INFORMANT

SEPTEMBER, 1937                                                                                  BROOKLYN, N. Y.

Jehovah’s witnesses at Columbus

Be There All Six Days, Sept 15 - 20

Twenty Thousand Expected

Make Arrangements for

Rooms and for Travel Now

Our brethren in Europe have prepared for the big convention on August 21-23. Brother Rutherford is in Europe now, and will have the privilege of serving at this convention. Brother Rutherford expects to return immediately after that convention, so that he may be here to serve in tlie great witness to be given at Columbus. What a joy it is to all of us to know that this year the Lord is arranging for the greater portion of his people on earth to be assembled in convention, that they may be strengthened to carry on in the war! What blessings are in store for us in America will be revealed beginning September 15. Be there the first day. By the Lord’s grace, Brother Rutherford will open the convention.

Every arrangement for the comfort of the brethren is being taken care of by the convention committee. You recall the blessed occasions in times past in conventions assembled, and feel sure that the Columbus convention of September 15-20 will be the best. Are you going?

Advertising

Placards, automobile signs, bumper signs, handbills and your personal contact with the people will advertise the public meeting. Shortly, now, large signs and placards will appear throughout all the city of Columbus, advertising “SAFETY”, Brother Rutherford’s lecture of the 19th. Many automobiles throughout the country will be driving to Columbus and advertising on the way. Have you ordered your signs? The large sign, 17 inches by 66 inches, is 50c. The bumper signs, 6 Inches by 66 inches, are 25c each. Company servants should order these immediately, so that you can be equipped before you get to the convention.

Book Room

A spacious building at the main entrance of the Fair Grounds will house the book room. There will be no need for you to bring much literature with you except that which you wish to place on the way. A good supply of Bibles, concordances and all of the Society’s publications will be on hand. Samples of the latest model of the sound equipment, phonographs, electric signs, will be on display. These you will want to inspect.

Cafeteria

Extensive arrangements have been made to provide food for the entire convention. These meals will be provided at reasonable rates, and of wholesome food well prepared. We hope all the brethren will use the cafeteria, as this will make it pos-1

come to the convention should see to it that the folders are out and into the hands of the people by Saturday night, September 18.

Rooming Accommodations

Please arrange for your rooms through the rooming committee. Several of the brethren have made their own arrangements with rooming houses, and this has caused considerable confusion. These rooming houses have canceled their original promises to the rooming committee, and in turn the rooming committee had to notify the people to whom those assignments were made. This has caused extra work. The brethren at Columbus are working hard to give you the best service and accommodations possible. Please cooperate with them. To date accommodations are available for approximately 7,000 persons. They are still getting more rooms, but of those already available 2,000 have been assigned. Write now for your rooming accommodations.

Service in the Field

Thursday, Friday and Monday mornings are devoted to field service. On your arrival at the convention the car driver or one whom you appoint in your car to be the captain should immediately get the assignment of territory. Territory assignments are all issued in one building near the Coliseum.

Sound Cars

There will be considerable use for sound cars at the convention. There will be territories laid out especially for their use. Those brethren living at long distances need not bring sound cars unless they want to use them for transportation. All companies near by, within approximately 700 miles, should bring theirs for use on assigned locations.

Trailer Camp

Space is allotted for the trailer camp. Assignments will be made to the brethren as to where to locate when they bring their trailer or house-car. This camp will be arranged in an orderly manner, so that there will be streets of ample width to get in and out. Please park where assigned.

Transportation

Divisional servants throughout the country have been working to arrange groups of 25 or more to travel by train or by bus. Brethren traveling by this means should co-operate as much as possible to come to the convention, in order to get the lower rates. Those in the various areas desiring to come to the convention by train or bus should immediately contact the divisional serv-I ant by letter, so that he may know I who are coming and how. Do not

After September 12-What?

7 Booklets, 25c Contribution

From September 12 until the beginning of the “King of Kings” testimony period, October 2, this combination of booklets should be pushed aggressively. This will be the final opportunity of the year to catch up in your literature placements, and particularly the total of pieces of literature placed. The booklets Armageddon, Uncovered, and Protection are of vital importance to the people. These three with four of the other booklets may be placed on a 25c contribution.

Those who eannot attend the Columbus convention should arrange as far as possible to be in the field every day of the convention. Immediately following Brother Rutherford’s public lecture on Sunday all publishers should be organized and go right into the field, taking with them this combination of 7 booklets, and some Riches books, of course. To those who have heard “Safety”, oiler Riches and 7 booklets. That does not mean that the brethren should not work Sunday morning before the broadcast. If proper plans are made the brethren can get in a few hours’ work in the morning in some parts of the country, and arrange to listen to Brother Rutherford's lecture in the territory at noon, Eastern Standard Time.

Year’s Field Report Closes September 26

Mail Your Report Card

on Following Monday

The fiscal year 1937, as far as company, pioneer and auxiliary reports are concerned, will close with your report of Sunday, September 26. The 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th will be carried over until October and be included with your October figures in next year’s report. Therefore, immediately following the 26th the company servant is to mail his report promptly. This also applies to pioneers and auxiliaries.

If this is another case where the company servant or other brethren on the company service committee who look after the service work will not be at home from the convention, they are to make arrangements for this to be taken care of. All brethren who do not figure on being at home by September 26 should mail the report of their convention activity to the company servant so that it will bo in his hands on that date, in order that it may be included in the September report of the company. Each one will kindly arrange to co-operate in this.

Who Will Be a Publisher?

Phonograph to Play Big Part in Witness

Jehovah's Word gives a description of the "King of kings” and his warfare.—Rev. 10:14-16,

Under the leadership of the “King of kings” and his heavenly army Jehovah’s publishers throughout the earth will engage in further warfare of Christianity against Devil religion and racketeering. “Religion is an abomination in Jehovah’s sight and the warfare of testimony must be made against it and in favor of Christianity. It is the time of ‘His strange work’. Leading in this work is Christ Jesus, tlie Faithful and True Witness, who in righteousness makes war. . . . The King of kings and Lord of lords, the Righteous Ruler, has come and he commands Jehovah’s armies. Christ will now magnify and completely vindicate Jehovah's name. Are you on the Lord's side? Then arrange your affairs to participate in this worldwide witness period.” See 1937 Calendar.

The “King of Kings” testimony period, October 2-10, will be the first international period of the new fiscal year. After the thrilling convention at Columbus all of Jehovah’s people, remnant and Jonadabs, will be full of enthusiasm and zeal to engage in the largest international testimony period on record. It will be a season of great joy to join our brethren all over the earth in forward movement to further expose Jehovah's enemies. Let’s all ‘rise against her in battle’.

Literature

Special for only nine days, October 2-10: Riches and Armageddon to be offered together on a 25c contribution. If the people already have Riches, offer a seven-booklet combination including Armageddon on a , 25c contribution. Feature also ten-cent combinations of three booklets, using one colored-cover booklet and two of the following self-covered booklets: Uncovered. Protection, Armageddon. Foreign Riches and booklets should also be made available to the people.

Presentation

Approximately ten thousand publishers in this country are now equipped witli phonographs and discs. During this period every one of these machines is to be used in the house-to-house service. Carry disc P-101-102. First introduce the phonograph, present record Riches (102), then offer Riches and Armageddon, on a 25c contribution. Following Is a suggested phonograph introduction: Greet the householder and introduce yourself as one of Jehovah's witnesses or as a representative of the Watch Tower. Inform the party that the Watch Tower is aiding people of good will to understand the meaning of present-day events in the light of Bible prophecies now being fulfilled. Tell them you have a phonograph with you for this purpose, and a five-minute speech by Judge Rutherford; that you have come to present this message for them free of charge. Offer to set up the machine on the porch, or inside, wherever convenient. After the record is presented, Introduce the literature.

Territory

Finish your rural territory and small towns during this period, as this is the time of the harvest and I many farmers have funds to contribute for the combination. Sound cars should be kept busy every day sounding out the Kingdom message and preparing the territory for the field publishers.

Publishers and Time

In this land 36,285 of Jehovah's people, remnant and Jonadabs, assembled to celebrate the memorial of Jehovah’s name. Surely every one of these should be publishing the Kingdom message. During the “Battle Shout” period, last October, only 18,742 shared in this warfare. This shows the possibility of almost doubling the publishers for the “King of Kings” testimony period. All of us. young or old, remnant or Jonadab, should now join as companions and together shoulder the Kingdom responsibilities. All the new ones should be aided to participate, also. Those having physical difficulties or poor health may be able to put in only-one or two hours, while the more

Your 15 Hours for September

As previously announced in the Informant, the divisional assembly scheduled for September 4, 5, and 6 has been canceled. Instead let us make use of this three-day “holiday” period (September 4,5,6) in pushing forward a vigorous campaign in our home territory. Each company should organize field parties for each of the three days, putting in five or more hours each day. All publishers to participate. Company publishers can get in their 15 hours for September before they leave for Columbus. Splendid opportunity for

wide distribution of radio folders for the "Safety” broadcast. Ideal weather and opportunities at public gatherings for outdoor “Exposed” meetings with the sound cars. Last effort to place your quota of boundbook combinations. Use your phonographs and make your back calls with the “Exposed” series. Let us all try to make September a big month of Kingdom activity, get in our time at home early in the month, and then leave in a joyful frame of mind for the best convention yet, the Columbus convention of September 15-20.

These signs are now available and should be obtained by all those who contemplate doing any advertising en route.

School Information Wanted

In connection with compulsory flag-salute cases we need to know I he number of children of Jehovah's witnesses and Jonadabs of school age throughout the country. This means children from 7 to 16 years of age. Will each company servant send the Information for his area on a post card as follows:

Number of school children for (insert town and state) is (insert number).

Those who have already given this information need not repeat.

Do not wait until school begins. We need tlie information NOW.

Repairs on Sound Equipment

Whenever something goes wrong with your phonograph, portable transcription machine or sound car that you cannot repair yourself, then write to tlie Society concerning the trouble. I’lease give the serial number of the equipment; otherwise we shall be unable to assist you. The serial number is absolutely essential. so that we can determine the model. Will you please do this in the future, when writing about repairs? Please tell us what you believe is wrong. Several of the brethren have written in, “My machine doesn’t work. What shall I do?” Please be specific.

Inventory to Be Taken September 30

Make It Accurate, Please

Enclosed with this Informant are two copies of the “Inventory of Stock” blank for each company organization, pioneer and auxiliary to show thereon the stock they have on hand at the end of September. It will be necessary for the average company to plan in advance for the taking of this stock. It may be in the far western points that the company servant or stockkeeper will be away. In that event competent brethren should be appointed to look after this, and such preliminary preparations as can be made should be made in advance, so that when the time comes it may be accomplished with the least possible confusion.

It is very important that this information be in this office during the first week of October, if at all possible. We are asking each company, pioneer and auxiliary to cooperate fully.

Special Notice Company Servant!

During tlie bound-book campaign pioneers and auxiliaries have been authorized to draw from the stock of certain companies such literature as they require for the campaign. This will apply up until September 1. All pioneers and auxiliaries who desire stock to last them to the end of the campaign should have it before that date.

Immediately after September 1 the Society is to be notified, on the regular “Transfer of Stock” blank, of all the literature that was taken over from the company. Each company servant will please note and forward this information. On receipt of the "Transfer of Stock” blanks properly filled out and signed the Society will make tlie necessary adjustment in the different accounts.

We are anxious to get all of these transfers in the office before September 6. if possible, so that all adjustments may appear on the September statement. Please co-operate fully. ------------------

Ten Months Gone

Hours Better than Last Year

Ten months of 1937 have passed and we find that the average number of publishers in the field has increased and that these brethren have put in more hours than in the previous year. The detailed comparison is set out below.

TEN MONTHS’ COMPARISON FOR BROOKLYN OFFICE

10 Months 10 Months 1937         1936

Books             1,162,129     1,364,094

Booklets         10,004,283    10,836,788

Total Lit,       11,166,412    12,200,882

Av. Publishers      21,828       21,515

Field Hours      4,348,362     4,278,900

Obtainers         6,109,019     6,571,504

Attendance       8,439,280     9,902,346

Books and booklets have slowed up.

It is gratifying to note, however, that the report of July is better this year than last year. Bound books took a very healthy increase, jumping up to 194,001) for July. This shows what can be done if brethren work with bound books. Remember, we have the rest of August and the first 12 days of September to work with these bound books.

Monthly Statement

No monthly statements will be sent as of August 31. Tlie next statement will be September 30.