public lecture: "The Fight for Freedom of Worship
in Quebec! Awake Canadians to the Facts!" The facts con-
cerning our fight were there given. The eyes of the nation
were on us. Practically every newspaper in the country was
taking up the issue. People of good-will were having their
eyes opened while religionists fumed at the tremendous
favorable publicity we were receiving. Many of the news-
papers in Quebec were "frothing at the mouth", but still the
fight went on. The March 2 lectures inaugurated a nation-
wide campaign inviting the people of Canada to petition
the government for a Bill of Rights guaranteeing freedom
of speech and freedom of worship. This was part of the fight.
Ci viI rights in this country are enjoyed only by tolerance or
sufferance. They are not guaranteed. A declaration of rights
woul(l make it possible to carry our fight for freedom of
worship farther, and certainly for a longer period of time.
The petition campaign was carried on through the month
of March amidst severe below-zero weather. Over 500,000
signatures were obtained-the largest petition ever presented
to the Canadian Parliament. As a result of nation-wide
publicity of this petition and the thousands of letters to
members of Parliament calling for a Bill of Rights, the
government finally set up a committee to consider such a
measure. Part of the difficulty has been the lack of suitable
appeal to the higher courts. In Quebec there is no appeal
from the decision of the municipal Recorder's courts. Ef-
forts are being made to broaden the right of appeal to the
Supreme Court. Thus the national issue of civil liberties
raised by the faithful course of Jehovah's witnesses has
caused thousands of freedom-loving Canadians to realize the
inadequacy of the law.
Also we have utilized every known legal remedy to get
the cases into the higher courts, and many practically un-
known methods. Denied protection by one court, we have
appealed further. Recourse has even been sought to the
Supreme Court of Canada, but we were informed they did
not have jurisdiction to hear our cases. Back again into the
Yearbook 103
Recorder's courts our cases have landed. However, the zeal
of the Lord's people is undiminished, and the fight starts all
over again. Actions, appeals, writs, motions and special rem-
edies have been employed in every case that came to trial.
No cases have been abandoned until every avenue of defense
was exhausted.
The intense hatred of some of the officials in Quebec broke
out in open opposition in the shape of a special provincial
lllw empowering local municipalities to prohibit distribution
of literature. A penalty of three months or one hundred dol-
lars cash could be imposed for distributing one handbill. It
was thought that now they had Jehovah's witnesses in the
bag, and they would swoop down like vultures on the appar-
ently helpless brethren. But we were directed otherwise. and
the enemy was outmaneuvered. 'l'he ministers in Quebec
were instructed to go from house to house preaching the
gospel by word of mouth, and using the Bible, where possible
the D-ouay Version. Now the brethren are spending their
full time preaching the gospel instead of languishing in
Quebec's filthy jails. Under the Lord's direction we shaJl
be victorious, for no power can successfully withstand the
Almighty. Our fight for freedom to worship Jehovah in this
country is by no means over. Indeed it is only beginning.
The totalitarian spirit is here and will produce further
schemes in endeavoring to stop the forward march of Je-
hovah's faithful witnesses.
The fighters for true worship have been greatly strength-
ened in Quebec by the return of many of our pioneer min-
isters who have recently received training at Gilead School,
including a groundwork in the French language. Actually
62 Canadian brethren graduated from the 9th class, of which
number 3 were immediately assigned outside of Canada,
12 were appointed as servants to the brethren in Canada, and
the remainder returned to Quebec and district, some of
which territories have never received a proper witness. A
further group of 22 brethren from Canada is now in training
in the 10th class. We rejOice that so many of our brethren
are thus equipped for service anywhere in the world-wide
field.
The Lord wiII give strength unto his people and bless all
with peace. Happy is our lot and grateful are we to abide
under the shadow of his wings and continue by his grace
to receive his mercy and lovingkindness! Therefore we will
gratefully continue to praise and exalt his holy name among
the people of this country.
10,1 Yearbook
CHILE
At the present time there are 19 mIssIonaries in
Chile who were sent there from the Watchtower Bible
School of Gilead. These brethren are in different cities,
namely, Concepcion, Santiago and Valparaiso; and one
brother is traveling as a servant to the brethren. Their
influence has been felt in Chile. They have been working
in close co-operation with the company publishers, and
a splendid increase has been effected during the 1947
service year. There are now 137 publishers working
regularly in the field, and a peak was reached in Au-
gust of 175. Eleven companies are organized through-
out the land; but, even with this fine increase, the
call comes for more workers. The expansion work is
going forward in Chile, and some people of good-will
in that nation are being comforted and are praising
the Lord. The Branch servant sets out a very intercst-
DIg report; and, although not all of it can be published
in this Yeal'book, excerpts are taken therefrom.
The work of praising .Jehovah is indeed a blessed one. It
is blessed because it honors the One worthy of all praise;
because it causes others righteously disposed to unite their
,'oices in the praising work; and because it is a guarantee
of life to the one doing the praising. No greater privilege,
therefore, could present itself to Jehovah's witnesses and
their faithful companions on earth today than to fulfill
Jehovah's command to "praise Jehovah, all ye nations".
World-wide we behold the Lord's organization breaking
forth to the right and left in fulfillment of the prophecies
long ago written. To our brethren in lands where the King-
dom publishers number into the thousands our report will
seem small indeed. We barely average as many publishers
as a good-sized company in the United States. Yet the same
comnHlndments and task of preaching "this gospel of the
king(lom" for a witness to the nations confronts this small
gl'OUll of Kingdom publishers as in lands where they are
blessed with many more laborers. It is with particular joy
to us, therefore, that we are able to contribute to the world-
wide expansion by the spirit of the Lord operating through
his willing servants in this land.
Two years ago there was an average of 65 publishers in
the field. Now we can report an average of 137 for the year
Yearbook 105
and a peak of 175 attained in August. This manifests Je-
hovah's blessing and calls for greater activity in apprecia-
tion thereof. Havmg this evidence of approval from our God
we take it as the "go-ahead" signal for the entrant new year
of service, determined by his grace to aid many more of
good-will to come forth and praise Jehovah's name during
the succeeding twelve months.
It is now a little over two years since the first graduates
of the Watchtower School of Gilead in New York arrived in
this land. During the year their ranks were strengthened
by the arrival of more of these specially trained ministers.
These brethren are now located and working in the three
largest and most important cities in Chile. In spite of
language and other barriers, which are gradually being
overcome as these brethren make themselves "Chilenos" for
the sake of the gospel, they are doing the grellter part of
the service work. In this they have the faithful co-operation
of the native brethren and the newer publishers who have
seen their zeal for the Lord and have joined wholeheartedly
in the work of praising Jehovah.
Daily the special pioneers have interesting experiences in
the field. They can't help but ha\'e these joyful encounters.
A special pioneer made a back-call on a Watchtower
subscriber a few months back. '.fhe man also had the "Truth"
bool{ but had given up studying it as he couldn't under-
stand it. The study arrangement was introduc'ed to him
and readily accepted. Leaving unexpectedly 0/1 a trip, he
arranged for the publisher to continue the study with his
two daughters of 16 and 18 years of age. Incidentally, although
Catholic he had never wanted his daughters to confess to a
priest. Eager to learn the truth, these young girls advanced
rapiclly and in the course of a few brief weeks were attend-
ing headquarters' meetings. Usually the next step of getting
these new ones into the service is a big one. Not so in this
case. Hearing the announcement about Sunday group wit-
nessing one of the girls went directly to the publisher in-
structing her and asked to accompany her in the service
the following Sunday. Now both girls are regular publishers.
The mother has since become very much interested and it
appears that the entire family may yet be publishers of the
only good news, the Kingdom gospel.
Four principal campaigns were carried out during the
year. The Atcake! campaign in September and October was
the first of these, resulting in 297 new subscriptions. Next
followed the great Watchtower campaign of 1947. In com-
parison with the 1946 campaign's 513 subscriptions, 710 were
taken during 1947. Following closely in the wake of April's
106 Yeal'book
special activity, which was one of our best months, came
a special campaign in this land: the distribution of the
booklet "Be Glad, Ye Nations" to men of influence. The
brethren pitched in gladly, serving doctors, lawyers, embas-
sies, police, school and government officials. In fifteen days
our entire stock of some 5,000 booklets was exhausted. We
could reach only some of these persons, but a good witness
was given. Perhaps later on we may see the effects of this
campaign. The encounters and experiences were interesting.
The consul of Mexico, for example, upon identifying the
work with Jehovah's witnesses accepted the booklet and
stated: "Thank you very much. I shall be glad to read it
and pass it along to someone else." The minister of Turkey
wanted to know more about Jehovah's witnesses. He had
read about them in the States. The publisher was only too
glad to aid by making a back-call and placing with him
"Let God Be 1'rue" and "Equ'ipped tor Every Gooa Worl.;".
The results of the special three-bound-book campaign which
concluded our service year are gratifying.
In the heat of the political crisis a bill is diabolically
hatched and shoved before Congress to make Catholic reli-
gious teaching compulsory in all public schools-the first
step in a desperate attempt to regain the foothold lost some
years back and enslave the masses once more under the rule
of church and state. Fortunately there are still some free-
dom-loving people here as elsewhere. The bill has been the
center of heated discussion from all sides. A courageous and
clear-cut editorial in the Noticias Grdficas of September 15,
1947, a Santiago daily, took up the fight and fearlessly ex-
posed the sinister purpose back of the bill-the suppression
of freedom of thought and conscience, and the re-uniting of
church and state, which would end democracy in Chile and
bring in once again the tyrannical rule of priestcraft. A
judge on the Appellate Court of Santiago likewise sees the
sinister purpose back of the bill. All his life he has fought
against the encroachments of the Hierarchy, knowing full
well its poisonous and disastrous effects upon the nations.
Our hopes, our desires and our lives are tied up in Je-
hovah's new world of righteousness, which is near at hand.
In unison with our brethren world-wide our one desire is
to serve The Theocracy; its King, Christ Jesus; and its
Founder, Jehovah God. With a new year of service ahead
and with a message of comfort, peace, hope and life we are
determined, by the Lord's grace, to continue forward in the
blessed work of inviting the nations to praise Jehovah.
Yearbook 107
CHINA
One wonders whether the true message of God's
kingdom will ever reach all parts of China. It is such
a big country and so many millions of people live there
compared with the few witnesses that the prospects
look very discouraging. But Jehovah God through
his Son commanded that this gospel of the Kingdom
should be preached in all the world, and China is part
of it; so the witness goes ahead there too.
There have been a number of faithful brethren in
Shanghai for years. During the past service year the
Society sent two Gilead graduates to Shanghai to help
the brethren in organization. The conditions they
found there among the people generally are enough to
cause anyone's heart to ache. The population of Shang-
hai has increased greatly during recent years as the
war and the general conditions have driven many
people from the land and into the cities. Shanghai now
has about five times its comfortable population. This
gives the publishers plenty of people to talk to, and
they are finding 'hearing ears'. Jehovah's witnesses are
just getting started in Shanghai, and the Lord's people
throughout the world will watch with keen interest
what happens in this land. The Branch servant, who is
looking after the work generally, sends in a very
interesting report, part of which is published here.
The publishers in China are probably the fewest in num-
bers of aJl the large nations. Their fewness has made them
seem like a small island in the midst of this great sea of
humanity. Nevertheless they realize that upon them falls
the responsibility of finding and feeding the Lord's "other
sheep" in this land. The publishers know that such a great
task could not be accomplished without the help of the Lord,
and they have looked to him to open up the way.
The faithful stand of our brethren in Quebec brought
great publicity to Jehovah'/! in this city. Headlines
in the newspapers announced "Quebcc Outlaws a Religious
Sect". This caused considerable unfavorable comment. We
had not received any information about the persecution of
108 Yearbook
our brethren ill Quebec, and so we were without an answer to
refute the charges of "sedition". However, Jehovah provided
us with the answer, for just at that time we received a copy
of Awake I setting forth the full facts. We immediately got
busy to inform the public of the truth. Letters were written
incorporating much of the material in Au-ake! and these
were taken to the editors of the principal newspapers. Prac-
tically all printed the full letter, with the result that a
b'Ood witness was gh'en regarding the activities of Jehovah's
witnesses. The effect of all this was that more people want-
ed our literature when we went from house to house. Indeed
the Devil's effort to turn the lleople against Jehovah's serv-
ants bad the opposite effect: more were now favorable to us.
We fl'el that we haye our brethren in Quebec to thank, for
their faithful stand has heen a means of spreading the gospel
in this distant land. Much publicity was also given when the
public press printed suhstantial extracts from Collier'8
magazine article on Jehovah's witnesses.
The news that the president, Brother Knorr, was to visit
Shanghai brought great rejoiCing among all the brethren.
For very many years no president or representative of the
Hociety had visited China, and the brethren longed for the
j o ~ ' s of an assembly. Also it was realized that the work
needed reorganizing, there being many problems in the way
of forward movement. When the time arrived the brethren
went to the airport to greet the travelers, only to be informed
that the planE' had developed engine trouble. However, it
was expected later in the day. The brethren waited, but
still no definite news. The airport authorities were unaware
that the flight had been canceled. In the meantime a tele-
gram from Brother Knorr was taking two days to make the
short journey from Hong Kong. It eventually arrived. The
news that Brother Knorr could not get a plane to Shanghai
in the time available came as a great disappointment to all.
We felt that we had been dealt a heavy blow, but the Lord
would make good our loss in some way. Efforts were made
by the Branch servant to join Brother Knorr at Hong Kong,
hut It was found impossible to get a plane on such short
notice; all reservations had been booked weeks in advance.
However, amid our great disappointment we thought of our
brethren in other parts of the earth and we were glad that
Brother Knorr had been able to keep his schedule and serve
them, who were just as eagerly looking forward to his visit.
For a long time the brethren have watched the gradua-
tions of the classes from Gilead. Would some be assigned
here? was always the question in our mind. We had long
ago written, requesting Gilead assistance, and this had been
Yearbook 109
promised. Then eurly In the year came the news that three
hud been assigned to China and would arrive soon. Two
arrived in June; one more is expected.
When witnessing the brethren meet the people in their
humble homes and are able to see just -how the people live.
Nothing has been done to improve the Jiving conditions of
the people, the government being preoccupied with fighting
the civil war. Except for the Kingdom these people have
nowhere to turn for help. The brethren well realize this.
and are willing to endm'e the difficulties, the dirt, evil smells
and dis<'ase in order to get the message to the people. Dur-
ing the SUIlllller months the great heat has to be endured.
Meetings are conducted with doors and windows open to
get relief. Most brethren make lise of the traditional Chinese
fan, but still perspiration flows freely. Open doors and win-
dows allow for much noise from the street to be heard, such
as the monotonous tune of a Chinese fiddler, who, imagining
that everyone loves his music, keeps it up with great gusto;
and many other such noises have to be tolerated when
meeting together.
The zealous work of a brother in the interior of China
has caused the religionfsts to fear for the "safety" of their
Hocks. One of their memhers after r\'ading the books took
his stand for the truth and joined in actively in the witness
work. These so-c'alled Christian religionists resorted to the
Devil's tuctics. bringing heavy pressure upon the new
publisher, and bribing him into returning to the "church".
This new publisher gave way under the great pressure. The
same method was used against the hrother, offering him a
job in their religiOUS system. The brother turned them down
fiat, giving them a straight answer from the Word of God.
The so-called "Christians" they have produced have come to
be known here as "rice Christians", because they serve God
just for the food.
We feel confident of having a full share in the great
expansion work and thereby sharing with our brethren every-
where in the vindication of Jehovah's name. For this we
are truly grateful and give thanks unto our God.
COLOMBIA
The few of Jehovah's witnesses serving the interests
of the Kingdom in Colombia are zealously pushing
forward with the work. The Society has sent many
missionaries to Colombia. A number of them have re-
turned to the United States because of sickness or
110
Yearbook
other causes, but those who remain are diligent in the
service and, by the Lord's grace, will endure to the
very end. The people of this country groan under
the heavy domination of the Catholic Church, which
has always tried to keep the people of South America
in ignorance and to rule them by superstition. The
people are burdened down with their political disturb-
ances and their religious weights, but, despite this,
some progress is made in the preaching of the gospel.
Some interesting experiences have been enjoyed by
the publishers, and a few of these are related by the
Branch servant.
The preaching is continuing to increase, and with it the
attendant blessings and joyS of service. During December
two brethren were sent to visit the Paz de Rio company buck
in the Andes. Its two regular publishers were happy for this
provision and the company servant's brother was also there,
having traveled from his home in another state, about three
hundred miles distant. He wanted to be baptized and to re-
turn to his pueblo as one of Jehovah's witnesses. His desire
was realized and this office has been pleased to receive his
monthly reports. One day was spent in witnessing on the
mountainside, after which a service talk was given to thirty-
four attentive hearers in the open patio of the mountain
home where the Kingdom Hall is located_
The following day, a Sunday, was devoted to witnessing
in the valley where the village of Paz de Rio is situated.
Less than ten percent of the population was at home, due
tv a big religious "fiesta" that day in the "plaza", where a
religious procession was in progress. Unexpected publieity
for us came when the procession halted and the long-robed
priest leading it announced in a loud voice: "1 am informed
that some strangers have come to our midst to disrupt our
'fiesta'. 1 understand that they are to deliver a Bible lecture.
1 PROTEST. 1 prohibit any Catholic from attending this Bible
conference that is to be given by irresponsible men." About
an hour later the "irresponsible men", Brothers Tracy and
Brodeur, combined their limited Spanish, each giving half
of the lecture "The Destiny of This Earth". Thirty-five lis-
teners stood and squatted in the open patio of a good-will
person, amid the continual bursting of rockets (peculiar to
South American festivals) and the crow of a rooster that
one of the attenders had brought along. After several looks
were placed the two-hour walk up the mountain brought the
Yearbook 111
bretilrpn together for a final meeting, a Spanish Watchtower
study by candlelight.
January found a "lost sheep" appearing at the Bogota
missionary home. Over a year previously this man had con-
tact with the Brooklyn otlice. He was overjoyed at the pros-
pect of being able to work in conjunction with a Branch
office in his own country, amI spent two days in the service
with Ui'!. Since that time we were able to visit him, and now
he reports his activity regularly.
During the year the missionaries at the hot, coastal sea-
port of Barranquilla established a company and now have
about five regular publishers. One of the brothers there
placed literature with a family and on subsequent back-calls
placed approximately fifty books and Bibles with them and
their friends. The home servant writes of his experience
contacting a person of good-will through a subscriber back-
call. After the obtaining of two subscriptions and placing
four books and the starting of a book study, this man was
desirous of letting his friends know about Jehovah's wit-
nesses. Some of his friends were professors, and hence the
pioneer soon found himself giving a ten-minute discourse
(thanks to his ministry training) to an assembled audience
of seventy-five teachers and pupils on the subject "Who Are
Jehovah's witnesses?" This was followed by the obtaining of
two subscriptions and placing ten books and an urgent re-
quest to return after school vacation.
By God's graee and under the direction of the permanent
Governor of all nations may many more voices be heard
in Colombia giving praise to Jehovah's name and kingdom
during 1948.
COSTA RICA
The publishers of the Kingdom have taken the year-
text for 1947 very seriously and have moved ahead,
aiding the people in Costa Rica. They have ShOWl1
their love for God by praising his name and going
forward continuously in the field, preaching from
house to house, working on the street corners with the
magazines, making back-calls, and conducting book
studies with those of good-will. As a result the little
group of publishers in Costa Rica has increased by
131, and during the year an all-time new high in
publishers was reached of 576, to compare with 377,
the peak last year. Yes, the publishers in Costa Rica
are saying, "Oh praise Jehovah, all ye nations."
112 Yearbook
The Braneh servant in Costa Rica has sent in a
very interesting report. Not all of it, by any means,
can be reproduced here, but portions of it are, which
will give the reader an idea of the zeal and determina-
tion on the part of the brethren to push on in this,
their best year of service thus far.
The preaching campaign was not confined to the urhan
territories nor to the heavily populated territories here
on the Central Plateau surrounlling San .lose, but faithful
pioneers and company publishers have gone into regiolls
where the towns arc small and scatterell and land travel
limited to the slow. lumbering oxcart. Three of our San Jose
pioneers went into Guanacaste when it was possible to
witn!'ss effectively; however, the rains came and they had
to return, because they could no longer get to their terri-
tories. They found many sheep-like persons and are anxious
to go back as 800n as it is dry enough, which is usually
around the middle of December. The dry season will la;;t
then until June. To get to this territory our pioneers go
as far as Puntarenas by train; from there it is an overnight
trip by launch up the Gulf of Nicoya; and from there a
15- to 20-hour trip by oxcart. Quite a trip for sisters!
A small group in another part of Guanacaste province, at
Tilaran, that had gotten hold of the truth from the brethren
at Puntarenas wrote in for company service in June and
were organized and reported as a eompany in July with two
publishers. Then in August two new pioneers from Punta-
renas went there to begin the full-time service; with their
aid a total of seven reported time in the field for that month.
'l'his section of the province is mountainous and getting
around is not so much of a problem as it is in the more level
sections during the rainy season.
Alajuela, one of the Central Plateau eities, has always
shown much good-will and a number of them had home
Bible stUdies in their homes when publishers from San .lose
could get there. Gradually some of these developed into
publishers, and by January 1 there were seven reporting.
On the first Sunday in January the circuit servant and the
Branch servant made a special trip over with the idea of
forming this group into a company. This was accomplished,
and since then they have reported a peak of 13 publishers. A
group of three special pioneers was sent there to help them
on April 1. These three sisters have been a great aid to
this new company both in getting new ones into the field
and in the company organization itself.
Yearbook 113
This year saw the forming of five companies in addition
to the twelve we hat! at the beginning of the year. There
are mOl'e almost ready to he formed, and with the continued
efforts of the hrethren tllis will be accomplished. These
isolatet! groups see the advantages of having a company go-
ing; tlwy realize that uy having their own organization the
Soeiety's rcprespntative caUs there every six months to help
them built! up ant! spends a week with them in the field
and in counspling them on their \vpak points.
With seventeen companies In the country these can be
served in that lIlany weeks each six months. The rpst of
the time Brother Blackbul'll dedicates to full-time mission-
ary service. The companies have all built up since the in-
auguration of this seniee. Laek of transportation to many
places makes his two circuits difficult, but whether it is by
rail, by air, on horselJack, on foot or by canoe he gets to
his assignment on tillle and gets into the field to personally
instruct as many as he possibly can at eadl visit. In SlIn
Carlos, for example, there are no facilities, and after getting
to the company's headquarters he has to travel each day to
get to the publishers, as they all live scattered from each
other. Then, insteac] of one big puhlic meeting on Sunday,
the neighhors are invited in and a meeting is held at each
stop. Even the native brcthrpn marvel at his stamina in the
tropic sun and rain and against the ever-present insects in
this yet untamed wilderness where tiger and bear Inhabit
the woods along with the wild boar, the deer and lesser
animals.
During the last two weeks of August the Bran<'h servant
and his wife went to Golfito, on the Pacific coast, to witness
to the 8,000 or so people there that have to see to the
getting out of the bananas from the well-cared-for farms
of the United Fruit Company that stretch up the fertile
coastal plains for about 75 kilometers. No previous arrange-
ments had been made for our stay, but through the kindness
of the management we were permitted to stay in one of
the company's guest houses and to eat at the club. When
the time came to settle up we were informed that we had
been guests of the company and no pay was accepted for
either food or lodging.
Early Tuesday morning we were calling on the people
with the literature, and at the end of the day three of us
had placed 83 bound books. In the course of the day we
found a family that had had studies in their home here in
San Jose: so arrangements were made for a study In their one
room in the barracks provided for the laborers. Nine were
present and arrangements were made to have another study
on {<'riday night, with a study in La Atalaya on Sunday.
114 Teat'book
This study group was left in the hands of another person of
good-will we met until such a time when the Society saw tit
to send one of its representatives there for a longer stay,
'1'0 get to our territory from the zone we had to pass the
Catholic ChUl'ch and the parsonage. ~ o doubt the two l<'ran-
ciscan priests the Fruit Company brought in from the States
soon became tired of seeing us pass in the morning with
three bags loaded with books and then to see us return
about 11: 30 with them empty, only to relleat the procedure
in the afternoon. For we hadn't been there long before we
heard that the priests had warned the people with threats
of punishment if they took the books. 'rills gave us a better
opportunity to witness and to tell the people why they had
been warned, with the result that many really took interest
to spe what it was all about.
We also worked the zone. Here is where the Americans
and white-collar Costa Ricans live. The houses here are
much different from the barracks, where the 'peones' live.
All are well kept, yet not all are the same size; the size
of a house a man gets does not depend on the size of his
family but upon his category with the company. 1\1ost of the
people in the zone treated us kindly and a good amount of
literature In both English and Spanish was left.
We had met the man of the house next door, and this
particular afternoon we decided to call there and witness
to his wife. On the way over the Branch servant mentioned
to Sister Siebenlist that it was strange that in all this lot
of Americans we had not found one that in some way was
connected with the witnesses. After a few minutes with
Mrs. Abbott we learned that her father in New Orleans was
attending the meetings when he could and that her niece
and husband were dpdicating all of their time to the witness
work. She accepted the offer along with a No. 10 Bible and
asked us to return. While there a visitor came in and an-
other Bible was placet! with her. Another lady wllo had been
in Honduras with the fruit company had obtained "The
Kingdom 18 at Hand," from a pioneer there and she eagerly
accepted four books and placed a subscription for Atvuke!
Monday, September 1, came all too soon, yet it was time
to get back to the office and take care of the Society's
business there. The friends we had met came to the airfield
to see us off and to remind us not to forget them. Although
the weather had been extremely hot, and because the town
stretches for about two miles on a narrow strip between
mountains and sea, the extra walking had us quite tired
bodily, but we were refreshed knowing that we had found
some of the Lord's "other sheep" and that they were anxious
to keep in contact with the organization.
Yearbook 115
When all results were totaled we found that we had left
behind us more than 400 bound book8, many booklets and
magazines, along with obtaining four subscriptions. Indeed
two weeks well spent.
As a whole the past service year has brought great re-
joicing to the hrethren in Costa Rica. Almost all are be-
ginning to see the organization in its true light and are
appreciating what the work is. The sel"\'ice is a joy to them
and they watch all advancements with keen interest.
Through Theocratic ministry many have become good
speakers and are able to help a lot in that direction. The
more mature brethren are being given more of the respon-
sibility to shoulder, and in another year or so the work here
should take on a weIlrounded-out aspect. It has been a joy
to work here and see the work grow from month to month,
and now It has been from year to year. We claim no credit
for ourselves, but give Jehovah the praise and honor for
having blp.ssed the efforts of his faithful servants here in
this land. We continue to look to him for further increases
and blessings and trust In his loving care and protection
as we do our share as commanded, "Oh praise Jehovah, all
ye nations."
CUBA
Again a wonderful witness was given in this land.
The publishers in Cuba have been very zealous for the
past five years, and every year has seen a very marked
increase, including the service year 1947, when a new
peak of 3,682 publishers was reached. The brethren
in the "Pearl of the Antilles" have zealously moved
forward in the ever-expanding work of preaching the
Kingdom truths throughout Cuba. They have eagerly
taken hold of all the provisions the Lord has made for
the preaching of the gospel. This year's report shows
that they have enjoyed to the full the circuit assem-
blies and the circuit arrangements. An outstanding
thing in the Cuban report is that in 10 out of the 12
months of the service year the publishers reached new
peaks! The Branch servant gives us some very inter-
esting experiences that show what has been accom-
plished in isolated territories by just one or more
pioneers. The general report that follows will be an
encouragement to all the readers of the Yearbook.
116
Yearbook
The circuit activity meetings were the outstanding fea-
tures of the assemblies. At these meetings, the importance
of giving practical aid to the irregular and inactive as well
as to the new ones was stressed. In addition to much counsel
and instructions showing the publishers how it could be
done, many examples were given showing how the Lord
had richly blessed the efforts of the brethren In this country
in giving practical aid to the new and weaker ones. One
faithful and hard-working pioneer related how, about five
years ago, when he started to work in a territory that was
completely virgin, there wllsn't a single publisher in it, and
that today, five years later. there were nine companies with
291 company publishers and 8 pioneers in this territory.
Another pioneer told how three years ago he started to
work in a territory that had likewise never before been
worked, and now, three years later, there were three com-
panies with 2:12 publishers and 16 pioneers in this territory.
(This pioneer has organized still another company since the
circuit assembly.) Two other pioneers related how, seven
months after starting to work in a completely new territory,
they had organized a new company with 90 associated in it.
'l'hese experiences thrilled all in attendance. In relating
these experiences these brethren showed the importance of
rendering practical aid to the new and weaker ones.
The public talk "Blessed Are the Peacemakers" was en-
thusiastically received, and proved to be of great benefit to
the many people of good-will, showing them who are the
true "peacemakers". At these assemblies the brethren re-
joiced to hear of Brother Knorr's round-the-world trip in
visiting many of the Branches, and attending the conven-
tions arranged for in many of these countries. They also
rejOiced to hear of the great increase in nnmher of publish-
('rs in Cuba, an increase from about 150 publishers in early
Hl40 to well over 3,000 in 1947. After the assemblies the
publishers returned to their homes spiritually refreshed to
continue on in the great expansion work. They are all
anxiously looking forward to the coming circuit assemblies.
These gatherings are truly the provision of the Lord, In
this the Lord's due time for expansion.
As in tile past years, the brethren have enthusiastically
supported and pushed the company book-study work. This
has also aided greatly in the increase in publishers. Prac-
tically all of the 22 new companies organized during the
year were formerly company book-study groups. During the
past two years, six company book studies in the territory
of one company have been organized inro six new companies.
Due of the servants to the brethren reports that during his
first visit to one of the companies a group of zealous plo-
Yearbook 117
neers working with the company were just at that time
starting to work in a new part of the company's territory,
A short while later tht'se pioneers org-anized a book-study
group there. On the sel'Yant's second visit, six lllonths later,
he found that there were 45 new publishers in that part of
the company's territory, with a good number of them putting
in over GO hours a month in the field service, and three of
them ready to start out in the pioneer service. He said the
knowledge of the truth that these brethren had, for such a
short space of time, was amazing.
1'he companies, realizing- full well the importance that the
puhlic meeting campaign plays in the Kingdom expansion
work, have pushed this feature of the work, and the results
shol\' the Lord's ridl lJlessings upon their efforts. Hundreds
of those who tirst lJecamc acquainted with the Lord's or-
ganization through the public meeting work are now pub-
lishers. The nUllIlJer of meetings held during the year show
an increase of more than fifty percent over last year. One of
the companies had as many as six different series going on
at the sallie time III its territory. Many of the companies are
holding series of public talks at night during the week in
the homes where the company book studies are held. In
doing this they are olJtalning excellent results. This has
greatly aided in building up the good-will interest in the
territory around the study, as well as increased the service
actidties of the groups.
New public talks were started in December. These gave
added impetus to the campaign. Handbills with designs
similar to the ones used in the Stll,tes, and printed on our
newly acquired job press, also gave an added stimulus to
this feature of the work. Over 2,500,000 handbills were
printed during the year.
Other outstanding events of the year were the speCial
December campaign with the new booklet, "Be Glad, Ye Na-
tions", in Spanish, and the special Memorial activity in
April. The results obtained in these two campaigns were
beyond expectation. December witnessed the greatest num-
ber of booklets ever placed in anyone month, as well as a
new peak in publishers. The Memorial week-end in April
saw 4,646 attending the Memorial, and 4,046 at the Sunday
afternoon public talks. As a result of the special Memorial
week-end activity, a new peak in publishers was likewise
reached in April. In preparation for these two campaigns
the SOCiety stressed the importance of starting new ones
out in the service. It is interesting to note that many of
those who were first given the opportunity of participating
in the service in these months are now very active pub-
lishers.
118
Yearbook
Bringing great joy to our hearts was the thrilling infor-
mation received from the Los Angeles convention, telling of
the great expansion work gOing on in all parts of the world,
thus showing that it is now Jehovah's due time for the
expansion of his true worship into all nations. Fully real-
izing- this, the brethren in this land are united with their
brethren world-wide in the ever-expanding Kingdom work
in all nations, as Zion 'breaks forth on the right hand and
on the left'.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
This country, which is situated in the heart of Eu-
rope, has felt the pains of war, but has come through
it in pretty good condition. Czechoslovakia is getting
back on her feet rapidly. There are about 12,000,000
people who live in this nation that fell under the power
of the Hitler government in the spring of 1939. Seven-
ty percent are Czech-speaking people, and about 30
percent Slovenian. Jehovah's witnesses in this coun-
try consider it a great privilege to represent the King
and the Kingdom along with their brethren in all
parts of the world. Jehovah has blessed his work in
this country. Many people of good-will have been made
glad with his people and have joined with them in the
service. Despite the opposition and persecution that
befalls Jehovah's witnesses in Czechoslovakia, the
work goes grandly on. The outstanding events of the
year are reported by the Branch servant, and this
report shows the joy and gladness on the part of the
brethren in Czechoslovakia. You will read it with
interest.
From the outset the year promised to be most prosperous
and encouraging. From the end of World War II, when
the 1100r to the free worship of Jehovah opened wide before
us, we had been constantly searching for suitable office
accommodation from which central location the witness
work could be taken care of for the whole country. The
Lord heard our entreaties, and right at the beginning of
this service year we were able to negotiate for the purchase
of a house. The funds with which to buy this house were
not on hand in full, but it was encouraging to see with what
readiness the brethren throughout the country placed their
money at the disposal of the Society as loans, and many as
Yearbook 119
gifts, so that already on November 2, 1946, we were able
to move into our nl'W Bethel home.
This house is very suitable as a Branch office of the So-
ciety, and, additionally, the Bethel family have quiet work-
ing and sleeping quarters, which they appreciate very much.
They all know that it is a special favor for them to work
in this place and to serve their fellow publishers throughout
the country. At the time that this report is being written
nine brethren are engaged In the office and shipping depart-
ment of this Branch. Much more effective work can be done
in these new quarters than In former months when we were
scattered all over Prague working and living in the homes
of various brethren. The purchase of this house means a
powerful step forward in the expansion work. The brethren
of the Berne Branch office were very helpful in supplying
us with a consignment of necessary household goods for the
fUl'Dishlng of our home.
A still further joyful event immediately at the beginning
of the service year was our first postwar general convention,
which was held in Bmo on September 27 to 29. This was
all the more encouraging as it was the first general assembly
of all the brethren in our country again after a period of
nine years. Participating were 1,400. We received the reports
of the "Glad Nations" Theocratic Assembly of Jehovah's
witnesses in Cleveland as published in 1'he Messenger in
good time, so that in the main our convention could be
arranged according to the Cleveland program. The public
lecture "The Prince of Peace" was attentively listened to
by almost 1,700 persons. There were 131 new publishers that
symbolized their consecration by water immersion. Without
doubt this convention was a great stimulus to further serv-
ice, as evidenced by the field service reports that followed;
but this was eclipsed by far by the second general con-
vention held in this service year, from June 3 to 5, 1947.
For long months we had looked forward to this time and
to the antiCipated visit of the president of the Watch Tower
Bible & Tract Society, Brother Knorr, and his secretary,
Brother Henschel. Arrangements were made for a conven-
tion to be held to coincide with Brother Knorr's visit, and
again the city of Brno was chosen for this event. Great was
our joy when, on June 3, not only could we welcome Brothers
Knorr and Henschel at the airport in Prague, but also
Brother Covington and a brother from the Berne office. Many
matters pertaining to the service work in Czechoslovakia
were discussed and much valuable counsel received.
Inexpressible joy throbbed in the hearts of the 1,700 visi-
tors to this second general assembly held on June 4 and 5
as they listened to the encouraging words of Brother Knorr
120
Yearbook
and his companions. The brethren and friends of the truth
were most enthusiastic, and this joyful assembly will remain
long in their memories. The crowning event to this grand
convention was a public lecture advertised for the last eve-
ning, when Brother Knorr addressed an attentive audience
Qf 2,300 on the subject "The Joy of All the People". During
the convention we had the biggest immersion service ever
performed in our country, when 173 persons of good-will
publicly testified to their determination to serve Jehovah
God and to worship him alone.
We had difficulties of all kinds to overcome in procuring
the necessary paper for the printing of booklets. Despite
this we were able to have different booklets printed in the
Czech and Slovakian languages to a grand total of 510,000
copies. Foremost was the booklet "Be Glad, Ye Nations", of
which we were able to publish 120,000 in Czech and 100,000
in Slovakian. In addition 250,000 copies of the leaflet ICing-
dQm News and a large quantity of handbills and various
forms were printed. An effective help in the providing of
literature were the two large consignments sent from Brook-
lyn which arrived during the year. This co-operation of our
brethren in America Is very much appreciated.
The course in Theocratic ministry has heen introduced in
all companies and the brethren are making good use of this
provision through Jehovah's organization in order to become
more effective publishers, "perfectly equipped for every
good work."
In the Czech-speaking parts of the country the ministers
of the gospel seldom come up against opposition; so, on
the whole, they can peacefully continue in their work. Here
and there the biased press, mostly of religiOUS tendency, has
sought to put Jehovah's witnesses in a false light by slan-
der; but the people do not pay particular attention to these
defamations. On the other hand, the clergy in the Catholic
regions of Slovakia behave with the utmost intolerance and
brutality. With their agitation they endeavor to suppress
the preaching of the Kingdom message. There are often
cases were the mob, spurred on by the priests, have fallen
upon and ill-treated our brethren to such an extent that
many have had to seek medical aid. For these religious
"defenders" of Christendom no weapon is foul enough to
use against the witnesses of the Most High. They frequently
threaten to kill the ministers of the gospel for the one
reason only that they do good in publishing the truth. Such
modern-day persecution of Christians is continually on the
increase, making it necessary in the interests of the free wor-
ship of God to institute three lawsuits against these workers
Yearbook 121
of violence. One was ruled in favor of the brethren and two
are still pending.
These difficulties are unable to check the forward march
of the work of proclamation, however. '.rhe goodness of
Jehovah and his approval and blessing far outweigh all
the suffering that the adversaries of God's people can bring
upon them. And the Lord has richly blessed us in the past
year. Our hearts are filled with deep joy and we are happy
to stand for the righteous cause of Jehovah and his "Prince
of Peace" with all our brethren earth-wide. Truly, nothing
can be compared to the joy of proclaiming loud the life-
giving call: "Oh praise Jehovah, all ye nations."
DENMARK
It certainly must be a pleasure for a Branch servant
to settle down in his office and make out a year's re-
port, and especially is this true for Brother Dey in
Denmark. The last report he made for this country
was in 1940, when he hastily wrote out his report for
the year in pencil after the Nazis had taken over.
Shortly thereafter he was interned and kept in con-
finement until the war was over. The reason for his
being put away in a concentration camp was because
of the booklet Face the Facts. It got on the nerves of
the Nazis; they couldn't face thc facts. While in the
camp, Brother Dey witnessed to all the guards and
those in the kitchen as well as to the inmates. After
his release from the concentration camp he had the
opportunity of coming to America, where he visited
Gilead and attended the "Glad Nations" Theocratic
Assembly of Jehovah's witnesses. Before he returned
to again take up the work in Denmark, he was given
special instruction at the Bethel office in Brooklyn.
There has been quite an increase in the work in
Denmark since 1940, when Brother Dey was taken
away. Then there were 1,244 publishers in the field,
while now there are 2,724 on the average. So the
Branch servant, along with all the publishers in Den-
mark, has real cause for rejoicing. The report by the
Branch servant gives one the feeling shared by all
of the Danish brethren toward their fellow workers
122 Yearbook
throughout the world. Here again we see that Jeho-
vah's witnesses are one nation, one people.
Two happenings have hindered the work considerably
this year: (1) a very severe winter with temperature far
below zero, day and night for we('ks on end, and (2) a four
months' typographers' strike in Copenhagen, which prevented
our getting our magazines printed and also the book "The
Kingdom /s at Hand" as well as the booklet "The Prince
01 Peace". Denmark is a very windy land, and this intensi-
fied the wintry cold. One pioneer was blown ol'f her bicycle
on an icy road and has been on the sick list ever Since, while
other pioneers have had to retire for reasons of health. In-
deed, our pioneer ranks fell to 23 one month, but now,
by reason of arrangements made by the president at his visit
in June, they have increased again to 53, and we hope soon
to have more joining up, as appllcatlon forms are asked for
from time to time. This is very encouraging and will with-
out doubt give a great fillip to the work, as many of the
small companies are weak and have asked that pioneers be
sent to help them to get better organized.
We have now a 13,000 edition of The Watchtower and
45,000 of Awake! for although 7,700 and 20,650, respectively,
are sent by post to subscribers, yet there are many single
copies placed, some regularly and some irregularly. The
clear presentation of the truth in 1'he Watchtower Is much
appreciated, and also the stress laid upon the privilege that
is ours to publish the good news of the Kingdom. The Watch-
tower has, of course, always been the same in all languages,
but now Awake! will also be the same as to the bulk of its
contents. So, all over the earth Jehovah's witnesses are
presenting the same message, in the same way, and at the
same time. Without doubt, the ever-increasing spread of
these magazines wiII help many people of good-will to take
their stand for the truth before the great and terrible day
of Jehovah.
The annual convention from June 6 to 8, at which our
president and his secretary were present, was the biggest
ever held in Denmark. It commenced with 3,123 and ended
with 3,325, while at the public meeting 4,034 were present.
It was good to have our American brethren with us and
to hear their reports on the work in the various countries
they had visited in their world tour. The unity obtaining
among the Lord's people all over the earth was emphasized,
and it was gladdening to hear of the Lord's blessing on the
work in every land. The public lecture, with its clear proc-
lamation of the fundamental truths, was much enjoyed, and
many newly interested ones with whom book studies had
Yearbook 123
been held were present, especially from Copenhagen. One
of these wrote saying:
"I was in K.B.Hallen on Sunuay afternoon and was much
enthused by the fine way in which the convention was
arrangf'd and in particular, of course, by Mr. N. H. Knorr's
lecture. If in course of time it comes out as a booklet I
should very much like to get a copy."
One pioneer in a town 100 miles away had brought no less
than 16 newly interested friends to the convention, and seven
of them were out in the work for the first time. Yes. it was
a happy and blessed time.
In harmony with directions from head office, Denmark
is now divided into eight circuits, and in that connection
we are very glad to have two of our brethren who journeyed
to Gilead last year back with us once more after their course
of six months' intensive training at the school there. Both
of them are employed as servants to the brethren, and,
additionally, the one for the Copenhagen circuit is also
district servant tor the other seven cirCUits. It is very good
to have brethren trained in all the latest head-office methods.
There is one point we must not omit to mention, viz.,
street witnessing with the magazinf'S. This was recommended
by the president at the convention and introduced at the
circuit assemblies with very good results. The poUce have
shown themselves well disposed so long as we follow their
traffic regulations. One difficulty is that cloth to make
satchels Is very scarce in Denmark. Here an American
brother on holiday unselfishly used quite a deal of time in
securing material from various concerns. Another brother
cut up and printed the bags and a sister is now sewing them,
so before the month is out we hope to supply a small army
of street workers with satchels as they have them in the
States and this wiII be a further aid in placing the magazines
and advertising the truth.
Denmark is a food-producing country and so far as food
is concerned its inhabitants are well placed. However, it is
far otherwise in the matter of clothing. Food packets they
have been able to send to other lands, but clothing is very
scarce in Denmark. However, just as in the early church
Paul took the collections from Macedonia to help the breth-
ren in Jerusalem, so in our day our brethrf'n in America
and Canada have helped us here in Denmark, as well as in
other lands, with plentiful supplies of clothing, very difficult
to obtain in Denmark and then. too, very expensive. When
last year's report was made ten tons had been received and
office brethren and pioneers helppd. Later on brethren all
over Denmark received help. All together, 2,520 brethren
were benefited in this way, and they were very grateful to
124 Yearbook
their American brethren. The following letter is a sample of
many received: "\Vhen next you write to America will
you kindly send our heartiest greetings and thanks for the
grand gift they have sent us?" Another letter was phrased
thus: "The company assembled at a work meeting desire
to convey their deep appreciation and thanks not only for
the gifts but also for the spirit of which they are the ex-
pression. The clothes are a real help in a difficult time and
have given pleasure in many homes. We will show our ap-
preciation of the generous gift by standing together with
our American brethren in the same spirit and power to
drive the battle to the gate."
This year we have received and distributed seven tons of
clothing from our brethren In Canada as arranged by head
oflice, and all feel deeply grateful for this further expression
of love from our brethren across the water. The following
letter from the company servant in pne of the circuits is
typical of many more. "Including children we have helped
315 friends. I am convinced that this gift has been of great
help to the friends and has called forth many expressions
of joy and thankfulness. In behalf of all these friends I
therefore beg of you to let our heartfelt thanks be sent
over to head office." The Canadian shipment benefited 1,691
brethren, and all the brethren in Denmark are deeply grate-
ful for these gifts of clothing sent by their brethren in the
States and Canada and pray Jehovah's blessing upon them
for their loving-kindness.
And so with warm love in our Lord the Bethel family
send their greetings to you and all the Bethel family In
Brooklyn. Daily do we remember you and all your colabor-
ers there and at Gilead to the end that you may all be given
grace, wisdom and strength to carry out the glorious work
entrusted to your care.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Two and a half years ago the Society sent to the
Dominican Republic the first of Jehovah's witnesses
to preach in that land. These were some graduates
from the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. They
took up their assignment in the capital city. Now
there is a company of Jehovah's witnesses with 43
publishers in Ciudad Trujillo. There has been a slow
but steady increase in the number of publishers in this
land. Last year there were 16, and now there are 59
regular publishers, with a peak in June of 84.
Yearbook 125
During the last decade the Roman Catholic Hier-
archy has been losing its grip on the people. They see
the selfishness of that religious system and have very
little respect for it. However, not having learned of the
Bible or having been taught its contents, they just
travel along in the world, getting out of it what they
can. The truth is the only thing that will bring the
people comfort and hope. Jehovah's witnesses in the
Dominican Republic are trying to aid the people to
follow the truth so that they may gain life in the new
world. The Branch servant's report sets out some
interesting facts and the conditions as they exist in
the Dominican Republic, showing how the people are
being comforted and taking their stand for the truth.
'l'he past year has been one with many blessings and one
in which we have had much ireedom to spread the truth.
No serious opposition has arisen, aside from warning-s
against our work being published In Catholic papers.
At the beginning of Ul!' year a new missionary horne was
opened in San Pedro de Macoris, making a total of three
homes in the country. Though only two missionaries lire
there, yet they had success from the very heglnning, as the
following experience of one of them, enjoyed while making
the bus trip to Macoris from Ciudad Trujillo, will show:
"While making the trip from Ciudad Trujillo to our
aSSignment we were riding on a hus which carried, In addi-
tion to passengers, such items as groceries, furniture, live-
stock and poultry. As the hus was very crowded, I thought
I would have to stand, but it happened that I was offered
a small portion of a seat which was shared by another lady.
"Noting that I was an American, she spoke to me in Eng-
lish, inquiring as to why we were going to Macoris. This
opportunity to witness to her was used, though none too
effectively amidst the crowing of the roosters and the squirm-
ing of a hairless dog right under my feet. I was able, how-
ever, to take her name and address, and, after getting
settled in our aSsignment, I made a back-call at her home.
"That was the start of a book study which has been in
progress now ten months. Now she, this inquiring 'other
sheep' who was met by chance on a crowded bus, is also
a Kingdom publisher and is ready to use every opportunity
to witness, be it from house to house, on back-calls or on
book studies, or even on a crowded bus!"
126 Yearbook
When the world-wide lVatchtotver-Awake! campaign was
announced to begin January 1, it was fpared that we could
not participate in it, because in the previous subscription
campaign, though we took many subscriptions, \\ () had great
difficulty in getting the magazines delivered, llue to a faulty
postal system. At the suggestion of the Society, however, we
did have a lVatchto1cer campaign in which we took 272 new
subscriptions. Instead of relying Oil the old-world postal
system to deliver the magazines, the publishers supplil'd
their own Theocratic delivery service. Allowing the sub-
scriber's copies to come dired to the Branch ofiite, the
publishers who took the suhscriptions then dutifully deliv-
ered the magazines personally. This has bt'en to our advan-
tage, resulting in many more personal contacts with the
readers.
We were greatly encouraged by having three Dominican
brethren enroll in the pioneer ranks during the past year.
These brethren have all learned the truth during the last
two years. The manner in which the newest pioneer callie
in contact with the truth is peculiar in that it is the
"model" experience of the first contact, the back-call, the
book study, then a publisher, and finally a pioneer, in so
many easy steps.
The people here have been kept in darkness for hundreds of
years by the Catholic Church, and many are fully aware of
it. Thus they are turning from religion and are grasping for
the truth. As they have failed to find it in religion, so have
they failed to tind it in the philosophies of meu. The way
in which one publisher here learned the truth is related in
the following experience turned in by the publisher holding
a study with him:
..... he would occasionally use the columns of his news-
paper in which to make remarks such as this: 'Today the
parade in honor of the Virgin of Altagracia passed these
ollices. In her honor, young boys exploded firecrackers about
her worshiped Image being carried by her reverential dev-
otees. And though at one moment a firecracker blew off
the hand of an unfortunate youngster, who by exploding the
same was seeking to do her honor, her cold stare continued
unbendingly forward as she ignored his pain.'
"When the census takers asked this editor what his reli-
gion was, he told them that he was an atheist, for he did
not believe in religion. 'l'hen, in April of 11)47 the Spanish
edition of Reader's Digest carried the report about the Glad
Nation's Theocratic Assembly of Jehovah's witnesses. Though
professing to be an 'atheist', this man, who had sold his
paper several years before, was so captivated by this article
that he -'nwt!'(1 up the Sign reading 'Kingdom Hall of Je-
Yearbook 127
homh's witnesse>l', and started atten(ling the meetings. He
has obtained all the literature in Spanish. After one month
of attending meetings, he enrolled in the Theocratic School.
Discovering from Theocratic definitions that his daughter
bore the name of an ancient opposer of God, he went to court
to have her name changed to one not out of harmony with
the Creator.
"Now an able Kingdom publisher, he hils seven book stud
ies of his own in his horne town about fifteen miles dis-
tant from the capital, where the local Catholic priests have
dubhf'(l him 'the preacher'."
On reviewing the past year's activities and seeing the
forward progress of the witness work, we remain convinced
of the fact that this is Jehovah's doing, and it is marvelous
in our eyes. Jehovah has made conditions very favorable
under which we work, and obviously it is his will that we
take advantage of these favorable conditions and do as much
work as we can. For that reason, none of us wants to slack
the hand or let the momentum gained slow down and stop.
We wish to work while there Is opportunity here, for some-
time conditions IIlay not be so good.
Before closing, I wish to express on behalf of the Gilead
brethren here not only our gratitude to Jehovah for using
us in his service, but also our gratitude for the arrangement
made for our comfort and health in the missionary hOlDe,
knowing that we enjoy such blessings not by right, but by
the grace of Jehovah God.
EGYPT
The great majority of the population in Egypt
are Moslems or Mohammedans. Only a few million are
Copts, belonging to the Eastern Orthodox religion.
Then there are thousands of other persons: Greeks,
Italians, Syrians, Frenchmen, Englishmen, Armenians
and other minorities which go to make up the popu-
lation of Egypt. With this mixed population and the
mixture of languages, one finds it quite difficult to
express himself going from house to house; but Je-
hovah's witnesses in that land are puttting forth an
earnest effort to find the "other sheep". The general
condition of the Egyptian people is that of misery and
poverty. Many do not have homes in which to sleep;
so they must make someone's doorstoop their bed for
the night or even use the streets for their bedrooms.
128 Yearbook
A large number of the people have a real problem on
their hands to feed their two or three wives and their
children on their small incomes.
Despite the many forms of religion and the diffi-
culties of the people, the message of the gospel goes
on, and some are hearing. There are now 68 publishers
in Egypt who are becoming better organized due to the
help of the newly established Branch. The Branch
servant makes the following report.
It is really a great joy and a big help to .1ehovah';: wit-
nesses in ggypt to have our own Branch. We recognize that
this was a provision of the Lord as part of the great ex-
pansion work that is now taking place in all the earth. On
July 1 the Brancll in E g ~ ' p t began to operate. Our first big
problem was to locate offices and a home to house the Branch
servant and those associated with him. Housing conditions
are bad in Cairo, but finally a suitable place was obtaillPd.
Soon thereafter two graduates of Gilead arrived in Egypt
to assist in the organization of the work, and this made glad
our hearts.
The first thing to do was to send one of these brethren to
visit the various companies. So along with a translator he
went from place to place, trying to organize new companies
and stabilizing those that had been formed in earlier years.
Visits were made to persons in prisons for German troops,
who had heard of the truth and requested someone to call
upon them. A group of 15 interested prisoners are having
regular studies and are beginning to realize that there is
only one hope for the world, and that is God's kingdom.
'l'he outstanding ('vent of the year was the visit of Brother
Knorr and Brother Henschel, and the one week that they
stayed in Egypt is, for us, one of unforgettable days. Pub-
lic talks were arranged for in Cairo and Alexandria, and
the total attendance was 415 at these two meetings. Much
counsel and iIl!,\truction was given to the brethren, which
was greatly appreciated. Egypt needed this visit, and our
desire for more help was again answered in the arrival of
the two Gilead graduates who came from Brooklyn.
There are many problems to ovprcome here, particularly
the battle against religious superstitions and the great
ignol'ance of the Egyptian people. 'l'he majority of the
people are unable to read or write, so the work becomes
twofold: not only giving Instruction in the way to the King-
dom, but also helping the people to read and write, so that
they will be better qualified to do their own studying. The little
;;l'Ollp of faithful servants of the Lord are determined, by
Yearbook 129
the Lord's grace, to expand the Kingdom message here In
the vast valIey of the Nile river. We rejoice greatly because
we have a part with alI of our brethren throughout the earth
in this great educational work which is expanding under
the leadership of the "Commander to the People", Christ
Jesus. We in Egypt appreciate our responsibility and are
inviting the people with the cry, "Oh praise .Jehovah, all
ye nations."
EL SALVADOR
The publishers for the Kingdom in EI Salvador are
looking for men who are seeking Jehovah, whether
they be bond or free, rich or poor; for they know that
God made all men alike. While there is a marked dis-
tinction between the two classes in Latin countries,
still Jehovah's witnesses serve both with the message
of the Kingdom. Excellent progress has been made
during the past year. In 1946 there was an average of
22 publishers, while during the 1947 service year 80
regularly joined in the proclamation of the Kingdom,
and a newall-time peak of 136 ministers of the gospel
was reached for El Salvador. This can be attributed
to the large number of back-calls and book studies that
are being conducted regularly. The report of the
newly appointed Branch servant in EI Salvador is
very interesting.
Awake! Awake! El Salvador, stand up! You have been
entered in the expanSion contest. But how? And by whose
permis!;ion? Is it religiously, or politically, or militaristically
that you are expanding? No, that is not the answer. You are
expanding In truth, in proper education, and in God's Word,
the Bible, much to the shock of the religious leaders; but,
10, by the permission of him who stretched out the heavens
and put his name over a boundless universe, Jehovah of
hosts is the One, the God of all expansion.
lIis true name, along with the glad tidings of his Theo-
cratic Government, was brought here to this smulI nation
tucked away aIllong the smail republics of Central America
but a few years ago, by Gilead graduates with an eye for
an "ail nations" expansion of true worship. Their desires
have been met, especialIy during the past year, by hundreds
of men of good-will, who display their heartfelt thanks that
.Jehovah's witnesses are in their midst with real spiritual
food instead of the husks that religion offers for a big price.
130
Yearbook
Neither are we now alone in the service of praise in making
house-to-house calls, back-calls and book studies, but at this
date we have more than 125 ministers of the gospel, which
have not been sent here by an outside source but which Jeho-
vah has raised up, from their own native ranks, into his glo-
rious treasure of service. As up to the present day two of the
above ministers were not satisfied with just being company
publishers, they went pioneering. Are they successful? The
reports are very encouraging and gratifying to compare, as
one pioneer in his first month of service reached a peak of
205 field-service hours with 77 book placements along with
five bool{ studies.
Among the ranks of these new publishers and active
interest for the King we find doctors, bankers, lawyers, gen-
eral business people and many poor. There is a sharp division
here between the money class and the poor as far as the
world goes, thus creating a barrier between the two classes.
Howel'cr, we have both classes at our public lectures, weekly
meetings and e,'en into field service, one sitting alongside
the other, apparently enjoying each other's company.
Among otlr dt'arest associates and touching to any kind
heart are our blind men that see. It is true they do not see
the light of day, but the light of truth is not barred out, no,
not one ray is obscured to them. We have not only one or
two of such blind, but four. Are they publishers? Yes, in the
highest order; not one ray is absorbed and stored away for
a selfish purpose, but the rays strike only to again be re-
flected in a most illuminating manner. They gain their meager
living selllng daily papers and government lottery tickets,
but tllt'y live not by bread alone; so it is seen that among
the bunch of daily papers clung tightly under their arm there
is the most important magazine of the day, The Watchtower.
There are two companies in the !'epublic, one here at San
Salvador, the capital, and the other at Santa Ana, which
is situated high on the mountains in the heart of the coffee
belt, at the western end of our small republic. The latter is
the younger of the two companies, but very thrifty and
growing rapidly. The last circuit assembly was held there
with a climax crowd attendance of 475 persons. You can
imagine our joy upon seeing that gathering of bright good-
will faces, beaming with smiles, as they intently listened to
the public address, in Spanish, "Blessed Are the Peace-
makers." The company, as a result, has strengthened itself
manyfold since that circuit assembly; surely a noble provi-
sion of Jehovah for his "other. sheep". Before the assembly
the good-will people appeared skeptical of Jehovah's wit-
nesses, thinking, "Well, as soon as they get all their books
sold they'll just leave and we'll be left behind." Now they
Yearbook 131
see it is a permanent thing and that Jehovab's witnesses
are here for good. They have become confident and now
exercise faith in Jehovah and his 'l'heocratic organization,
seeing eye to eye with us though we were from another nation,
realizing that signifies nothing as we have become one under
the Kingdom. There is no race barrier, as our love for one
another is deep and sincere; they know that our battle Is
their battle, that our trouble is their trouble, and that
what the Lord gives he equally shares.
Though another year has ended in the King's treasure
house, we are much richer and stronger, being made better
equipped for the fight ahead, and our intentions are to push
the battle deep in the year and years to come until he who
directs all shall say, "It is done." "Praise Jehovah, all ye
nations," and awake from the dust of the earth.
FINLAND
This country has its problems as a nation. As the
burdens are heavy upon the nation, so these burdens
fall upon the people. Due to the great sufferings and
hardships through many years of war, the Finnish
people have had time to think and wonder what it is
all about. Many are seeking something better, some-
thing with a real hope, something that will bring life
and peace and happiness instead of turmoil and war.
Jehovah's witnesses have brought the answer to thou-
sands in Finland, and many have believed. In 1946
there were 1,803 publishers, but today there is an
average of 2,281, and a newall-time peak was reached
of 2,696 servants of the Lord. Yes, in Finland the peo-
ple have been giving a 'hearing ear', and they appre-
ciate the truth. The report of the servant to the breth-
ren gives expression to their appreciation and shows
that the publishers are really zealous in trying to help
the people of good-will. Here we have another nation
where the praises of God are a testimony before the
people, and many are giving an ear to this new song,
a song of praise. The Branch servant's report, which
is very interesting, follows.
The circuit arrangement has given a very fine push to
the work. The circuit work started January 1 with 17 cir-
cuits. Now we have 20, as the companies have increased
132 Yearbook
by 84. The first assembUes were stal'ted in April, and in
September they will begin the second time around. On the
first time around, 18 circuits were served, from which 239
companies and 2,204 publishers were represented. That
means about 86 percent of the peak of the publishers in
these circuits. Attending the public lectures were 5,985, and
during the assemblies 136 symbolized their consecration.
All the reports bear witness of great joy among the friends,
and we are all looking with very keen interest upon the
second time around.
The whole activity has been helping more and more newly
interested to take their stand on the side of the Lord, con
secrating themselves to do his will and symbolizing it by
watcr immersion. The big increase is easily seen, when
this year is compared with the previous year. The year be
fore, 192 were baptized, and now 666. The number of pub-
lishcrs has increased from 2,073 to 2,(;96, which means about
30 l'ercent. Yet, there is still much interest in the country,
and we see clearly a very great work before us, and by
the Lord's grace we are trying to do our best, in order to
help all people of good-will to know of the Kingdom and
.its blessings.
As the Lutheran religion is the state belief in our coun-
try, it is taught in all the s('hools. Of the whole population,
96 per('ent are enrolled as Lutherans, although we have
the law of religious freedom which we got in 1923. The
reason may be that the religionists practice such a pressure
that many have not courage to go out of the church, espe
cially as many have experienced that it is easier to get
suitable secular work if they belong to the state church,
which has the best reputation in the eyes of the vast ma-
jority of the people. Anyhow, the law guarantees, under
certain conditions, a possibility for the children to be
taught during the lesson of religion something else, which
the board of the school will accept. In one of our biggest
cities the brethren succeeded in arranging time for childt'en
to be taught in the truth instead of religion. A special class-
room was provided for them, and as textbook "The Truth
Shall Make You Free" was used. A consecrated Sister, a
former schoolteacher, was accepted by the board to do the
teaching. From her interesting report I might cite the fol-
lowing: "From the 29 pupils, 14 symbolized their consecra-
tion, and 22 took part in all the various forms of the wit-
nessing work. The youngest of the children was 6 years
and the oldest 14. The teaching advanced well and the chilo
dren were attentive and bright. Their behavior can be
mentioned with praise. With their parents they have taken
part in the circuit assemblies, as well as in the study meet
Yearbook 133
Ings of the company. The work has been delightful and
Interesting."
We are very grateful for the great help we received from
our brethren in Sweden, Canada and Norway. It has made
it possible for many of our pioneers to go out and continue
in the field. On account of the war, it has been very diffi-
cult to get clothing, and the little we have gotten has been
very expensive. The big amounts of various kinds of clothes
which by the kind arrangement of the president of the So-
ciety were sent from Sweden and Canada provided many
of our full-time workers with necessary clothes. How grate-
ful have the workers been for this provision! Brethren from
Norway have sent food packets to our pioneers, who many
times have special difficulties with their food, as well as
with their lodging.
One of the many outstanding and much appreciated items
for this service year was the return of the 4 Gilead grad-
uates who had had the privilege of being graduated from
the Bible School and by your kind arrangement were sent
back to Finland. Gilead had been beaming to us as an un-
attainable star which we admired from afar, but to which,
we thought, we never should reach. Now we are very thank-
ful and glad for having four Gilead graduates among us,
and we have seen that Gilead is \volthy of this name, be-
cause the schooling of our brethren there has turned out
to be a good "heap of testimony" in our country, both di-
rectly and indirectly. That far-away twinkling star, Gilead,
has in this way become a near-by sun which warms and
lights us with its Theocratic effect, and to which-no won-
der-many hope to attain sometime.
The most appreciated event of the service year was, no
doubt, the visit of Brothers Knorr and Henschel, in .Tune.
The brethren had been eagerly waiting for the president
and his secretary, and on June 11 the American visitors
finally arrived by steamer at Turku, the former capital of
Finland. The Branch servant and some 50 publishers from
the Turku company were there to meet the long-expected
guests and to welcome them. On the way to Helsinki the
travelers stopped to inspect the Kingdom Farm, making
some suggestions concerning the work there and its ar-
rangements. At 6: 30 p.m. the brethren were in the Bethel
home, being soon busily engaged in the precom"ention work.
In addition, many improvements were made so as to bring
the Branch work into line with the general Theocratic
arrangements world-wide. In accordance with the American
Branch, here too appointments were made for Bethel serv-
ant, office servant, factory servant, and farm servant; and
it is believed that the work henceforth will move along more
134
Yearbook
smoothly at the Bethel home. The family very much appre-
ciated the kind care for its welfare shown by the American
brethren; and it is a matter of fact that a true family
relationship was established dUring the visit of Brothers
Knorr and Henschel which we were lacking before.
In connection with the visit a convention was held in
Helsinki, with more than 3,000 of the brethren present. It
was certainly very encouraging, because we, to this point,
never had so many publishers in the field The assembly
was the most thrilling and enjoyable feast ever held by the
Lord's people in this country, and blessings upon blessings
were poured upon the conventioners: the releasing of the
booklet, One World, One Government, the convention paper,
The Messenger, which was a real surprise for the brethren,
and a new book, "The Kingdom Is at Hand"; many powerful
discourses by the American brethren, including the state-
ment by the president concerning the reorganizing of the
Branch work; and the public address, the climax of the
assembly, with 5,300 listeners, out of whom more than 2,000
were strangers. It was a joy, too, when 184 new publishers
were immersed as a symbol of their to do
Jehovah's will. The Finnish people in general are very stiff
and calm, and they rarely reveal their emotions, even in
rare occasions; but during this blessed convention the
enthusiasm ran high and it was not unusual to observe
tears of joy in the eyes of the elderly publishers, and from
time to time stormy applauses interrupted the speakers.
The brethren were grateful, too, when the president in one
of his discourses set forth for his audieuce thE' great issue
and explained the matter of neutrality. It was delightful
to hear how the brethren world-wide had held their neutral
position amidst the great conflict of the nations.
The service year just ended has indeed been a very mar-
velous one, and we find no words to express our deeply-
felt gratitude to our God Jehovah, who has poured out such
great blessings upon us. We can do nothing else than pray
that he may help us to use all our faculties in the most
effective way to glorify his holy name in helping the people
of good-will to find the truth so that they also may join
with us in Singing his praise. We use also this occasion to
express our great thankfulness and warm love for all the
help and encouragement which we have got from you, dear
Brother Knorr, and the head office in Brooklyn.
FRANCE
The servants of the Most High in France worked
diligently during 1947, fighting for liberty and true
Yearbook 135
worship. It was their keen desire to be recognized by
the government of the land as a people worthy of
carrying on their true worship. During the war, be-
cause of Catholic action and hysteria, a ban was placed
upon Jehovah's witnesses, and the law prohibited their
activity as an organized group. The French brethren
filed papers for the organization of a French Society of
Jehovah's witnesses, and for the entire year this mat-
ter moved from one department to another in the
government offices. Our attorneys did all that they
could to get this new Society recognized and to show
to the police and all departments of the government
the good work that the Society would do, pointing
out the Christian educational activity in which J eho-
vah's witnesses are engaged. However, it was only be-
cause the brethren themselves vigorously pushed this
matter in all the governmental departments that we
finally received advice that the Society was recognized
by the government and that they had a right to pro-
ceed under their new charter. Just at the close of the
year the Branch office cabled the Brooklyn office,
"Home secretary signed decree. Society recognized.
Praise Jehovah." This brought great joy to all the
brethren in France as well as making glad the hearts
of the American brethren, because it opens the way
in 1948 for real organization.
The Branch servant in Paris sends in a very in-
teresting report, and in reading it one can feel the joy
and gladness of heart possessed by the brethren. The
Lord has been good to our brethren there; and, while
excellent progress has been made during the service
year, with an increase of more than 200 publishers,
1948, we believe, will be the great expansion year in
France.
The hearts of the French brethren began to beat with
expectation and joy when they first heard that Brothers
Covington, Franz, and Suiter, directors of the Society,
would Visit France and hold conventions in various parts
of the country. For eight years no assemblies had been held
136 Yearbook
in France, and 80 percent of the brethren had never at-
tended such a gathering of the Lord's people, as many of
them had only heard of the truth and become associated
with the Society during and after the war years. The con-
ventions surpassed even the best expectations of the breth-
ren, as a total of 6,500 assembled in the cities of Lyon,
Strasbourg, Paris and Douai, which was eight times as
many as in any previous l ~ r e n c h assemblies. The brethren
were greatly strengthened by the discourses and felt nearer
than ever to Jehovah's organization. We were also privileged
to have Brother Knorr and Brother Henschel meet in
Paris with Brother Covington to take care of some Branch
problems, and 800 of the hrethren assembled in Paris for
SOIllP final words of encouragement in Kingliom activity,
which were delivered by these brethren.
The people of postwar I<'rance are now looking for better
times and the amelioration of their dilllcult conditions.
However, despite the hard labor of the people to better the
lot of the nation, conditions seem to get worse instead of
better. Because of this, the ears and hearts of nUIllerous
people are now being opened to receive the testimony of
the new worlll, and Jehovah's witnesses have been wel-
comed in their preaching acU vity.
In years past the brethren gathered in little family groups,
but beginning with this year all companies hired halls in
which all the brethren could meet for study anli service
meetings. 'l'his has contributed greatly to the unification
amI the expansion of the work in l"rance. Although we
lost a great number of brethren who returned to their
homes in Poland, others have quickly stepped in to take
their places. Despite a hard winter, which was made doubly
so for the brethren in France because of lack of fuel, the
work has not suffered, but has gone ahead; and such has
been the increase that a number of companies have been
subdivided into units, as in Paris, where there are now
three units. So the number of publishers is steadily increas-
ing, aIllI we ended our service year with 2,380 publishers.
Because the Bethel home, office and literature stocks
were in three different locations 20 kilometers apart, collab-
oration was very difficult and much time was lost traveling
on the railway and subway. Therefore it was with much
gladness that we greeted the president's instructions to sell
the old home in the suburb and purchase a suitable home
in Paris. This matter was finally resolved by Brother Knorr
during his visit to Paris, and now the SOCiety owns a weIl-
constructed house in a quiet section of Paris where the
whole Bethel family works and dwells together.
Yearbook 137
The work In the office and shipping department has all
been done by eight brethren who rejoice in the privilege
they have of serving their brethren throughout France. \Ve
were very glad to receive some supplies of literatUl'e from
the Brooklyn office; and the Informant in the French, Polish
and German languages are supplied to the companies by
the French office. Although there is a great scarcity of
paper, we have been able to print 115,200 booklets, 255,087
Bible studies, 52,400 Informant, and 282,000 forms.
We thank Jehovah above all that we have always had
suflicient funds to press forward in the expansion work;
and, despite the expensive living conditions, we ha\'e lad,ed
nothing, even now being provided with a new Bethel hOllle
which we so much needed in order to get better organized.
During the year the brethren were interrogated at the
offices of the local police as well as by the gendarmes. No
real difficulty has ever come of the matter, however, as in
nearly all cases the brethren were able to continue with
their work after explaining their good service as Christian
ministers of the gospel. In only one case was a bruther
denounced by a gendarme and taken to court, but he de-
fended his Christian course of action and was acquitted by
the judge.
FRENCH AFRICA
I am very glad to be able to give you, dear Brother
Knorr, a favorable report concerning Afrique Occidentale
et Equatoriale Fran<:aise, that is to say, Ivory Coast, 'rogo
and Cameroun. Every day we receive letters from these
countries in which the brethren write us to order litera-
ture and tell of their joy to know of God's purposes and
the gospel of his kingdom. 'l'he work is going ahead well,
especially in Cameroun, where there are now two com-
panies of Jehovah's witnesses, one in Douala, and the other
a company of about 50 brethren at N'kongsamba. No doubt
additional companies can be formed in the near future. 'Ve
have the addresses of approximately 50 other persons of
good-will in these countries whom we are also keeping
supplied with The Watchtower and other literature. In the
coming year we plan to do all we can to help these brethren
and the people of good-will in these countries to know Jeho-
vah's organization for true worship and to have a part in
Singing the praises of Jehovah.
Looking back at the end of the 1947 service year, we
can say from deeply thankful hearts: "Praise the Lord,
all ye nations; tor great Is his kindness toward us." Jehovah
has opened the way for a great new work in France. We
are now rl'cognized as a SOCiety by the state, and have
138
Yearbook
already obtained a fine Bethel home. The groundwork is
well laid for the performance of great activity throughout
France in honor of the King and the Kingdom. This means
hard work, but also great joy and many blessings for those
who share in the work. The work in France will go ahead,
to the end that all who breathe may praise Jehovah!
GERMANY
The conditions in Germany are not at all happify-
ing. According to the Branch servant's report, which
cannot all be published herein, conditions are getting
worse and worse as far as the people in Germany are
concerned. The shortage of food, the housing shortage
and lack of clothing all go to make the outlook very
grim for the future, and especially for the coming
winter. Despite all the despair, Jehovah's witnesses
move ahead with real joy, singing the praises of God
and aiding the "other sheep" to gain a knowledge of
the truth.
A marvelous increase has been accomplished only by
the Lord's grace, and many people of good-will have
been gathered together. Public meetings have played
a tremendous part in getting the message to the peo-
ple. The circuit assemblies have helped in the organi-
zation of those who love righteousness and want to en-
gage in ministerial work. The many meetings that
have been held indicate the real hunger on the part
of the people for the truth. The lecture that attracted
the greatest attention during the year was the one
entitled "Jehovah's witnesses in the Crucible". This
was delivered 694 times during a six-month period to
audiences totaling more than 120,000. This lecture
has aroused the Hierarchy, and they have brought
much persecution upon Jehovah's witnesses. But, de-
spite all this, the work grows rapidly, because the
Lord's servants in Germany are taking the same stand
as they did before World War II. They are taking
their stand for God and his kingdom and, therefore,
receive his rich blessing.
Yearbook 139
Portions of the Branch servant's report are set out
here, which will make glad the hearts of all readers.
This report should cause all the publishers throughout
the world to be more determined than ever to devote
their time and energy to the service of God; for they
are able to do it under much more favorable condi-
tions than our brethren in Germany.
The new arrangement of circuits, the regular visits of the
servants to the brethren, and the circuit assemblies, prove
to be a great blessinl-: in this country. Certainly this ar-
rangement comes from the Lord, because nobody could
think out something that would serve better to the strength-
ening and establishing of Jehovah's covenant people and
his Theocratic organization. So from all parts of the coun-
try we get news and reports which show that the visits
of the servants to the brethren are welcomed with delight
in all companies. This is especially the case where the serv-
ant to the brethren keeps strictly to organization instruc-
tions in performing his tasks. The threads of order become
stronger and the group and pioneer work is progreSSing.
'l.'he organization is tightening and the publishers become
more aware of their responsibilities and privileges, and
peace and unity in the companies are increasing.
As in last year, also in this year a number of public
lectures have been given over the wireless in western Ger-
many. These proved to be of great advantage for the work
concerning the gathering of the "other sheep". Short lec-
tures have been sent from Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt,
Baden-Baden and Hamburg, whereas there would not open'
any possibility to proclaim the truth over the air in eastern
Germany. Yet the radio stations in Berlin and Leipzig have
broadcast quite good reports about our conventions there,
which reports gave a favorable picture of our organization.
Also in this sphere the influence of the Hierarchy is clearly
to be seen. It is she that tries in sullenness to silence the
voice of Jehovah's witnesses in the air.
Through our lecture "Christians in the Crucible" the
clergy of the Roman Catholic Church recognized our fearless
stand. The many truthful proofs of her alliance with the
NaziS and Fascists in the past, and the uncompromising
attitude of Jehovah's witnesses, are making them quite dis-
concerted. They now organized the young men from their
associations, real "storm troops", called "Kolpingsohne"
(sons of Kolping, famous Catholic). With these sedi-
tious hordes they are keeping up the methods of the
Nazis in trying to disturb and to break up the lectures
140 Yearbook
and assemblies of divine service of Jehovah's witnesses.
They like to kick up a row inside the haH, very similar
to the methods of the SS and SA. Those "Christian"
ruffians even do not shrink back from using the knife.
Whereas assaults of this kind are not known in the
Protestant east of Germany, some severe attacks have been
reported in the British and American zones. It started in
Regensburg and other places in Bavaria, and now cases
of Nazi-Catholic intolerance are also making their appear-
ance in the British zone. They try all means and methods
to silence the warning voice of Jehovah's witnesses. In
Verden on the Aller stink gas was used to bring the lec-
ture to an untimely end. In Paderborn it is the town council,
which seeks to hinder our brethren from holding their meet-
ings of worship by canceling without notice the schoolrooms,
in which the meetings used to take place.
Two brothers as representatives of the Society from our
ofllce in Wiesbaden traveled to Paderborn to give two pub-
lic lectures as protest against this unchristian and un-
founded attitude of the town council. Because they could
not find adequate rooms they chose the place before the
town hall with permission of the English military govern-
ment. In spite of this permission the aldermen of the
town tried to prevent the assembly by forbidding the breth-
ren to use the place. When, at 4 p.m., the time when the
lecture was to take place, hundreds of people were as-
sembled before the town hall, they had to be told that the
town had forbidden the use of this place and had threat-
ened to make use of their domestic right and have the
place cleared by the police. But spontaneously the people
followed the invitation to go to another place neal' by,
Wflich was not the property of the council, amI there the
speech was delivered.
'l'he climax of the year was the long-expected joy of the
visit of the Society's president. And the Lord blessed this
viSit above all expectations. To our regret it had to be
restricted this year to western Germany only, but we are
sure that Brothel' Knorr had the special guidance of the
Lord when he permitted Brother Covington once more to
come to Germany and to visit Berlin.
According to Brother Knorr's advice we refrained from
having a general convention in Germany on occasion of his
visit. So it happened that only at th .. very last hour, about
nine days before its beginning, an assembly was arranged
in western Germany. In spite of this short term and in-
adequate preparations we had a richly blessed assembly in
Stuttgart. Seven thousand brethren came and appreciated
the privilege to hear and to see face to face the president
Yearbook
141
and his two companions, Brother Henschel and Brother
Covington. Brother Covington's trip to different assemblies
In Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover and Essen caused great joy
and gratitude by the brethren assembled at these places.
Now we are engaged in the erecting of our new building
in Wiesbaden. In spite of the very difficult conditions in all
fields of the building trade, we are hoping that in one
year's time we shall have the building completed to the
extent that we can move into the office, the printing plant,
and the bedrooms for the family. Then we shall also in
this place work with all energy to help the companies and
to further the work of proclaiming the Kingdom in the
whole country. It is very difficult to get and to transport
the necessary building material; and it is very difficult to
find a way to get the brothers who are needed us wOI'klllen,
but who are today tied and kept by their local employment
otlices. But as the erection of our buildings in the east of
Germany, in Magdeburg, came to pass as by a miracle of
the Lord, so he wiII also be with us in the west, in Wies-
badcn, and we are full of confidence that also over there
everything will be accomplished to his honor.
A special providence of the Lord is to be seen in the
event of evacuation of our brethren, who had to leave the
eastern provinces when these became occupied by the Poles.
Many hundreds out of Silesia and East and W('st Prussia
had to lea,'e their homes and came into the western zones.
Telegrams were sent to our offices from these pitiable ones
who were robbed of everything they had, asking advice
as to what to do, Some uttered the wish to settle in com-
mon. But they were advised by our offices to put their trust
in the Lord and to leave their settling entirely to the
authorities. Certainly nothing would happen without the
guidance of the Lord, who would be able to destine their
lot as in the days of the first Christians, where "they that
were scattered abroad went every where preaching the
word". So it happened that the majority of these brethren
were settled in the British zone and just in the blackest
Catholic district. They started to go from house to house,
to make bacl{-calls and arrange back-call book studies. and
now one company after another is forming in these large
districts where within the memory of men no beam of the
light of divine truth has been shining. More than 1,500 of
such faithful witnesses of the Lord have been brought out
of Silesla into those absolutely Catholic parts of the coun-
try. These light-bearers of the Kingdom are stirring up the
nests built in former times by the Hierarchy and are
greatly disturbing the monks and priests in their slumber.
Theil' howling rouses the suspicion even of their most
H2
Yearbook
ardent churchgoers. One of these "pastoral caretakers" was
once called to give "extreme unction" to an old granny of
some family, but he did not turn up. After the granny
had died, the family complained and the priest declared
moanfully the Bible Students were to give a lecture, which
he had to prevent in any case and in his "official zeal"
he had forgotten his official duty.
How great was the joy in many cases when occasionally
at the circuit assemblies shares from the American and
Swiss donations were distributed. If the clothes received
would not fit, they were altered to fit or exchanged for
articles of the proper size. The circuit assemblies became
also a special joy for the evacuated brethren, as a certain
compensation for the tribulations of the past months.
So has the relief work through the Society caused much
joy and proved to be a blessing in this country. The rich
gifts of the American, Swiss, Swedish and other brethren
have often evoked an unsllealmble joy in the receivers. One
can imagine scenf's, as descrihed in some of the letters
received at this ofIi.ce, when faithful, wholly consecrated
persons, whom stal'Yation had changed to skeletonfl, un-
packed their parcels from America or Sweden kneeling and
crying! Touching letters from these pitiable fellow servants
give an idea of their prayers ascending out of deeply-moved
hearts to our heavenly Father, praiSing him and thanking
him for the unexpected joy, prepared through loving hands
in a foreign country. Poor and needy publishers still re-
ceive continuously such gift parcels, to their joy and
strengthening to further service. That does not mean that
It is possible to keep the hunger from the Lord's faithful
peollle. Oh, no! The needy ones are too many, and too great
is the But the Lord will see to it that in his own
good time this condition will be lifted. All know that and
nobody is doubtful about it, but each endures in great pa-
tience and with a proud joy this "our light afiliction, which
is but for a moment", knowing that such attitude SE'Cur('s
a share in the great work of vindicating Jehovah's hofy
name. Just as in the case of Job, an imperishable reward
will replace the sufferings of all those who trust wholly in
the Lord and who do not imput(' to him anything absurd.
Just during these days, when the year's report is in prep-
aration, the new Informant {'arne from America with the
news that at the great convention In Los Angeles the presi-
dent made the suggestion to the many thousands of
bled brethren that the German and Austrian brethren be
supplied with food and clothing. What a joy and jubilant
sound that will cause in our country!
Yearbook 143
Out of tbe same Informant we see as well that the num-
ber of publishers in the whole world has reached 200,000.
Just today, the 12th of September, we have established the
fact here in Magdeburg that the total number of publishers
in Germany is now 20,811. That means that here in this
country, so poor and so plundered, lives a tenth of all
publishers of the new world and of the fighters for the
honor and supremacy of Jehovah God. That makes our joy
perfect and helps us to forget the sad and miserable con-
ditions. It is a visible proof of the great blessing the Lord
has bestowed upon the service that has been done under
so mnch hardship and so much privation and want. There
is a continuously increasing joy of the Kingdom streaming
out of our hearts, and we have the invincible will to make
greater efforts to his honor and to the benefit of the
"other sheep".
The German Bethel family in Magdeburg, as in Wies-
baden, considers it as a marvelous privilege to serve the
Lord in this place, dedicated to him. With all energy and
ever-renewed joy everyone does his service In his ap-
pointed place and does not miss any opportunity to have
a share in the field service or any other feature of service.
All the brothers and sisters .remember with great joy and
gratitude the blessed hours of fellowship with our presi-
dent and Brothers Henschel and Covington. They all feel
themselves united with all faithful fellow workers all over
the earth. They send their brothers and sisters in Brooklyn
and throughout the world their love and best wishes.
GREECE
All of Jehovah's witnesses in Greece have under-
gone a bitter religious-political persecution as they
have sought to push the advance of true worship in
that land. The church and government are against
Jehovah's witnesses and have put forth every effort
possible to stop the circulation of the literature and
the proclamation of the gospel. To aid the brethren in
Greece two graduates from Gilead were sent to the
Branch office, and they have been a real help in or-
ganizing the work. However, the government is de-
termined to have these two brethren deported from
the country.
The message that Jehovah's witnesses are preaching
in Greece is the same message that is being preached
144 Yearbook
in the United States, but the Greek Orthodox Church
does not want this message for their people. The Unit-
ed States government is spending millions and mil-
lions of dollars in Greece; and the president of the
United States claims that there is freedom of speech
in Greece, but the facts show otherwise.
It is impossible to print the entire report as fur-
nished by the Branch servant, but the portions that
are herewith printed will give the reader some idea of
what is going on in Greece. Faithfulness to God comes
at great price, but Jehovah's witnesses in Greece pre-
fer to have the favor of God rather than the fayor of
men who are opposed to God and to righteousness.
The prevailing conditions in this country have given the
govel'lllllent and the Orthodox Church, the state religion of
Greece, the needed excuse to clamp down on the work.
Full-scale civil war has been raging for over two years,
which has further hindered the service activities. Through-
out Greece bands of men, generally led by the Comn-m-
nists, have been waging their bloody attacks against the
present government. The battlefield is everywhere. The only
safe places have been the cities, but of late some of these
have been invaded and homes burned. During the daytime
the government is able to hold control of the country, bnt
at night the guerrillas take over. 'l'ravel lwtween most vil-
lages is not permitted, llIH1 many have to get permits to
work on their own farms outside of the town. To combat
these guerrillas the government has organized 10cal-citi7.en
o)ganizations in every town and village, known as "Iletis",
which are armed by the government; and these, of ('ourse,
take the authority into their own hands. They generall, are
fanatica1 religionists aIH1 have caused us much trouble.
With this general unrest, the matter or serving in the armed
forces has been raised. There being no exemption for minis-
ters of the gospel from military duty, the hrethrf'n have
had to take the consequences of not serving. There are a
large number in army prisons, where they are standing
fast under very trying conditions, but the Lord upholds
and protects hiR sen"ants in their faithful stand. Some
have been tied and beaten fOt' several hours with barbed
wit'e in an attempt to break their integrity, but in vain.
As none of the companies have Kingdom Halls, all meet-
ings arc held in the private homes of the brethren. Our
problem and the need for ('xercising care to safeguarr1 thf'se
meetings can best be illustrated by the following case sim-
Yea1'book 145
ilar to many, many others. At Kurkara, near Saloniku,
seven brethren were assembled at their weekly study of
The Watchtower. The police came and hauled them to the
station, where one of the officers started beating the breth-
ren with a club. One brother was struck in the eye and
was blind for many days thereafter.
Almost all the companies at one time or another have
had their meetings broken up, the brethren maltreated
and brought to trial, some before martial courts. This has
necessitated small group stUdies rather than having the
entire company come together; and thus some companies
have as many as twelve lVatchto!cer studies and four serv-
ice meetings a week. OccaSionally it is necessary to change
the places of study because the brethren have been warned
of an impending raid by the police. In Athens and Vicinity
the units are practically in the last homes available be-
cause the others arc known and watched by the police. Now
they alternate their days and hours of meeting to minimize
the possibility of discovery.
In an endeavor to overcome this llroblem, several visits
were made to the chiefs of the government police, who not
only refused to allow us to assemble freely, but demanded
that we stop our work. The director was told we would
not stop! 'V hereupon he threatened to make martyrs of all
of Jehovah's witnesses if we continued our activities! Now
we have entered a petition with the Ministry of Education
and Heligion requesting a permit to have a Kingdom lIall
as a center of worship in Athens. It is hoped that this will
be issued, as it would greatly help in pushing the advance
of the true worship and many people of good-will would
thcn begin to assemble with us.
The end to which Satan and his dupes will go to defeat
the Lord's work is well illustrated in the following experi-
ences: At the town of Vrontamas, a group of gendarmes
or armed police of the villages, along with several "Hetis",
found Brother Tsembelis having a book study with a newly
interested woman who was readily learning the truth and
had made much progress. After giving both a se\'ere beat-
ing they wanted to hang the sister, but the villagers inter-
vened. Much torture befell the brother as they attempted
to break his integrity by making him kiss idols, do the
sign of the cross and renounce his faith. Seeing that they
could not hreak his integrity, he was shot and killed by
these officers. Othel' brethren in this same village were
severely beaten and one sister had her arm broken because
she would not make the Sign of the cross. Later they ran-
sacked all the h ~ m e s of Jehovah's witnesses in the town and
then departed.
146 Yearbook
Two days later this same group of gendarmes and Heti8
went to the near-by village of Gortsia looking for Jehovah's
witnesses. All the homes of the brethren were searched
and Bibles and other literature were taken. One sister was
confronted in her home by these men, stripped naked,
hanged upside down and then tortured by pouring cold
water on her. Nine sisters and two brothers were then
gathered into a cellar, where they all were mercilessly
beaten for some time. Later the police started back to their
station, taking with them all the brethren. On the way the
pioneer brother was taken into the woods and executed.
He was one of the best pioneer publishers. He died faithful
to his commission. While on their journey one of the sis-
ters had the opportunity to explain to the captain in charge
who Jehovah's witnesses are. He explained, "I am not to
blame. You have many enemies, especially the priest, who
induced me to act against you." Two days later all the
brethren were released. It should be noted that they were
not doing service work nor assembling together. In both
villages the police left instructions that if Jehovah's wit-
nesses did not start going to church, to notify them and
they would return!
Other objects of attack by the Greek Church have been
the school children who have been denied an education be-
cause of their refusal to participate in the religiouS cere-
monies each morning or to attend church. Some have been
horribly mistreated by the teachers and other children.
Lectures have been given in the classes against Jehovah's
witnesses, and later questions on these lectures appear in
the examination! NotWithstanding, these young witnesses
of Jphovah haye stood firm, and have given a good testimony
and continued to remember their Creator.
The courts have even convicted parents because their
children attend Jehovah's witnesses' meetings. One father
was convicted for proselyting and was sentenced to seyel.l
months' imprisonment because he was bringing up his
child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord! If any
children are discovered in the meetings by the police, the
above charge is invariably levied against all present. In
further making them objects of persecution, the Church has
endeavored to forcibly baptize children whose parents are
Jehovah's witnesses. 'rhe parents were powerless to do any-
thing', and were viciously beaten by the police if they ob-
jected. Many times this inquisitional method was uspd,
and each time it turned out to be a marvelous witness to
the honor and glory of Jehoyah's name.
\Vith all these difficulties it has necessitated waging R con-
tinuuus battle in the courts of the land in defense of the
Yearbook 147
true worship. According to what figures we have, 706 breth-
ren were arrested and brought to trial during the service
year. Of these, 126 were convicted and sentenced from a
few days to many months in prison. The others were either
dismissed or postponed for rehearing. This has resulted
in a H'ry heavy financial burden to the brethren and to
the Society.
One company servant observed, "A pioneer means one who
is devoted to a life of prison, parole, fines and severe beat-
ings." Yet the faithfulness of these fighters for the New
World is marvelous to behold. One pioneer brother in the
city of Athens was arrested six times in twenty days and
still he kept gOing, until the Society removed him from
this territory because of the threats of bodily harm by
the police.
One of the most outstanding bleSSings of the year was
your visit to Greece. Many problems were ironed out during
the three days you and Brother Henschel were here. Al-
though we could not have a convention and few of the
brethren got to hear you speak, yet all were pleased with
the future plans made for the Kingdom work. Everyone
will remember it as a great milestone in the advancing
movement of the true worship of Jehovah God.
So at the close of this service year we can look back and
see how fitting are the words at Jeremiah 1: 19 (Am. Stan.
Vel".): "And they shall fight against thee; but they shall
not prevail against thee: for I am with thee, saith Jehovah,
to deliver thee," and truly the Lord has delivered his serv-
ants because of their faithful stand. His protection has
been manifold and it has strengthened the hands of his
people to do his will. We rejoice in the privilege of service
that Jehovah has granted us during the past year and look
forward to the future to have a greater part in the work
of praiSing and vindicating his word and name.
ALBANIA
Since early this year many attempts have been made to
contact the brethren in Albania, but all efforts have failed.
A traveler from Albania to Greece reports that at the
present time there are several companies in operation and
that they are joining with all of Jehovah's witnesses in
the world, praising the name of the Most High. Very little
literature comes into the country, but once in a while we
learn that some has reached the brethren, and they use
it in their studies. The only thing the publishers of the
Kingdom can do In Albania is to preach the gospel by
word of mouth and to use their Bibles. Every effort is being
148 Yearbook
made by the Society to get in touch with the brethren in
Albania by regular correspondence. But we are assured by
a traveler that they are working and holding high the truth
of the Lord.
TURKEY
While Brother Knorr was in Greece he arranged for the
Ath(,IlS Branch office to look after the brethren in Turkey.
since they were closer and the communications were better
than with the Brooklyn office. 'rhe proclamation of the
message of the Kingdom in Turkey is hindered by the ad
\"ersary. The Turkish government officially banned the work
after reading our literature. However. at Memorial time
18 brethren came together to celebrate the death of the
Lortl Jesus Christ. There is new interest associating with
the Lord's people in Turkey.
Most of the publications that have been sent from the
United States have been conJiscated. Occasionally some lit-
erature gets through and it is immediately put to good use.
It is loaned to the people to read, and, later, the publisher
returns and tries to follow up the interest if there is any.
It can thus be seen that most of the \vork is done by word
of mouth. But the brethren are not discourag('d, being
thankful for the privilege of being able to serve the LOId.
The Greece Branch has sent them some booklets, and efforts
are being made to send them some more.
Despite all difficulties that the brethren are having, they
regularly meet together and study The lVatchto!cer, which
they receive regnlarly. At the present time they hold their
service meetings once a month. However, they have been
instructed on the need of having them every week.
During the latter part of the year the Society reorganized
the brethren in Istanbul into a company witlt its own
servant arrangement in order to push forward the work.
Now the Greek Informant is being sent to them regularly.
The brethren are anxious to line up with the Theocratic
organization and they are waiting for someone to visit them
frol1l this office to instruct them.
GUATEMALA
Three years ago there were only three or four per-
sons in all of Guatemala who were serving the Lord
and holding high the message of truth. Now there are
75 regular publishers, with a peak reached in August
of 112. Up to this time the majority of the work has
Yearbook 149
been done in the capital, Guatemala city, but a few
of the witnesses have now moved out into other sec-
tions and small companies have been formed in several
of the other towns. It is quite easy to place literature;
but the Gilead graduates who have gone to Guatemala
have given good instructions to the newly interested
persons, with the result that they are following
through with back-calls and book studies, being keenly
interested in carrying on the great educational work
that Jehovah's witnesses are carrying on throughout
all the earth. Some excerpts from the Branch servant's
report show the zeal of the brethren from Gilead and
tell some of their good experiences.
Ten more Gilead graduates arrived during the year, mak-
ing a total of twenty now working in the capital. This
necessitated the establishing of a new missionary home,
getting settled and accustomed to new living conditions and
becoming familiar with a new language; but they have de-
voted themselves to aiding the people of good-will to praise
Jehovah, assisting them individually and in regular group
work, to 'stand at the door and knock', showing them how
to make back-calls, conduct their own studies, and do maga-
zine street work, in fact, all features of service. Some who
a year ago were attendants at book studies now have their
own studies and are taking new interest out themselves.
The productiveness of following Christ Jesus' example in
praising .Tehovah -is seen in the fact that during the twelve
months of service we have had nine peaks in publishers,
and instead of the two or three publishers of 2! years ago
there are now 112.
Outstanding among the experiences is that of a I6-year-
old boy who began studying last September. In February
he left the city for the country, but continued to study
privately. Ilis parents require him to go to school, but his
desire is to praise .Tehovah full-time, as evidenced by the
following from a letter he wrote shortly after entering
school: "In this school I shall never acquire wisdom with
respect to the Word of God, the Bible, which is what I am
looking for; therefore I want to include myself with .Teho-
vah's witnesses because in them I see the intelligence and
the desire to teach others with patience and without selfish
interest. I can no longer continue in absurd teachings and
worldly hypotheses. I am thirsting for justice and truth,
and this I can find only in the Bible. I want to estahlish
150 Yearbook
myself on the immovable Rock, knowing that the only way
of escape is the Theocratic kingdom under Christ."
Another publisher states that 'in following up placements
in my territory I started a study with a young Catholic
girl'. She practically memorized the lesson. As we continued
to study and she began to take her stand she met with in-
creasing opposition from her well-to-do mother and hus-
band. They tried to force her to go to mass, and finally
burned all of her literature. Then she came to my home
and we studied "Let God Be True", as she also speaks
English. She used two books, one to study and from the
other she tore the pages out and put them in a magazine
to study at home. Her family continued to oppose her; her
husband threatened to divorce her. Finally they sent her to
the United States, telling her she couldn't come back until
she stopped this "foolishness". She was baptized before she
left and in a month's time returned. Since her return she
has been regular in the service and takes her books home
to study in front of her family and sees now how Jehovah
strengthened her to stand firm on his side of the issue.
HAITI
This country is one of the smallest republics in the
Caribbean, but here, too, the message of God must go
forward. A group of Gilead graduates who are now
missionaries in Haiti are doing good work, but finding
it difficult to arouse the interest of the people. In the
previous year, 1946, there were 10 publishers, while
now there are 16, of whom 6 are missionaries. A peak
of publishers was reached in June, with 26, and it is
hoped that these will be helped further in learning the
truth and taking their stand for the Kingdom. There
is much work to be done in Haiti, and we feel sure
that the message will be preached here, too, the same
as in all other nations of the world.
The public meetings have aroused much interest in Haiti.
However, when the talks are finished, very few of the peo-
ple have any questions to ask. What is really needed is
more book studies aIllong those interested, and we are try-
ing to establish these. In the lO'arly part of the service year
there were 8 brethren baptized, and these are now serving
the interests of the Kingdom. In addition to the brethren
fro III Gilead a few natives have now entered into the pioneer
service. These brethren have been worldng some outlying
Yearbook
151
towns at a little distance from Port-au-Prince, where the
Gilead missionaries are located.
In July two of the missionaries traveled to the northern
part of the island, where Haiti's second-largest city is lo-
cated, and a good witness was given to many interested
people. Some of them are very anxious for the missionaries
to return and continue to give them instruction in the Bi-
ble, for it is their desire to render praise to Jehovah. They
can clearly see that the Protestant and Catholic organiza-
tions have nothing for them in the way of hope or life in
the future.
HAWAII
The pioneers, for a num.ber of years, have borne the
brunt of the work in the Hawaiian island-group. While
they are not great in number, they still do more than
half of the work that is accomplished by all the serv-
ants on the islands. This is real missionary territory.
The greatest obstacle to meet is the many languages
that the islanders speak, which include Hawaiian,
Japanese, the various Filipino dialects, Chinese, and
several others. The missionaries have done their very
best to learn enough of the various languages to pre-
sent the truth and then leave with the people the
literature.
The Branch servant and his wife, who have been in
the Hawaiian Islands for many years, have always en-
joyed their service there. But the service year of 1947
has filled their hearts to overflowing, because the
fruits of their labors are so manifest. They have
planted and watered for years, and now Jehovah is
giving the increase. The Branch servant's report is
very interesting, and shows the splendid progress of
the work in the Hawaiian Islands.
Soon after the beginning of the year those brethren from
Hawaii who had been privileged to attend the "Glad Na-
tions" Assembly at Cleveland returned to Hawaii. Strength-
ened thereby, those who could entered the pioneer service,
while some unable to do so put in greater effort and longer
hours than previously. This inspired others to push on in
the work with increased zeal. Shortly thereafter came the
visit of the Society's president and his secretary to Hawaii,
152 Yearbook
stopping off on their way around the world. This was the
big event of the year, both In service to the brethren and
by way of witnessing publicly. They arrived just in time
for the first circuit assembly in the Islands and Brother
Knorr In the capacity of district servant did much to en-
courage and stimulate the publishers in their work. That
was the real beginning of the increase in number of pub
lishers, and of time spent in the field, both of which have
since continued to grow. From a low of 97 puhlishers and
2,700 hours, a peak of 163 publishers and a peak of total
hours of 5,234 for anyone month was attained. So during
the year, by the Lord's grace, there has been a goodly in-
crease in nUInber of publishers, and more thun 10,000 in-
crease in hours spent in field witnessing, with a consequent
expansion all down the line.
The Hawaiian people are very superstitious, formerly wor-
shiping many strange gods. They will go strongly for heal-
ing, women preachers and suchlike. Now it is good indeed
to see them beginning to break away from their old tradi-
tions and grow in knowledge of Jehovah, and begin to wor-
ship him in spirit and truth. 'l'he brethren in one rural
section who have been witnessing and holding book studies
in the homes of Hawaiians still attending the local Hawaiian
church report how the minister got up in meeting and
berated his congregation for permitting outside people to
come into their homes and conduct Bible studies, and told
them to discontinue all such meetings at once. This was
too much for one of the married couples who were enjoy-
ing the studies in "Let God Be True", and they stood right
up in cllUrch and told the minister in the presence of the
congregation how they had come to know and love Jehovah
through these Bible studies, and that they would continue
their study of the Bible whether he liked it or not, and
that if he wished he could count them out of the church
right then and there. This made a good witness to the
others present, and now the interest and studies held with
people from the same church are increasing.
Public meetings are held in English, Japanese, Korean and
Ilocano. Book studies too are conducted in the same tongues,
and also in Hawaiian. The provision by Jehovah of the book
"Let God Be True" has been a real boon both in feeding
and in instructing the publishers themselves, as well as to
others of good-will through its use in back-call book stUdies.
It is interesting to note that although quite a few pub-
lishers were taken away from the Honolulu company to
form the two new companies, still the Honolulu company
for the year showed an increase of about 50 percent in pub-
lishers in spite of such loss.
Yearbook 153
Reviewing the events of the year, and noting the way
in which Jehovah led his people, and considering the stimu-
lating nourishing food he served his people in the presence
of their enemies through The Watchtower and its kindred
publications, with the psalmist we truly can say: "Know ye
that [Jehovah] he is God: it is he that hath made us, and
not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his
pasture .... be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For [Jehovah] is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his
truth endureth to all generations."-Ps. 100: 3-5.
HONDURAS
About two years ago the Society sent its first mis-
sionaries to Honduras. This is a Spanish-speaking
country, and at first the language presented a few ob-
stacles; but the missionaries carried on diligently,
learned the language, and now the expansion of the
work is very evident. There are now four companies
organized, due to the servant to the brethren activity
on the part of the Branch servant. Last year there
were 19 publishers of the Kingdom, but during the
1947 service year the monthly average of publishers
had increased to 45. The brethren there rejoice in
their privileges of service and appreciate that there
is still much territory to be worked. Undoubtedly
there are many people of good-will living in other
towns where the missionaries have not as yet been able
to go and preaeh. The Branch servant's report is very
interesting, but only a small portion of it can be print-
ed here.
News of the Cleveland convention and the many joys ex-
perienced by the brethren there was what the Gilead grad-
uates and other publishers here were waiting for. And at the
beginning of the service year that's what presented itself
in the visit of T. H. Siebenlist and wife during the week
of September 22-29 while on their tour of the Branches in
Central America after the convention. This was an occasion
of lDuch joy for the brethren in Honduras, most of whom
were very new in the truth. The talks, pictures and re-
leases directed from the grand convention in Cleveland
brought them closer to the Lord's organization, and they
were thankful for this provision of assembly.
154 Yearbook
Early in November two more Gilead brethren arrived in
the country ready for their assignment. Immediately the
servant to the brethren together with four of the mission-
aries set out for the next-largest town in the republic, San
Pedro Sula, which is located on the north coast about 60
miles inland from the Caribbean sea. The airplane took us
the long way around, making a large circle of the country
before carrying us to our destination. We stopped at several
other large towns along the way and we wondered how
long it would be before our expansion work would take us
to these places.
Upon arrival we started looking for a suitable home for
the missionaries. In discussion with one homeowner we
were asked, "Whom do you people represent?" We replied,
"We are .Tehovah's witnesses." "Say," he said, "we have been
waiting for you people to come here for a long time." He
went into the house and came out with the La Verdad Os
Hara Libres book in his hand, which he had obtained from
a friend of his. Then he began to enumerate the people that
had read the well-worn book and who wanted to hear more
about it. All this, and the door-to-door work hadn't even
started! We were overjoyed.
San Pedro Sula is the stronghold of the evangelists in
Honduras, they having been organized here for twenty years
or more. As a result of a public meeting lecture which was
attended by four or five of the evangelists, the "pastor" de-
voted his Sunday sermon to roasting Jehovah's witnesses.
He called out the names of those who had dared attend a
meeting of Jehovah's witnesses and publicly shamed them,
so he thought. When he was through many in his congre-
gation began to wonder what Jehovah's witnesses did have
that made their pastor so angry, for they knew personally
that many of the things he said were not true. 'l'he follow-
ing week another public lecture attended by more evange-
lists answered it for them. They learned about the new
earth and the many Kingdom blessings in store for men of
good-will, which will be showered down from the new heav-
ens. What a release from previous error it was to many
of them! The pastor is still gnashing his teeth.
The Memorial this year climaxed a two-day assembly for
each of the companies. It was a time of increased activity
in the field and an increase of joy for the brethren, as this
month a new peak of publishers was reached for the coun-
try. Many new ones took part in handbill distribution for
the first time, which was to start them out as regular pub-
lishers. A total of 121 gathered at the several towns to hear
the public lecture Sunday afternoon, while a total of 89
attended the Memorial that night. Of the 89 attending
Yearbook
155
the Memorial only 1 partook of the emblems, showing that
these 'companion sheep' recognized their position with the
Lord's organization.
We are ever thankful to Jehovah God for the much spirit-
ual food provided through his organization. We appreciate
receiving this spiritual food printed in the language of the
country so the people of good-will might benefit through
this means of preaching the gospel. Our gratitude is to Jeho-
vah for his unspeakable gift which provides the means
whereby the missionary work may be carried into each
new country.
HUNGARY
Splendid progress is being made here despite the
present difficulties in this country, which has just gone
through a terrible war. Although the brethren en-
counter very severe opposition from the Roman Catho-
lic Church, they have increased from 661 in 1946 to
989 in 1947. The Watchtower is being printed in
Hungary now, and there are thousands of subscribers.
It has also been possible to obtain some paper and print
booklets, which are now being distributed. A few ex-
cerpts from the Branch servant's report show the
conditions under which the brethren mnst work. They
are going ahead rejoicing, knowing that they must
stand for the Kingdom, and that alone.
~ ' h e present democratic police are no more the blind tools
of the clergy, as was the case with their predecessors. For
instance, soon after Hungary had been made a republic, an
over-zealous "democrat" learned that Jehovah's witnesscs
were speaking about some kingdom and he immediately ran
to the police station, reporting that Jehovah's witnesses
were back again; that they were speaking against the re-
public and exercising reactionary influence. The brethren
were led to the chief of police, who called them to answer
for their activity. But the sergeant became very friendly
as the brethren gave him a witness about the Kingdom,
and he instructed the officials who had brought the brethren
to him that they should not hinder these people in their
work, as they were doing good. Then he turned to the breth-
ren and said: "Go along and continue to preach these things.
I let you go free on condition that you tell this to all the
people whether on the streets or in the houses so that no-
body is left out. It would be very good if all people would
act as you do . . . "
156
Yearbook
The priest of a larger village was just leaving the church
after mass and found that the place was full of Jehovah's
witnesses. Off he ran to the police and demanded that these
people be stopped from going through the whole village
and exciting the people there. The police commissioner, a
man of good-will, answered him: 'Go along home, Mr. Vicar,
don't be afraid of these people, because they aren't doing
anything to hurt you or anybody else. They couldn't even
force these people to take life.' The priest disappeared
ashamed and the brethrpn had a splendid opportunity of
giving a good witness to the many people who came out of
the church and who lingered in the square.
Although the clergy have perhaps not so much infiuenee
with the police as formerly, they still create enough enmity
against us and in many cases they are successful in using
under-officials and mobs against the Lord's people, hut, by
Jehovah's grace, these attacks often either fall back upon
the attackers themselves or fail of their purpose through
other circumstances.
The compulsory religious instruction in the schools is
a good tool in the hand of the enemy. In this country the
parents are obligated to send their children to the religious
instructions of an establishell religious system, otherwise
such children cannot make progress in school even when
they are bright scholars. This causes much worry and un-
pleasantness to consecrated parents who have Children of
school age, and often leads to the children's being expelled
before they have finishell their school training.
Our beloved brethren in Switzerland sent us a fine con-
Signment of clothing at the beginning of this year again,
to aid the brethren het'e in their necessity. Of this, 2,151
adults and children have received gifts of clothing, and by
this means many publishers were enablell to go more suit-
ably clall into .Jehovah's service. Above all, we are grateful
to our heavenly Father and Provider for these gifts of love,
but we also thank our dear brethren with full hearts that
they have thought of us in our need.
INDIA
There are 400,000,000 persons in all of India, speak-
ing many languages and having many beliefs and
religions. Certainly there is plenty of work there for
publishers. There are approximately 2,000,000 persons
for each publisher now in India. By way of compari-
son, at the same ratio there would be but 5 publishers
in New York or Greater London, 6 in all of Canada,
Yearbook 157
or 4 in Australia. And it must be remembered that in
years gone by there were just that few -Jehovah's wit-
nesses in these various places; but now wonderful
progress has been made. If it is the Lord's due time
for his message to break into the minds of the religious,
superstitious people of India, it will be done. The
servants of the Lord in India are going to try and will
put forth a wonderful effort to that end. The report
by the acting Branch servant is very interesting, but
as it was much too long to publish in full, excerpts
were taken from it.
Famine, crippled communications, riots, arson, the trans-
fer of political power from the British to the Indian, the
dividing of the country into two independent nations, cur-
fews, massacre and civil war: in the midst of nation-wide
conditions such as these the keynote struck by the servants
of the Most IIigh has been expansion. Only Jehovah couId
thus inspire them, only his spirit could make its realization
possible in such circumstances. Only by his addin/-( his
blessing to their labors could they end the year with the
highest number of publishers in the field.
Expansion? Surely an impossibility amidst such condi-
tions! Humanly viewed, yt!s; but the Word of God is full
of examples of expansion accomplished under conditions
even more seemingly impossible. For nothing is impossible
with Jehovah, and it is the unshakable faith of Theocratic
publishers that they are "workers together with him". Be-
cause he has given the command through his organization
to expand, to "enlarge the place of thy tent", these step
forward with boldness, confident that the time for expan-
sion at last has come.
The very first difficulty confronting the Theocratic pub-
lisher is to find some platform upon which the minds may
meet. These people have no regard for the Bible; while
"reason" and "logic", which with others serve to give them
that regard, are terms learned at college and discarded at
its gates. Even their words have a different meaning, making
intelligible conversation almost impossible. For example,
to the normal man "truth" means that which is in accord-
ance with facts, anything contrary being untrue. But not
to our Hindu graduate. Truth to him is according to the
person holding it. To him a thing may be both true and not
true. If you think that fire burns, then that is truth to you j
and if he thinks that it does not, then that is truth ro him,
and both are true. He will agree that your carefully and
158
Yearbook
logically balanced argument is the truth, and the next min-
ute agree with the exact opposite. Both are true!
There is no such thing as truth, there is no such thing as
error. All is truth and all is errol'. There are no such things
as evil and good; evil is good and good is evil. There is no
God, there is no Satan; we are God and we are Satan. All
is God. That chair upon which you sit, you think it lacks
life? That is because you cannot detect its higher thought-
waves or communicate with its intelligence which, he says,
is higher than yours. That chair is God.
And so it goes on. These are just samples of the mental
make-up of the "educated" Hindu. 'rhe Kingdom publisher
is often at a loss just where to begin his refutation. Many
a patient hour has been spent teaching the 'Yord of God to
such, only to discover eventually that the contact's attitude
toward his former conception has not changed in the slight-
est, but that he has simply added another "truth" to the
heterogeneous mass that he already holds. Yes, the publisher
is true, the Bible is true, and the Ghita is true and Hin-
duism is true. All is true.
For many years a small handful of publishers have
struggled against these odds, and it is to their intense joy
now to see that thc tide has turned and that there are
certain prospects of expansion ahead. That which contributed
most to this was the visit of the president to this country,
the first presidential visit since 1914, and also the posting
of some Gilead graduates in the country. All things point
to expansion. It so happened that the arrival of the presi-
dent and of the graduates coincided, and so It was an ex-
cellent opportunity for a cOllvention. This was arranged.
In addition the Branch office experienced a careful overhaul,
and the Gilead brethren were given their assignment in
Bombay. Arrangements were also made for literature to be
translated into the vernaculars, and the companies in the
country were formed into circuits with one of the Gilead
brethren being appointed as district servant.
Two of the six Gilead graduates have been aSSigned
Bombay. These have taken the Bombay company under their
wings and have established themselves as firmly in the
hearts of the brethren as they have in the land of their
assignment. Under their influence the Bombay company
makes steady progress. They find their days very full, even
as Brother Knorr predicted they WOUld, and spend two
hOUl'S of each wrestling with the Marathi language and
most of the rest wrestling with the 1I1arathi mind. Theirs
is real spadework. Often at Bethel table there Is a discussion
on the persons they have met and how best to deal with the
problems met with, and it has been a great pleasUl'p for
Yearbook 159
the Bethel family to have them with them, and they are
hoping there are more to follow like them!
In a country so flooded with religion as in India just
anything may happen. Whatever it be, we have the sure
confidence that "no weapon that is formed against thee
shall prosper". The Kingdom l1as come, and it has come to
stay. No power in heaven, no power on earth, can uproot
what Jehovah has planted; neither demons nor men can
break down the true worship of Jehovah that he has built
up in this land through his Vindicator, Christ Jesus.
As there stood faithfully in the year that was past, so
there stands at the entrance of this new year, unflinching
and undaunted, a small handful of people who place 'l'he
Theocracy above every human government, and who are
determined to meet and defeat the tremendous odds heaped
against them, and prove themselves, by Jehovah's grace,
truly "a people for his name".
BURMA
During the course of the year just past brethren who had
taken refuge in India during the Japanese occupation of
Burma trickled back to their own country, swelling the
company at Rangoon from 8 publishers at the beginning of
the year to 24 at the end. Contact was re-established with
some brethren who had remained in the land, and with
praiseworthy zeal these unitedly entered upon their divine
commission of taking a message of comfort to a war-torn and
dispirited people.
In the early days of the brethren's return social conditions
were chaotic and the usual conveniences almost or entirely
nonexistent.
It was in the midst of such conditions that the newly
organized company not only served the I.ord but demon-
strated real enthusiasm about it, putting in an average of
over 30 hours per publisher per month during the year. With
creditable enterprise they overcame the lack of a Kingdom
Hall by bUilding their own from mats of woven bamboo, and
displayed inside in three languages the joyful yeartext, "Oh
Praise Jehovah, All Ye Nations."
The Hangoon company was little more than organized and
on its feet when the good news was received that a Gilead
gl'lllluate was being sent to Burma. No sooner had he landed
in the country than news came through of Brother Knorr's
intended visit, and hard upon that came further good news
of the dispatch of yet another Gilead brother. These things
filled the brethren with joy and confidence, for it became
apparent that there waR much work yet to be done in
160 Yearbook
Burma, and the Lord was preparing an organization there
capable of doing it.
Kingdom interests have been increased in Burma ovcr the
past year, and the prospects for the year ahead are bright
indeed.
CEYLON
Since the report for Ceylon was submitted last year good
progress has been made, chiefly because of the arrival of
the four Gilead graduates. Until these arrived there had
been regular activity on the part of one pioneer, and a few
company publishers had reported sporadically. That there
was real interest in the island and that there were persons
of good-will desiring to serve the Lord was made manifest
by the visit of the servant to the brethren two months before
the graduates arrived, 19 publishers reporting service for
that month.
Their pioneer missionary home, from which the Gilead
graduates operate, is situated about six miles out of Colom-
bo proper and is located in a large compound containing
hundreds of coconut palms, These nuts grow prolifically in
Ceylon, It was greatly to the entertainment of the neighbor-
hood that one of these brethren would be seen climbing
these trees, native fashion, and keeping the home sUlllllied
with all the nuts and coconut milk thut it required. Daily
the milkman brings his cow to the door of thf'ir house and
milks it in theil' presence, just to prove to them that it
is the Ceylon breed of cow that gives the water, not he!
The real work will not begin in the island until the
native population is reached in its own vernacular. In order
that this may be done the Gilead brethren spend some time
every day learning the Singhalese language, and the book
"Let God Re True" and the booklet The .Joy at All the People
are being translated into that language and into the lan-
guage of north Ceylon, Tamil. \Vhen these instrument.; are
in the hands of the brethren we may expect to see the roots
of The Theocracy sink deeply into the real soil of the coun-
try, the native population, for without doubt many of these
are of good-will toward God and will be glad to prais(> him
when they learn of the only life-giving government, The
Theocracy.
PERSIA
One company publisher, a Persian national, left India for
Persia and has taken with him six cartons of books. Since
he left no news has been heard of him beyond a report of
work accomplished on the boat on the way across. He pro-
poses to become a pioneer there as soon as his circumstances
will permit.
Yearbook 161
ITALY
This country has about 45,000,000 inhabitants. In
years gone by many of the Italians fied this land to
find peace and contentment in other countries. They
did not like the oppression of the Catholic-controlled
country, and they sought freedom. This does not mean
that the millions who remain are contented with con-
ditions; they are not. There is a great anticlerical
movement under way in Italy, particularly among the
men. Thcy are fed up with the poverty and ignorance
in which the Hierarchy has kept them for centuries.
By the Lord's gracc, the truth is going forward in
Italy today, and it is our hope that we can bring
much comfort to the people. Sicily, at the foot of the
"boot", has also received a good witness during the
year, and the interested people there are being organ-
ized into study groups. There are now five graduates
from Gilead in Italy. These have all taken up their
residence there and are looking after the interests of
the Kingdom committed into their care. The Branch
that has been organized is operating well, and the
servant of the Branch makes the following report.
For hundreds of years the Roman Catholic Church has
been, and still is, the state church in Italy. The inhabitants
are about 96-percent Catholic in name only, because the
majority seem to be dissatisfied with the Catholic religion,
clinging to it because they know not where to go. However,
in this postwar era the position of the Church in Italy is
very unstable and Is being challenged and attacked by anti-
clericalism. Jehovah's witnesses are not to be classed with
the anti clericals. Their only desire is to preach the gospel
and announce to the good people of Italy the establishment
of God's kingdom under Christ as the only hope for them.
If the people of Italy vote for the state church or desire to
do away with it, that is their business. Jehovah's witnesses
do not mix in the political and religious dOings of this world.
We wait upon God's kingdom to eliminate all wrongdoers
and bring peace to humankind. Then, and only then, will
the good people in Italy be able to enjoy a righteous and
perfect government.
The end of the war brought a measure of religious and
pOlitical liberty to Italy, such as was never before enjoyed.
162 Yearbook
The publishers who were persecuted and arrested and con-
demned under l"ascism were released and their numbers
strengthened by the return of prisoners of war who had
learned the truth in other countries, notably England,
Australia and South Africa. These young men have become
zealous publishers and have been an incentive to thl'
organization in Italy. 'l'he time has now come for Jehovall
to provide for a Branch office of the Sodety to be firml)
established here, in order to guide and direct the brethren
and organize them for efficient field service. The brethren
were eager to get started, and welcomed whatever provisions
the Lord would make for them through his visible earthly
organization.
As soon as possible after the end of World War II thl'
SOciety arranged to send Gilead missionaries to Italy. The
first one to arrive was sent out on the road as a servant
to the brethren in November, 1!l46, and a few months later,
in January, 1!l47, two other Gilead graduates arrived in
Milano, where the Branch ofIice is located. The Branch
servant and his wife were to do missionary work in Milano.
The time soon came when the brethren inquil'ed about
the possibility of a convention, the tirst postwar assembly
for Jehovah's people. This provision soon came. What a joy
it was to the Italian brethren when it was learned that they
would have a convention in Milano aIHl, more than that, tht'
president of the Society would preside! This assembly was
the outstanding event of the 1947 service year. It Wmol just
what the brethren needed to stimulate them for greater
activity. When one considers that in Italy we had an average
of 148 publishers reporting monthly during the year, thp
numht'r of 225 brethren in attendance was indeed an occasion
for rejOicing in the Lord. :Many persons of good-will were
una hie to attend, due to the distance to travel and expenst'.
Brother Knorr's personal discourse and brotherly counsel to
these brethren was enthusiastically and eagerly absorbed
by all present and the bl'pthren still remember that joyful
eom"ention !lay, l\lay 16, 194i. At the public assembly an
attendance of iOO persons was had at Cinema Ji:ara in Mi-
lano, and after the discourse, "The Joy of All the People,"
so aptly interpreted by a ~ " o u n g brother who learned the
truth in a war camp in England, hundreds welcomed further
information and practically everybody accepted literaturE'.
The response from the public as to the convention demon-
strated and proved to all the publishers that the Italian
people would listen to the message of the Kingdom in great
numbers, and this more than anything else went to show
the need for actual witness work, stud iE's with the people,
and also public meetings. If the publishers did their part
Yearbook 163
and preached with all their might, there was no doubt that
the Lord would give the increase and people of good-will
would listen, accept the truth, and then act.
Brother Knorr's visit to this land accomplished much for
the I{ingdom work. Henceforth, the Informant would be
translated and published in Italy for the Italian brethren.
Two young zealous Italian publishers were selected for
training at the Branch before being sent out on the road
as servants to the brethren. Probably some day Italy will
also be represented at Gilead. These provisions were cer-
tainly a blessing from Jehovah for the advancement of the
work in Italy.
During the year this Branch received another shipment of
Bible literature, making this the second. In addition, we had
printed here 50,000 copies of "Be Glad, Ye Nations" and
50,000 copies of Jehovah's witnesse8 in the Crucible, all of
which have built up our supply of literature to a fairly good
measure. Translation of the book "Let God Be True" is in
progress and it is hoped that the coming year will see this
book published in Italian. The work being done by our
brethren in Brooklyn is well appreciated by us and undoubt-
edly demonstrates the unity that welds the organization as
one.
The service year 1947 has closed with our best monthly
report thus far. We reached a new peak in publishers, and
rejoice in this and numerous other blessings from Jehovah,
too many to mention all.
JAMAICA
Splendid progress has been made in this island of
the British West Indies. The great forward advance
may be attributed to the large increase in number of
back-calls, which jumped from 35,000 in 1 9 ~ 6 to
68,193 during the past service year. The book studies
also increased to 1,182. There are a million and a
quarter people living on this little island. Many are
interested in the Bible, and Jehovah's witnesses are
helping them to understand it. There are a number of
the graduates of the Gilead school serving in Kingston,
and they have helped considerably in bringing about
good organization. There are 127 companies now, and
6 circuits. Throughout the entire island good attention
is given to the public meeting activity, and the pub-
lishers wholeheartedly support these meetings. The
164
Yearbook
Branch servant gives an interesting observation on
what is going on in Jamaica now.
The public meeting work here is gradually increasing.
The brethren are now getting better traIned in public speak-
ing, since they have been putting to good use the ministry
instruction received in the Theocratic ministry school. More
speakt'rs are qualified, and CQnsequently more talks can be
given as the smaller companies are borrowing speakers from
the companies that can provide them. In the companies
where the lectures are given, tht' work goes ahead at a
faster pace. 'l'he Center unit of Kingston company rented
the Race Course to put on a series of lectures. There are
about 130 publishers reporting, and they atlvertised well
with handbills and placards for t1l'se talks. The average at-
tendance at the talks for the whole series of eight was about
1,000. One of the talks was given to an audience of 1,154!
Many of the Jamaicans seem to be God-fearing; for on
Sunday one finds many of them on their front step reading
aloud the Bible. The school children are taught the Bible in
school, while many of them can quote much of it by heart.
The thing that many of them are just waiting for is to have
someone corne to them with the key to an understanding
of it, so they can learn what the proper service to Jehovah
is. There is no persecution of the witnesses here at all,
excf>pt a little mocking now and again. It is hoped that more
Gilt'ad graduates can soon come here to look after certain
sections of the territory in Kingston that are not being
properly coveretl as yet.
As reported last year, not many children have ilPen pub-
lishing here; but we are happy to report this year that the
parents are taking more oversight of tileir children and
helping them to have part in the praising of Jehovah, too,
by them to jOin them in the service. One little
girl of nine years of age not long ago reported that she had
three studies. One was so far away (about two miles), that
she took a brother with her who lives nearer to it, in order
to turn it over to him. Many of the young children can read
better than the grownups; and, when they come to meetings,
they sit quietly all throughout, listening, instead of whisper-
ing or running around the hall.
So we have closed a grand year of praise to Jehovah,
and the blessings are unspeakable. Last of all to mention,
but not least, the service year ended with a grand climax
of praising by a new peak in practically every feature. Peak
in publishers, 1,411; pioneers, 79; public meetings, 108.
rearbook
JAPAN.
165
There are a number of brethren in Japan who have
been associated with the Society for some time. How
many are standing firm for the Lord now instead of
following a man it is difficult to say. Junzo Akashi
was appointed Branch servant in 1927, and the pres-
ident of the Society believed then that Junzo Akashi
was wholly devoted to the Lord and believed the truths
as set forth in God's Word and explained through
the Watchtower magazine . Just at the close of the
service year, August 25, 1947, Junzo Akashi wrote a
letter to the president of the Society, expressing his
disbelief in the things that the Society is teaching and
has been teaching for a number of years. Quoting from
his letter, he states;
"After about A.D. U)20, however, the explallations of
Scripture announced by the Hociety became step by step
dulled, confused, and self-contradicted." In his letter he
makes other comments showing that he did not believe what
was published as far tack as the ])elircrance book. Still,
through all these years, he played the part of a hnlOcrite
and remained as Branch senant. He has been removed as
Branch servant because of his numerous expressions in this
letter to the president of the Society to the effect that he
is not in harmony with any of til(> actions that we have
taken in the great expansion work of preaching the gospel
in all the world for a witness. He passes judgment on the
SOciety; for he says, "There is no material difference be-
tween what she [the Society] is doing and what other reli-
gious organizations are doing."
We feel certain that Jehovah God, the Great Shepherd,
through his Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus, will not neglect
the "other sheep" in Japan, but that he will raise up some-
one to look to their interests so that his "sheep" will not
be scattered. The Society will do everything to help those
faithful Christians who believe God's Word and are not
looking to a man. 'l'hose who follow the teachings of the
Lord's Word wiII be led in the right way. Junzo Akashi
has been told that by his own words he has proved himself
to be a hypocrite, espeCially since 1926. The Lord had quite
a few words to say about the hypocrites in his d a ~ ' , and
they apply equally well now.
166
Yearbook
MEXICO
A. number of years ago the government threw off
the yoke of the church which had weighted down the
country, and since then it has made rapid progress.
However, because of the many years of slavery to the
Catholic organization, there still exists only the two
classes, the ultrarich and the very, very poor. Now,
however, a middle class is beginning to appear. A.s
to Jehovah's witnesses in Mexico, the majority of
them are of the poor class with regard to the material
things of this world; but their zeal and obedience to
the Lord is outstanding. Marvelous progress has been
made by the brethren in Mexico during the 1947
service year. It would be impossible to set out all of
the details, but some of the interesting experiences
and high lights of the year are set forth here as re-
ported by the servant in charge.
The Lord through his spirit can accomplish anything. One
of our major problems is that about forty percent of the
Mexican brethren cannot read or write. But this is slowly
being overcome. A few years ago in one of Brother Knorr's
visits he was informed of this difIiculty and, since we have
a legal corporation here and are chartered as an educational
organization, he encouraged all til(' brethren to learn to read
and write and for those that knew how to read and write
to teach others. His talk showed results. In turn the serv-
ants to the brethren were informed of this, and as they
visited companies they mentioned to the brethren Brother
Knorr's talk. One of the servants to the brethren working
in southern Mexico visited the company Colonia Dolorps,
Chiapas. In this eompany tlwre were 25 publishers and only
3 could read and write, the rest being illiterate. The servant
to the brethren talked of the importance of knowing how
to read and write to aid others to learn of the truth; and
in his second visit around, nine months later, there were
50 publishers there, 15 of whom had learned how to read
and write. On his third visit around there were 85 associated
with the company and the majority had learned how to read
and write. An interesting detail about this experience is that,
with the exception of three Catholic families, this whole
town was composed of Jehoyah's witnesses. When they saw
the unselfish work of Jehovah's witnesses, they took an
interest in the truth, and now they too are on our side.
Obedience to the Lord's will always shows results.
Yearbook 167
One of the brethren from Gilead relates the following
interesting experience: "About a year and a half ago a
friend of mine in New York sent me the name of a person
of good-will living here in Mexico. His mother, in California,
had originally witnessed to her. As soon as possible I visited
the lady and found her to be very much interested. She took
all the recent publications in Spanish, including a Bible,
and subscribed for both magazines. The following week I
started a study with her. When I came for the study, her
living room was full of people she had invited, including
her sister, son and daughter. The sister immediately asked
for a study in her house, which was in another suburb. Her
living room, also, was full of people when I went, and among
them was a friend who wanted a study for her family too.
Each of these studies progressed rapidly and shortly the
ladies were coming to the hall. Then the lady with whom
I had the original study died, and tbe last thing she said to
her children was that tbey sbould continue studying, which
they are doing. Soon afterward hpr sister became a publisher.
Her son and a daughter of another person with whom I study
married and moved to California. Within a few weeks the
mot bel' of my friend who originally found this good-will in
the States met them while working from house to house
and is now studying with the young couple. Three months
ago another son married. His wife came from a Catholic
family that was very much against the truth. The wife,
however, heard one lesson and decided that she wanted more.
Now she has thrown out all her 'saints' and she in turn has
been practically thrown out by ber family, and now has her
own private book study.
"So from the one back-call slip, sent all the way from
California to New York and to Mexico dty, there are now
in progress five studies witb people who, without doubt,
will soon form a part of the 'great multitude'."
The Lord has been gracious to us in the last service year,
permitting us to reach a new peak in publishers of 4,867 and
giving us an attendance of over 9,000 in the Memorial serv-
ices. The whole past service year has been one of joy for
us, and we climaxed it by finally starting the circuit assem-
blies in August. We do not have enough servants to the
brethren nor any district servants, so during the vacation
period three brethren from the office served as district
servants in five different circuit assemblies in northern,
central, eastern and western Mexico. The peak attendance
at the five assemblies was 1,572, and, of these, 1,103 worked
in the field during the assemblies. The majority of the breth-
ren in these circuits could not attend because of their finan-
cial condition.
168 Yearbook
A tropical storm hit one of our assemblies on the Pacific
coast, and, even though the hall was without lights and
sound equipment, the assembly was a success. the
floor of the hall was under water and, not having any other
equipment to use, the brethrpn used their bare hands and
sandaled feet to sweep out the water. In a short while the
hall was ready to be used again. One of the most interesting
things about the Mexican brethren is that problems are not
things that hinder their paths, but just temporary things
which they automatically overcome. Their hard and rugged
lives and their day-by-day existl'nce do not dampen their
Theocratic spirit, because they will go to any extreme to
carryon the witness work. Their spirit is truly wonderful
to behold. As for proof of their zealousness and how it affects
the Roman Church, read the following circular which is
distributed in this country:
"Don't be Surprised! Those agents of a Protestant sect
vulgal'iy called Jehovah's witnesses and also La Torre del
Vigia, if they haven't called at your house yet, without a
doubt they will. These individuals, that zealously follow
their cause, try to sell or give away well-presented books
and booklets which are published by the Watchtower Bible
and SOciety, Inc., of Brooklyn, N.Y .. U.S.A.
"In case you do have some of these books or booklets,
destroy them immpdiately or give them to a Catholic pl'iest.
And, even if you are not a Catholic, if you love your country,
do not co-operate in any way whatsoe,er with these sec-
tarians that are supported by strong North American
societies which are trying to take from us, the Mexicans, the
only common bond which continues to hold us together: The
unity of faith under the matprnal cure of the virgin of Gua-
dalupe.
"Study your Catholic Religion and don't pay any attention
to thpsc jabberers who are trying to fool you.
"Diocesan Committee of the A.C.J.M. (Y.M.e.A.)"
It will take more than the Catholic Church and rough
weather and difficult living conditions or anything else that
the Devil uses to break the faith that Jehovah's witnesses
have in God.
NETHERLANDS
In spite of all the obstacles that the war and the
postwar conditions have heaped upon the people of the
Netherlands, Jehovah's witnesses have pushed right
ahead with the Theocratic organization. Marvelous
progress in Ki.ngdom service has been made, and Je-
Yea r boo k 169
hovah's witnesses in Holland are thankful for their
blessed privileges of service. They appreciate the need
of organization instructions and have complied with
them. The Branch servant's report shows the joy of
the Lord's people in the Netherlands and what they
are accomplishing by his grace.
Without any question of doubt, the earnest application of
Organizatwn Instr'Uctwns has been the greatt'st factor in
bringing about this progress and better conditions in the
Theocratic organization. While these instructions were first
introduced in the Netherlands in March, 1946, yet it has
taken much time in changing over from the methods of
operation the brethren were accustomed to during the war
years and immediately after the war to the new methods
as outlined in Organization Instructions. During the war
years the brethren had to use very rigid instructions and
methods of work in order to carryon with the preaching
of God's kingdom in spite of the vigilant watch of the op-
pressive enemy. Such instructions and methods of work
were quite proper for that period of time because the cir-
cumstances required the taking of such steps, and we know
that such had the Lord's rich blessing, because of the won-
df'rful increase during the war years. But with the ending
of the war came a great need for new instructions; instruc-
tions that would better care for the thousands of new pub-
lisht'rs; instructions that would teach all those publishers
how to more efficiently take care of the great field of wit-
neSSing that the postwar world offered to them.
A comparison of figures of the service work in the Nether-
lands from 1939 until the present year of 1947 not only
shows the splendid Increase of the Lord's organization during
and after the war, but also shows the certain benefits that
always result from a diligent application of Organization
Instruotions. In 1939 there were about 400 publishers re-
porting in the Netherlands; the end of the war in May, 1945,
revealed 2,300 publishers. In .Tune of this year we had a
newall-time peak of 4,247 publishers, associated \"I'ith 102
companies and units. Yes, in this little country wrested
from the waves, expansion is an actuality too.
For the first time we had summer vacation pioneers en-
rolled this year. And we surely don't regret that we did!
This arrangement was received enthUSiastically by the
young brethren, and many responded to the call, so that
the total number of full-time servants that were on the
list in August of this year was 204, to compare with 114 in
June of this year. Daily praising their heavenly Father
170 Yearbook
gave some of them so much joy that they wanted to con-
tinue as general pioneers.
The special-publisher work in the Netherlands has brought
forth remarkable results that are truly gratifying to con-
sider. This work began in June, 1946, by assigning four
pioneers in the city of Maastricht, a city of 33,000 inhabit-
ants in the province of Limburg, in the very southeastern
corner of the Netherlands. This city is very predominantly
Catholic and until the entry of the special publishers there
was no organized company of Jehovah's witnesses, neither
was there any definitely known interest. But within a very
short time the special publishers have accomplished a work
that is amazing. At the end of August we received the
first report card from the newly organized company of 11
publishers, and since that time the reports have shown a
gradual increase until Maastricht now has a well-established
company of at least 18 publishers who are averaging at
least 30 hours a month per publisher. In the month of Au-
gust 1947, they averaged 46 hours. Already-the new company
has produced from its ranks one general pioneer and three
summer vacation pioneers.
To be sure, such bee-like activity of the special publishers
in bringing about these results did not escape the attention
of the Catholic church in Maastricht; in fact, the "stinging"
just got a bit too much for her. It was not long after the
specials had begun their work of preaching of God's king-
dom to the inhabitants of Maastricht, that a small pamphlet
entitled "Look Out, Poison!" began to be circulated about
the city. Before looking inSide of this small folder, the
reader's attention is drawn to a very grim-looking skull and
crossbones near the top of the cover page, the three above-
mentioned words at the middle of the page, and a large
exclamation mark near the bottom. The supposed-to-be very
"ominous" contents read as follows:
"You certainly cannot buy poison in the stores to take
your life, or the life of someone else. But you can buy poison
at the doors from the witnesses of Jehovah, that will not
only poison you, but will also take the life from the soul
of others. They make themselves appear very pious and
have their mouths filled with devout proverbs, but at the
same time they are selling a slow-working poison. The blue
book, entitled 'Children', and the 'free' pamphlets are life
endangering and forbidden literature. They want to take the
faith of our fathers from the heart of us CathOlic Limburg
folk. BUT THAT NEVER! Beware of these witnesses of Jehovah.
They are 'false prophets that come to you in sheep's cloth-
ing, but within they are rapacious wolves'. (Matt. 7: 15)
Door tight, to 'Jehovah's Light'!"
Yearbook 171
Do you think for a minute that such an ominous-reading
pamphlet frightened many of the good folk of Maastricht
(including Catholics) into not even daring to look at any
of the literature of Jehovah's witnesses? Quite to the con-
trary! This pamphlet no sooner began to circulate when
many of the good people of Maastricht began to sit up and
take notice of these "famous" Jehovah's witnesses that were
around them.
The following letter from a brother shows the extent to
which a religion-weary person of good-will appreCiates the
truth when once having heard it;
"I was given the address of an interested person, and
made a back-call. 'l'he man was the director of a large fac-
who at one time was connected with a religious organi-
zation, but became disgusted with what he saw practiced
there and refused to have anything more to do with religion.
After having started a book study in his home, he made
the following proposal to me. He said, 'Sir, by studying the
Chi/dl'en book and after having heard several of your public
talks, I can see that there is only one organization upon
the earth that cun bring about real peace among men, and
that is tile organization of Jehovah's witnesses. I have a
large factory and oflice force and I would appreCiate it
much if you would come to lilY office and tcll illY staff some-
thing about this.' I arranged to deliver a public talk to his
friends. At the appointed time I went to the oflice and saw
that he had arranged everything ail promised; a large room
had been made ready for the talk all(l chairs all stood side by
side. The director himself acted as chairman. After having
given the public talk, I explained our work to the listeners
and was able to place 4 hooks and 6 lVatchtotver magazines.
I was asked to come back. The next visit was spent solely
in answering their questions, with the result that I was
asked to conduct a study in the Children book with the
whole staff. I placed 10 books and 10 question booklets and
am now conducting a book study with them."
An outstanding eycnt of the past year that brought us
great pleasure was the visit of our two American brethren,
Fred Franz and Grant Suiter. They were with us for eight
days in the month of June, the first three days of their
stay with us falling on June 13, 14 and 15, when we had
our big convention in Amsterdam which was specially ar-
ranged because of their visit with us. This convention was
a great joy and pleasure for all the brethren, especially so
because of the many discourses they were privileged to hear
Brothers Franz and Suiter give.
Following this event we had the pleasure of having the
president of the Society, Brother Knorr, together with his
172 Yearbook
secretary-companion, Brother Henschel, in our midst, al-
though their stay with us was very short_ The days they were
with us were very busy ones in talking and checking over
the various matters pertaining to Kingdom interests_ During
the second night of their visit with us the brothers gave
discourses to the Amsterdam company of Jehovah's witnesses
(making up an audience of about ],000 persons), about
points of interest on the round-the-world trip they had made
thus far, and Brother Knorr concluded the occasion with a
very timely discussion of Homans 14 that afterwards raised
many comments of appreciation over the admonition given.
We wish to take advantage of the opportunity afforded us
in this report to give an expression of our thanks to the
Society and the brethren in America and Canada for the
many tons of clothing that it was the privilege of our Branch
to receive for distribution to needy brethren throughout the
Netherlands. Words are hardly adequate to express our ap-
preciation, but we do want our brethren to know that we
deeply value the sacrifice that they made on our behalf and
to know that we are all the more drawn together with them
in the bonds of Theocratic love and unity. In all we received
three shipments of clothing from the United States and one
from Canada, the four shipments conSisting of 313 cases of
used clothing, 35 cases of used shOI'S, ami 11 cases of used
bedding. The four shipments together made up a net weight
of 54.6 tons.
As to the status of the SOCiety with the government and
other authorities, it can be said now that this is far more
favorable than in the previous year. It is well known now
that the SOCiety is a clean organization with policies guided
by Christian prinCiples of truth and righteousness. It is
known, too, that we are not a bunch of seditious booksellers,
but a powerful international, educational, charitable organi-
zation, an organization of Christian ministers, that is doing
a good and practical work for the "spiritual and moral
reconstruction" by supplying the needy pcople of the Nether-
lands with strong spiritual food with which they can feed
and strengthen their minds and so be protected against
being dragged into the pit of delinquency and immorality
by the masses that are unable to resist the subtile dangers
of this postwar era.
NEWFOUNDLAND
Four and a half centuries ago John Cabot caught
his first glimpse of this new-found land after crossing
the stormy seas of the Atlantic. Later he organized a
fishing colony to come to this island and carryon a
Yearbook 173
fishing industry. Practically all of the population of
Newfoundland today are fishermen. They live in hun-
dreds of small villages and hamlets along the island's
rugged 6,000 miles of coastline. These people are
meek and humble and are glad to hear the truth. The
Society's boat "Hope" reaches many of these fishing
villages and has brought much comfort to the people.
Graduates of Gilead were sent to Newfoundland to aid
in the expansion work a few years ago, and they have
proved to be "fishers of men". The Branch servant's
report is very interesting, and a brief excerpt there-
from is published here.
The first month of the 1947 service year brought with it
certain events that betokened an expanding of the witness
work in this land. Newfoundland delegates arrived
back from the convention at Cleveland filled with zeal and
enthusiasm engendered there. Two others, natives of New-
fuundland, who had attended the convention, did not im-
mediately return but accepted the gracious invitation of
the to stay in the United States for sevel'al months
to attend the eighth class of the Watchtower Bible School of
Gilead. Also during September, the new property purchased
in St. John's was occupied by the brethren. It consists of
an eight-room house which is used as the Branch headquar-
ters and missionan' home, together with an adjacent build-
ing which has been converted into a commodious Kingdom
Hall for the St. John's company. Yes, the Kingdom work in
Newfoundland was expanding!
October brought its blessings to the Newfoundland "fishers
of men", for during this month they had their own New-
foundland "Glad Nations" Assembly of Jehovah's witnesses
in St. John's. For the three joyous days of October 18, 19
and 20, eighty brethren enjoyed in a limited way some of
the delicacies dished up at Cleveland.
As in the rest of the world, the cold, wintry months of
January, February, March and April were special months
of activity for the Newfoundland "fishermen". Subscriptions
for The Watchtower and A/cake! were the watchwords. A
high quota of 600 new subscriptions was set. At the end of
April the tally showed that 720 had been obtained. Had
not Jehovah God blessed us? In February the two Newfound-
landers who had attended the eighth class at Gilead, and who
had both graduated with merit, returned to this land to
apply their wealth of newly-acquired knowledge. Opportunity
knoeked for them in more ways than one. Th'y had studied
174 Yearbook
Spanish at Gilead, and even knowing they were to return
to the English-speaking country of Newfoundland, they ap-
plied themselves to this study. They had not been back more
than a month when a Spanish fishing boat came to S1. John's
to effect repairs and was destined to stay here for two or
three months. Our Gilead brethren lost no time. They found
all the sailors Catholic in name but, upon hearing of the
blessings of the Kingdom, they became extremely interested
and obtained literature and Bibles in their own language.
Arrangements were made to invite them to the Kingdom
Hall in S1. John's to listen to a public lecture in Spanish.
As many as 18 came. Two such lectures were delivered by
the newly-arrived Gilead brethren before the Spanish ship
left port.
The Society's 50-foot motor launch "Hope" began opera-
tions June 18. The boat is a very effective method of
rca ching the isolated outports and fishing villages. Sound
equipment mounted on the boat aids in the public lecture
work. After a few weel.s of back-call work in the zone of
last year's operations, the boat came to St. John's, in that
Newfoundland was going to be blessed with another conven-
tion in .July with Brother Knorr here in person.
Because a president of the Watch TQwer Society had not
visited Newfoundland since the days of Pastor Russell,
Brother Knorr's visit here July 11-13 was an event of keen
interest to the Lord's people on the island. A three-day
convention in St. John's was arranged. Ncarly all the breth-
ren in Newfoundland are fishermen by trade and, since
July is one of their busiest months, many could not attend
the assembly. However, over eighty brethren convened and
helped to advertise Brother Knorr's public lecture, "Per-
manent Governor of All Nations."
The Society's boat "Hope" fiew a large banner between
her masts, advertiSing the talk. The boat circled the harbor
making spQt announcements from the sound equipment, with
which instrument Brother Knorr was able to audibly ad-
vertise his own lecture.
The personal and Intimate talks given the brethren during
the convention by Brothers Knorr and Henschel touched
them deeply. The whole convention program seemed to carry
the theme of service and proper Christian conduct. All
attending were greatly blessed and left fully determined W
push the advance of true worship in this land.
With this blessed service year now in the past, Jehovah's
witnesses in Newfoundland are determined not to sit down
and rest and to watch the time clock, hoping this service
work will soon be brought to a close at Armageddon. No,
they are determined to push the true worship to the utter-
most parts of this island, thus to aid 'the man with the
Yearbook 175
writer's inkh'Orn' to 'place a mark upon the foreheads' of the
Newfoundland people that sigh and CI'y for the worldly
abominations so visible to all.
NEW ZEALAND
Jehovah's witnesses in New Zealand have gone
ahead, preaching the gospel for two years without the
restraint of a government ban upon them. The breth-
ren have not been hindered in their organizational
work. They appreciate, too, the presence of Gilead
graduates who have helped them in their field-service
activity. Already the number of pioneers has increased
and there are a few more company organizations.
The people of good-will have associated themselves
very definitely with God's people. In 1946 there were
568 publishers on the average; 1947 brought 678, and
a new peak was reached in August of 779. The work
in New Zealand is expanding, all to the glory and
honor of Jehovah's name.
IG47 has been an outstanding year in the New Zealand
field. First came the "Glad Nations" Assembly at Wellington,
December, 1946, which for enthusiasm and attendance was
by far the best convention enjoyed to that date. It was the
first time since 1939 that all publishers had been able to
meet together in one united assembly. So this season was
one of unusual gladness as old friendships were renewed
and new ones madc. The Cleveland releases arrived by the
last available ship, and an obliging carrier whisked them
from the dock on the eve of holiday clOsing.
Before all the conventioners had returned to their home
towns. the first Gilead graduate apPOinted to New Zealand
arrived and quickly took his place within the framework of
the local organization, serving the companies as servan t
to the bFethren. 'i'his provision of the Lord has been a great
blessing and has brought about an improvement in organir.tt-
tion, more in keeping with headquarters.
Next, in early March, we had. the pleasnre of a visit from
the ::;ociety's preSident, Brother Knorr, accompanied. by his
secretary, Brother Henschel. Such an unprecedentpd event
was keenly appreciated by the brethren in this remote
country, and we look forward. to regular visits from the
preSident, feeling that such are necessary to keep US in step
with the Theocratic organization in its forward march.
Furthermore, the personal contact with our brethren from
176 Yearbook
headquarter:; enabled us to better appreciate the Theocrntic
setup. Our visitors, by their position as "servants of all",
emphasized the manner in whieh the Lord manifests his
approved representatives.
The final feature of our most eventful year was the in-
auguration of the circuit assemblies. At the outset there
were three circuits and, therefore, three assemblies were
arranged to be held during August.
From its introduction, Awake! caught the fancy of all and
the subsequent subscription campaign skied our report fig-
ures to an unprecedented peak. In the Au:akc! campaign
alone, 33 percent more subscriptions were obtained than in
the entire previous twelve months. Two enthusiastic Jlub-
lishers securell 16 subscriptions out of a possible 19 houses
in one !'treet. The later four-month Wntchtotccr and Atfllkel
campaign also showed good results. 'l'he total of new sub-
scriptions entered during the year was fi,012.
This second year clear of bans and restrictions has fount!
the New Zealand public less sensitive to their former patri-
otic bias. The Labor government, by its social security legis-
lation, takes care of the material needs of the people. Par-
ents receive 10/- weekly for each chilt! under 16 years of
age, and a generous pension is paid to the aged and incapac-
itated. Additionally, free medical service and medicine are
available to all. 'l'he keen overseas demand for New Zealand's
primary products has created an air of prosperity which
lulls many into a sense of false seturity. These have no
desire for Kingdom bleSSings, but others see the surface
veneer covering the rottenness of the old world and express
a desire to stand on 1he true anI] safe Rork.
NICARAGUA
In this small country of volcanoes, revolutions and
beautiful lakes you will also find a little group of wry
happy witnesses of Jehovah who are enthusiastically
praising Jehovah's name. It was only a few years ago
that some graduates from Gilead were sent to Nica-
ragua, there to start the work of preaching the gospel
and expanding the Kingdom message into that field.
A good report is made this year by the Branch servant.
It shows continual progress, even against adverse
conditions. The joy of Jehovah's people is again shown
in this report.
The Lord has graciously led many sincere persons of
good-will out of the world's darkness and into the light and
Yeat'book 177
service of his organization during the past year. The bless-
ings gained and enjoyed by his "other sheep" here far out-
weigh the difficulties they experienced in obtaining the truth.
The Salon del Reino has come to be a landmark in the
capital city and other places and is mentioned by everyone
but the religionists and their "shepherds", those that love
darkness and show great anxiety at seeing former members
of their congregations standing on a street corner with the
magazines or working from door to door or even entering a
public meeting with Jehovah's witnesses. Two years of
steady witnessing have pulled the cork from the religious
bottle and courageous persons are fighting their way up
and out into the free air that surrounds the Theocratic
organization.
The first month of the service year saw 23 publishers
zealously working in the field and preparing for Nicaragua's
first convention of Jehovah's witnesses. Brethren returning
from the "Glad Nations" Theocratic Assembly in the United
States brought stimulating information to the local brethren
about the world-wide expansion work and other blessings
received at the assembly, and a notice that there would be
two special representutives from the international conven-
tion to take part in the local program put even more en-
thusiasm into the preparation. Thousands of handhills and
special letter-invitations were purchased and stacks of plac-
ards and window signs were held in readiness. At the begin-
ning of the convention week Brother and Sister T. H. Sie-
benlist arrived and advertising began in earnest.
All religions here are generally agreed that there are
really three gods instead of one, their only opposers being
Jehovah's witnesses. How the old mother of the doctrine
llates to see her children learn of her lies! That hurts, but
it is almost more than she can bear to see them out pub-
lishing the truth to their former associates. One of the
brethren placed a Bible and a book in the door-to-door work
with a young man. Calling back in a month, the young man
told him that the family was radically Catholic and that
his father was going to destroy the books, but that his sister
had kept him from it. The family moved before the sister
could be contacted. After the Kingdom Hall was established
in the new location and a public meeting was being adver-
tised, the girl was located in the same block as the hall Hnd
she was still holding on to her books, and was anxious to
study. The family attended mass regularly and was espe-
cially devoted to a picture of l\Iary on the living-room wall.
The girl went to mass in the morning and to the public
meetings in the afternoon on As the study pro-
gressed Mary disappeared from the wall, the mass was
178 Yearbook
dropped, and every week for the last four months of the
service year this wide-awake girl has regularly published
the truth from door to door and in the magazine street work,
meeting her many Catholic friends and endeavoring to
awaken them also.
However, some of those brought up in Catholic families
never have been able to swallow religion's farcical rituals
and have had the fortitude to stand up against them because
they were wrong. While ad"ertising a public meeting a
publisher contaded a woman that had acquired "The Trutl!
Shall Make You Free" a year before, had read it, but ad-
mitted that she did not understand it. A study was arranged
and she began attending meetings. Her Catholic family and
close friends had a h n l ~ ' s looked upon her as a rebel because
she had accepted the Bible as the truth and refused to believe
that it was a sin to do so, as the "father" said it was. She
had been the target of Protestants as well, but had remained
free from organizational ties. Astounded at what she learned
in the studies, she began using her Bible on her friends to
convince them of the truth also, and read day and night
to learn more. Door-to-door work was hard for her and
street-corner work was harder, but she is now striving for
GO hours a month and has definitely joined the ranks of
those giving praise with their lips.
The final month of the service year came and went quickly,
but it proved to be the most blessed month of the entire
year. A series of four public discourses was arranged and
strenuously advertised by the company in Managua, bringing
a record attendance to one of the city's theaters. Several
new brethren came to help, and the fourth new peak, of 63
publishers, plus an all-time high of hours made Nicaragua
realize more than ever that the expaIlsion program was in
full force. Two more brethrf'n were imnlt'l'sell at the end
of the year and two others have filed applications to do
their part in the full-time service during the coming year.
NORWAY
Jehovah's witnesses in Norway are determined, by
the Lord's grace, to see that the message of the King-
dom is preached here. An outstanding thing in their
report for the year is the number of public meetings
they have had. They have pushed this work into every
nook and corner of the land-the big cities, the small
towns, the parks, outdoor meeting-pI aces-and with
good results. The people of Norway know of the
Yearbook 179
Kingdom and know that Jehovah's witnesses are de-
termined to preach the Kingdom message.
In the early part of the year there were certain ob-
stacles that stood in the way of progress, but as the
year moved along more people of good-will associated
themselves with the organization until a new peak was
reached in Norway, of 972 publishers. The brethren
in Norway are making a good comeback after their
difficulties of the war years. The Branch servant,
whom we sent to Norway from the Brooklyn Bethel
home, gives us the following report.
We had an average of 766 publishers, composed of men,
women and children of all ages and all walks of life. These
were scattered over this large land of Norway to the north,
south, east and west. Many of our companies are small in
number, often just one or two who are isolated somewhere
in the country; but they are dOing good service. What the
brethren needed most was instruction and guidance, and
this came to them with good effect through the servant to
the brethren work. It was in December that this new feature
was introduced into Norway. Four servants were appointed
to serve the 78 companies that were organized into circuits.
There were a number of conventions held during the year,
but the one looked forward to with the keenest interest was
the one held in Oslo where the American brethren, Brothers
Knorr and Henschel, were able to serve on their world tour.
Jehovah's witnesses in Norway put forth every effort to
attend this assembly, and were well rewarded. The travelers
had just finished attending an assembly in Stockholm, Swe-
den, after which they journeyed to Oslo, arriving in time to
serve that assembly well for two days. The public talk,
"The Joy of All the People," was attended by 1,446. How-
ever, Brother Knorr's talk based on the 13th and 14th chap-
ters of Romans, which was clearly and logically set forth,
was the one thing of the convention that the brethren best
remember. The Norwegian brethren no longer want to
worry about little personal matters, and the practical illus-
trations given in the talk helped them to understand better
the fact that the Kingdom interests must be sought first
and that loving one another is not just an expression but
something that has to be actually lived. These thoughts
were indelibly impressed upon our minds at the assembly.
Jehovah's witnesses in Norway have stressed particularly
the public meeting work and have put forth a real effort
180 Yea1'book
in this regard, There are one or two experiences that are
of outstanding interest.
Oue of the Oslo units had difficulty finding halls in their
territory for the talks; so they bought a public-address
system, This summer they went throughout their rural
territory holding public lectures in the city and town parks.
This has proved to be a very good way to hold lectures in
the summer in this country, because most of the people
spend their spare time in the open. At the different series
held during the summer months attendance lias been from
50 to over a hundred, with many more people in homes
around the parks listening in through open windows or while
sitting at leisure on their porches and doorsteps.
This same company, having obtained permiSsion from the
park department to hold public talks in a park of a small
town, had held one lecture. Placards had been set up around
town advertising the second talk in the series. One publisher
engaged in setting up these placards reported that all had
been torn down the next day only to be replaced by a
placard announcing a mass meeting of the townspeople to
discuss some political grievance they had. An investigation
was made with an effort to show the city fathers that they
were in the wrong by not gOing to the park department to
learn if the park was available for them. But no, "this is
our town and our park; we can do as we like with it." Not
desiring to stir up trouble, Jehovah's witnesses decided tl)
postpone their meeting two hours so that the town could
have their mass meeting. The faltering, hesitant town speak-
er behind a beer-case rostrum, talking over poorly-working
speaking equipment, drew a mass of bored public of 80
persons. At its close, the witnesses set up their speaking
eqUipment, folding speakers' stand of pleasing construction,
and announced they were ready to begin (by playing a beau-
tiful musical record), all in fifteen minutes' time. The Theo-
cratic-ministry-trained speaker held the inter('st of his au-
dience of nearly 100 to the close of his talk. How true the
words of wise counsel, 'If it be of God ~ ' o u cannot stop it:
Another interesting experience was related in a town
where a company had rented a hall for a series of four talks,
Two had been held, with attendance of 40 and 45, when the
hall manager phoned that his hall was no longer available
to Jehovah's witnesses. A pulllic-address system was bor-
rowed, a park across the street from the hall was obtained,
and advertising wl'nt on as usual, with hand bills and liter-
ature from door to door, while the publishers explained
what had happened. The attendance at the next meeting
increased to over 100, with many more listenIng from their
homes close by.
Yearbook
PANAMA
181
There arc 23 graduates of Gilead working in the
Republic of Panama and among the people in the
Canal Zone. The Branch office is in Panama city where
a missionary home has been established. Other mis-
sionary homes are located in Colon and in the interior
city of David. A marvelous work has been accom-
plished during the past year by these brethren along
with the company publishers and other pioneers who
are associated with them. Immediately after the "Glad
Nations" Assembly at Cleveland, Ohio, Brother and
Sister Siebenlist were sent through Central America,
visiting the Branch offices and holding conventions.
One of such assemblies was held in Panama, with good
success. The assistance these two brethren gave to the
publishers in Panama was greatly appreciated. Other
helps to the work in Panama were the new books
"Let God Be True" and "Eq1dpped for Every Good
lV ork", which are being readily received by the English-
speaking people. The report of the field-service work in
Panama which was furnished by the Branch office is
very interesting, and parts of it are published here.
Starting off expansion early in the "enice year, the com
pany in Panama city was divided into two units, Spanish
and English. 'rhe previous year the combined peak of pub-
lishers was 63, and this year the Spanish Uuit had a peak
of 26 publishers, while the English Unit had a peak of 80,
or a total of 106. 0016n, the secondlargest company in the
Republic, has also harl an increase in publishers, from 35 last
year to 61 this year. This increase is due largely to the work
of the Gilead graduates in these two cities the past two
years. The local brethren have co-operated splendidly in
rmtting Organization Instructions into effect both in their
field service and in their company meetings.
The Panamanians are very expressive both verbally and
with gestures in showing their appreciation for the light of
truth and freedom from the yoke of religion with its tra-
ditional mass and "purgatory" racket. A group of 8 to 14 of
those Who have corne out of the Catholic church have re-
cently begun to meet for a book study at the Branch mis-
sionary home in Panama city, where they love to exchange
experiences they had in the church. One woman who bad
182 Yearbook
once been wealthy told of the death of her cousin and how,
since their priest had often exhorted them to acts of charity,
she asked that he donate his services in a mass for her
cousin; but no, he could not do that, as he had too many
relatives he had to support. She told him she was not asking
for his money, only that he say mass, it would cost him
nothing. Still he could not, as the bishop would see by the
records that he had not reported cash received for his serv-
ices and would report it to the pope.
There has been no oppn opposition to the work except in
Colon, where a priest tried to get the owner of a hall used
for public meetings to deny us the use of it on the gl'ounds
that we are against the Catholics. The man refused, and
told the priest that it looked to him as though the Catholics
were against us.
Street magazine work in Panama c i t ~ ' and Colon is always
interesting, as these two cities are loeated on the famous
canal wllPre one meets people from all over the world.
Picture yourself on a Yen' narro,," sidewalk lined with
hundreds of vendors with their easels displaying lottery
tickets, and flanked by cantinas with juke boxes blaring
full blast, and thousands of people milling back and forth
looking for the "lucky" number among the lottery tickets,
or on their way into 01' out of a cantina; and you have a
picture of magazine work in Panama. Frequently you would
hear a passer-by say, "Why, Jehovah's witnesses are here
too," Never a dull moml'nt!
One man handed a magazine publisher a dollar and asked
that his subscription for The Watchtou;er be renewed. The
address given was in EI Salvador. Another man wanted the
subscription sent to his urother in England.
For some time we have desired to get some work started
in the interior of Panama, which includes all of the Republic
outSide of the cities of Panama and Colon and the Canal
Zone. David is the largpst City in the interior, and early in
the service year five Gilead graduates were sent to this
city to introduce the Kingdom message to these Spanish-
speaking natives, many of whom, under Romish religion,
have never seen a Bible. A missionary home was established
and the wOl'k of expansion began in David and surrounding
towns. Only one brother was conversant with Spanish, which
is spolwn exclusively in David; but, by the Lord's grace,
six months later all five were sufliciently well versed in
Spanish to be able to conduct the first Spanish circuit as-
sembly held in Panama, each taking un active part.
lUuch literature has been placed and a company organized
in David. As many as forty persons have attended the
Watchtower study and sen'ice meetings held in the mis-
Yearbook 183
sionary home: also, a series of public meetings bas been held
in the city's finest school.
Much of the territory there consists of adobe houses and
thatch-roofed bamboo huts called "bohios", the majority
of which are occupied by pigs and chickens as well as
humans. It is nothing unusual to be greeted at the door by
a fat, grunting pig tied by the neck to the leg of a bed or
table inside, or to ha\'e the study interrupted by the cackling
of a hen that has laid its egg in an open dresser drawer or
under some article of furniture in the house.
By working in these mountain villages, they have had
opportunity to observe real primitive life. They have eaten
their food prepared over open fires; slept in beds of canvas;
fought mosquitoes, and side-stepped snakes. They have
literally lived with these people and have come to know
their habits and customs. They now know that their reason
for putting a handkerchief between their lips before leaving
public meetings is to avoid taking cold; and that they burn
cow dung before their doors during a thunder storm to
keep the lightning away.
Since receiving instructions to work the rurals, a special
effort has been put forth in the Col6n area to do so ; and the
pioneers and company publishers have co-operated in getting
this done. On Sunday morning a group of publishers charter
a homemade bus called a "chiva". The publishers are let off
along the highway in pairs, to follow trails back through
the bush, as the jungle is called, and seek out the "sheep".
Very good results have been obtained. A study has been
started in one small settlement, which is attended by 20
to 25 persons who show much interest. Public meetings will
be started there soon.
Although there is much ignorance and superstition among
the people throughout Panama, enthusiastic publishers hope,
by the Lord's grace, to in time extend the Kingdom message
to the full limits of the republic.
PARAGUAY
This small semitropical country of vast forests and
many rivers started the service year with four grad-
uates from Gilead. During the year six more were sent
into the country to carry on the expansion work. Par-
aguay has had the oppressive hand of the Catholic
Church over it for centuries, but here again is another
nation that must hear the truth, and God's servants
have gone forth to disciple the people of this land.
184 Yearbook
Good progress has been made during the year, and
there is now an average of 34 publishers. With the
clergy and the revolutions in the country they have
had a difficult time, but Jehovah's witnesses have
pressed on faithfully in the expansion work. Some
excerpts from the Branch servant's report follow.
At the confessionals the clergy refused to give absolution
to the mailmen if they did not stop delivering the Society's
magazines Awake! and The Watchtou;er to subscribers liv-
ing in the capital, Asuncion. As a result, many of the So-
ciety's magazine subscribers did not receive their copies. To
overcome this move of the clergy to withhold the spiritual
food the Lord has provided for his people here in Paraguay
as elsewhere throughout the world, it became necessary for
the missionaries to deliver the magazines to all subscribers
living In the capital area, instead of having the city's mail-
men do it.
In the latter part of March of this year (1947) a revolu-
tion broke out in Paraguay, which lasted for six months.
Many of the people the brethren were calling upon for back-
calls and book studies have fled the country, because they
feared violence and imprisonment. Then, too, free movement
was very much restricted in the capital by reason of the
many soldier guards posted throughout the city. These
conditions restricted the brethren from making back-calls
and book studies upon those still remaining in the city.
During the greatest period of the revolution that was
raging in the country, the capital's transportation was nil_
Due to the opposing, rebelling Paraguayan army which had
the city blockaded, there was a gasoline shortage. Conse-
quently there was no bus service to be had, and the city's
18 dinky streetcars were crowded to capacity to care for
the capital's estimated 152,000 inhabitants. There were many
days, too, when even this extremely poor service was not
available to the populace.
From the above it can be seen that the brethren, especially
those residing in the capital, were obliged to overcome many
obstacles the Devil put in the path of Kingdom progress here
in Paraguay. Other difficulties that confronted the brethren
are the regular four-hour siesta which is observed daily
throughout Paraguay, the extreme religiousness of the
people, and the scorching tropical heat of the country. All
of these things proved rather trying at first to the mis-
sionaries who had recently arrived from the United States
to seek for the Lord's "other sheep" in Paraguay.
Yearbook 185
However, despite the difficulties, the past service year has
been a blessed one for the brethren who had the wonderful
privilege of serving the Great Theocrat, Jehovah, in this
iQolatrouS land, and some progress has been made in ad-
vancing the Kingdom interests.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
The land area of the Philippines consists of 7,083
islands. However, scattered throughout this vast ter-
ritory, there are only 7 cities with a population of
25,000 or more. Manila, the capital of the Philip-
pines, is now reported to have a popUlation of over
1,000,000 persons. There are now 178 companies or-
ganized which are being visited regularly by 10 serv-
ants to the brethren. There has been a splendid in-
crease during the year. In 1946 there was an average
of 1,033 publishers, while the 1947 service year had an
average of 2,471, with a peak of 2,902. Considering the
difficulties under which the Philippine brethren had to
operate during the war, the Lord has certainly blessed
them in gathering together the "other sheep".
A new Branch servant was appointed during the
year, a graduate from Gilead. The change was made
because a better organization had to be established in
the Branch office. The former Branch servant and his
family still remain in the office because they have
faithfully carried on their work. The report from the
Philippines for the year is very interesting, and parts
of it are herein set out.
American rule of the Philippine Islands for over forty
years has fostered a genuine love of liberty among the people
here. It has encouraged widespread education, with the
result that the Filipinos are among the most enlightened
people of the Far East. This has resulted, too, in a wide-
spread use of the English language. Last year the Phillp-
pines gained independence, but their form of government
closely resembles that of the United States.
Having tasted the educational advantages and freedoms
of a democratic form of government, the people of the
Philippines are, on the whole, very receptive to the message
of Jehovah's kingdom by Christ Jesus. Even those who have
186 Yearbook
not had educational advantages are eager to learn and will
take the time to discuss the Scriptures diligently.
The publishers of The Theocracy have been energetic and
resourceful in keeping the Kingdom message ever before
the people. In addition to the regularly arranged service
activities, two outstanding assemblies were held in Manila.
The first was the "Glad Nations" Theocratic Assembly,
December 18-20, 1946. This was our echo of your grand inter-
national assembly at Cleveland, Ohio, in August of the same
year. Upward of 5,000 heard the thrilling discourse on "The
Prince of Peace".
Then came the "Praise-giving Nations" Theocratic As-
sembly-from March 31 to April 2, 1947. This crowned the
year with Jehovah's goodness, because it was then that you
were here, Brother Knorr, with your companion, Brother
Henschel. The joy of the publishers was unrestrained. Clear-
cut counsel on organization and conduct in the field cleared
away many puzzling questions in the minds of the publishers.
Their vision of the Theocratic organization and its operation
throughout the earth was enlarged. The proper use of our
tongues was emp/lasized. Let them abound with the praise
of Jehovah! If we do that there will be no time or occasion
for finding fault with our brethren.
By your presence you prepared the way for the graduates
of Gilead School, who were to follow you. Three of these
landed at Manila on June 14. Two of these are now in the
servant to the brethren service and the other is in the office.
Another landed on July 20 and is also serving as a servant
to the brethren. These Gilead-trained servants to the breth-
ren are a great assistance to the companies in better organ-
izing for service.
In spite of the lack of dialect literature, the increase in
the work here has been so rapid that it is necessary to look
for new quarters for the Branch office. This presents a real
problem, as so much property was damaged during the war.
Manila was terribly wrecked. Its finest buildings are now
in ruins. Real estate has mounted sky-high in value. How-
ever, we trust in Jehovah to direct us in the selection of
quarters that will be both serviceable and becoming to the
blessed work in which we are permitted to engage.
This report would be incomplete without the experiences
of some of the Filipino servants to the brethren and pioneers.
The servants to the brethren have shown commendable faith
and courage in serving their brethren under hardships and
dangers. The Hukbalahaps, an organization of Filipino night
raiders, keep the countryside of central and northern Luzon
in a state of terror. They raided many villages in the past
months. They demand all the food and equipment they can
Yearbook 187
carry away with them, and refusal means death or having
one's home burned to the ground. Last week-end we received
a report from one of the servants to the brethren that the
village of Mayantoc was burned to the ground by raiders
who were after food and any other supplies they coull1 get.
The servants to the brethren in Luzon island are ever in
danger of these lawless elements. They face many hardships
in getting from one company to another and In working with
the company publishers, many of whom are very poor.
Their work has not been carried on without opposition
from the religious "goats". While visiting the company at
San Marcelino, province of Zambales, a servant to the
brethren gave a public discourse in the town plaza. The
mayor had issued a permit to use the plaza and the band-
stand. This happened to be located directly in front of the
Homan Catholic Church buildings. Upward of 200 were in
attendance, including the mayor, the chief of police and other
muniCipal officials. Students from the parochial school
lingered to hear the lecture. After the speaker had begun
his address the church bells began to make a great noise,
apparently to drown out his voice. Tile audience continued
to give rapt attention to the brother. Soon a priest in his
long robes was seen in the crowd trying to dissuade others
from listening further. All to no avail. When excerpts from
the works of Cardinal Newman were being cited and quoted
in support of statements made in the talk, the priest cried
out in a frenzy: "Stop! Stop!" At the same time he waved
his arms and clapped his hands. However, the mayor proved
to be a real man. He told the priest to cease disturbing an
orderly meeting, as a permit had been issued to use the
town plaza for that purpose. No amount of argument by
the priest would sway him and the meeting went on to a
successful conclusion.
With the circuit assemblies starting out the new service
year, we confidently look forward to a great increase. '1'l1i:;
is the time for expansion, and we know that Jehovah wiII
be with us no matter what the problems we face.
POLAND
Good advances have been made in Poland during
the 1947 service year. The work in every respect has
been better organized. This is due somewhat to the
meeting of the Branch servant with the president of
the Society when he made his trip through Europe
this past year. The Branch servant's report shows how
thr interest of the people of good-will continues to
188 Yearbook
grow. For example, there were 18,150 persons who
attended the Memorial service this year, to compare
with 12,401 the previous year.
Two graduates of Gilead are now working with the
Branch office, and their knowledge of Theocratic in-
structions has been a real help to the Branch organi-
zation and to the brethren throughout Poland. Ex-
cerpts from the Branch servant's report are very in-
teresting and show what the brethren have to contend
with in Poland.
The general situation in the country has improved con-
siderably. While the work at the Branch was interrupted
twice the previous service year because those at Bethel were
arrestt'd, this year we worked peacefully without disturb-
ance. In some cases whpre the brethren were arrestetl in
other territory, our personal intervention with the authori-
ties can sed them to be set free.
I had an interesting conversation in this connection with
a military prosecutor in the western part of the country
concerning the arrest of three of our brethren. one of whom
was a servant to the brethren. 'The brethren hatl been held
for about a month. After presenting the whole matter to him
and answering numerous questions, he seemetl satisfietl and
immediately telephoned for the release of the brethren. He
was very much interested in why our cobelievers do not
want to serve in the army. After showing our position in
reference to God's law, he clearly understood.
During the conversation, the assistant to the prosecutor
came in and, after receiving an adequate witness, testified
that he himself was in the Sachsenhausen concentration
camp together with Jehovah's witnesses and that they were
fine examples and the most honorable people he had ever
met in his life. It was indeed an extraordinary, sublime
moment, to hear from the mouth of the assistant prosecu-
tor such commendable words of acknowledgment and ap-
praisal of our brethren who had been in the concentration
camps. What wonderful fruits from the sufferings of our
brethren during the second world war!
This year the Lord's people in general had the oppor-
tunity of continuing the work of praising Jehovah's name,
because many of the Catholic Action forest bands decreased
in the country, due to the amnesty granted by the govern-
ment. Many people who were deceived by the Roman clergy
benefited by the amnesty and left the ranks of the Catholic
Action bands.
Yearbook 189
Thpre are persons who were previously leaders of such
robbing bands, and who inflicted horrible injury upon the
Lord's peopie at the beck of the clergy, who are at present
starting to become interested in the truth and who invite
the brethren to their homes for discussions and ask how
they might amend the harm they did to the people and our
brethren while under the command of Catholicism. It Is a
great wonder what the truth will do in the hearts of the
people if they will incline themselves to God's truth. Al-
though, before, they may have been comparable to rapacious
animals, now, because of the effect of the Lord's truth, they
are like sheltered sheep who do harm to no one, but reversely,
try to help others who are yet in darkness. Wonderful
indeed is the educational work which Jehovah God is con-
ducting at present in the earth by his witnesses.
The general instructions of the Society have been a great
blessing for the Lord's people here, pOinting out to them the
plain road and course to Theocratic victory. Many of the
more capable brethren did not return from the concentration
camps, and because of this the situation in the beginning
looked critical. The question was asked: In what way must
we approach the work In order to meet the great task ahead
of us? Then we were informed of the course in Theocratic
ministry which was already in progress in many countries.
Later, when we heard of the public meeting campaign,
which was also in operation in many countries, we did not
consider any difficulty exceptional to us in our country; so
we equally proceeded with the same campaign. In the be-
ginning it appeared to some of the brethren with good inten-
tions that the public meeting campaign could not be con-
ducted everywhere, but, after the company servants were
encouraged and strengthened, they went forth to this work
trusting in the Lord's help and guidance, and the results
were unexpectedly gratifying.
In connection with a convention, I must mention one
characteristic occurrence at the main meeting where I
showed the Lord's people the task lying before us and our
responsibility to the Polish people before Armageddon. At
this time the convention chairman handed me a small slip
with the information that two representatives of the
Bishop's Curia were present in the character of spies. This
information filled my heart with great joy, and I also ill.-
formed the Lord's people assembled of the presence of these
two representatives of the Hierarchy and pointed to where
they were sitting. I then clearly explained why the Hier-
archy hid the name of Jehovah before the eyes of the de-
ceived people and yet continued to pray: "Hallowed be thy
name!"
190 Yearbook
When I showed those present God's verdict which rests
upon the whole Hierarchy and cited these representatives of
the Hierarchy as before the judgment-throne of Jehovah
God for the purpose of receiving their sentence, then the
chief representative of the Bishop's Curia fainted, and one
of our sisters had to unfasten his collar, which was fastened
in the back, and give him something to recover. When he
regained consciousness again he slowly left our large hall
before the finish of the talk, and the children of our breth-
ren accompanied him peacefully to the street. This high
clergy representative had the opportunity of seeing the
good rearing of the children of our brethren who assisted
him peacefully, politely and respectfully, not like the Catho-
lic children who behave themselves like a pack of young
wolves when our publishers work their villages.
A great witness for the truth was our convention in Cra-
cow, were 7,000 Jehovah's witnesses and their companions
gathered, and during the public lecture the number in
attendance grew to 8,000 persons. In the river Vistula, which
lies oppOSite the ancient king's casUe "Wawel", 427 persons
were baptized and confirmed their readiness to do the will
of God. The convention was the largest one yet in Poland.
Another great event fur us was the government's permis-
sion for the importation of 250,000 copies of the booklet
Religion Reaps the Whirlwind and 7,500 copies of the book
"The 7'ruth Shall Make You Ft"ee". These were the first
publications of books and booklets we received from Brook-
lyn since 1938, and for this reason they caused great rejoic-
ing and enthusiasm among the Lord's people.
PORTUGAL
A few letters have come from brethren in Portugal in
recent years. During this past year it was possible to arrange
to send two of the Society's traveling representatives to
Portugal to meet with the brethren and give them instruc-
tion. There are several groups of brethren in Portugal and
they are doing what they can under conditions not so favor-
able for proclamation of the Kingdom message. There is
one registered company in Portugal that is organized and
doing good work. Interested persons throughout the country
are in touch with this group of consecrated brethren and
it appears that the Lord is blessing the gradual expansion
of service in Portugal. Every possible form of assistance that
the SOCiety can provide will be given to the brethren in
Portugal during the coming year.
Yearbook
RUSSIA
191
Ever since Russia took a portion of Polish territory, the
Polish office has tried to look after the brethren who are
living in Russian territory. It is usually a great chore for
a servant to present an annual report on a country, but re-
porting on Russia this year grieves my heart. The main
difficulty in Russia is not so much with the Russian author-
ities as with the Catholic Hierarchy, which is trying desper-
ately to crush Jehovah's witnesses throughout all of Russia.
The report on hand covers only eight months, but this
shows an average of 3,498 workers. Great persecution has
been brought to bear against Jehovah's witnesses because
of their preaching of the gospel, because they attend the
meetings and because they present the Bible or even leaflets
to the peopl!'. Anyone who declares himself to be one of
Jehovah's witnesses gets into difficulty. Many have been
brought into court and have had all of their possessions
confiscated-their property, homes, cows, horses-and then
they have been consigned to hard labor, usually for ten
years somewhere in the center of Russia. For being a min-
ister of the gospel they are punished in work camps. Words
are not adequate to describe their grievous sufferings. Most
of our brethren in Hussia, however, are located in the west-
ern Ukraine which formerly belonged to Poland, many in
Bessarabia, and some in central Russia; but, no matter where
they are, great persecution befalls them now.
A petition was prepared by Brother Knorr and Brother
Covington on behalf of the Russian brethren, and this was
to be presented to the officials in the land, requesting them
to give proper recognition to Jehovah's witnesses because
they are worshiping God in spirit and in truth and therefore
should be recognized the same as any other religious society.
Before this petition was ever presented to the government,
the material was seized by authorities within Russia and
confiscated. The brethren were brought into court, and
a time for trial has been set. It is hoped that all the infor-
mation in the petition can be brought out in the court, which
we believe will be beneficial to our brethren, showing that
they are not opposed to the state but that they want the
liberty to preach the gospel. Other copies of this petition
al'e being prepared, and it is hoped that eventually they will
reach Moscow so that our case can be accurately presented
before the government. Our brethren need relief, and every-
thing is being done that can be done to aid them.
It is impossible to gather a full year's report on Russian
activity, because of severe censorship in and out of Russia,
but we do rejOice with our brethren in the grand stand they
are taking. Our hearts are eager with readiness to help our
192 Yearbook
brethren in Russia, but for the time being we cannot do
anything but join in prayer, entreating the Lord to protect
his people in that land.
PUERTO RICO
When one reflects and sees that just a year ago
there were only 36 publishers in Puerto Rico, and that
now there is an average of 87, one must conclude that
expansion has taken place here. These good accomplish-
ments can be attributed to the fine work of the Gilead
missionaries who have gone into the territory. They
have learned the Spanish language, and after some
time have come to understand the people, even as the
natives of Puerto Rico are understanding the mission-
aries. They see the vast difference between religion
and true Christianity. :Many are forsaking the Catholic
organization and are now listening to the truth on the
radio and at public meetings. The report of the Branch
servant gives us a good picture of progress, and we
find hopes for the future.
Last year saw regular activity being carried on in just
two cities on the northern coast of this little Caribbean
island. Expansion took place during the 1947 service year
and the proclamation work was extended to take in some
fifteen different cities and towns throughout the Island.
In all ways it has been an eventful year. Our "Glad Na-
tions" Theocratic Assembly came quickly in October and
brought gladness and considerable 'l'heocratic advancement.
The talk "The Prince of Peace" was delivered in Spanish
in the beautiful School of Tropical Medicine to an audience
of two hundred. That morning eighteen new publishers had
been immersed in the blue ocean waters of the Atlantic.
Stimulated by the convention, the number of publishers in
the island jumped from 58 in September to 71 in October.
During the assembly we were happy to make contact with a
brother from Cayey, a small town up in the mountains, and
to learn, to our surprise, that he had been witnessing quite
regularly by talking and placing literature in his barber-
shop. A month later the Branch servant began spending
Sundays there working with him, and by March, when a
public meeting campaign was put on, seven were ready to
engage in the service. A newly enrolled pioneer brother was
later aSSigned there and a small company formed.
Yearbook 193
The radio program, broadcast free over two stations, still
continues to do a good work. Continually, persons are met
in different parts of the island who state that they are
already acquainted with the message, having heard the
radio program. During a public meeting campaign in a town
not far from San Juan a publisher was invited in by a
smiling lady who said she was glad for the call, having heal'd
the radio program for some time. After "sitting in" on the
unseen Bible studies presented in the program she now
longed for one in her own home and rejoiced when arrange-
ments were made for one. Another person of good-will, blind,
and an ex-radio man himself, first heard the message by
radio. Later contacted by a Gilead graduate and studied
with, he aided in arranging for a program to be broadcast
over a third station, one of the two most powerful in the
island. It should soon be carrying the Kingdom message to
many persons not only in Puerto Rico but to most of the
islands in the Caribbean area.
1'he outstanding feature of the work, however, has been
that of the public meeting campaign. All told, 61 public meet-
ings were put on this year, to compare with only 11 last year.
Twelve different towns were witnessed to by means of
these lecture series. 'l'he summel' campail-,'ll in outlying towns
proved to be a delightful arrangement bringing many ben-
efits. Many newly interested persons, timid about witnessing
in their home town, began to take part in the advertiSing,
Practically the only real opposition manifested thus far
has come from priests endeavoring to stop these public meet-
ings. Only once have they been successful in gaining a can-
cellation of our use of the meeting-place. In one section of
Santurce a series of eight lectures provoked the goatish
religionists to go throughout the area with printed placards
which they placed over the doors of many of the homes
and which read "No se moleste--SolllOS Cat6licos", meaning
"Don't trouble yourself-We are Catholics", One Gilead
graduate, on her way to make a back-caU on a young man
who had attended some of the lectures, noted several of these
signs on the houses. On arriving at the house of her back-
call she saw that he too had a Sign, But this one was dif-
ferent. Nicely made of wood and well printed, it read
"\Velcome to this house, All of Jehovah's witnesses",
Back in October, 1946, when we heard of the arrangement
whereby Brother Steelman would visit most of the companies
in the Caribbean area, we wrote you that we hoped to reach
a total of one hundred publishers in the island by the time of
his arrival. In July notice came of his visit to begin the fol-
lowing month and, happily, in that same month (July), 102
publishers reported. The last week in August he began visit-
194
Yearbook
ing the companies in Puerto Rico and with this additional
aid a new peak of 119 publishers was reached as a fitting
climax to the 1947 service year.
We gladly submit this year's report, happy that it is one
telling of expansion and progress and that it can be aoded
to that of scores of others to testify that multitudes now
respond when the call is given, "Oh praise Jehovah, all ye
nations." And praise Him we shall.
RUMANIA
The past service year has been by far the best ever
enjoyed by Jehovah's witnesses in Rumania. This,
in spite of serious and increasing difficulties. The
clergy of Rumania have done everything within their
power to stop the progress of the Lord's work. They
hate Jehovah's witnesses and are using strong-arm
squads and government agencies if they can to bring
about the stoppage of the proclamation of the King-
dom message. In spite of this opposition which is very
apparent to everyone who is seeking after truth and
righteousness, the work in Rumania goes grandly on.
The report of the Branch servant is very interesting.
It is impossible to publish all of his lengthy report,
but excerpts from it will give the reader some idea of
what is being done.
The number of companies has considerably increased in
the course of the year, namely, from 278 to 389. This shows
that the "other sheep" hear the Lord's voice and are being
gath{'red into his fold. Recently in a small town in eastern
Rumania there was a public lecture which was attended by
150 persons. After the lecture 50 of these handed in their ad-
dresses desiring to be visited by Jehovah's witness{'s In O1'dp1'
to l{'u1'n more about Goel's truth and kingdom. There are at
present more people of good-will coming to a knowledge of
the truth than ever before. 'fhe brethren are systematically
working the territory. They shun no effort in carrying the
truth from village to village and from town to town. It
happens that they walk barefoot up to 60 miles in order
to advertise the public lecture in a place where there are no
witnesses yet or but a very few. Experience has taught them
that if they undertake to advertise and hold a public lecture
when there are only two or three, the clergy often succeect
in intimidating their parishioners to such an extent that
they do not attend, but when such parishioners see other
Yearbook 195
people attending the lectures then they go too. Therefore
the brethren help each other as mentioned above; they do
not mind walking barefoot 20, 40 and up to 60 miles in order
to help advertise a public lecture. This means that they
leave about midnight and arrive in the evening of the same
day at their destination. The second day is then used in ad-
vertising the lecture and distributing the literature; when
the lecture is over they start again on their journey home.
Some of them use a horse and cart, but most travel on foot.
Of course, they cannot do this every week-end, but they can
do it once in a while; and so they are giving sometimes two
or three or even four lectures on the same Sunday, each
lecture being delivered by another speaker and lasting about
45 minutes.
The Rumanian Orthodox clergy, the same as the Roman
Catholic clergy, always support the power of the day. Dur-
ing the war it was Hitlet' and Antonescu against Russia;
now they show their complete willingness to take the side
of those whom they fought against during the war. And if
tomorrow there should be a new regime, then they would
qnickly swerve over to that side if it suited their purposes
and interests. They have never acted in accordance with
Jesus' wordS, 'Ye cannot serve two masters'; no, they are
ready to serve another master every day, thus showing that
they have never been the servants of Almighty God, but
servants of the "prince of this world". And the end of tile
Devil's worId will also be their own.
An outstanding event of the past service year was the
convention held on September 28 and 29, 1946, at Bucharest.
On the first day 3,400 brethren attended it from all parts of
the country, representing many different nations, and at the
public meeting Sunday afternoon, which took place in the
Roman Arena, we had 15,000 in attendance. In connection
with this convention, the Rumanian State Railways had
agreed to place at our disposal a special train, but a train of
a kind that would hardly be used for this purpose in any
other country on earth. It was comprised of 43 goods trucks
such as are used for transporting cattle and other commodi-
ties, but Jehovah's witnesses who traveled in these vans
were just as happy and joyful as though they had been
traveling in an American first-class Pullman. To them it
was the first national convention ever held in Rumania, and
therefore it was a unique experience.
From all the experiences we have had in Rumania since
God's truth is being proclaimed in this land, we knew that
the clergy would try their utmost to strike a deathblow at
this convention, but Jehovah's power through his reigning
King was manifest from the very beginning of this assembly.
196 Yearbook
The first one to start the storm of applause at the conclusion
of the first discourse was the chief of the state police hIm-
self, who was there with a large number of gendarmes, and
many of these followed their leader in approving what they
had heard. The police were cognizant of the purpose for
which they had come there, and so they were very much
surprised themselves at this unexpected turn of events. Some
of them stated to the brethren that their commission had
undergone a change within the very first hour of this assem-
bly, a change for the better for Jehovah's witnesses, a change
In the right direction. The clergy gnashed their teeth In vain.
The Lord's spirit, his invisible active force, was operative
in a still further capacity among his assembled people.
During the war years some difficulties had arisen between
some of the brethren in Humania, and a number of them had
come to this assembly with mixed feelings. But Jehovah
showered down such bountiful blessings upon his consecrated
people that all were swept along by the tide of this manifest
blessing and thereby the Lord himself brought about greater
unity, peace and harmony among his people in Rumania,
which made our hearts glad. This has had lasting effects,
and ever since we have had a better spiritual condition
among the brethren in our land
We also deeply appreciated that the brother from Berne,
and who was able to visit us as your representative, spoke
to us on the very things that you, Brother Knorr, as well
as Brothers Franz and Covington, dealt with at the Zurich
convention. Thus it was as though you were speaking to us,
and we are very grateful to the Lord for all these serious
but kind and Scriptural exhortations that were conveyed
to us.
SOUTH AFRICA
The Society has a Branch office in Cape Town in
the Union of South Africa, and this office directs the
work in Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, Nya-
saland, Portuguese East Africa, St. Helena and Tan-
ganyika, as well as looking after the interests of the
Kingdom in the Union of South Africa. Depots have
been established in certain of these countries, and re-
ports of the work are sent in to the Union of South
Africa. A wonderful increase has taken place in the
work in South Africa during the past year. There are
2,400 more publishers who are now serving the inter-
ests of the Kingdom than formerly. All together 974
Yearbook 197
companies have been organized in this vast territory.
This year a peak of publishers was reached of 20,003,
to compare with last year's peak, which was 16,128.
There is probably no other country just like South
Africa. It has its modern cities, while not too far
distant there are primitive kraals of straw-and-mud
huts, with vast areas of open veld and forests in which
all manner of wild game roams. The thousands of
publishers in South Africa have traveled through this
great territory devoting 5,155,000 hours to the field
service, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom to the
white and colored alike. The Branch servant's report
on the different countries gives a very interesting view
of the work.
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA
In October we had our Cleveland Extension Assembly at
Johannesburg. This was the first national convention for
several years, and the first six-day convention ever held in
South Africa. When we planned it we had hoped that you
might be with us; but, as this could not be, we made good
use of the Cleveland material and crowded as much as we
could of the 8-day program into the six days at our disposal.
In all, some 800 European brethren and 2,500 African breth-
ren were present, from all parts of the Union.
The new circuit arrangement came into operation in Feb-
ruary and the Union was divided into 14 circuits. A Gilead
graduate of the fifth class has been serving as district serv-
ant, and his ministry has been appreciated. Jehovah's bless-
ing has rested on the circuit assemblies, and the publishers
have made a good effort to support them. In Zululand some
of the African publishers walked 78 miles to the assembly
pOint and 78 miles home again. They were 5 days on the
road both coming and going. The zeal of many of these
friends is really remarkable and it does one's heart good to
see their eagerness to learn and take to heart the instruction
received.
At some of the African public meetings the interest has
been quite exceptional. An African servant to the brethren
who had been sent to organize a new company,gave a public
lecture on August 17. The attendance was 173, nearly all
new interest. He writes: "At the end there was a big rush
for Sesuto publications. I had only 36 volumes, Lira
(Enemies). They quickly went and the people wanted more.
After the lecture those present went away to invite others to
198 Yearbook
come to hear the trutb. At 3 p.m. I had to deliver a second
public lecture. At 5 p.m. another large group came to the
hall and earnestly asked me to repeat the talk as they had
heard from the 3 o'clock group that the truth was being
spoken In that hall. So from 6 to 7 p.m. I gave the talk for
the third time that afternoon. Brethren, there is certainly a
great work to be done in this town."
During the past service year seven brethren from this
country had the great privilege of receiving Gilead training
with the eighth class. All of them benefited greatly by
the experience and instruction received, and now, better
equipped, they find joy in sharing once again in Kingdom
activity in this part of the earth. It is hoped that they
are but the advance guard of many more, both European
and African, who will yet enjoy all the advantages to be
derived fro.m a course at that institution of highest learning.
NORTHERN RHODESIA
The .most conspicuous Incident that marked the almost
instantaneous .move forward of the work was at Mumbwa.
Here, for years there had been a government official in
charge who had, by every .means pOSSible, ha.mpered the wit-
ness work; imprisoned the publishers; broken down the Bible-
study shelters; broken up the Bible-study meetings, and gen-
erally done the work of his father well. But he had been
warned in a letter that ill treatment of a people In their
worship would be his undoing; and Jehovah was true to his
word. The magistrate was fined for illegal conduct and made
the subject of much official adverse and public comment,
and he was replaced by another whose attitude was fair
and just and in the highest tradition of British administra-
tion. The depot servant visited the district almost imme-
diately and there met, by arrangement. all the chiefs and
counselors at their quarterly meeting. The district commis-
Sioner, who had seen the huge study meetings of Jehovah's
witnesses at an assembly for two days prior to the arrival
of the chiefs, said to them: "Has your opposition to these
people stopped them?" And the chiefs wagged their heads
and admitted that it had not. "Has it done any good?" No,
it had not. "Suppose," said the rlistrict commissioner, "that
instead of persecuting and punishing these people you try
to help them, and today hear their representative to see
what he can do to assist you get over your own real and
legitimate difficulties with those of Jehovah's witnesses who
have acted wrongly toward you."
A meeting that had commenced with angry resentment
against Jehovah's witnesses ended in a victory for the Lord,
and for an hour our work was patiently explained to a
Yearbook 199
packed courtroom. Effectual control, impossible with the
previous magistrate, was readily promised, and in response
permission was granted for the erection of study centers
throughout the district. That night, two chiefs came to the
camp where the assembly was being held and said that
with the old official gone there would be no more trouble;
and today, twelve months later, the whole of the district is
spread over with little grass or stronger shelters and the
headmen are to be seen attending regularly. Fourteen of
them had come to tell the chiefs of their devotion to
the Lord's organization at their big indaba; today that
number could be multiplied many times. 'rhe European
missionary near by has been so impressed by the zeal and
conduct of Jehovah's witnesses that he is reading some of
our Kingdom literature. and. much to the chagrin of some
of his mission folk, and in spite of protests, he visits the
local company servant and encourages with his own people
freedom for our message, and witnessing for his own church
members.
But the above is no isolated case. When the European
minister of the London Missionary Society arranged to hold
a large morning service at one of his churches in the Ka-
wambwa district he left his home early and on his way to
the church he saw great numbers of people on the road
hurrying the same way with Bibles in their hands. He was
naturally pleased and hoped for a crowded church; when he
got there he found a woman and a child. He went out and
began walking around the church waiting for the people
he had left behind on the road to arrive, but for an hour
he waited fruitlessly. He made inquiries as to who were the
people he had seen on the road coming in his direction, and
was informed that they were Jehovah's witnesses going to
their witness work and study. At the afternoon service he
openly admitted the excellence of the example they had
shown and expressed his admiration for their zeal in the
proclamation of their message. Whole villages have turned
to the truth, and the established missions, except for th<'ir
school and medical work, are losing ground. The Lord is
with his people.
NYASALAND
The governD)ent of this country continues to obstruct the
importation of Kingdom literature. Representations made by
the SOCiety to the Colonial Office in London during the year,
calling attention to the unjust treatment received, had some
effect. The governors of the four British territories that
go to make up the East African bloc (Northern Rhodesia,
Nyasaland, Kenya and Tanganyika) have been called upon
200 Yearbook
by the Colonial Office to make a joint recommendation con-
cerning the Watchtower Society and Jehovah's witnesses.
In making such recommendation they have been requested to
keep two things primarily in mind, namely, (1) the prin-
ciple of freedom of worship for all, including Jehovah's
witnesses, and (2) that prohibitions similar to those now
existing in these lands have been withdrawn in every other
part of the Empire. The good record of Jehovah's witnesses
in these lands during recent years should have been sufficient
to prompt an immediate removal of all restrictions, but,
instead of taking such just action, the recommendation is
withheld pending an examination of all the Society's litera-
ture! We have protested against this procedure; for the
literature was examined before the bans took place. We
are now awaiting a reply to our latest protest. Meanwhile
the public meeting campaign is being pushed to the limit.
Back-calling and public meetings bring forth good results
and cause the supporters of religion no end of worry. Des-
perate and strenuous efforts are made by the clergy and
their church elders to clOse the doors and the ears of the
people to Jehovah's witnesses both in the back-call work and
in the public meeting campaigns that are doing so much to
help the people to see, and to shatter into so many pieces
too, religion's lies. A typical example of what often occurs
may be of interest here to relate:
The usual vigorous advertising by word of mouth and by
notices pinned up on trees in the villages brought to the
meeting place some 300 persons. It was an open-air meeting
held next to the main village-road under some of the many
shady mango trees that pattern the countrysi(Ie. As the
songs began still more people dropped along to listen, and
the talk began. About halfway through, 10, along
the road comes the local clergyman pushing his cycle. Un-
fortUnately for him he happened to be paSSing just as
Micah 3: 11 was being read out and promptly concluded
that the speaker was referring to him personally. This so
offended him that he reported to the village headman that
Jehovah's witnesses are 'telling the people that I am robbing
them of their money'; and that they must not be allowed
to hold any more public meetings in the villages. The
village headman called in the brethren, who explained the
whole matter clearly nnd asked that the clergyman be called
in as well to hpar the full story. But no, the headman was
not having any. As a matter of fact he went so far as to
rule that Jehovah's witnesses stop holding public meetings
and that they confine their studies to their own homes. This
ruling Jehovnh's witnesses, of course, could not accept, so
they took the matter to the next-highest native court, where
Yearbook 201
the chief reversed all that the headman had ever said
and added a rider that anyone from now on found troubling
Jehovah's witnesses would be fined 5. That squashed all
would-be Nimrod-minded folk and, by the time everything
was finally ironed out, some 50 Interested persons had taken
their stand as active publishers of The Theocracy.
We are all looking forward to the time when the literature
will once again be available for distribution, knowing that
when that time does come it will be one of great rejoicing
and will take the country as a flood of waters. For the
people have not forgotten the petition, and often ask "What
has happened to the books?" Yes, there are many friends in
this compact little country of the Nyasa, and many of them,
too, will come out to jOin the present happy throng singing
the praises of the Most High.
PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA
In the midst of an ignorant, down-trodden race of people
there is to be found an ever-Increasing company of torch-
bearers of Kingdom light assisted and led by two pioneers
who, with the Theocrat's blessing, have been Instrumental in
locating many people of good-will and of righteous-minded
disposition and In instructing them in Theocratic learning
and service requirements. These brethren have traveled the
paths of the forests bordering the banks of the crocodile-
infested Zambezl river, enduring much bodily discomfort
and hardship in order to take the glad tidings to the villages
strung In continuous lines along Its banks.
In their activities the pioneers once again met up with the
officer who, last year, ordered that they be beaten. Upon
meeting up with them for the second time, he said: "Do
you not know that I recognize you?" "Yes," replied the one
brother. "You arrested us and threw us into gaol to be
beaten." After they looked at him somewhat intently, the
officer (who was accustomed to having others servile before
him) must have been Impressed at their calm fearlessness,
and said, 'All right, carryon with your work of preaching.
I do nQt want to stop you.' These pioneers, too, always seem
to be "just escaping" being collected and sent off to the
labor camps where a new railway line is being pushed
along. When labor is in short supply the people simply have
no choice that they can call their own. Government trucks
are sent round to the villages, and any male found either
on the road or In his village is picked up and that is the
last his family sees of him for the next twelve months. As
a result many people flee into the bush when they get warning
of such movements. And, of course, at times they mistake
the harmless light-bearers of The Theocracy to be govern-
202 Yearbook
ment lcapitaos sent to round them up for labor. So it is
that our brethren have to hunt them out in the bush in quite
literal fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy of 'hunting them
out from every mountain, and from every hill'.
ST. HELENA
The seventeen publishers on St. Helena sent regular re-
ports to the Cape Town office covering the first four months
of the present service year.
SOUTHERN R H O D E S ~
To facilitate the prompt handling of orders a depot was
opened in Southern Rhodesia July 1. This forward step has
been a source of encouragement to expansion minded pub
lishers in that land. There is a real need for three or four
Gilt-ad graduates to help out in Southern Hhodesia.
The lifting of the ban on our publications about the end
of last service year, imposed at the outbreak of the World
War, brought much joy to the Lord's people in Southern
Rhodesia. Preparations to make use of the literature in
expanding Theocratic activity were immediately undertaken.
There was no difficulty in getting supplies into our country.
Having in mind, however, that for nearly seven years the
house-to-house witnessing had been done mainly by word of
mouth with the Bible in hand always ready to "prove all
things", it is easily appreciated that organized methods of
preaching the gospel message with our literature were not
well understood by most of the companies in the country.
Servants to the brethren, under the old system of visiting
the groups, did much good work in aSSisting the publishers
to preach and teach, but they could not take the place of the
Informant, Organization Instructions, The Watchtower, and
other instructive publications issued by the Society. The
lifting of the restrictions did not overcome the difficulty of
putting the companies on an organized basis; rather it had
only just begun. Getting study material to the witnesses
was relatively a simple matter, but to help the African
brethren to understand what is written in a language other
than their own is a real problem, especially as the majority
of Africans are practically illiterate.
TANGANYIKA
Following World War I Britain was given a mandate
over this former German colony. There are some 10,000
Europeans and six million Africans in a territory covering
360,000 square miles. The natives of the land are divided
into 85 tribes, grouped under nine classes.
The work done during the year has been done by African
witnesses, of whom there are now 200 spread over eight
Yearbook
203
companies. Religious organizations a.re strongly represented
and the brethren have encountered considerable opposition.
They have pushed ahead, however, and the Lord has pros-
pered their work.
Closer supervision within the territory and literature in
Swahili are essentials if the expansion work is to go forward
to the best advantage and for the proper feeding of the
Lord's "other sheep" in that land. We pray the Lord of the
harvest to make the necessary provision in due time.
SPAIN
This country is still in a difficult situation in the
world. Economic conditions are not good and the
common people suffer want of many necessities of life.
The people need the comfort that comes only from an
accurate knowledge of Jehovah's purposes. During the
past year an effort was made to contribute toward the
expansion of the proclamation of the good news in
Spain. Two of the Society's representatives made a
brief visit to the Iberian Peninsula. It was possible
to arrange for the forming of four company organiza-
tions in Spain. Instruction and suggestions were given
to the Spanish brethren and they have now begun to
study regularly and give the verbal witness in the
near-by communities. Literature for study is very
limited; but it is good to briefly report here that there
has been some advance in Theocratic activity in Spain
during the past year.
SURINAM
Good progress has been made in this possession 0:1'
the Netherlands during the past year. The people of
Surinam desire freedom, as do all people of the world,
but all they have is hollow promises. Jehovah's wit-
nesses are bringing many people in that land comfort
through the Word of God. More missionaries were sent
there during the year. A fine company has been or-
ganized in Paramaribo, and here again we have people
who are being made glad with Jehovah's witnesses.
204 Yearbook
During the year some work was started in French
Guiana, and the Branch in Surinam has been looking
after this interest. The servant includes the report of
this country in with the Surinam report.
The Kingdom news has gone to the remote places of the
land. Even the Djukas have heard about the established
Kingdom. Djukas are the descendants of the runaway slaves
who now live in the jungles. Their religion is idol worship
which their ancestors brought from Africa. A brother who
speaks the Djuka language has been giving public lectures
in a soldier barracks where the Djukas assemble when
they come to Paramaribo.
In October four Gilead graduates arrived to aid the
already publishing brethren. Since their arrival the gospel-
preaching has increased and progressed. New ones have
come to the knowledge of the truth; older ones who had
long ago heard of the truth became more active.
In November, Brother Steelman visited Surinam for the
first time. What joys and privileges were extended to the
brethren! He first served the Paramaribo company. He
went to each person of good-will and each publisher and
requested them to join in the work. A public lecture was
advertised, "The Prince of Peace," with more than 150 at-
tending the lecture. Later he went to serve the Nieuw
Nickerie company and the same talk was advertised, with
115 attending. The servant to the brethren visit was a
provision of Jehovah which arrived at just the right time.
The brethren hope that such a visit will be repeated in the
near future.
A Glad Nations Theocratic Assembly was held in Decem-
ber. Handbills and placards for stores as well as personal
invitation were the means of advertising. This was the first
time that street magazine work was done in Paramaribo.
The people flocked around the publishers to know the mean-
ing of this strange work; and 103 magazines were placed
by the publishers in less than one hour. The public meeting
"Fearless Against World Conspiracy" had an attendance
of 213.
FRENCH GUIANA
The work has expanded to French Guiana. Two brethren
went to French Guiana in January. While contacting the
people in St. Laurent the brethren were told 'there is a man
farther up the river who speaks just like you'. The brethren
hired a car to seek tbis man, and, sure enough, there they
found a man who had come from Guadeloupe and he was
giving public lectures. He hadn't any literature; but he was
Yearbook 205
not quiet about the Kingdom. His greatest foe was the priest.
who was busy warning the people not to listen to what this
"crazy man" has to say. When the brethren returned to
Paramaribo, they brought the French brother along. In Para-
maribo he learned how the studies were being conducted
and the progress of the work.
In April the French brother together with a Surinamer
returned to St. Laurent with a large supply of literature.
Now one pioneer brother is still preaching the gospel In
Cayenne. In one month he reported 18 back-call book studies.
SWEDEN
During the years of war the nation of Sweden was
in a very prosperous condition. Today a certain
amount of depression has hit the country, and various
restrictions are placed upon the people because of the
financial condition of the country. While Sweden is
still a very prosperous country and one of the most
blessed as far as this world's goods are concerned, still
the people are beginning to feel a decline. This con-
dition has been advantageous to the Lord's people,
because it has softened the hearts and minds of the
people, and they are hearkening to the word of the
Lord. Until now they have been more or less haughty
and high-minded, but many persons are now beginning
to see that even Sweden can feel the effects of war
and that war does not bring prosperity, but sorrow,
grief, and continued selfishness. The brethren have
done very well during the year in their field service,
and the Branch servant sets out an interesting report
on their activity.
When the service year 1947 had just begun there was
"a call going out through the len/!th of the land", Inyiting
Jehoyah's witnesses and their companions to gather together
in convention. That was the Glad Nations Assembly which
was going to be duplicated here, according to the directions
of the Society. There had been no general assembly since
the beginning of World War II, and hence all the friends
made eager preparations to go.
After that convention we were confidently expecting a new
peak of publishers pretty soon; and we would probably
have gotten it, had it not been for the heavy epidemic of
206 Yearbook
fiu that swept the country for more than three months. It
started in some parts early in December and culminated in
February, when its ravages even caused the streetcar service
in this town to become greatly restricted because of lack of
employees to man the cars. During that month we reached
a bottom figure for publishers, 2,545. But by April we had
regained strength and even managed a new peak of 3,092.
That was the first time that we passed the 3,000 mark. And
since then we have kept above it, except for the great va-
cation month of July; but in August the reports showed
3,073 publishers in the field.
'l'he reason for the peak in April was, of course, the
special arrangements in connection with the Memorial, which
were much appreCiated. At the Memorial celebration 4.700
gathered together, and, of these, 384 partook of the emblems.
Another reason for the increase in number of publishers
in later months, and espeCially for their being more back-
call- and book-study-minded, is the new circuit arrange-
ment, which was introduced here in the middle of February.
When starting out in the circuits some of the servants to
the brethren were a bit nervous as to how the friends would
react to the servant's staying with them for a whole week,
in view of the rationing and other difficulties due to postwar
conditions, not the least among these being the housing
difficulties and lack of space in most homes where families
of several persons have to crowd into one or two rooms.
But all their fears were dispelled by the hearty welcome re-
ceived, and in some cases the brethren have said that one
week is far too short a visit.
The model service meeting and Theocratic school on the
first night of the assembly is one treat that is highly appre-
ciated because of the impulses there given for the home
front where, due to lack of competent brethren, these meet-
ings have often tended to become dull or lifeless. In con-
nection with the school it is worth mentioning that, although
the Swedes are generally slow of speech and backward in
expressing themselves before an audience, there has been
some really good progress made. One company servant re-
ports about a young boy of ten who greatly surprised the
older ones: "A boy of ten years gave a 6-minute talk a
fortnight ago on the subject of 'Paradise' which was really
very good. It is a pity that we may not count on him for
a public speaker for several years yet!"
That age in itself is no hindrance in the service is shown
also in the case of one sister, of whom it was reported
ill the local daily that she was out with our magazines in
the street work during the week when she reached 100 years
of age.
Yearbook
207
One line of witnessing that lay idle during the war when
harbors were closed to people in general has now been resur-
rected, viz., visiting the ships calling In the harbors. In some
of these quite a number of books have been placed with
foreignspeaking sailors, and also among Swedish sailors
many good testimonies have been given.
There are many proofs that the religious leaders are
getting more and more envious of the zeal and energy dis-
played by Jehovah's witnesses. The magazine Church ana
Home wrote to all of their subscription canvassers: "Es-
pecially in the towns and villages you will please try all
ways and means possible in order to make your canvassing
etrectlve. We need more of the spirit of 'up-and-at-them' and
of persistence that is animating Jehovah's witnesses." An-
other church paper made the following significant statement:
"How Is it that Jehovah's witnesses have been able to get
such a fo!lowing? Must it not be because the Church has
been keeping quiet about all that which is actually stated in
Holy Writ regarding the return of Christ and what is
then going to take place1 We have been ashamed of it; we
have not believed it, to tell the Simple truth."
Those young brethren who are reaching military age are
being called up, according to conscription law, as usual,
and those who refuse to serve are being sentenced to prison
terms. In some cases the brother has just got out of prison
when they meet him with a new order to report for enlist-
ment, and so it goes on and on, the sentence becomes higher
every time. There are, on the other hand, officials who have
changed their attitude altogether. In one case even the
prosecutor himself, after having listened to the brother's de-
fense, turned right about and started to defend him instead
of prosecuting, stating that the boy was honest and whole-
hearted, and suggesting that there is no war now. The court-
martial tried to get the boy out of trouble by ordering him
to be mentally examined, but the doctors regretted after
their investigation that they could not declare him off his
mind, nnd so he hnd to be sentenced. He got the smallest
penalty, however, that has ever been given any of our
brethren.
In this report, just as it was at that marriage feast at
Can a in Galilee, "the best wine" will be set forth last. And
thus the unique thing happens that the annual report opens
with the record of a big convention and concludes with one
of a still bigger and better convention, both held within the
same service year. For twenty-two years we bad not had the
privilege of having a convention with the president of the
Society, and hence, when Brother Knorr made arrangements
208
Yearbook
to visit Sweden in connection with his around-the-world tour,
this news was received with great joy.
During his visit Brother Knorr gave much helpful instruc-
tion and advice regarding the organization of the work and
conditions at the Branch, and we all felt grt'Utly refreshed
and built up by his presence with us, only regretting that
the time was so limited.
SWITZERLAND
The witnesses of Jehovah in Switzerland have had
many problems to overcome. One of the biggest was
that of freedom of worship. By the Lord's grace, the
publishers today are going forward as the true min-
isters of God, taking a stand definitely for the King-
dom and declaring themselves to be ministers of the
Most High. It is at Berne, Switzerland, that the So-
ciety operates its own printing plant, and during the
year much literature was printed here, not only for
Switzerland, but also for many European countries
where literature was needed. The report of the Branch
servant is very interesting, and excerpts from this re-
port are published here.
During this service year we had two general assemblies,
both in the beautiful Convention Hall of the ZUrich House
of Arts. The first convention (from tile 14th to 16th of Sep-
tember, 1946) was a reflection of the grand Glad Nations
Theocratic Assembly in Cleveland and the second (from
23rd to 26th of May, 1947) was made outstanding by the
presence of the president of the Society, Brother Knorr, and
several of his closest coworkers, Brothers li'ranz, Covington
and Hcnschel. 'l'his was the first convention in Switzerland
since the year 1936 to be favored by the personal assistanee
of the president. It can therefore be wel! understood that
the brethren looked forward to this assembly of the Lord's
people with particular expectation.
All the discourses of. the brethren from Brooklyn were
followed with rapt attention by the nearly 3,000 convention
attenders. The high-light of the convention, however, was
the heart-to-heart speech delivered by Brother Knorr Sunday
afternoon. As a good father counsels his children so, kindly
yet in unmistakable terms, he laid before the brethren as-
sembled the things which had not been done in complete
harmony with the Lord's work and which needed correction.
Relieved and with gratitude the brethren received the an-
Yearbook 209
nounced new line of action and magnified Jehovah for
his gracious and loving leadership.
Brother Knorr dealt mainly with the question of our
oilice as ministers of the gospel and our absolute neutral
attitude toward this old, unrighteous world.
BE'fore the convention Brother Knorr spent several days
with Brother Henschel in the office in Berne, where he gave
us much counsel and many good suggestions as to how the
work might be done more efficiently and with less personnel
in order that further coworkers might be made free for the
pioneer service or to attend the Watchtower Bible School
of Gilead.
Following the convention the number of circuits was In-
creased to five and the number of servants to the brethren
likewise was increased from two to five. After fourteen days
of instruction in the new working method the five servants
to the brethren left for their respective territories and,
traveling from company to company, introduced the brethren
into the new way of handling the "sword of the spirit",
From all sides enthusiastic echoes reached us. We have e\'ery
reason to hope that un improvement may be expected in
every avenue of the Kingdom service, especially in increase
in number of publishers. From the tabulation of the service
year 1947 it can be seen that the monthly average of pub-
lishers has r i s ~ n from 1,469, in the former year, to 1,512,
namely, by 43 publishers. The first two circuit assemblies,
which were already arranged in March, 1947, were most
enthusiastically supported, and these, without doubt, have
contributed favorably toward this end, and we are certain
that these circuit assemblies will be still more invigorating
and instructive in the future.
A small company located in the mountains reported a very
happy experience. It was the first time that the public
lecture campaign had been started with a powerful witness
on the streets. This was something quite novel for these
mountain villagers. Many observed with great interest the
witness act'ivity, took the magazines and inquired regarding
the aims and purposes of our work. During the course of
this campaign five persons of good-will joined this company
and participated in carrying this glad message from house
to house for the first time. Outstanding among them is a
young boy who is hard of hearing, but who with surprising
rapidity expressed the desire to be allowed to accompany one
of the publishers into the service. At the doors he watched
attentively the lips of the witness of Jehovah in order to
carE'fully follow what he said. It was not long before he
decided to go alone although he was almost deaf and "slow"
of speech. Imagine the amazement of the publisher as he
210 Yearbook
watched the boy at a few doors and heard the simple and
clearly spoken words coming from a fnll heart.
In her service from house to house on the occasion of a
circuit assembly in a smaller town with a predominant
Catholic population, a sister came to the office of the can-
tonal police. She was able to give a good witness to the
police officer on duty there. He listened gladly to the message
and then accepted a booklet and magazine. Then he gave the
sister various addresses asking her to visit these people that
they too might learn of this grand message. Only a few
years ago we sometimes had much opposition by the police
in our preaching worl{ In this town.
Furthermore, the Lord's people in Switzerland joyfully
took the opportunity of demonstrating in a material way
their love toward their oppressed fellow publishers abroad.
And they abundantly experienced the truth of the words of
Solomon when he said: "The liberal soul shall be made fat:
and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."
The relief campaign of 1946-47 comprises 444 cases of
clothing and househOld articles with a net weight of 24,504
kilograms (54,OOO pounds) and a gross weight of 32,362 kg.
The help of the brethren and friends of this small country
of Switzerland both in a spiritual (Bible enlightening liter-
ature) and material way since the enu of the war when
reckoned in money value amounts to 262,904 Swiss francs.
URUGUAY
Splendid advance has been made in this country of
South America. A number of years ago there were
very few publishers in the land, but, due to the ar-
rangement of the Society whereby a large number of
graduates from Gilead were sent to Uruguay, there to
open up missionary homes, marvelous progress has
resulted. The report speaks for itself. Even though
most of the people of Uruguay profess to be Catholic,
not too much attention is paid to their religion, and
the principle of freedom of worship is upheld by the
government. The report of the Branch servant is
interesting.
The past service year has been one of great rejOicing on
the part of the Lord's people in this smallest of South
American republics. We have had the privilege of seeing the
average number of publishers for the year almost double,
going from 91 to 175.
Yearbook 211
Our Glad Nations Theocratic Assembly of four days pat-
terned after the assembly in Cleveland was held October 17
to 20. It was by far the best assembly ro that time we have
had here. There were representative brethren from all over
the country. Our assembly resulted in bringing the unspeak-
able spiritual blessings to the brethren here even as they
are enjoyed by .Tehovah's people in other parts of the earth.
We had just recently received the New World book and the
Spanish concordance, both of which were released at the
assembly and received with real enthusiasm.
We had 35,000 handbills printed to advertise the public
talk "The Prince of Peace", to be given in the Atenco de
Montevideo on the 20th. By 'l'hursday night we saw this
would not be enough, and so ordered 15,000 more. The talk
was advertised in all ways possible, including placards and
announcements on the radio. The result was that 4GO turned
out to hear the talk. The assembly was refreshing, put us in
tune with the expansion keynote for the rest of the service
year, and, by the Lord's favor, expansion has been the result.
In January we had our first circuit assembly in a town
of about 12,000 inhabitants, Santa Lucia. This and another
town about five miles away, Canelones, of about 20,000 in-
habitants, were worked twice during the assembly, once on
Saturday and again on Sunday. The leader of the anticlerical
political party now in power called the "Batallistas" was
glad to grant us the use of their hall fOl' all of the meetings
free of charge. This person is the local doctor and is very
well liked in the neighhorhood and is ,,'ery antireligious.
Quite a number of people were puzzled at the fact that he
loaned us the hall for Bible lectures, thinking, of course,
that we were religious. This gave the opportunity to give a
good witness on several occasions. Twenty-one persons sym-
bolized their consecration.
There has been a great increase in public meeting activity
in Uruguay in the last year, the total for this year being 90
to compare with 21 the year before. Many of these meetings
were held in the homes of the people of good-will in the
different sections of the city and also in the Kingdom Halls
and some in the public squares.
The special publishers and the Gilead brethren have been
the greatest single asset to the advancement of the field
service and to IIPlp so many of the Uruguayans to become
regular publishers of the Kingdom. Some of these have ten
and more publishers they take out in the service with them
regularly every week. The very presence of the Gilead
brethren makes the Uruguayans feel international and seems
to be an influence that causes the spirit of the Lord to have
free play among the brethren. Many times it is the privilege
212 Yearbook
of these brethren as well as that of some of the Uruguayan
brethren to witness the destruction of images.
There are two misSionary homes here in Montevideo be-
sides the Branch home, which cares also for some mission-
alies. Such homes were established according to the presi-
dent's instructions the first of October, 1946. They are run
in the most efficient and economical manner possible with
the emphasis on the missionaries' being free for the service
in the field and association with the native publishers and
people of good-will.
We wish to extend our gratitude to all the brethren that
have suppOl'ted the work through the Society's arrangements
for special publishers and missionaries to continue in their
assignments. here and in other parts of the world.
VENEZUELA
'fhis is not an easy territory in which to witness, as
the country is too rich with its oil, gold and other
natural resources. The cost of living is fabulously high.
Despite these conditions, excellent progress has been
made during the year in presenting the gospel of the
Kingdom. The increase of work has been good, not
only in the placing of literature and the hours spent
in the field, but also in the number of publishers, which
increased from 13 to 29 and reached a peak of 47
during this service year. The shout of the few publish-
ers there, "Oh praise Jehovah, all ye nations," is being
heard, and the people are listening, as the report which
follows shows. A Branch office was established Sep-
tember 1, in the city of Caracas, and this has aided in
the organization of the work and in the progress made.
All features of the Kingdom service have increased during
this service year. The Caracas company increased from 8
publishers to 23 during the year. Another company in the
interior increased from 2 publishers to a peak of 10 during
the month of July. At the beginning of the service year there
were only two companies reporting time to the Branch oflice,
but now five companies are reporting and giving praise to
Jehovah.
In November four more Gilead graduates arrived in Ca-
racas, to take up pioneer work and help the expansion work
in Venezuela. A strange land, a foreign language, and queer
customs made it difficult for these brethren to put In their
time and fulfill pioneer obligations.
Yearbook 213
One of the blessings and privileges of service that the
publishers enjoyed was that of the commencing of street
work in the early part of the service year. It was amazing
for the missionaries to place as many as 25 or 30 magazines
in a short time on Saturday evening. A Gilead graduate
reported this rare experience that he had in the street work:
"Among the various features of the witness work, street
work proved to be the most unusual during the last four
days of the religious 'holy week' in Caracas. With all
business places closed and many people just roaming the
streets I decided to devote most of my time to street work
and meet people who are ordinarily difficult to find at home.
However, on the first day it was found that more interest
was given to the books displayed rather than the magazines.
Magazines being few at the time, books were placed on the
street corner instead. It was surprising to see five or six
books placed In about half an hour and people gather around
to hear more. The first afternoon with little effort I had
placed eighteen bound books.
"The next day I decided to try something different. If the
people had nothing to do and would listen, why shouldn't I
talk to them? After all, the sidewalk was very wide in this
place and passage would not be obstructed. So, early the
second day with a bag full of books I stood on the street
corner with Bible in hand and, to passers-by who stopped to
listen, talked to them impromptu on subjects of general
interest. To my surprise in one hour I had placed about
twenty books. On taking inventory I found to my amazement
that during four eventful days of praiSing Jehovah on the
streets and in the market places as had .Jesus and the
apostles, I had placed 178 books and Bibles."
The Caracas company started group witneSSing in July.
The outcome has been very satisfactory. A number of new
publishers have had the privilege of starting in the service
and receiving instruction in the proper way to witness. The
majority of the publishers turn out for the contact point
every Sunday morning.
There are seven general pioneers working together with
the six specials in the vast territory comprising a population
of about 4,000,000. Truly it can be said of this country that
the 'field is great but the laborers few'. Two of these general
pioneers have just recently joined the full-time ranks. One
young, zealous general pioneer working in the city of Caracas
ga ve this account: "While witnessing in the village of
Petare, I had an interesting talk with a lady and as soon as
I offered her the book 'The 'l'ruth Shall Make You Free' in
Spanish she invited me in and asked me to sit down. She
then inquired if I was an Adventist, and I informed her,
214 Yearbook
'No, senora, I am one of Jehovah's witnesses.' As soon as
I said this the situation changed and she went into her
bedroom looking for something. After a few minutes she
came out with a booklet in her hand entitled 'Keys of the
Kingdom' and said that she had read it many times. I asked
her where she had obtained the booklet, and she answered
that she received it from a North American lady that visited
her sometime ago.
"I saw that she was very much interested in the truth
and that she had a good knowledge of the booklet, so I ex-
plained to her about having a book study in her hom!'.
After a short time she visited the Kingdom Hall and I ex-
plained to her about field service. When I invited her to go
out with me she said she would do so with great pleasure,
and so she goes with me one day every week. Shortly there-
after she symbolized her consecration to Jehovah God
through baptism in water. She says that she will continue
until Armageddon doing the most important work in this
old world, looking for the 'other sheep' of the good Shepherd."
As we approach the new service year we enthusiastically
look forward to further extending the Kingdom message to
these bedarkened people. Public meetings will soon be
started, which will be one great help toward giving a witness
here. Thus far, servant to the brethren work has not been
inaugurated. It will commence during the new year. This
will certainly prove to be a great bleSSing, as the brethren
have pleaded for someone to come and instruct and organize
them.
WEST AFRICA
The territory known as British West Africa comes
under the supervision of the Society's Branch at
Lagos, Nigeria. This Branch directs the work in
Nigeria, the Gold Coast and Sierra Leone. There is
much work still to be done, but a splendid activity was
carried on during the past year. Many persons who
were steeped in paganism, fetish worship and various
demoniacal practices are now coming to a knowledge
of the truth. Jehovah's witnesses have many real prob-
lems to meet in this regard. In addition to these things,
the religious organizations oppose the work strenu-
ously and have seen to it that bans have been placed
against the work in times past, some of which continue
in part of the territory.
Yearbook 215
The arrival of graduates of Gilead who are taking
up the missionary work in these localities opens up a
new chapter of history for the work in British West
Africa. The brethren in this part of the field feel that
a long-needed help has at last come. They look to 1948
for more real expansion in carrying on the praise of
the Most High. The Branch servant's report on the
territory under his jurisdiction is interesting.
NIGERIA
Over the past years requests have been sent to head office
for help to be sent t)ut in the form of specially trained repre-
sentatives to assist in the organization of the work. A
promise was made that Gilead-trained brethren would be
sent as soon as arrangements could be made_ Great was
the joy when news was received that three Gilead graduates
bad left New York en route for Nigeria. The meeting of the
Branch servant and Bethel family with these three brethren
on June 21 was a joyful occasion. It is at this point that a
new chapter in the work in Nigel'ia opens up.
In harmony with the new organization the companies
througbout the country were divided into circuits and one of
the Gilead missionaries, Brother A. C. Attwood, was ap-
pointed to serve as district servant in addition to his duties
at the Branch office. Four assemblies were held, two in July
and two in August, four circuits being served. Lagos, Ilesha,
Aba and Warri were the centers selected. Due to the con-
tinuous torrential rains the attendance at Lagos was smaller
than would otherwise have been the case, but this was more
than balanced at Ilesha. Eight hundred brethren were in
attendance. The crowning feature was the public meeting,
at which 5,000 attended. The Town Hall was far too small
for such a gathering, and, as the tropical rains had largely
finished, the public meeting was held in the open air. An
invitation was given to the native king or owa of Ilesha,
and he attended in state. '.rhe district servant spoke from
the Town Hall steps with the loud-speaker on the balcony
above. The crowd of 5,000 gathered on the lawns in front.
On the platform at the speaker's side, the owa sat on a
special red carpet, fanned by his attendants. As with all
the other talks it was necessary to have it interpreted in
Yoruba, that all might understand. Forty-one were immersed.
Early in August the Branch servant and district servant
set out on a 1,OOO-mile trip into the interior. Their schedule
included two circuit assemblies on consecutive week-ends
in addition to company visits and additional public lectures.
216 Yearbook
The first assembly was at Aba, where 1,200 were in attend-
ance.
The peak attendances at all the meetings held since the
district servant took up his duties add up to 10,000. Addi-
tionally, the talk "Announcing the Perfect Government" was
carried on a full page by the two lealling newspapers in La-
gos, thousands of copies going to all parts of the West Coast.
At the four circuit assemblies, 419 persons were immersed,
as follows: Lagos, 30; Ilesha, 41; Aba, 134; Wltrri, 214.
With the arrival of the Gilead brethren many points of
organization were quickly put into operation. Arrangements
in the Bethel home were brought in line with the regular
procedure at Brooklyn. The handling of the work in the
otlice, the organization of the companies, the appointment of
servants to the brethren, and many other details, are now
being attended to. Bringing everything in line with Theo-
cratic arrangements soon makes itself felt in the field. 1m
proved conditions among the companies and proper direction
from the Branch ollice is certain to have a wholesome effect
upon the general conduct of the work.
The brethren are not without persecution, which comes
mainly from two sources: first the native chiefs; second, the
so-called "Christian" religionists. It is customary for the
population to grovel on their bellies when the native chief
comes into a community. The brethren refuse to do this, and
are often brutally beaten. Sometimes they have to flee from
their homes and hide in the jungle until the chief leaves the
neighborhood.
The "Christian" religionists stoop to the basest tricks in
their persecution of the brethren. For failing to contribute to
the churches and religious schools, the religionists get the
native chiefs to lead bands of hooligans and break Into
the brethren's homes, stealing their belongings and ill-treat
ing them. Little relief can be obtained through the highly
prejudiced native courts.
The greatest problem is the lack of vernacular literature.
The majority llo not understand English. There is unlimited
demand for literature in Yoruba and lbo, as many of the
brethren have nothing to work with, now that all stocks of
vernacular literature are exhausted.
Due to lack of literature the book study report is lOW,
as those unable to read the English language have no liter
ature in which they can conduct studies. A study is possible
only when an English-reading publisher meets an English
reading person of good-will.
We look forward with real longing to your visit to Nigeria,
Brother Knorr. Never in the history of the work in West
Yearbook
217
Africa has a president of the Society paid a visit. When you
come, a wonderful welcome awaits you.
GOLD COAST
There is no official ban on the Society's publications, but
the Catholic-controlJed Customs authorities, with the full
knowledge and consent of the governor, have refused to
allow the Society's literature to enter the country, seizing
and destroying large quantities of books, even including
Bibles. The ordinance under which this action is taken is
Section 27 (1 ) (a) (ii) of the Customs Ordinance (Cap 132)
which states that: "Books, newspapers, and printed matters,
which in the opinion of the Comptroller (subject to any
directions by the Governor) arE' seditious, defamatory, scan-
dalous, or demoralizing" may be seized and detained by the
Customs authorities. Since Bibles have been seized under
this section it is evident that, according to the Roman
Catholic comptroller's reasoning, the Bible must be consid-
ered seditious, defamatory, scandalous or demoralizing.
From the Devil's standpoint this is easily understood. Bible
exposure of the Hierarchy's corrnption and wickedness Is
considered seditions to the interests of his evil domain. Since
the Hierarchy is the chlpf defamer of Jehovah's name and
the Biblp exposes her as scandalous and demoralizing, his
chief interest is to have God's Word suppressed.
Only the book Ohildren is allowed entry. Reppated repre-
sentations to the authorities have thus far failed to bear
fruit.
There are five hundred publishers in this colony of more
than four mi Ilion inhabitants. They are found in 24
organized companies. The largpst company, of about 80
publishers, is found in the capital city of Accra. The com-
panies have been regularly visited by the servant to the
brethren, who has done excelJent work.
For a long period of time the Branch servant has been
refused permission to enter the country, being marked as
an "undesirable alien"; undesirable, apparently, because
the truth is undesirable in Hi('rarchy-influenced domains.
However, after ren('wed efforts to have this restriction
lifted, which included the circulating of a petition, permis-
sion was obtained for a visit in the spring of this year. An
assembly was arranged in Accra. The number of brethren
and people of good-will attending numbered 690, with over
1,000 at the public lecture. Forty-four were immersed. The
visit was highly successful and put new life into the breth-
ren, who were weary of enforced isolation and government
restrictions.
218 Yearbook
The same ship that carried the three Gilead graduates to
Nigeria also carried two for the Gold Coast. A missionary
home is now established in Accra and the influence of these
brethren is already being felt. They are conducting many
book studies and have reorganized the Accra company on
proper Theocratic lines. A big increase is expected.
SIERRA LEONE
The work of inviting the nations to praise Jehovah has
been continuing in this British colony for some years. During
the war the brethren were isolated by bans and restrictions
and there has been no increase for some time.
The need for proper organization and Theocratic leader-
ship was readily recognized, and Sierra Leone was placed
upon the list of those places requiring Gilead missionary
assistance. In the spring of this year three brethren set
sail, and arrived at Freetown in June. A missionary home
has been pstablished.
The Freetown company has now been reorganized on
proper Theocratic lines. The Gilead-trained company servant
served for some tillle as servant to the brethren in the
United States and is well equipped to carryon the work.
We shaU be eagerly watching the reports month by month,
feeling confident that the time has now come for the people
of this colony to take their stand for The Theocracy.
Climatic conditions in Sierra Leone are very trying. The
rainy season lasts for six months of the year, and the rain
is heavy, torrential anll continuous. Sometimes it will rain
for two weeks on end without any letup. During the dry
season the heat is intense and the humidity high. It takes
time to get used to such a trying Climate, and sickness has
been the unfortunate experience of the Gilead missionaries
during the past two months. However, their determination
to continue in the work and the Lord's blessing upon them
will enable them to overcome these difficulties.
YUGOSLAVIA
Jehovah's witnesses throughout the world are well
acquainted with the actions of the totalitarian state
of Yugoslavia toward Christians. During the occupa-
tion of Yugoslavia by the Hitler crowd the work was
banned and it was impossible to carryon communi-
cations with the outside world. Now in Yugoslavia
Jehovah's witnesses are banned and illegal; but that
does not mean that Jehovah's witnesses are not preach-
ing the gospel. Throughout the year there were ap-
Yearbook 219
proximately 120 publishers, who put in 7,847 hours
talking the Kingdom. The government tried to stop the
work definitely by giving the death sentence to the
Branch servant, Rudolph Kalle, and arresting 17
other brethren, putting them in prison. The following
report from Yugoslavia is from someone who sat in
at the trial of these brethren.
The brethren were accused as follows: (1) Of working
to overthrow by force the popular government and to estab-
lish their Fascistic rule. (2) With having theories that
weakened the fighting forces of the land. (3) With having
relations with the Berne and Brooklyn offices, which they
claimed to be Fascist centers working for a third world war,
and to protect criminals of World War II. (4) .Treason.
(5) In spite of the prohibition they printed 700 Watchtowers.
(6) They said that freedom here is only on paper and in
reality does not exist.
On the basis of these charges Jehovah's witnesses, three
in number, were sentenced to death, and 12 others to dif-
ferent prison terms up to 15 years. 'l'hree were released. At
the time of the trial the courtroom was overcrowded. In
one part of the hall they had it filled with an organized
youth movement crowd, children from 8 to 15, who cheered
the decision of the court. The others heard the same with
distress, but they dared not protest.
A fine point of the trial was when a young brother made
this statement: "Wise judges, I received this religion. the
teaching from the Bible, from my mother, and I worshiped
God. During the time of the occupation by the Germans, my
mother was put in prison. Two sisters and my brother were
of this same belief as my mother. They took them to Dacbau,
where they shot them because they were considered to be
communists because they worshiped God the way they did.
For this same religion I am now found here before the
court as a Fascist." How strange that whatever pleases the
government in power is used to crush Jehovah's witnesses!
Another high pOint in court occurred after the sentence
was given and the trial had ended when those who were
charged were asked if they had anything to say. One of the
brothers referred to Matthew 10: 16-21, and said: "Our Lord
foretold that we would be brought before courts and kings
and that we would be beaten and put to death for his name's
sake. We have served God, and we leave the matter in the
hands of our Father."
The attitude and the courage of their families who will
be left Orphans was wonderful. Even their children did not
220 Yearbook
cry. They had been brought up in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord and could see the shame of the court. The
brethren who were not sentenced to prison are trying to
help one another, and will do what they can to relieve the
families of the brethren in prison. The brethren in Yugoslavia
are courageous, and, regardless of the charges that are
brought to bear against them, they will continue to sing
the praises of the Most High.
SONG OF PRAISE TO ALL NATIONS
Jehovah's witnesses have proved themselves by their
actions to be fearless in the face of all opposition.
Nothing, by the Lord's grace, will stop them from
singing the song of praise to all the nations. The year's
report for the 1947 service year proves this very thing.
'There is no weapon formed against them that will
prosper,' because "God is with us". Jehovah's witnesses
will continue to preach the good news of the Kingdom
in all the world, because they delight to do the will
of their Father. (Ps. 40: 8) They are convinced that
"no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate
the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the
one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and
mammon. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and
his righteousness."-Matthew 6: 24, 33.
Knowing this truth, they do not try to serve the
world nor please its religious, commercial or political
elements; nor will they try to destroy any part of this
old world. They are neutral and seek first the King-
dom and how to please God and carry out his prin-
ciples of righteousness. If, in their work of praising
God and taking the righteous course, Jehovah's wit-
nesses experience no objection or opposition from na-
tions or groups of people, this is good and beneficial
to the people; but, even if certain groups or nations
are displeased and opposed to their preaching activity,
Jehovah's witnesses must carryon just the same. Je-
hovah's witnesses are called of God through Christ to
do this work! As it is stated in John 15: 16, "Ye have
not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained
Yearbook 221
you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit." This
they will continue to do by heralding forth the good
news of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness,
trying to disciple all nations regardless of persecution,
bans, concentration camp or threatened death. Nothing
will separate them from the love of God.
It has indeed been a pleasure to meet so many of
the brethren world-wide and to see the zeal and good
works all are doing to the praise of God. All of Je-
hovah's witnesses everywhere are surely joining in the
song as set forth in the yeartext for 1948, which says,
"I will sing praises unto thee among the nations."
(Ps. 57: 9, A.S. V.) This you will continue to do dur-
ing 1948 and right on through to the establishment
of the New World, by continuing in the world-wide
expansion work in behalf of the Kingdom.
1 want to take this occasion, too, to extend the love
and greetings of all of Jehovah's witnesses everywhere
to all of the Lord's servants in other parts of the earth,
as the Branch servants have requested me to do in
their reports. Additionally, thousands of brethren in
many countries have asked me personally to convey
to their associates world-wide their love for you and
to assure you of their devotion to God. It is a pleasure
to do this, and it shows the unity and unselfish devo-
tion of one toward another. God's spirit has wrought
this! It is not an expression in word only, but in deed.
Their love is genuine. It is with much joy that 1 sub-
mit to all the servants of God your year's report to
the Society, and 1 want all of you to be assured of my
love and prayers as we sing together, praising Je-
hovah among the nations.
Your servant and fellow singer,

WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
Blank
ANNUAL MEETING
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, a Penn-
sylvania corporation, held its annual meeting on Oc-
tober 1, 1947. The meeting was called to order at ten
o'clock in the forenoon at the offices of the Society in
the Wabash Building, 410 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. The president of the Society, N. H.
Knorr, presided and opened the meeting by calling
upon Charles H. Stewart, Sr., for prayer.
The terms of two directors expired, namely, F. W.
Franz and H. H. Riemer. Both of these brethren were
unanimously re-elected to serve on the board of direc-
tors for the following three years. It was also an-
nounced that M. G. Henschel was elected by the board
of directors to fill the vacancy made on the board
by the death of W. E. Van Amburgh. The usual re-
ports of the activity of the Society were made, and
the annual meeting was adjourned at 11: 40 a.m.
On October 9, according to Charter provisions, the
full membership of the board of directors of the said
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, a nonprofit
Pennsylvania curporation, met in the offices of the So-
ciety at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn 2, New York,
at 1 p.m. This meeting was for the election of officers.
By unanimous vote on the part of all the directors
the former officers of the Society were re-elected.
After the election of officers, certain matters of busi-
ness were considered, and then director T. J. Sullivan
presented the statement which follows to the board of
directors and requested that the statement be pub-
lished in the Yearbook. This was seconded by H. H.
Riemer and F. W. Franz and unanimously carried by
united vote of all the members of the board of direc-
tors. The statement follows.
We, the board of directors of the Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society, in annual meeting, having completed the
223
224 Yearbook
election of officers of the Society by the re-election of the
officers who have served during the past year, voice our
sincere thanksgiving to Jehovah God for the blessings which
he has showered upon his work and his people during the
year past. \Ve gladly acknowledge that the marvelous prog-
ress of the witness work around the earth is because he
has blessed his servants, has guided them, and, by his spirit
of power upon those who love him, has prospered the cause
which we love so dearly. To him we give thanks and praise,
and to him we pray confidently that during the year ahead
his worship will be advanced further, to the eternal glory
of his most worthy name.
At these yearly meetings of this board it is our duty to
elect the oflicers of this Society, that the positions may be
filled for another year and the work incident to the ollices
might be attended to. In this we ever seek the guidance of
our heavenly Father, that his will may be performed, and
we know that this direction of the Lord God has been given.
This board has unanimously re-elected Brother Nathan H.
Knorr as president of the Watch Tower Bible and 'l'ract
SOCiety. This action, which we have taken so wholeheartedly,
is an extreme pleasure for us, because It enables us to
express to the Lord, to ail of our brethren, and to Brother
Knorr himself, our appreCiation of the fact that the rich
blessing of Jehovah on the work of the president of the
Society during the past year shows that he is the man to
be put back on the job.
We both appreciate and approve the management of the
corporate affairs of this Society by its executive president,
and the program for pushing further afield the message of
The Theocratic Government. With Brother Knorr, and with
our brethren who are situated in every land, we unitedly
look to our King and Leader, Christ Jesus, with assurance
of victory for the cause of true worship of Jehovah.
So it is that out of love for Brother Knorr and out of
appreciation as herein expressed, we go on record, and we
wish this action by the board of directors in formal meeting
to be made known to Jehovah's witnesses in the forthcoming
1948 Yearbook.
YEARTEXT FOR 1948
"I will sing praises unto thee among the nations."
-Psalm 57: 9, A.m. Stan. Ver.
Praising God among the nations has been the theme
of Jehovah's servants ever since Christ commanded his
disciples, "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all
the nations." A Christian's desire is to always do the
will of Almighty God, and this Christians have done
because they know that the only way for a person to
gain life eternal is to preach God's truth and, further-
more, they know that the Sovereign of all the universe
will back them up.
It is interesting to note the determined mind of Je-
hovah's witnesses in this regard during the past few
years. In 1944 they chose as their year's text, "Teach
me to do thy will; for thou art my God." (Ps. 143; 10)
As true Christians have always done, hcre again they
showed their submission to the will of God and de-
clared their keen desire to be taught and learn of Je-
hovah. By consecrating themselves to do Jehovah's
will, they have shown they have the right heart and
mind toward God, and therefore they were taught
God's will.
Christians today are not desirous of retaining
know lege for their own benefit, to glory in the wisdom
they have gained from the good book, the Bible. But
they have declared themselves, as expressed in the
1945 yeartext, as determined to tell others what they
know; and they chose as their theme for the year,
"Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the na-
tions." (Matt. 28: 19, A..8.V.) One translation says,
"teach all the nations." Jehovah's witnesses had been
doing this for years, but, by the Lord's grace, they
were now more determined than ever to teach all na-
225
226 Yearbook
tions. They wanted to use their Scriptural education;
for they knew that by preaching they would save not
only themselves, but others also.
Their theme for the following year, 1946, was an
invitation to "be glad, ye nations, with his people".
(Rom. 15: 10, Roth.) Jehovah's witnesses were not glad
because of the world distress and the sorrow that fell
upon all the nations, but they were glad because they
knew of God's kingdom, the only hope for the world.
They invited all the nations and people of good-will
coming from every kindred and tongue to share in this
same joy and gladness. This could be done by the
people who were sighing and crying in the world only
by seeking after truth and righteousness. Thousands
of persons of good-will did so; they heard the good
news and were made glad with Jehovah's witnesses.
Just bringing comfort to those who mourned was
not the end of the matter; so in 1947 the call went
forth throughout the world, "Oh praise Jehovah, all
ye nations." (Ps. 117: 1, Am. Stan. Vel'.) This is a
work of organization, bringing together all the people
of good-will who were made glad with His people, and
inviting them to sing the praises of the Most High
in all the earth. The year's report in this publication
shows that thousands heard the call and praised and
lauded the name of the Most High throughout the
year. But it will not end there, just as the preaching
of the gospel announcing God's 'kingdom has not
ended at any time since Christ took to himself his
power and began to reign. This gospel of the Kingdom
must be preached in all the world for a witness, and
all those who have come to a knowledge of the truth
will continue to give this witness.
Thus everyone who has been praising God among
all the nations can join wholeheartedly in the year's
text for 1948, "I will sing praises unto thee among
the nations." Each individual will take his stand alone
if necessary. Each one will remain wide awake and
Yearbook 227
continue to sing the good news, praising God continu-
ally. If the nations lose their equilibrium, as they did
in 1938 and thereafter, and drive Jehovah's witnesses
underground, then individually each one will con-
tinue to sing in his manner, helping the people of good-
will. If, by the Lord's grace, he finds himself in a
nation where there are no restrictions, he will sing
just the same. No man or organization or nation can
take away from the faithful individual his God, nor
the truth that he has gained from God's Word; there-
fore, nothing will stop him from singing in this day.
Each one of Jehovah's witnesses world-wide will say
with his companion workers, "I will sing praises unto
thee among the nations"; and, by God's grace, each
one, in all the nations of the earth, will continue to
carryon the expansion work that has been started,
and will continue right on down to Armageddon.
There is much singing yet to be done, and this song
shall be heard even unto the ends of the earth. As
each one keeps his place within the Lord's organization
and sings, certainly the praises of God will be heard
among all nations. Keep your place in God's organiza-
tion, and SING!
Blank
Daily Texts and Comments
The comments following the daily texts are taken from
The Watchtower (W) as of the year 1947.
January 1
Having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that lie mall know
what is the hope.-Eph. 1: 18, Am. Stan. Ver,
The physical eyes are one of man's choicest possessions, for
they are so necessary to his complete happiness. But more to be
prized than eyes of flesh in the head is what the Scriptures
speak of as the "eyes of understanding" or "eyes of the heart".
'l'he person that has the latter, although he may be physically
sightless, is more favored and has far better possibilities of
everlasting life than the one without such although having
physical sight. It takPs pyes of a spiritually inclined heart to
see and accept the things set before the church of God by God's
written Word. If we look at the things in ilis Word with a
blank stare that is held stiff and motionless by the religions
creeds and traditions of men in our minds, thpn we shall be
looking at his "Vord but shall not see what it contains or un-
derstand what it teaches. lV 8/1
January 2
Oh magnify Jehowh with me, and let us exalt his name
togcther.-Ps. 34: 3, Am. Stan. V cr.
Jehovah is the great Unifier and Peacemaker. He is the
l"athe1' of "The Prince of Peace". He gave mankind a natural
basis for being united and at peace with one another, and that
is that they are all of one flesh and blood. Jehovah God "hath
made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the
face of the earth". (Acts 17: 26) lIad Adam and his wife Eve
kept on in obedient relationship with their Creator, their chil-
dren would naturally have beeu born as children of God, and
in righteousness and perfection. This perfect family would have
been all united around the worship of the one God, and such
common worship and love of God would have barred out all
division, confusion and dis('ord with one another. The harmo-
nions worship of the one living and true God, whom all the
scriptures proclaim to be J ehomh, is the basic principle for
an nndivided, peaceful new world. W 1/1
January S
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house
of God.-l Pet. 4: 17.
When the blessed privileged position with God was vacated
by the J cwish church because of their rejecting His promised
Messiah, the newly organized church under Jesus Christ the
Head succeeded to the favored place as the spiritual Israel of
God, his "new creation". They had the circumcision of the
heart, inward cleanness of mind, in place of the outward circum-
cision of the flesh. (Gal. 6: 15, 16) Upon them arc fulfilled the
special blessings foretold in the oracles of God which had pre-
viously bt'en held only by the Jewish church. For this reason
the new "church of God" under Jesus Christ came under a
special responsibility, even heavier than that which had rested
upon the Jewish church because of the greater and higher favor
shown to Christians. They must be judgf'd by God according
to the grander privileges and opportunities that He conferred
upon them. lV 7/1
January 4
In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; but
he that retraineth his lips docth wisely.-Pro!). 10: 19, A.S. Y.
Under provocation Christ's follower will wisely muzzle his
mouth and prevent a loose, uncontrolled torrent of words. If he
talks at all it will be with measured words and according to
the ('ounsel of God's Word. He will talk for edification of the
provoker and of other listeners, rather than to make slips of
speech that stir up more strife and contention. He knows the
power of words both upon the speaker and upon the hearers.
A witness of Jehovah has difficulties enough without having to
pave the way for additional self-imposed troubles by rash
'Jlepch. What he wants to get across to others with his lips is
the message of Jehovah's kingdom. He will shoulder all thl'
trouble that proclaiming the message brings upon him from
the enemies, but he does not care to make trouble for himself
by ill-advised words and so make obstacles. W 5/1
January 5
But the mercy of the Lord is from e!)erlasting to everlasting
upon them that fear him.-Ps. 108: 17.
Jehovah is matchless in the expressing of mercy and the for-
ghing of sins. Mercifulness cannot be viewed as a sign of
weakness. It is no sentimental softness unbecoming to a God
of all-power. It is the expression of wonderful love, the out-
flow of his perfect unselfishness, but it operates with all due
respect for his justice. He exercises it with the utmost of wis-
dom, and hence in the final outcome it will show itself to have
been the right thing to exercise in full vindication of Jehovah's
name. Its exercise is something that discloses him as different
from just a cold and heartless all-conquering force in the uni-
verse. Mercy is a quality that has acted as a mighty check
upon his all-might which might otherwise have been used to
blot out all humankind completely. It is consistent with the
fact that Jehovah God is love. W 4/15
January 6
God . endured with much /ongsuffcring the 1'CSselS of wmth
fitted to dcstruction.-Rom. 9: 22.
Men are of the earth, earthy, like the clay of which a potter
shapes his vessel, destroying it if it turns out unsatisfactory;
and so we have no grounds for complaint against Jehovah God,
who is the Creator, supreme in his universal sovereignty and
also almighty. While he endures his opposers for his appointed
times, he holds wrath against them or appoints them to an
eventual expression of his wrath. Thus he sets them apart as
"vessels of wrath fitted to destruction". The final destruction
of the last surviving ones of such "vessels of destruction" will
bring to a full end his time and need of endurance. His de-
struction of them shows that they lose and he wins. But during
this period of his endurance he goes ahead with his glorious
purpose and shows mercy upon certain human vessels. 'l'hese
he sets aside for the opposite of destruction, namely, eternal
life, iu glory. lV 7/15
January 7
1'hey overcame him by the blood of tlle Lamb, and by the word
of their testimony .. and they loved not their lives unto the death.
-Rev. 12: 11.
There is only one visible organization where peace and unity
should and must exist, and where they do exist, and it is the or-
ganization of Christ's falsely accused brethrcn. They stick to
the fact that they were bought by the blood of Jesus Christ
and are no longer thcir own, and therefore they are obliged
to serve God, who thus bought them, and not serve men of
this world. They publicly give their word of testimony and do
not care if this course of aetion costs them their human lives.
They do not let Satan's terrorism make them surrender to his
world organization by denying Jesus' blood and by silencing
their testimony as Jehovah's witnesses. They cling fast to God's
Theocratic organization, which is His woman and their mother.
Hence God protects and preserves them. W 1/1
January 8
1'hou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.-Mark 12: 31.
God knows man better than man himself. With His knowledge
and understanding of his creation, he gave the law that Israel-
ites should love their neighbors, including the sojourning stran-
gers, as they did themselves. Jesus, too, kncw man and how
man's mind works. He knew that man, whether Christian, Jew,
or ncither sueh, loved himself. He knew you would feed your-
self, clothe yourself, shelter yourself, all because you loved your-
self. Hence he was not speaking contrary to human naturc whcn
he said you loved yourself and that the second commandment
of God was that you should love also your neighbor to the
same degree. Never do you, intclligently and with foresight, try
to do wrong to yourself, and you should not do so, because
you love yourself so much. That is natural, and there is noth-
ing inherently wrong with that. W 11/1
January 9
One man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's
inkhorn by his side.-Ezek. 9: ii?
Different from the six executioners with battlc-axes, the
Christian company pictured by the linen-clad man are not
equipped for violcnt combat and destruction. 'rhey are neutral
toward the conflicts that divide Christendom into hostile camps,
because they have a commissioned service from God that as-
signs to them other work, on which they are bound to turn in
a final report. Their God-given righteous work is denoted by
the writer's inkhorn at the man's side. It has to do with the
inspired written 'Vord of God and with pUblishing it to those
who stand in danger because the execution of God's wrath is
threatening Christendom and all nations allied with her in an
international compact. From this peaceable, salutary work
God's anointed servants cannot turn aside to intermeddle with
the conflicts and strife of doomed Christendom and her allies.
Neither can they undertake the destructive work delegated to
the six men. lV 9/15
January 10
Behold a white horse; and he that aat upon him doth
judge and make war.-Rev. 19: 11.
Jehovah's King, the Messiah, is irresistibly on the advanee.
He is the Rightful Ruler whom God has raised up for a new
world of righteousness, and now he is coming into his own.
His taking over complete control of the earth is without selfish
motives, for it has only the glory of God and the lasting wel-
fare of persons of good-will in view. It is certain to result in
the blessing of all the families and nationalities of the earth.
The King is entirely devoted to the regenerating of a new
world of righteousness. The advanee that he is now pushing
throughout the universe is to gather all the willing ones to
the side of the Sovereign of all creation: Jehovah, where they
may loyally worship Him as God. Only me combined allegiance
of all creatures that live to the Most High God and their unjted
worship of Him will result in universal peace, happiness and
stability for ever. W 9/1
January 11
The light 0/ the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single,
thy whole body shall be full of light.-Matt. 6: 22.
Without question, by this illustration Jesus was teaching a
great spiritual truth respecting the "eyes of the heart" or
mental vision of spiritual things. To discern the truths brought
by God's inspired prophets and servants and which are recorded
in his Word, the Bible, we must have what corresponds to the
single eye. In other words, our vision must be pure, our view
of things must be from a pure heart that loves the truth and
that is eager to find it and grasp and possess it. 'Vhen we look
we must be in the search for the truth of God. The connection
of the heart with the vision makes the eye like the window
through which the heart looks and takes a view of things.
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,
. . . an evil eye." An evil heart will result in looking at things
in an impure way. W 8/1
January 12
TV orthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches,
and wisdom, and strength.-Ilev. 5: 12.
In his firstborn Son, who became the Messiah, the Christ,
the great Creator laid the foundation of the universe that has
been created, visible and invisible. This i& true because his first-
born Son was the first of God's creations. Then with him as
His active agent God went on to create everything else that
has been brought into existence. So it is but reasonable that
with this same one Jehovah God should start the new world
of righteousness to replace the "present evil world". For the
sake of the righteous new world God's firstborn Son presented
himself in sacrifice and submitted to a violent death on earth,
and for this reason he is honorably called "the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world". (13: 8) With him as the
new world's foundation the proposed world is sure to be right-
eous and ever faithful to Jehovah God. W 4/1
January 13
There is so much immorality, that every man had better hal'e a
wife of his own and every woman a husband of her own.
-1 Co,'. '"I: 2, Moffatt.
This is not saying that a single Christian cannot keep from
committing immorality in this lustful world. But if it should
come to choosing between immorality and wedlock, then the
servant of God that cannot hold himself in check should take
the honorable course. He should get married according to God's
law and in compliance with all proper regulations of govern-
ment of the country. This is so because the Creator institutC'd
marriage, and marriage according to Ilis will and in harmony
with Ilis purpose IS not sinful or unclean. Rather than lead a
free and loose life in frequent fornication and at the same time
appear to lead a single life, the Christian will undertake the
responsibilities and the restraints and will get married. He will
thus keep clean in God's sight and honorable before men and
not bring reproach on God. W 2/1
January 14
Every Scripture is divinely inspired and is profitable for
instruetion.-2 Tim. 3: 16, Spencer, Rom. Oath.
The compound Greek word translated "divinely inspired"
literally means "God-breathed" or "breathed by God". Not that
God breathes the atmosphere about our earth and breathed it
upon the human writers of the Bible, but that he sent forth
his invisible active force. He exertC'd it upon the thirty mpn
or so that wrote the sixty-six books of the Bible. The holy
spirit or active force of God is inviRible to our eyes, and lIe-
brew writers spoke of it with words meaning also breath, und
Greek writers spoke of it with the word meaning also wind or
breath. Hence anything produced by the exercising of God's
invisible active force upon it can be said to be God-breathed
or divinely inspired. In fact, th(' word inspired of Latin origin
means breathed into, denoting Ullspen force. The canonical books
of the Bible are inspired. W 5/15
January 15
Hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation
be ovcrpast.-I sa. 26 .. 20.
This does not mean entering somp underground, atom-bomb-
proof shelter. The place of safe hiding is 110 particular place
on earth, such as a "refuge farm" or the like, but is the condi-
tion of worshiping Almighty God in spirit and in truth. Accord-
ing to Christ Jesus God may now be worshiped IIcceptably any-
where on earth. (John 4: 23, 24) '1'ho prophet Mosps, to whom
God rpYealed his name .TehoYah, said of the only safe plaee of
hiding: "He that dw('lIcth in the spcret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shndow of the Almighty. I will say of
Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortrpss." (Ps. 91 ( 1,2,
Am. Stan. Yer.) The true worship of Him is the thing required
to bring us into the protected hiding place. 'l'his is the signif-
icance of Proverbs IS: 10: "The name of J ehovnh is a strong
tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."-Am. Stan.
Vcr. W 8/15
January 16
Thou art fairer than the children of mcn.-Ps. 45: 2.
For a certainty now since his heavenly glorification and be-
coming "the reflection of God's glory, and the representation
of his being" , Jesus Christ is fairer than all the children of
men and is more beauteous and glorious than the most ex-
alted ruler 011 earth dressed up ill all the ornaments and robes
of state. (Heb. 1: 3, An Amer. Trans.) What also makes him
most fair beyond compare is his perfect qualities which so
completely fit him for his high office and for the work he has
to do in vindicating God's name and sovereignty aud in deliver-
ing and blessing all men of good-will. While on earth, "learned
he obedience by the things which he suffered." As regards obe-
dience to God he was made "perfeet through sufferings", so
that his integrity toward the Most High God is without a
single flaw and no creature is equal to him in intpgrity.
-Heb. 5:8; 2:10. W 10/1
January 17
God is not a God of disol'der but of peace.-l Cor. 1.}: sa,
An Amer. 'l'rans.
Where peace is, there must be organization of those enjoying
the peace. Tbey mnst yield true obedience to the organization
arrangements and instructions. The fruitage of this will be an
abiding peace. If we sincerely are God's people amidst this
corrupt, disordered world, we shall now find ourselves in all
lands trying to come to an organization of unity in all the
parth, because we are the one people of God. This effort springs
from the right kind of wisdom, and it aims in the direction of
a righteous peace. Such wisdom descends from a source higher
than men. It comes down from the great Father of lights. It
is a wisdom that results in Theocratic organization and in
the growth of peace. Always there is need for us to have a
firmly knitted, compact organization. Our God is a God of
organization.-Ps. 136: 5. W 12/1
January 18
The stotle which the builders rejected is become the head of the
corner. :L'his is J ehotJah' s doing,. it is marvellous in our eyes.
-Ps. 118: 22, 23, Am. Stan. Vcr.
The builders' rejecting of the stone included tbe putting of
Jesus to deatb as if not fit to be king or head. Correspondingly,
the making of the Stone to be the head of the corner included,
yes, rested upon the raising of the rejected Stone, Jesus Christ,
from the dead. Only Jehovah God, the great Builder of all
things, could do this. Psalm 118: 23 (Am. Statl. Ver.) had
predicted it would be "Jehovah's doing"; and it was. On the
third day of Jesus' lying dead in "hell" Jehovah God sent
prosperity to his Kingdom cause by saving his faithful Son,
'.rhe Stone, from the dead and not leaving his soul in "hell".
In spite of the Bible prophecies that foretold it, even Jesus'
own disciples did not expect it. Hence his resurrection was
"marvellous" in their eyes, and justly so, because it was God's
greatest miracle, "the working of his mighty power, which he
wrought in Christ, when he raised him." W 3/5
January 19
His father saw him, and had compa8sion, and ran, and fcll
on his neck, and kis8cd Mm.-Luke 15,' 20.
The prodigal son squandered what his father gave him in
riotous living, which doubtless included intoxication and over-
eating as well as "living with harlots", fornication. He repented
of his course and decided to convert to a life of service of his
forsaken father, throwing himself upon his father's mercy. Had
the boy sinned too far for his father to forgive? Did the father
repulse him? No. He accepted his returned son's confession
and forgave him with joy. This prodigal pictures the persons
of good-will today, who are the great Shepherd's "other sheep".
Mindful of this parable, these may take heart in repentantly
abandoning this world and seeking Jehovah's face through
Christ. He will forgive them through Christ and will give
them a blessed part in the present service of His kingdom, as
his prospective earthly children of the new world of right-
eousness. W 4/15
January 20
Bles8ed i8 that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall
find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him
ruler over all that he hath.-Luke 12,' 43, 44.
This shows how the remnant of Christ's faithful servants
fares at the end of the world at his sudden arrival at the
temple in 1918. From this it is plain that even before the
members of the remnant fiuish their earthly course they have
a measure of judgment executed toward them by the Lord at
the temple, in that he retains them in his service because he
finds them faithful at their duties in the household of God.
He executes judgment against the evil, slothful, self-seeking
servant by taking away from such a class the talent or pound
of service privileges inside Jehovah's 'rheocratic organization
and by then putting them out of the organization, to be con-
demned with the world and to share its tearful fate.-12: 46.
W 7/1
January 21
Looking unto Jesus . . who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross.-H eb. 12,' 2.
As we look at Jesus we mark that he did the will of God
gladly, and not with grief. His joy at doing the divine will con-
stituted inward strength to him. By looking to him as the
perfect illustration of what to do when the running in the
race-course to everlasting life seems rough, grueling, lengthened-
out and almost exhausting, it gives us a new infusion of strength
to pace onward closer to the prize, with fresh joy at our priv-
ilege. "Consider him that endured such contradiction of sin-
ners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
(12: 3) Jesus was able to go straight forward despising the
thought of the tree of torture, because of the joy of witnessing
to the truth of God's kingdom down till the tree and then the
joy of rising from the dead and ascending to God's right hand,
there to see God's work through to its finish and to vindicate
His Ilame by the Kingdom. W 7/15
January 22
Obey God rather than men.-Act.. 5: !9.
Their being given the holy spirit proved that the Christians
were the ones obeying God. Since their witness agreed with
that of God's holy spirit, they did right in ignoring the su-
preme court's orders. In 70 (A.D.) destruction came upon
Jerusalem when the Romans under Titus laid her and her tem-
ple even with the ground, and 1,100,()()() Jews were slaughtered
amid her destruction. None of the apostles and their fellow
Christians perished in that slaughter, but they conld turn in a
report to God clean of responsibility for the frightful slaughter
of the Jews with stubborn foreheads who had resisted the edu-
cation of their minds in the truths about Jehovah's true
Messiah. As for that Jewish supreme court and other religious
leaders of Jerusalem, they could not turn in to God a fiual
report that would clear them of responsibility for the deaths
of those slaughtered. W 9/15
January 28
The Father hath delivered U8 from the power of darkness,
and hath tran.,lated U8 into the kingdom of his dear Son.
-001. 1: 1'2, 18.
This deliverance and translation of the members of the true
church of Jehovah God is something that takes place while they
are still in the midst of this world. The consequence is that
they are in the world, but not of it, just as Christ Jesus was.
(John 8: 23; 17: 14,16) The darkness from which they have
been delivered is that of this world, and such darkness is due
to the unseen control of this world by its god, Satan the Devil,
"the prince of the demons." To keep their delivered estate or
liberty in Christ his followers must therefore wrpstle against
the influence of these spirit demons that dominate the world
and keep it in the darkness of ignorance and divine wrath.
(Eph. 6: 11, 12) Only by doing so can they hold fast to "the
inheritance of the saints in light".-Col. 1: 12. W 6/1
January 24
Your daughters shall prophesy, ... and on my handmaidens
I will pour out in those days of Illy spirit; and they shall
prophesy.-Acts '2: 17, 18; Joel '2: '28, 29.
Prophesy here means to publicly tell forth things stated in
the prophecies of God's Word, the Bible, although, by the spirit
of God which was poured out at Pentecost, the gift of prophecy
in the sense of foretelling things was also bestowed upon some.
Certainly, if anointed with the outpourpd spirit, the other
women, aside from Philip's four daughters, prophesied in the
sense of telling out to others not yet of the church the things
contained in God's prophecies or occurring in fulfillment of
such prophecies. In thus prophesying they were, in the high-
est sense, ministers of God. Hence it is altogether Scriptural
that consecrated women today, young and old, virgins and mar-
ried, who have God's spirit upon them and who go from house
to house spreading God's message by word and by printed page,
be considered and treated and classified as "ministers of God".
-Hom. 16: 1. lV 10/15
January 25
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out
of thy law.-Ps. 119: 18.
At first you may not be able to see so much or see with the
best of understanding, but this should not make you discouraged.
As with a human infant at birth, so it is true with anyone
that is a babe in the knowledge of the things of God's "pr"sent
truth". At first it is all unfamiliar ground ano. he call see
little of what is at first revealed to him. But if he has an
honest heart that seeks to learn to kuow and to r!'tain what he
learns, he will keel) on peering into the pag('s of God's Word
and into the operations of his Theocratic organization, II.
then grows in familiarity therewith. (Mark 8: 17, IS, 21) With
good remembrance and familiarity he increases in perceptive
powers, that is, in powers to select or pick out various things
and to distinguish them from other things and to detect de-
tails und peculiar features. W 8/1
January 26
Be at peace among yourse!ves.-1 Thcss. 5: 13.
Controversy, strife, contention, wrangling and strained rela-
tions with one another should not be among us, because all are
I1no.erstood to be lovers and upholders of the truth. As far as
dp!wno.s upon us, we should seek to get along in peace with
those devoted to the truth and wanting to serve God. If we
love the h11th, then let us look above our personal feelings and
desires to the one over-all purpose of the Lord's organization
ill Christ. Then we will rise above petty personal things of
strife and will go along harmoniously with our brethrcn in the
paramount servicc of God. 'Ve must get along accordantly
with one another in His organization. Are Wt' not all subject to
like regulations and witnessing obligatiolls, all UII'gets of the
one common enemy, the world. and all hounu j ogNher in the
one purpose of vindicating (iod's name? Yes! 'l'hcn, as far as
depends upon us, let us be dependable to live in the interests
of unity ano. pcaee. IV 1/1
January 27
Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance.
-Ps. 2: 8, Am. Stan. Vcr.
In 1914 Christ Jpsus the Anointed King asked for the na-
tions. Hence the activities of Jehovah's witnesses, who are
subject to His King, must be carried to all peoples, nations and
languages. It is in the highest public interest to do this, and it
is most urgent upon Jehovah's witn('sses to reach all nations.
Why? Because immediately after Jehovah invites the new King
to ask for the nations and uttermost parts of thc l ' ~ r t h as his
inheritancp and possession he commands his King R":::ng: "Thou
shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in
pieces like a potter's vessel." (2: 9) 'fhat means the destruc-
tion of the nations at Armageddon, not by Jehovah's witnesses
on earth, but by the iron-like rod of the heavenly King Christ
Jesus. Hearing and heeding the Kingdom message is the only
means now of salvation. W 9/1
January 28
Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we
shall receive heavier judgment. For in many things we all
stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, tll(j same is a perfect
man, able to bridle the whole body also.--J as. :1: 1, 2,
Am. Stan. Ver.
It does not matter whether one is a witness of Jehovah or
not, each and everyone is liable to faults in the use of the
tongue. As long as Christians are in the imperfect flesh, the
tongue will remain beyond taming to perfection. ile merciful
to offenders, if repentant. We cannot look for perfection of
speech alllong evcn the congreg.ations of faithful Christians.
The fundamental reason is that these are still in the imper-
fect flesh with its inclinations to sin, and perfection is not to
be expected of them in word or in deed. Hence Christians that
are teachers of others stand in a very responsiblc position and
need to be very careful not to use their vocal powers for wrong
purposes as well as not to teach false doctrine. lV 5/1
January 29
With righteousness shall he judgc.-Ps. 98: 9.
Jehovah will exhibit the perfection of his judicial mind by
bringing to a just and right settlement every question and
problem over which there has been controversy. His solving
of all matters will stand forever without appeal therefrom and
without reversal. Righteousness will come fully in control of
this earth, and all lovers of truth and righteousness on earth
will find relief and will joyfully honor and praise the great
"Judge of all". His great "judgment day" is something to look
forward to with heartfelt desire and thankfulness. All those
who are innocent and in the right and wanting justice done
do not dread the coming of court days when the judge must sit
on the bench and the trying of important cases under dispute
must go forward to a final decision. All those, therefore, who
long to have their devotion to God's righteousness vindicated
are bound to rejoice that His great day of judicial action is
at hand! lV 6/15
January SO
With his heart man believes and justified, with his mouth
he confesses and is saved.-Rom. 10: 10, Moffatt.
What if you do read the Bible and claim to believe it with the
heart or mind? If you do not make confession with your mouth
to other persons, to that neighbor whom you are commanded
to love, you will be lacking in that which contribntes to salva-
tion, namely, confession with the mouth or with whatever means
of expression lie within your power. Therefore it is your con-
fessing to others about God's kingdom, it is your praising of
God, it is your preaching of the good news, it is your using of
your mouth or of your powers of expressing thought and infor-
mation to others, that guarantees to you, and to each one of us,
life eternal in the new world through Jesus Christ. It is essen-
tial for us to confess with the mouth. Our belief must have vigor
and power enough to make an open confession coura;;pously
before W 11 / 1
January 31
'i'hough he were a Son, 1/et learned he obedience b1/ the things
which he sufjered.-H eb. 5: 8.
In Jesus' case the sufferings for righteousness' sake served
to prove that God's most trusted servant could not be driven
by sufferings to rebel against the universal sovereignty of his
heavenly Father, but that he stood firm for it in the midst of
an opposing world. The benefit to Jesus was that by such suf-
ferings that God let come to him for no fault of his own he
learned perfect obedience to God his Father. He showed that
his obedience was no shallow, superficial thing but was moti-
vated by perfect love toward God. Hence he was fearless of
any present painful consequences for rpnrlering perfect oberli-
e ~ \ C e to God. By this faithful and obedient course he vindi-
cated God as the rightful Sovereign of the universe, and God
his -Father rewarded him with the appointment to be his Chief
Servant in finally vindicating God's universal sovereignty and
sacred name. W 11/15
February 1
Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; talk 1/e of all his man'el-
lous works. Seck 1/C Jehovah and his strength; seek his face
evermore.-Ps. l05: 2, 4, A.S. V.
God's law as expressed through his prophet Jeremiah and as
quoted by the apostle Paul is: "That, according as it is writ-
ten, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (J er. 9 : 23, 24 ;
1 Cor. 1: 31) '1'0 God's real people this command spares no
room for praising the political and economic wise men, the
mighty military men, and the popes and higher clergy who are
rich in material wealth and worldly honors. Did luuding and
glorifying such political, commercial, military and religious
clements ever lead the people to life, lasting peace and pros-
perity? Never; but the effect has been to shove the only Giv!'r
of life and p<>ace to the side and to put men at enmity with
him. According to God's own words it is inescapable that all
men that live shall bow the knee to Jehovah God and swear
and confess to him. Why not start doing so now? Today is the
gracious time to sing his praises. lV 8/15
February 2
Praise the Lord, all 1/e Gentiles.-Rom. 15: 11.
The prime mover of sedition against him Jehovah still lets go
on in his way. 'I.'oday the great danger to men and women is
that of being drawn into the wicked movement and being found
in it when it is finally put down by wholpsale execution of all
the seditionists at Armageddon. The Lord God has let it con-
tinue on into this postwar era for the testing of the loyalty
of men and women to Him. That is a leading reuson why he
has permitted such seditious wickedness all this while until at
last he vindicates his universal sovereignty. His vindication
will mean life and joy to all the loyal ones. Hence the timely
command of Psalm 117: 1 now goes forth: HOh praise Jehovah,
all ye nations." (Am. Stan. Ver.) The results are always hap-
pier if a human creature praises Jehovah God rather -than
libeling or blaspheming him. W 3/1
February 8
I will pour out mll spirit upon all flesh.-Joe/ 2: 2B.
No difference was shown to anyone who was a consecrated,
faithful Christian on account of age, family relationship or so-
cial position. Old men, young men, parents, children, masters,
servants, all consecrated believers of flesh and blood were
favored with the outpouring of the spirit that all together might
call upon the name of the Lord God and praise his name
Jehovah and be saved through his anointed King and Lord,
Jesus Christ. There were times when all such were inspired,
as, for instance, when they all "began to speak with other
tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance", to speak the
"wonderful works of God". (Acts 2: 4, 11) Sometime after-
ward believers of Samaritan flesh "received the holy spirit",
together with its inspired gifts. (Acts 8: 14-17) Not long after-
ward the first Gentile converts were heard to "speak with
tongues, and magnify God". (Acts 10: 24-46) That was a
time of inspiration for them by God's spirit. W 5/15
Februa.ry 4
Have boldness in the dall of judgment.-1 John": 17.
There must come a specific day or season in the future when
there would be a special judgment time of the house or church
of God. There was such a final judgment-time that came UlJon
the Jewish church with the Messiah's arrival, and that was a
prophetic picture of what must likewise come upon the Chris-
tian church that succeeded to the place of God's favor when
the Jewish church was finally cast out for unbelief and disobe-
dience. 'l'hus a day or period comes in which all the church
together is put on judgment and the decisions ar(' finally ren-
dered and the rewards or recompenses are handed out by the
divine Court. 'l'his is at the time that the great Judge, Jehovah
God, or his judicial Associate, Christ Jesus, comes for the
holding of judgment, beginning with the "house of God". This
is when its prospective membership of 144,000 is complete and
its last members are on the earth. That judgment-day is now
in progress. W 1/1
February 5
This do in remembrance of me.-Luke 22: 19.
Among Jesus' Jewish disciples the Lord's supper on each
Nisan 14 took the place of the passover. Thus the day which
Jehovah God appointf'd for a memorial to Almighty God the
Lord Jesus did not push aside. He held on to it, to mark it
by a different celebration of larger meaning. I"or a certainty,
when setting up a memorial for his body-members on Jehovah's
memorial day of Nisan 14 our Lord Jesus was not instituting
a celebration more in his own honor than in Jehovah's honor.
Christ's death, while it also accomplished the ransoming of
humankind, was primarily for the vindication of Jehovah's
name and universal sovereignty. His body-members celebrate
the memorial to Jehovah's honor, but with remembrance of
Jesus Christ as the one whom .Tehovah uses chiefly for His
vindication and as the One whom all Christians must imitate,
with integrity to the death. W 2/15
February 6
Not to please ourselves.-Rom. 15: 1.
We could please ourselves by escaping reproaches and opposi-
tions or by getting out from under them as soon as we should
like. But if we appreciate being in under those reproaches and
oppositions on the side of Jehovah God and bearing up under
them for the vindication of his side of this issut', it will nerve
us to endurance. Just for that we are glad to be in there un-
der the endurance test no matter how long it lasts. Pll'lIsing
ourselves means pleasing the Devil's world, but to pleas(' God
with all the lasting power of our minds and bodit's is what we
want. In order to do so, we must turn to the Scriptures which
the God of endurance caused to be written for our presellt needs.
All those Scriptures testify to the unceasing antagonism be-
tween the Devil's world and God and his people. '1'0 be with
God and on his side puts us directly in the line of fire of the
opposition forces. But what an honor to be opposed for His
sake! W 7/15
February 7
If they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to hjm that
is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him.
-Eccl. 4: 10.
U anyone turns his back on God's organization and tries to
go his own way and refuses the goodness that God extends
through his organization, he will fall solitary. '1'he Lord call
only let such proud, self-reliant one fall to his destruction.
If, however, we keep in touch with the organization and asso-
ciate with those attached to it, then in case of our falling we
shall have their brotherly attentions. They will put forth dis-
interested efforts on our behalf to lift us up and to h.,lp liS
stand with integrity toward God. His organization stands ready
to our help. If we cleave fast to it and comply with organization
instructions, then in the time of need it will tak(' r('cognition
of us and will put its powers and arrallgements at our st'rvice.
It will loyally come to our help and enable us to rise and go on.
W 12/1
February 8
My heart is fixed, 0 God, my heart is fixed: I leill sing, yea,
I wilt sing praises.-Ps. 57: 7, Am. Stan. Ver.
Rather than the fixity of one's affections upon God one'"
preparedness to sing His praises may be the real mpaning of
the psalmist's words here: "My heart is ready, ready, 0 God,
for song and melody." (Moffatt) Not budging from their devo-
tion to God, Jehovah's witnesses came out of World War II
with hearts proved to be fixed upon the love of God. '1'hey
knew the One to whom to ascribe their deliverance and to whom
to sing praises therefor. Instantly, when the postwar era set
in, they displayed their hearts to be ready, not to praise the
organization of the United Nations, but to praise Jehovah God.
How? By going right on with their witness work in all nUlions.
They had not turned aside from it during the global war, and
they would not now turn aside just because the peacetime had
come. They have expanded their witness. To GOd, "who per-
fOll:1dh all things for me," be the praise. W 12/15
February 9
Jesus the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
-lleb. 13,' 8.
JesuS Christ's being the same Son of God while
011 earth was not dependent upon his having the same body that
he had had in heaven from the time he was created as "the
brginning of the creation of God". Very evidently, then, what
made him the same person, both after he laid aside his heavenly
glory and became man, and then after he sacrificed his human
nature and was resurrected to spirit life once more and forever,
was the preserving of his pcrsonality. In the resurrection J eho-
yah God re-created the personality of .T esns. That included all
the qualities of perfected obedience and fully tested integrity
that Jesus had acquired through his faithful course on earth. It
included all his memories of his existence clear through his
earthly life and all the way back through his prehuman life
in heaven. W 4/1
February 10
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the believing wife,
and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother [husband J.
-1 Cor. 7,' 14, Diaglott.
The believer now deals with the mate from a sanctified view-
point. In God's eyes they are one flesh, and when one of the
married pair sanctifies himsclf to God then the other one of
the one flesh is affected and undergoes an indirect sauctification.
Cl'rtainly sllch sanctification could not mean divorcing the un-
believing one who is one's flesh. It must mean that henceforth
what prOTJcr, due services and companionship the sanctified be-
liever renders to the unbeliever he does as unto the Lord God
whom the believer is consecrated to serve. He mllst do so, be-
cause he may not, except for fornication, break off the marriage
tie and oneness of flesh. This fact should be a great comfort
to sanctified believers whose mates are not in the truth nor
consecrated to God. It should be a blessing, deterring unwar-
ranted efforts at divorce. W '2/1
February 11
Repent ye, and believe the gospel.-Mark 1,' 15.
Should a sinner feel that the promise of divine forgiveness is
for someone clse but cannot cover or apply to his sin, and no
justification from it could be possible through Christ's sacrifice '!
Noone should discourage himself to that extent. Yes, he should
feel a consciousness of sin due to the reproofs of the gospel
mcssage of God and of his Christ; he should have a heart
IOlJging to be released from the bnrden of such sin. 'l'hat is good,
because as long as the gospel can stir up a repentance in the
sinner receiving the message, God's mercy can embrace that one
and hold out to him the forgi vcness of sins through Christ. 'l'hc
repentance of the sinner is the hopeful sign for such sinner and
is the initial thing that is required. Repentance means experienc-
ing a change of mind toward sin and sincerely feeling grief at
being a sinner and desiring God's way of relief from it. W 4/15
February 12
But why a08t thou juage thy brothe1"'-Rom. 14: 10.
Why should anyone of us try to take the place of God and
act as judge of others? Each one that has any responsibility
to collect and tabulate reports of the work done by others should
keep in mind that such workers are not his servants serving
him and he is not to judge and criticize them over such reports.
While such reports may indicate the qualification or disqualifica-
tion of the workers for other special privileges and places of
service, no one handling the report is authorized to find fault,
complain, and abuse these willing workers. No one engaged in
this educational work has been eommissioned by any man on
earth to be the servant of such men. All members of God's
anointed remnant and all the fellow helpers of good-will are
consecrated to God and are servants to Him and doing the
work at His orders. Each one should therefore be given credit
for what he tries to do as unto the Lord God, and should be
encouraged. lV 9/15
February IS
The Lord loves the pure in heart; and he who is gracious in
speech-the king is his friend. Honest lips are the delight of a
king,. he loves the man who speaks aright.-Prov. 22: 11 and
16: lS, An A mer. Trans.
Coming over onto the side of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus,
the heavenly Kings today reigning, means life everlasting for us.
Pleasing these Kings requires, among other things, right speech
on our part. The speaker of what is right will now make no
mistake when he obeys Jehovah's command through Christ for
this end of the world, namely, that the good news of the estab-
lished Kingdom should be publicly proclaimed in all the habit-
able earth for a witness to all the nations. It is a gracious
message, and those who take it on their lips jn honesty and
out of love for the reigning Kings will have them as their de-
lighted Friends forever in the new world of righteousness. 1V ;;/1
February 14
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall
enter into the king's l!alaee.-Ps. 45: 15.
How do the virgin of Christ's bride "enter into
the king's palace"'/ Not by going to heaven with his bride, but
by present privileges of proclaimillg the Kingdom in
companionship with the remnant and then by living through to
the time when the marriage of the heavenly Bridegroom and of
his glorified bride, the church, will be carried through to include
the final member of the bride class. It is just as when virgin
bridesmaids, by entering into the royal palace after the brid(',
would see the marriage ceremony consummated. At Psalm
45: 15 the Grcrk Septuagint reads: "Tbey shall be brongilt to
the temple of the king." This identifies the virgins with the
"great multitude" described as in the temple, at RewlatioIl
7 : 15. Surviving to the climax of the marriage they will wit
ness all the changes and new relationships that t his joyous
nuptial event will mean for all on earth in the new world of
righteousness. TV 10/1
February 15
I will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst oj the
church will I sing praise to thee. Ye that fear the Lord,
praise hirn.-Ps. ftft: 22, 23, LXX, Bagster.
David, as far as he himself was concerned, meant here sing-
ing Jehovah'S praises in the midst of the Israelite congregation
or ecclesia. But his words were prophecy, and the apostle Paul
quoted them and applied them to Jesus Christ, at HpbrewB
2 : 11, 12. Thus the transfer of the term ecclesia or church is
made from the Israelite congregation to the Christian congre-
gation. Jehovah has such an assembly of people who are sep-
arate and distinct from the politics, commerce and religion of
this world. The whole religious organization of Christendom ap-
pears like a "kingdom divided against itself" and like a "city or
house divided against itself". Such an organization, whose
worldly dividedness dooms it to fall, cannot be the true assem-
bly of God's people. His true assembly is at unity and peace
within itself. It will not fall divided. W 6/1
February 16
Now there are varieties of gracious gifts, but the same spirit.
And to each is given the manifestation of the spirit for the
benefit of all.-l Oor. 12: 4, 7, The Emphatic Diaglott.
Varieties of spiritual gifts and powers bestowed on various
Christians do not argue that there is not just one God over
all of them, and one Lord Jesus as his appointed Head over
them, and one and the same spirit from the one divine Source.
The fact that God's consecrated witnesses of today do not
miraculously speak and preach with foreign tongues does not
mean God's spirit has not been poured out upon them in these
last days. The spirit of God is capable of a great variety of
manifestations in harmony with His purpose. Hence varied
manifestations of the spirit are not meant to counteract one
another and produce disunity and friction. They are meant to
be for the profit of all Christians who have been anoin ted with
this one and the same spirit of Jehovah God. W 1/1
February 17
The like figure whereunto eren baptism doth also now save
by the resurrection of Jesus.-l Pet. 3: 21.
Noah in the ark is evidently a typical picture of Jesus Christ.
Those who want to he saved to eternal life must be baptized unto
him within God's ark-like arrangement. They must become sub-
merged in obedience under Christ's leadership in order to gain
eternal salvation. Simply the cleaning of themselves up morally
in the flesh will not do this. What gains salvation for them is
their gaining a clean conscience toward God by the benefit of
Jesus' life-giving sacrifice. He himself was submerged by a bap-
tism into God's will. Thereafter he did not seek to live accord-
ing to his own will. Since he submitted to th{' divine will even
into death he lives today only by reason of being resurrected.
Likewise his faithful followers, who go down into death in obedi-
ence to God's will, gain life again only by resurrection. This
is because their Leader Jesus was the first to be resurrected.
W 3/15
February 18
There are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the
sake of the Realm of heaven. Let anyone practice it for whom
it is practicable.-Matt. 19: 12, Moffatt.
The one who makes himself a eunuch for the kingdom of
heaven's sake do('s not literally mutilate himself in the flesh
(Deut. 23: 1), but dismisses married life from his mind. He
devotes himself with singleness of mind and affection and bodily
strength to serve God's kingdom. Virgin maids can take a like
course of action and (>njoy freedom and blessings to themselves.
\Vidows and widowers can display a like single-hearted devo-
tion by not remarrying but by specializing henceforth on sl'rving
that which concerns the kingdom of God. The Christian's pur-
poses concerning the service of God and of His royal cause are
the things that will guide and determine in the Christian's final
decision and choice. Jesus left it up to each Christian's liberty
to decide. lV 1/15
February 19
'The Son of 1iHltt Cllme not to bc ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life.-Matt. 20: 28.
The greatest official servant of the Most High God is his own
first Son, Christ Jesus. He holds this exalted place because he
is one of "The Higher Powers" with .T ehovah God. Every God-
fearing soul should therefore be in subjection to him as well
as to the Supreme Power Jehovah God, because God has or-
dained him to this place. (Rom. 13: 1-4) When on earth as a
man Jesus was the model minister of God. He preached the
good news of Gods kingdom, which God had anointed him with
the spirit to preach. (Luke 4: 17-21) By faithfully holding him-
self to carrying out this appointed service with the help of
God's spirit, he proved himself to be a minister of the gospel
of God. No politics, commercialism or militarism for him.
Preaching the gospel with absolute neutrality toward the po-
litical controversies of this world did not spare him from perse-
cution. He suffered to the death. W 10/15
February 20
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: sct yourselvcs, stand
ye still, a.nd see.-2 Gkron. 20: 17.
Let the worldly political institutions fight it out among thp-m-
selves. These things are Ilot the affairs of the devoted subjects
of the new world's King, Christ Jesus. As they fight it out
among themselves and mutually batter themselves up, we will
stand neutral, but with positive activity for the Kingdom and
worship of Jehovah God. We will watch as the Israelites did
under King Jehoshaphat. Like them, we will keep up the COIl-
structive singing to God's praise that all the humble and meek
of the earth may hear and may join with the singing wor-
shipers of the Most High God. (20: 21-29) While we sing his
praises, Almighty God, Jehovah of hosts, will disconcert the
enemies, and, by his King, he will fight the battle of Arma-
ge(ldon and d('stroy all the confused enemy forces. Only his true
worship"rs will suryive! W 9/1
February 21
Supply the needs of God's people.-Rom.n: 13, An Amer. Trans.
Persons appointed to positions of special responsibility with
special duties in a congregation have an excellent opportunity
and a special privilege of supplying the needs of God's peoplp.
If they do so, they show love of their brethren. None of such
appointed servants, if he takes a right view of the situation,
will think that now because he is in such an appointed posi-
tion he can sit back, do nothing and merely enjoy the honor
of it all. How did he get to his appointed place in the first
instance? Only by being first a faithful Kingdom publisher with
a suitable record. He was one of the thousands holding that
most fundamental and important position in God's visible or-
ganization, that of being a publisher of His kingdom. Were it
not for the groups of such publishers of God's message, there
would be no such servants put in office, to be servants, not
masters. W 11/1
February 22
If anyone thinkcth that he worshippeth God, and doth not
restrain his tongue, bitt his heart deceiveth him,. his worship
is vain.-Ja.s. 1: 26, Murdock.
A hypocrite will draw near to God in an outward, ceremonious
way with his lips full of pious phrases, but his heart inclina-
tions will be far from God and the divine will and command-
ments. A sincere perllon, however, will be wholehearted in wor-
shiping God, not wanting to deceive himself. Nevertheless, he
mUllt be watchful not to spoil the effect and acceptance of that
worship by improper speech in the other affairs of life. Being
one thing at the Oil!' time and the opposite at another time, such
a professed worshiper is deceiving himself if he thinks he is
getting anywhere by what various forms of worship he offers
to God. For pure and undefiled worship in God's sight the serv-
ant of God must not only bless God but also cause his tongue
to be a blessing to mankind as well. TV 5/1
February 23
I, the LORD your God, am ... showing kindness to the
thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my
commands.-Dellt. 5: 9, 10, An Amer. Trans.
No one should think God will overplay his forbearance,
loving-kindness and mercy where a person is hypocritical and
tries to take advantage of God's graciousnpss in order to keep
on indulging a love of sin and unrighteousness. If he loves sin,
which is the transgression of God's law, he docs not love God,
but hates him. The Second Commandment shows that haters
of God cannot trifle with him. It says he brings down the full
effect of their iniqnity upon them, so that even their offspring
to the third and fourth generation are aff!'cted thereby. But
those who try to prove their love of God by keeping his com-
mands are favored with mercy, in order for them to try again
and again in all sincerity to do what is right. To such ones
he shows mercy "to a thousand generations". (A.S. V., margin)
That means he is forever merciful to them. W 4/15
February 24,
In the last days, liaith God, I will pour out of my spirit upon
all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.
-Acts 2: li.
This pouring out of God's spirit upon the flesh of all his
faithful anointed witnesses does not mean that those now acting
as Jehovah's witnesses are inspired. It does not mean that the
writings in 1'he Watchtower are inspired and infallible and with-
out mistakes. We leave it for the pope to claim infallibility,
according to his decree of A.D. 1870. But we confess with the
Scriptures that the day of such inspiration passed long before
1870, as the apostle Paul showed it would. (1 Cor. 13: 8-13)
Inspired speaking and writing passed away with the last of the
twelve apostles, by whom gifts of the spirit were imparted to
others. Yet God is still able to teach and lead us. While con-
fessing to no inspiration for today for anyone on earth, we
do have the privilege of praying God for more of his holy
spirit and for his guidance of us by it. W 5/15
February 25
Patience and faith which you have shown in spite of all the
persecutions and troubles that you are enduring. These persecu-
tions tcill vindicate God's justice as a judge.-2 Thess. 1: 4, 5,
20th Oent. N. T.
To continue on in this way, we know, means to feel further
the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy on the end of the world:
"Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake"; and that
refers to the nations now that have survived World War II,
communist, democratic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, heathen.
The suppressing of Nazi-Fascist types of government over certain
nations does not mean Jesus' words cease to apply. Because it is
uone for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ, we are resolved
to go on in the course that focuses the hatred of all nations
and of all men upon us. We have a good conscience toward
God, because our conscience is edncated according to his 'Vord,
and we well understand that to suffer with intelligent conscience
toward God draws his approval. W i / 15
February 26
And wh080ever was not found written in the book of life was
cast into the lake of firc.-Rev. 20: 15.
The final, determinative test will be imposed by loosing Sa-
tan for a "little season" when the thousand years are ended.
(20: 7-10) 'l'he eternal issue of Jehovah's sovereignty will be
also then the primary issue before mankind, and all on earth
must face this final test, namely, the faithful ones of ancient
times, the "sheep" of this time of the end, and all those or any
of those included in the "resurrection unto judgment". If
IIny then selfishly yield to Satan's deceptions and rebel against
being delivered by Christ over to Jehovah's universal and ever-
lasting sovereignty, they will be condemned and sentenced to
unending destruction, symbolized by the "lake of fire", which is
the "second death". (20: 14) Satan the Devil that deceived thell}
into this rf'bellious course will suffer the same fate as th"y.
-20 : 10. lV i / 1
February 21
Let thine eyes look right on, and let . thin e eyelids look straight
before thee.-Prov. 4: 25.
The Lord God has set a straight road ahead of us that leads
right on into the righteous new world of eternal life, and
Christ Jesus the King now deflects through God's Word the
divine light down upon that road. The New World created by
God's perfect wisdom and power and ruled by his King is to
the front of us. No looking behind for us, nor to either side,
with any selfish longing! We might stumble. Our eyes are at
the front of our head; deprived of their guiding vision; the
feet lead or stumble into evil. There is great value in keepiug
our powers of vision always directed ahead upon the course
before us, and, at its end, the blessed prize held in reserva-
tion. The sight of what is at the end of the course beckons us
forward. It renews our strength because of the joy that it in-
fuses in us, joy that makes the road yet to be traversed not
seem so hard or so long. lV 8/1
February 28
He appointed them that should sing unto Jehovah, and give
praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say,
Give thanks unto for his. loving kindness endureth
for vhron. 20.21, A.S.V.
Under command not to hole up fearfully behind city walls,
Jehovah's people tramped forth early next morning. But how?
With the military forces to the fore? Strangely, no; but with
the temple singers at the very head of the marching column.
Here the praise of Jehovah was put before militarism, even if
that might seem to make His people naked to attack and slaugh-
ter. Nevertheless, this faithful and courageous praising of Je-
hovah led to salvation. During the singing of his praise under
such conditions, his honor was put at stake. So he came to
the salvation of his covenant-people and fought the battle with-
out their having to shoot a single arrow. He vindicated his own
praiseworthy name.-20: 21-24. W 8/15
February 29
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship.-Acts 2: 42.
The believers from Pentecost onward attended constantly
upon the teaching and instruction of the apostles and thus
kept in fellowship with them. In course of time the doctrine or
instruction of the apostles and associated brethren was written
down for preservation and was added to the Hebrew Scriptures
to form the complete Bible. These new inspired writings, at
first written in common Greek for the most part, were of equal
authority with the ancient Hebrew Scriptures and formed part
of the organization instructions contained in the whole of the
Bible. Wherever members of the governing body of the church
of the first century found themselves, there organization in-
structions were issued. The invisible Head of the church, Christ
Jesus, was the unseen liaison member between them all to in-
spire them by the spirit of God and to keep them all in har-
mony with one another. W 12/1
March 1
From a child thou hast known the holy script1trcs, which are
abie to make thee wise unto salvation throu(Jh faith whioh is
in Christ Jesus.-2 'l'im. 3: is.
The only Holy Scriptures out of which Timothy eould have
hren taught by Eunice and Lois from his childhood wer!' the
Hebrew Scriptures from Moses to Malachi. All such Scripture
Paul said is divinely inspired and for this reason profitable
to the Christians and serving to equip God's servants for the
good work that he has commissioned us to do. It stands to
then, that the Christian's equipment is not complete
without the Hebrew Scriptures and the proper understanding
of them. In fact, the Christian Greek Scriptures find a founda-
tion and basis in the Hebrew Scriptures; they were written by
Christ's disciples in explanation of the Hebrew Scriptures and
show the fulfillment of many important prophecies in the He-
brew Scriptures. These were indeed inspired by the holy spirit.
W 5/15
March 2
A wise man is esteemed for being pleasant; his friendly
add to his influence. Good sense 1nakes men judiaious in their
ta.k; it adds persuasiveness to what they say.-Prov. 16: 21, 2.'1,
Moffatt.
\Vith his mind full of the heavenly knowledge the servant
of the Lord can go forth confidently from house to house and
speak pleasantly and intelligently and can add persuasive force
to what his lips teach the people at their homes. That is the
best way to bear the fruits of the Kingdom forth to the people
that they may feed on them. In that way, indeed, your tongue
will be a "wholesome tongue", a tree of life bearing good fruits.
In that way all witnesses of Jehovah, as they go about from
door to door offering the Kingdom fruits to the people,
knowledge by their lips and feed many. Their tongue is like
choice silver, because it speaks forth the Bible truth, which
is as silver rdined in the fire and purified seven times,-15: 4, 7 ;
10:20,21. W 5/1
March S
That Ghrist should slIffer, and that he should be the first that
should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people.
-Acts 26: 23.
Jesus Christ was the first one to be distinguished with a resur-
rection to everlasting life. 'l'his makes his resurrection different
from that of the sons of certain women of old times before
Christ, 'l'hose women "received their dead by a resnrrection"
at the hands of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. (Heb. 11: 35,
Am. Stan. Ver.) The sons of these women were not resusci-
tated to everlasting life, but died off in the course of time, be-
cause Jesus Christ had not yet become the "Lamb slain" that
takes away the sin of the world. 'l'hey were still subject to
death. But concerning Jesus Christ the facts arc that "Christ
being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more
dominion over him". (Hom, (J: 9) Therefore a new world with-
out end under an immortal King is on the way. W 4/1
March 4:
Feed the church of God, which he acquired by the blood of his
own.-Acts 20: 28, The Emphatic Diaglott.
The Jewish nation stubbornly refused to be bought with the
blood of God's own Son in order to become his newly-acquired
church. The faithful Jewish remnant was called out from among
the rejected Jewish nation and the believing Gentiles were
thereafter called out from the rest of the nations of the world.
All such, Jew and Gentile together, became the people for God's
name. This makes them a called-out company, indeed. (Acts
15: 14-17) This assembly, congregation or ecclesia is now the
church of God, and the Holy Scriptures so speak of them and
to them. It is true that Christ Jesus spoke of them as his
church, saying: "Upon this rock I will build my church." Also
at Romans 16: 16 Paul writes: "The churches of Christ salute
you"; he speaks of the church as the "body of Christ". How-
ever, Jesus too is part of that church, he being head member,
but the entire congregation is Jehovah's. W 6/1
March 5
Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men.-Ezek. 9: 4.
Today a marking work is going on by the agency of the
anointed remnant of Jehovah's witnesses. They do a work of
setting a mark in the scat of intelligence of men, which make
these openly confess themselves to be for the pure worship of
Jehovah God. It is by the righteous, peaceful means of preach-
ing the good news of God's kingdom and of his vengeance that
men today are marked in the forehead. There is no other way
to mark them than by bringing them to a knowledge of the
Kingdom and God's purposes by it. The King Christ Jesus de-
clared in prayer to Jehovah: "This is life eternal, that they
might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
thou hast sent." Those with foreheads marked by the perception,
acceptance and confession of the Kingdom truth are the ones
that will call upon God's name through Christ for saJ\'ation
in this day of crisis. Hence we must be preachers in order to do
the marking work today. W 9/15
March 6
Preach unto the people, and to testify that this [Jesus] is he
who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.
-Acts 10: 42, Am. Stan. Vcr.
This makes it certain that some persons of good-will are to
be living upon earth when that great day sets in and, if the
Judge rules that ther. are worthy of everlasting life for their
faithfulness, they Wlll never suffer a stopping of conscious
existence but will Iiye on forever on earth without going down
into the grave. What a possibility for today! Persons of good-
will toward God are therefore anxious to learn about His judg-
ment day, how he will then do justice to himself by vindicating
himself and at the same time vindicate those who love and
serve him. They desire to know what course they should take
now in this time of decision in order to meet with his approval
and to be judged worthy of living forever in his favor ill the
New World. His judgment day is at hand! W 6/15
March '7
Thfl throne is the throne of God for ever and ever: a sceptre
of equity is the of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved right-
and hated wlckednll8s.-Ps. 45: 6, 7, Am. Stan. Ver.,
mm'gin.
The source of Messiah's throne is Jehovah God, Messiah sits
in the throne as the representative of Jehovah God. (1 Chron.
29: 23; 28: 5) Men and women have long sighed and pined for
a righteous government. Let them all turn now to Jehovah's
King for such a satisfying government, because his scepter will
be a right scepter, one of equity and with nothing crooked
about it. The righteousness of his rule is guaranteed to us be-
cause of his loving righteousness and hating wickedness. For
thus loving and hating, JesUS on earth went to a disgraceful
death at the hands of his persecutors. For this very cause God
raised him out of death and exalted him to His own right hand,
where he could fight for righteousness and enforce it with all
the needed power in heaven and in earth. W 10/1
March 8
The innocent man is rescued from trouble; and the guilty takes
his place.-Prov. 11: 8, An Amer. Trans.
The enemies said: "We shall find no ground of complaint
against this Daniel, unless we find it in connection with the
law of his God." (Dan. 6: 5, An Amer. Trans.) They framed
mischief by law in order that Daniel's prayers to God would
be legally branded as sedition and a breach of loyalty to the
deified state-ruler, Darius 1. In this test regarding universal
sovereignty Daniel chose to worship Jehovah as Universal
Sovereign and God of prayer. For loyalty to God Daniel was
cast to the lions, but his preservation overnight in the den of
lions proved him innocent of sedition against King Darius. It
exposed the malicious purpose behind the wickedly-framed sedi-
tion law. Hence its framers were thrown to the lions, whose
mouths Almighty God now permitted to be unlocked to tear
them to pieces and crunch their bones. Those guilty conspirators
came into Daniel's place, with no divine protection. W 8/1
l\larch 9
The fashion of this world passeth awar.; and I desire you to
be without anxicty.-l (Jor. i: 3 ,32, Rotherham.
The Christian should not give his whole or chief attention to
personal selfish matters which have to do with the flesh or hu-
man body, whether these be enjoying a wife or husband, or be
one's own joys or sorrows, or commercial activities or neces-
sary dealings with this world. The Christian should not bury or
sink himself too deeply in these things to the neglect of what is
eternal; because this world, and its scheme or fashion of things,
are due to pass off the stage of this earth. As against becoming
overcharged with the swiftly-passing selfish things of this pres-
ent, one should lay up treasures for the new world which
will soon now be upon us. For the Christian that is a mem-
ber of Christ's body and called to the heavenly kingdom, the
seeking of the Kingdom and of God's righteousness is the
thing of first importance. W 'e / 1
Marcb 10
For thy name's sake, 0 Jehovah, pardon mine iniquity, for it
is great.-Ps. t5: 11, Am. Stan. Vcr.
It is not because of anythin justly due to sin-laden men,
but primarily for his own name s sake that the Lord God for-
gives the sins of those who enter into relationship with him as
consecrated worshipers of him. Because Jesus Christ, the Mes-
siah, had not till then died as a ransom for mankind, the
psalmist could not ask for the pardoning of his iniquity and
the blotting out of his sins in the Dame of the Redeemer Jesus
Christ. He asked, therefore, for such forgiveness solely for Jeho-
vah's name's sake. In due time, for His name's sake, Jehovah
provided Christ Jesus his beloved Son to be the Ransomer of
mankind, and Jesus constantly declared that he came in his
Father's name. Jehovah's name would benefit very little from
forgiving the sinner's iniquity unless he tried afterward to keep
his integrity and his uprightness to Jehovah God. W 4/15
March 11
For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God.
-1 Pet. 4:17, Am. Stan. Vcr.
Christians entrusted with the gospel of God are put in a very
responsible position. From when they become members of God's
household under his Head Son Christ Jesus they are due to
be judged by God according to what they do henceforth till
the day of their death in the flesh. Their judgment for eternal
life or eternal death will Dot be based upon any opportunity
to do righteousness after the resurrection from death under
God's kingdom. No second chance for them in the New World!
At Pentecost A.D. 33 the time came for the members of
God's household of sons to become accountable for what they
did henceforth. Upon their acts from then on in the flcsh the
final judgment upon them must be based. If they kept integrity
to God the Father by living up to His gospel which they had
accepted through Christ, then the final judgment would be
for their salvation. W 7/1
March 12
'Phis day shall be unto you for a memorial, and yc sh all keep
it a feast to Jehovah.-E:J). 12: 14, A.S_ V.
Future celebrations of the passover feast were not to be
in memoriam of the passover lamb, but were to be a memorial
to God, a "feast to Jehovah". 1'he celebration memorialized
.Jehovah's act of vindicating his supreme power over Egypt and
delivering his chosen people, and not primarily memorializing
the lamb. Israel's deliverance from ggypt came more than 3,000
years ago. It prophetically pictured how Jehovah delivers all
those who become his people from this oppressive world of
which Satan the Devil is the ruler mightier than Pharaoh of
Egypt. '.rhe passover lamb, because of whose blood the first-
born children of the Israelites were passed over and spared from
death, typified someone. Whom'l 'rhe One by whom Jehovah
vindicates his name and delivers his people. "For even Christ
our passover is sacrificed for us."-l Cor. 5: 7. W 2/15
March IS
Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gmcious, slow to anger.
-Ex. 34: 6, Am. Stan. Vcr.
Jehovah is the grpat example of endurance. Aside from exist-
ing, he has endurctl >II an exemplary way in matters where his
keenest personal feelings and dignity are concerned. IIe has
restrained himself where there is the greatest cause for provoca-
tion and for taking action against the provokers. Endurance
of wickedness has surely had to be exercised on his part, be-
cause such wickedness has brought great reproach on his
name and has tried to block his good purpose and to destroy
and pervert all his good works. lIe of all persons in the universe
has been undeserving of such misrepresentation. infamy and
reproach to be heaped upon him, while his having omnipotent
power made him always able to put a full stop to it at any
time and relieve himself. For a most wise reason Almighty God
has endured all this which has seemingly hurt his good name
and his universal sovereignty. lV 7/15
March 14
Anoint thine cyes with cycsalve, that thou maycst sce.
-Rev. 3: 18.
To keep good spiritual vision, we must feed upon ~ o o d food
that nourishes our heart or mind. For our spiritual VIsion, the
food we need is the enlightening food that the Lord provides
from the Bible and through his Theocratic organization in
Christ. Keep your eyes on this food. If any have suffered im-
pairment of their vision of God's will and purpose, becoming
blinded by selfish things of this world, ther should pray to
God through Christ so as to receive His spIrit, which is like
a healing eyesalve. By repenting at the Lord's loving rebuke
and by turning from the blinding things of this world, fix your
studious attention upon God's Holy Word. By studying and
applying it we receive of his spirit. Get acquainted with his
commandments and instructions for his people in this dark time
of the world. GuidI' your line of vision according to his safe
rules.-PS, 19: 8. W 8/1
March 15
Thou wilt not leave my 80ul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to 8ce corruption.-Ps. 16.'10.
On the fiftieth day from his resurrection came the feast of
Pentecost, when the first-fruits of the wheat harvest were of-
fered to the Lord God at the temple. (Lev. 23: 15-21) On that
day of Pentecost Christ's consecrated followers became aJi \'e
to God in a spiritual sense by the outpouring upon tht'm of
the holy spirit of God. On that same day, with the help of
this outpoured spirit, the apostle Peter called public attention
to another advance proof in the Hebrew Scriptures of the resur-
rection. He quoted King David's prophetic statement, given
above of Psalm 16: 8-11. (Acts 2: 27-32) The hell in which
J esui soul or existence was not left was the grave. 'l'hose in
hell are absolutely dead, and not painfully alive in torments.
From this unconscious death-state it was that God resurrected
J eBUS to life, as predicted in Psalm 16. W 3/15
March 16
'l'hey learn to be idle, wandering bout from, house to house j
and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking
things which they ought not.-l '1'im,. 5,' 13.
Satan would like to plant evil-speakers among God's people
for the sake of causing hurt and damage to the organization.
He is eager to infect members of the organization with the spir-
it of the world which moves a person to wicked uses of the
powers of speech. Idleness from the good works of the Lord
allows room for the tongue to wag in unprofitable ways. In-
stead of imitating the apostle, who taught "from house to
house" as well as publicly, those growing careless of their re-
sponsibilities to God go from home to home among their Chris-
tian brethren and carry gossip that pertains to other persons'
private affairs. This does not upbuild the listeners in a way that
the discussion of the Kingdom truth and the service of it would
do. It tends to start the listener's tongue to wagging. W 5/1
March 17
'l'hey that forsake the law praise the wicked,' bllt such as keep
the law contend with them.-Prov. 28,' 4.
In accepting applause and eulogies of the people men do a
disservice to mankind by turning their adoration away from the
Supreme One, to whom all praise is due. Such misdirected
praise encourages the self-relIant rulers and leaders of this
world iu their ineffective government of this world. Whoever
eulogizes the prominent ones of this world as the saviors of
mankind and as the benefactors of humanity is forsaking the
law of God as regards praise and is taking away from the
Creator his due. Naturally those who do not want to be regu-
lated by God's law will praise the wicked who are in power,
but those who stick to the divine law will contend with the
wicked by obeying God and exposing the ungodliness of this
world and its lawlessness toward Him. They will not try to
please the honor-seeking leaders of this world and tickle their
cars by saying un scriptural things. W 8/15
March 18
'l'hey saw the boldness of Pete,- and John, and perceived that
they were unlearned alld 4,' 13.
All the same Peter and John were ordained ministers of
the gospel of God, whereas those educated, cultured justices
of law were not such. Jesus did not require Peter and John to
go to any religious theological school, but called them to fol-
low him and keep in his company. He taught them doctrine
and demonstrated to them how to serve God. He gave them prac-
tical training in preaching the true gospel. As his heavenly
Father sent him to preach, so he sent his disciples out to
preach. God used him at Pentecost to pour out the holy spirit
or invisible energy upon the disciples. In this manner they re-
ceived ordination and power to be God's ministers of the gospel.
Religious theological schools are thus seen to perform no part in
the valid ordination of the true ministers of the gospel of
God. W 10/15
March 19
Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy
footstool. Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out
oj Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.-Ps. 110: 1, 2.
Am. Stan. Ver.
During the nineteen centuries of waiting at God's right hand.
Christ Jesus has faithfully ministered as High Priest for aU his
consecrated followers and subjects upon the earth in order to
prepare and fit them. to reign with him in the heavens in due
time. But now the kingdom of God toward this earth has come
and God has empowered his King, Christ Jesus, to act for him
in a governmental way. Now the day has come upon us for the
kingdom of Jehovah God, established in the hands of his Christ,
to extend its power from heaven and into all parts of our
earth. Psalm 110: 1, 2 was notice to Christ Jesus to expect to
have a fight on his hands when taking Kingdom power. The
enemies would not want him as King. However, Christ Jesus
will rule for ever, but not so his enemies. W 9/1
March 20
Let every 8011,1 be subject unto the higher powers . love thy
neighbour as thyselj.-IlolII. 13: 1, 9.
If being subject to the higher powers meant being snbject to
political powers and governments of this world, such as are now
bound together in the United Nations organization, how could
true Christians keep this Theocratic rule of neighbor love? But
this rule of unselfish neighborliness can be faithfully kept by
true Christians in this twentieth century because the "higher
powers" to whom to be subject are the Ones from whom and
through whom this law came, namely, Jehovah God, by whom
the law is given, and Christ Jesus, through whom the law is
given. It we subject ourselves to them rather thau to the Hit-
lers, Mussolinis, and other totalitarian dictators and political
bosses that get into office and power, then we can and will keep
this rule that governs right and helpful conduct toward our
neighbors. W 11 /1
March 21
No one who is speaking under the influence of the spirit of
God e1!er s a y . ~ , "Curse Jesus!" and no one can say, "Jesus is
Lord '" without being under the influence of the holy spirit.
-1 Cor. 12: 3, An Amer. Trans.
God gives the spirit and spiritual gifts through Jesus Christ.
The spirit or active force of God does not operate contradictorily
and contrary to itself. It does not cause one man to say that
Jesus is accursed and another man to say Jesus is the Lord
and Master. Any spirit or active force that causes any person
to say a curse upon Jesus must, therefore, be of God's adver-
sary, the Devil, for God's spirit is one and is at agreement
with itself. It is holy, and therefore it causes Christians to
confess God's holy Son Jesus as the Lord who bought them with
his precious blood of human sacrifice. That spirit of God pro-
motes and preserves unity among all on whom it operates. W 1/1
March 22
Ye that seek Jehovah: look unto the rock whence ye were hewn,
.. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that
bare you.-lsa. 51: 1, 2, Am. Stan. Ver,
That means, Look to Jehovah God, the Greater Abraham;
and look to his Theocratic universal organization. which is the
Greater Sarah, and from which you have been digged or pro
duced and through which comes your Christian existence. Hal"
moniously with this, when you look for an acceptable, visible
governing body of Jehovah's witnesses on earth now, you look
to those who are part of this Theocratic organization, the
antitypical Sarah. which is not confined to anyone land on
earth. 'l'hen you look among them for wholly devoted servants
of God who arc 'l'heocratically motivated and who are in abso
lute accord with the Theocratic arrangement and with Theo
cratic instructions for the organization. \Ve do not look for
this governing body to be an inspired body, but do require them
to be attached to God's inspired Word, directing affairs in har
mony with it, and publishing its message. W 12/1
March 23
Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down
with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
-Matt. 8: 11.
The Israelites were the natural descendants of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, who had been given covenant promises con-
cerning the Seed in whom all families of the earth should one
day be blessed_ Abraham. Isaac and Jacob pointed forward to
the kingdom of heann, God's kingdom; all three were in favor
of the kingdom of heaven and kept Theocratic law as far as it
was given them. In fact, Abraham was a prophetic type of
Jehovah, whereas the beloved son Isaac was a type of the
Seed, the only begotten Son of God, namely, Jesus Christ.
Jacob as Abraham's grandson was a type of the 144,000 asso
ciates of .Tesus Christ in the kingdom. It takes, not flesh con
nections, but faith to enter the kingdom of heaven, and many
non-Israelites came in faith from east and west to enter into
the Kingdom as symbolized by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. W 6/1
March 24
Prophecy came not in old time by the lcill of man.' but holy
men of God spake as they WC1-e m01!ed.-2 Pet. 1: 21.
Whether by direct address of God's angels or by visions or
by dreams or by other invisible operations upon his approved
servants, the Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures of the centurlPS be-
fore Christ were produced by inspiration. Therefore they are
authoritative and are a valid part of the Holy Bible, God's
Word. In Moses' day, at Mount Sinai, the terrified Isnwlites
pleaded that God should not speak to them direct any more,
but should speak by his prophet. God has since spoken to men
indirectly by his prophets, human creatures, but filled and car-
ried along in thpir expressions by the invisible active force of
God, his infallible holy spirit. Men they were, indeed, but
inspired with the superhuman spirit of God, and they spoke
and wrote in His name, because they were His representatives.
The continuing fulfillment of prophecy proves it. W 5/15
March 25
Memorial Date, after 6 p.m., S. T.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye pro-
claim the Lord's death till hc comc.-1 Cor. 11: 26, A.S.V.
So those partaking of the memorial emblems of bread and
wine-cup do openly declare by this that they, as members of
Ohrist's body (the church), are going down into death with
him in snpport of the kingdom of God. Jesus has said to all
these: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a
crown of life." (Rev. 2: 10) By eating the memorial bread
and drinking the memorial wine, they do proclaim or show
forth the one thing, namely, "the Lord's death." Since both
emblems, unleavened bread and red wine, point to the one and
the same thing, namely, Ohrist's death in vindication of his
Father's universal sovereignty and sacred name. it is proper
that both emblems be taken together by Ohrist's body-members
who celebrate the memorial each year. This signifies that no
separate blessing is pronounced over the memorial cup of wine.
W 2/15
March 26
We ought to obey God rather than men.-Acts 5: 29.
Did God authorize the court at Jerusalem to forbid the apos-
tles to preach Jesus as His Messiah? Or did God authorize the
apostles to teach in the name of Jesus? That question is an-
swered by getting answer to another question, namely, To whom
did God give his holy spirit as foretold in Joel's prophecy,
thereby giving a divine ordination and commission to snch
anointed ones? Not to the Jewish snpreme court, but to Jesus'
apostles, for whieh reason to obey the court and quit preaching
about the Messiah would be to grieve and fight against the holy
spirit. God is higher than any human court. The spirit of God is
mightier than the orders from any such court. To God as the
Highest Power and Authority tbe apostles must turn in their
final report to declare how they had carried out their com-
mission from him and had co-operated with his holy spirit.
There was no other choice for them than to obey him and his
holy spirit. W 9/15
March 27
The kingdom of God is not meat and drink: but
and peace, and ;oy.-Rom. 14: 17.
God's kingdom as an established working governmental ar-
rangement is now here. That kingdom, with Ohrist enthroned as
Jehovah's King for the new world, will shortly settle the primary
issue of sovereignty, regarding which Jehovah God has beeu
so tolerant. J eSUB Ohrist will settle the issue overwhelmingly
in favor of Jehovah's side. The weighty obligation rests upon
each one of God's consecrated people to put that kingdom first
and to proclaim it to all the nations for a witness, because the
final end of this world is getting so close. Keeping the King-
dom to the fore, we will not make eating and drinking certain
things, or eating and drinking at a certain traditional time of
the day, 80 important and urgent that it will intt'rfere with our
efforts to Noclaim the Kingdom. Our primary business is the
Kingdom business. W 11/15
March 28
The bread tTl at I will give is my flesh, which I will give for
the life of the world.-John 6: 51.
To show himself alive from the dead by many infallible
proofs and to sppak further to his disciples pertaining to the
kingdom of God, Jesus had to apppar in a visible material body
for their eyes to sec. However, by doing so he was not tryiug
to prove he had reassnmed 1hat fleshly body that he had laid
down in death as a sacrifice. He once said he was the bread from
heaven and that the bread which he would give for the life of the
new world was his flesh, whieh wall "meat indeed", or real food.
IIpnce he would not mock the world by taking his flesh back and
leaving them to die, but would let his flesh remain as a sacrifice
forever. Then the world could feed on its value and could gain
everlasting life. By sacrificing his flesh, he could ascend to
heaven and present the value of his human life as a ransom
price for all those of mankind who should believe on him.
- H , ~ b . 9: 24-26. W 4/1
March 29
I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between tlly
seed and her seed: it shall v,'uise thy head, and thou shalt
bruise his heel.-Gen. 3: 15.
Jehovah here pointed to a certain resurrection upon which the
future resurrection of mankind is based. Later prophecies by
Jehovah God mad" plain that bruising the heel of the woman's
seed meant or included the killing of the seed, Christ. lIence
if such bruised Seed is to bruise and crush the head of the
Serpent, Satan the Devil, who still Jives a most al'tive life,
it must be after Christ the Seed of God's woman had been
raised from the dead and thus recovered from the bruising of
the heel. '1'0 the faithful followers of the Seed of the woman the
apostle writes: "The God of peace Rhall bruise Satan under
your feet shortly." (Rom. 16: 20) This, too, must mean the
resurrection of thp.se from the dead. In that way Satan's work
against them may be fully undone, nullified. W 3/15
March SO
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapor driven to
and fro by them that seek death.-Prov. 21: 6, Am. Stan. Vet.
'Ve should not seek to gain anything selfish by means of
lying. The selfish !'njoying of what is thus gained will surely be
cut off in death. If we use the tongue for selfish, worldly pur-
poses hurtful to others, our harmfully wagged tongue will be a
power for our own final destruction at God's hands. J csus told
the religious Pharisees that lied about him and misrppresented
the power behind his works that they would be condpmned by
thl'ir words; every word, not yielding good, that they spoke
about him and his followers was to be held against them. With-
out fail they would give account for it in the day of judg-
ment. (Matt. 12: 36,37) Nothing of lasting value is to be
gained by lying against another. The outcome may be ever-
lasting death for the liar. He is merely chasing an unsub-
stantial vapor into the snares of death for himself. W 5/1
March 31
Even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased.-Dan. 12: 4.
The blessed "eyes" are not those with a fixed religious stare
that looks but has other things on the mind. The blessed "eyes"
are those that are alert, on the move, scrutinizing, not trying
to capture the whole visual field with a prolonged, fixed stare,
but focusing attention upon details and moving from detail to
detail in order to get the whole picture. They do not see every-
thing at a glance. They cover the field of vision gradually, but
progressively, like the finder beam of a television recorder. In
that way the whole picture is built up out of all its details
all of which are clearly discerned and properly related and put
together. Likewise with one who searches for things that God
has to show us in this time of the end; all such detailed study
takes time and practice, but the reward as to results is blessed.
W 8/1
April 1
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall
tread down our enemies.-Ps. 60: 12.
All this earth must become the place of Jehovah's worship
for all tinw. Hence his witnesses cau go out in their educational
work to all nations, confident of victory through him. No or-
ganization, even if it appears untakable like the rock-guarded
capital city of Edom, is powerful enough to withstand the
victorious advance of Jehovah's High Priest and King, Christ
Jpsus, in extending the worship of the true God in all thc na-
tions of the earth. Under the leadership of his anointed King
Christ Jesus, we must march forth unitedly, those from the
cast united with those from the west; those having the ad-
ministrative work united with those greater numbers who carry
out instructions. \Ve are all God's consecrated people whom he
has given over to Christ Jesus. This King and High Priest is
the binding tie between us for united worship of Jehovah and
a united effort against organized religion. W 911
April 2
lIenee even unto the nations God hath granted repentance
unto li/e.-Acts 11: 18, Rotherham.
Believing the gospcl of God's kingdom after repenting means
making oneself submissive to that gospel of salvation and its
requirements. It means conversion or a turning away from sin
and from the world which serves sin and acting upon the good
news of the gospel and putting oneself on the side of God's king-
dom and its righteousness. Repentance was not to remain the
exclusive privilege of the Jews, but in due time God revealed his
mind upon this at the time of the conversion of Cornelius to
Christianity. Repentance is required of all alike, both Jews and
other nations, before approaching Jehovah God through Jesus
Christ. Such repentance must be followed by conversion or a
sincere and determined turning away from the sin of this world,
because God and this world are at opposites. To the repentant
he holds out mercy. W 4115
April S
As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every
tongue shall confess to God.-Rom. 14: 11.
lt does us no good to dodge the truth concerning what is cer-
tain to be. We, if we love and seek eternal life, might as well
reconcile ourselves now to the inevitable, and in faith accommo-
date ourselves to it now. The inevitable future for this earth and
all the universe aceording to the declared purpose of Almighty
God is this: "I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn
by ll1yself, the word is gone ont of my mouth in righteousness,
and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every
tongue shall swrar." (lsa. 45: 22, 23) Ev('ry one that gains life
must line up with that decree. It is inevitable that all confession
to God with the tongue must be made through his King Jesns
Christ. (Phil. 2: 10, 11) If we do this now in love of God's
kingdom, it will glorify .Tehovah God and his King Jesus Christ
and will also win for us the prize of eternal Iife.-Rom. 10: 9, 10.
W 5/1
April 4
Show the same diligence for the full completion of the hope to
the end; in order that you may not become sluggish, but imi-
tators of those who through faith and patient endurance are
inheriting the promiscs.-H eb. 6: 11, 12, 'l'he Emphatic Diaglott.
lt takes time to perfect the test concerning us. And if we
cannot hold on and remain true and faithful during a short-
term season of storm and trial, how can we expect to hold on
and abide loyal for all etrrnity in the new world? Wait, wait,
wait! seems to have been God's rule with his servants of o)d for
a test of thei r continuance of faith. In the end, though, it did
not prove to be a vain wait. As a sojourner in a strange land,
Abraham held on until he died, when 175 years old. In all that
time hI' was faithful as a witness and prophet of Jehovah God.
His faith and !"TJdurance are held up as a pattern to all the
children of God who want to enter the promised blessings
through Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham. W 7/15
Aprll 5
For what knowest thou, 0 wife, whether thou shalt save thy
husband? or how knowest thou, 0 man, whether thou shalt save
thy wife?-l Oor. 7: 16.
A Christian will be just as much interested to help his mate
to the side of God's kingdom as to help the peopl" of good-will
in his field tf'rritory for delivering the witness from house to
house. Removing the unbeliever from the side of his mate takes
away this close-at-hand opportunity from the married Christian.
So, as long as the unconsecrated one elects to stay, the Chris-
tian should act upon the opportunity. The converting of the
unbplieving mate would greatly bless the home. If it does not
work out so, the Christian makes the best of the situation, all
the while holding fast to his integrity toward God. He should
pursue his Christian walk in life under the circumstances exist-
ing, assured that Almighty God can still help him keep integrity
and fulfil! his consecration. W 2/1
April 6
When ke was returned, having received the kingdom, then he
commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had
given the money, that he might know how much every man
had gained.-Vuke 19: 15.
As the consecrated believers in the King Christ Jesus have
entered the ranks of his followers from the first century down
to this year 1948, he has entrusted to them the symbolic pound,
the precious gospel ministry. By using this pound each one may
prove his zeal and devotion to his Lord and King down till the
time of finishing his earthly course and making his final ap-
pearance before the judgment seat of the enthroned King and
Judge, Christ Jesus. The apostle said concerning this: "We have
this treasure in earthen vessels." (2 Cor. 4: 7) Even since com-
ing into the Kingdom in 1914 and coming to the temple for
judgment in 1918 he E'ntrusts the symbolic treasurc of Kingdom
interests to the remnant of his consecrated brethren of God's
house. They must "trade" with this. W 7/1
April 7
For yet a very little while, he that cometh shall come, and sh all
not tarry. But my righteous one shall live by faith.
-Heb.l0:37,38, Am. Stan. Ver.
Nineteen ccnturiE'A have passed since Paul, so that the "very
little while" he mentions has shrunk to almost nothing as we
today stand confronted with the final war of Armageddon where
God Almighty wiII display his righteous indignation against
the iniquity of this old, evil world. Now it is a person with
unshrinking faith in the true God that wiII live, due to having
God's pleasure upon him. The faithful one wiII gain the prom-
ised salvation to life in the new world. l!'or anyone to shrink
back from displaying this faith and faithfulness now speUR de-
struction for that one at the hands of God in His displeasure.
Only the men and women with faith in God and his Christ,
and who never draw back from faithfulness, will be delivered
from execution at Armageddon. W 8/15
April 8
It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
-Heb.9:27.
This appointment was made after Adam and }<]vc had sinned.
It was bpcause they had sinned and would thpl'eafter bring
forth their children in sin. It was not a case of further judg-
ment for Adam and Eve. They had had their chance; they had
been on trial and had willfully failed and were therefore justly
sentenced to death. But their future offspring had not bl'tm on
trial in Eden directly, and for them there would be a future
judgment possible. 'l'his would be possible because of God's
purpose respecting the Seed of his woman. (Gen. 3: 15) 'rhe
Seed would be brought forth from God's holy organization, and
then the Seed would triumph over suffering and death and would
finally bruise the Serpent's head. This would open up the way
for Adam's offspring to be resurrected out of the graves of
dl'ath and to be given the opportunities and benefits of a judg-
ment day with the Seed as Judge. W 6/15
April 9
Save thyself, and them, that hear thee.-l Tim. -4: 16.
To gain eternal life, you must follow up God's commands
and instructions. In that way you will save yourself; that is,
you will work out your own salvation with God's help through
JeRus Christ. When we understand ('rtld's 'Vord concerning what
the glorious new world holds, we will work. and will work hard,
to save ourselves; and there is nothing wrong in doing that.
We love ourselves and want to save ourselves. But if, as God's
second commandment lays upon us, we love our neighbor as
then we will want not only to gain salvation for
ourselyes but also to aid our neighbor to gain the God-given
salvation, because we know that the salvation is for others
besides just ourselves. This is the reason why Jehovah's wit-
nesses today persistently go out into the field bearing the good
news of eternal salvation by God's kingdom. They cannot keep
this good news to themselves. W 11/1
April 10
Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will
awake carly [awaken the dawn!l.-Ps. 5"1: 8; An Amer. Trans.
Jehovah's witnesses roused themselves to action early after
World War I closed in 1!)11:l. Now in this postwar period fol-
lowing World War II they have lost no time but have bestirred
themselves to greater exertions in God's service than ever be-
fore. The individuals among them, men and women, boys and
girls, have called out to one another to awake to their privileges
early. Redeem the time during this fleeting time-interval that
remains before the world-destruction at Armageddon! The
glorious light of God's kingdom shines upon us from the pages
of His Word. He has glorified his remnant with the commis-
sion to serve as ambassadors of the established Kingdom. This
glorious privilege should not be neglected for any length of time.
Early now the urgency of God's service sends to each of us the
rousing call, "Awake, my glory!" W 12/15
April 11
Of a truth Jehovah hath sent me unto you to speak all these
words in your ears.--,ler. 26: 15, Am. Stan. Ver.
Jeremiah's words being uttered in public right in the holy
city of Jerusalem, nay, more, right in the temple precincts,
were they not liable to stir up a mob, public commotion, aud
rioting? That is exactly what they did. (26: 8, 9) D('spite all
that religioUS racket, did Jeremiah have a right to say this in
pnblic? Did he have just cause or excuse for speaking such
things openly, at the capital city? What clears Jeremiah of all
libel, blasphemy and sedition in this case is that Jehovah God
himself sent Jeremiah and commanded him to speak thus in
His name in the temple courts where the religionists could hear
his words. \Yhut the Most High God commanded his
on carth to declare could not be libelous and seditious, for
surply God is not libelous and seditious against himself. Jere-
miah did not speak with malicious intent to God's covenant
people, but in obedience to him. W J/l
April 12
Be at peace with all men, if possible, so far as that depends
on you.-Rom. 12: 18, Moffatt.
Avoid being troublemakers and disturbers, and carryon quiet
dealings with others. Do not intentionally provoke strife, tur-
moil and quarrel; but if controversy and disagreement are
stirred up, let it be from the other party, because he objects
to our proclaiming the truth of God's Word. Even the Perfect
One, Christ Jesus, ran into controversy, opposition and dis-
turbance because he preached the Kingdom truth. We, h i ~ fol-
lowers, are not above him or better than he and cannot do
other than also rouse up opposition and debate because of
sharing in the "testimony of Jesus Christ" and proclaiming the
truth. The purpose of the gospel is not to stir up strife and
controversy. It is the antagonists of the truth that hatefully
stir up such. Such is unavoidable in those cases, and we should
not stop publishing the Kingdom truth in order to avoid such.
Paul did not do so. W 1/1
April 13
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, ... in thee shall all
families of the earth be blesscd.-Gen. 12: 1-3.
This promise depends upon the Lord God's power of resur-
rection for its realization. By the time the blessing of all fam-
ilies of the earth should be due so many of such families should
be dead and in graves. Bow, then, could they all be blessed unless
the omnipotent God exercised his power of resurrection at his
appointed time? Although foreseeing the need of resurrection,
yet also knowing his own miraculous power, Jehovah God made
his promise to Abraham of such breadth as to sweep in all
families. It was not an impossible and ridiculous boast, but an
adequately backed-up promise. Abraham was but a prophetic
type of Jehovah. In reality, therefore, it is in Jehovah that all
families of those that bless Him will be blessed with eternal
life. He is a God of the living. W 3/15
April 14
7'he earth is my footstool.-Isa. 66: 1.
The apostlcs of Christ moved thcir location from place to
place as missionaries and issucd organization instructions as
these became necessary and were inspired of God by his spirit.
Now since A.D. ]914 the Almighty God can operate through a
central governing body in one part of the earth as well as in
another part, because since Ul] 4, in a Kingdom scnsC', 'the
earth is Jehovah's, and the fulnesjl thereof; the world, and
they that dwell therein." (Ps. 24: 1, A.S. V.) Anywhere on his
footstool he can locate his visible governing body and use it,
because all the earth belongs to him, and is not the property
of any political government or of the United Nations. If God
wants to change geographical locations still further for his
servants, it is within his right and power to do so. IIe is bound
by no traditions of places. Not nationality, nor geographical
location, bnt the existence and presence of consecrated, faithful
servants of God determines as regards His governing body.
W 12/1
April 15
Is it not lawful for me to do what 1 will with mine own!' 18
thine eye evi, because 1 am goodf So the last shall be first,
and the first last.-Matt. 20: 15, 16.
We must be generous to let others share to an equal degree
with us in the spiritual blessings that the Lord God our great
Rewarder now has to bestow upon us in His service. Those who
think they have earned the Lord's blessings by long service are
liable to think that those with a shorter record of service are
not entitled to the same blessings and equal blessings as them-
selves. Those inclined to envy the mercies and favors that others
receive after a short time in God's service take a bad view of
matters, and they cannot see straight on the fundamental prin-
ciples upon which God's organization rests and operates. 'rhe
evil eye, if uncorrected, will certainly cause a worker in God's
vineyard to lose out finally and not be chosen or selected to the
Kingdom for which he may have been called long before when
his heart was right. W 8/1
April 16
In thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness
and righteousness.-Ps. 45: 4.
The truth of Jehovah's universal sovereignty is being denied
and fought against now when it must be exercised through his
kingdom. Hence the King must ride to the final war of Arma-
geddon for the sake of establishing that truth and the truth
of all of God's written Word. As a man the King was meek
and lowly, and now his followers show a like meekness. They
are also greatly afflicted, persecuted and opposed in all lands.
In support of the meekness exhibited by them in obeying God's
will and carrying on his work of gospel-preaching the King
must ride. He must make their service to God prosper despite
all opposition. 'rhe greatest act of righteousness is the vindicat-
ing of Jehovah's sovereignty and name; and for the sake of
bringing about such righteousuess in all the universe his King
must ride on to victory. W 10/1
April 17
Pass through the city-through Jerusalem-and set a mark
upon the foreheads.-Bzck. 9: 4, An Amer. Trans.
Jehovah's command is, 'Pass through Christendom,' which is
unfaithful Jerusalem's modern counterpart. And go Jehovah's
witnesses must and will. They cannot be obedient to Him and
stay at home to themselves. They cannot righteously be held
back from the doors of the homes of the people, if God's will
is to be done and He is to be pleased. Governments and worldly
authorities cannot, without direct opposition to IIis express
command, ban, proscribe and prohibit them from spreading the
Kingdom message all over Christendom and repeatedly preach-
ing it in order to make on some minds an impression deep
enough to leave a mark that will shield persons from execution
by God's "six men" at Armageddon. But when forbidden by
worldly authorities to keep on with their work, Jehovah's wit-
nesses know from God's Word what to do: "for ye yourselves are
taught of God."-l Thess. 4:9. W 9/15
April 18
Keep this commandment without spot, unrebulceable, until the
appearing oj our Lord Jesus Ghrist.' ... the King oj Icings,
and Lord oj lords.-1 'l'im. 6: 11" 15.
Despite all, the faithful will not renounce Christ as King,
but, because of their unwavering submission to him, he is King
to them and they are thus in t.he kingdom of God's dl'ar Son.
(Col. 1: 13) This does not import any seditious stand toward
the kingdoms of the world, nor does it stir us up to any sub-
versive activities against kings and rulers. It means simply that
we do not interest ourselves in or participate in political Ilnd
governmental affairs of this earthly organization. \Ve are, ill
fact, not in pursuit of any earthly rulership or kingdom. \Vhen
the resurrected Jesus sent his servants forth to make disciples
among all nations, he was no longer in this world, as well as
not of it, but was about to ascend to heaven to his Father's
right hand. Hence we can not be accused of trying to make some
man king on earth. W 6/1
April 19
These things the first and the last, whieh was dead, and
is alive,. I Icnow thy works.-llev. 2: 8, 9.
Even before his own death and resurrection Christ Jesus
raised several persons to life. All these returned to corruption
and the dust of the earth. "Hut he, whom God raispd again, saw
no corruption." (Acts 13 : 37) For such reason Moses and the oth-
er prophets were correct in foretelling "that Christ must suffer,
and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would pro-
claim". (Acts 26: 22, 23, Rev. Stan. V cr.) Also John corrl'ctly
declared that his message was from "Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead". (Hev.
1: 5) He was the first and the last to rise by God's direct power
without the intervention of any creature. He has th{' pre-
eminence as to the miracle of the resurrection, and his was
the beginning of the "first J'esurrection", in which Christians
share.-Rev. 20: 5, 6. W 4/1
April 20
He that rebuketh a man ajterwm-ds shall find more favour than
he that fiattereth.-Prov. 28: 23.
The apostle Paul found backbiting to exist among the mem-
bers of the Christian congregations. He himself was not expmpt
from being a victim of some backbiters. He knew it would do
the congregation good to rebuke them, and he was
enough to do it as a member of the then governing body of
the Christian church. (2 Cor. 10: 8-11; 11: 5-7; 12: 2:)-13: 3)
Flattering would have dono no good to the brethren in their
poor spiritual condition, but rebuke would show them the
right way. Of course, it might hurt their feelings for a while,
but later it would be appreciated and win the favor of the
right-minded brethren. The apostle was righteous in reproving
his brethren. He did so to heal and build them up, and not to
break their heads with discouragelllPnt and despair. 'rhe way
they should have taken it was with a discernment of the kindness
back of it.-Ps. 141: 5. W 5/1
April 21
Holding fast the faithful word.-Titus 1: 9.
While we do not have, expect, or hope for direct visions or
inspired dreams from the Lord, we can study the visions and
dreams of his faithful men of old. We can watch how God by
Christ has fulfilled or is in course of fulfilling thcm, and then
can safeguard ourselves from the false dreams and vain visions
of the religionists of Christendom. While none of us can pro-
duce inspirpd speech and writings, God has committed his in-
spired Biblp to us and we can govern ourselves by its inspired
commandments, teachings and instructions. We can quote and
copy the Scriptures of God's inspired men and can apply them
according to the facts. We can observe how God interprets
them by Christ Jesus through the events and factH that he
causes to appear. Believing in the inspiration of His written
Word, we will continue to hold fast to it, knowing that in obe-
(lience to it iH etprnal life, and we are determined to keep on
preaching it. lV 5/15
April 22
Now being made free from sin, and become servants to God,
ye have your fruit unto holiness.-Rom. 6: 22.
God's purpose in extending mercy to persons is not that
they could continue repeating such sins in intentional sl'lf-
indulgence and think God's mercy easily available for relief.
Not at all! His mercy is an incentive to righteousness, a spur
to an honest effort to live above sin and free from its service.
Mercy is given in order to put the conspcrated person on his
integrity thenceforth, and such integrity he mnst keep by not
returning to the filth and service of sin, like the sow that goes
back to wallowing in the mire. The issne of integrity is set
hefore the receiver of God's loving compassion. He now has the
opportunity to vindicate God's dealings with him. IIow? by
proving the Devil a liar in saying that God cannot by his
mercy lift humankind out of sin and have them ever there-
after hold fast to his righteousness. W 4/15
April 28
The Lord is longsufjering.-Num. 14: 18.
By his endurance of all this past wickedness on the part of his
foes, Jehovah has displayed himself as perfectly unselfish. If
complainers think they have been hurt by the reign of wicked-
ness, wrong and oppression upon earth, then what about J cho-
vah God in view of all the outward hurt and reproach it has
meant to his name and sovereiguty in heaven and in earth?
His endurance of reproach and opposition to his own supreme
self at the hands of enemies has been with loving-kindness and
mercy toward mankind in sin and imperfection. (2 Pet. 3: 9, 15)
Tn justice to himself Jehovah God will not endure this for all
time. He will in his wise time, after his purpose has been
realized, use his almighty power to bring this wicked reproach
and opposition to its fitting end. By that time he will have
distinguished himself beyond equaling for his endurance of so
much. and will win his point in the long-drawn-out controversy,
IV 7/15
April 24
Rule thou in the midst of thine encmies.-Ps. 110: 2.
Thirty-four years have passed since God installed Christ Jesus
as acting King in the throne, and he has not yet his
enemies in heaven and in earth. IIow, then, has he been ruling
in the midst of his enemieR? What has he been doing to show
visibly to men on earth that he is rnling? He has been doing a
work preliminary to his destroying of all his ene-
mies at the final war of Armageddon. What is that work? It
is this, namely, the restoring and the advancing of the worship
of his God and Father, Jehovah, throughout all the earth.
Hence he has been gathering his subjects and those
who his subjects must worship the same God as he
their King worships, that is, Jehovah the Most High Sovereign
of all the univ!'l'se. None but such worshipers of Jehovah will
the anointed King spare alive through Armageddon. He will
destroy all others as enemies. W 9/1
April 25
Sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King
of all the earth.-Ps. 47: 6, 7.
Multitudes are having their eyes opened by the enlightening
power of the Kingdom truth proclaimed by Jehovah's covenant
people. By the eye of faith they see His enthroned King Jesus
Christ riding to victory at Armageddon and to his thousand-
year reign thereafter. Now they act like the multitude of nine-
teen centuries ago at Jesus' triumphal ride down Mouut Olivet
and into Jerusalem: "All the multitude of the disciples began
to rejoice, and praise God with a loud voice, for all the miracles
which they had seen, saying, 'Blessed be the coming King in the
name of Jehovah! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest
heavcn.''' (Luke 19: 37, 38, Dia.'llott) Today the King rides
again! The destiny of the people now depends on whether they
stop exalting men of this enemy world and henceforth turn
their praises to Jehovah God and his King. W 8/15
April 26
Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty.-I sa. 33: 17.
Marvclous, indeed, are the things visible today to eyes that
have been trained to look at the conditions and events of our
time Scripturally. '.rhe many details of the modern world-scenc
all combine to prove that we arc at the end of this world and
that the everlasting kingdom of Jehovah God by his Christ has
been set up in the heavens. 'L'his sign of our times is becoming
clearer and clearer to our vision as the dawning light of the
new world brightens since A.D. 1914. The faithful Christian
remnant today and their good-will companions now see the
Eternal God's kingdom. They have been dclivered from bond-
age to Satan's world organization and its oppressions and
blinding religion. They are the OIlCS meant at Isaiah 2H: 18 :
"In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and
the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of
darkness." W 8/1
April 27
Holding the H cad, from which all the body by joints and bands
having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaset1&
with the increase of God.-Ool. 2: 19.
The enemy's intent is to disjoint all members of God's organ-
ization and make them fly apart, to depend upon direct individ-
ual leadings of the Lord God with no organization to bind them
together as brethren, as members of God's family with one
standard of faith, hope and action. Thus disconnected from all
organization, they become easy marks for the adversary and
his hosts to pick off one by one and to shoot down with his
fiery darts. All who care for their own spiritual safety will re-
sist the disruptive arguments of men who seek to draw away
disciples after themselves. They will keep their vision of J eho-
vah's Theocratic organization clear and unblurred and will
preserve their unity with it. W 1/1
April 28
I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from w1&ose
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found
no place for them.-Rev. 20: 11.
By the destruction of Satan's demonic heavens and corrupt
earthly organization at the end of the judgment of the nations,
Satan the Devil is bound for a thousand years. Then follows a
thousand-year day of test which will affect even the dead. The
One seated upon the great white throne the whiteness of which
symbolizes purity and righteousness is Jehovah God; but at
this time of judgment he is represented by his anointed and en-
throned Son, Christ Jesus. (Rev. 20: 12; John 5: 26-30) The
dl'ad pictured as then corning from out of the sea, death and
Hades do not include the 144,000 members of the "house of
God", Christ's spiritual brethren. These take part in the first
resurrection, ahead of mankind in general, and at the beginning
of the thousandyear-long day of judgment they are enthroned
with Christ Jesus. W 7/1
April 29
Six men came from t1&e direction of the upper gate that faces
north, each holding a battleaxc, and accompanied by another
man in linen dress, with a wriier's ink-horn at his side.
-Ezek. 9: 2, Moffatt.
The men with axes do not picture six literal men, but picture
the organized hosts that God uses for executing his righteous
fury against Christendom. So with that seventh man. He pic-
tures, not some individual man on earth today, but the organi-
zation of God's anointed servants on earth who are members
of the "body of Christ". Jesus Christ is their invisible Head,
and they arc the remaining members of "his body" yet found on
earth. By the Scripture rule that "the fine linen is the right-
eousness of saints" (Rev. 19: 8), this composite man in linen
is in God's righteous service and has no sympathy and no con-
nection with the unrighteous organization of Christendom and
her religious abominations. Be has but one special assignment
of service on which to report. W 9/15
April 30
His servants ye are to whom ye obey.-Rom. 6: 16.
A faithful minister of God serves the One whos" minister he
is. that is, God. He docs not serve this world. because th('
service and friendship of this world are outright enemyship
toward God. (.J as. 4; 4) He docs not serve the nations of this
world, nor of Christendom, neither the political governments of
the world. lie could not do so and at the sume time hold his
ministerial rank with the Lord God, becuuse the prophecy fore-
told that the nations and their kings and rulers would be angry
und enraged when the Lord God Almighty would tuke his grl'at
power to himself and wouB begin to reign. They would not
bless him and give him thunks for making this move to briug in
the new world of righteousness for "men of good will". (l{ev.
11 ; 1 '5-18) A minister of God is necessurily a servant on lIis
side d the dispute over univ>rsal sovereignty, viz., 'Vho shall
rule the world'! W 10/15
May 1
The mouth 0/ the righteous b";ngcth forth wisdom,' ... The
lips of the righteo1ls know what is acceptable,' b1tt the mouth
of the wicked speaketh perversenes8.-Prov. 10: 31, 82, A.SY.
Always a proclaimer of the Kingdom tidings will try to sense
the stute of affairs and will call upon his store of knowledge
and try to use knowledge aright. He uses tact in order to effect
some good. lIe knows it does not do his own self any good to
get angry and to answer in a provoked way. By keeping calm
and thinking straight, he will be able to say something accept-
able and in harmony with the truth. That is the course of
heavenly wisdom. To the end that he may say what is tactful
in difficnlt situations it is well for him to have the words of
knowledge and wisdom fitted or firmly fixed upon his lips. The
weekly service meetings and Theocratic ministry school meetings
are good places where he can learn to fit these to his lips.
-22; 17, 18. lV 5/1
May 2
I obtained mercy.-l Tim. 1: 13.
Paul said he himself was an unusual sample of God's merey
b e c n u ~ e of his sinning in ignorance. This shows we can place
no limit upon God's mercy nor think it is useless to prpsent
the gospel to a p>rson because of his fallen condition and the
person is beyond repenting and being converted or that his re'
pent,mee will have no recognition in God's sight. Repentance,
convll'sion, calling upon God in the name of Jesus and askillg
for his spirit of righteousness is effective and pleasing to God
in the case of modern-day sinners und uvails with him. God is
no rl'specter of persons. Therefore, when going from house to
house and pr('scnting the message at the doors and business
places it is not our obligation first to inquire into a person's
private history and his moral standards, slips and delinquencies
before deciding to present the message. The message itself will
do the testing of the individual, either to awake a response
or not. W 4/15
May S
.As through one offence, sentence came on all men to condemna-
tion; so also, through one righteous act [by Jesus], sentence
carne on all men to justification of life.-Rom. 5: 18,
The Emphatic Diaglott.
Judgment does not necessarily mean condemnation. In Adam's
case the judgment might have been to eternal justification for
obedience, but actually the judgment that God rendered was to
condemnation for his false step of disobedience. All men de-
scending from the sinners in Eden were caught in the condenma-
tion that God there expressed as Judge. For Adam's offspring
it could have turned out to be an unchangeable sentence to
destruction, had it not been for Jehovah's covenant in l < ~ d e n
regarding the Seed of his woman. That is, the condemnation
upon all of Adam's descendants would have been to our ever-
lasting d<'struction had it not been for .T esus' sacrificial death
as a man and presenting the value of his perfect sacrifice to
God in heaven to ransom all believers in him. W 6/15
May 4
But he that standeth in his heart steadfast, having no necessity,
but hath authority concerning his own will, and this hath de-
termined in his own heart, to preserve his own virginity, well
shall he do.-l Cor. 7: 37, Rothcrham.
For Christians in this postwar world and with the battIe of
Armageddon in the offing, it is a choice of taking a good course
by getting married to a like consecrated s.ervant of Jehovah
God or doing better by staying celibate, by not getting married
but keeping his virgin state with all its vital strength. It takes
110 bodily mutilation upon one's part to be a self-made eUlluch.
(Matt. 19: 12) It simply demands great control of self, backed
by a firm decision in his mind to yield to no passion but to
conserve his full vital strength and his freedom from marriage
burdens so as better to serve God. He does not take a vow of
celibacy; and Paul recommends no vow. W 2/1
May 5
LJrothC1's, as an eiVample of the patient endurance of SUffering,
take the prophets who spoke in the name of the LOtd.
--J as. 5: 10, 20th Cent. N. 1'.
All the speaking prophets were dealt with the same way,
with provings of their constancy to God. They all have shown
11S what to do under our present test. Seeing that God's ap-
proval of them is recorded in his vVord, we can count all of
them happy because of holding out under test. (5: 11) 'rhe
Lord's purpose in the sufferings of all the speaking prophets
of Jehovah was the vindication of his name aud universal sover-
eignty. Because of continuous steadfastness, they had part in
vindicating him and proving the Devil a liar, and we can be-
('orne counted among the happy ones by following their example.
'l'here must be some to uphold Jehovah's side with integrity
during this century, as those speaking prophets did in ancient
eenturics, and happy are we to be the ones to do it. W 7/15
May 6
Then 'Will Jehovah drive out all these nations from before you.
-Deut. 11: 23, Am. Stan. Vcr.
God's ',,"ord presents no thought of defeatism, no expectation
of frustration, but only hope of sure and final triumph after
we have had a hard campaign. The situation before us is like
that which faced Israel as they were encamped on the east side
of the Jordan, ready to cross over into the Promised Land un-
der the leadership of ,Joshua. All the nations there were greater
and mightier than the Israelites and worshiped demon gods. The
demons roused up all these devotees of theirs to stout
by leagues of united nations on at least two occasions. But that
did not stop the push of the worshipers of Jehovah back there,
because He fought for them in order that his worship might
be established in the land he promised them. llis works in the
ancient past in behalf of his worship were written for our sakes
today, and we should remember them to strengthen our hearts.
W 9/1
May 7
II e brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you:
this do in remembrance.-l Gor. 11: 24, LS.V.
At the yearly memorial celebration the Christian heirs of the
Kingdom partake of the bread. They look not upon it as sym-
bolizing Jesus' fleshly humanity, but discern it to represent
"the Lord's body", the church, of which they themselves are
members, body members under Christ Jesus the Head.
(11: 27-29) '.rheir partaking of the emblem of the bread is an
open confession that they are consecrated, spirit-begotten mem-
bers of Christ's "body", which is the church. By eating the
"one bread" they declare their communion or oneness with
Christ the Head, to do God's will as he set the example and to
suffer aflliction in this world as he did. Symbolically they eat
the "bread of aflliction". (Deut. 16: 3) But despite the afflic-
tions and sufferings for God's kingdom they tenaciously hold
on to their Christlike integrity toward God. tv 2/15
May 8
Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, preaching,
and teaching.-l Tim. 4: 13, An Amer. Trans. .
Study of the Bible is vital, but it must be followed up by con-
We must not neglect teaching the Holy Scriptures to
others, which means confession. In our public reading of the
Scriptures we can either ourselves read or teach others to read
the Bible. By doing what could Timothy in Paul's day lay hold
on salvation from God for himself and at the same time aid
others, his neighbors, to share in that common salvation? By
doing the pnblic reading of Scripture, by teaching what it
meant, by preaching God's kingrlom, by keeping busy in God's
work, by using his mouth to make confession. By doing all this
Timothy would show love first to God and then love for his
neighbor as well as for himself. The way to apply the rule
of love, and the way to gain salvation, are just the same for
today as then. So follow them. tv 11/1
May 9
Grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee
for ever.-Ps. 45: 2.
While on earth Jesus' lips were constantly graced with the
message of God's kingdom. From the time of his anointing with
the spirit of God he was persistently preaching the Kingdom
both publicly and privately in the houses of the people. In order
to silence his gracious lips, the human agents of Satan had him
killed. By meekly submitting to such death in proof of his
loyalty to God's work and will, he displayed matchless beauty
of holiness to his heavenly Father. Hence God blessed him for
ever, by resurrecting him from the dead and exalting him to his
own right hand, far above all other holy creatures in the nni-
verse. Now, as enthroned King, Jesus graces the lips of his
faithful remnant on earth with the same message that graced
his own lips on earth; and he this anointed remnant
in fnlfilling his own prophecy: "This gospel of the kingdom
shall be preached." W 10/1
May 10
And by God's appointment there are in the church, first apostles,
secondly prophets, thirdly teachers. Then ... of or-
ganization.-l Cor. 12: 28, Weymouth.
God's organization is an orderly and well-connected arrange-
ment of his devoted and obedient creatnres in order that they
may work together toward a common end and in harmony with
his purpose. It is that they may do so in peace and in onem'ss,
without clash or conflict, bnt, to the contrary, with efficiency,
with dynamic relaxation, and with comfortable state of heart
and mind. God's organization is at one with itself. All its
members are at one with its great Organizer, Jehovah God, and
at one with their fellow members. His perfect wisdom makes it
that way. The organization is Theocratic, because God is the
organizer of it and is its top director at all times. It operates
Theocratically, because it functions by taking orders from God
down through Jesus Christ. W 12/1
May 11
It is the duty of us who are strong to Pitt up with the weak-
nesses of those who are immature, and not just suit
-Rom. 15: 1, An Amer. Trans.
Is it a Gospel publisher's business, unbidden, to tell men
what to do in their own homes? \Vhen making a first return
visit on the interested to start a Bible study, are we Scrip-
turally required to say : "Now before we start our study in
this book, I should like to ask you, Have yon ever committed
adultery? Have you ever stolen anything? Ever been in jail
for perjury? Ever coveted your neighbor's wife'!" \Ve might
just as well do so (and it would be consistent to do so) if later
on we let ourselves become disturbed and then interrupt our
Bible study because our student indulged in a bad habit. \V e
are not there to try to tell that student on the first night of
our visit jUst how to live. Why, then, let a little thing like a bad
habit become a barrier between us and block our student
from learning the truth with our help? W 11/15
May 12
Now hath Ohrist been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of
them that are asleep.-l Oor. 15: 20, A.S. V.
Another proof foreshadowing God's purpose to overpower the
"gates of hell" and deliver the dead is his law concerning the
spring first-fruits of the grain harvest. (Lev. 23: 9-14) The
apostle calls notice to this law as showing the performance and
the date of the most important resurrection, the first of its
kind and the foundation of all future resurrections. Jesus
Christ, in harmony with being the first-fruits of those asleep in
death, was raisl'd from death on Nisan IG, the very day on whieh
the Jewish high-priest offered the sheaf (or onwr) of harley
grain to God at the temple in Jerusalpm. According to God's
law the offering of thc first-fruits was followpd by the gathering
and eating of the after-fruits. IIence if J csus is the first-fruits
of those asleep in death, it dpnotes resurrection for such other
sleepers afterward at the divinely appointed time, W 3/15
May 18
But all theso things performs the one and the same spirit,
distributing to each in particular I!S it will.-l Oor. 12: 11,
The Emphatic Diaglott.
God's one corporate organization can be acted upon by the
one spirit of the one God but with varieties of manifestation
through the active organization memhers. All these org:miza-
Hon members are anointed with the one spirit of God unto
service, It is not the individual Christian that makes the choice
of a particular gift of the spirit. If it were left to each in-
dividual Christian to choose, there would likely be an over-
weight or preponderance of one kind of gift as against others,
leading to an unbalance and to an artificial scarcity of other
valuable gifts. It is Jehovah who governs those consecratpd
to him through Christ, and he determines what particular gifts
shall be bestowed by his spirit or active force and upon whom.
W 1/1
May 14
I will build nl!J church.-Matt. 16: 18.
The Jewish nation was ('ast off, and the faithful remnant
that believed God's prophecies became the small start of his
anointed church or ccciesia. The prophecy of Joel 2: 28-32
clearly said that the outpouring of His spirit would not be on
Jewish flesh alone but upon all that should call upon Jehovah's
Ilame through his Christ. Hence the church of God was fore-
told to be not only of one-time Jews but also of onc-time Gen-
t iles, heathens or pagans. (Acts 2: 16-21) },'rom then on the
.J ewish believers and the Gentile belienrs in Jehovah Hll'] his
Christ were to be united in one assembly, dlUl'ch or
'l'he Israelite congregation of old time was called out of ,'gypt
because they were the offspring of Abraham, who had l)Pen
called out of Chaldea. In the same way the .few ish and Chris-
tian believers in Jehovah that follow Christ's footsteps are
called out of this world. ""IV 6/1
May 15
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,
and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be
punishcd.-2 Pet. 2: 9.
God has let the imitation-Christian nations exist on down to
this day of judgment, because it was for this day that he was
reserving them to be punished in destruction in the final end of
this world. But, as with Noah and Lot, Jehovah God has faith-
fully kept his little band of witnesses. lie will deliver them
out of this crucial period of world temptation and bring them
alive through the catastrophic end of this world and over into
the everlasting righteous new world to follow. Jehovah \lOW
issues his challenge to the nations to come down to the low
place of opposition to his kingdom where he will execnte judg-
ment on them. (Joel 3: 9-13) They will never leave that place
alive. It will spell the end of their world in total destruction.
Jehovah will be vindicated by his King by whom he executes
judgment upon all opposers. W '1/1
May 16
Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee.-Ps. 119: 17.5.
All that acknowledge and worship Jehovah as Universal
Sovereign are certain to be preserved when he acts to display
his sovereignty over heaven and earth. They will live on to
praise him among all that live. But those who for a time drive
his worshipers underground in trying to put them out of exist-
ence are just as certain to be themselves dpstroyed: "that men
may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOV All, art the
most high over all the earth." (83: 18) The great display of his
universal sovereignty draws near. All nations will behold it with
terror and will want to go below ground. (Rev. 6: 15-17) The
way for any to experience His mercy and favor then is to
show mercy and help to his worshipers when they are forced
underground and also when they come up again to sing his
praises openly among all nations. 'l'he time to spread His
praises among all nations is now here! W 1'2/15
May 11
H a that goeth about as a talebearer ravealeth soorets,. but he
that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a mattar.-Prov. 11: 13,
A'm. Stan. Ver.
A talebearer is not a faithful person, because he is prone
to betray the private matters of neighbors, and usually with
hurt to them in the estimation of the listeners. Understanding
what harm it can do and how it displeases the Lord, a man
that is faithful to the interests of his brethren will keep quiet
on matters of private concerll to them so as not to bring them
into disrepute. He will also be careful not to divulge matters
that are strictly the business of the Lord's orgunization and that
are confidential to him. or his fellow workmen. He will not dis-
close these to others as general news for the public. IIe will
kepp such information to himself as a trust to be concealed
till the time that the organization by its own means of publi-
cation sees good to make it known. W 5/1
May 18
Let the wicked1.0rsake his way, ... and let hint return unto
the Lor, and he will have mercy.-Isa. 55: 7.
If any have put forth their hand to iniquity, then it is time
for such to confess and seek Jehovah's forgiveness through
Christ and turn from such folly and now set themselves de-
terminedly to pursue the righteousness of his kingdom. lj'aith-
ful Daniel confessed the sin of his people in hope of an I'arly
restoration of them to God's favor. He did not aet self-righteous
so as not to include himself with the guilty nation of Israel.
(Dan. 9: 1-19) In this course he is a faithful example for all
the humble ones of God's remnant and their good-will com-
panions to follow in this time of mercy. He will give that
which is good to all who repent and confess and convert to
His ways in these perilous times before Armagpddon. He will
make even yet plainer what is the righteousness of his king-
dom and of his new world before us, and this righteousness
will be a guide to us in His steps. W 4/15
May 19
Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord
your God raise up unto you . . . him shall ye hear in all things.
-Acts 3: 22.
If Moses was inspired and God disclosed to him the divine
will in a speCially direct way, Jesus Christ the prophet like
him was also inspired and received revelations of the divine will
in a direct, personal way. One means of Jesus' inspiration was
the holy spirit of God. It descended upon him with a visible
manifestation, like a descending dove, which was seen by a
trustworthy eyewitness, John the Baptist. "For he whom God
hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth n<)t the
spirit by measure. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given
all things into his hand." (John 1: 23-34; 3: 34,35, Am. Stan.
Ver.) By this spirit given without measure to J esns Christ his
Father Jehovah could act upon his beloved Son and could in-
spire him, and he did so. Let us hear him. W 5/15
May 20
'I'herefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full
of light; ... If thy whole body therefore be full of light, hav-
ing no part dark, the whole shall be full of light.-Luke 11 : 34-36.
Behind the "single eye" there must be a pure heart, fully de-
voted to Jehovah God through Christ Jesus and loving his king-
dom undividedly and seeking to know the divine will and pur-
pose so as to act in full accord therewith. Then our vision of
the light and of the things that God reveals at this time in that
glorious Kingdom light will be clear. It will fill our minds and
bodies with illuminating intelligence. That means that all the
parts of our body, the hands, the feet, the tongue, the shoulders,
the head, etc., will do the works of light, because of the un-
hindered mental vision which is not impaired by selfishness for
things of this world. Furthermore, if we have the light, we
should not hold it within ourselves, but use it as a lamp for
the benefit of all in darkness. W 8/1
May 21
The word of God inm-eased; and the number of the disciples
multiplied in Jerusalem greatly.-Acts 6: 7.
The company of Christians stayed in that same territory from
Pentecost on until shortly before the Roman armies closed in
upon Jerusalem in a last assault to destroy it, A.D. 70. They
stayed put in the city as God's anointed servants charged with
delivering a continuous witness in that city, notwithstanding
the objection of the religious leaders and the fierce persecutions
from Jewish religionists. They got out and abandoned that
territory only when it became necessary to obey Jesus' prophetic
words because its destruction by Roman armies was about to
begin. (Luke 21: 20-24) But when they at last got out and left
Jerusalem to her dire fate, the work of witness there had
really been finished. 'l'hey could turn in a faithful final report
of how they had discharged their responsibilities in that city
territory while it stood with its many thousands of inhabitants.
W 9/15
l\lay 22
By him therefore let 1M offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his
name.-Heb. 13: 15.
The traditions of selfish, lawbreaking men were being taught
instead of God's truth and commandments. Reproach, instead of
honor, was being heaped upon the name of God, and the Jewish
people were being misled by blind religious guides toward the
ditch of destruction. So before a multitude of listeners Jesus
stood up for God's truth and exposed the false traditional
teachings and customs of Jewish religious leaders. For this,
Jesus was judged by them as a seditious libeler outside the pale
of God's people and was led out of Jerusalem's gate to die like
an accursed blasphemer. But since his resurrection to life J eSllS
has set before his followers the continuous obligation and duty
to likewise glorify God on earth in spite of being misjudged and
condemned by enemies. W 8/15
May 28
Fight the good fight of faith.-l Tim. 6: 1'2.
Mindful of God's faithful servants of bygone centuries who
were subjected to like false charges of libel and scdition, we
will not fear the em'my's accusations and the actions based on
them. We will look upon such accusations as au opportunity and
reason for us to bear the name of Jehovah and his Christ before
all enemies, for a witness against them. 'Ye will view OUf
wrongly accused position as an opportunity to share with JeHUS
Christ the King in vindicating his Father's name by standing
fast for Jehovah's suprcmacy and sovereignty, even be it to im-
prisonment or death permitted at enemy hands. By all legal
and Christian ways we will continue to fight for our God-
given rights and liberty to preach his Word. all of it, offend
whom it may. 'Ye will continue to preach his established king-
dom. that men of good-will toward God may turn from this
world's seditious course to the course of loyalty to Jehovah's
sovereignty. W 3/1
May 24
Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on
of my hands.-2 1'im. 1: 6, Am. Stan. Ver.
This does not refer to being ordained to preach or be minis-
ter of God. It refers to "the gift", "the gift of God," which
gift was bestowed upon believers consecrating when the apostles
laid their hands upou them. It was the gift of the spirit, where-
by miraculous ability was conferred upon those receiving it,
so that they could prophesy, or talk with a foreign language, or
interpret, or perform cures. Since the death of the apostlps
the b{'stowillg of gifts of the spirit by them stopped of ueces-
sity. (1 Cor. 13: 1-8) Hence the practice of laying on of
hands would cease with them. '.rhereaftl'r any laying on of
hands by any persons would, at most, be symbolic of appoint-
ing someone to a responsible position or work. but not of
ordaining that one to be a "minister of God". Ordination to be
a "minister of God" is not by man, but is by God through
Christ Jesus his Prime Minister. W 10/15
May 25
'1'he eternal God is thy dwelling-place, and underneath are the
everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy from before
thee, and said, Destroy. And Israel dwelleth in safety.
-Deut. 33: 27, 28, Am. Stan. Ver.
Already since A.D. 1918 Jehovah's witnesses have Been His
power in action in their behalf, because his name is called upon
them and they faithfully worship him, keeping themselves un-
spotted from this world. Ilis power will not fail us now when
the hardest part of the fighting for true worship is yet ahead.
lie upheld his typical people of olden times before Christ as
they pressed the campaign against demonism in Canaanland.
Just as true to ancient form he will uphold his consC<'rated wit-
nesses today, now that he has set his King on Zion and has
given him the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession.
Jehovah's arms, being everlasting, are under US today, too! lV 9/1
May 26
That the members may be concerned equally for each other.
-1 Cor. 12: 25, The Emphatic Diaglott.
An uplifted, offish attitude of one rendering prominent or
seemingly important service does not build up unity in the
organization. He ought to remember he himself is not important
or irreplaceable, but it is the oflice of service that is important
and that must be carried out. It has a relationship close or
remote with all other offices or kinds of service in the organ-
ization, regardless of how inferior. \Vhat makes for unity in
the organization is the unselfish cone(>rn of all the members
for one another, with humility and with the effort to aid an-
other member wh(>re he may la('k. After all, this is all for the
good of the organization as a whole and for its proper appear-
allce before the world. This works out for the glory of God,
because it proves his spirit is upon the organization. It oils
up and smooths th .. way for all the organization to do God's
appointed work with no grinding and clashing in any of its
parts. W 1/1
l'lay 27
Endure unto the end, ... be savcd.-Matt. 24: 13.
H we hope to win eventual salvation, th('n, without the ex-
ception of a single one of us, we must submit to a hard test
of endurance. \Ve cannot escape it. According to the principle
upon which God now proceeds, we must expect it, face it, and
go through with it. God has not spared himself from enduring
unpleasant things that he could blot out instantly if the lead-
ing issue of universal sovereignty and of creature integrity were
not pressing for an eternal answer. Unavoidably everyone who
seeks after God and consecrates himself to God's side of the
issue and uudcrtakes to serve him has this world under Satan
arrayed in continual opposition to him. Every such one must
steel himself to endure that wicked opposition and to bear it
as long as this world stands and until it goes down in defeat
at Armageddon hefore God. To be his victorious ones that over-
come the world by your integrity, hold on doggedly till the
test ends. W 7/15
May 28
Yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained memy of
the Lord to be faithtul.-l Oor. 7: 25.
The wise and wholesome purpose of God in extending mercy
to sin-stricken men is to develop integrity in them and to prove
that integrity to be unbreakable. Thus far his mercy to men and
the forgiving of their sins has resulted in producing many men
and women of integrity. Each and every onc of thesc stands
forth in justification of Jehovah's loving-kindness and in con-
demnation of Satan the Devil as being a false god who lied
when he blatantly declared before all the universe that God
could not bring forth such persons of unbreakable on
earth as long as wickedness was around loose. If it had not
been for God's mercy in not at once killing Adam and Eve
for sin but letting them live to produce children, none of our
sinful race would have had the chance to develop and demon-
strate integrity toward God. W 4/15
May 29
This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and
his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born
of God ovcrcometh the world: and this is the victory that over-
cometh the world, even our jaith.-l John 5: 3, 4.
Love, to be sincere and of genuine quality, must make an effort
to show itself. Loving God means, therefore, keeping his com-
mandments, illcluding that second great one, to love your neigh-
bor as yourself. Love not only the spirit-begotten children of
God, who have hope of the heav('nly kingdom, but also the
"other sheep" of the "great multitude". '1'he victorious faith
that triumphs over this corrupt, dying world rests upon true
knowledge of God and of his Christ. So, loving our neighbors
and wanting them to gain life by overcoming this world means
we must go forth and share with them the lif<'-giving knowledge
that God has imparted to us through his organi-
zation under Christ the Head. Doing so, we prove our love
true. W 11/1
May 80
Death and life arc in the power of the tongue' those who in-
dulge it must eat the fruit of it.-Prov. 18: 21, An Amer. Trans.
Yes, one's own future life or everlasting death is largely de-
termined by the use of one's mouth or powers of communication.
If a man wants to use his tongue in a lot of talk he ought
to remind himself he will have .to bear the consequences from
the way he uses his tongue. The speaker must eventually eat
the fruit of what he has sown by his lips, regardless of how
it affects other persons. If he uses his mouth and lips in pro-
claiming the message of God's kingdom he wiII find that the
Lord will bless him with the supplying of his needs to keep on
in preaching. "Even 80 hath the Lord ordained that they which
preach the gospel should live of the gospel." (1 Cor. 9: 14) At
length this beneficial use of one's vocal powers and means of ex-
pression leads to eternal life. W 5/1
May 81
There shall be a resurrection of the dead.? both of the just and
unjust.-Acts 24: lv.
The unjust are the ones that come to the resurrection of
judgment, to be "judged out of those things which were writ-
t('n in the books, according to their works". (Rev. 20: 12) The
'things written in the books' do not mean the records of all their
past unjust life and all the evil they have done before dying
and descending into the graves. True, such evil lives and
things of the present will have a hindering effect on them in
the thousand-year judgment day, because they will be the same
personalities in the resurrection. But those things are in the
past, just as a Christian's life before accepting Christ and
consecrating to God is a thing of the past and Christ's ransom
sacrifice takes care of all that. So the futUre is what counts
for them. Christ's "ransom for many" opens up the way back
to eternal perfect human life for all coming forth in the
resurrection of judgment. W "1/1
June 1
Fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyselj.-J as. 2: 8.
As servants or slaves of one another in imitation of J eSllS,
we will encourage all our brethren into that public confession
with the mouth that wins divine approval and leads to their
salvation. We will not be partial, but will 10\" our neighbors
of whatsoever nation, kindred, race and tongue, and we will
therefore be moved to share with them the message of salva-
tion which the neighborly love by others has passed on to us
ourselves. We are here in this hostile world to help our brethren
to win that salvation which is now so ncar realization in the
new world, a world united in worshiping and loving Jehovah
God with all the heart, mind, soul and strength. Among those
who hope to live together with their faithful fellow creatures
in the righteous new world, now is the time to begin and prac-
tice to the limit that "royal law" of love of man to man. W 11/1
June 2
Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of
perjectness.-Ool. 8: 14, Am. Stan. Ver.
God made our bodies that all parts and members of them
should naturally cure for one another. Just like that it should
be with that larger organization, the body of Christ, of whom
the anointed Christians arc membprs in particular. All must
bear a responsibility toward one another, and this should be
borne with love such as Jehovah God had in making the human
body. "But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his
brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how
doth the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17, Am. Stan.
Vel'.) 'Ve should have mutual love for one another as members
of the Lord's organization under Christ, mainly because the
Lord's commissioned work for the "body of Christ" is con-
cerned, namely, that of proclaiming the Kingdom gospel. Such
love is Christ-like. It is a fruit of God's spirit and is a great
unifier and binder within the organization. W 1/1
June S
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth
of his bread to the poor.-Prov. 22: 9.
As we press along in the one and only right way, we shall
look with generosity upon the poor people in darkness and
who hunger for the light of Kingdom truth. Personally we do
not have much of material bread to distribute, but we do have
an abundance of spiritual food from God's Word which has
been made understandable to our hearts and minds. \\'hile such
world hunger for truth exists, this is no time for the envious
eye that begrudges God's "meat in due season" to any people.
By copying today Jesus' bounteous course toward the poor and
by imparting to them the bread by which we have been so well
fed and nourished, we shall show we do not despise their
Maker, .J ehovah God, and we shall be certain of His blessing,
in addition to any blessings from the poor we serve with food.
(28: 27) Thus fed, their eyes will be enlightened and wiII be
able to discern God's kingdom and his King. W 8/1
June 4
[,ove ... endures all things.-1 Oor. 18: 4, 7, Diag.
Sen ing God is, in fact, its own reward. But, ill addition to
the simple privilege of his work, there is a time for further
rewarding us with the long-hoped-for things of his promise, after
the completion of God's "strange work" at this end of the
world. At times of wearincss we may ask: 'How shall WI' stand
up and last any longer't' By loving God with all our hC'art,
mind, soul and strength is how. Our love of him we ('xllress
by keeping his commandments. Unless it is out of love (If God
that we endure, our bearing up under burdens and afHictions
docs not mean devotion to him and docs not have the cffeet of
deepening our love for him. It is for some other cause and does
not count with God. But what was not Jesus able to do out
of love for God his Father? and what can we his followers not
do and endure out of love for God our Father and his? W ? / 1:;
June 5
To have respect of persons is not !lood.-Prov. 28: 21.
Setting the mark on people's foreheads by means of the
mpssage of salvation does not mean we are the ones to judge
indlViduals and decide whether such are worthy of salvation or
of execution. \Ye must let the Kingdom message itself do the
searching out of those worthy to be marked and willing to Rub
mit to marking. By God's command through Christ J psus we
must call on ALL the people in our territories, and try not to
m i s ~ a single intelligent person. We do so in order to avoid
acting as judgps of anybody. \Ve let all have an opportunity
to hpar and to decide for themseh ('s. To this end we as .T eho-
vah's witnesses follow the effective example of Jesus Christ and
his apostles by going from house to house to preach to those in
the homes as well as prpaching publicly. In this way we gl't
in touch with all the people, of all classes, and learn firsthand
their attitude and dl'cision. W 9/15
June 6
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put
asunder.-Matt_ 19: 6.
According to Jesus' words at verse 9, fornication is the ouly
ground recognized by God for divorcing one's unfaithful mate.
Otherwise, no hnman creature should separate and put ajlart
those who God's original institution of marriage in Eucn de-
creed should dwell together as one flesh. God does not per-
sonally intervene to make human matches and to join together
all human marriage couples and thus become responsible if
they turn out bad. But by creating woman and mating her with
Adam God did show the unity that should apply to all humans
that join together in marriage, and that should be recognized.
~ ' h e apostle Paul does not, therefore, encourage separations
and does not sanction them, except for the reason that the Lord
announced, namely, fornication. (1 Cor. 7: 10, 11) This dis-
solves the marriage bond. The dissolution can be legalized by
the law of the land. W 2/1
June 7
It behoved hint to be made like unto his brethren, that he might
be a merciful and faithful hi.qh priest in things pertaining
to God.-H eb. 2: 17.
In order to continue acceptable as a ransom sacrifice and
high priest for mankind, it was absolutely necessary for Jesus
Christ to maintain perfect integrity toward God in every point.
He is the foretold "Seed of Abraham", in whom "shall all the
nations of the earth be bless"d". As such St'ed of Abraham
he associates with himself all his devoted followers. Thus
through him they spiritually become parts of Abraham's seed,
his brethren. Jesus seeks. first of all, to help them, especially
because th!'y are imperfect, sin-infected human ereatures. Hay-
ing been once flesh himself and exposed to all the temptations
and trials to which they are exposed, he as high priest can
unuerstand their position and can be a merciful high priest
for their sakes. Because he kept his integrity, he can help them
to uo so. W 4/15
June 8
H c that covercth a transgression scekcth [procureth) love; but
he that repeateth [or, on] a matter separateth very
friends.-Prov. 17: 9.
If a person loves his brother or sister he wiII keep quiet
about them and so not put the brother or sister in difficulty by
making either one an object of open shame. He will not make
it hard for them to hold onto friends. He wiII not strain his
own friendship with them by talking about them. If, then, you
want to earn the love of another, you wiII overlook his trans-
gressions or keep silent about them or not make them a sub-
ject of eommon gossip. And if some gossiper pours into your
ears a tale ahout others' shortcoming, you wiII show love by
not repeating and passing on the tale to others. Neither will
you keep Oll bringing it up or harping upon it before others
until you have made them despise others and quit their friend-
ship. To befriend a brother at fault, remember this: "A friend
loveth at all times."-17: 17. W 511
June 9
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom
of their Father.-Matt. 13: 43.
Shining now in the kingdom of their Father means letting
the light of the message of God's kingdom shine out to all men
of good-will in all nations. Now the "children of the kingdom"
must shine because in 1914 Jehovah God set up his kingdom
in the heavens by Christ Jesus and the "time of the end" be-
gan for this old world. Their faithfully shining down till the
fiual end comes upon this world will determine whether they
continue to be "children of the kingdom" and whether they enter
at last into the heavenly kingdom. Only by ever exercising the
Christian virtues while so shining forth God's message will they
gain entrance into the royal realm above. So says Pet.
1: 10, 11) Persecutions and afflictions have come upon them
at the hands of the wicked. Still the remnant keep on shining
in the kingdom of their Father. W Gil
June 10
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.--John 3: 17.
At Jesus' anointing with the holy spirit A.D. 29 he became
God's anointed iligh Priest according to the rank of Melchizedek
who had once blessed faithful Abraham. By possessing his
own perfect human life the High Priest Christ Jesus was in
possession of a holy, acceptable sacrifice that he could offer up
to God. It would really take away sins and would proyide a
righteous standing for sinners that accepted it. Because the
sacrifice of bimself as a perfect man could do this, he as IIigh
Priest needed to offer just one sacrifice, himsrlf, and no more.
(Heb. 9: 25-28) Manifestly he came for a positive purpose,
not for a "ministration of condemnation" like that of Moses
when mediating the law covenant with Israel. He came for a
work of salvation. All those saved will be delivered to ever-
lasting obedience to God's sovereignty. W GI15
June 11
Speak with the enemies in the gate.-Ps. 127: 5.
Jehovah God has given his worshipers as a heritage now
to his King, as his children. They are children given to the
all-conquering Fighter for true worship, Christ J eaus, and they
are fighters in imitation of him. He now leads right np to the
very gates of the enemy strongholds, preparatory to taking
complete possession. The seed of Abraham mnst possess the
gates of the enemies. Genesis 22: 17 speaks thus about the
Seed. So the offensive against false worship must go on in order
that the prisoners may be released for true worship of .Jehovah.
The order of the day is to push the offensive to the very gates
of the enemy. The faithful heirs of life in the new world will
do so, receiving courage from the divine promise: "In that day
will Jehovah of hosts become a crown of glory, . . . and strength
to them that turn bark the battle at the gate."-Isa. 28: 5, 6,
A.m. Stan. Ver. W 9/1
June 12
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: bitt how can
one be warm alone?-Eccl. 4: 11.
Woe to anyone who thinks he can draw aside and live alone,
not recognizing any obligations to his brethren and not caring
to contribute anything to their welfare! He will grow cold in
the Lord and will lose out in zeal for God's service and be
chilled with worldly fears and grow stiff through spiritual in-
action. \Vhen we try to keep in touch with our faithful
in this unfriendly world, we receive spiritual glow and stimu-
lation. Our brethren help us by pleasant and helpful conversa-
tion with us and by discussions of God's Word and service.
Our hearts burn inside us as His \Yord opens up to our under-
standing through his Theocratic organization under Christ. As
we behold our brethren and feel their moral support while we
march along in the road of service, it makes us take new
courage, because we behold with what boldness and earnestness
they too are serving God. W 12/1
June 13
Let marriage be held in honour by all, and keep the marriagc-
bed unstained.-Ileb. 13: 4, Moffatt.
Jehovah performed the first marriuge of man and woman.
Out of his own good purpose he made all arrangements for it.
It was good in his sight. It brought the man and the womun
into the proper relationship with each other. Jehovah God their
Crpator joined them together to be one flesh. It was not His
will that any other creature should try to put them apart, not
even death. Very evidently, now, the great marriage-wrecker,
Satan the Devil, is trying to bring marriage into disdain, there-
by to reproach its Founder, Jehovah God. Undeniably one sin-
ist!'r motive on his part is to infect the true Christians of
Jehovah's organization with a worldly contempt for marriage
responsibilities and moral obligations and thus to lead them into
this world's reproachful conduct. For our spiritual good and
earthly happiness the time is surely here to think straight
upon this serious matter. W 1/15
June 14
By means of Jesus God will bring with him those who have
fallen asleep.-1 The88. 4: 14, Moffatt.
Before the dead are raised from their graves God's kingdom
must be set up and his Judge Christ Jesus must be installed
upon the judicial bench. (Rev. 11: 15-19) At that time is when
Christ Jesus comes, that is, comes into possession of the King-
dom, and Jehovah sends the rod of his power out of the heaven-
ly capital, Zion, and makes this earth feel its power. The
Christians that survive on earth till that wondrous time are
not at once taken to heaven to reign with Christ in the King-
dom. Such surviving Christians on earth now have a work to
do on earth, namely, preach this gospel of the Kingdom. (Matt.
24: 14) We are now living in the days of the Christian rem-
nant. Hence the dead Christians in the graves must be raised
in a spiritual resurrection to heavenly life before ever this sur-
viving remnant on earth finishes its course, dies and is raised
to life immortal in heaven. W 4/1
June 15
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of
the blood of Christ? 'l'he bread which we break, is it not a
comrnunion of the body of Christ?-l Cor. 10: 16, Am. Stan. Ver.
The communion of the body of Christ does not refer to Jesus'
human organism or literal flesh, but refers to thc church. So,
too, the "blood of Christ" refers here to what the shedding of
Jesus' blood signified, namely, the death that he died, which
was of a unique kind. It was a death sacrificially in vindication
of God's kingdom. In numerous scriptures shed blood is em-
ployed as a symbol of death. Hence the "communion of the
blood of Christ" means the common sharing or common partici-
pation in the death such as Christ Jesus died, and in which
kind of death all the faithful body-members of Christ must
share. By it they "glorify God", just as the apostle Peter, who
partook of the memorial emblems, did.-John 21: 19. W 2/15
June 16
Seek ye out of the book of Jehovah.-Isa. 34: 16, A.S.V.
Jehovah God can create a visible universe, and why clln he
not also create a book? The question is certainly not one of
ability to produce, but one of willingness and purpose to pro-
duce such a book. God knows we need it. There are questions
concerning God and his purposes toward man that the "book
of natnre" has never answered and never will. God, who created
us with mental powers of understanding, would not leave un-
satisfied those of us who want to know him personally for the
sake of worshiping aud serving him. He would provide the
definite answers to our questions by a revelation, a book. There
is no need to debate this question, because J ehovllh God has
provided snch a book. He has distinguished the Holy Bible as
his book, because he produced its sacred Scriptures by inspira-
tion. Of that sacred Book there is one part that he produced
direct without man's mind or hands. It is the Ten Command-
ments given at Sinai. W 5/15
June 17
By faith Abraham, when he wa.s tried, offered ItP Isaac: ...
accoltnting that God was able to raise him Itp, even from the
dead,. from whence also he received him in a figure.
-Heb. 11: 17-19.
In receiving his son Isaac from the altar Abraham was act-
ing out a living drama depicting how God would receive his only
begotten and beloved Son J!'sus from death as a human sacri-
fice. That Christ Jesus, the seed of God's woman bruised at
thc heel by the Serpent, wus prefigured here by Isaac is indi-
cated by the promise that God gave Abraham immediately after-
ward in which he said: "And in thy seed shall all the nations
of the earth be blessed." (Gen. 22: 18) As foreshadowed by
Isaac, not only was the promised Seed, which is Christ, to b"
resurrected from the deud, but also God was to use this Seed
in the resurrection of others in order that all the nations might
be blessed. Thus God established faith in a resurrection. W 3/15
June 18
I suffer trouble, ... I endure all thill.qs for the elect's sake,
that they may also obtain the salvation which is in OM-ist Jesus.
-2 7'im. 2: 9, 10.
Because we love God and the men who are inclined to seck
after him, we can gladly put up with many things in order to
reach them with the good news of salvation. l!'or preaching
God's Word the foe may bind us. But God's Word cannot be
bound, neithl'r the speaking of it for the salvation of others.
Because it was for the direct benefit of God's devoted peopl!',
Paul was glad to undergo sufferings, "even unto bonds." lIe
was willing to bear the brunt of the enemy's assault, if he
eould spare his brethren the direct suffering or could foil the
enemy's intentions by benefiting the brethren with his Chris-
tian ministry. (Col. 1: 23-25) Seeing, then, that others stand
to profit from our steadfast continuance in God's service to
their eternal salvation, we are under that added urgency to
keep on, never quitting until done. W 7/15
June 19
I will greatly praise the Lord with 1ny mouth .. yea, I will
praise him among the multitude.-Ps. 109: SO.
Exactly how did Jesus declare Jehovah's name among his
brethren and praise Him amidst the congregation? (22: 22)
Not simply by preaching in Jerusalem's temple or in the syna-
gogues when his Jewish brethren congregated in such places.
He did so by also going to the homes of the common people
and from village to village and from city to city. Wherever
he could get audiences large or small he proclaimed the truth,
whether on a mountainside or at the seashore. lie gave God's
kingdom message the widest circulation throughout the land of
his brethren, also sending out at least eighty-two of his dis-
ciples to do the Bame thing in the cities, towns and homes of
the Jewish people. In that wuy his campaign of praise to Jeho-
vah reached a multitude. By J csus' method of preaching he was
our pattern to follow now. lV 8/15
June 20
Now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest
0/ these is love.-l Oor. 13: 13, Am. Stan. Ver.
God is responsible for the difference of services rendered by
the many individual members within his Theocratic organi-
zation. As Creator of his 'l'heocratic organization he set the
members of the organizational body everyone according as it
pleased him. It is his purpose that they should all co-o perate
with one another in love, like the different members of the
one human body. In one respect all members could be alike. That
was in love. Love would abide and endure after miraculous
gifts passed away at the passing of the church out of its primi-
tive infancy. We must be moved by love of God and of our
brethren in order for the service to couut in His sight. Vari-
ous forms of activity and service may pass out as time moves
on, but the development of love within us will remain and will
hold us true to God and his organization. W 1/1
June 21
Those things which proeeed out of the mouth come forth from
the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed
evil thoughts.-Matt. 15: 18, 19.
The tongue and the mind are tied closely together. What our
vocal organs put forth is practically determined by what is
in our mind or heart. To have 'our speech right and profitable
even under agitating conditions, we must in advance fill our
hearts with what is pure, true and edifying. Where men's hearts
or minds arc unclean and defiled, being filled with hypocrisy
and religions sclfdeceits and jealousy, how can their mouths
let out anything except what is contained in Jheir heartsr
When they yield to the selfish impulses of their minds and then
speak what is therein, it just accentuates and deepens and in-
grains in them more firmly the evil inside them. Thus the
words of their mouth defile them. They have no control over
themselves because of lacking the truthful understanding of
God's Word. W 5/1
June 22
But if your eye is selfish, the whole of your body will be
darkened.-Matt. 6: 28, Moffatt.
The "evil eye", or the kind of vision that it symbolizes, is
selfish and serves a heart that is self-seeking, lacking the pure,
sincere love of God and his kingdom. The Kingdom glories in
heaven that are promised in God's Word to the' faithful it de-
sires selfishly, and not that this might be to th" honor of God
and the vindication of his name. Hence at the same time it de-
sires honors, titles, and good things that this world has to offer,
in order to please itself. For the sake of these things it is will-
ing to please the world and its great master, Satan. 'rhus it
is willing to make compromisps with this world rather than
to be decisively clean-cut for the Kingdom. It imagines it can
serve two masters, now serving the Devil's world and lining
up with its programs for its own "better, finer order", and now
serving God, to curry God's favor, for safety's sake. W 8/1
June 28
And these shall go forth to the aionian cutting-off; but the
righteous to aionian life.-Matt. 25: 46, Diag.
The damaging evidence that condemns the goatlike ones is
that they did not love God's kingdom and lent no support to
it. If they had really loved the King, whom men cannot see,
they would have loved the message of his kingdom and they
would have loved his brethren whom men can see and hear.
(1 John 4: 20, 21) The punishment that is everlasting upon
the "goats" is destruction without end, a total cutting off from
all life in contradistinction to the eternal life the "sheep" in-
herit in the new world. 'l'his carries as its conseqnence that the
"goats" will not survive the end of this world as Noah and his
household survived the watery end of the old world, or as Lot
survived the fiery end of Sodom and Gomorrah. At this world's
end they suffer destruction as ungodly creatures, together with
the Devil's world organization. W 7/1
June 24
The virgins in hcr train, her companions, are brought to you.
-Ps. 45: 14, An Amer. Trans.
The present privilege of the virgin-companion class is that
of serving God in company with the remnant of the bride class.
They consider this to be cause for the greatest joy, without
anything to equal it in the future. Their present privileges will
never be repeated in any future time after Armageddon. They
rejoice because of the King's joy at receiving the kingdom, and
entering upon his work of restoring the pure worship of Jeho-
vah God in the earth, and introducing a righteous govern-
ment. These modern-time virgins keep themselves pure and clean
from this world and commit no spiritual fornication with it.
Hence the King now accepts their vows of allegiance and makes
them the companions of his bridal remnant. Obediently they
follow in the train of the remnant, assisting them to serve
J chovah God and to preach the goo!I news of his kingdom by
Christ Jesus the King. W 10/1
June 25
The spirit of Ghrist which was in them did signify, . , . unto
us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto
you.-1 Pet. 1: 11, 12.
In the case of a person of good-will of today whom God re-
ceives into his service but reserves for life eternal on earth,
God puts his holy spirit upon him. He does so, just as he did
upon faithful men before Christ, iucluding John the Baptist,
respecting whom the angrl said: "He shall be filled with the
holy spirit, even from his mother's womb." (Luke 1: 13-15,
A.S. V.) Peter, anointed with the spirit, said concerning faith-
ful men before Christ: "Men spake from God, being moved by
the holy spirit." (2 Pet. 1: 21, A.S.V.) In this way the anointed
Christian remnant today and their companions, the spirit-
filled ones of good-will, are together "ministers of
God". They have their ordination from Him through Christ,
to fulfill the special foretold assignment of service: "This gospel
of the kingdom shall be preached." W 10/15
June 26
Touch no one on whom is the mark.-Ezck. 9: 6, An Amer. Trans.
The benefit of having the mark in the intellectual forehead is
to avoid being sentenced to destruction by Jehovah's executioners
at the end of this world, but to obtain divine mcrcy and pity
through Christ, that, so, one may be counted worthy of life in
the righteous new world under God's kingdom. After Christen-
dom is destroyed without mercy or pity at the final battle
fought by Jehovah's executional forces, those marked ones who,
in the natural course of things, may have died before Arma-
geddon's outbreak will be raised to life on earth. The other
marked ones will be spared and preserved alive through the
tribulation of Armageddon. Thus all such marked ones together
will enter into the privileges of life on the purified earth in the
righteous new world. (2 Pet. 3: 13) The forehead mark is there-
fore one for salvation to life in the righteous new world, Oil
earth. lV 9/15
June 27
The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the
home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself.
-Lev. 19: 34, Am Stan. Ver.
Many friendly foreiguers or strangers feared the God of
Israel as the true, living God and desired to worship and
serve him in direct company with the natural Israelites. Under
this impulse they threw in their lot with Israel to sojourn
IImong its people, forsaking, in order to do so, the worldly
nations worshiping demon gods. They wanted to associate with
the nation which the living lind true God, Jehovah, had chosen
to be a people for his purpose. Therefore Jehovah, when givillg
Theocratic laws to his rlect nation, took notice not merely of
the natural Israelites but also of the God-fearing strangers or
sojourners. Far from teaching racial hatred and national
bigotry, Jehovah by his law showed his chosen people the
righteous rule of love, based upon a common worship and service
of the same God over all men. lV 11 /1
June 28
Call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were
illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afftictions.-IIeb. 10: 32.
'Ve have passed through two world wars, with violent efforts
each time by the Devil to destroy us by bitter persecution. A
postwar period now stretches before us, of how long a duration
we know not. Because of persisting in our stand for Jehovah's
kingdom by Christ as the hope of all men of good-will, we may
be sure further tribulations await us, come a third world war
or not. Because the time stretches on indefinitely, with new
afflictions certain from godless masses liS well as religious
masses, should we faint and think this thing is endless and the
reward an illusive will-o'-the-wisp? No! That would never
vindicate God's sovereignty or honor his name, lind he would
not be justified in conferring UpOIl us the prize. The watch-
word is still that of unwavering endurance in doing God's
will. W 7/15
June 29
Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: thou art a priest for
ever after the order of Melchizedek.-Ps. 110: 4, Am. Stan. Ver.
Jehovah's sworn oath is beyond withdrawal. By it Christ
Jesus was made High Priest after the rank of the ancient
priest-king Melchizedek. Jesus by his own human sacrifice on
earth offered the one and only sacrifice that could count for
man and that proved Jesus to be a true high priest . Tehovah
God resurrected this High Priest from the dead and granted
him access into heaven with his sacrifice, to present it in the
very presence of Jehovah God himself for the benefit of human-
kind. (Heb. 10: 12, 13; 6: 20: 7: 1-28) Christ Jesus is High
Priest as well as King. It follows as a consequence that now,
when he goes into action as King, he is highly concerned with
the worship of Jehovah as God and is advancing the knowledge
and worship of Him over all the earth. W 9/1
June 30
Resolve instead never to put any hindrance or obstacle in your
brother's way.-Rom. 14: 13, An Amer. Trans.
We should not put a roadblock in our own way or in the
way of others, which hinders and prevents us from getting
the soul-saving message of the Kingdom across to them with
good effect and acceptance. No habit, no formality, no tradi-
tion should be permitted to become a hindrance to our getting
along together amicably or to a newly interested person's com-
ing into the Lord's organization and serving him. We may de-
feat our purpose if we insist upon another's measuring up to
the standards of elite society, or to the traditional require-
ments of well-to-do circles. According to heavenly wisdom it is
wise for us to remember one thing: Each of us must give an
account of himself to God, and not to some man, not to some
human organization, and not to the country under whose gov-
ernment we live. Our guide is the Word of God our Judge, not
the national habits a n ~ traditional practices. W 11/15
July 1
And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set iiers-
in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir,
that were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
-2 Chron. 20: 22, Am. Stan. Ver.
The experience of King J ehoshaphat and his people confirms
the rule: "I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised:
so shall I be saved from mine enemies." (2 Sam. 22: 4) In
these days when Armageddon draws near Jehovah's witnesses
may confidently follow the same rule. Doing so, they will not
hole up behind walls but will daily march forth ('ailing upon
Him by singing his praises publicly and to the people in their
homes. Such continuous singing forth the honor of His name
and kingdom will lead to their salvation at Armagpddon, where
they will sec their combined foes thrown into confusion and
panic and destroyed. It is Jehovah's battle, and his praisers
will survive it into the righteous new world that follows. W 8/15
July 2
By the sin of his lips is the guilty man ensnared,. while the
innocent escapes trouble.-Prov. 12: 13, An Amer. Trans.
After a lie has been told about another, the person may ask
forgiveness of the one about whom he has lied, but by the time
the forgiveness is asked and granted much damage may have
been wrought, and almost beyond repair in some cases. The
wise person will pause to look ahead to the evil consequences
that may follow speaking untruths and will remember God's
commands against lying, and will not foolishly spread a lie.
Be will spare himself later rf'grets and will keep himself in-
side the love of God. Evil-speakers may be sure their mischief-
making will boomerang back and strike them smack in the face.
They lay the snare for future trouble for themselves. Knowing
there is a sure retribution by God's directing of matters, we
will be careful to consider the effects of our talk, what they
might be to others and ourselves. W 5/1
July S
We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom
oj God.-Acts 14: 22-
The members of the true church are not made heirs of any
of the kingdoms of this world, to engage in any political bat-
tles. (John 18: 36) Be advispd, then, ye worldly governments
and judges, that the difference between the visible "church of
God" and the "kingdom of God" is noteworthy. Only in due
time will the faithful ones of the church of God inherit the
possession of the Kingdom with Christ in the heavens. This
absolutely debars Jehovah's witnesses from now in
the flesh as political kings and priests on earth. 'Ve are strictly
ambassadors of reconciliation for the heavenly kingdom of God
by Christ. Our anointed commission now is to shine forth the
message of the Kingdom. (2 Cor. 5: 18-20) All persons of good-
will in every nation have the privil!'ge of catching the light
beams to reflect them on to others. W 6/1
July 4
God whom we serve is able to deliver us.-Dan. 9: 11.
Daniel's three B!'brew fellow captives in Babylon refused
to fall down and idolize the golden image that King Nebuchad-
nezzar set up. 'l'heir faithfulness to Jehovah was condemned
as an act of sedition which brought the religious decrees of the
king into public contt'mpt. The Chaldeans, the then priestly
class, were the ones to interpret the Hebrews' refusal to break
God's commandment against idol-worship as sedition against
King Ncbuchadnezzar. So Jehovah's three faithful worshipers
were chucked into the fiery furnace for thejr "crime" of obe-
dience to His uninrsal sovereignty. Thus their innocence was
obliged to be proved by fiery ordeal. Jehovah's sovereign power
prevailed over fire, and they were delivt'red alive from the
midst of the blazing furnace, to explode the enemy charge of
"Sedition!" This is a prophecy of how he will deliver his
faithful witnesses now charged with libel and sedition for
worshiping him. W 3/1
July 5
'Phe unmarried woman or thc 1:irgin is anrious tor the things
of the Lord, that she may be holy both in her body and in
her spirit.-l Oor. 7: 34, Rotherham.
Paul correctly states that the unmarried Christian or the
Christian keeping virginity is able to be holy to God, that is to
say, fully set apart and reserved for God's direct service, both
in body and in spirit. The spirit. or mental inclination, of
such single one leans and urges him to the active service of
God's kingdom. So, having no spouse claiming part control of
his body, he can follow the spirit or inclination of his mind
Ilnd heart. He can specialize upon God's service with concentra-
tion of body and mind. Thus he can best look to pleasing only
the Lord with the greatest of personal liberty. Likely being
a widower who did not choose to lead around a sister, a Chris-
tian wife, as Peter and other apostles did, Paul knew whereof
he spoke and was competent to give trustworthy advice to the
inexperieuced. W 2/1
July 6
I will give thanks unto thee, 0 Lord, among the peoples: I will
s-ing praises unto thee among the nations.-Ps. 57: 9, A.S.V.
Why give thanks to Jehovah and sing praises to him now
among all peoples and nations? To those who have learned to
know him and who have experienced his saving power the an-
swer comes back: "For thy mercy is great unto the heavens,
and thy truth unto the clouds." (57: 10) His mercy and truth,
his loving-kindness and faithfulness, are all about us, enveloping
us, just as the earth's atmosphere miles deep envelops us. They
are higher than what men call mercy, truth and faithfulness.
They must be made known by those who have already experi-
enced such divine favors. They must be made known to all na-
tions and people, because only by means of taking advantage of
the heavenly mercy, truth and faithfulness will anyone of any
nationality ever be able to gain salvation and to praise God.
W 12/15
July 7
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:
their works do follow them.-RfiV. 14: 13.
The "first resurrection" is now in progress toward the true
church. For that reason Christians now surviving on earth have
a special blessedness ahead of them. Seeing that Jehovah God
the Almighty has assumed his power to reign over all the earth,
and his King Christ Jesus now stands up in power on his
capital organization, Mount Zion, and the "everlasting gospel"
of this kingdom is now being preached in every nation, kindred,
people and tongue, something unusual follows. The surviving
Christians, on completing their earthly work and dying in their
integrity toward God, do not need to sleep on in the graves to
await the Lord's descent and his call to the Christian dead to
awake and arise. He has descended. The "dead in Christ" are
already risen as first in order. So now the surviving remnant
are at death as humans resurrected at once thereafter to spirit
life in union with him. W 4/1
July 8
1 will hear what God the Lord will speak: jor he will speak
peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn
again to tOl/y.-Ps. 85: 8.
In 1919 God freed his remnant from captivity and bondage
to this world that they might serve as his Kingdom "witnesses
on earth, in absolute separateness from this world. Thus, figur-
atively, he restored them to their land or rightful place on
earth. Besides mercy, Jehovah God showed his remnant glorious
truths about his Kingdom now functioning through Christ.
Why? That they might thereafter prove to be faithful servants
of integrity to God and to his kingdom of universal sovereignty.
That is why Psalm 85 warns all to whom he has restored his
peace, "Let them not turn again to folly." The peace of his ap-
proval and blessing will abide with his forgiven and restored
remnant only so long as they do not turn back to religion and
worldly folly. W 4/15
July 9
Go through the midst oj the citv.-Ezek. 9: 4.
In obedience to the commission to go through the midst of
Jerusalem and use up the ink in his horn by marking the fore-
heads of those persons sighing and crying, we can imagine the
man in linen tramping the streets of the walled city and going
from house to house and knocking at the doors to summon the
people as well as speaking to persons he met on the streets
and in the public squares. Will anyone suggest how otherwise
he did the marking work? In that very same way the remnant
of Jehovah's witnesses have obediently been doing the marking
work since the Lord came to the temple for inspection and
judgment in 1918. All Christendom knows that_ To the point
of persecuting them, she objects and will keep on objecting to
this coming of Jehovah's witnesses to the doors of her people,
just as ancient Jerusalem objected to Ezekiel's and Jeremiah's
preaching because she had the temple built by Solomon in her
midst. W 9/15
July 10
Thou, 0 Lord, art a God jull oj compassion, and gracious, long-
suffering, and plcnteous in mercy.-Ps. 86: 15.
Under his heavenly kingdom by Christ Jesus those of human-
kind will live upon whom Jehovah God has had mercy, from
the first martyr Abel onward and including an unnumbered
multitude of persons of good-will living on earth during this
twentieth century. Not all of humankind have turned out to
be "vessels of wrath" worthy of destruction. That speaks well
for Almighty God in enduring so long. It proves that his en-
durance has not been in vain but results in covering him at
last with unsurpassable glory. His mercy is proved to be not
misspent, but works out toward producing (1) a glorious king-
dom family in the heavens under Jehovah's beloved Son Jesus
Christ and (2) a recovered and perfected race of human crea-
tures on a paradise earth, all inheritors of everlasting life;
a full answer to Satan's boastful challenge. W "1/15
July 11
Whatsoever 1 speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me,
80 I speak.-John 12: 50.
Jesus' words were Godbreathed. With his perfect memory he
could repeat to men verbatim God's words to him with a
plenary or verbal inspiration. But though Jesus spoke by divine
inspiration upon earth, he did not act automatically, without
any decision of his own. Jesus had free moral agency the same
as any other human on earth, but he submerged his o,n will
into that of his Father. It was not necessary for him to re-
peat automatically word for word, if he faithfully expressed
and lived the sense and inward meaning of God's command-
ments and message to him. This fact is illustrated in the ac-
counts of his life by his inspired disciples. Jesus did not per-
sonally write a word of the Christian Greek Scriptures, but by
his inspired words and his prophetically foretold course of action
J csus provided the material for his disciples to write. W 5/15
July 12
A worthless man deviseth mischief,. atld in his lips there is as
a 8corching fire. A perverse man 8cattereth abroad strife .. and a
whispercr separateth chief friends.-Prov. 16: 27, 28,
Am. Stan. Ver.
Whether we seek to have it so or not, whispering can make
the continuance of friendships difficult or can even break them
up. If a person's lips are hot with some talc or information
about another, before telling it to another let him stop and ask
himself why he wants to tell it. Is it intentionally to work mis-
chief, such as scorching one of the brethren or stirring up
strife in the congregation or separating friends from each other?
It may cause the talebearer himself to lose thE' friendship of
the one of whom he gossips or the friendship of the one to
whom he gossips. If he loves his brother or sister about whose
faults and transgressions he knows, he will not be keen to
publish such. He will keep quiet and not make it hard for
them to hold their friends. W 5/1
July 18
And the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books.-Rev. 20: 12.
Under the thousand-year rule of Christ the Judge, they have
to be tested to prove themselves worthy of a decision to eternal
life in their favor. How the judgment will go in their case will
depend upon their works, not their works in the past when
Satan and his demons were on the loose, but their works hence-
forth under the righteous Kingdom. If their works are in har-
mony with the things written in the books, then judgment
rendered toward them will be to justify them to eternal lift'
on a paradise earth. The books are therefore not personal-
record books, but are God's books setting forth His will con-
cerning mankind during the Kingdom rule. Those things of
God's law are the things worth reading and being published,
and by such things which the Judge Jesus Christ publishes for
all mankind's guidance they will be able to learn righteousness
that tendeth to everlasting life. W 7/1
July 14
I,. tAil place will I give peace.-H ago !: 9.
Jehovah God now makes peace within his visible organization
on earth. To the wicked, however, he decrees no peace and
there is no peace in this world. (Ps. 147: 14; Isa. 48: 18,22)
In blessed contrast therewith, Jehovah's enthroned "Prince of
Peace" rules in the midst of his remnant and their good-will
companions with all peaceable purposes, to hold them together
in one under his protection and blessing. Hence, in the midst
of a strife-torn, disquieted world, there should be one visible
organization where permanent peace and unity exist, and that
should be Jehovah's organization of His witnesses under the
"Prince of Peace", Christ Jesus. It should stand, and, by God's
grace, it does stand, to the glory of Jehovah God, as a visible,
tangible sample of the everlasting peace and unity of the right-
eous uew world which He will early usher in by his kingdom
under Christ. W 1/1
July 15
When he is come, he will reprove [convince] the world . oj
judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
--John 16: 8, 11, margin.
A remnant of the Jews believed in the Son of God as their
escape from divine condemnation. They had righteousness im-
puted to them through Christ Jesus, who had gone to heaven
to his Father and presented the merit of his human sacrifice.
The outpouring of the spirit upon this remnant was a judgment
against Satan and his earthly seed because it proved Jesus had
been recovered from the heel-wound inflicted by the Serpent and
had been raised from the dead and had ascended to his Father's
right hand. So now the eventual bruising of the Serpent's head
was a dead certainty. Satan, the prince of this world, had lost
out and was condemned as a liar, whereas Jesus had won out
for maintaining his integrity to God. God therefore appointed
him to be Judge of both the dead and the living and the Judge
of all of Satan's world. W 6/15
July 16
They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched
the scriptures daily.-Acts ii: 11.
We should not look at God's Word and organization with a
stationary, religious stare to see things according to the reli-
gious point of view. When we stare with our natural eyes, what
happens? Such a staring renders the eyes motionless and sub-
jects them to strain in the effort to see. It also paralyzes the
powers of perception and immobilizes the attention, so that no
clear, detailed impression is gained that can be remembered
with sharpness. The mental effect is hazy, unclear, unimpres-
sive; and the staring, by being kept up, is liable to induce
drowsy self-hypnotism rather than bestir us to an energetic
action in response to sight. The blessed "eyes" are not those
which give an occasional, casual and general look at God's
Word and organization as if by one or a few such looks to
take in the whole field of his Word hurriedly and save time
for selfish things. 8/1
July 17
I will praise thee: jor thou hast heard me, and art become
my salvation.-Ps. 118: 21.
Had Jehovah's King Christ Jesus not been ruling since ID14
amid all the nations that hate Jehovah's witnesses, they could
never have survived to this year ID48. But they have come through
in a miraculous way and ari now seeking to redouble their activ-
ities in preaching this gospel of the established Kingdom; and
that fact gives the strongest circumstantial proof in the light
of Scripture prophecy that Jehovah's King rules. 'Phose of us
who have taken our stand as devoted subjects of his King, what
shall we do now and until Armageddon? There is only one thing
in obedience to the King, and that is to join him as our High
Priest in spreading the worship of the true God to all parts
of this globe. We will keep on publishing God's kingdom with
all boldness, praying for more power from Him to do so. Now
his power will be manifested as never before for those who
boldly tell his Word. W 9/1
July 18
For thy name's sake, 0 LORD, pardon.-Ps. 25: 11.
The psalmist David was not addicted to sin. He had no real
love for it. Therefore he did not want sins he committed due to
his human frailty to bring any reproach upon God's name from
the lips of God's enemies. If David had merely sought mental
peace by asking and receiving pardon from God and did not
rcally try to avoid committing those sins over again, the divine
forgiveness would have been just wasted on him. Without a
real effort at integrity and uprightness after he was forgiven,
David would have been subject to no further mercy and loving-
kindness. Proving he was not selfishly trying to abuse those
divine expressions, he honestly strove to keep integrity and up-
rightness and thus avoid bringing reproach upon God's name.
He sincerely desired to vindicate God's name by avoiding sin
and holding true to God. In this, he was a man after God's
own heart and an example to us. W 4/15
July 19
Women received their dead by a resurrection [aliastasis]: and
others were tortured, not accepting thcil' deliveranc!u that they
might obtain a better resurrection [anastasis].-l1eb. 11: 35,
Am. Stan. Vcr.
Such women received their dead raised to life again by means
of God's prophets in whom they exercised faith to call upon
them for help. The widow woman with whom Elijah lodged
at Zarephath in the land of Zidon during the great famine re-
ceived her dead son by a resurrection performed at the hands
of Elijah. The Shunammite woman who had graciously enter-
tained Elisha, successor to Elijah, received her dead boy back
by a resurrection performed by means of Elisha. In fact, when
Abraham unbound his son Isaac and took him down off the
altar of sacrifice and offered up a ram instead, he in effect
received Isaac back from death: "for he considered that God
was able even to raise men from the dead. Hence he did get
him back, by what was a parable of the resurrection."-Moffatt.
W 3/15
July 20
Love of money .. avoid all this. You must aim at rightoous-
ness, piety, faith, love, endumnee, and gentleness.
-1 Tim. 6: 10, 11, 20th Cent. N. T.
A person, starting out as a Kingdom publisher in a Chris-
tian company, or as a full-time pioneer publisher, or in some
other form of Christian ministry, needs to keep in mind what he
may expect and then determine to go through with it in order
to measure up to his privileges of the ministry. Although having
already carried on quite an activity of publishing the gospel
message publicly and from house to house, we must keep on
in this ministry, not turning aside to gain money or other kind
of selfishness by which we could pursue a sheltered life of
ease. Gaining the prize of lasting life in the new world to
which we are called depends upon our taking the hard way
in this world, because it is the right way. At all times we need
exhortation on this vital matter of steadfastness. W 7/15
July 21
The tongue is a fire, a tcorld of iniquity.--J as. 3: 6.
What is needed for control of the tongue is heavenly wisdom
and God's grace or favor. That wisdom from above comes
through his recorded Word. We must study it and listen as it is
explained through his Theocratic organization, in order to fill
our hearts and minds with it and shove out the earthly, sensual,
devilish wisdom which breeds envying, strife, confusion and
~ v e r y evil work. Otherwise, the tongue will, though small in
size, be in elIeet a world of iniquity and will defile and soil our
whole body, making our bodily presence disagreeable among
God's people. If the heart goes after things of this world and
the mind digs up what this world has to olIer, the tongue that
speaks for such heart or mind will be a fire to inflame the
whole round or wheel of one's nature. The best safeguard is to
go to the heart of the difficulty and to keep the mind clean by
being careful that what it stores up inside is from God's 'Vord.
W 5/1
July 22
I am no peddler of God's message, like most men, but like a
man of sinoeritv.-2 Cor. 2: 17, An Amer. Trans.
The ministerial status of Jehovah's witnesses has been de-
nied by their enemies who envy them for their position with
God. They say the witnesses are peddlers of books, because
these preach not only by word of mouth but also b;y printed
page and distribute books and booklets containing prmted ser-
mons, which they leave with the people free or at a nominal
contribution of money to help in the expense of printing and
distributing. 'l'hey classify the witnesses, therefore, as book
peddlers, and try to have courts misapply the commercial laws
against them and to require a costly license of them and to
tax them and their literature and printing establishments. They
purposely overlook the rule set forth by Paul at 1 Corinthians
9: 13, 14. Jehovah's witnesses will therefore continue to recog-
nize, confess and contend for their status as "ministers of God"
in the true sense, unabashed. W 10/15
July 23
I will make thy name to be remembered in aU generationB:
therefore shall the people8 give thee thanks for ever and ever.
-Ps. 45: 17, Am. Stan. Ver.
It remains for us to give energy and force to that declara-
tion. How? By now publishing for a witness to all nations this
good news about the kingdom of this one King of Jehovah's
appointment. The present-day "virgins" who are companions
of the King'S bride will do that very thing in company with
the faithful remnant of his bride class. These virgin companions
from among all peoples will inherit everlasting life under his
government. In what generations of children they bring forth
under the Kingdom according to the divine mandate issued
anew, they can make the name of their King to be rememb!'red
while they fulfill their duties as parental instructors. They will
be a blessed part of those peoples who live as his happy sub-
jects and who "give thee thanks for ever and ever". W 10/1
July 24
Fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.-Rom. 12: 11.
We ourselves are whole-souled in our devotion to Jehovah
God and his organization. We speak of it and serve it with an
enthusiasm that is contagious and that takes hold of our breth-
ren and warms them up to liveliness in the Lord's service. It
is no dying or almost cooled-off devotion, but is fired by God's
spirit or active force which is operating within us as we try
to serve the Lord God. Serving the Lord, rather than man or
devil, is the most important thing that any creature could do
on this earth. Serve him, knowing that serving him by showing
forth his praises and recommending his kingdom to others guar-
antees to each servant of God his personal salvation. Service
in this reconstruction time means expanding the pure worship
of him to all parts of the earth, that his name and Theocratic
Government may be known and be great among our neighbors of
good-will. Such service glorifies Him and brings to ns eternal
life. W 11/1
July 25
With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvati-on.-Rom. 10: 10.
The Bible is the only Book that puts down in writing the
proper worship of the living and true God. According to that
sacred Word his worship is not a silent one out of sight of
the unbelieving world, but is a very vocal and open service
and activity. It puts very prominently the praising of God,
not just in silent prayer as in one's private closet or chamber,
but out where others may hear. The Bible says much in re-
gard to the worshiper's praising Jehovah God in the presence
and hearing of others, yes, of multitudes. This praise is a re-
quirement in the worshiper's life, because it is an open con-
fession of the worshiper's faith and devotion to the Lord God.
On such account this praise guarantees deliverance and salva-
tion into the n('w world of evrrlasting life.-14: 11. W 8/15
July 26
A body hast thou prepared me: . Lo, I come (in the volume
of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, 0 God. By the
which will wc are sanctified through the offering of the body
of Jesus Christ once for all.-Heb. 10: 5-"1, 10.
When Jesus consecrated himself to Jehovah God at the time
of being baptized in the Jordan, he referred thus to his human
body. By offering this body once for all he paved the way for
the sanctification of those who become his spiritual brethren,
members of his church. Jesus' sacrifice was typified or symbol-
ized by the sin-atoning ,animals sacrificed on the Jewish annual
atonement day. (Heb. 13: 11-13) Like such animal victims
whose bodies were cremated outside the camp of the Israelites,
so Jesus in the days of his flesh on earth suffered reproaches
unto death II'S if he was an offensive sinner outside of God's
people. Let us for whom he died bear reproach with him. W 2/15
July 27
In the midst of the church willI sing praise unto thee.
-Heb.2:12.
Those of the church do not have their natural descent recorded
upon the birth registries at Jerusalem or other cities in the one-
time Holy Land of Palestine, but as "new creatures" in Christ
they trace their begettal to God in heaven. They have been be-
gotten by Him by means of his Word and holy spirit to be his
spiritual children. Jesus Christ the firstborn Son of God is their
spiritual brother who is not ashamed to confess them as his
brethren. With him they are invited to the chief position in
God's universal organization, namely, the heavenly kingdom;
and this is the position of His firstborn ones. Hence they have
come into what the apostle calls the "church of the first-born,
which are written in heaven". (Heb. 12: 23) In the midst of
these it is that their Head, J ~ s u s Christ, sings praise to J eho-
vah God by continually enlightening them on God's virtues and
pnrposes. W 6/1
July 28
His wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take
refuge in him.-Ps. 2: 12, Am. Stan. Ver.
The headquarters from which issues the Kingdom gospel is
heavenly and is above all political parties and ideologies, and
its textbook of teaching is God's holy Word, the Bible. It
makes subjects for Jehovah's heavenly King,' but does so by no
carnal weapons or violent terrorism or strong-arm squads of the
political state; it does it solely by the power of the love of
God which is expressed in the message of his kingdom. No one
on earth is exempted from the obligation to serve and worship
Jehovah and to yield homage and obedience to his King. To take
refuge in him persons tied in with the world conspiracy of polit-
ical, commercial and religious rulers should break clean away
from it. To avoid perishing with it at the battle of Armageddon
they must now seek heavenly wisdom and instruction to serve
God and his Christ. W 9/1
July 29
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after hiln
through the city, and smite.-]J)zek. 9: 5.
God sends the anointed remnant out to do his work, while he
holds back the antitypical six executioners with battle-axes
till his due time at Armageddon. The doing of this educational
markingwork is for the salvation of the anointed remnant to
eternal life in the heavens as well as for the salvation of those
marked for earthly salvation, because it is solely by obedience
to their commission from God to do this work now that they
follow their Leader, the Lamb of God, whithersoever he leads,
and thus prove worthy of life with him in his heavenly king-
dom. The rule is: "In doing this thou shalt both save thyself,
and them that hear thee." (1 Tim. 4: 16) The anointed rem-
nant cannot be self-centered and concerned just about their own
salvation. Like the man in linen, they must be interested in
the salvation of others, exceptionally so in this time of world
crisis. W 9/15
July SO
The merciful ahall obtain mercy.-Matt. 5.' 7.
Even after God shows us mercy and makes us his consecrated
people, we still have our human weaknesses and imperfections
of body and mind, and it is necessary for him to be mercifnl to-
ward us. If now God has mercy upon us, we ought also to be
very merciful with one another. For Who are we to withhold
mercy from anyone to whom Jehovah God shows mercy through
Christ Jesus? Also, God is tolerant toward the wickedness
of those willful sinners who are reserved to destruction in
his due time. Ought we not, then, to be tolerant toward those
of the consecrated people of God in their habits, customs
and imperfections, hoping for them to come to better under-
standing of matters after further instruction? To abide in God's
mercy, we must cultivate his disposition and must copy him by
showing mercy to others. He forgives the sins of those who
consecrate with faith in the ransom sacrifice. W 11/15
July 81
For he is our God; Q,nd we are the people of his pasture, and
the sheep of his hand.-Ps. 95: 7.
The first Christians were dedicated to J chovah God for the
sake of doing the one divine will, and for that reason they were
God's organization in which he operated by the power of his
holy spirit. They were the visible part of his universal organi-
zation, and their invisible Head was the glorified Christ Jesus.
In like manner today, we become members of God's organized
people on earth by consecrating ourselves to Him through
Christ Jesus. Having.consecrated to God to be His and to do
His will, we must associate ourselves with the others of his
people and must join with them in doing the divine will, finding
our place within his organization and carrying out our work
in that place. By consecrating ourselves, to whom else do we
belong but to Him? If we are thus consecrated to do His will
unitedly, whose organization could we be other than His Theo-
cratic organization? W 12/1
August 1
1 prove myself at all points a true minister of God, by my
great enduranee.-2 Oor. 6: 4, Moffatt.
All those consecrated to God through Christ and on whom
God has put his spirit are "ministers of God", both those of
the anointed remnant and those of the far greater number of
persons of good-will. In fact, the unincorporated society of
Jehovah's consecrated witnesses all over the earth is a Society
of ordained ministers of God. If all of them are gospel ministers
and there is no clergy class and laity class among them, then
where is the congregation of each such ordained minister of
the gospel? All persons of hearing ears to whom they are sent
to preach the gospel of good news of God's established kingdom
are the congregation of this society of ordained ministers of
God. It is a congregation, not just to preach to, but to make
ministers of God out of, a great multitude of them, all praising
God and his King, and serving God day and night at his temple.
-Rev. 7:9-15. W 10/15
August 2
Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin
at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel
of Godf-i Pet. 4: 17.
It is a difficult thing for members of the household of God
to remain righteous in Christ and gain everlasting salvation.
They will scarcely or with difficulty be finally saved, because it
is a narrow way in which the Christians must walk through
the world. Those professed Christians who grow careless or
loose and then become ungodly and sinful because of disobedi-
ence to the gospel can hardly be expected to keep their integrity
to God and win a favorable decision from him as Judge and be
saved to eternal life. They will appear on the condemned side
because of not having kept integrity. Since God's house, his
church, comes under judgment first it is such a serious matter
for all the members thereof, and none can afford to fall back
into disobedience and sin. W 7/1
August S
And death and hell delivered up the dead whieh were in them:
and they were judged.-Rev. 20: 19.
The death that delivers up the dead in it is death that
Adam brought upon all mankind by his willful sin in Eden
before any of his offspring were born. (Rom. 5: 12; 1 Cor.
15: 21) The multitude of persons of good-will today living who
will survive the world's end in the battle of Armageddon are
plainly here meant or included. Death traceable to Adam gives
them up because Jesus, who has the keys of death and of hell,
tasted death for them and relieves them now of any need to
descend into death and the grave because of being offspring
of Adam. Hell delivers up "the dead" which were in it, because
hell denotes the unconscious state of death in the grave. It
means "the hidden place", or "unseen place", such as a covered
pit or filled-in grave, and is thus associated with the earth.
Those sleeping in the dust of the dry ground are restored to
conscious existence on earth. W 4/1
August 4,
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their
masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her
mistress; 80 our eyes wait upon the Lord our God.-Ps. 123: 2.
Weare obliged to imitate Jesus' example in always looking
to God for guidance and instruction. VlT e are therefore restrained
from turning and looking to the many religious organizations
about us for enlightenment and teaching. We must kecp watch
on Jehovah's instructions through his unfolding Word and his
Theocratic organization. We must be just like servants atten-
tively watching the motion of their master's hand in order to
discern the indication of his will and we dare never tire of
doing this. As we obey what he indicates to be his will by his
hand of power, we will not care for scorn and contempt that
Christendom and other religionists heap upon us because we
obey God rather than men. Our deliverance is nigh. W 8/1
August 5
For we have all--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free men-been
baptized in one spirit to form one body, and we have all been
saturated [imbued] with one spirit.-l Cor. 12: 13,
An Amer. Trans.
Although the Christians were, to start with, Jews and non
Jews, slavemen and free, male and female, they have all been
imbued or saturated with this one spirit, because they are a
unitary organization under one Head. Difference and variety
of service do not divide them, but the one spirit binds them
together. All services are for the benefit of all those of the
organization, and for the carrying out of the one over-all pur-
pose of the organization, namely, the service commission which
was put upon Jesus, the Head of the organization, when he
was anointed with God's spirit, namely: "The spirit of the
Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me
to preach good tidings unto the meek."-Isa. 61: 1, Am. Stan.
Ver. W 1/1
August 6
Ministers of God . by evil report.-2 Cor. 6: 4,8.
Do not let the wagging tongues of some slap you out of God's
service. Do not let hurt feelings so fill you that you can no
longer find joy in His service. The active service of God in
which you endeavor to justify God (not yourself) before others
is your biggest relief and comfort under the circumstances, to
get your mind off yourself and to make you see that other things
of personal concern do not matter. Remember that Job was
reproved for trying to justify himself against slander rather
than to justify God first. However, despite the sharp accnsa-
tions of hypocritical friends Job did not misuse his lips to curse
God and thus break his integrity by bitter lips. (Job 2: 10)
He did not quit Jehovah's organization because of the cutting
speeches of his friends who claimed to be speaking for God.
The merciful end that God gave .Job for holding on proves
Proverbs 19: 1: "Better is the poor that walketh in his in-
tegrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool." W 5/1
August '7
I prove myself at all points a true minister of God, b1l my
great endtlranee.-2 Oor. 6,' 4, Moffatt.
The apostle Paul was not the one to seek for an earl release
from his duties as a minister of God's Word because It meant
hard work and trialsome experiences. He did not quit the
ministry demanding a pension on which to retire from activity,
because of having served over a term of years or having reached
a certain age. Instead of looking for early retirement, to lean
back in case upon his past record, he paid his own way to keep
going in the blessed ministry of God's Word. Despite the bur-
dens of the work, he prized it so much that he tried not to
bring any reproach or blame upon this ministry as if it were
a work for selfish interests, and so he did not burden the Chris-
tian congregations financially. Anything to carryon in God's
service and to make his service impressive for good effect upon
people's minds! this was the apostle's motive. W 7/15
August 8
By love serve [be slaves to] one another.-Gal. 5,' 19.
The essentially important position in the organization of
God's "sheep" is that of being a minister, a position which is
common to all of God's devoted ones. All are His ministers.
So as to assist all these ministers, the various servants appointed
in the organization were assigned to their respective places and
duties. They were chosen because they had a commendatory
record of service down till then, and so a little more work with
special responsibilities was piled upon them. They were assigned
their places in order to supply the needs of God's ministers. It
was not that they might brag and boast themselves, but they
were put in office to wait on their fellow ministers. If now they
love their brethren, their nearest neighbors, as they do them-
selves, they will wait on them as much as they wait on them-
selves. W 11/1
August 9
I wish all men to be even as myself i but each one has his appro-
priate gift from God i one, indeea, of one kind, and another
of anotner.-l Oor. 7,' 7, Diaglott.
Because of his faith, zeal and earnest devotion Paul was
given the gracious gift of an apostleship. By a life of single-
ness he applied himself to his duties as apostle, so that he came
not one whit behind the eminent ones of the twelve apostles of
Jesus Christ. He kept single, not in his own strength, but by
the power of faith and divine grace which he talks of as his
own special gift from God. But if every Christian does not have
such a gift by the strength of which he can stay single in his
service to God, the married Christian also receives a gift from
God whereby he too may serve the Lord God in conjunction
with his married life. Hence the married ones need not be dis-
couraged, but should strive to live up to the measure of God's
favor to them. W 2/1
August 10
I now write that ye may be mindful of the words which
were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the command-
ment of U8 the apostlcs.-2 Pet. 3: 1, 2.
The various methods of quoting and referring to the words
of the prophets were all done under guidance and impulse of
the spirit of God. Consequently the writings of the disciples of
Christ are as much God-breathed as the Hebrew Scriptures.
The several methods used do not put contradiction iu between
the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Greek Scriptures, but
combine to make the ancient Scriptures clear and to show how
they applied and were fulfilled. The Christian writers, under
inspiration of the spirit, served as commentators upon the
ancient pre-Christian Scriptures and were used to illustrate
and establish and amplify their truthfulness. Their writings were
all part of the fulfillment of Joel 2: 28, 29 quoted by Peter. So
the Holy Bible from Genesis to Revelatiou is one book, and
not two "testaments". W 5/15
August 11
God, though he wanted to display his anger and show his power,
has shown great patience toward the objects of his anger.
-Rom. 9: 22, An Amer. Trans.
Satan charged that God could not put on carth men and
women that would endure temptation and keep integrity to-
ward him. To permit such an endurance test God must allow
time for the seditious and wicked activities of Satan the Devil
toward angels and men. He must let the reproaches and false
charges stand without a full and conclusive answer till his fixed
time for it. Then, when he has the uncontradictable answer as
furnished by the faithfulness and integrity of his devoted serv-
ants and when he has brought forth his promised kingdom de-
spite the all-out opposition of Satan's organization, Jehovah
God will show his long pent-up wrath. He will make known his
all-conquering power over Satan and his organization by utter-
ly destroying them at the oncoming battle of Armageddon.
W 7/15
August 12
The good man is brought safe out of adversity: the bad man
takes his place! A godless man would ruin his neighbour with
slander, but the good 'man is and escapes.
-Provo 11: 8, 9, Moffatt.
Satan's purpose in causing witnesses of Jehovah to be ac-
cused of libel and seditious conspiracy against a religion-
controlled political state is to get them out of the way, to pre-
vent their giving further testimony to God's purposes. He turns
it into a political matter, to involve them with the state. He
considers their faithful preaching and allegiance to the Most
High God as libel and sedition against him and his wicked
world. One method he has often used is this: He has them
a('cused of seditious designs, and then, supposedly to prevent
such from breaking forth into overt acts, he oppresses them by
taking away all freedom and liberties, imprisoning them or even
killing them. So let us keep alert, cautious. W 3/1
August IS
It is an honour tor a man to cease trom strite: but every fool
will be meddling. He that passeth by, and meddlctl! with strife
belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
-Provo 20: 3; 26: 17.
We refuse to meddle in with the world's controversies and
to become split up and at odds with one another over such.
\Ve are not of this world, just as our King Christ Jesus is not
of this old political, commercial, religious world. \Ve purpose to
hold our neutral position toward this world's embroilments, de-
bates and controversies. Our consecration to God and our being
assigncd to the new world's interests forbid us to violate our
neutrality toward this world's affairs by any participation
therein. To step aside now from our exclusive work for God's
worship and take a hand in the worldly internal strife would
surely injure us and spoil our opportunity for life eternal in
His righteous new world. lV 9/1
August 14
My soul taketh refuge in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings
will I take rejuge.-Ps. 57: 1, Am. Stan. Ver.
The real place of refuge is not underground in some isolated
or covert place or unsuspected room or building, but is under
God's "wings", his protection. There we keep on scning him and
obl'ying his commandments rather than those of men, and all
this time we trust in him to cover us with protection from
enemies who try to break us down into ignoring God's command.
Ours is a constructive work in obl'dience to God, and not a
destructive work of personal vengeance against our persecu-
tors. Were we to take matters into our own hands and resort
to destructive force and violence, wc would be forsaking our
refuge in God. He is sufficient refnge for us, because he can
miraculously protect us while subject to the fiercest heat of
persecution. He can thus show us mercy and pity and not let
us be cut off from our Kingdom hope. lV 12/15
August 15
It awaits mell to die once, but atte'/' this a judgment.
-H cb, 9: 27, The Emphatic Diaglott.
Adam's offspring can die ONLY ONCE because of what he dis-
obediently did in Eden, in offense against God. It is ONLY ONCE
that men can be affectcd to death by what Adam did, becanse
they all descended from him as a dying sinner, under divine
condemnation. \\Then men were born as his offspring it un-
avoidably awaited them to die or to exist under the inheritl'd
condemnation of death. But after men, Adam's offspring, are
put on judgmcnt brfore God, then Adam will not be responsible
for whether they gain eternal life or suffer eternal destruction,
"the second death." \Yhy? Becanse, during the period of judg-
ment, the divinely stated rnle applies: " ~ ' h e soul that sinneth,
it shall die." Christ Jesus bore the sins of only those undel'
death inherited from disobedient Adam. Hence Jesus died only
once, and that once for all. If any die after judgment, he will
not redeem them again. W 6/15
August 16
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation.-1 Pet. 2: 9.
Jehovah's first purpose in vindicating his name is to create
an entire nation of persons of integrity under his Messiah or
Christ. Then, by his Kingdom ruled by that nation, Jehovah
will produce a whole race of humankind that will keep its integ-
rity under a full and final test by Satan the Devil. Christendom
has existed for more than sixteen centuries but to date has
failed to produce such a kind of Christian nation. But God's
purpose has not failed, for she is not His organization for pro-
ducing his holy nation. The nation of integrity is a new nation,
but composed nonetheless of persons that once were imperfect
and condemned descendants of the sinner Adam, the common
parent of all humankind. It is God's "holy nation". W 4115
August 17
Women received their dead by a resurrection; but othm's were
beaten to death, not accepting the deliverance [offered], in order
that they might obtain a better rcsurrection.-Heb. 11: 35,
The Em,phatic Diaglott.
The resurrections by which the women received their dead
were typical, foreshadowing greater ones coming. But those
dead ones brought back were still unredeemed by Christ and
subject to the condemnation of death inherited from Adam.
Hence they were incscapably due to grow older in their im'
perfections and to return to the QPath state. The "better resur-
rection" of the faithful ancicnts will be superior in that it will
be performed by Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead
that he might lay the basis for mankind's resurrection. He will
be reigning as King, and this resurrection will open to them
the way to eternal life on earth under his kingdom. By obeying
it they may have the condemnation of sin completely removed
and be justified to everlasting life in the new world. Also due
to past integrity to God till death they are just so much more
advantaged over the rest of mankind. W 3/15
August 18
.A 80ft tongue breaketh the bonc.-Prov. 25: 15.
Unbelievable as it may sound to the inexperienced, a soft
or gentle answer in return for grievous words can break through
the hard front of a person that is sincere in his opposition be-
cause he misunderstands or is misinformed. Our tongue does
well, then, to keep soft, not with flatteries, but with gentle,
mild and friendly r{'sponses, Our forbearing from giving like for
like, while it may be difficult for us under the circumstances,
will be so disarming to the opposer that he will rarely know
how to handle it. lie is more than likely to be pacified. He
may be as hard as a jawbone, but his tough outer covering is
weakened or may be broken. When he is pacified or softened
in his attitude, we can the better get him to listen to what
we have to say and can have it stick with him, to work on his
mind. That is good, for we go out, not to stir up strife, but to
make an impression. W 511
August 19
King8' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy
right hand did stand the queen in gold.-Ps. 45: 9.
Daughters of kings are said to be among the honorable women
dear to Jehovah's King. Many Hebrew manuscripts say these
kings' daughters were among his female servants. Their being
royal ladies means they are an honor to the Bridegroom-King.
Being devoted to his service also, they seem to picturl.' in the
modern-day scene the multitude of persons of good-will who
consecrate themselves to God through Christ and who then
align themselves with the remnant of his bridal company to
honor and serve him. The "queen" gleaming in garments in-
wrought with most precious gold from Ophir and standing at
the King's right hand of favor pictures the church herself in
complete number of members. Those of the remnant yet on
earth are needed to make up her completeness by proving to be
faithful to the Bridegroom to the death and then being resur-
rected to life with him in God's presence. W 10/1
August 20
Ohrist set us free.-Gal. 5: 1, Am. Stan. Ver.
By reason of linking ourselves up with God's organization we
have come under certain responsibilities. We have now been
appointed to a specific place in connection with the organiza-
tion. Thereby certain obligations fall upon us and we are called
upon to render certain tasks and duties which we must faith-
fully perform in order to gain divine approval. But no man or
creature forced us to take this step of consecration. We took it
willingly, of our own free accord, out of love to God. Reason-
ably we did not do so to become slaves and bondservants of
any selfish creature, for him to make unrighteous gain from
us. We have become slaves and servants of the great Liberator,
Jehovah God. Through Christ he bestows upon us the full free-
dom to act in works of righteousness and goodness. That is the
only freedom we may enjoy eternally with benefit to ourselves
and others. His organization is one of free creatures. W 1'2/1
August 21
Great multitude, which no man could number.-Rev. '1: 9.
There is no limit set for us as to the number we mark.
Christ Jesus the Good Shepherd is gathering his "other sheep"
into his fold of safety and security. The number of these marked
sheep is predicted to become a numberless multitude. We are
therefore authorized to keep on working to mark as many as
we cau. We cannot of ourselves know beforehand what num-
ber they will be at length, but we can keep on numbering them
as we go along, in order to note the increase and to rejoice at
it because of God's blessings upon our efforts. We can never
stop at any certain number and say the work is finished, be-
cause the final number is not foreknown or foretold to us. As
long as there is time to work before Jehovah sends his execu-
tioners into action to start the slaughter work of Armageddon,
we are obliged to keep on working in hope of an increase in the
number of marked ones. W 9/15
August 22
Many members, yet but one body.-1 Cor. 12: 20.
The Christ company under Jesus the Head is like the human
body and is therefore a united organization. It must stay closply
bound together and at peace with ,itself, so as to get the benefit
of all the varied services of all its members. Differences of serv-
ices rendered by the many members do not mean the organiza-
tion is not one body under Jesus the IIead; no more than the
different performances by the different members of the human
organism make it a disunited, shapeless, unidentifiable, inhar-
monious collection of different Likewise with the organi-
zation of God's anointed Christians under their Head Jesus;
they are members many in number and with a variety of service
and activity, but they have all been made to drink of one spirit,
namely, the one holy active force that descends from the Power
Plant, Jehovah God, and through their one capital member,
Jesus Christ. They have all been imbued or saturated with one
spirit. W 1/1
August 23
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother 0/
U8 arl.-Gal. 4: 26.
Showing that Christians have been translated into the king-
dom of God's dear Son is the fact that they are called "the
children of the kingdom". (Matt. 13: 38) In no text are they
spoken of as children of the church. Jesus Christ is not the
child of the church of God, but is the One whom God uses to
build the church upon himself as the "Rock", Christ, the Son
of the living God. For that reason the woman that gives birth
to the man-child, namely, to Christ Jesus in the capacity of
the reigning King, can not be the church, the virgin "bride"
of Christ. She must be the symbolie woman of Jehovah God,
namely, his universal heavenly organization called Zion, the
same woman concerning whom God spoke to the Serpent in
Bden. (Rev. 1: 1-5; Gen. 3: 15) Nowhere speaking of the chil-
dren of the God's Word, at Isaiah 54: 5, 6, 13, speakf!
of the children of his woman or universal organization. W 6/1
August 24
I ncreasing in the exact knowledge 0/ God,. being strengthened
with all strength acoording to his glorious power, for all pa-
tience, and endurance with joy.-Col. 1: 10, 11,
The Emphatic Diaglott.
There is secret strength in our knowing for whom we are
privileged to undergo hardship and persecution. Anything under-
gone for the sake of honoring God's Harne and upholding his
cause is a reason for a joy such as no man can take away from
us. This explains why the apostles, after being beaten at the
behest of the Jewish Sanhedrin for bearing witness to God in
Jesus' name, "departed from the presence of the council, rejoic-
ing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his
name." This rejoicing counteracted the sting and shame of the
beating and made them strong to keep up the ministry, so that
"daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to
teach and preach Jesus Christ".-Acts 5: 40-42. W 7/15
August 25
After tJ long time the lord of those servants cometh, and
reckoneth with them.-Matt. 25: 19.
The resurrecting of the dead Christian servants and uniting
them with him was an expression of judgment toward them, a
judgment of approval. They were judged worthy and were
raised to eternal life in inseparable union with Christ Jesus in
the heavens. They have risen first; but the remnant of His
servants yet alive in the flesh must continue faithful until death
before they can join in that "first resurrection" and appear
before him face to face. They must keep on using the talents
of precious Kingdom service diligently in order that Jehovah
God may bless it with increase to the approval of their Judge
Jesus Christ. This remnant found alive on earth from and
after his coming to the temple in 1918 are brought together as
a united, co-operative servant-body under him their Head, and
accordingly they are likened to a composite servant that is
faithful and discrcet.-24: 45. W "1/1
August 26
Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye 8ee.
-Luke 10: 23.
Jesus so said to his disciples who had just come in from a
campaign of field service preaching the kingdom of God. Jesus'
words are more true in our case now in this twentieth century.
'Ve see what kings and prophets, yes, what even Jesus' early
disciples, did not behold. The eyes of us today are far more
blessed than even theirs, because we see Jehovah's royal Gov-
ernment by his Christ now fully established in the heavens
forevermore. We are rejoicing over the spiritual light that is
now shining due to the inauguration of God's kingdom. (Prov.
15: 30) Christendom, in blindness, cannot understand or per-
ceive this light of today and does not rejoice at it. But the
anointed remnant of heirs of the heavenly kingdom do so. They
are today required to have the visual powers to take in the
light and to actively serve God in it. W 8/1
August 27
Meat commendoth us not to God.-l Cor. 8: 8.
Accordingly, it is not our main business to argue on native
customs and actions of persons of various nationalities and
races. It is foolish and time-wasting to' be diverted from the
main channel for thought, the lofty theme of the Kingdom. "Te
should not let national cnstoms or local habits or racial pecu-
liarities interfere with our preaching of the gospel to interested,
inquiring persons. When accepting invitations to meal as Jesus
often did, we do not go to the homes to talk about the cooking
or the origin of the foodstuffs. We go there primarily to talk
about the Kingdom, and that is what we ought to do while
there. We thcn do not miss the point of our visit. We permit
no interferences with preaching the gospel by such side issnes
any more than by some visitor who drops in and intentionally
or unintentionally tri!'s to break up the home gathering for
the Bible study. W 11/15
August 28
Tholl that liftest me up from the gate8 of death: that I may
shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion.
-Ps. 9: 13, 1l,.
Having now been lifted up from the gates of death from
enemy hands, Jehovah's witnesses must ever thereafter show
forth all the praise of their Savior publicly, openly. More so
is this obligation true since 'VorId War II, for never were they
more near entering into death and extinction by God's enemies.
The only reason for now being alive, their only purpose in liv-
ing, is to praise Him. Now the restoration, reconstruction and
expansion of the worship of Jehovah must be effected in the
earth, to undo the destructive work of the Devil's organization.
It is the time for persons of good-will out from all the nations
and peoples of this world to learn to know Jehovah and to
serve him, before His battle of Armageddon strikes the nations
and kingdoms. Jehovah's witnesses are the people that were to be
created for this time. W 8/15
August 29
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant
[diakonos] of the church.-Rom. 16: 1.
Women can be "ministers of God", even though Paul gave
out the organization instructions: "I suffer not a woman to
teach," and, "Let your women keep silence in the churches."
(1 Tim. 2: 11, 12; 1 Cor. 14: 33-35) That set of instructions
applied to women as teachers within the organi7.ed congrega-
tion of consecrated believers. Nevertheless, the apostle demon-
strated that women can be gospel ministers and ministers of
God. He used concerning Phebe the same expression meaning
minister as he used concerning himself, Timothy, and Christ
Jesus. Phebe's ministry as a minister of God included more than
such helpfnl items as doing washing, laundering, preparing
meals, etc., for the male ministers of God. It included giving
verbal witness concerning God's kingdom to those outside the
church. "Your daughters shall prophesy."-Joe12: 28. W 10/15
August SO
The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a loud 8um-
mons, when the archangel calls and the trumpet of God sounds.
-1 Thess. 4: 16, Moffatt.
We Christian survivors hear the loud summons and the
archangel's call and the sound of this last trumpet. How?
Through the fulfilled and revealed Word of God and with the
hearing of faith in that Word. Because we thus hear, we obey
the Lord's Word detailing to us what the surviving Christians
must do at this "time of the end". With eyes of faith we see
that the Lord Jesus Christ has descended by turning his atten-
tion downward to this earth as the scene of action and then
proceeding to order and direct the things to be done here at
this earth. We discern his descent in the light of the prophecies
which are going into fulfillment. He is at the opened temple
of God in heaven to judge, and in view of the anger of the
nations he prepares to "destroy them that destroy the earth"
at the final war of Armageddon.-Rev. 11: 15-19. W 4/1
August 81
The righteous are bold as a lion.-Prov. 28: 1.
This is not the place and occasion to remain stationary. We
face more perfected, combined opposition from all the demon-
controlled enemies of Christ the King; and the increase of his
Kingdom interests on earth will come only by our activity.
Our best defense against the mounting opposition is to keep
up our offensive and not go into stabilized trench warfare on
the defensive. As we press forward out into the open in a steady
advance npon the religious foes, we nced have no fear that our
ranks will be mowed down by the enemy's direct, concentrated
fire. Our courage and fearlessness in doing so will be a token
to them of the certainty of their impending destruction and will
smite fear into them. But this united fearless pushing of God's
work will be to us a strengthening sign of our approaching sal-
vation and deliverance from God.-Phil. 1: 27, 28. W 9/1
September 1
Attend to thY8elf and to the teaching,. continue in them,. for
by doing this thou wilt sav.e both thyself, and those who hear thee.
-1 TIm. 4: 16, Dwglott.
By being quitters we do not help ourselves or auybody else
to salvation. By continuing on, regardless of what there is to
face and bear, we keep ourselves constantly in liue for salvation
and we can directly help others unselfishly to salvation and we
can be a forceful example of strength to them to that end. The
admonition of the apostle we will follow: "Stick to your work."
(4 : 16, Moffatt) We are in this work to win. If we peter out
just because the time continues on somewhat longer than we
confidently expected" years ago we shall fail when we are within
close reach of the promised reward. The reward is there, with-
out any question. Also the service is present with us, and the
extending of it farther into the postwar era should not dampen
our enthusiasm. W 7/15
September 2
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall
remain in the congregation of the dead.-Prov. '21: 16.
What shall a servant of God do when he finds himself being
slandered, or that backbiting is going on about him? 'Vhatevflf
his emotions, it is a time for great self-control against ill-
considered action or mental conclusions. Because some go con-
trary to the declared standard of God's organization, it would
be wrong to take it out on his organization by forsaking it.
Apart from it there is only one other organization to which
to go, namely, this world, which is Satan's organization. (John
6: 66-69) The faithful will hold on, waiting for time to straight-
en all things out. The speech or conduct of some does not alter
the truth and the righteous service of the Kingdom that God
has committed to his Theocratic organization. So keep your
understanding of your relationship to God by consecration. Do
not quit his organization. Satan would like to have you do 80,
to your everlasting death. W 5/1
September S
The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom oj God .
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are
sanctified, but ye arc justified.-l Gor. 6: 9, 11.
As for what they did ignorantly before coming into the truth
and consecrating, that was covered by the blood of Jesus Christ
and thenceforth they must follow God's law. His servant Paul
not alone showed how marvelous God's mercy is. There was an-
other powerful reason for him to call attention to the fact that
the onetime fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, covetous,
drunkards, etc., were now washed, sanctified, justified and given
the Lord's spirit. What was this hard-hitting reason? It was
this, that they should not return to such things and try to im-
pose upon God's forbearance and merciful goodness. If they
did, then they would be fully responsible fornicators, idolaters,
sensual effeminates, sodomites, etc., not excusable for ignorance.
W 4/15
September 4,
Let your light 80 shine before men, that they may see your good
w01'ks, and glorify your Father.-Matt. 5: 16.
The light is enlightenment concerning God and his glorious
purpose for the good of mankind through our Savior Jesus.
This is the light that you, if you are a Christian, are com-
manded to let shine. Doing so means educational work, a work
of enlightening the bcdarkened minds of the common people.
It is a work that is slow, painstaking and requiring patience
and endurance, but it is a good work, the best that could now
be done. Mere mental belief with your heart is not sufficient,
but is merely the start. Thereafter you, with your enlightened
mental belief, must work to let rour mental light from God's
Word beeome known to your neIghbors who are in the dark.
Then they will see the good you do. 'l'he teachable persons will
glorify, no, not you, but God our Father in heaven. W 11/1
September 5
Gome to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to
the blood of sprinkling.-H eb. 12: 22-24.
By the Lord Jesus' own blood the "little flock" of his follow-
ers are now declared to be purchased by the presentation of the
yalue or merit of his blood to God in heaven. His lifeblood
has conciliatory power, that is, power to bring us into friendly
relations with God. (Eph. 2: 13) Jesus laid down his earthly
life painfully, on a tree of torture, under great reproaches as
though he was a transgressor against Jehovah God. But by
exercising faith in his blood or sacrificed life the believer has
its redeeming power applied to him. He is bought back from
the power and effects of sin and is sanctified or cleansed from
sin. He is brought into peaceful and friendly relations with God.
'l'hus Jesus' earthly life laid down makes valid a new covenant
by means of which God takes out from all nations a redeemed
"people for his name". W 2/15
September 6
And the books were opened: and another book was opened,
which is the book of life.-Rev. !eO: 12.
Such "books" undoubtedlY symbolize something additional to
the present-day Bible or Holy Scriptures. (Isa. 2: 2-4) More-
over, the "book of life" is something still different. It symbolizes
nod's un erasable records of those judged worthy of life eternal
on the perfected earth of the New World of righteousness. No
records will be preserved of those who are destroyed. (Prov.
10: 7) To get one's name written in that book of life will de-
pend upon one's works, wbether they are in fulfillment of God's
wm and approved by his Judge and King. The Judge's writing
in the book of life of all the names of those judged worthy of
eternal life in the new world will take place at the finish of the
thousand-year judgment-day. At that time all on earth will
be subjected to a final, determinative test of their integrity and
indestructible faithfulness to the universal sovereignty of Jeho-
vah God. W 7/1
September '1
When thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take
heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
-Luke 11: 34, 35.
The "evil eye" is so double in vision or viewpoint that it can-
not see that a partial devotion and partial service is pleasing
to neither of the two great masters, Jehovah God and Satan the
Devil. Each demands the whole or nothing. Such a person
with a divided heart has a divided, selfish, envious vision. He
('an not with any clearness see the requirements as to the king-
dom of God or life in the righteous new world now close at
hand. With a blnrred, compromising vision he is in the dark
on these things. He gropes about, now on this side, now on
that, and gets nowhere on the path of light, but stumbles on
down the broad road that leads to destruction. He may think
he is in the light, but what he thinks is light is actual darkness,
and, becanse of his wrong, selfish opinion, "how great is that
darkness!"-Matt. 6:23. W 8/1
September 8
I have also spoken by the prophets, and 1 have multiplied
visions, and used similitudes.-H os. 12: 10.
When recording the visions, whether these prophets had verbal
inspiration or were simply left to describe the vision in their
own words under supervision of the unerring spirit of God, is
not directly stated. The latter way, it seems, was true of them.
'rhis does not. mean they understood all the visions they de-
scribed, even when left to a choice of their own words. But to
the extent that they were left to their own words of description
and expression, they were not mere automatons or robots, but
had the divine guidance in order to express truthfully the things
showed to them. Bnt that they did not understand the meaning
of all they saw, heard and wrote down is certain. Their visions
were, of course, inspired by God's spirit to reveal to them his
will and purposes. They were true visions which have been or
are being fulfilled. W 5/15
September 9
God, thy God, hath anointed thee ... All thy garments smell
of myrrh, and aloes, and cGssia.-Ps. 45: 7, 8.
We detect the King's presence by his robes of royal office
which are so heavily perfumed that it is as if he were clothed
with the fragrance of these redolent substances, myrrh, aloes,
and cassia. Actually this is the wholesome fragrance of the
knowledge of God. Christ Jesus at the temple now sheds this
knowledge upon the faithful remnant, and these in turn have
the pleasure of spreading the sweet perfume of this knowledge
of God and his kingdom to the multitude of persons of good-
will. Like Paul we can say: "Thank God! he always leads me
in his triumphal train, through Christ, and spreads the per-
fume of knowledge of him everywhere through me as his censer-
bearer. Yes, I am the fragrance of Christ to God, diffused among
those who are being saved_" (2 Cor. 2: 14, 15, An Amer. Trans.)
Those not pleased with this fragrance will perish at the battle
of Armageddon. W 10/1
September 10
The body is one, so also is Ohrist.-1 001'. 12: 12.
The apostle compares the Lord's visible organization on earth,
at any time that it exists, to a Whole body having many mem-
bers, with many forms of service accordingly, and with all mem-
bers interdependent upon onc another. "'-here there is inter-
dependence of the members of an organization upon one an-
other, there must be unity. Why? In order to work together for
the benefit of the whole organization and all its members. Hence,
not only should the organization of Jehovah's people throughout
the earth take to heart this illustration drawn by the apostle,
but each l()('al company and unit of His organized people should
apply the illustration to itself. It is needful for the same prin-
ciple of unity to govern all Branches of the Watch Tower Bible
& Tract Society. All must keep at one with the central office
and carry out instructions from headquarters in their respective
countries or territories. W 1/1
September 11
Thy right hand hath holden me up.-Ps. 18: 35.
The Lord God is not dealing now with individuals. He is deal-
ing with an organization, his Theocratic organization, and he deals
with only the individuals inside that organization or under it.
He does not make exceptions and show respect of persons and
deal with self-centered individuals that isolate themselves from
his ono organization. He dealt that way in the days of his
typical organization of Israel, and that was a shadow of good
things to come, to show how he would treat with his consecrat-
ed people in these days since Jesus, the glorified Head of His
Theocratic organization, has come. Through his organization nn-
del' Christ Jesus, God reaches down to give the uplifting hand
to those of his organized people who unwillingly fali. Because
he works through his organization, how can he help a fallen
one up if that one pushes his organization aside, to go alone
independently? W 12/1
September 12
They shall fight against thee,. but they shall not prevail against
thee; for I am with thee.--Jer. 1: 19.
It has always served the Devil well, and especially the reli-
gious part of his world, to trump up charges of sedition and
libel against peace-loving witnesses of Jehovah who in obedience
to Him go about in peace preaching the good news of His king-
dom by Christ and who try to educate the people in the pure
truths of the Bible, free from religious error. The purpose is to
stir up the arm of the law to take action and to wield the sword
of the state and cut us off and destroy our testimony. This is
done that the people may not get the freedom-giving truth. But
they will never overthrow this work. This witness work is of
God, being commanded by him and started by him through his
Son Jesus Christ. Therefore it will never come to nought. It
is on the irresistible march to Jehovah's universal victory at the
battle of Armageddon. W 3/1
September 13
The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Ohrist, that we
might be justified by faith.-Gal. 3: 24.
The law covenant was a schoolmaster to point Jews to Christ
the Messiah. Along with having it they could still trust in the
Abrahamic covenant of 430 years earlier. 'l'hey could still hope
in the promised Seed of Abraham, desiring his coming that
they might get the blessing that would relieve them of the divine
condemnation through the law. The condemnation or curse of the
law was not something that could not be lifted from faithful-
hearted ones, not a curse to a destruction from which there
was no escape or release. Had the condemnation been something
which conld not be changed by suitable means, then the fulfill-
ment of the Abrahamic covenant would have been of no benefit
to Jews. But God's.promise said that in Abraham and his seed,
namely, in Jehovah God and His Seed of his woman, Jesus
Christ, .ALL families and nations would be blessed. That meant
Jews as well as us. W 6/15
September 14:
Such an high priest became us.-Heb. '1: 26.
God's providing of Jesus Christ was a mercy far exceeding
that revealed in appointing the Jewish high priest, because Je-
sus was and is God's only begotten Son. The fact that Jesus
as a man was above sin and untainted with it did not make
him haughty and unfeeling toward sinful mankind. His very
becoming a man and answering God's call to the Melchizedekian
order of priesthood spelled mercy toward human sinners, be-
cause his being high priest required sacrifice and, in this case,
that sacrifice must be his very own self. This made him the
most suitable person for high priest, and particularly so since
he has been raised up as an immortal spirit out of his sacrificial
death as a man. He was thus granted access into the heavenly
presence of God, where he can act as high priest of God with-
out interruption in behalf of earthly sinners, a high priest
forever. W 4/15
September 15
1 said, 1 will take heed to mil wails, that 1 sin not with mil
tongue: 1 will keep mil mouth with a bridle, while the wicked
is before me. 1 was dumb.-Ps. 39: 1, 2.
David checked himself by remembering his own imperfection.
He showed himself willing to put up with reproach and shame
at the lips of the wicked reviler, berause God was permitting
it for a test of David's integrity. Anxious to keep from slipping
into sin, he muzzled his mouth, not even speaking what seemed
good. Within himself he spoke, but it was to God in prayer,
and he confessed to being an imperfl'ct creature subject to the
control and disposition of his great Creator, Jehovah. So look-
ing at matters, David did not charge God foolishly for letting
him experience reproach on the part of the wicked enemy. The
big thing that David wanted was not to be himself a reIJroach
to God, and he grieved that others, the enemies, should cast
reproach upon God. W 5/1
September 16
Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemll
of God.-Jas. 4: 4.
In apostolic times the churches were not divided and opposed
to one another according to the politics of the nations of this
world; and there were no national churches. Paul decried
Christians' becoming divided over following different prominent
servants in the church, such as himself, or Peter Cephas, or
Apollos. How much more is it to be decried when any attempt
to follow national political leaders and political standards which
are not of God and Christ but are of this enemy world? The
names of churches given in the Bible indicated merely where
the various churches or congregations were located. But the
same governing body of Jesus' apostles and their authorized
associates ministered to all these churches, whether in Europe,
Asia or Africa, and they issued the same organization instruc-
tions for them all. W 6/1
September 17
God endured . . that he might make known the riches
of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore pre-
pared unto glo/'y.-Rom. 9: 22, 23.
Notwithstanding the wickedness all round about them and
against them, Jehovah God prepares certain human vessels to
everlasting glory and defeats the purpose intended b,Y the wick-
edness of his great opposer, Satan the Devil, and all his fellow
opposers. 'l'hese particular human vessels that are under prep-
aration for the riches of divine glory are Jehovah's people,
"the children of the living God." He bestows mercy upon them
to make them his people, his children. The glory to which he
brings them forth as his children is the glory of his heavenly
kingdom under his "King of kings", Christ Jesus. To this king-
dom will go the glory of vindicating Jehovah's universal sover-
eignty and blameless name and destroying completely all the
wieked " v e s s e l ~ of wrath" that he endured. W "1/15
September 18
Praise tie the Lord from the heavens.-Ps. 148: 1.
No creature is excused from honoring and glorifying the great
Builder of all creation. All must join in vindicating him by
showing that his work is commendable. All the visible crea-
tion, whether examined by telescope or by microscope or by
nuclear physics, discloses itself more and more as the work of
a marvelous master engineer. It is the matchless work of all
intelligent creator, exciting amazement and delight, and no fault
can be found with it. The faithful angels inhabiting the invisible
realms on high must bless and celebrate the Creator in proof
that they uphold his universal sovereignty and dominion.
(148 : 2; 103: 20) The day for any more indecision is past. It
is the time for all the heavenly creatures to line up as com-
manded on the side of God's universal dominion. IIIen do well to
take their cue from angels, for man is made lower than the
angels. W 8/15
September 19
I will make a new covenant . . , saith Jehovah: for I will
forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.
-Jcr. 81: 81, 84, Am. Stan. Vcr.
Such forgiveness of iniquity and remembrance of sin no more
means real justification for Christ's followers who are brought
into the new covenant. It is these faithful ones whom God brings
into the new covenant through Christ that are made His new
nation of integrity. The bringing in of a new high priest not
of Aaron's family and for all humankind meant the bringing
in of a new covenant with different arrangements, provisions
and obligations. The law covenant through Moses failed to bring
into existence such an entire nation of integrity to God; and,
after its failure over a sufficient period of time, that covenant
was abolished at the death of the new high priest, Jesus Christ,
on the accursed tree. The new covenant, however, will not fail
to produce God's desired new nation of integrity under Jesus
Christ. W 4/15
September 20
Death, and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death, cven the lake of fire.-Rev. 20: 14, Am. Stan. Ver.
Thus death due to Adam and death's companion, hell or
II ades, are destroyed, but the "lake of fire" remains because of
the eternalness of the destruction on all the intentional, un-
correctable wicked. When the dead are brought out from un-
der the Adamic death and are delivered from Hades, hell, or the
unconscious death-state, then these are destroyed forever with
respect to mankind OIl parth. Such destruction of them is pic-
tured as the casting of death and hell into the lake of fire, the
second death. There they are swallowed up and destroyed by
God's victory through Christ over the Adam-induced death.
Those thenceforth perishing for their own self-chosen wicked-
ness will not go down into Adamic death or into Hades or hell,
but go down into the destruction from which no resurrection is
provided or promisild. W 1/1
September 21
Blessed is that servant, . his lord . . shall make him ruler
over all his goods.-Matt. 24: 46, 4'1.
The "faithful and wise servant" class is rewarded now even
on this earth while they are in the flesh. They are appointed to
be the visible servant with whom God deals by Christ and
through whom he does his Kingdom-witness work in the earth.
They are made his visible channel, and under Christ .J csus their
Head they are given the "meat in due season" to minister it.
The members of this "faithful and wise servant" class must
each be faithful on his own part with the treasure of service
placed in his personal care. Each must be faithful to death in
order to continue a member of that approved class and in order
to be found worthy of a resurrection into the exalted, majestic
presence of the Judge in the temple. By this course alone can
they avoid being shifted over to the ranks of the evil, slothful
servant class.-:.!4: 48. W 7/1
September 22
Our wrestling is . against the spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places.-]jJph. 6: 12, A.S. V.
Since our world-wide movement is for advancing the worship
of the Most High God, who offers salvation, it cannot help bl."
ing also a righteous warfare against the death-dealing religions
of this world. Such religions have overspread the whole earth
and have cast great reproach upon the name and purpose of
Jehovah God and have kept the people in darkness concerning
the only means for their eternal salvation. The demons under
Satan their prince are the promoters and backers of such re-
ligions, and therefore the warfare of God's consecrated people
is in reality an advancing fight against demonism. Carnal
weapons are not used in this fight, and they could accomplish
nothing against invisible demons. Only the spiritual weapons
of thc divine truth and worship are adequate for this warfare.
All the demons are arrayed against us. W 9/1
September 28
But now, 0 Jehovah, thou art our Father; we are the clay,
and thou our potter.-Isa. 64: 8, Am. Stan. Vert
The Almighty God and Creator has a right to let his faithful
creatures on earth suffer because of tolerating the presence and
activity of the wicked enemies. God's right to do this is espe-
cially manifest when we see that the suffering we endure be-
cause of faith and obedience toward Him results in vindicating
his sovereignty, and it perfects our obedience if we faithfully
suffer, and God will reward such obedience and faithfulness to
him with everlasting life and blessing in the new world in which
Jesus Christ will be King of kings. For the sake of realizing
his glorious purpose to vindicate his universal sovereignty and
irreproachable name Jehovah God has held off from at once
destroying the wicked. He continues to tolerate devils and
wicked men until his time arrives to halt their organized wicked-
ness. They are like clay vessels which the Potter reserves for
destruction. W 11/15
September 24
Tlwu 'halt love thy neighbor as thyself: 1 am Jehovah.
-Lev. 19: 18, Am. Stan. Ver.
A creature that recognizes and tries to serve and honor his
Creator loves himself naturally to such an extent that he would
like to live, and live forever, not to himself necessarily, but to
God, because life eternal gives him an opportunity to praise God
his Creator for eternity. He enjoys living now, because, with
the life he now has, he is able to do things in this world that
bring honor to God's name and that make him known to others
who want eternal life. Such a creature loves himself so much
that he, if wise ... will devote himself to Jehovah God, doing so
through Jesus uhrist, in order that he may attain to eternal
life in the righteous new world. To urge him onward in his
quest for endless life in the new world, the Creator's Word
says: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life."
-1 Tim. 6: 12. W 11/1
September 25
Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name' 8 sake.-M att. 24: 9.
"My name's sake" means the name which God has given
Christ Jesus, and which is above every other name. It means
that God has given him a position which is higher than that of
any other creature. Additionally, in 1914, God gave fuller mean
ing to the name by bringing Jesus forth as King of the new
world and enthroning him to rule amidst his enemies. This is
now what the name of Jesus means for which we are privileged
to be hated by all nations. It is for confessing to his name in
this Kingdom capacity and for confessing him as our God-
appointed Leader and Commander that we are privileged to be
persecuted in all nations. For this reason we can be strong in
the Lord to endure all the persecutions and we have the right
to appeal to God to be merciful to us and to help us out during
all the evils that our enemies bring upon us. W 12/15
September 26
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is
tried, he shall receive the crown.-.!as. 1: 12.
As we wait and bear up under things that try us there are
changes that go on in us. If we undergo the ('xpericnce rightly,
it is a change for the better, winning us greater favor with God.
It is therefore a thing to be glad for ruther than to be glum
about. If we appreciate the eternal values to be gained, far be
it from us to shirk the tests of endurance. Let us enter into
thf'm with the best of what we have, and adding to ourselves
also all that we can in order to come through successfully. We
know what the issue is, and that our failure would bring re-
proach upon God's name; and so we mnst exercise self-control
and hold ourselves steady and not back out by making a bargain
with God's enemiPH. Self-control and endurance go hand in hand,
and both of these are necessary to our being godly, fully com-
mitted to Gods will. lV "1/15
September 21
Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
-1 Oor. 7: 20.
Do Christians have to revolutionize matters in an outward
way so as not to miss out on their heavenward calling? Evi-
dently not, since God does not look on outward appearances
and docs not show partiality toward persons on account of
race, color, nationality or social and economic condition. Obedi-
ence from the heart is what counts with him. 'l'his can be ren-
dered to him in whatever unchangeable outward conditions a
person may have been when God called him. Otherwise, if his
chance to make good under such circumstances was nil, God
would not have called him, because then to call him would be
simply to mock him. Of course, a Christian today who is free
can change his trade or occupation. Paul, who was freeborn,
changed from being a tentmaker to becoming a full-time mis-
Rionary to foreign lands when he was economically able to do so.
That was something he could control and change; he was not
obliged to abide as a tentmaker. W 2/1
September 28
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words 8tir up
anger. The tongue oj the wise u8cth knowledge aright.
-Provo 15: 1, 2.
Many persons are ignorant in their opposition to the King-
dom message. They upbraid the Kingdom publisher and show
him a hard front that seems almost impenetrable. This hard
resistant front may be accompanied by hard words of denuncia-
tion and reproaches. The publisher will graciously overlook such
affronts, because he does not know the background of those to
whom he is presenting the message. He knows he could accom-
plish nothing by being rough in return to such misguided per-
sons. Returning like for like would merely widen the gulf in
between, and make it difficult for a later re-approach or for the
next Kingdom publisher coming along. In faith, then, he acts
with kindness, giving a soft answer, using knowledge aright.
lV 5/1
September 29
Yet shall not thy teachers be hidden any more, but thine eyes
shall see thy teachers.-lsa. 30: 20, A.S.V.
The anointed remnant, and, in fact, all persons of good-will
who hope for eternal life in the oncoming new world of right-
eousness, must now treasure their "eyes of understanding" most
jealously and should exercise the greatest care for them. They
must never be permitted to deteriorate in visual power and
sharpness, nor to relapse back into worldly blindness. They must
continually be strengthened so as not to be strained or offended
at the increasing bl'illi ancy of the present-day light from God's
Word. They must not be allowed to grow dull, but be constantly
exercised and used in harmony with the fine rules for the art of
spiritual seeing. Among such rules is this: Jehovah is our all-
wise Teacher. and is the Source of all light, and our "iRion
must be fixated upon him in teachableness. No turning aside
from this! W 8/1
September 30
Thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows
are sharp in the heart of the kinq's enemies; whereby the
people tell.-Ps. 45: 4, 5.
At his enthronement Jehovah's King toppled Satan and all his
invisible hosts from heaven to earth. But things more terrible
than this are due to come from the King's mighty right hand at
the final battle of Armageddon. There destruction is certain to
strike Satan's invisible demon organization and also his visihle
human organization of politics, commerce and demon religion.
Like a dead-shot who does not miss to a hairbreadth, the King
will speed his arrows of destruction to the heart of everyone
lined up with this wicked world in resistance to his righteous
government. All the peoples in Satan's conspiracy against him
will fall in death on the blood-stained field of Armageddon. Those
who are wise-hearted will now fear, cease resistance and serve
him. W 10/1
October 1
My works shall be for the king.-Ps. 45: 2, Leeser.
We are uncompromising in this position. In order to specialize
on works for J ehoyah's King Jlnd to speak loyally about him we
do not divide our time and attention and meddle in with this
world's affairs. We have the reliable assurance from God's Word
of prophecy that his mighty King will straighten out the terrible
mess of human affairs and do it with more than human power
and wisdom. In harmony with this faith we do not join in with
the political, commercial and religious movements of worldly
men ill a vain effort to save this world from extinction. 'Ve en-
gage in no violent, revolutionary activities against the political
parties, religious organizations or established governments of
this world. Our 'works for the King' are peaceful works of
education, advertising him and the blessings of his reign to all
the distressed people. We shape our affairs in life in order to
serve him. W 10/1
October 2
No babe shall die there any more in infancy.-I sa. 65: 20,
Moffatt.
Likewise, during Christ's thousand-year reign, all coming
forth from the graves as immature children are to be granted
the opportunity to grow up to responsible age, and every oppor-
tuuity and advantage wiII be put in their way by the King and
Judge to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord" according to the books that are then opened. In fact, in-
struction in the Lord's way wiII fill the earth and be made avail-
able for all, both young and old. Each one, according to this
knowledge gained, wiII be made responsible for his own works.
No one will be prejudged or be held accountable for the willful
sin of present parents or offspring or other relatives according
to the flesh. (Ezek. 18: 4) By living up to the opportunities
to learn righteousness and to be lifted up to human perfection
they can live on to an eternal age, in the new world which is
a world without end. TV 7/1
October 3
But rather seck ye the kingdom of God; and aU these things
shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it iSI.0ur
Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdollt.-Luke 12: 3 ,32.
'I'here are many churches, all these, of course, making up the
one chnrch of God, but there is just the one kingdom to which
all local churches may aspire. The church has already been in
existence over nineteen centuries, with only a part of its full
membership of 144,000 at any time on the earth, but God's
kingdom by Christ began wielding active power only in 1914,
when the new government was born in heavcn, in fulfillment
of prophecy. Of the visible church on earth there shall shortly
be an end, when the present-day remnant thereof will have passed
off the earthly scene by death and a resurrection from the dead
to heavenly life; but, respecting Christ's kingdom, "of his king-
dom there shall be no end."-I: 33. W 6/1
October 4
As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his merey
toward them that fear him.-Ps. 103: 11.
Jehovah wants his mercy to' be beneficial to as many of man-
kind as possible. Since he made such extraordinary provisions
of mercy through Jesus Christ, his will is that the knowledge
of it should be spread to mankind of all nations. Aaron and his
successors were high priests for only the nation of Israel; but
Jesus Christ, who was not of Aaron's house but who was a per-
fect man like Adam in Eden, is Jehovah's high priest in behalf
of humankind in general. Through this Son of God comes the
divine pardon of human sins. "By him all that believe are
justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified
by the law of Moses." (Acts 13: 39) So, then, a person does
not have to be a natural Jew and under Moses' law in order to
gain the divine pardon for his sins. All, as many as have ears
to hear with appreciation, may avail themselves of this mercy
from God through Christ. W 4/15
October 5
:J'he holy spirit, which the Father will send in mil name,. shall
teach you all things, and remind YOll of all thtng8 which
I said to you.--John 14: 26, Diaglott.
These important matters were to be put in writing and not to
be left to imperfcet memories and to the operation of oral tradi-
tions of men, against which Jesus warned. The errors of such
traditions he exposed. In having the changeless fundamental
facts and teachings and the needed things committed to writing
by competent reliable men for the use of the Christian church
over its many centuries of existence Jehovah's faultless wisdom
was shown. '1'0 supply so essential a need to his people Jehovah
would inspire his chosen writers with his infallible spirit. Jesus
assured his apostles, and hence us, too, that it would be so.
Accordingly, when the God-chosen writers wrote under the in-
spiration of His spirit, then this helping acti\'e force would
guard their minds against mistakes and errors and failures of
mind. lV 5/15
October 6
What one belwldeth why doth he hope for' If, however, what
we do not behold we hope for, with endurance are we ardently
awaiting it.-Ronl. 8: :24., Rotherham.
The Devil claims stoutly that God's servants have no powers
of endurance, and he takes great pains to prove his argument.
But the servants devoted to God and seeing that his vindica-
tion is tied in with their holding out under affliction know they
will gain his approval by doing so. Endurance by us will work
out divine approval, and having his approval we can hope for
the realization of the promises he has made, whether that real-
ization be seemingly delayed or not. (5: 1-5) We must endure
to keep that hope, for endurance brings the consciousness that
we are pleasing God. This hope plays an important part to-
ward our ultimate salvation, because it holds us true to our
course in God's service and buoys us up under afflictions. "For
we an> ~ a w d by hop,>."-8: 21. 1V ,'/15
October 7
They may see your good works, and glorify your Father which
is in heaven.-Matt. 5: 16.
The teachable persons will glorify God publicly. Having heard
the truth you were privileged to pass on to them, they will do
the vcry same thing you are doing, glorify God. That means
they will become God's servants, God's ministers of the gospel
of light, consecrating themselves to him through Christ and
then moving forward in action alongside of you. No matter how
big God's visible organization may grow to be, no matter how
many may associate themselves with his Theocratic organi-
zation on earth, they will all be ordained ministers of the gospel,
all light-bearers serving the Father of lights. All must minis-
ter to him, serving him in the unselfish way that he orders.
If they love him, they will let no one hold them back from
serving and ministering to him. If they love their neighbor
as themselves, they will do their part as gosprl ministers by
senillg it to them. W 11/1
October 8
The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for Cl'er
after the order of M clchisedec.-H eb. 7: le1.
Jehovah, who made Christ Jesus King in 1914, has thus
sworn with an unrecallable oath. As a priest Christ Jesus serves
for the salvation of all those who iu faith become his loyal
subjects. As High Priest he is properly the uncompromising
Champion of God's pure worship and also the Chief Promoter
of the worship and service of Jehovah. Knowing he is divinely
commissioned to destroy all enemies utterly at Armageddon,
Christ Jesus first of all promotes the pure worship of the living
and true God now in the earth upon a permanent basis. He does
so in order that some flesh might be saved at the final end of
this world in Armageddon and that Jehovah's worship may keep
on uninterruptedly in the earth clear through Armageddon and
into the new world forever. As far as extending Jehovah's wor-
ship in all the earth goes, is there any visible proof? Yes, in
Jehovah's witnesses. lV 9/1
Octobcr 9
The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single,
thy whole body shall be full 0/ light.-Matt. 6: 22, Am. Stan. Vcr.
The eye that functions properly is like a lighted lamp to the
body in the dark of night, because with it the body can walk
without stumbling or bumping into something, and the hands
can take hold and apply themselves to things without uncer-
tainly feeling about and missing. Without the lamp of physical
vision the body at the height of noonday might just as well be
in the depth of midnight. But even with the eyeball in the
socket, there is another requirement for our human body to be
enlightened by it: the eye must be sound, "single," as Jesus
said. It must be simple, uncompounded, all one way in per-
forming its function. For our whole body to be filled with in-
formative, guiding light, there must be, not alone the entrance of
light rays through the eye, but also the clear functioning of the
('ye, to make distinguishable the visual images that arc flashed
to it. W 8/1
October 10
'l'he Son also giveth life to whom he will. For neither doth the
Fnther judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto
the Son.-John 5: 21, 22, Am. Stan. Vcr.
The church takes part in the "first resurrection", and this
does not take place with them until after God's kingdom is set
up with Christ at his right hand. It is certain, then, that all
the human dead in the graves (outside of the faithful church)
have not gone to heaven at death nor into any kind of spirit
world. They all went to the grave, which is the "hell" meant
in the Bible and to which hellish grave Jesus went at death
in order to redeem humankind and gain possession of the "keys
of hell and of death". (Rev. 1: 18; Acts 2 : 24-32) To execute
judgment upon such ones Jesus Christ must use the keys of
hell and of death and must raise them from the sleep of death.
Jesus will perform this miracle. He himself said so. W 4/1
October 11
A. man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of
the transgrcssors shall eat violencc. He that keepeth his mouth
kecpcth his li/e.-Prov. 13: 2, 3.
Christ Jesus knew how to be silent in excellent self-control.
He did not sin by railing back at those who railed at him, even
when he hung on the tree. He endured the suffering and did not
part his lips to let out any threatenings. Never could any of
his foes catch him in any of his words. He was obedient to
God in word and deed, and kept his integrity as Job did. By
guarding his mouth and moving his tongue always in the cause
of truth and righteousness Jesus retained his hold on the right
to everlasting life. The persecutors that transgressed God's law
and reproached and accused Jesus falsely met with violent de-
strnction in due time. But Christ Jesus lives forever by virtue of
a resurrection out of death and eats the good fruits of faith-
fully preaching the gospel on carth. W 5/1
October 12
A threefold cord is not quickly broken.-Eccl. 4: 1'2.
Plait three strands together. and we cannot easily and quickly
break the cord. That is why the Nazi, Fascist, religious enemies
were unable to break up, scatter and destroy Jehovah's wit-
nesses and to suppress their growth and increase all around this
earth. By lightning warfare, the enemy thought to make away
with them quickly; but he failed. It was because, by having
had proper instruction and training during the years gone by,
we had become all entwined with one another in the unity that
marks God's organization, all of us doing the one and the
same thing, all of us having a common vision, all of us obeying
the Theocratic instructions issuing through His organization,
and all of us refusing to run and scatter before the enemy's fir!'.
It creates no surprise, then, but only praise to Almighty God,
that we came out of World War II better organized, with great-
er strength and with greater numbers, than when we werc thrust
into it. We will wisely cleave together in organization. W 12/1
October 13
Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all
live unto him.-Luke '20: 38, Am. Stan. Ver.
For God not to be the God of dead Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
he must resurrect them from the dead. He had not then done so.
But God had unchangeably purposed to resurrect these faithful
men of old through his Seed of the woman, and his purpose was
so definite and sure of fulfillment that all these faithful ones.
though then dead in the graves, lived to God and he could speak
of being their God. Here was again a case of where "God, who
giveth life to the dead, . . . calleth the things that are not, as
though they werc". In due time his power, equal to every call
and need, will make them to be what he has called them. (Hom.
4: 17, Am. Stan. Ver.) Hence every place in the Scriptures
where he calls himself the God of men then dead in the gra\'e is
a proof of the sureness of the resurrection. W 3/15
October 14
He hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge
the world in righteousnes8.-Ps. 9: 7, 8.
Jehovah God will vindicate his universal sovereignty by hold-
ing a judgment day over which he will preside. The One worthy
to act as jndge over all thp universe could be only the Supreme
One, and Jehovah is H ~ . No one else could assume that posi-
tion. nis acting as Judge in the Highest Court will be no farce.
His decisions will han all the authority of his high position
and will have the backing of his irresistible and invincible
force. 'l'hose of his adversaries who have flouted his sovereignty
for tho past six thousand Yl'ars and who have not been brought
to juugmcnt will be unable to escape or nullify the execution
of his sentences. J ehovuh will make himself known as the Most
nigh God of righteousness by the court rulings which he puts
through to their full execution. All honor to Him, the Juuge
of all. W 6/15
October 15
Praise the Lord j tor the Lord our God, the Almighty now reigns!
-Rev. 19: 6, An Amer. Trans.
Today God's command from the throne of his kingdom is:
"Praise ye Jehovah. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him
in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts:
... Let everything that hath breath praise Jehovah. Praise
ye Jehovah." (Ps. 150: 1-6, Am. Stan. Ver.) We are past the
time when just the Jewish nation or those Christians in God's
new-covenant arrangement are called upon to exalt the Most
High. The call is now of universal application. Every legitimate
instrument for sounding out Jehovah's glories is called upon to
play its part. Everything that breathes must praise the Life-
giver now in order to breathe the air of his New World without
end. That means all nations that now draw breath. There is
no exception. The only creation to snrvive to all eternity will
be that which praisps the Creator. W 8/15
Octoucr 16
[Je/, {J,'j, the lILan cluthed with linen, which had the inkhorn by
his side, reported the matter.-Ezek. 9: 11.
God thus foresaw a certain company of anointed ones that
unitedly do as he commands, that is, mark people of good-will
to salvation. Who those of that company will be, by name, the
Bible does not reveal. Each one anointed with God's spirit
must determine for himself whether he will be of that obedient
and approved company by merging his identity with it and by
unitedly working with it as one of its members. Each anointed
one is responsible to do so, for God approves of no schism or
split among his organized people of earth. Jesus prayed for
their unity, and they must be one in God and in his work. And
to be on God's side of salvation today, the marked ones of good-
will must display their mark by joining in the work with the
'man in linen' class whose Head is Christ Jesus. They must
h"lp others to a knowl"dge of the truth. W 9/15
Odober 17
G'ird thy ~ l h v l d UJlon thy thiyh, 0 mighty one, thy glory and
thy majesty.-Ps. 45: 3, Am. i;tan. Vcr.
The sword is the symbol of war and also of authority and
power from God to execute the enemies. (Rom. 13: 1-4) Since
God's kingdom was born in the heavens in 1914, his mighty
enthroned King receives the long-awaited authority and girds it
upon him to take action against all enemies of Jehovah's sover-
eignty. Besides girding upon him this executioner's authority
pictured by the sword, he girds upon himself glory and majesty,
That is. he takes to himself the glorious titles reserved for him
and the bright-shining, conspicuous role of bf'ing Jehovah's Chief
Minister and Vindicator. We join the psalmist and bid this
glorious, majestic King and "'-arrior to ride on prosperously
to brilliant success. No snch success do we pray upon the Unit-
f'c1 Nations of today or any other human makeshift for God's
kil'g-(]om. lV 10/1
October 18
The nations were angry, and thy wmth is come, and the time
of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouUJest
give reward.-Rev. 11: 18.
The anger of the nations began A.D. 11)14, World War I
beginning then. Forasmuch as judgment time begins at God's
house first, the time came for the dead members of it, the
"saints", to be awakened from the dead in order to receive
their heavenly reward. Their resurrection has J;lot been dis-
cerned by the angry nations because they are resurrected as
spirit persons to be united with Christ Jesus in the invisible
heavens. Our time, then, is "that day" on which Paul and all
those that love the Lord's appearing receive the crown of right-
eousness laid up for them. This is the day in which the "temple
of God" in heaven is opened in order that his judicial represent-
ative, Christ Jesus, might come and take his seat and start off
the judgment beginning with the house of God. W 7/1
October 19
God said to them, Be fntitful and multiply and fill the earth
and subdue it.-Gen. 1: 28, Hotherham.
First, God created the man alone in the image of God. 1'h0n
he divided the man into male and female by producing the
woman from a part of Adam. lie did this in order that they
together might fulfill the duty of marriage and have a part
together in filling all the earth with creatures of their kind,
with righteous and perfect men and women. '1'he bringing forth
of these male and female childrpn was that they too might join
in wedlock and share in carrying out the divine mandate to
fill the earth with humankind. It was an enormous duty that
God set before this eouple in Eden, namely, to bring children
into existence and fill the entire earth with them. But, by
creating things so, God at the very start approved of the
marriage-bed and made it an honorable, dignified, normal thing.
W 1/15
October 20
I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means sat'C
80me. And this I do for the gospel's sake.-l Oor. 9: 22, 23.
To all men we must be patient and show tolerance that will
be profitable to those we desire to aid in the way of salvation.
We must show love. We must love those persons just as much
as we love ourselves. Secondary matters such as eating and
drinking, or personal habits such as smoking, should not be
blown up to such swelling importance that they hide the main
issue, the vindicating of Jehovah's sovereignty and name by
means of his kingdom, and the part we have in vindicating
Jehovah on tbis issue by keeping our consecration to him and
holding fast to our integrity to him. If some individuals need
education on eating, drinking, observing days, and harmful
personal habits, we will be tactful with them on these items.
Meantime, keep at the main objectives, and let people gradually
awake to what fits in with those objectives. W 11/15
October 21
The word8 of a talebearer are as wound8.-Prov. 18: 8.
A person may foolishly or thoughtlessly act as a talebearer,
but his being thoughtless does not lessen the damage done. 'Vhen
the fact becomes known to a person that a talebearer has been
speaking ill of him to others, it can wound him deeply, almost to
a point of never being able to be reconciled to the tattler. The
hurt is deep-seated and hard to get out of the system. Aside
from likely causing much harm, a talebearer is wasting time.
If he would settle down to some profitable work instead of talk-
ing about things that neither upbuild the hearer nor benefit the
one talked about, he would get something worth-while done
and would not make himself poor spiritually. (14: 23) What
we need is deeds, not words. Idle talk, whispering about others,
has been responsible for harm, and therefore should be avoided.
A wise person will first think before opening his mouth in such
talk. W 5/1
October 22
His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood,
even the forgivenes8 of 8ins.-Ool. 1: 19, 14.
By his law covenant through Moses God specifically stated
what sin is and by it he brought the Jews to the knowledge of
what sin is. (Rom. 3: 20) When he sent his Son to this earth
to become the sin-atoning High Priest in behalf of mankind,
and when he sent forth his message of the forgiveness of sins
through this High Priest, God was fully aware of the sins where-
of mankind were guilty. Each one thereof, regardless of his
kind of sin, was guilty of sinning against the same God as any-
body else was. So none was innocent in God's sight. All needed
to repent and become converted from the service of sin over to
the scrvice of God's righteousness. 'Vhoever, then, accepted the
Kingdom gospel with faith and repentance was taken up by
the "Father of mercies" just as he was. God forgave him
through Christ. God does so to this day. W 4115
October 23
Things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the
same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach
others also. Thou therefore endure hardnes8.-2 Tim. 2: 2, 9.
Primarily for the sake of God's vindication we put up faith-
fully and uncomplainingly with hardship, privations and perse-
cutions. But there is another unReIfish reason why we submit to
these things with inward joy and remain in the ministry of the
Kingdom truth. It is that we may pass along the Kingdom
tidings to others and that more pubIisliers for God's kingdom
may thus be raised up and be trained for this same ministry.
We must do more than just pray that the Lord of the harvest,
Jehovah God, will send forth more laborers into the harvest
because it is great and the laborers are few. (Matt. 9: 37, 38)
whom Jesus told to pray thus were persons that he scnt
out actively into the field. Prayer should be by workers. W 7/15
October 24
The LORD is King jor ever and ever.-Ps. 10,' 16.
Jchovah is forever the Supreme Government. He is the one
Universal Ruler. Creatures in heaven and in earth, both in-
visible to us and visible, all come under bis all-inclusive sway.
A seditious movement to unseat him from his supreme position
and to overturn his universal authority was launched about
6,000 years ago. It has made no progress toward success. It
never will, no matter how much longer the Almighty God lets
it go on. There is persuasive cvidence that the seditious move-
ment took on the form of armed insurrection iu the heavens
A.D. 1914, marked by world-stirring events visible here upon
this earth. Yet the fact remains unchanged, that Jehovah reigns
as King. For thousands of years this earth has been a hot-spot
of sedition against God. It will shortly be compelled to acknowl-
edge His universal rrign. Happy are those who now recognize
it and live in harmony with it. W 3/1
October 25
:J.'here is one body, and one spirit, et'en a . ~ ye are called in one
hope oj your caliing.-Eph. 4,' 4.
All mankind are one human family. They are like one big
human organism, of one flesh and blood. Quite aptly, then, the
apostle compares the congregation of Christ's followers to a per-
fect human body. He does so in order to illustrate that there
must he unity in this body of Christians under Jesus Christ
as Head. In likening this body of Christians to the human or-
ganism, the apostle shows that Jehovah God has a visible or-
ganization and that his consecrated people under Jesus the
Head must be that visible organization. Let the opposers and
the self-governing independent persons call this channclis1n,
if they will, but the Bible shows Jehovah God anointed
this body of Christ, and it alone, with his holy spirit. By
it he carries on his work in the earth. Upon it, and it alone,
he bestowed his gifts of the spirit by Christ. W 1/1
October 26
You still have need oj patient endurancc.-H cb. 10: 36,
20th Gent. N. :J.'.
When we consecrated to do God's will we did not care that
we were yet in this wicked world. We wanted to do His will
because we no longer cared to do the will of the world and
be conformed to it. Now, God must be letting this old world
remain for a while longer because he yet has a work to do in
it before destroying it. As long as he has work to do amid it
and we are consecratod to do his will, then we want to be
engaged in that work till it is finished. Our consecration to
His work was not till any time this side of the end of the
world at Armageddon. It was for ever; and, happily, God's
work for us will not end with Armageddon's battle. However,
it is only after we have done what work is to be done during
this present evil world that we shall enter into a realization
of the grand things he has promised to his people. W 7/15
October 27
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes
to behold the sun.-Eoel. 11: 7.
To see with our natural eyes it is necessary to have light.
When we have light, especially good light, we should take ad-
vantage of it and use it well. That is to say, our body's visual
powers should help the body to benefit by the light, so that the
body is able to act and go in the right way. When Jesus came
into the world back there, he brought light, but the Israelites
did not use the marvelous light such as had never before sholle
by which to see: "The real light, which sheds light upon every-
one, was just coming into the world. He came into the world,
and though the world came into existence through him, the
world did not recognize him." (John 1: 9, 10, An Amer. Tran9.)
Those who refuse to see things in the light brought by him as
the light of the world iujure themselves to the extent of losing
eternal life and happiness. W 8/1
October 28
The Son of man came ... to 10: 45.
Jesus was not app;'oved or ordained by the clergy and reli-
gious system of his day. No man ordained him, not even John
the son of priest Zacharias, who baptized him. He was not born
of the priestly family, but he consecrated himself to God, saying:
"Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,)
to do thy will, 0 God." To symbolize this in a public conf('ssioll
Jesus insisted that John baptize him. Then God his Father
ordained Jesus to be his minister of the gospel news by pouring
out his spirit upon him. (1: 9-11) Thereafter Jesus, anointed
with the spirit, declared that God had sent him to preach the
gospel. If not at the religious theological schools, where did
Jesus study? Why, while he was a carpenter till thirty years
of age, and also during the forty days that he fasted in thp
wilderness after he was baptized in water and was anointed
with God's spirit. W 10/15
October 29
I will praise thee, 0 Lord, among the people: I will sing unto
thee among the nations.-Ps. 57: 9.
In 1914 Jehovah established his kingdom by enthroning Christ
as reigning King. World War I broke out. It was stirred up by
Satan the Devil as a protest to the kingdom, and Christ's rem-
nant on earth were driven underground, where they were then
quite inactive as to publicly witnessing to God's name and king-
dom. In 1919 he delivered them from their fears and led them
out from unuerground into a bold and fearless activity in the
open public. Not for their sak<,s, but for his own name's sake,
he had preserved them; and now they must thank him among
all peoples and sing his praise among all nations. The "day
of Jehovah" had dawned, and they must awake and praise him
by preaching the good news of the Kingdom in all the world
for a witness to all nations. Christ Jesus now sees to it that
this is done by thUD. W 12/15
October SO
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it,. and a
flattering mouth worketh ruin.-Prov. 26: 28.
For the sake of unity within the Lord's organization and
among its members we should not give way to idle talk gossip-
ing and talebearing. It does not deepen our love for our brethren
to talk ill about them, and especially to say something the
truth of which we have not established and which may therefore
be a lie. Therefore the Lord gives us the above warning. The
tongue may lie about one person and may flatter another person
to his face, but neither of these lingual practices is good. Among
the seven prominent things that Jehovah God hates are the
lying tongue, a false witness that speaks lies, and a person that
sows discord among brethren in God's organization. Those prac
tieing these things are abominable in His sight.-6: 16-19. W 5/1
Oi)tober :n
'1'1, e I. tII!}d01ll of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field;
the which when a man hath found, . . . sclleth all that he hath,
and bttycth that field.-Matt. 13: H.
At a dear cost Jesus Christ gained the chief place in God's
kingdom, but Jesus was willing to pay it. Why? Because the
Kingdom is the chief issue before all the universe. It is the
universal Government that the Most High God puts in power
and operation in order to vindicate His own sovereignty as uni-
versal and unchangeable and in order to clear his holy name
of all the reproaches and slanders that the Devil has cast upon
it for these six thousand years. Since Jehovah God is the Su-
preme One and the Source of all life and creation, the vindica-
tion of His universal sovereignty and good name is of vaster
importance than the saving of sinful human creatures. And yet
it is through that very vindication that the redemption and sav-
ing of any human sinners is brought about. The main reason
for Jesus to go down into d ~ a t h was to prove his integrity
and vindicate Jehovah's sov('ni;''11ty. TV 2/15
November 1
Endeavouring to keep the unity.-Eph. -9: 3.
All of Jehovah's witnesses work with the visible central gov-
erning body that he has provided, because it is in line with the
'l'heocratic organization and is publishing the message and send-
ing out instructions and directives in faithful accord with his
'l'heocratic Book, the Bible. In the interest of peace and unity
of God's people in all lands they do so. They hold to the govern-
ing body, not because of the personalities in it or their national-
ities, because during all the centuries the personalities or per-
sonnel of the governing body have changed due to faithful mem-
bers' dying off or other circumstances, making it necessary for
them to be succeeded by other brethren in the flesh. The one
member of the governing body that has not changed in all these
nineteen centuries is the chief member, the invisible, immortal
Christ Jesus. Other personalities may change, but the Theo-
cratic requirements upon the governing body do not. W 12/1
November 2
'1'he opportunity is contracted for what remaineth--in order that
thcy who have wives may be as though they had none, ... and
they who use the world as though they used it not to the fu'll.
-1 Oor. 7: 29-31, Roth.
Neither wife, husband, children, nor griefs and joys, nor
business relations and activities, should be allowed to engross
our time and attention and to interfere with our gaining the
kingdom of righteousness. Instead of an overload of the cares
of this life in this old world, we should try to relieve ourselves
of such cares as far as possible or avoid them. Then we can con-
cern ourselves more fully with the things of God's kingdom,
which kingdom must now be advertised to all the nations as
a witness to them. Christ's death and resurrection, and now his
coming into possession of the Kingdom in 1914, have curtailed
the remaining existence of this old world. We must redeem the
time for the new world interests. W 211
November 3
God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us
by his own power.-1 Oor. 6: 14.
The personality of each Christian is combined with the resur-
rection body that God is pleased to give, and thus each one is
re-created. They are not re-created as living human souls like
Adam. Not at all; for these Christians wcre begotten by God's
spirit to a spiritual inheritance and were given the conditional
right to heavenly life, dependent on their faithfulness to God
down to death. (1 Pet. 1: 3, 4) Hence in the church's resur-
rection God gives the faithful members of it a life and body
in harmony with the heavenly spiritual hope to which they
were begotten. At the same time he re-creates their personality
with all the faithful Christian qualities that they acquired on
earth by following Jesus' f o o t s t ~ p s . In that way they are the
same persons in spite of not being resurrected with the same
bodies in which they died. W 411
November 4
Then another book was opened; it was the book of life.
-Rev. 20: 12, An Amer. Trans.
All living mankind, lifted up to human perfection by the
Judge's curative and uplifting power during the thousand years,
will be able to resist Satan's deception and to yield pcrfect obe-
dience and flawlcsR loyalty to the Most High God. All those lov-
ingly choosing to do so during the Devil's shorttime loosing will
therefore hold fast their integrity to God and will not deflect
one iota from their allegiance to him. They will be for his uni-
versal sovereignty first, last, and all the endless time of Her-
nity. Successfully enduring this perfective tcst to prove them
perfect in obedience to God, the Supreme Judge will justify them
to eternal life, by declaring them to be right in his holy sight.
(Rom. 8:33) Then his Associate Judge, Christ Jesus, will in-
scribe their worthy names in the "book of life", which will
signify their receiving the priceless right to eternal life. W 711
November 5
Only, let your endurance be a finished product, 80 that yO!t may
be finished and complete, u:ith never a dejeet.-Jas.1: 4, Moffatt.
That makes it certain the period of test will not be quickly
over, but that we shall have trial after trial, keeping us re-
peatedly exercising the right qualities and awakening new ones
as, all the while, we lean hard upon the Lord God for wisdom
and guidance. Thus under the continuing trial we gain a many-
sided experience and a well-rounded-out understanding of how
to take things, and we are matured and perfected in obedience
and trust toward God. Under the proving of us we have the
occasion or opportunity for exercising the same fine qualities
that the faithful ones of old time, and especially Christ Jesus,
showed which so won Jehovah's smile of satisfaction and good-
pleasure. We prove our dependableness toward God; and the
dependable ones are the onps of whose integrity Jehovah God
cun be sure for all eternity. lV '//15
November 6
Be not conformed to this world. (Rom. 12: 2) The friendship
of the world is enmity with God.-J as. 4: 4.
'Vhether exclusively of Jews or exclusively of Gentiles or of
mixed membership, Christian congregations are all at peace and
unity with one another and not conformed to this world of
politics, commerce and demon religion. All are composed of
persons consecrated to God and sanctified by His spirit upon
them, and, resultantly, they arc "churches of the saints", con-
cerning which Paul states: "For God is not the author of con-
fusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." (1 Cor.
14: 33) Although physically separated by space or distance
into many local congregations, the members of all these con-
gregations together make up the one church of God, because they
obey his commandments through his Theocratic organization
and thE'Y have the one God-appointed Head, namely, Christ
Jesus. W 6/1
November 7
The scripture has shut up together all under sin, in order that
the promise by faith of J C8US Christ might be given to the
believers.-Gal. 3: 22, Diagiott.
What about the thieves, the drunkards, the liars, the blas-
phemers, the persecutors of Christians, and various other kinds
of sinners? Is one class of these pardonable if repenting and
accepting the gospel, but another class not so? No; God classifies
them all as sinners, that he might have mercy upon all. "For
whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one
point, he is hecome guilty of all." (Jas. 2: 10, A.S.V.) By
staying in such a sinful state and not repenting and converting
to righteousness a person could never gain a place in God's
kingdom or attain to life in His new world. But if persons
guilty of above-nllIDed sins do repent and submit themselves
to the gospel provision, they may have the fuIl confiden('C that
God has pardoned them through Christ and rpm"rnbHs tIHir sins
no more. The Dible gives cases of 811('h. W 1/15
November 8
A wicked doer giveth heed to falsc lips,. (lnd a liar giveth ear
to a naughty tonguc.-Prov. 17:-4.
Lest a person fall into the ways of a gossiper and take part
in spreading the g o s ~ i p , he will not entertain the speech of
gossipers. He does not want to cause mischief, and be like a
wicked man who finds pleasure in picking up information he
can use against others. He knows crooked speech is cerhlin to
involve him in a mess. Because he wants primarily to do right
and also to avoid trouble for himself and others he will not give
ear to gossip and take tales to heart without direct investiga-
tion. A gossiper's lips do not speak the knowledge of the Lord
and of his instructions for his prople; and the devoted person
who loves God and his brethren in God's organization will not
tarry in the company of a gossiper. He will not be enticed or
won over to listening to gossip by the flattery of the gossiper.
-14: 7; 20: ]9. lV 5/1
November 9
There shall be a ,esurrection.-Acts 24: 15.
J ehomh gives solid reasons for mankind to hope in resur-
rection of the dead. The first reason is his own word that
such a thing shall take place. If the Almighty God puts his
own word at stake on this matter, then who is there to claim
that even this miraculous thing could be impossible for him?
Another reason is that, having given his word, he has taken
steps looking to the resurrection of the dead. He will not re-
verse himself. Having begun, he will carry matters through
to a completion. No intelligent creature, Satan the Devil or
anyone else, will be able to turn God's hand back. His almighty
power will support his word and vindicate it. His word will
never be flung back into his face unfulfilled, but will be estab-
lished as the truth. He gave typical samples to demonstrate his
power. He has given an actual cusc of raising the dead to an
endless life, Jesus. W 3/15
November 10
Now is the judgmcnt of this world: "OW ,lIall the prince of
this world be cast out.--John 12: 31.
God's permitting the death of Christ Jesus on a tree was a
point of judgment for the Jews. The Jewish nation of that
day being made direct spectators of these things right in their
midst were subjected to a judgment confined strictly to them.
Jesus well stated it when he said, "Now is the judgment of
this world," because that nation throughout his ministry proved
itself to be a part of this world. For this reason the "prince
of this world", Satan, was to be cast out or expelled. As
represented in that hard-hearted, unbelieving nation and primar-
ily its willfully ignorant rulers and princes, Satan was cast
out as "the prince of this world". This matter is to be taken
seriously to heart by us today, because that was a small-scale
typical picture of the culmination of the judgment period into
which the world of today has entered, and particularly so-called
"Christendom". W 6/15
November 11
The dead praise not Jehovah, neither any that go down into
silence; but we will bless Jehovah from this time forth and
for evermore.-Ps. 115: 17, 18, Am. Stan. Ver.
Jehovah rewards with salvation those who praise him. Prais-
ing him is the joyful privilege of those that live. Praising the
wise, mighty and rich personages of this world is a forsaking
and violating of God's law. Why? Because this world is the
enemy of God and "the friendship of the world is enmity with
God", and "whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world
is the enemy of God." Enemies of God deserve no praise from
those who profess to be His people, or Christians. (Jas. 4: 4)
God's law directs the praise of his people to be directed to him
through Christ, not because God is self-centered and conceited,
but because he is worthy. 'l'he sincere giving of the glory to him
wins his favor, and "in his favour is life".-30: 5. W 8/15
November 12
Follow the Lamb whithersoever he gocth.-Rev. 14: 4.
In our advance against false religious worship, we know we
have all the demons arrayed against us, organized under all their
spiritual principalities and rulerships which cause the darkness
of this world. We know, too, that these demons not only stir up
clergymen and priests of organized religion against us as we
carry forward Jehovah's true worship hut likewise stir up the
political factors of this world to use the police power, judicial
courts and legislative bodies of the land to operate against us.
(16: 14-16) But this is no proper ground for fear and quail-
ing hearts, for, besides disclosing the combined demonic and
human forces arrayed against us, God's Word opens our eyes
to see also the superior hosts that are supporting us in advanc-
ing the pure worship, with Jehovah's great, invincible Com-
mander Christ Jesus at the head leading us forward to victory.
W 9/1
November 13
Up, 0 God, high over hearen! Up with thy glory over all
the earth!-Ps. 57: 11, Moffatt.
Just as King David reigned and beat down enemy nations
and spread Jehovah's praise among them, so also our King
Christ Jesus will do. He will overpower the opposition to God's
praise, even if and as it finally becomes necessary to fight it out
at Armageddon for Jehovah's eternal vindication. Hence our
hearts are fixed and ready to sing the praise of Jehovah and
his King, come what may come by his permission for a test
of our faithfulness and 'integrity. 'Ve know and are confident
that his act of vindicating his universal sovereignty before all
nations and peoples will come, and that shortly. Therefore we
move forward among all nations, thanking him for his mercy
and truth and mightily singing praises to him, and not to men.
As we do so, we take up the above prayer for Jehovah to vin-
dicate himself. His doing so will crown with full success our
service of praising him openly. IV 12/15
November 14
Be aIf('ctionate in voltr love for the brotherhood.-Rom. 1'2: 10,
An Amer. '1'ran8.
This has reference to the household of faith. For such our
love should be with real affection, with a loyal family spirit,
with warm appreciation of them for their work's sake, with
recognition of thcm as children of our one I<'ather in heaven,
with concern for their final salvation as much as for our own.
Loving the brotherhood with such true affection, and not in a
sentimental way, we shall not find it hard to honor and respect
them as servants of the Most High God. We shall be eager to
help them in their service of him and to co-operate with them
even if they, instead of onrsel ves, have been elevated to a higher
position of service in the organization. Because they are de-
voted to our God and they represent and are associated with
the Theocratic organization, we shall not lack in devotion to
them. W 11/1
November 15
Who delivered U8 out of the power of darkness, and translated
us ill to the kingdom of the Son of his love.-Col. 1: 13, A.S. V.
Being translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God's love
must mean a transfer of one's allegiance from this world of
darkness over to God's Son as His anointed Heir of the King-
dom. It means that such one translated is no longer in the dark
as to who are the higher powers to whom every soul should be
subject. Scripturally, the Higher Powers are Jehovah God the
Supreme One and Jesus Christ, exalted to His right hand.
(Rom. 13: 1) So the translated one acknowledges God's dear
Son as King and yields complete obedience to him. In a case
where there is a conflict between the kings of this world and
God's beloved Son they yield uncompromising obedience to the
higher King, the One at God's right hand. They obey Peter's
words: "Fear God. Honour the king."-1 Pet. 2: 17. lV 6/1
November 16
II e shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed
no mercy.-.!as. '2:13.
Let us look mercifully upon our brethren. Neither they nor
we ourselves are perfect, and the tongue has been tamed not
to the same degree by all, and to a perfect df'gree by none. The
tongue is not entirely tamable by an imperfect human. It is
bound to remain an unruly evil and to cause trouble and to
poison the atmosphere and the lives of some now and then.
Hence speech should not be hasty. To those who have been be-
gotten by the great "}1'ather of lights" with hi,<; Word of truth,
James writes: "\Vherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man
be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath
of man worketh not the rightcousness of God." (3: 8; 1: 19,20)
~ ' h i s is good instruction for times when we are under the fire
of the arrows of slander and are inclined to wrath. Check your-
self by remembering your own imperfection. W 5/1
November 17
Laying aside every encumbrance, and the sin,
run with patient endurance the course marked out jor
-Heb. 12: 1, Diaglctt, interlinear.
In striving for mastery in the games so as to win a crown
men practice stern self-control and set aside useless weights
and entanglements. Finishing our course successfully to Jeho-
vah's vindication and winning the prize he reserves for us de-
pends, from the start on, upon our steadfast continuance through-
out the full length of the course. We cannot, therefore, hold out
to the end if we hobble ourselves with hindrances and load our-
selves down with things not serving the cause of righteousness
and bringing sufferings upon us for such things. Even when
stripped of such things, the requirements of us are still exacting
enough to call for all we can muster of fortitude. Like Jesus,
we should not magnify, but minimize, the sufferings, as being a
cht'ap cost for the joyous prize. W 7/15
November 18
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of
-Matt. 6: 23.
The "evil eye" is possessed by a person that has an evil heart
or mind, like Satan the Devil the "evil one" from whom we
pray God to deliver us. The Scriptures make it clear that the
"evil eye" means envious vision, covetous vision, selfish, hypo-
critical vision. (Deut. 28: 54-57) It begrudges another person
his freedom to enjoy spiritual prospprity. It does not want the
common people, from whom the religious leaders are fattening
themselves with honor and wealth, to get free from religious
bondage by Jesus' teaching. (Deut. 15: 7-9) '.rhe apostle Peter
spoke of certain rebellious Christians that were disobedient to
God's arrangement in His church and who were committing
spiritual fornication with the world as having "eyes full of
adultery". (2 Pet. 2: 13, 14) Such ones did not have the light
of truth in them. IV 8/1
November 19
The virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought
unto thee.-Ps. 45: 14.
These virgin companions of the bride of Christ portray con-
secrated persons of good-will whom the Good Shepherd Christ
Jesus is now gathering. He is bringing them into fellowship
with the remnant that represent the bride. He speaks of them
as "other sheep", because these persons do not have a heavenly
deHtiny und inheritance, but have the divine promise of life
eternal on earth under the Kingdom. Their present position
in companionship with the remnant of the bride is one of priv-
ilege, bringing great inward pleasure. Although they are not
of the remnant with the prospect of heavenly marriage, they
ure glad in what God provides for them. They are glad He
associates them with his Theocratic organization as represented
on earth by the remnant who are espoused to Christ, the Head
of the Theocratic organization. W 10/1
November 20
He that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and
approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which
make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
-Rom. 14: 18, 19.
In this perilous time of bad personal habits, if any addicts
are interested in the gospel and interested enough to listen, we
will take advantage of such interest by talking the gospel as
long as they want to hear, exercising tolerance toward them for
their spiritual profit. And so also in other matters: we will not
allow them to become factors disturbing the peace between us,
as we seek together to learn of the Lord God and serve him
unitedly. If we thus seek to contribute to the peace of God's
organized people and to contribute to their development in up'
rightness, we shall be found serving Christ and pleasing God.
We shall also gain the approval of those men whom God will
preserve to life eternal in His new world. W 11/15
November 21
'l'wo are better than one; because they have a good reward jar
their lab our.-Ece l. 4: 9.
The identifying of ourselves with the Theocratic organization
results io us in priceless benefits. The working together at doing
the divine will benefits all of us thus co-operating together. We
receive the help of one another in doing God's wOlk. We get the
stimulation that comes from associating with one another. Thus
the organization means strength to us. It means the unifying
of us for the sake of working with greater I'ffectiveness. It also
means protection to us in this wicked world. Where there are
two or more together, there can be eo-operation and reciprocal
aetion. They have a good reward for their laboring together,
because they draw mutual benefits from such co-operation and
from enjoying the society of one another. God foreknew these
benefits of organizing his people. His wise man relates them
to us. W 12/1
November 22
Stand jast in one spirit, with one mind striving together jar
the faith of the gospel.'-Phil. 1: 27.
The remnant, with their good-will companions inseparably at
their side, stand upright like mature, strong m('n, unbending,
unswayed, uncompromisingly firm and steady for the truth and
for clean-handed, above-board dealings in publishing the truth.
The Theocratic organization that holds them stands united in
its immovableness, its members fighting fearlessly shoulder to
shoulder for the faith of the gospel of God's kingdom. Unitedly
they uphold the universal sovereignty of their one God, Jehovah.
Unitedly, they hold fast to the Leadership of their one Lord,
Christ Jesus. Unitedly they resist the confusing, selfish spirit
of this world. They pray and open their hearts fully for the
one spirit proceeding from God and which is an active unify-
ing force, energizing them to combined, concordant activity in
His service. tv 1/1
November 23
But thou, go (thy way) toward the end; and thou shalt rest,
and arise again for thy lot at the end of the days.
-Dan. 12: 18, Leeser.
Daniel died after the third year of Cyrus. His rest during
the twenty-four centuries since then has been in the grave.
Hence his 'standing in his lot' in God's due time means his
coming forth from the tomb to life on earth as one of the
"princes in all the carth". Seeing that the time of unparalleled
trouble is fast maturing and that we are in the time of the
end with its increase of knowledge and its abomination of deso-
lation, we can be sure Daniel will stand in his lot at no far
distant date by the power of the resurrection. He will become
thereby one of the "children" of the great "Prince of Peace",
who has been actively reigning at Jehovah's right hand since
A.D. 1914. (Ps. 45: 16) The angel's promise to Daniel is to
our hearts a mighty proof of the resurrection. W 3/15
November 24
lIe shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd
divideth his sheep from the goats.-M att. 25: 8f!.
The "sheep" are those who do good to the King's brethren,
such as giving them something to eat or to wear, housing them,
relieving them in illness, or aiding them when under arrest or
in prison for preaching the good news of the Kingdom. They
are not the remnant of the King's brethren, because in doing
the afore-mentioned kindnesses they confess they did not real-
ize they were in fact doing such things to the King. Because
they thus showed they were in favor of God's kingdom by
Christ, and because they lent support and active co-operation
to the remnant of his brethren in increasing the Kingdom in-
terests under hardship and opposition, the King judges them
worthy of everlasting blessing on earth in the new world and
under the kingdom of heaven. They become children of Christ
Jesus, "The everlasting Father." W 7/1
November 25
And death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and
they were judged every man according to their works.
-Rev. 20: 13, Am. Stan. Ver.
The evildoers or unjust will be judged, and theirs is thus n
resurrection to judgment, "according to their works." Not ac-
cording to past works (If before the end of Satan's world, but
according to their works henceforth under God's kingdom in
the new world. Then Jesus' words will apply: "I am the
resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die." (John 11: 25,26) Those who believe
in him as reigning King and as Ransomer and then obey him
in harmony with the things written in the opened books of
God's word and law will be justified to eternal life in that
new world without end and thus "never die". Their names will
be written in "another book", "which is the book of life." W 4/1
November 26
And he ordained twelve, .. to preach.-.lIark 3: 14.
To ordain signifies simply to appoint, place or set down in a
position of service or responsibility. To bc ordained one must
believe in Jehovah God and in his King and Savior,
Jesus Christ. One must provc this belief to be vital in his life
by repenting of his former sinful worldly course. and then con
verting or turning from this world under Satan's rule, and de-
voting himself fully and completely to God through the Savior
Jesus Christ, with the declared purpose of doing God's will
henceforth. God ordains such consecrated one to be his minis-
ter. \Vhen? \Vhen He accepts that one's consecration through
Christ and then appoints or assigns him to His service in com-
pany with all other consecrated ones. namely, to preach the
gospel. In order to give efi'pct to such ordination or appointment,
Cod puts his spirit or energetic force upon the consecrated one.
lV 10/15
November 27
Lay hold on eternal life.-l Tim. 6: 12.
Naturally you want life for yourself, because without life
you could not enjoy the works and the provisions of God your
Creator. It is unreasonable to want to destroy yourself. It is
reasonable to want to live, not that you are inherently im-
mortal, but because the knowledge of God and the enjoyment
of his bounteous provisions make life worth living. So there is
nothing improper and unduly selfish in loving yourself to the
degree where you want a happy existence in God's new world
of righteousness, whether in heaven or on earth. Now, if you
want life for yourself, then, according to the second great com-
mandment, you should love to see your neighbor also gain eternal
life. (Mark 12: 30, 31) You should love your neighbor just that
much, and should accordingly hplp your neighbor to get that
life pl'ovided by God through Christ which you want for your-
self. W 11/1
November 28
If, however, we exarnined ourselves, we should not be judged;
bitt being judl/ed by the Lord, we are corrected, so that we
may not be condemned with the world.-l Cor. 11: 31, 32,
The Emphatic Diaglott.
There is some distinction between judgment and cond('mna-
tion, and a judgment need not necessarily be condemnation to
destruction. For a Christian of the "house of God" to be con-
demned with this world it means his destruction in the "second
death", without possibility of a resurrection from the dead.
Going back to the ways and companionship of this world of
which Satan the Devil is god and prince is most serious. (2
2: 20, 21) If this world were not condemned to annihilation,
then condemnation with the world would not be so calamitous
for those of the hOllsP, of God. But the world condemned to
ih'stl'llction! So with the best of reasons they are warnN] l10t to
come into the conciemnatiull resting upon the world. W 7/1
November 29
The (lood sced are the children of the kingdom.-Matt. 18: 88.
Planting the good seed or ehildren of the kingdom in all parts
of the field or world does not mean converting the world and ex-
tending the kingdom of God all over the earth in seditious com-
petition with the kingdoms of this world. It is no establishment
of a world-wide political organization upon a religious basis.
The church of God, composed of His "children of the kingdom",
has no such political aims and purposes. Hence Christ's plant-
ing of the good seed from Pentecost onward means simply the
raising up of the members of the 'people for God's name' who
are taken out of all the nations that God visits with his King-
dom message_ They are heirs or children of God's kingdom,
which is heavenly. Harvesting them as "good sepd" now at this
end of the world means bringing them together in peace and
unity in distinct separateness from this world to serve as His
witnesses. W 6/1
November SO
It uBI be by the endurance you exhibit that you will secure
your livcs.-Lukc 21: 19, 20th Gent. N. T.
By his endurance as a man on God's side Jesus held on to
his right to everlasting life, yps, immortality, and he said for
his hard-pressed followers at the end of the world: '"Hold out
stedfast and you win your souls." (21: 19, Moffatt) What he
bids us do we can do. And as we hold out steadfast we will keep
our minds, not on the physical painfulness of the sufferings and
the mental grief of the reproaches, but on the reasons why we
should be joyful. A person having knowledge of Jehovah God
and of the great issue concerning his good name and sovereignty
is strong. And having God's holy spirit or active force upon
him to make up for his weaknesses, he is made still stronger
for keeping at God's service with the right attitude of mind.
There is secret strength in our knowing for whom we are
privileged to undergo hardship. W 7/15
December 1
Set a. mark upon the foreheads of the men that si(lh and that
cry for all the abominations that be done in tll e midst thereof.
-Ezek. 9: 4.
The ('onseeratl'd companions of good-will today are those who
recpive the mark of truth in their foreheads. 'rhe witnessing
activity of the anointed remnant, the 'man in linen' company,
put it there. Under the direction of this anointed remnant the
marked ones of good-will join in helping with this educational
work. They have b ~ e n marked because of hearing with faith
and coming to the Lord in consecration and public confession
of him; and his command through his Messenger at the temple
is, "Let him that heareth say, Come," that is, say "Come" to
still others who are willing and in need of receiving the mark
in the forehead before Christendom falls at Armageddon. The
benE'fit of having the mark in the intellectual forehead is to
avoid being scntenced to destruction but to obtain God's mercy
and pity through Christ. W 9/15
December 2
1'1,orefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee u;ith the oil oj
gladness above thy fellows.-Ps. 45: 7.
This anointing refers to his installation in the throne to be
king, in 1914. This was a most refreshing experience after he
had waited for nineteen centuries at God's right hand. It
ushered him into the joy and gladness of Jehovah's reigning
as King over all the universe. The gladness with which Jehovah
his God anoints him exceeds that of all fellow kings. This
does not mean kings that have reigned on earth since .Jesus'
ascension to heaven in 33 (A.D.), but means all the kings of
the lineage of David that reigned upon the throne at Jerusa-
lem from David to Josiah. 'l'hey were all fellows in sharing in
the benefits of the Kingdom covenant that God made with King
David. But that Kingdom covenant reaches its climax and com-
plete fulfillment in Christ Jesus, for his kingdom and gladness
arc for evermore. W 10/1
December 3
'i'he unbelicdng wife is sanctified in the brother [husband];
otherwise, indeed your children were impure, but now they
are holy.-l Oor. 7: 14, Diaglott.
If the unbeliever were not sanctified by the believer, then
children born to such a married couple would be like mongrels
and unclean in God's sight. lIut God recognizes their being
married and knows that the sanctified believer is one flesh with
CIC unconsecrated mate; so God mercifully recognizes the chil-
dren of such union as holy or sanctified. It is because the un-
believing one is sanctified by his believing mate. And just as
the believer treats his unbelieving mate from this standpoint
in his endeavor to honor and please God, so he will treat his
children which he has by the unbelieving one. Hence he will
discharge his parental duty of bringing such children up in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. There will be no
prejudice against them, because there should be none
against what is holy. W 2/1
December 4
'l'hat on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good
/: (art, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit
with patiencc.-Luke 8: 15.
Anyone that receives the gospel word with any acceptance
not delude himself about it. He is taking something
to himself that will draw upon him the heat of affliction and
persecution if he lives up to it and holds on to it. But if he
l:ceps on appreciating the value of what he is receiving,
he will not merely aceetlt it with gladness but also count it
all joy when he encounters trials of persecution and tribula-
tion for holding fast God's Word and talking it to others. The
persecution will not wilt and destroy his fruitfulness, but he
will steadfastly endure the scorching heat of the enemy's fire.
He will keep on holding forth fruit for the sustenance of others
who hunger for food from God's Word. He has no stony heart
of hypocrisy, but is like good soil. lV 7/15
December 5
There should be no schism in the bodV.-1 Cor. 12: 25.
In Christ's body Jehovah God finds a usefulness and servi('"
for each and every member, and therefore he anoints each anll
every member with his holy spirit or active force. Mindful of
this comforting fact, no member of the body will feel so in-
ferior that, because he does not have a more outstanding and
far-reaching part in God's service, he will view himself as no
part of Christ's body. Because Paul, as an apostolic membl'l'
of the governing body of the church, declared: "Let the woman
learn in silence with all subjection," and, "I suffer not a woman
to teach, nor to usurp anthority over the man, but to be in
silence," that does not mean that women devoted to God and
anointed with his spirit are no part of Christ's body nor given
a certain service therein to render. (1 Tim. 2: 11, 12) To
correct such a discouraging, divisive outlook the apostll' wrote
the leading text above. W 1/1
December G
H ave one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both fm
him that is born amona the children of Israel, and for the
stranger.-Num. 15: 29.
God did not excuse sins of ignorance, yet he did arrange a
way whereby such sins might be atoned for to bring the sin
ner back into his favor and nnder his mercy. Thus the sinner
that discerns his former sin in the light of the truth after
ward received may have confidence in drawing near to Goel.
In the case of a person that becomes a Christian member of
the church or becomes a consecrated person of good-will, sins
of ignorance must be confessed with repentance as in the Israel-
ite type, and the sacrifice that must be resorted to for divine for-
giveness and cleansing is that of Jehovah's great High Priest,
Jesus Christ. (Prov. 28: 13) He commands all men to repent
because of the coming day of judgment conducted by his Judge
Christ Jesns. By means of his Word that is preached to them
God commands them to repent.-Acts 17: 30, 31. W 1,/15
December '7
Thou shalt be blessed; . . . be recompensed at the resurrection
of the just.-Luke 11,: 11,.
There are sheeplikc persons of good-will who have appeared
during the "time of the end" and thus during the present judg-
ment of the nations. '.rh('y have manifested faith like those men
of old, but some have dicd and will yet die faithful before the
fiery end of this world in Jehovah's great battle for vindicating
his sovereignty. These modern-day "sheep" as well as the faithful
ones of old will come forth to a "resurrection of life" on earth.
At once on coming out of the graves they will stcp onto the
way to everlasting life, and the King will have nothing against
them, just as he will have nothing against the "sheep" that
survive the Battle in which this world ends. However, for them
there is yet a final test to pass. That is, when Satan will be
loosed for a "little season" to test those dwdling 01\ earth un-
der the Kingdom. lV ,/1
December 8
Come forth,. ... they that hare done edl, unto the resurrec-
tion of judgment.--John 5: 29, Am. Stan. Vcr.
IIappiIy, a "resurrection of judgment" does not mean they
are resurrected from the grave to an instantaneous condemna-
tion without a trial, nor that they have no further testing amid
the favorable, helpful conditions under the kingdom of the new
world, and then possibly changing their course in the right di-
rection. Since Jesus speaks of these evildoers as being "in the
graves" it indicates something hopeful for them. In Scripture
Gehenna symbolizes everlasting destruction, and if they were
in it they would not come forth in a resurrection from the
death state. But the word graL'e or tomb (Greek: mnemcion)
includes the thought of remembrance, and for that reason these
evildoers are remembered by Christ the Judge. In due time he
directs his voice to them in the graves bidding them come forth
in a resurrection, to judgment. W 4/1
December 9
Eat, asking no for sake i. for the earth is
the Lord s.-l Cor. 10. 25, 26, Am. V cr.
Everything with which God filled this earth is His creation
and belongs to him and so is not sinful in itself. Meat that was
set before him by his heathen host Paul accepted as being God's
creation and belonging to him. That meat or the carcass from
which it came, Paul looked upon it objectively as being God's
creation. In thus viewing it he could thank God for it and not
the idol to which it was offered. However, Paul's Christian com-
panion might look at it, not objectively, but from the standpoint
of its heathenish religious connections. Hence his conscience re-
belled at eating, because he objected to idols and to recognizing
them in any way. He felt that meat to be contaminated by the
heathen rite. But Paul knew that despite being dedicated to
an idol, the animal victim still belonged to God its Creator,
and he could conscientiously thank God for a piece of it. W 11/15
December 10
When he, the spi1"it ()f truth, is corne, he wid guide you into
all truth.--John 16: 13.
The spirit's moving the disciples in their writings evideutly
did not wipe out all the personal element about them. It let
them express themselves according to each one's individual style
and spiritual gifts. They were left also to use the powers of
study, research and investigation with which God had endowed
them and then were allowed to make expression of themselves
with truthful motives. His spirit reinforced the matter by bless-
ing their love of the truth and by supervising them and guid-
ing them to truthful expressions in writing. Hence the inspira-
tion of their writings may not have been one making them
automatons, robots, under control of plenary, verbal or word-
for-word inspiration. Yet it guided them to express faithfully
the sense or thought of what they had heard, seen or felt. Just
the same it was the tl"Uth and conveyed the correct idea and
understanding. W 5/15
December 11
See Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets,
in the kingdom of God.-Luke 19: 28.
I.'rom east, west, north and south, wherever the Kingdom
gospel has been preached, many Gentiles have coml' into the
favor of the Greater Abraham (Jehovah God, King of eternity)
and into the favor of the Greater Isaac (Jesus Christ the
anointed King) and feasted with the faithful Jewish remnant
that became Christians and that were typified by Jacob and the
prophl'ts. Down to this year 1948 the natural Jews see this
taking place, with themselves on the outside, in worldly dark-
ness. They have seen the believers, Jewish and Gentile, de-
livered out of darkness and translated into the kingdom of
God's dear Son. By persistent, intensive witness-work since
A.D. 1919, Jehovah's witnesses have 8Pt bpfore men's eyes the
facts concerning God's kingdom as symboliz;>d by the typical
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets. W 6/1
December 12
Mark Thau [X] upon thc forehead.s.-Ezek. 9: 4, DOllay.
The Most High God, mindful of the oncoming destruction by
his executioners, sends his anointed remnant, accompanied by
their good-will companions, out ahead of his executioners, and
solemnly commands them: 'Go through the midst of Christen-
dom and mark!' Christendom's clergy cry out to them to stay
out of their fields and to keep away from their people. But
Christendom is not the one to decide on the salvation of any
individuals. Our orders from God are, as given also to Ezekiel:
"Thou shalt speak my words nnto thpm, whether they will hear,
or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious."
(2: 7) Onr report must at last be turned in to God our Com-
mander, and not to Christendom, for she will perish forever
at Armageddon. Our final report will show either obedience
to Jehovah God or obedicnce to Christendom. Which will it
show? We cannot obey both; only ONE. W 9/15
December 18
Come forth; ... they that have done cuil, Ullto the rcsurreoUon
of judgmcnt.-J ohn 5: 28, 29, A nt. Stan. Ver.
They have "done evil" in this life, for they have never come
under God's favor for exercising faith and obedience toward
him. The "resurrectiou of judgment", or standing up to judg-
ment, does not mean those who are reserved for this are damned
or condemned right at the start and that there is no show for
them during Christ's thousand-year reign. There is a differcnce
between "judgment" and "condemnation", (Luke 6: 37; Rom.
2: 1) This difference shows that the day of judgmcnt need
not necessarily be a day of condemuation for all, and the judg-
ment meant in the "resurrection of judgment" does not neces-
sarily mean "judgment of Gehenna" such as the hypocritical
scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day could hardly escape. (Matt.
23: 33, margin) Those who hear the Son of man's voice awl
come forth are in the graves, '1nclJlorial places. W ') /1
December 14
He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of
him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth
his mercy and his truth.-Ps. 57: 3.
'Ve confess Jehovah God and Christ Jesus as the true Higher
Powers ordained for all Christian souls to be subject to. For
this cause wc are reproached. Those who reproach us would
devour us by framing against us mischief by national and state
laws. Because Jehovah is in heaven and not visible to men and
does not personally reveal himself to do something, our foes may
think he cannot do anything for us. But men in this atomic
age and in this day of radio and of applied electronic and
nuclear science ought to realize, too, that God can send down
from heaven and can perform all things necessary for his obe-
dient servants and can deliver and save them. Our experiences
down to 11)48 prove he has done so. He has sent us his mercy
and faithfulness; he has sent us his truth. W 1'2/15
December 15
Affliction works out endurance,. and endurance, approval,. and
approt'al, hope,. and this hope is not put to shame.-Uom. 5: 3-5,
The Emphatic Diaglott.
The hope that God has set before us serves as a sustaining
power in our lives. It is unquestionably because of this fact that
Satan the Devil stirs up the world to ridicule our hope. Our
Scriptural hope is that if we gain God's final approval we shall
be rewarded with everlasting life in the new world. Our hope
is in God's deliverance of us from this old world and its mis-
guided servants. This hope we must build up more and more
by continuing in the way of God's approval, holding on to that
way although in it we must run the gantlet of affliction from
the world. Then we shall be able to glory in suffering for His
cause and, as the world says, thrive upon persecution. In order
to exert and build up powers of endurance we must be thrown
into afflictions. W 7/15
December 16
Your love must be gcnuine.-Rom. 1'2: 9, An Amer. Trans.
Our love, our unselfish devotion to Jehovah and to his devoted
people, must be real, genuine and continuous with us everf day
of our lives. There must be no hypocrisy about it, by claIming
alid pretending to love God and at the same time envying, de-
spising, begrudging and hating our neighbor. Genuine love will
be found in among those who are entirely consecrated to God
and striving to prove their love to him and to his people by
keeping his commands. They "hate what is wrong, and hold
to what is right". \Ye can have no sympathy with what is
wrong, even if committed by one dear and near to us by fleshly
ties of family or by ties of close association. What is wrong is
wrong, and we want to havc nothing to do with it. What we
uphold is God's organization, for it is Theocratic and right.
God's Word is right, and we want to lovingly help our fellow
servant and our neighbor to keep God's Word and to publish
it to others. W 11 / 1
December 17
Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest
make prittces itt all the earth.-Ps. 45,' 16.
Christ Jesus will become "Everlasting Father" to the loyal
earthly believers and will have many earthly children. But,
reasonably, he will not appoint them all to be "princes" or
rulers in all the earth, to act as the visible earthly representa-
tives of the heavenly kingdom. Who, then, will be made such?
Evidently his "fathers" and other ancient men of a like degree
of faithfulness to God and his Sovereignty. Fathers refers to
J eaus' faithful forefathers according to the flesh. Since all of
these, both "fathers" and other faithful men, are dead now for
thousands of years, how could he make them "princes in all the
earth"? By resurrecting them at God's appointed time and then
stationing them in various parts of the earth in princely posi-
tions to act for him. W 10/1
December 18
They wrote letters by them after this manner i Thc apostles
and elders and brethren send greeting ttnto the orethren whieh
are of the Gentiles.-Acts 15,' 23.
God's visible organization includes within its membership
persons of many nationalities, races, colors, customs, cultures,
and languages. Since it embraces within itself so many diffcrent
elements with such differences to divide them, this earth-
encircling organization could not carryon in unity in the Lord
unless it had a central, visible governing body. By means of
such it can be held together, to work in solidarity according to
common organization instructions. At first the governing body
was made up of the twelve apostles of Christ and of elder
brethren closely associated with them in important positions
for governing the Christian congregations. Likewise now, when
the company of consecrated ones is greater and when the need
of a central governing agency is greater, it should exist. By
God's grace, it does. W 12/1
December 19
If one who is virgin [male or female] shottld marry, that one
hath not sinned;-but tribulation of the flesh shall sttoh have.
-1 Oor. 7,' 28, Rotherham.
Christians who give up their virginity or singleness will have
the outward troubles of married life, "tribulation of the flesh,"
and the apostle would like to have the single ones spared that.
It was because ill the ordinary course of married life the couple
marrying have taken on a burden in each other and it may
lead to further responsibilities in the way of children. Un-
avoidably, troubles are due to come amid this present distressed
world-condition and because of human imperfections, faults
and unwisdom. Hence let those in a virgin state be cautioned
beforehand that, although they may not sin by now getting
married, they will be putting themselves in the way of new
troubles, which they must bear while fulfilling their obligations
in God's service. W 2/1
December 20
We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
-2 Cor. 5: 10.
Christ Jesus sits upon the judgment seat after his enthrone-
ment in the kingdom of God, which enthronement was in 1914;
and the service as Judge is one of his kingly duties. He is
"the Son of David", hence heir of the Kingdom covenant that
Jehovah God made with David when king in Jerusalem. Onp.
of King David's responsibilities was to serve as judge for the
nation of Israel. Concerning him we have it reported: "David
reigned over all Israel; and David execnted judgment and jus-
tice unto all his people." (2 Sam. 8: 15) In his son Solomon's
first recorded sentence as royal judge he made a reputation for
himself. (1 Ki. 3: 9,28) Fittingly, too, Christ Jesus under-
takes the judgment proceedings after he becomes God's actiug
King in 1914. Then on coming to the temple in 1918 he starts
judgment first at God's house. W '"/11
December 21
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand
years were finished.-Rev. 20: 5.
This does not mean that the dead aside from the church do
not arise from the graves before the thousand years are finished.
It simply means that those at last judged worthy of everlasting
life will not have their names written in the "book of lif,,"
until the end of the thousand years and after the final test by
Satan the Devil loosed for a little season. In his absolute con-
trol over the resurrection of the dead by Christ Jesus God will
bring forth humankind at the proper time to get the benefits
of the thousand-year rule of man's Redeemer. But no evildoers
coming forth in a resurrection to judgment will have their names
recorded on the "book of life" until the end of the thousund
years, if they pass the final, deciding test of integrity then. If
availing themselves of the uplifting and perfecting help of the
Kingdom, they should then be able to pass the test. W 411
December 22
As it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this comcth
judgment; so Christ also, halling been once offered to bCaI' the
sins of many, shall appear a sccond time ... unto sal ration.
-Heb. 9: 27, 28, A.S.V.
If ml'n die AFTER JUDGMENT which follows as a r!'sult of
Christ's death for them, he will not redeem them agaiu. He died
to cancel the sin and death inherited only from Adam, and
their death becanse of sinning during the period of judgment
will not be due to' inheritance from Adam. If, however, after
entering into the period of judgment before God, they turn to
righteonsness with Christ's help, then they will enter the way
of everlasting life. 'l.'hey will avoid the "second death", everlast-
ing destruction, from which there is no redemption or recovery.
lil'nce it does not unavoidably await men, nor is it appointed
to lllPn, to die after they enter the period of judgment. Eternal
&.JVlllj"\l is p o ~ s j h k Many will gain this gift. W 6/15
December 23
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through
God we shall do vaUantly.-Ps. 60: 11, 12.
As we go forth, we do so, not covered by an umbrella of air-
planes equipped with atomic bombs and rocket guns and other
frightful weapons of carnal warfare, but under the safer pro-
tection of Jehovah's overshadowing hand of power. Let us reo
member that the situation is not yet static in the earth. It will
not be so until the battle of Armageddon wipes out this old
world and its various forms of demonism. Jehovah's King rules
amid his enemies at this earth. Under him Jehovah's worship
is on the move and it must increase until all those who will
be carried alive through Armageddon into the righteous new
world will have been reached. Through Him whom we worship
we shall be able to do valiantly in publishing his name and
advertising his kingdom, treading under foot as we do so all
organized opposition of the enemies. lV 9/1
December 24
JI y glOl"y will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven
images.-I sa. 42: 8.
The idolatry of the United Nations organization is on. But
will the living and true God permit praise for humanity's salva-
tion to keep going to it? No more than he let the city and
tower of Babel come in for everlasting praise and glory. God
cannot deny himself the role of Savior. Be will not renounce
his purpose of salvation in favor of an international idol of
unbelieving men. The Babel-like fate of the modern-day inter-
national idolaters He decreed and foretold at Psalm 97: 7 :
"Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast
themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods." Jehovah, who
is not served through the agency of any idol-images, has declared
war upon all idols and graven images of worship. 'I'he day of
decision is here for men to settle on whether to worship man-
made idols or the real, living God. lV 8/15
December 25
And he cried as a lion: 0 Lord, I stand continually upon the
watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole
nights.-Isa. 21: 8, Am. Stan. Ver.
May we daily be able to report to the Lord as did the watch-
man of old. In view of all the telling signs round about us,
may we look ahead in faith. May we gird up the loins of our
powers of endurance, and may we stick to the post of watch-
men who must sound out the Lord's warning. Then, after a
faithful watching and crying out of the signs of the times, we
shall, on some ardently desired day, have our eyes blessed with
the vision of the Lord's victorious war-chariots riding into view
and our ears will be set tingling with the freedom-sounding
announcement: "Fallen, fallen is Babylon." (21: 9, A Ill. Stan.
Vcr.) Till then, no quitting on our part, by God's grace! Con-
tinuance at our posts of service day and night, and endurance
to the triumphant end! be our watchword. W 7/15
December 26
Two are better than one; ... And if one prevail again,qt him,
two shall withstand him.-Eaal. 4: 9, 12.
Whereas an enemy can prevail against one victim, he cannot
prevail over two whom he assaults. The two can offer a united
front against this common enemy. The one can come to the
other's defense and rescue. In the interest of safety God's peo-
ple need to stick together under him. All of them throughout
the earth need to do so, ignoring national boundaries, racial
differences, provincial customs and habits, political rulerships,
and all other things that divide the peoples of the earth nor-
mally. To stand firm against all the enemy assaults that the
future holds in store for us; we need to band together in one
united company under our Leader Christ .lesus, standing shoul-
der to shoulder, giving one another support in serving God,
and confronting with compact, serried fanks the common foe.
Let us be unbreakable in doing so. W 12/1
December 27
Let no man despise thy youth; b1tt be thou an example of the
believers, in word.-1 Tim. 4: 12.
How old must one be to become an ordained "minister of
God"? As respects the Levite Samuel the son of Elkanah, he
was specially dedicated to God from before birth, and he was
put to service at the tabernacle right after he was weaned from
his mother's breast. Was this boy indeed a minister of God at
so early an age? Listen to this quotation from the record: "And
Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did min-
ister unto Jehovah before Eli the priest." (1 Sam. 2: 11, 18,
A.S.V.) That was a case before Christ, but Timothy is a case
since. At 1 Thessalonians 3 : 1,2 the apostle Paul calls Timothy
a "minister of God". Timothy's case is a concrete one to prove
that a young man or woman can still be under twenty years
of age and yet be an ordained "minister of God", without hav-
ing attended a theological seminary. W 10/15
December 28
Your light must burn.-Jtlatt. 5: 16, An Amer. Trans.
A genuine obedient follower of Christ must be active and
positive, beaming out to his n!'ighbor the light that shows up
God and Christ Jesus in their glory and life-saving power.
Thc light is good; and letting it shine to others is good work;
and the only way you can let your light so shine before men
as to induce some to glorify God is to get out there among the
people where they can see the good that you do and where
they can get the benefit of it. When Jesus was filled with the
spirit of God he went out preaching as the Light of the world.
If you want to be part of God's organized people who are now
the visible light of the world, it is necessary to likewise be "on
fire with the spirit" and get out among the people, making con-
fession with your mouth before them that they may be ell-
lightened. Thus serve the Lord as his minister. Then you will
be doing what is right and safe. W 11/1
December 29
Hearken, 0 daughter, and consitkr, and incline thine ear; for-
get also thine own people, and thy father's house: so will the
king desire thy beauty; for he is thy lord.-Ps. 45: 10, 11,
Am. Stan. Vcr.
Having received God's invitation to become Christ's joint-
heirs, the remnant must forget the things behind and cultivate
and strengthen their appreciation and devotion toward the
things set before them by their heavenly Father. For the King-
dom's sake they will not let human relations and earthly nation-
alities govern their choices, decisions and course of action. 'l'hey
turn the back upon religious, commercial and political gods of
this world, and worship the God of their Bridegroom-King. They
honor the King as they honor the Father. They bow to the will
of their heavenly :!father in mating them up with his anointed
King: "whom haVlllg not seen, ye love." (1 Pet. 1: 8) They
try to appear lovely to his eyes, if not to men's eyes, that he
may desire their spiritual beauty. W 10/1
December 80
fle thou exalted, 0 God, above the heavens; let thy gwry be
above all the earth.-Ps. 57: 5.
\Ve do not exalt worldly men or seek honor from men, but
we do let the grandeur and gloriousness of the Most High God
rise up before our minds. To pray for the exaltation of men
and their world-governing machinery would mean denying God's
kingdom. Hence while men exalt themselves, we cry out for
God to exalt himself by displaying his universal sovereignty.
'Ve call upon him to openly vindicate his supreme sovereignty
before all creation and to show puny men of the earth their
baseness and pettiness. Instead of being smitten with fear by
the enemy fierceness and might, we pray that unselfish prayer,
because we have taken our immovable stand for Jehovah's
sovereignty over all the universe, including our earth. We know
he will not disappoint that prayer, no matter what we may have
to endure until it is fulfilled. W 12/15
December 81
1 have done as thou hast commanded me.-Ezek. 9: 11.
lt is a work of salvation in which we are engaged. Nothing
is of greater importance to the people within and without Chris-
tendom. No grander privilege could there now be on earth
than to have a share in this work to the extent of our conse-
crated abilities. Now is the time to do it. Armageddon comes
on apace, at which time Jehovah will command his executioners
under Christ to follow up the 'man in linen' company and go
through all the earth and slay off all the unmarked persons,
young and old, male and female. Then the marking work will
be carried on no farther. The fateful time for turning in the
final report to our divine Commissioner, Jehovah, will have come.
By our course of action now all the faithful-hearted ones will
determine to be associated with that company that will then
report to Him: "I have done as thou hast commanded me."
Such a report will please God. W 9/15
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WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, INC.
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
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