INFORMANT

JULY, 1938                                 ‘Be not afraid: the battie is God’s.’—2 Chron. 20:15. BROOKLYN, N. Y.

World-wide Campaign Going Splendidly

Partial Report: 248,977 Books, 3,093,654 Booklets, Put Out in April in 60 Countries

Reports Show Greatest Campaign Ever Engaged In

Day by day, as the reports come in from country after country, the totals mount up. L'p to now we have received reports from 60 countries for the “Companions” Testimony Period and for the entire month of April. In the majority of these countries, except where there is much opposition from Fascist-controlled governments, there has been a splendid increase in publishers, hours, books, booklets, obtainers and sound attendance. In addition, tens of thousands of subscriptions for Consolation have been received, although this is something that has never before been attempted. Surely this is a manifestation of the Lord’s rich blessing.

The reports for April are not complete, but, just to give you an idea of how the campaign is going, we set out herewith a summary of what we have for the “Companions” Period and the entire month of April, also the totals for 84 countries in the “Faithful Warrior” Period, of March 27-April 4, 1937, for comparison. You will note there has been an increase in every department, and the increase will be still greater when all reports are in.

Looking at the report for the entire month of April, we see that there have been distributed well over three million booklets. That is nearly one-third of our quota of ten million booklets for the three-month campaign ; and when the final report for April is completed it will probably show better than one-third. We have every reason to believe that our quota of ten million booklets for the entire world will be more than reached by the end of June, with the extra effort that is being put forth this month. Let every publisher push this work to the limit during the few remaining weeks. Remember, the quota for each individual company publisher is 200 booklets, 20 books, 3 subscriptions. Have you reached your quota?

In a later issue of the Informant we hope to give you a detailed report for every country. In the meantime we quote from some of the reports received from different countries.

British Isles

“The spirit and enthusiasm of the brethren during ‘Companions’ was excellent. The religionists sense that the hour for the spoiling of religion and tradition has come. They have raised a howl of protest and complaint against the distribution of Cure. On the other hand, an unusual amount of new interest has manifested itself in every part of the country. The joy In seeing these new companions taking their stand so quickly and going into the work so energetically has further increased the zeal of the publishers. For the month pioneers averaged 129 hours, auxiliaries 61 hours, and company publishers 16.4 hours. Because of this strenuous effort for April our report has broken every existing record and established a new high mark for books, booklets, publishers, hours, obtainers, sound attendance and Consolation subscriptions. Jehovah be praised for granting his people such a glorious share in this strange work.”

Canada

“This was the greatest nine-day period and month we have ever had in Canada. Last year the total number of publishers was high. It was 2,947. This year it is 3,975, making 1,028 more than our highest figure last year. The ‘special nine days’ was in every sense of the word a ‘Companions’ Period, and the many hundreds of brethren who joined in the work gave every evidence of participating regularly in the Lord’s service. This evidence of the ‘great multitude’ with us in the Lord’s service thrills us and helps us to more deeply appreciate the fulfillment of prophecy and Jehovah's blessing toward all who take their stand on His side. There is no question that this ‘Companions’ Period has begun not only a season of three months’ intensive activity, but has started for hundreds that which will be to them the greatest blessing in life, viz., coming openly on the Lord’s side and standing for His praise.”

Central Europe

“Since the beginning of the great campaign the publishers have shown a growing enthusiasm, and so we confidently expected this special effort to be a success. Our hopes were not in vain. If the work in the various countries where there are now I great difficulties could have been done without restrictions, results would have been better still. But in spite of this in these countries, viz., Danzig, Hungary, Poland, Rumania and partly also Czechoslovakia, the publishers have made use of their opportunities to the best of their ability. Based upon their former reports, we had expected to have 6,500 publishers in the field; but the reports now show only 4,994 workers. These distributed 14,421 books and 286,606 booklets, and obtained 1,326 new subscriptions for Consolation.”

Northern Europe

“Never before have we had so many in the field. Our last record was April 1937, when we had 3,147 out, but now, one year later, we had 3,685, an increase of 538. ‘This is the Lord’s doing, and marvelous in our eyes.’ In Northern Europe there were distributed during the month of April 10,655 books, 359,626 booklets, and 2,603 new subscriptions obtained. This is an increase of more than 50,000 pieces of literature over the preceding year. The brethren in Northern Europe are also pushing the back-call work, making 6,293 back calls in April.”

Hawaii

Only 18 publishers in the “Companions” Testimony, but the work they accomplished was tremendous. 318 bound books placed, 743 booklets, and 58 new subscriptions for Consolation obtained. Things are moving in these islands.

Japan

“This is the highest record ever made.” Ill publishers fought a good fight and in April distributeil 3,818 booklets and 109,236 copies of Consolation. They obtained 466 new subscriptions,

Jamaica

“We find we will require a larger quantity of Cure than what we have already received. We are asking for another supply, which we hope will reach us in time for the special period.”

Consolation Special Offer Ends June 30

The special three-month campaign with Cure, Enemies and Consolation on $1.00 contribution ends June 30. After that date all subscriptions you obtain should be at the full rate of one dollar a year in the United States, $1.25 in other countries, and no free book will be offered to the subscriber. In other words the subscription price for Consolation in all languages reverts to the regular rate as announced in each of the magazines.

We suggest that you continue to talk Consolation to all interested people, particularly on back calls. Many thousands more will want Consolation and will be pleased to contribute the regular subscription price.

It is a pleasure to report at this time that during the months of April and May there were received at the Brooklyn office 44,594 new subscriptions for Consolation in the English and foreign languages. We expect that the world-wide quota of 160,000 subscriptions will be reached when reports are received from all countries.

After June 30, continue to take subscriptions wherever possible, using the regular subscription blanks. These should be turned in through the company, and the organization set up for the three-month campaign should continue to carefully check all subscriptions and transmit them to the office in the same manner. All subscriptions taken at the special rate during the campaign should be in the Brooklyn office no later than July 15.

Factory and Office Closed July 30 to August 14

The Watchtower of June 15 announces: “Notice is hereby given of the closing of the Brooklyn factory and office for the two weeks beginning Saturday, July 30, and concluding Sunday, August 14.” During the above period no literature will be shipped out from the factory nor from the depots in the United States, and no mail will be answered. Every company servant, pioneer and auxiliary should now carefully check his stock and order a supply that will last through all of August. We shall appreciate it very much if the brethren will refrain from writing the Society during that period of time. The only mail that should be sent in is the report cards for the month of July.

Remember “His Ultimatum”, August 6 to 14, and stock up with literature: “Enemies,” “Riches” and other books.

this morning to be sure not it, as lie wanted to finish about your books. a< I be-will be time well spent.

“Trusting I will receive Riches by return mail. I remain Sincerely yours, G. L. F.”

Arrange for Back Calls and Studies in This Territory

The special campaign with Cure, Enemies and Consolation in the thickly populated areas of your territory will soon be history. It is a splendid campaign and still going strong, with the Lord’s blessing. Its completion on June 30, however, does not finish the witness work, by any means. In fact, a very big job is before us, that of covering all our rural territory. The wide, open spaces of the rurals will make a very desirable diversion in the matter of territory, and we are confident that all will enjoy it and find it beneficial.

Therefore, from July 1 onward all publishers who can possibly do so will turn their attention to the rurals. All - day witnessing parties should be arranged for July 2, 3 and 4, with all available cars in the field doing full duty. These sections have not received the attention that the urban territory has had during the past few years, due to the petition work and special campaigns which were carried on. Therefore our offer in the rural territory should be one that will embrace all the later books and booklets. The dollar combination can be placed when it is offered with conviction and sincerity. This has been amply demonstrated in the Cure campaign just concluding. Therefore another combination on a dollar contribution is set out for the rural territory for this summer, this combination to be composed of two bound books, Enemies, Riches, with eight colored-cover and six self-covered booklets, on a one-dollar contribution. Wherever the party is found to have books or booklets, others should be shown him. So carry a large assortment in your rural work.

Use the phonograph. Open your presentation with the “Enemies” record (I’-114). Follow that up with “Value of Knowledge” (P-101), and conclude with “Riches” (P-102). Three records can be run in the average farmhouse to a real advantage, particularly on Saturday ternoon and Sunday.

To get the best returns for effort and expense put forth working rural territory, the brethren should start early and put in a good day in the service. Rural witnessing is not as hard on the brethren as working in the city. Six or seven hours in the rural territory would not be as exhaustive as three or four in thickly populated city territory. Therefore, take a good supply of literature and your lunch, start early, and put in a good-sized

field.

servants and service should plan the work detail, seeing that the covered most economically and effectively with a view to making proper arrangements for back calls.

There are three practical suggestions for making back calls In country territory.

1. To set aside a period at the conclusion of the day’s work and have each publisher go back to the interested parties with an additional record, and make the back call the territory so assigned publishers go in the vicinity each week, so that they can follow up any interest located each week. Time would also have to be set apart for this work at the conclusion of the day, so that each one would have ample time to call back on the interested, put on additional records and generally help them.

3. Where there are sufficient back calls to be made, have one or more carloads of publishers dispatched some evening in the middle of the week, leaving off a publisher with his equipment at the home of each interested party, allowing about an hour or so for each back call, and then coming back and picking up each one in the same orderly way, and making a second call (if it is possible) in the same evening.

Of the three suggestions above, the latter two are the most practical because they provide for following up the interest for a considerable time. Whatever plan is adopted it should be known to all the publishers, so that they can plan their work accordingly. Much time, effort and expense can be wasted unless this Is done in a systematic and orderly manner. Therefore the responsibility rests upon the company servant and service committee to see that proper plans are made and proper instruc-

Seattle Convention

The assembly of the Lord's people at Seattle, Washington, started off the “Boldness” Testimony Period in America witli a real bang. Although it was a convention the brethren of the drew an amazingly from all parts of the

There were 10,000 out to hear Brother Rutherford's talk Sunday afternoon. Brother Rutherford made a surprise appearance Friday evening, presenting a red-hot resolution on the weak-kneed attitude of the newspapers. This “warning” was then printed and distributed throughout all of Seattle. Again on Saturday afternoon the convention received a rich blessing when Brother Rutherford addressed the brethren. The convention was climaxed by the lecture “Violence”, delivered over a coast-to-coast network and before a visible audience of more than 10,000 persons. The convention was a joy to all who could attend, and the brethren will be eagerly looking forward to their “convention report” which the Society is now preparing.

The Seattle “Star”

Approximately 13,000 subscriptions were received by the Society for the Seattle Star. The Seattle Star was afraid to publish the truth, and in the last minute backed out, so those who have subscribed for the Seattle Star will not receive it. The Society, however, has made another arrangement, so that you will get a complete report of the convention. This will be printed at the Brooklyn factory, and as soon as it is completed copies will be sent to fill the orders for the Seattle Star.

Your Report Cards

Making out your monthly report cards is a little job, but it means so much for these cards to be made out correctly and promptly. The cards should be complete in every detail, including now the additional information at the bottom of the card as to how many back calls were made during the month. When there is nothing to report, the card should be sent in just the same, with the notation as to why there is a blank report. Reports of work done during the special periods should always be shown on the report card together with the report for the month, and in no case should a separate report be sent in for the period only. Many companies are very negligent as to sending in their reports promptly, and have to be traced, with the result that the consolidated reports here in the office must be held up awaiting these stragglers. Will you kindly co-operate?

tions given to the company publishers regarding the arrangement. Where several families can be gotten together to start an Enemies study, suggest number act as that these new ; with copies of other literature.

Let everybody, therefore, arrange for the rural work during the next few months, offering two books and 14 booklets, on a dollar contribution. Where the people can not or will not take the dollar combination, drop down to one book and 7 booklets, on 50e contribution, or give them their choice of either Enemies or seven booklets, on a 25c contribution. Where the people are unable to contribute for the book or booklets, some one of the later self-covered booklets should be left with them.

When “His Ultimatum” Period begins, let everyone use “Enemies” and another bound book, on 50c contribution, In rurals.