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1940 YEARBOOK of Jehovah’s witnesses containing report for the fiscal year of 1939 Also daily texts and comments

Corporate Publishers

Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc. International Bible Students Association

124 Columbia Heights Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S. A.

Branch offices appear on last page

Copyright, 1939, by Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society

Made in the United States of America

WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY

OFFICERS

J. F. RUTHERFORD President

C. A. WISE Vice-President

W. E. VAN AMBURGH Secretary and Treasurer

WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, INC.

OFFICERS

J, F. RUTHERFORD President

N. H. KNORR Vice-President

W. E. VAN AMBURGH Secretary and Treasurer

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

OFFICERS

J. F. RUTHERFORD

President

JESSE HEMERY Vice-President

E. C. CHITTY Secretary

W, E. VAN AMBURGH Ass't Secretary and Treasurer

1940 YEARBOOK of Jehovah’s witnesses

THE THEOCRACY is the hope of man. There is no other hope. For this hope and the publication thereof Jehovah’s witnesses stand accused before all the nations of the earth. They welcome the opportunity and the privilege of standing in this position, by the grace of God, therefore following in the footsteps of his beloved Son, Christ Jesus.

During the year just closed Jehovah’s witnesses have put forth their earnest endeavors to make known the name of the Great Theocrat and the Theocratic Government, of which Christ Jesus is the King. Anointed to be the King at the age of thirty, and more than nineteen centuries ago, he was enthroned as King in 1914 A.D., and since then has been specifically directing the witness work in the earth. All the nations of the earth are against the Theocracy. Some nations are more tolerant than others, but there is not one nation on the earth the ruling powers of which show Jehovah’s witnesses any special favor. That world-wide opposition, instead of discouraging Jehovah’s witnesses and causing them to cease their efforts, has the very opposite effect, of increasing their zeal for the great government of righteousness. Those who are in a covenant with Almighty God to do his will know that bitter opposition from worldly powers is now just what is to be expected. To his faithful followers Christ Jesus the King says: “And ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matt. 24: 9) This declaration of the Lord is proved by all the physical facts that have come to pass in recent years. Those words of Jesus make clear the reason for such hatred on the part of the ruling elements of the nations of earth. That hatred

is not because Jehovah’s witnesses and "companions” are bad or that they do anything to interfere with the property or personal rights of the people, or that they are doing anything against the general welfare of the people; but that hatred is because his witnesses and companions boldly and fearlessly proclaim the name of Jehovah God and his King, Christ Jesus. The Lord Jesus was hated and persecuted when he was on the earth. He suffered because he was righteous, because he was his Father’s representative and proclaimed the name of Jehovah God and of his coming kingdom. The witnesses for the King now on the earth, and who are therefore enjoying a like privilege of announcing Jehovah’s name, are also privileged to fill up some of the sufferings Christ Jesus left behind for the benefit of those who should be associated with him in his righteous government. Says the apostle: "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.”—Col. 1: 24.

No religious institution nor any of the members thereof suffers as did Christ Jesus and for the same reason. No religious system or institution nor the members thereof proclaim the name of Jehovah, the great Theockat and announce his Theocratic Government by Christ the King. As to The Theocracy, the religious institutions are either silently or openly in opposition ; therefore they do not and cannot suffer for righteousness’ sake and the proclamation of the name of Jehovah God. There appears, however, to be a large number of persons held within the religious systems because they have been ignorant of the truth, and which persons have a desire for righteousness; and it is to such honest and sincere persons of good will toward God that Jehovah’s witnesses and companions are now rendering aid and comfort, that such people may learn the right way, know that Jehovah is the Almighty and the great Theocrat, and that his King, Christ Jesus, is the Redeemer and the One who administers life everlasting to those who obey the laws of the Almighty God. It is the time for the vindication of Jehovah’s name, and this witness must he given just before that complete vindication. God has so ordained it, and so it shall be.—Ex. 9:16.

UNSELFISH

The work in which Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions, the Lord’s “other sheep”, are engaged is done not for any selfish reason, and certainly not for any pecuniary gain or worldly honor that might come to them. Their work is done at the command of the Almighty God; and because they love him and rejoice in the opportunity to obey his commandments they engage willingly in said work, regardless of opposition. They know that God is love, therefore wholly unselfish, and that everything he does is unselfishly done. They know that God is the fountain of life and that to him belongs salvation, and their great desire is for his salvation and full approval. Jehovah’s witnesses are not carrying on a campaign to gain members to their ranks. They are not propagandists. They are not a sect or denomination. They are a company of men and women who have individually taken their stand on the side of the Lord and who jointly go forward in obedience to his commandment to publish the Theocratic Government and to make known to the sincere people of earth God’s gracious provision for man’s salvation. When they have obeyed the Lord’s commandment to tell the truth as long as the door of opportunity is left open, their responsibility ends, because as soon as the witness work is completed God will exercise his unlimited power in the vindication of his name. Then he will assign to his faithful servants other work to do. As they now go forward in publishing The Theocracy it is for those who hear the message to elect to either serve God and live or reject the message, remain where they are, and suffer eternal death. The witnesses of Jehovah, having faithfully performed their commission and duty, will then rest content as to whatever may be the result. They ask no favors of men, but ask only to be given a respectful hearing as the representatives of the Lord. They know that the will of God shall be accomplished, and with that they are wholly content.

REPROACHES

Few persons understand just why this company of Christian people called “Jehovah’s witnesses” are diligent in their efforts to obey the commandments of Almighty God. Likewise few persons understand just why Jehovah’s witnesses should be so greatly reproached by religionists. That some of open mind may be enabled to understand the true reason, the Scriptural evidence is here submitted. The religious opponents and those who represent them in any and all capacities attempt to belittle the efforts of Jehovah’s witnesses and to class them as a sect of religionists, dub them as fanatics, and wholly misrepresent the work they are undertaking. Let those who desire to know the truth consider carefully what follows.

God, “whose name alone is JEHOVAH,” is the Creator of heaven and earth. (Ps. 83:18) To him belong heaven and earth and the fullness thereof. (Ps. 24:1) He created the earth and then made man the perfect creature to inhabit the earth and to fill the earth with a righteous offspring. (Isa. 45:12,18; Gen. 1: 28; 2: 7) God created Lucifer and assigned him to the position of overseer or overlord of earth’s creation. It was the solemn duty of Lucifer to work in harmony with the Creator and honor Jehovah’s name, but that he did not. Lucifer coveted the place and the honor which all creation gave to the great Creator, and he set about to turn all creatures against the great Creator. He is therefore designated in the Scriptures as the covetous one. (Jer. 51:13) It is written in the Scriptures that Lucifer said in his heart, that is, to himself: “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High"—Isa. 14:13,14.

Lucifer concluded that he could accomplish his unholy and unrighteous purpose and desire for honor and praise by protesting against Jehovah God's manner of carrying forward his purpose. Protest, therefore, was a slander against the name of the Most High. He set about to poison the mind of the perfect man against God, and for this reason he resorted to lies that the great name and word of the Almighty God might be reproached and defamed. Lucifer expected that his action against God would work out to his own advancement and elevation. He therefore lied to the first man and woman and induced them to disobey God’s law and to bring upon themselves death. (Gen. 3:1-5; 2:17; 3:16,17) Because of his wrongful act in yielding obedience to the great enemy Lucifer Adam was sentenced to death, driven from Eden into the unfinished earth, degraded and cursed and subjected to a lingering death. Adam was unable to carry out the divine command to multiply and fill the earth with a righteous people, and his inability was due to his own wrongful act. All his offspring inherited death, and therefore it is written: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”—Rom. 5:12.

Following the rebellion and opposition to God by Lucifer the name of that wicked one was changed, and from that' time onward to this day he has been known by the four names, to wit, Satan, Serpent, Dragon, and Devil. (Rev. 20:1,2) Lucifer’s making the attempt to exalt himself and exalting himself brought about his downfall, and God debased him and brought him low, and ever since Satan is the complete expression of wickedness, and in due time shall suffer complete destruction. Of that wicked one it is written: “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people; the seed of evil doers shall never be renowned.”—Isa. 14:15-20.

Further describing the Devil it is written in God’s Record, the Bible: “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned; therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I will destroy thee, 0 covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness; I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee; and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth, in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.”—Ezek. 28:14-19.

By way of a parenthetical statement here, it will be noted that, in all the years that have gone by, men who have desired to exalt themselves to a high position to make for themselves a reputation that they might receive the praise of others have followed Satan’s lead by protesting against that which is right and resorting to acts of wickedness, thereby hoping to accomplish their own selfish purpose. In every instance, also, it will be noted, as the Scriptures and the facts are examined, that he who attempts to exalt himself at the expense of others is certain to be debased by the great One who promotes or puts down creatures. Few men have learned this unchangeable rule set forth in the Scriptures. Those who have appreciated the meaning of such rule have delighted themselves in Jehovah God and rejoiced to exalt his name. Such persons have appreciated the words written in the Scriptures, to wit: “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south: but God is the judge; he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” —Ps. 75: 6, 7.

The prophet then puts in the mouth of those who love righteousness these words: “But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.”—Ps. 75: 9,10.

The faithful remnant of Jehovah’s witnesses now on earth and their companions, the Jonadabs, know that every good and perfect thing comes from Jehovah God, and they delight to do his will, and consequently they look forward with hope and rejoicing in the salvation that he will bring to them.

Turning back now to the rebellion in Eden, be it noted that the Devil had succeeded in causing the death of the man Adam, God’s perfect creature, and then the Devil, filled with pride and malicious hatred, further defied the Almighty God by declaring that he, the Devil, could cause any and all men to curse God to his face and that no man would remain true and faithful to Jehovah God and therefore God was not the supreme one. (Job 2:5) That raised the question of who is all-powerful, Satan the Devil or Jehovah God. All creation would look on and see what would be the results, and this creation included the angelic host of heaven. That all creation might in due time know that Jehovah God is the Almighty One and that Satan is the chief one of the wicked, Jehovah God accepted the challenge of the Devil and permitted him to put forth his best endeavors to prove his wicked challenge. Although Satan had been sentenced to death Jehovah God delayed the execution of that sentence of death until such time as the Devil might have full and fair opportunity to demonstrate the fallacy of his challenge. For this reason God said to the Devil, addressing him under the symbol of an earthly ruler, to wit: “But for this cause have I allowed thee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they may proclaim my name throughout all the earth.”—Ex. 9:16, Leeser.

This emphatic declaration of the Almighty God proves that in God’s due time his own name shall be proclaimed throughout all the earth and that this must be done immediately preceding the time when Jehovah God would exercise or demonstrate his unlimited power against Satan and all his cohorts. It also follows from that declaration of Jehovah that everyone who faithfully proclaims the name of the great Theocrat and his King and government would be a target against which Satan would launch his great opposition and that in this Satan would be joined by all of his wicked hosts. All the facts prove that this conclusion is correct even as the prophetic Scriptures have pointed out.

Following the rebellion of Satan Jehovah God announced his purpose to produce a royal seed, that is, a great governing power, which would act under Jehovah’s command and would destroy Satan and all his power. In symbolic phrase the Almighty God said to Satan: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Gen. 3:15.

The “woman” mentioned here is a symbol under which is foretold God’s universal organization that would bring forth the “seed” that would accomplish his purpose, and the seed of- that universal organization is the great and mighty King of the Theocratic Government, which shall rule the world in righteousness. That seed, the King of The Theocracy, is Christ Jesus. (Isa. 54:1-13; Gal. 4: 26-29) A long period of time then elapsed during which the Devil continued to debauch humankind and to bring reproach after reproach upon the name of the Most High. Then God sent to earth his beloved Son Jesus to be a witness to the truth concerning Jehovah’s name and his purpose. (John 18:37) Jesus proved himself faithful to Jehovah and justly received the title “The Faithful and True Witness” (Rev. 1:5; 3:14; 19:11) Every one who is a faithful follower of Christ Jesus, and who is therefore a Christian, must be a witness to the name of Jehovah God.

THEOCRACY

The great TheocRaT is Jehovah God, the Almighty One. The Theocracy is the government of Jehovah God, which shall rule the World in righteousness to the praise and honor of Jehovah’s name and which shall fully vindicate his name. The King of that great Theocracy, or the one ruling directly under the command of the great Theocrat, is Christ Jesus. For his own name’s sake Jehovah God sent Jesus to earth. The primary purpose of the coming of Jesus was to vindicate Jehovah’s name, and it is by and through the Kingdom or Theocratic Government that such vindication shall be accomplished. The secondary purpose of the coming of Christ Jesus to the earth and the laying down of his life was that the ransom or purchase price might be provided to redeem and deliver men who would devote themselves entirely to God and his Theocratic Government. (Matt. 20:28; John 3:16; Rom. 6:23) Jesus came in the name of bis Father. His Father’s name was put upon him, and all that reproached Jehovah also hated Christ Jesus for his name’s sake. And even to this day all who faithfully represent the Lord Jesus are hated for his name’s sake, and w’hieh hatred against them is manifested in the worst manner by hypocritical religionists.

The Theocracy is “the kingdom of heaven” because it is the government of Jehovah God operated from heaven by his duly appointed representative, Christ Jesus the King. At the time of his baptism at the Jordan Jesus was anointed by Jehovah as King. (Matt. 3:16) Then Jesus began his work of bearing witness to the name of Jehovah God. His very first discourse, and each one thereafter, magnified Jehovah’s name. The first time he spoke to others, following his anointing, he said: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17) That was literally true for the reason that Jesus, the King, was then and there speaking to those who heard him. For three and one-half years thereafter Jesus went about amongst the people visiting them from house to house in the towns and villages, telling them the truth concerning his Father, Jehovah God, and of his kingdom. At all times he emphasized the paramount importance of the kingdom, which is The Theocracy, and he specifically commanded his followers to always pray to Jehovah God: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.”—Matt. 6:10.

Jesus made known to his followers that others should be associated with him in his kingdom and all of these must meet a specific test. (Luke 22: 28-30) He told his followers that all who would be associated with him must be witnesses to Jehovah’s name and to his great government. (Matt. 28:19; Luke 12:32) A condition precedent to being in the kingdom with Christ Jesus was then announced, that they must suffer with him the reproaches that had fallen upon him, and which reproaches would come by reason of his name and the name of his Father. Jesus was “the faithful and true witness” of Jehovah God and maintained that faithfulness at all times while enduring all manner of opposition, even submitting to an ignominious death as if he was a sinner. He made himself of no reputation. He did not seek honor at the hands of men. He never at any time attempted to exalt himself. In the eyes of the ruling element of the world he “had a bad character”, although he was the only true and perfect character that has ever walked this earth. His faithfulness to God in the performance of his assigned duty merited and brought to him God’s approval, and concerning him it is written: “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2: 7-11) “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”—Heb. 5: 8, 9.

HIS FAITHFULNESS

Faithfulness of the Lord Jesus even unto death proved that Satan is a liar and that Jehovah God is true and the Almighty One. God permitted the lifeblood of Christ Jesus to be poured out upon the earth and accepted the same as the purchase price for sinful men who repent, believe, and then faithfully obey and serve Jehovah God. Jehovah God then raised Jesus out of death. Jesus died as a man; he was raised from death as the immortal spirit creature. His resurrection was complete proof of the supremacy of the Almighty God and was Jesus’ reward for faithfulness. The death and resurrection of Christ Jesus make it possible for men who have been born in sin and shapen in iniquity to meet the requirements that the Lord has placed before them and to be delivered from sin and become servants of Jehovah God and receive from him through Christ Jesus the eternal blessing of life everlasting. These mighty, undeniable truths Christians know, and they delight to be permitted to be in a class with Christ Jesus as witnesses to the name of the Most High.

OPPOSITION

In opposition to God, and to further reproach the name of Jehovah, the Devil tried to bring about the death of the babe Jesus, but failed. (Matt. 2:12-17) From the very hour when Jesus was anointed to be the King the Devil tried to destroy Jesus. (Matt. 4:1-11) This the Devil did in his endeavor to carry out his wicked challenge to Jehovah and to further reproach the name of the Most High. During the three and one-half years that Jesus went about doing good, preaching and teaching the people of and concerning the kingdom of Jehovah, the Devil constantly reproached him and tried to kill him. Because of his love and zeal for doing the will of Jehovah his Father, Jesus literally suffered and constantly bore reproach at the hands of the Devil and his agents for the sake of His Father’s name. It is therefore written concerning Jesus: “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.”—Ps. 69: 8, 9.

At the beginning of his earthly work God gave to Jesus twelve men as his disciples and companions who should walk with him, be taught by him, and under his direction teach and comfort others. All of that number except one stood the test of persecution and proved faithful to God and to their Leader. That one exception was Judas Iscariot, who, because of his selfishness, fell away to the Devil and is designated in the Scriptures as a traitor, “the son of perdition,” and is used as a type foretelling a larger class of persons who become unfaithful and betray those who are faithful to God and Christ Jesus, and who constitute the composite body known as “the man of sin”, “the son of perdition,” and which includes the unfaithful clergy and those more specifically mentioned as the “evil servant” class. The eleven faithful disciples of the Lord continued as long as they were on earth to preach Christ Jesus, the King, and to exalt the name of Jehovah and his great Theocratic Government. They at all times stressed the paramount importance of The Theocracy, and for their faithfulness they likewise were reproached and maligned by the Devil.

There was a man known as Saul of Tarsus, a lawyer of high repute amongst men, a zealot in the practice of “the Jews’ religion”, and a persecutor of the followers of Christ Jesus. He being sincere in his work, which the Lord knew, in due time the Lord opened his understanding to the truth. He then repented, turned about completely, and became a true follower and servant of Jesus Christ, and his name was changed from Saul to Paul, and the Lord Jesus Christ made him a special apostle and servant to the nations of earth aside from the Jews. This faithful apostle, a true, loyal and faithful Christian, wrote much of the Scriptures thereafter under the inspiration of the spirit of God. He was greatly persecuted by religionists, and in the face of all this persecution he said: ‘Through Jesus Christ we have access by faith unto the grace of God, and we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God; and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy spirit, which is given to us.’ (Rom. 5:1-5) Again he wrote to his fellow Christians that they must not be pleasers of themselves, but should seek always to please God: “For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” (Rom. 15:3) Frequently he was arrested and haled before the courts for preaching the gospel without first obtaining a permit from some earthly power, and that same devilish rule still exists in all nations in the land today called “Christendom”, where constituted earthly authorities attempt by law to prohibit Christians from preaching the gospel without first obtaining a permit from a police officer.

DEFAMERS

All persons who have indulged in the reproach of Jehovah God, of Christ Jesus, and of the followers of Christ Jesus known as Jehovah’s witnesses, have been labeled by the Scriptures and have labeled themselves as the children or offspring of the Devil. It is certain that Satan has selected the means of bringing reproach upon Jehovah God and his servants that would best serve the Devil’s purpose. Following the flood Satan adopted religion as the means of thus reproaching God. He formed religious organizations and has ever since used religion as the chief means of reproaching God’s holy name. Satan first laid hold upon Nimrod and made of him a cruel slayer of beasts and of men; by which means Nimrod became famous amongst other men and was given the name and title of the mighty Nimrod ‘^before [that is, superior to] the Lord”. (Gen. 10: 9) Nimrod then set up a political organization with himself as dictator. He carried on wars of conquest against others. He put all the people in a state of fear of himself and his associates and Jed them into the Devil’s trap and caused them to indulge in the worship of himself and other devils. (Prov. 29:25) Satan, by means of religion, began to turn men away from and against the Almighty God, and religion has ever been his means of reproaching God’s holy name.

When Nimrod died he was held up before the people as a great one who had been exalted to heaven, and the people were induced to worship the name of that wicked one. Thus the Devil not only organized but has perpetuated religion and has used it to carry out his wicked challenge to God and to defame His holy name. It has been his most successful means of deceiving honest people. As other nations were formed following the organization of Babylon they too were induced to adopt and practice some kind of Devil worship or religion. To bring forth the “seed” and set up his typical theocratic government, to the end that some might be kept in the right and righteous way at the coming of the great King, Jehovah organized the faithful descendants of his friend Abraham into a nation, which nation is designated in the Scriptures as Israel. He also used that nation to make prophetic pictures or dramas foretelling his purpose of setting up the Theocratic Government. The nation of Israel was in fact a typical theocracy, organized to safeguard that people from the wicked influence of the Devil religion. God commanded them that they should have nothing to do with those people or nations that practiced Devil worship. He assigned the Israelites to the land of Palestine. He gave to that people his law covenant and commanded that they should be diligent to obey his law and be ready to serve him. He sent that people into the land of Palestine to take possession of it and to drive out the Devil worshipers who opposed the theocratic government and reproached Jehovah’s name. Therefore God said to his faithful people that not only should they have nothing to do with religion, but they should destroy those who practiced religion and who wrongfully held possession of their God-given lands: “And thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them; neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.” “The graven images of their gods shall ye bum with fire; thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.” (Deut. 7:16, 25) God thus warned the Israelites that religion would ensnare them. (Judg. 2: 2, 3) The Israelites fell under the influence of the Devil and adopted the Devil religion and therefore turned to the worshiping of idols and images, and merited and received punishment at Jehovah’s hand: “They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them: but were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols; which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils.”—Ps. 106: 34-37.

Because the Israelites adopted and practiced religion God cast them away from him. When the Lord Jesus came to the Israelites he found the leaders among them, called “Pharisees”, and who constituted the clergy of that time, teaching the people religion and religious practices based upon the traditions or teachings of men. Jesus reproached them for it and told them that they had made God’s law of none effect and had fallen away to the Devil: “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? ... Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”—Matt. 15:1-3, 7-9.

Those religious leaders, the Pharisees, were the chief persecutors of Jesus, and the reproachers of Jehovah’s name. Although they claimed to be servants of God they were in fact the offspring of the Devil, because they had forsaken the commandments of God and adopted and practiced Devil worship. They were constantly reproaching the name of Jehovah God. Therefore Jesus said to them: “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God; this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me; for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.”—John 8:39-44.

On another occasion Jesus told those same religious leaders that they were hypocrites .and a generation of vipers, bent upon doing injury to everyone who was seeking to honor and serve Jehovah God. “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uneleanness. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers! how can ye escape the damnation of [gehenna] Matt. 23:13, 25, 27, 29, 31-33.

Mark this emphatically, that it was the religious men that reproached the name of God and Christ Jesus and that caused Jesus to be charged with all manner of wrongdoing and to be prosecuted and convicted of high treason and crucified as if he was a wicked creature. It was the religious clergy that tried to keep the people in ignorance of the fact that God had raised Jesus out of death, and they attempted to accomplish the same by bribing men with money and inducing them to commit perjury concerning the resurrection of the Lord. Why did they persecute Jesus and attempt to keep the people in ignorance of the truth concerning him? Because they were the dupes of Satan and did the bidding of Satan; in order that Satan might carry out his wicked challenge to Jehovah God and continue to reproach God’s holy name.

MARTYRS

The Devil saw to it that all the faithful prophets of God who prophesied concerning the coming Theocracy were cruelly persecuted. They suffered all manner of punishment, and many of them were foully murdered. In every instance the Devil used the religionists to accomplish his wicked work. At the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, written under inspiration of the holy spirit, Paul describes some of these faithful men. He had once been a religionist and now, having become a true Christian, could fully appreciate the condition and circumstances surrounding those faithful men about whom he wrote: “They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” —- Heb. 11:37-40.

Those faithful men are held forth in the Scriptures as examples of faith and faithfulness to Jehovah God and to his Theocratic Government. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”— Heb. 12:1.

The word “witnesses” used in this text is the same as the word rendered “martyrs”. Those faithful men by their very lifeblood bore testimony to the name of the Most High. Setting them forth as examples, the Scriptures record, for the benefit of others who have followed as witnesses of the Lord, these words, to wit: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”—Heb. 12: 2, 3.

Religionists persecuted Jesus because he proclaimed the name and kingdom of Jehovah. Knowing that they would do likewise to all of Jehovah’s witnesses, Jesus gave warning that they would have to suffer like reproach, and this warning is couched in these words of the Master: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:18-20) ■That prophetic utterance of Christ Jesus has been carried out and fulfilled against all those who have been faithful in publishing the name of the Great Theocrat and his Theocratic Government and King. Among those faithful ones was the first martyr following the crucifixion of Jesus. It was that man Stephen, whom the religionists caused to be charged with the cvime of sedition. They had him arrested and brought into court. They bribed witnesses to testify falsely against Stephen, and when he stood before the court, and spoke in his own behalf and, above all, to the name of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, the religionists rushed upon him and put him to death. —Acts 6:9-15; 7:54-60.

Saul of Tarsus, then a religionist, stood by and saw Stephen die because of his faithfulness to God. When he became a Christian that vision doubtless was often before his mind, and when Paul suffered for righteousness he delighted to be in the class in which Stephen was found as the follower of Jesus Christ. All the faithful apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ not only suffered reproach but were persecuted by religionists to the very end. Saul of Tarsus persecuted many of the followers of Christ Jesus. When he learned the truth of and concerning the Theocratic Government he immediately abandoned religion, became a Christian, and thereafter strongly contrasted religion and Christianity. He was a living witness to the name of Jehovah God, and he died as a witness to the name of the Most High. At Galatians 1:1-16, in the ninth chapter of The Acts of the Apostles, and in the twentysixth chapter of The Acts of the Apostles, Paul the Christian shows the complete opposition of religion to Christianity. Persecuted from one place to another, when he stood before others in Athens he plainly pointed out to them that religion is demonism. (Acts 17:22, Diaglott) These facts are mentioned here for the purpose of calling to the attention of others of good will that the persecution of Jehovah's witnesses, the opposition to their witness work, is all due to the Devil and his cohorts and is indulged in for the purpose of carrying out Satan’s wicked challenge to Jehovah God, to prevent, if possible, the setting up of his great Theocracy, and the vindication of God’s holy name.—Ps. 83:4.

HIS COMING KINGDOM

Jesus specifically instructed his disciples that he must go away and that in God’s due time he would come again and assume his high office as King of the Theocratic Government: “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”—John 14:1-3.

He also warned his followers that the religionists would continue to persecute them, that they must expect this and firmly withstand the reproaches and persecution. “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time eometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that be doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” John 16:1-3.

His disciples inquired as to how they would know of the time of the coming of Christ Jesus and his kingdom, and he gave them evidence, which is prophetic, and which prophetic testimony began to have its fulfillment in A.D. 1914, marking the end of the uninterrupted rule of Satan in this world and the beginning of the reign of Christ Jesus the King. —Matt. 24:3-46.

“CHRISTIAN RELIGION”

Satan always resorts to lies and fraud to accomplish his purpose. He turned the nation of Israel away from their covenant with God by means of religion. After the death of the apostles religious organizations came into being, and that first religious organization soon labeled itself as “the Christian religion” Other religious systems have done likewise. That one strong, mighty organization of religion is also called “The Roman Catholic Church” and is ruled by a few men designated “The Roman Catholic Hierarchy of Authority”. The work of those dictatorial religionists is carried on under the name of “Catholic Action”, which is another name for all kinds of fraud, chicanery, hypocrisy and political manipulation against the common welfare. That organization has blasphemed the name of Almighty God and the name of Christ Jesus as no other organization that ever existed. Holding itself out, and its leaders, as the representative of God and Christ, that organization at all times has been against the Theocratic Government of Jehovah God by Christ Jesus; not only against it, but claiming that men shall rule the world as the vicegerent of Christ, thus not only reproaching God’s name but denying his announced purpose of establishing the great Theocratic Government by Christ the King. To deceive the people, the Roman Catholic organization claims that God established his church upon the apostle Peter and that Peter was the first pope, and that other men have succeeded him as pope since. This blasphemous statement Peter himself emphatically denies, pointing out that the church of God is built upon Christ Jesus, the Chief Corner Stone, and that all the faithful members thereof are designated as stones in that building. “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby; if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the comer, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed: but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”—1 Pet. 2:1-10.

There is not one scintilla of evidence that supports the claim that Peter was a pope or that there has been a successor of Peter or that any pope that ever existed represented Jehovah God and His kingdom. By means of fraud and deception the Roman Catholic organization has brought the greatest reproach upon the name of Jehovah and his Theocratic Government. Honest and sincere people have been led to believe that the pope represents Christ and that the Catholic organization is God’s church, and thus the Devil has caused the blasphemy of God’s name, and greater reproach to be heaped upon God’s name than by any other means that he has employed.

Deceptive doctrines have been promulgated and are still taught by the Roman Catholic organization that lead the people into the Devil’s snare. Among such doctrines is that of “purgatory”. The Catholic organization claims that the dead are conscious in “purgatory”, suffering bodily pain and mental anguish, and that, by means of the prayers of priests on earth, such punishment may be shortened, and that if friends of the dead will contribute money for such so-called “prayers” the same will result to the benefit of the dead. Nothing could be farther removed from the truth than that, because the Scriptures uniformly declare that “the dead know not any thing”, that they are unconscious, out of existence, waiting for the resurrection. By this fraudulent means of “purgatory” millions of money have been wrongfully extracted from the poor to build up the gigantic political organization that has oppressed the peoples of the various nations and reproached and defamed God’s holy name.

The Catholic organization through its Hierarchy leads the people directly into Satan’s trap, causing them to violate God’s specific command concerning images and the worship of the Devil. There never has been any other organization on earth that has deceived so many people and turned so many away from God and the Theocratic Government as that of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy.

And now let this be noted: The Catholic organization of authority, the Hierarchy, constitute the chief persecutors of all Christians now on the earth. Acting under the direction of the head of that organization, persecution against Jehovah’s witnesses is viciously and wickedly carried on in every country on the earth. Faithful men and women are cruelly persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, and some of them killed, because they publish the name of Jehovah and his Theocratic Government. It is that religious organization that has induced the legislative bodies to enact laws for the specific purpose of punishing the witnesses for Jehovah’s Theocratic Government. That cruel religious organization has installed its representatives in all the municipal, political parts of the governments of earth. They enact ordinances or laws which forbid the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom by going from house to house as did Jesus and his apostles, making this possible only upon condition that the ones who thus publish the gospel first obtain a permit from a police officer. They well know that any real Christian would not apply to any human authority for a permit to do what Almighty God has commanded them to do. Furthermore, they well know that if application were made for such a permit the police officer would deny it.

The Roman Catholic religious organization claims that that organization is in a covenant with hell, and frequently uses the expression, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against us.” By that they convince themselves that they are there to rule the world, and frequently say, “Catholic schemes never fail.” But note what Jehovah God has caused to be written about that Devil-made, religious organization. He has permitted them to go on in their wickedness, but makes it certain that in his due time he will avenge his people, vindicate his name, and completely wipe out that devilish religious organization. “Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves; therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion [Jehovah’s kingdom, The Theocracy, with Christ Jesus the Chief Corner Stone (1 Pet. 2:3-9)] for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge’ shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.”—Isa. 28:15-18.

Jehovah’s witnesses, by the grace of God, have proclaimed his message of truth, which message of truth exposes the fallacy of religious claims and shows religion to be of the Devil. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy have long advocated religion amongst the governments, in the schools and elsewhere, until they have induced great political rulers to say, ^frWhat we need is more religion.” They have induced the big commercial institutions to say that “we must have more religion or else our government will fail”. But now mark the sudden change.

During the year that has just passed Jehovah’s witnesses, by a wide proclamation of the truth, have advertised to the world that religion is a snare and a racket, and that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy of Authority are the chief ones who set the snares and are the principal racketeers. Jehovah’s witnesses have not made this publication without authority, but have cited the Scriptures that prove beyond a doubt that religion originates with the Devil and is the Devil’s chief instrument. In order now to deceive the people further, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy suddenly changed their tactics. Consequently the public press throughout the earth for September, 1939, at the request of Pope Pius XII, announced “a nation-wide drive to enlist the aid of every American Catholic in a crusade for ‘Christianity⁵”. Such is a further defamation of the name of God and Christ. Jehovah God has never authorized any creature or organization under the sun to launch or carry on a nation-wide drive and a crusade for Christianity. On the contrary, God places his truth before the people in contrast to Satan’s wickedness and permits all to intelligently choose. Those who wish to remain in the Devil’s organization are not driven out; as it is written that those who believe and serve God shall live, and those who do not believe and serve God abide in death.—John 3:35,36.

Amongst other things, that announcement for a world-wide Catholic drive says: “Christianity is definitely on the defensive today.” That statement above quoted is absolutely foreign to the truth. Exactly the contrary is true. Christianity today is proclaiming to the world that the Kingdom, The Theocracy, is here, and that the only means of relief, deliverance and salvation for the people is by and through the Theocratic Government of Jehovah God. Christianity warns the people that within a short time Jehovah God, by Christ Jesus, will completely destroy all the governments and systems of this world, including the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. Christianity never has to be on the defensive. Christ fights no defensive battles. He will lead in the great battle of Armageddon shortly, which will wipe out the enemy and completely vindicate Jehovah’s name.

The aforementioned “drive” is in fact a part of “Catholic Action”, the purpose of which is to obtain money from the people and to further draw the people into the enemy’s hand that the American nation may be completely dominated and ruled by a dictator, even as almost all of Europe is now ruled. That one of the purposes of the drive is to get money to further put the people in jeopardy and to advance Catholic Action to grab control of America, note the following, which is quoted from that same announcement made at the request of the pope, to wit: “Formerly generous European countries can no longer contribute funds, which have been cut from 50 to 85 per cent in some cases. As the Holy Father has said, the hope of the missions is in America now. This country’s Catholicism was the gift of Europe, and now is the time to pay the debt.. .. Every wage-earning American Catholic can afford one dollar to become a member of this Society for a year. Those who are more interested can acquire life membership or a family enrollment in a special membership. That is little enough to do on behalf of those men and women who are risking their lives daily in battle zones and in leper hospitals to defend and extend the cause of Christianity.”

Mark how this will help them out. It is claimed that there are in excess of thirty million Catholics in America. One dollar from each one for a year’s membership would be a snug sum, and a life membership or a group membership would run into many, many millions. For what purpose ? To enable Catholic Action to grab absolute control of the American government and rule it by a dictator, just as Nimrod did when Babylon was founded.

Mark this further quotation from the above: “This country’s Catholicism was the gift of Europe”; not a gift of Christ. If Catholicism were Christian it would be for The Theocracy. Instead it is a broken-down aristocracy of dictatorial demagogues, thugs, and gangsters of Europe.

Mark furthermore that the above-quoted Catholic-announced drive says: 'This is little enough to be done in behalf of those who are defending Christianity by engaging in wars in Europe.’ In other words, Hitler the gangster is fighting the fight of Christianity. Nothing was ever farther from the truth than that statement, as every honest man knows.

No more evidence should be required than that above from the Catholic organization, to prove that that and like religious systems and organizations are against the great Theocratic Government. The Theocracy will rest ■upon the shoulders of Christ Jesus. His is a government of righteousness, and the Roman Catholic Hierarchy of Authority will have nothing to do with it.

Jehovah’s witnesses have no fight with human creatures, and certainly not because such creatures are Catholic. Their fight is against the devilish doctrines that have so long been used to deceive the people and to defame God’s holy name and to turn them into the Devil’s snare. Jehovah’s witnesses have to fight against any person because of what he believes or has been taught. The mission of Jehovah’s witnesses is to publish the truth of God’s Word of and concerning the Great Theocrat and the King. It is the truth that enrages the Devil and his emissaries and causes them to fight against Jehovah’s witnesses. In support of this statement that it is the Devil and his emissaries that are fighting against Jehovah’s witnesses, mark the following: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”—Eph. 6:12.

Christ and his followers are against the demons; Christianity is against demonism, and for the Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus. Religion is the worship and service of the Devil and his associate demons. Mark the words of the Scriptures bearing upon this point: “And Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: ‘Athenians, I perceive that in all things you are extremely devoted to the worship of demons.’ ”—Acts 17: 22, Diaglott.

Religion is the chief means that puts fear into the minds of the people and leads them into the Devil’s snare. “Hell” and “purgatory” and indescribable suffering are held up before the ignorant people, and they are induced to hasten into the snare of the Devil, and the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is the chief instrument used in that devilish work. “The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” (Prov. 29:25) “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” —Isa. 29:13.

Truly then, as stated, “religion is a snare and a racket,” employed wrongfully to ensnare the people and collect money from them under false representations.

THE TRUTH NECESSARY

The word of Almighty God is set forth in the Bible, and that is the only safe guide for man. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Ps. 119:105) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”—2 Tim. 3:16,17.

Jehovah's witnesses are not campaigning to get joiners to any thing or any organization. They are not commissioned to do such a work. Their work is purely to publish the truth, that men may know the right way to go. As followers of Christ Jesus they must publish the truth, and do so. (John 18:37) From the time that Jesus was on the earth in the flesh until now there have been a few persons who have searched the Scriptures that they might learn the truth, and such have looked forward to and hoped for the coming of Christ Jesus, as he promised. Such persons have always been unpopular with religionists and have always been the object of persecution at the hands of religionists. In spite of such persecution and misrepresentation these faithful Christians have pursued their faithful endeavors to learn the truth and to make that known to others. It would not be reasonable to expect them to be in any other class than that class of ones persecuted as Jesus and the apostles were persecuted.

SOCIETY ORGANIZED

About the year 1872 (A.D.) a few Christian persons met together in a little town in Pennsylvania to consider the Scriptures relative to the coming of Christ Jesus and his kingdom. Out of that meeting grew the

organization afterwards incorporated and chartered for the dissemination of Bible truth. To hold title to property, both personal and real, that they might use the same for the support and onward movement of proclaiming the message of truth, that little body of Christians, in the year 1884 (A.D.), organized a corporation under the name of Zion’s Watchtower Society. Later the corporate name was changed to Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. That organization was incorporated under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania. To further aid the work of these Christian people, the Peoples Pulpit Association, a corporation, was created and organized under the membership corporation law of the State of New York and duly came into existence in the year 1908. Later the name of that corporation was changed and now is the Watchtow'er Bible and Tract Society, Incorporated, of New York. In the year 1914 a corporation, under the name and title of International Bible Students Association, was created and organized under the laws of Great Britain. The purposes of these three corporate bodies are exactly the same. They are similar to three living persons working together in different parts of the earth. The purpose announced in their charters respectively is, to wit: “The dissemination of Bible truths by means of publication, in printed form, and other lawful means.” Such corporations are merely the instruments or tools of Jehovah’s witnesses, that is, men and women who act harmoniously as God’s servants and carry on his work of witnessing to the truth in various parts of the earth. Such corporations are charitable and benevolent, because the people who use the same are moved by love, or unselfishness, in their devotion to God and his Theocratic Government to carry on such work; and because to know the truth of and concerning the great Theocratic Government is absolutely essential to the peoples of the earth.

The organization of Jehovah’s witnesses using the corporations above named is known under the generic term “The Society”, that is to say, a company of persons who have but one objective and that to do the will of Almighty God. The authority or ordination or commission of Jehovah’s witnesses is given to them exclusively by Jehovah God and through Christ Jesus, the King of The Theocracy. That ordination or commission of authority was first conferred upon Christ Jesus, and through him extends to all his true followers, and to which the following commission applies, to wit: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.”—Isa. 61:1, 2.

The commandment given to those followers of Christ Jesus is contained in the Scriptures specifically at Isaiah 43: 9-12, Isaiah 62:1, 2, and other like scriptures. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:14) As Christ Jesus is “the faithful and true witness” of Jehovah God, so all who are the true followers of Christ Jesus in faithfully giving testimony to the Great Theocracy, to the name of Jehovah God and to his kingdom are Scripturally labeled and designated “Jehovah’s witnesses”.

The Scriptures and the extraneous evidence brought about by the Lord shows that the year of 1914 (A.D.) marked the time of the second coming of Christ Jesus the King. In that year he was enthroned by Jehovah and sent forth to rule while the enemy Satan is still operating in the earth. Psalm 110 announces that from the ascension into heaven of Christ Jesus the King he must wait until God’s due time for him to begin his reign. The end of that waiting came in 1914, and then Christ Jesus was sent forth in fulfillment of the prophecy, to wit: “The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion; rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” (Ps. 110:2) Then all willing followers of Christ Jesus must be ready to obey his commandments, and that is what Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions are doing. Prior to the coming of the Lord Jesus to his temple in 1918 the Lord carried on what is known in the Scriptures as the work of ‘preparing the way before Jehovah’. Within that period of time many persons abandoned religion and sought to learn and obey the truth of God’s Word. Referring to Christ Jesus, his Messenger, Jehovah says: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”—Mal. 3:1.

That coming of Christ Jesus, the Messenger and Judge of the world, took place in the year 1918. It was then that he began to test and judge those who have made a covenant to do the will of Almighty God. There was a great testing and sifting that then took place, and out of which came the faithful ones as distinguished from the unfaithful. Those who passed the test were brought into the temple, that is, God’s capital organization called “Zion” and of which Christ Jesus is the Head. Those thus approved were approved for a purpose, as stated in the Scriptures, to wit: “That they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” (Mal. 3:3) That offering unto God in righteousness is the proclamation of the message of the Kingdom. (Heb. 13:15) Those thus passing that test constitute the class mentioned by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24, to wit: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season ? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.”—Matt. 24: 45-47.

The word “goods”, as used in the foregoing text, means the Kingdom interests of the Theocratic Government, and those who are diligent in offering unto God an offering in righteousness are designated the ‘faithful and wise servants’ of the Lord who, in obedience to his commandments, look well to “his goods” or Kingdom interests by proclaiming his name and his kingdom. This coming of Christ Jesus to his kingdom is good news, or “gospel”, and all who desire that kingdom and who love righteousness desire to obey his commandments in publishing the Kingdom. To such this command is given: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”—Matt. 24:14.

Furthermore Jehovah says to such: “Ye are my witnesses . . . that I am God.” (Isa. 43:10-12) To such Christians God gives a “new name”, to wit, “Jehovah’s witnesses,” and commissions them to tell the truth to the people of and concerning his Theocratic Government. Such persons are Christians because they follow exactly in the footsteps of Christ Jesus to be witnesses to Jehovah’s name. (1 Pet. 2: 21) They must obey the commandments of the Lord, to wit, to proclaim his name throughout the earth, to announce his kingdom. (Ex. 9:16) This they must do immediately preceding Armageddon. Because they publish the name of Jehovah and of his Theocratic Government of peace and righteousness they are the special targets of the Devil and his agents and are therefore cruelly persecuted. Mark now what this little company of Christians, Jehovah’s witnesses, have done and are doing, and observe how their course of action has brought upon them persecution from religionists, and that such has resulted exactly in fulfillment of the prophecies of God written long ago.

THEIR WORK

The faithful followers of Christ Jesus do not engage in the work of service for any selfish reason. They do it because they love Jehovah and delight to do His will. In the year 1918 there came upon the consecrated followers of Christ Jesus a great test. Their work was stopped by reason of the World War and opposition to the kingdom of Jehovah, and many of the faithful servants were imprisoned upon the false charge of opposing the war. This was to be expected because such had been the experience of faithful men from the early days. Nehemiah, and almost all the prophets and Jesus himself, had suffered under like false charges. The restraint put upon Jehovah’s witnesses by the governments came to an end when the war ended, and in 1919 they were released and began a reorganization of the work they must do. It was in the year 1922 that the Lord poured out his spirit upon all the faithful ones following in his footsteps, and thereby they were enlightened and were instructed. They understood from that time forward more clearly than ever before the work that must be done. In the year 1925, the Lord having revealed to his people the great issue to be determined, they saw that the vindication of Jehovah’s name is the paramount question for decision and that he had commissioned the faithful followers of Christ Jesus to proclaim his name throughout the earth and to make known to those who have a hearing ear that his government by Christ Jesus is the means of accomplishing his purpose. Under the Lord’s direction they went forth in this work for the sake of Jehovah’s name, and the work of witnessing to the people has increased with each succeeding year. It is not a work of men, but it is God’s “work, his strange work”, in which he permits his witnesses to have a part. (Isa. 28:21) This “strange work” means the exposing to the eyes of the people the fallacy and duplicity of religion practiced in the name of God, and making known to the people the true meaning of Christianity that they might understand God’s name and purpose. When the “strange work” ends, then will follow what is described in the Scriptures as God’s “act, his strange act”, meaning his act by Christ Jesus, bringing about the destruction of religion and religious institutions and all other parts of Satan’s organization on earth. When it can be understood that the work of Jehovah’s witnesses is not destructive, but is a warning and a notice to the people of what God is doing and is about to do, such notice and warning furnishes them an opportunity to take the right course. In obedience to the divine command these faithful witnesses of the Lord must continue to ‘preach this gospel of the Kingdom to all the world as a witness before the end comes’. (Matt. 24:14) In doing this they are engaging in their work that Almighty God declared must be done, and which declaration he made in answer to Satan’s wicked challenge, saying: ‘For this cause have I permitted thee to remain, that my name may be declared throughout all the earth, and that I might show thee my power.’ The privilege, therefore, is great for faithful Christians to declare to the nations of earth the name of Jehovah God and of his great theocratic government by Christ Jesus, which shall bring to the earth righteousness and everlasting peace.

MEANS OF PREACHING

“To preaeh” means “to proclaim or publish”. All of Jehovah’s witnesses are publishers of the message of Jehovah making known his name and his government. Such publication is done by word of mouth, by distribution of the printed message, by the reproduction of recorded speech by means of electrical transcription and phonographs, and by the radio, all of which brings to the attention of the people that we are in a transition period, the passing away of the old and the coming in of the new. The latter, by God’s grace, is under the supervision of his mighty King, which brings the desire of every honest person. The message of the Kingdom during the past year has been carried foward by the means above stated, and in printed form has been published in seventyeight languages and widely distributed throughout the earth. It may therefore now be truly said that the name of Jehovah God has been declared throughout the earth or at least that declaration has reached almost all the peoples of earth in one form or the other.

The radio is not the invention of man, but it is the product of the wisdom of Almighty God. Man has harnessed up that power and used it for selfish purposes, but for more than ten years the message of the kingdom of God has been widely proclaimed by means of radio. Only the Almighty God could make it possible for a man to speak in one part of the earth and his voice to be transmitted around the earth. Few realize that such proceeds from the Almighty, and therefore few give honor to His name. No doubt God has caused the radio to be used just as much as he desired it, and when it seemed due time for the restriction of the use of the radio, that has been accomplished.

While there has been a greater increased opposition to the Kingdom message during the fiscal year past, and in many of the countries it has practically been completed, a great amount of work has been done during the year. The report for the year preceding shows that at the close of the fiscal year ending September 30, 1938, there had been placed in the hands of the people books containing exclusively an explanation of the Scriptures publishing the name of Jehovah and his kingdom, to the number of 279,025,056. During that year the message was proclaimed by the use of more than 30,000 transcription machines and phonographs, in addition to the radio.

At the close of the fiscal year ending September 30, 1939, the reports show that books have been placed in the hands of the people throughout the earth to the number of 30,459,935, and this brings the grand total of distribution of the Kingdom message, sinee the year of 1920 to the present time, to, to wit, 309, 484, 991. During the fiscal year phonographs and transcription machines used by the witnesses in the field for the reproduction and publication of the Kingdom message have been used to the number of 38,771. At these assemblies the total number of persons that have been present and have listened to the spoken message of the Kingdom repeated by means of electrical transcription are, to wit, 19,100,667. The witnesses in the field have made back-calls on persons interested, and who desire to engage further in the study, to the number of 1,856,382. In view of the comparatively small number of witnesses, the work accomplished during the year in the face of such great opposition is truly the Lord’s doing and is marvelous in our eyes. (Ps. 118:23) Compared with the population of earth the number of Jehovah’s witnesses is small, but the number of these witnesses during the year has greatly increased. The “other sheep” of the Lord, known as Jonadabs and which shall form the “great multitude” (Rev. 7:9, 10), have been coming to a knowledge of the truth, and these quickly enter the service and increase the army of “locusts” that go forth in the name of the Almighty God and his King. Those who have heard and appreciate the message have seen their privilege of joining the army of the Lord in proclaiming his name.

NEARING THE END

It will be observed from this report for the year 1939 that many countries that have heretofore reported as making progress in the work are omitted. This omission is not due to any lack of zeal on the part of the Lord’s witnesses, but due to the fact that Satan’s organization has crushed their work. Of course, this could not have been done except by the Lord’s permission, and the fact that he is permitting the enemy to exercise such powerful influence is clear proof that the witness work, commanded to be done, is near an end and therefore Armageddon is close at hand. Satan, knowing that his time is short, has increased, and continues to increase, the woes upon the peoples of the earth. Those who have the hearing ear and desire to learn the truth see and appreciate the fact that the end of Satan’s power is near and therefore they hasten to take their position on the side of the great Theocratic Government.

Totalitarian or dictatorial power now rules many nations of the earth, and this arbitrary power is rapidly encroaching upon all the nations of the earth. These selfish, arbitrary dictators are supported by the religious organizations, and particularly by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. All the totalitarian nations, and the religious leaders, and particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, bitterly oppose the Theocratic Government. Moved by the spirit of Satan, they have hated and continue to hate and openly show their hatred against God and against his King by persecuting Jehovah’s witnesses. Thus they are fighting against God. By their laws enacted by the various legislative bodies they have framed much mischief, and have employed such mischievous laws to hinder the witness work by arresting and imprisoning many of Jehovah’s witnesses upon false charges and by seizing their literature, and confiscating and destroying it, which literature tells of God’s gracious provision for mankind. It clearly appears that the forces of the Devil are surrounding and closing in on the publishers of Jehovah’s name and kingdom. This is exactly what Christians have expected would come to pass; and as it comes to pass, the opposition and persecution increase, and their faith and confidence and complete trust in Jehovah increase. It is impossible for the opponents, acting under the Devil’s direction, to stop the work of Almighty God and his witnesses until God’s own due time to permit them to do so. This interval of witnessing affords opportunity for Satan and his earthly agents, as well as the invisible ones, to do their very worst against Jehovah and his King. Thus the opponents of the Kingdom on earth will be given full opportunity to identify themselves and show exactly where they stand. These opponents the Lord Jesus designates as “goats”, which he declares shall go away into everlasting destruction. It is to be expected that within a short time great religious leaders of the earth, together with the principal of their flocks, will proclaim this message: “Peace and safety.” This will be accomplished only when they have thought that Jehovah’s witnesses have been put entirely to silence. Note now what the Scriptures say about this matter: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thess. 5:3) In this connection the Lord encourages the faithful followers of Christ Jesus, directing his epistle to say to them: “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”—1 Thess. 5:4, 5.

AMERICA (U.S.)

Gradually the Lord has instructed his faithful people as to the meaning of the Theocratic Government. Now they °ee clearly that Jehovah God, the Almighty, is the Theocrat, and that Christ Jesus is his King and Ruler of the world, who is acting under the command of the Almighty God; that Christ Jesus has been enthroned as King; and that he is the One that is directing the work, according to God’s will, that is now going on in the earth concerning the ■witness for the Kingdom. As Timothy and Titus were the representatives of the Lord, acting under the immediate instruction of the apostle Paul, so they foreshadowed the anointed ones now on the earth acting under the immediate command of the Lord Jesus Christ, and which anointed ones are otherwise designated as “The Society”. The earthly part of the Lord’s organization is not a man’s organization, but must be carried on by men under the direction and command of Christ the King. During the fiscal year earnest and studied efforts have been made to strengthen the organization on earth by assigning to positions of service the more mature ones who are wholly devoted to the Theocratic Government. Without doubt the Lord has blessed this effort, as the results show. To be sure, some thus appointed have shown their weakness by attempting to exalt themselves, thinking more highly of themselves than they should think; but such have been quickly removed and others assigned to service in their place. This is to be expected in the light of what Jesus has foretold, to wit: “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”—Matt. 13:41, 42.

When such have been gathered out from the Lord’s organization no one who is truly devoted to the King shows any sorrow, because God has commanded that they shall not sorrow. The faithful know that the Lord does all things right and that no one can be removed from God’s organization except by the power of the Lord.

CONVENTIONS

For the purpose of making known the name and kingdom of Jehovah, as he has commanded, a general convention was arranged for the year 1939., New York city was the point of origin of the convention program and activities. The convention held in New York was connected by wire and wireless equipment with many other points in the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Australia; and the people, assembled at all these points, simultaneously heard the address given at these conventions. In addition thereto many radio stations broadcast the addresses delivered in New York. The first and second days of the convention were devoted to Bible instruction and field activities. On the third day the principal feature was the public assembly at Madison Square Garden, New York city. Approximately 12,000 persons consecrated and devoted to God and his kingdom attended the convention and took part in the work of advertising the public meeting. They came in contact with much opposition and many threats while thus advertising the meeting. They learned of the bitter opposition to the convention, which opposition was made manifest by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy-Nazi combine. Repeatedly threats were made by such opponents that they would break up the convention, and particularly the public meeting at Madison Square Garden. The facts show that the conspiracy thus formed by the Nazi-Hierarchy was devoted not only to the United States but to other parts of the earth and the conspirators acted together in opposition to the advertising of the Theocratic Government.

The subject of the public address delivered at Madison Square Garden on June 25 was “Government and Peace”. All persons who have a desire to see the Theocratic Government in operation and everlasting peace given to mankind would be glad to hear the message on that occasion. Satan and all of his supporters would bitterly oppose. This was proved by what actually did take place. More than 18,000 persons were assembled lawfully at Madison Square Garden to praise and worship Jehovah God. These were eager to hear the program. The public address began promptly at 4 p. m., and within ten minutes thereafter about 500 deluded Roman Catholics and Nazis, led by several Catholic priests, entered the Garden and found seats immediately back of the speaker’s platform. When the speech had proceeded about twenty minutes those opposers, without any cause or excuse, set up a terrific howl, wildly crying out such expressions as “Heil, Hitler 1” “Viva, Franco!” “Kill that damn Rutherford!” thus clearly showing that they had come to the Garden for no good purpose, but that they were there wickedly bent on doing wrong and to disturb and break up a lawful assembly of Christian people. Only such persons as are under the control of Satan and the demons would care to participate in the disturbance of that meeting at Madison Square Garden. Acting under the direction of Satan and other demons, that radical element sought, not only to disturb, but to break up the meeting, and they indulged in all manner of vile language, vituperative expressions, threats, cursings and yells, and assaulted many of the ushers who attempted to quell the disturbance. They did not succeed in breaking up the meeting, but the speech was delivered in its entirety and fully and completely recorded. Similar disturbances were made by a like element in many parts of the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Australia, but the Lord saw to it that the message was heard.

The Roman Catholic Hierarchy are the ones on earth who arranged and carried out the conspiracy to break up the lawful assemblies as above mentioned, and thus attempted to prevent the people from learning about the great Theocratic Government of peace. This of itself is conclusive proof that the Hierarchy is made up of men who are under the command of the Devil, and their action is in clear fulfillment of the prophetic words uttered by Jesus, to wit, that the religionists persecuted him and that they would likewise persecute all those who faithfully followed in his footsteps in obedience to the commandment of the great THEOCRAT.

The convention at Madison Square Garden, together with the other like conventions simultaneously held in other parts of the earth, brought sharply to the attention of millions of people that the Theocratic Government of Jehovah God, by Christ Jesus, is the only hope of peace, righteousness and life for humankind. They learned that all opponents to that Theocratic Government are under the control of Satan. The result is that many honest and sincere persons, those who have been under the control of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in times past, have now abandoned that wicked organization and have taken their stand firmly on the side of the Almighty God and Christ his King. Such sincere persons clearly see now that Jehovah’s witnesses are not against any person because that person is a Catholic, Protestant, Jew or agnostic, but that the work of Jehovah’s witnesses is confined entirely to informing all who desire to hear the truth concerning The Theocracy and to bringing comfort to all who mourn because of the unrighteousness in the earth and who have a desire to see righteousness established on earth.

The effort of the Devil and his agents put forth to break up those conventions not only failed, but enabled many persons to see their privilege of turning quickly to God and the King and serving the Theocratic Government. They see that Jehovah’s witnesses are really their friends because they bring to them the message concerning Jehovah and his King that points them to the way of everlasting life, peace and joy. The detailed account of the aforementioned convention has been published in The Messenger, and it is not necessary to here repeat the same.

“EVIL SERVANT”

Judas Iscariot, the unfaithful disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ to death, was a type of “the man of sin”, “the son of perdition,” which wicked class in the antitype is made up of the religious leaders and other opponents of The Theocracy. The Scriptures disclose that such class is designated by the Lord Jesus as “that evil servant”, which “evil servant” forms a part of “the man of sin”, “the son of perdition.” That “evil servant” class is composed of those who have received some enlightenment concerning Jehovah’s purpose and have professed to be consecrated to God, and who then manifest that they think more highly of self than they should think and become offended at the manner in which the Lord carries forward his work on earth and manifest their lawlessness by opposing the faithful workers who advertise the King and kingdom as commanded by the Scriptures. Such persons are religionists in fact and have quickly joined their efforts with the leaders of other religious organizations in opposition to God and his King. They pretend to be Christians, but are in fact the children of the Devil. During the year some of these have made themselves known, and their acts speak in proof thereof. They quickly go into blindness and lead others into blindness, and these are the ones whom the Lord declares that he gathers out by means of his angels and who show their bitter opposition to him and his servants: “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”—Matt. 13: 42.

A sample of those who are of the “evil servant” class, and what they say, is indicated by the following quotation from a letter written by one of them, to wit: “Our class has withdrawn from the Society, and we now study the Bible alone. We do not see the Theocracy, nor do we see any evidence of the presence of the Lord or the resurection of the faithful saints, and we see no evidence that the Lord is gathering the great multitude.” The only conclusion concerning such is that they have gone blind because they have been cast into “outer darkness” and have become opponents of The Theocracy; hence they bitterly oppose the Kingdom publishers. Such opponents ‘wail and gnash their teeth’ against those who are for the Theocratic Government. The faithful expect that such opponents would show themselves, and it is to be expected that they will continue to do so until the “strange act” of Jehovah is performed. The acts of such opponents do not at all discourage those who are fully devoted to Jehovah and his King. Being informed that the fight of the anointed is against the Devil and his host of demons, the faithful servants of Jehovah God and Christ continue to go forward clothed with the armor of the Lord, fighting for “this gospel of the kingdom”.

PUBLISHING

The work done at the Brooklyn headquarters of the Society is here briefly reviewed, and will be of real interest to those who are devoted to the Great Theocrat.

OFFICE

The executive or administration offices of the Society are situated at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York. The publishing office and factory are situated at 117 Adams St., Brooklyn. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, that is, the Pennsylvania Corporation; and the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Incorporated, the New York corporation; and the International Bible Students Association, the British corporation, are all managed and directed by the administration office at 124 Columbia Heights. The appointments of various places in the Theocratic organization on earth are made from the administration office.

All manuscript for The Watchtower, books and booklets is prepared at the administration office, and then delivered to the publication office. The major portion of the manuscript for Consolation is prepared at the Adam’s Street office, while some of it is prepared at the administration office. The general administrative work is done at 124 Columbia Heights, where also is carried on a voluminous correspondence. Each and every one in the organization is a servant of the Lord, and their work is done unto the Lord, and not for the pleasure of men.

Every thirty days each and every branch office in operation on the earth, and also the publication office at Adams Street, Brooklyn, make report in writing to the president of the Society, setting forth in detail the work accomplished during the month. At the end of the fiscal year all branch offices and also the Adams Street office submit to the president in writing a report covering the activities of the Society during the year. From these reports the president obtains the data for the annual report published each year in the Yearbook.

The work is strenuous, but not laborious. Constant vigilance and activity must be maintained, but there is no work amongst men that brings like satisfaction as does the work in the Theocratic Organization. It is a work of genuine joy. When one finds real joy in his work the performance of assigned duty is not burdensome. Looking after those things which pertain to the Theocracy is stimulating and joyful. The real joy is derived from the fact that the Lord’s servants know they will have part in the vindication of Jehovah’s name. The workers fully appreciate the statement of the faithful servant of God who was sent to rebuild Jerusalem and who said for the encouragement of his assistants: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”—Neh. 8:10.

Strangers who visit the factory, and visitors who see each one attending closely to his duties, marvel at the zeal and earnestness with which the work is done. Often such visitors inquire: “How can you get persons to work like that?” They are told in answer that “all the persons you see at work here engage in that work voluntarily and for the love of it; they are wholly devoted to the Theocratic Government of Jehovah by Christ Jesus; they have an abiding place and ample necessities, and they are joyfully serving the Theocratic Government, always having in mind that Jehovah’s government by Christ Jesus will completely vindicate His name and bring lasting blessings to all persons who obey the Lord”. To all such workers money is good only to further the Kingdom interests. They have no desire for anything except what meets their necessities, and their future hopes and prospects are all centered in the Theocratic Government, where money will be of no value whatsoever.

The inquiring one then asks: “Where does the money eome from to carry on this work?” and the answer is, “All from voluntary contributions made by persons throughout the earth who love Jehovah God, and who delight to know that his kingdom will bring the desired blessings of the human race.” The truth is that no one can appreciate the work and the workers who is not cons'ecrated to do the will of God. So long has the world been under the dominating and withering control of the Devil that selfishness has become the moving cause for everything in the world. Exactly contrary thereto, unselfishness, or love, is the moving cause for the diligence of the workers in the Society.

The treasurer receives and receipts for all money contributions. That office pays out all money, upon voucher properly drawn, but which shows that it is for the furtherance of the Kingdom interests. No money can be taken from the treasurer’s office without such proper voucher. For the past few years the detailed statement of the money received and paid out has not been published, for the obvious reason that the enemy would use these facts to further hinder, if possible, the work of the Society. The books of account in the treasurer’s office are open to any supporter of the Society who desires to examine the same, but they are not open to the enemy, who w^rork against the Lord and his kingdom. A like rule Jehovah God established with the keepers of the temple at Jerusalem, and we are now diligently endeavoring to follow the Lord’s rule, knowing that it is right. At the end of almost every fiscal year it is found that the publication of the Kingdom message has required more money than has been contributed for the same, and then such deficit is made up by further voluntary contributions made by those who really love God and his kingdom and who have a little earthly substance. It is the Lord’s work, and it is carried on in the most economical manner. No person in the organization receives any personal or pecuniary gain from the publication or activities of the Society. Each one receives a nominal sum for expenses. The enemy often charges that millions are made in the sale of books by the Society; but such charge is entirely false. The books are placed in the hands of the people at the least possible cost, and then given to people who are not able to contribute anything for them. The books and other literature arc not “sold”, but contributions are accepted only to be used to further the interest of like publications. The cost of publication always exceeds the amount of money that is contributed therefor. Were it not for the voluntary contributions made by persons who love the Theocratic Government, the work could not be carried on by human creatures, unless the Lord made some other provision. Without doubt the Lord makes the provision for carrying on the work by putting in the mind of those persons who love him, to make contributions of their substance to further the work. To be sure, God could do it without any human activities, but it pleases him to allow men the opportunity of making contributions and thus showing their love and zeal for his kingdom. It is one means of aiding them in maintaining their integrity toward God. Seeing that the work is not that of human invention, but that it is God’s work, we may be sure that he will provide all necessary means to prosecute that work until the very end.

FARM AND GARDENS

The Society has and maintains a farm and gardens for the sole purpose of producing the necessary food for the workers of the Society and to provide the same at the least possible expense. During the year the food supply has been ample for the workers at headquarters, and upon which they have fed. It is good food, plain and wholesome, and for which as well as all other things we give thanks to our God.

PUBLISHING

The printing, manufacturing and distribution of books and other literature is done and carried on from the Adams Street office and factory. During the year it has been necessary to increase the number of workers there and for the workers to put in all possible time in order to supply the demand for books and literature, which have been distributed by the field workers and for the benefit of those people who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Work in the factory and office is done five days every week except during vacation, and often six full days, with night shifts, during an emergency period. When possible, on Saturday afternoons the workers and the members of the Bethel family engage in the field service; likewise on Sundays the members of the family at Bethel and the workers at the factory and office go from house to house and by means of the phonograph and literature publish or preach “this gospel of the kingdom”. It is a busy family, and a joyful one. All there appreciate their privilege of being a part of the Lord’s organization and having to do with the advancement of the Theocratic rule.

From the report of the office and factory servant at Adams Street made to the administration office at the end of this fiscal year the following is taken, to wit:

Year's Report for 1939

The year 1939 was filled with expressions of thanksgiving and real joy on the part of all of us here at Bethel because we have enjoyed and do enjoy privileges of service that could not be compared with any tiling else in the world. Jehovah’s provisions have been abundant; his work plentiful.

Production

Due to the demand on the part of the publishers for literature, it has been necessary to operate the printing plant at 117 Adams Street many more hours than the regular daily schedule. In addition to this regular schedule the brethren returned to their machines and work in the office 38 evenings during the year and 13 Saturday afternoons. To keep up with the demand the press room and other departments were operated on a second shift for a period of 5 days. It was also advisable to keep a small force in the factory and office during the regular vacation, so that the work would not get too far behind during this period.

Mention is here made of a few reasons for the increased work. During the year we made 2,105,914 more booklets than the previous year. The big item, however, was the tremendous increase in the printing, mailing and office work on the Watchtower magazine. Instead of handling 1,609,200 Watchtowers, as was done in 1938, the factory handled 4,441,550 copies, an increase over the previous year of 2,832,350. While the number of bound books did not equal that of last year, the printing required nearly 300 tons more paper than that used on the previous year’s production.

Production

Bound books       1,888,734

Booklets           25,916,475

The Watchtower    4,441,550

Consolation         4,927,500

The Messenger       195,000

Kingdom News No. 4 1,945,200

Calendars              30,268

The Society’s publications are printed in 88 languages. During the year publications made in this factory were in 43 different languages.

To manufacture, the work of the year required 2,343 tons of paper, 94 tons of chip board for covers, and nearly 170,000 yards of cloth. These three items alone are equal to 125 carloads of material.

The Society purchased raw materials for the making of ink, paint and other supplies, and during the year 35,282 pounds of ink were manufactured, 522 gallons of paint, 100 pounds of putty, 63 barrels of paste, and 9,054 pounds of glue. This year the Society began making its own gelatin rollers that are used on the presses, thus entailing another substantial saving to the Society. All of these materials are manufactured within the plant and then used in the production of literature or the maintenance of the Society’s buildings.

New Machinery

The president of the Society has always tried to make the working conditions at the factory as pleasant as possible, which is all done in the interests of the Kingdom work.

Early in the fiscal year new Holophane lighting fixtures were installed in the office. These are the latest scientifically designed lighting fixtures, and although we use the same amount of wattage in the fixture, a very decided improvement in the lighting arrangement of the office was enjoyed by all working there. Two new storage compartments were also built in the office, consolidating all office supplies and reference books, which greatly added to the efficiency of the office, and allowed more space for the expansion of the circulation department, which was required in view of the increase of subscriptions for The Watchtower. Other office equipment was obtained, such as a new mimeograph, additional adding machine, new typewriters, and dictaphones.

To increase the efficiency in the factory a heavy-duty drill was provided for the machine shop as well as a Delta drill press for the carpenter shop used in the manufacture of phonographs. In order to unify the production in the press room, the oldest press the Society had was sold and an order was placed with a press manufacturer for a two-color high-speed magazine, book and booklet press. This new high-speed press is being installed in the factory during the month of October, 1939.

For the benefit of the family workers the president of the Society made provision for the purchase of two new Plymouth station wagons which are used regularly in the field service week-ends and evenings. These station wagons, being convertible into light delivery trucks, are used by the Society daily in delivery of small shipments locally to the units of Greater New York city They have proved to be a great saving to the Society in handling freight, in addition to being a real convenience and pleasure to the brethren as an aid in their field service work.

Shipments

The greatest volume of printed matter ever to be shipped from the Brooklyn plant went forward this year. Of the three main items dispatched, booklets took first place, magazines second and books third, as to quantities.

The orders for Salvation, the new book of the year, have greatly exceeded the initial orders for Enemies, which was released two years ago. In the first twelve months after the Enemies book was released there were shipped out 1,836,207 copies, but in the first three months the shipments of Salvation reached the total of 1,008,127. At the close of the fiscal year the unfilled orders for Salvation were equal to several hundred thousand. Unfilled domestic orders were about fifteen days behind.

The shipment of bound books was greater than the factory production. The same is true of booklets. The grand total of books and booklets shipped equaled 28,717,995. The shipments of books, Bibles and booklets compared with those of 1938 are interesting.

1939            1938

Total books	2,008,412	2,879,978
Total Bibles	19,513	25,052
Total booklets	26,690,070	21,633,006
Grand total	28,717,995	24,538,036

There were four new publications released during the year, the bound book Salvation, and booklets Face the Facts, Fascism or Freedom, and Government and Peace. The release of these three new booklets greatly increased the shipments of booklets for the year because of the publishers in the field concentrating on these together with Salvation. Face the Facts in English and foreign languages reached an excellent high mark of 11J million copies shipped out in one year; Fascism or Freedom, over 8J million copies; and Government and Peace, 2,190,604 copies being prepared for the "Theocracy” Testimony Period.

The books Enemies and Riches enjoyed a very good distribution during the year, their combined shipping total being over half a million.

Of the total amount of literature shipped out 3,100,821 books and booklets were printed in foreign languages. The remaining 25,617,174 shipped oul were in the English language.

Shipments of Sound Equipment

Production of the phonographs was not equal to the demand in the field for this instrument of reproducing the Kingdom message. During the year 9,860 phonographs were, dispatched, but as the year closed we were holding orders for 1,178 machines. It is hoped that in the next few months we shall be able to catch up on these orders and all additional orders. The Brooklyn factory has shipped out 34,075 phonographs since we began manufacturing them.

There were 25 complete sound-car equipments shipped out to various parts of the world. The greater witness being given by phonograph, this instrument is taking the lead in the reproduction of the Kingdom message. The phonograph can be had with three discs of the lectures on a contribution of $10, which covers the cost of the portable phonograph and the records.

Recordings

Thousands of sound machines, phonographs, transcription machines and sound-car equipments in the field are keeping in use daily hundreds of thousands of discs. The phonograph record distribution for the fiscal year 1939 reached a new high. There were shipped out 310,001 discs, or 620,002 recordings. These were double-faced discs having a 4J-minute lecture on each side. Of this grand total of phonograph discs shipped out 13,297 are recordings in foreign languages, and 1,909 quartet records. The balance of 294,795 contained the. voice of the president.

There were 66 new 4-J-minute records made available during the past year. The numbers and titles of these recordings are as follows:

P-153 Miracles P-154 Instruction

P-155 to P-166 Pace the Facts; an exact reproduction of the lecture originally given in Royal Albert Hall, London.

The following recordings were also simultaneously recorded at the time of delivering same before packed-out auditoriums:

“Fill the Earth”

Fascism or Freedom

Victory

Snare and Racket (studio recording) Government and Peace

Shipping of these recorded speeches began in 1931, and since then there has been a great increase in their use. From 1931 to 1936 the 16-inch recordings were used, primarily on the radio and the sound-cars. Up to the present time their use has demanded a shipmen, of 64,598 discs. Since 1934, up to and including 1939, the 4A-minute reproductions of the Kingdom message, covering literally hundreds of Bible subjects, have reached a distribution of 816,468 double-faced discs. This is indeed an astonishing figure. It has been a splendid means in the hands 'of the Lord’s people in the proclamation of his truths. The very fact that so many of these discs have been used in advancing the Kingdom interests speaks of the Lord’s blessing upon this method. These speeches can be heard in 18 different languages.

Publication

The witness work in the United States has enjoyed the rich blessing of the Lord. The past year exceeds everything heretofore, as to the witness given concerning the Kingdom and as to the publishers ’ working together in unity, effectively and with much greater efficiency. Since the Lord has made so clear the importance of the Theocracy and our responsibility to Jehovah in making proclamation of that kingdom, and since Jehovah has shown to his people that “for brass I will bring gold, and ... I will also make . . . thine exactors righteousness”, the greatest witness of all time has been given in this country.

The anointed and their companions now realize that there are three things they can do. They can be publishers for the Kingdom; they can put in hours in the field service and thus prove their integrity; and they can make back-calls among the people of good will whom they meet in the regular witness work. An individual cannot determine the number of bound books, booklets or subscriptions that he will place with the people, nor can he determine how many people will listen to his phonograph, but he can determine whether or not he will be a publisher, put in hours, and make back-calls.

The Watchtower has greatly aided those wanting to be a witness to the Kingdom in the suggestion of 60 hours a month as a reasonable amount of time to put in in the Kingdom work. The tremendous increase in hours can be attributed to the publishers’ having a real appreciation of this fact.

The detailed report of the United States bears out the statement that those people of good will want to be publishers and are putting in many hours, proving their integrity, and making wonderful strides in the back-call service. The report follows.

Books Booklets	I Pioneers 704,131 4,262,613	UNITED STATES Public by Total Companies Mail     1939 799,020 39,440 1,542,591 9,315,378 48,662 13,626,653		Total 1938 1,898,446 12,803,429
Total lit. Publishers Hours New subs. Sound att. Back-calls Phonos, used PTM’s used S ’d-cars used	4,966,744 2,176 2,885,825 54,958 4,222,250 420,573 2,377 150 63	10,114,398 88,102 33,290 6,228,511 79,253 8,832,157 864,754 19,798 395 356	15,169,244 35,466 9,114,336 134,211 13,054,407 1,285,327 22,175 545 419	14,701,875 25,596 6,141,409 73,006 13,070,426 289,489 18,576 650 450
Total                                      23,139     19,676 Number of company organizations in country 2,425     1,786 Total number of zones in country             153 Total number of regions in country             6 Total copies of Watchtower distributed   3,105,256  1,063,842 Total copies of Consolation distributed  3,637,705  3,165,500 {Watchtower and Consolation copies are not included in book or booklet totals)

The most outstanding figure in the report is the 35,466 publishers who have been in the field each month, on the average, throughout the year. This is nearly 10,000 more publishers than engaged in the field in 1938. The great multitude are coming into the Lord’s provision for safety, which is proved by the fact that more than 40,000 publishers are now engaging in the field work regularly, and reached a peak, in the month of August, of 41,902.

These publishers have engaged in regular witnessing from door to door, back-calls, information marches, use of sound equipment, to the extent of 9,114,336 hours, which is almost three million additional hours put in in the field more than last year. The average of hours per publisher is much higher than in previous years, which shows that the workers for the Kingdom are striving to attain the 60-hour quota suggested through the Lord’s organization.

The publishers, always being desirous of aiding the people in the proper course to take, leave literature with the people whenever possible, and, because of the increase in number of publishers and the greater number of hours devoted in the field, a larger amount of literature was distributed. In 1939 there were 1,542,591 bound books placed and 13,626,653 booklets distributed; making a grand total of 15,169,244 pieces of literature placed in the United States. This in itself is a wonderful testimony to the name of Jehovah. Additionally throughout this country magazines, The Watchtower and Consolation, were distributed to the total number of 6,740,000 copies.

The sound equipment has played a wonderful part in the advancement of the Kingdom interests, and a mighty sound has gone forth. This added feature of the "strange work” Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions are doing showed marvelous results in that 13,054,407 persons have heard some of the lectures. The sound equipment, along with the series of records provided through the Theocratic Government, makes it now possible for everyone to arrange for back-calls, and this feature of the work shows the greatest increase of all the reports sent in to the Society. In 1938, 289,489 back-calls were made, whereas this year 1,285,327 back-calls were made; showing an increase of nearly one million back-calls.

All of the work of Jehovah’s witnesses has had a very telling effect, particularly on the religious element of the Devil’s organization. It has made them take every measure to try to stop this work, within and without the law, but the "locusts” continue to clear away what little varnish is left.

The outstanding testimony period of the year was the Watchtower Campaign. The publishers of the Kingdom responded in this campaign with great zeal and enthusiasm. Everyone appreciated the need of having The Watchtower coming to the homes of the people of good will regularly; for it is this that brings the food convenient for them. This testimony period was so important that it continued for five months. In the United States alone over 93,000 new subscriptions were obtained, in addition to more than 5,660,000 books and booklets’ being distributed.

This campaign beginning in January also started the initial distribution of the booklet Face the Facts, which ran into the millions placed in the hands of the people. As the campaign continued into the month of April, another booklet was added to it, Fascism or Freedom, which added more fuel to the fire already scorching the Devil’s organization. These two new booklets ’ coming out during the year along with the very important Watchtower Campaign made it possible for this year to be that of the greatest booklet distribution ever enjoyed in the United States. Nearly 39,000 different publishers moved forward in response to this call to action. The Watchtower Campaign, followed up with the back-call work, aided greatly in getting more publishers into the field.

The book Enemies is always carried by the publishers and offered to the people, and its distribution did not slow down until the new book Salvation came out, and from then on Salvation has taken the lead. Sal cation was released at the worldwide convention in June, and there is not a question of doubt that the lectures "Government and Peace” and "Victory”, and the release of Salvation, brought clearly before the mind of everyone attending the convention the absolute need of being a publisher. Immediately following the June convention the report for July showed a new high peak in publishers for the year, followed by August, which reached another new high of nearly 42,000 engaging in the field work in the United States. It has been impossible up to the present time to keep the publishers in the field supplied with Salvation, because the publishers’ great desire is to see that everyone gets it and reads it. Their success in the field in the distribution of this book has been greater than the capacity of the factory up to the present time.

Efficient organization is essential, and the Theocratic Government has done much in the way of organizing the field during the past year. Those seeking life know that they must support the Theocratic Government.

To the end that greater unity and more efficient work might be accomplished, all the instructions of the Society were carried out in detail. The United States was divided into 6 regions and 153 zones. The brethren handling this work followed the Organization Instructions, and the work has prospered. At the close of the year 1938 there were 1,786 company organizations; today there are organized throughout the country 2,425.

The regional servants traveled 99,627 miles, at an expense to the Society of $1,491.94, whereas the zone servants traveled 2,049,584 miles, the expense to the Society being $32,340.16. The regional and zone servants have given counsel and aid to the other servants in the companies visited as well as the publishers, and have shown these publishers the effectiveness of carrying on the witness work as outlined in the Organization Instructions.

Due to the better organization in the field the territory has been more thoroughly covered in the populated areas. Many pioneers and special pioneers were used in the zone servant and regional servant work, and some of the pioneers were made company servants so that the work might progress in that vicinity.

. While there were over 2,000 pioneers in the field, there are many parts of the country, rurals and small towns, that were not reached during the year. There is a great need for more pioneers to assist in the development of rural territory and aid those people of good will in the various sections of the country to organize themselves into companies. Pioneers are assisting in this. The companies having become larger and many new ones added to the list, they have absorbed a lot of additional territory, but there is still plenty of territory all over the United States for pioneers to carry forward the Kingdom interests.

The Organization Instructions as amended, recently sent out to all companies and pioneers, show how closely pioneers and companies must work together in advancing the Kingdom interests. Publishers in the field today have one thing in mind, that is, the vindication of Jehovah’s name. The publishers of the Kingdom know that Jehovah through his Son, Christ Jesus, is gathering the great multitude, and great is their joy today to see that multitude coming into the organization, taking a stand and joining in the proclamation of the Kingdom.

Many people of good will also write direct to the Society for additional literature, and during the year 39,440 bound books and 48,662 booklets were shipped direct to these persons, the grand total being 88,102. For those persons who are known to be newly interested a back-call slip is made out and sent to the nearest company, and this person is called on with the records and assisted in every way possible to get a better knowledge of the truth. The millions of handbills that are left throughout the country, along with other advertising, bring in a good response.

There are other countries that come under the supervision of the Brooklyn office, and reports received show that a good witness has been given during the past year. There are 19 countries, such as the countries of Central America, islands of the West Indies, and other countries not large enough to support a branch, that make these reports.

The summary of the activity of these 19 outlying countries shows there were 314 publishers in the field, 52 of whom were pioneers. These brethren put in 110,527 hours and placed 15,937 bound books and 134,381 booklets. Total literature placed, 150,318, as well as 670 new subscriptions for The Watchtower and Consolation.

Good use was made of the phonograph records in foreign languages as well as English, and these publishers had 273,412 attendance. The back-calls have shown a marked increase over previous years. There were made 9,724 back-calls.

These 19 countries are put into groups in the following reports, such as West Indies, Central America, Panama, etc., setting out their activity.

ALASKA

Books Booklets	Pioneers 477 2,760	Companies 32 674	Total 1939 509 3,434	Total 1938 (Companies Only) 43 263
Total literature	3,237	706	3,943	306
Publishers	1	7	8	5
Hours	677	245	922	178
New subscriptions	140	13	153
Sound attendance	773	235	1,008	25
Back-calls	161	42	203
Phonographs used	1	4	5	1

1939      1938

No. of company organizations in country 3        3

Total copies of Watchtower distributed 2,300 Total copies of Consolation distributed 4,760

For a number of years one pioneer has been carrying on the Kingdom service in this vast area called “Alaska”, and as a result of his work many there are taking The Watchtower and Consolation, which serve to keep them in touch with Jehovah’s Theocracy. During 1939 this pioneer was able to cover only the First Judicial District, comprising that part west of British Columbia. Three companies reported some time during the year, and others will doubtless soon be organized. In addition to the First, the pioneer expects to witness in the Third and Fourth Districts next year.

BERMUDA, B. W. I., CURACAO, GUADELOUPE

Books Booklets	Pioneers 1,226 6,368	Companies 319 3,467	Total 1939 1,545 9,835	Total 1938 (Companies Only) 631 3,109
Total literature	7,594	3,786	11,380	3,740
Publishers	9	15	24	16
Hours	6,524	1,402	7,926	1,309
New subscriptions	32	17	49
Sound attendance	21,251	14,367	35,618	16,166
Back-calls	1,427	79	1,506	30
Phonographs used	10	4	14
PTM’s used	2	1	3	2
No. of company organizations in country			3	2
Total copies of Watchtower distributed			318
Total copies of Consolation distributed			728

In the first part of the year a company was started at Bermuda, and three publishers are now serving there, a pioneer enrolled to serve at Curacao, and two at Guadeloupe. The work in this part of the field is carried on under difficulties, due to much of the work having to be done by going to the various islands by boat and then having to cover the territory on foot. Nevertheless, the work goes on here, with good increases shown over the past year.

BRITISH HONDURAS, COSTA RICA, CANAL ZONE, PANAMA

Total 1939 Total 1938

(Companies

Books Booklets	Pioneers 329 1,543	Companies 1,232 8,151	1,561 9,694	Only) 1,481 6,972
Total literature	1,872	9,383	11,255	8,453

Total 1939 Total 1938

Publishers	Pioneers 3	Companies 179	182	(Companies Only) 139
Hours	3,095	14,756	17,851	10,388
New subscriptions	28	117	145
Sound attendance	2,188	26,979	29,167	27,808
Back-calls	338	1,242	1,580	72
Phonographs used	3	36	39
PTM’s used		7	7

No. of company organizations in country 10       10

Total copies of Watchtower distributed 7,628

Total copies of Consolation distributed 4,706

In spite of efforts on the part of the enemy to stop the work in Costa Rica, it has increased, and so "the joy of the Lord” supersedes the difficulties which surround the faithful disciples of the Lord there. In Panama the work has likewise prospered, the Lord adding more publishers there so the work can proceed. Class distinction makes it difficult for the colored publishers there to reach all the people. None the less, all of good will will hear and take their stand on the side of Jehovah and his Theocracy.

Books Booklets	CUBA and Pioneers 5,412 36,417	PUERTO RICO
		Companies 1,450 20,283	Total 1939 6,862 56,700	Total 1938 (Companies Only) 1,514 14,625
Total literature	41,829	21,733	63,562	16,139
Publishers	25	136	161	101
Hours	30,715	23,685	54,400	10,652
New subscriptions	57	61	118
Sound attendance	90,141	64,375	154,516	30,417
Back-calls	2,090	2,500	4,590	183
Phonographs used	20	51	71	4
PTM’s used		2	2	2
No. of company organizations		in country	19	18

No. of zones in country                       1

Total copies of Watchtower distributed 3,912 Total copies of Consolation distributed 1,316

Religion still holds sway on these islands, and so the witness work there is against odds. The clergy, being under the influence of the wicked one, fight every attempt to bring the message of God’s kingdom to the people. Those who see the difference between religion and Christianity are discouraged by the Devil's agents. But despite this, the work progresses, by God’s grace.

Cuba has had the assistance of a zone servant, which has resulted in better organization being effected there, as he makes his periodic visits to the companies scattered over the island.

The work in Puerto Rico is being done by three pioneer sisters, no company organizations as yet being established there. Goodwill interest, however, promises to develop quickly.

EGYPT

Books Booklets	Pioneers 1,355 7,777	Companies 355 6,089	Total 1939 1,710 13,866	Total 1938 (Companies Only) 265 4,134
Total literature	9,132	6,444	15,576	4,399
Publishers	3	27	30	13
Hours	2,695	3,016	5,711	1,976
New subscriptions	80	40	120
Sound attendance	765	743	1,508	1,196
Baek-calls	132	203	335	19
Phonographs used	3	2	5
No. of company organizations in country			2	1
Total copies of Watchtower distributed			548
Total copies of Consolation distributed			1,186

In the face of much opposition from the Catholic and Orthodox clergy in Egypt this year, by the Lord’s grace the work has almost doubled, and from evidence at hand it seems that the work will continue to increase there. Just recently quite a number have symbolized their consecration. The clergy have used the press against the Kingdom service, which has resulted only in further advertising the King and the Kingdom, and caused the faithful to increase their zeal. A spirit of unity prevails now, since some of the “evil servant” class have been gathered out by the Lord.

LEBANON, PALESTINE, SYRIA, TURKEY, CYPRUS, MALTA

Total 1939 Total 1938

(Companies Pioneers Companies             Only)

Books Booklets	1,696 12,867	415 1,520	2,111 14,387	430 2,363
Total literature	14,563	1,935	16,498	2,793
Publishers	8	28	36	51
Hours	6,663	3,016	9,679	3,527
New subscriptions	27		27
Sound attendance	22,157	15,563	37,720	8,781
Back-calls	344	52	396
Phonographs used	6

1939      1938

No. of company organizations in country 5        6

Total copies of Watchtower distributed 576 Total copies of Consolation distributed 1,060

During the year a .Russian publisher enrolled at Haifa and has been giving that place an opportunity of accepting The Theocracy. As the year was coming to a close a group of Greek brethren were enrolled at Istanbul. There is an active company organization at Akkar, as well as Tripoli and Lebanon, and much work is accomplished by pioneers in both Lebanon and Syria. Some young men are taking hold of the work in Lebanon, and the work promises to grow there. Cyprus has been completely covered five times by the pioneers since the work started there, and they are starting over it again.

COLOMBIA and NETHERLANDS GUIANA
Books Booklets	Pioneers Companies		Total 1939 Total 1938
			793 16,229	(Companies Only) 84 633
	647 15,567	146 662
Total literature	16,214	808	17,022	717
Publishers	3	7	10	5
Hours	3,958	1,098	5,056	1,150
New subscriptions		6	6
Sound attendance	13	2,464	2,477	1,286
Back-calls		293	293
Phonographs used	1	3	4
No. of company organizations in country			3	2
Total copies of Watchtower distributed			490
Total copies of Consolation distributed			300

The Kingdom service suffers in some South American countries for want of publishers. There have been company organizations in various parts of the continent, but no reports were received during the year from many of these, only 7 company publishers reporting. And so the little work done by these barely scratches the surface.

The two pioneer sisters continue to do the bulk of the witness work in Colombia, and they do this under extreme difficulties; but realizing that "the joy of Jehovah” is their strength, they press on and, as a result, are recipients of his blessings.

Yes, the call is for more laborers in this part of the field.

Bethel Home

Due to the increased work at Bethel it has been necessary to bring in more brethren; therefore the field report shows an increase in publishers. The only way the Bethel family can

have an increase in publishers is by having more working at the factory or home.

This year there was an average of 191 publishers in the field each month, compared with last year’s 180. The report which follows shows that many more hours were put in the field than last year, an increase of over 6,000 hours. The family is very active in back-calls, reaching a new peak of for the year. Many of the brethren at Bethel act as unit servants and assistant servants in the New York company, and some of them have been appointed as regional and zone servants, which occupies their week-ends.

While the total number of pieces of literature placed is less than the previous year, this in no wise indicates that less work has been done, because more hours were spent in the factory in extra time and in field service than in any previous year, all done in the interests of God’s kingdom. The field report of the Bethel family for the year is set out below.

9,700  Publishers (average)      191

90.400  Hours                36,687

100 100  Sound attendance     36,788

1,213   Back-calls               7,727

Radio

For many years past the Boman Catholic Hierarchy, through their official newspapers, have been informing their people that "Judge Butherford is no longer on the air’’, that "Judge Butherford has been barred from all radio stations ’ ’. Of course, these have been malicious lies on their part, trying to show their people what power they possess in this country. In spite of all the boycott and coercive methods which the Hierarchy and their religious allies have used to "keep Judge Butherford off the air ’ ’, the Lord, through the Theocratic Government, sees to it that when an important message is to be broadcast worldwide it is sent out over the airway.

Such an occasion occurred on October 2, when the lecture "Fascism or Freedom’’ was delivered by the president of the Society at Mecca Temple, New York city. 58 radio stations, throughout the United States, were tied in a network that covered the entire country, and there were large auditoriums equipped with public-address systems in New Orleans, Columbus, Seattle, also Toronto and Ottawa in Canada, in which this lecture was heard. This lecture showed to the American people where the Hierarchy stand in regard to Fascism, and this expose made the Hierarchy gnash their teeth.

Again, on June 25, an even larger network of stations was arranged, the total being 70 stations tied together, throughout the United States, bringing to the people the now famous lecture "Government and Peace’’. This was sent forth direct from Madison Square Garden on the occasion of a world-wide convention of Jehovah’s witnesses. The network not only tied in 70 radio stations which broadcast the truth, but also tied in 28 convention halls, which were packed to overflowing, which halls were located in all parts of the world. The shortwave which carried the message overseas was heard in numerous countries, and the report of this far-flung message was very encouraging.

The Catholics, being unsuccessful in “barring Rutherford from the air”, are now working through the National Association of Broadcasters, which association is comprised of representatives from all radio stations in the United States. They have recently made their own code as to what shall go on the air. In effect it states, “Under no circumstances will compensation be accepted by the station or network for time consumed by a spokesman on a controversial public issue. ’ ’ The committee also called attention to the religious section of the code which states, “Radio, which reaches men of all creeds and races simultaneously, may not be used to convey attacks upon another’s race or religion. Rather, it should be the purpose of the religious broadcast to promote the spiritual harmony and understanding of mankind.” The newspaper account reporting on this association’s activities states that among the names often mentioned in the conference being held was that of Judge Rutherford. The National Association of Broadcasters, however, are not able to control all the radio stations. During the entire year there were several stations throughout .the country, particularly WBBR in Brooklyn, that continued to carry regularly all of the 5-minute lectures and 15-minute transcription lectures recorded.

Personal Visits

While the radio has done much good to awaken the people to the true conditions in the world, personal visits made by Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions in the homes of the people of good will have accomplished even more. While the Hierarchy and National Association of Broadcasters are putting forth every effort to stop the Kingdom message and to keep Brother Rutherford off the air, the Lord through his Theocratic Government, long before these efforts become successful, arranges for even a wider witness by means of the phonograph. These sharp, clear-cut truths which the Lord would have the people of good will to hear, to aid them in taking their stand, are now brought into their own homes in the regular door-to-door witnessing, and particularly by means of back-calls.

More than 7,000 sets of each of the records containing the full text of ' ‘ Face the Facts ”, “ Fill the Earth, ” “ Fascism or Freedom,” have been distributed throughout the Englishspeaking world for the making of these personal visits. Following up closely on these come the lectures ‘ ‘ Victory ’ ’ and ‘ ‘ Government and Peace”, and more than 7,500 sets of these have already been shipped out, and they are still being ordered by the publishers in the held. 30,000 discs containing the short talk “Snare and Backet’’ have been manufactured, all of which have been sent out and are used regularly on sound machines. The “locusts’’ go through the cities clearing away the veneer and showing the people the way to go.

In the United States alone there were 1,285,327 of these personal visits made upon the people during the past year. Knowing that over 800,000 dises containing a 44-minute speech on each side are in the hands of the publishers throughout the world, we can appreciate more fully the great work that is being accomplished by Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions calling at the homes of the people and comforting those that mourn.

Use of Records

The phonograph record containing the 4|-minute lecture has been a wonderful aid to the publisher in the field. Years ago the publisher had to do all the talking. Some of them had difficulty with their voice or an impediment in their speech, or may have been nervous in approaching the people, but now with the phonograph short talks have been prepared by the president of the Society such as the record “Enemies”, which introduces the book Enemies in just 4J minutes. Other records show the importance of reading The Watchtower; still others show why the people should read Salvation. All of these short talks are to the point, stated in a very clear voice and a convincing argument. While the speaker on the record brings this information to millions of people in a year, the publishers are relieved of this strain of talking from door to door, which drains their vitality, and so the users of the phonograph have found they can put in more hours because someone else does the speaking for them.

The phonograph has been more fully appreciated in the last few years, and its use is becoming more effective as time goes on. This can be seen in the fact that 13,327,819 persons have listened to these records. The phonograph has done more than any other one thing in aiding the people of good will to get a knowledge of the truth and take a stand for the Kingdom. It has also aided the people of good will in becoming publishers, because it removes that timidity due to not knowing what to say at the door, but lets the phonograph say it. More than 22,000 phonographs are in use in the United States.

Special Pioneers

The special pioneer work was announced at the Columbus convention in September, 1937, and that work has continued now for two years with good results. When the special pioneer work began the company publishers were not convinced of the value of making back-calls and the regular daily use of the phonograph.

About 200 specially chosen pioneers throughout the country took upon themselves the responsibility of really putting to use the phonograph. They were sent into the large cities where companies were organized, and there it was proved, without question ot doubt, that the phonograph had an important place in the proclamation of the Kingdom. In the past two years, because the publishers of the Kingdom became phonograph-minded, more than 20,000 phonographs had to be manufactured at the Brooklyn plant, and then we were unable to keep up with the demand. During the .past year the special pioneer group has been increased to 300 at one time, but the average for the year shows there were 256 special pioneers engaging in the work regularly each month.

In the year these special pioneers made 516,982 setups. They had an attendance of over one million persons who heard the lectures, and these few brethren made 124,206 back-calls. The special pioneer work as originally outlined at the Columbus convention has accomplished its purpose in that all publishers now throughout the world know that the phonograph is a great aid in advancing the Kingdom interests.

To aid these special pioneers during the past year to accomplish the work they set out to do, the Society assisted them to the extent of $41,123.98.

The special pioneer work now takes on other duties. Those who are listed by the Society as special pioneers will now assist the zone servants where assigned throughout the country. Their principal work from now on will be to assist the zone servant in the organization of new companies, and in those companies that are slow in moving ahead with the Kingdom interests the Society is appointing a special pioneer as its company servant, so that the work may progress at a greater pace. These special pioneers devote all their time in the Kingdom service and will be a real aid to the publishers throughout the country at the points where they are assigned.

Books

The brethren in the field take great pleasure in the distribution of new books as Jehovah brings them forth through his organization. In the past year there were four new publications. In the order of release they were, Face the Facts, Fascism or Freedom, Salvation, and Government and Peace.

The new booklet Face the Facts was released with the Watchtower Campaign beginning with January, and up to the present time has been translated in 24 languages, and the printing orders at Brooklyn have reached 12,040,076 copies.

Beginning with April, which was also part of the Watchtoiver Campaign, the booklet Fascism or Freedom was added to the literature to be distributed, and during the year 9,162,859 copies had been printed, in nine different languages. The Government and Peace booklet, containing the fiery lecture which scorched the religionists, had its release toward the end of the fiscal year. While only a few million copies have been printed to date, this booklet will undoubtedly pass the ten million mark soon.

The release of Salvation brought a thrill to all the publishers of the Kingdom. They were indeed delighted when they learned that this publication was “a textbook for the Jonadabs”. Salvation was released at the world-wide convention in June and, since that time, has had an unusual distribution. The demand on the part of the witnesses has been so great that the factory at Brooklyn has been unable to keep up with the orders. Supplies consigned to branches have run out, and company organizations and pioneers have run short, even though the production is running a quarter of a million every month and more than one million copies have already been dispatched. It is believed that the distribution of the Salvation book will exceed all other bound books when it is compared, year for year, with the release of other books prior to its time.

Each year the Society publishes a Yearbook, and the 1939 Year Booh of Jehovah’s witnesses was released late in December. This publication always brings much joy to its readers. A larger edition was necessary this year than in previous years, the printing being 40,420.

World-wide Convention

Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions assembled in convention throughout the world June 23, 24, 25, 1939. At 28 cities throughout the English-speaking world the Lord’s people came together primarily to give a witness for the Kingdom and to receive instruction, comfort and aid from the Lord’s Word, which they all did.                                       ,

Friday, the first day of the convention, was primarily devoted to the field service, calling on the people in all the cities with the Kingdom literature, and the carrying forward of information marches advertising the public lecture “ Government and Peace”.

The key city of the world-wide convention was New York city. The first assembly that tied together all the cities by direct wire was the one Saturday afternoon, at which time the president of the Society addressed this’ vast assembly of over 33,000 Christians on the subject “Victory”. Not only did those assembled at these convention points hear this most inspiring and blessed talk brought to us from the Lord’s Word, but hundreds and even thousands of others picked up the shortwave broadcast that took the message to the conventions in Australia, London and Honolulu. The doom of religion was clearly seen, and the work of the ¹ ‘ locusts ’ ’ was greatly appreciated. While the talk, ‘ ‘ Victory, ’ ’ was enthusiastically received, the brethren throughout the world had a thrill they never expected. The president of the Society, near the close of his lecture, introduced the new book, Salvation, at the convention hall in New York city, and this book was simultaneously released in every convention city throughout the world. Reports were received that the brethren were simply amazed that the new book should be released in England, Honolulu, Canada, and all parts of the United States, immediately after the close of Brother Rutherford’s talk, “Victory.” It surely was a victory for the Lord’s people, because after that speech they went out into the field work advertising “Government and Peace” and many new publishers entered the field.

The following day, Sunday, there were 2,218 persons immersed throughout the world at these various assemblies, which is another indication of the Lord’s bringing together the great multitude.

The climax of the convention came Sunday afternoon at 4 o ’clock, at which time the Madison Square Garden was packed out by those who desired to hear “Government and Peace”. A large radio chain was arranged to carry the message to all parts of the United States, and the auditoriums at all convention cities had been packed out, the visible audience being well over 75,000.

The religionists, being opposed to free speech, were not able to take the hard, cutting truths as set forth in the Bible, and made an attempt to break up that meeting; and so it was that Catholic Action sent into Madison Square Garden a large group evidently with instructions to use gangster methods to break up the assembly of Christian people. The Lord’s people were prepared to handle those who caused the disturbance, and did. When this group began to boo, hiss, curse, utter threats, and yell “Heil Hitler!” “Viva Pranco!” the ushers, who were of the Lord’s people, began to remove these disturbers. Brother Rutherford never once hesitated in the delivery of his speech, but the Lord gave him power and strength to make his delivery that did set fear in the heart of the enemy.

Within fifteen minutes after the disturbance arose these gangsters were entirely squelched and put out, and the lecture continued to a magnificent finish. The 20,000 people who packed out the Garden were with Brother Rutherford. The applause that arose and the ayes of response to the declaration shook the very rafters of Madison Square Garden. “Government and Peace” was the most stirring lecture to the Lord’s people, and certainly was a trimming to the Devil’s organization. They are still scorched under the heat of that message.

At the time of the delivery of “Government and Peace” it was simultaneously recorded, and “Government and Peace” is now being sent forth into all parts of the world to small assemblies. The religionists did not know that all their gangster methods would be recorded simultaneously with the lecture, and it gives it a most effective background. Now that it is delivered in small halls to smaller gatherings throughout the world, it really shows to the people of good will the wickedness of that devilish crowd.

At numerous places Catholic Action continually tries to break up assemblies where “Government and Peace” is advertised, because they know where “Government and Peace” is advertised they will be exposed to the public in their true light. What started at Madison Square Garden Sunday afternoon, June 25, was just the beginning of a tremendous witness that is now reaching to the ends of the earth. The Lord’s people did not sit back and let these gangsters walk over them in Madison Square Garden, but they took the proper action in putting them out, which was entirely Scriptural and in harmony with the Lord’s Word. It was the greatest convention of all times for Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions, and an occasion never to be forgotten.

What occurred at that convention now makes up the greatest part of the witness work today, namely, the distribution of the book Salvation and the booklet Government and Peace; and the recorded messages, “Victory” and “Government and Peace”, are heard by thousands upon thousands of persons weekly.

While the convention came to a close in New York city Sunday evening, the work of that convention was not done. Within a few days after the convention ended Kingdom News No. 4 was released for public distribution throughout New York city. The headlines of Kingdom News were—“Attempt to Wreck Garden Assembly. The Pacts. ’ ’ An open letter by J. P. Rutherford to Mayor La Guardia of New York city was reprinted therein and this Kingdom News was distributed far and wide among millions of people residing in the city. One million copies of . Kingdom News were placed in the hands of the people within five days. Numerous were the comments of appreciation on the part of the public. The work of distributing Kingdom News was done in such a hurry that the religionists on the street selling their wares were amazed and dumfounded. The response on the part of the people of good will of New York city has been very gratifying since the convention. The great shower of blessings which fell upon the Lord’s people during this world-wide convention will never be forgotten.

International Campaigns

Certain periods had formerly been set aside each year at which time a complete report was received from all the publishers throughout the world through the various branches. These periods ran for nine days in October and April. During the past year, however, a change was made to extend the testimony periods from nine days to one month and even longer.

The first month-long international campaign was in October, 1938, at which time the booklet Warning was offered world-wide for the first time.

The most important campaign of the year was the Watchtower Campaign, which ran over a period of four months, beginning in January and ending with the month of April. All branches throughout the world sent in a complete report of the work done for this period, which was truly gratifying and shows what a wonderful witness can be given in such a short period of time.

In these four months of the Watchtower Campaign 67,229 publishers were in the field, the largest number ever engaging in the field service at any one time and so reporting. Throughout the world during this Watchtower Campaign 121,073 new subscriptions were obtained for The Watchtower. The detailed report of both international campaigns follows.

	October 1-31, 1938	J anuary-April, 1939
Countries reporting	54	59
Pioneers	3,412	3,911
Auxiliaries	1,263
Company publishers	53,442	63,318
Total publishers	58,117	67,229
Hours	1,207,367	5,158,790
Books	207,634	695,914
Booklets	2,622,252	11,186,803
Total literature	2,829,886	11,882,717
Subscriptions	9,326	121,073
Sound attendance	1,944,666	6,204,210
Back-calls	99,132	744,563

Report on Special Testimony Periods

The nine-day testimony periods held six times during the year were extended each to a month in duration. The brethren have always put forth special effort during these periods, but the report below shows that the brethren are very consistent throughout the year in their monthly activity, because the report given herewith is just about half of the yearly report and covers six months. This report shows a consistency on the part of the brethren in their daily activity proclaiming the Kingdom

message.	Pioneers	Companies	Total
Books	394,031	487,275	881,306
Booklets	2,083,372	4,563,902	6,647,274
Total literature	2,477,403	5,051,177	7,528,580
Average publishers	2,181	33,071	35,252
Hours	1,426,184	3,102,476	4,528,660
New subscriptions	23,830	32,053	55,883
Attendance	2,119,430	4,507,665	6,627,095
Back-calls	206,675	439,530	646,205

Regional Servants

The country is divided into six regions, each region having a servant who visits the zones at least twice a year. Each of the zones, of which there are 153, has a zone servant. Each of these servants makes a report direct to the Society on the companies he visits regularly, and the regional servant makes a report on the entire zone on his visit to the zone.

Ordained Ministers

The following is a list of ordained ministers specially equipped and sent from headquarters.

Abbuhl, D.

Akashi, J. L. Akin, W» B. Allen, J. Alspach, B. D. Alspach, R. W. Anderson, B. A. Anderson, F. A. Anderson, H. A. Avey, A. W. Babinski, J. Baecht, A. Baeuerlein, J. A. Ball, A. L. Ballard, E. E. Banks, T. E. Barber, C. W. Barnes, G, Q. Bausch, L. R. Baxter, W. H. Beasley, E. W. Becker, E. W. Behannan, H. C. Behm, L. T. Belekon, N. Benson, J. R.

Bloedow, L. W. Bobb, F. R.

Bodnar, J. M. Bogard, J. Booth, J. C. Bourne, Reginald A. Bradshaw, R. Brame, E. R. Broadwater, L. Brown, R. M. Brown, W. R. Buczek, L.

Buenger, P. M. L. Bullock, W. C. Burczyk, B. O. Burmester, W. Burtch, L. B. Callendar, L. E. Cantwell, H. A. Cantwell, J. L. Cantwell, R. D. Carron, S.

Carter, J, D.

Casola, P. A. Champagne, J. R.

Chapman, P.

Chen, F. Claus, A. L. Clemons, P. R. Coble, W. G. Collet, R. Collier, R. E. Colwell, G. P. Comstock, E. H. Comuntzis, T. P. Conrow, H. R. Cornelius, E. G. Correnti, J. Coultrup, C. R. Coup, C. L. Covington, H. C. Cox, D. M. Crafton, T. J. Creswell, R. B. Croxford, N. H. Culley, E. F. Cumming, A. E. Cutforth, C. W. Dailey, W. C. Davis, J. E. Davis, R. E. Dawson, J. L. Dawson, R. L. DeCecca, G. DeFehr, J. F. DeLucia, J. Derderian, D. P. Dewar, Frank DeWitt, E. K. Dey, W.

Dixon, H. M. S. Dockey, E. L. Domelle, W. A. Downie, M. M. Dreisbach, D. O. Droge, G. H. Dugan, L. M. Duncan, H.

Dunham, A. P. R. Du PreMoore, A. E. Dwenger, H. Eberle, C. C-Eckley, F. G. Edens, A. J. Edwardes, J. C. Eicher, C. E. Elmore, O. L.

Elrod, W. A. Emch, H. S. Eneroth, T. H. Erickson, J. T. Evendole, G. Feaster, L. M. Fekel, C. J. Ferguson, I}. J. Feuerbacker, M. R. Fisher, A. w. Flinn, E. A. Forrester, J. W. Franske, F. J. Franz, F. W. Freschel, M. M. Frost, C. E. Fulgentis, G. D. Fulton, G. P. Gabler, H. F. Gangas, G. D.

Geidl, K W. Gengler, L. L. Geyer, B. P. Gillespie, R. E. Gilmer, C. M. Goings, C.

Good, F. G. Gordon, T. C. Goslin, E. Goux, A. R. Grant, G. P. Green, J. A. Greenlees, L. K. Grimes, J. E. Hackenberg, C. F. Haglund, C. Haigh, J. H.

Hall, D. H. Hall. P. M. Hammer, P. Haney, A. Haney, H. R. Hannan, G. E. Hannan, W. T. Harbeck, M. C. Harbeck, M. H. Harrell, W. K. Harteva, K. Haslett, D. Hatzfeld, R. H. Heath, Jr., W. P. Hemery, J.

Hemmaway, J. Henschel, H. G. Henschel, M. G. Herr, M. L. Hessler, C. R. Hibbard, O. J. Hibshman, C. H. Hibshman, C. L. Hibshman, D. Z. Hilldring, T. A. Hoffman, A. M. Hojnacki, R. V. Hollister, G. S.

Homer, D. Homiak, R. J.

Hooper, E. W.

Hopkins, A. A.

Hoppe, K.

Howarth, J.

Huff, W. D. Hugin, F. Hussock, C. Huzzey, C. S. Ilett, A. E. Insberg, A. Isaac, J. Jackson, W. K. James, H. W. Jensen, K. M. Jewel, W. R. Jewulski, T. G. Johnson, D. F. Johnson, J. W. Johnson, K. W. Johnston, S. E. Jones, C. J. Jones, G. Jones, H. W. Jones, J. W. Jones, R. T. Judson, H. G. Julian, F. A. Kalle, R. Karanassios, A. Keefer, N. J. Kellaris, A. N. Keller, E. F. Kennedy, E. C. Kershaw, A. Kersting, J. F. Killam, T. B. Kirkland, P. M. Klein, K. F. Klein, T. E. Knecht, C. Knemeyer, C. V. Knight, C. E. Knorr, N. H. Knowlton, D. G. Kosel, A. D. Kurzen, J. G. Kurzen, Jr., J. G. Kurzen, R. W. Kusiak, M. Kutch, J. A. Lagona, J.

Lang, A. S. Langfeldt, N. M. Larson, M. H. Laurix, J.

Le Clair, J. Leffler, R. H. Leiwe, C. R. Lemmons, P. H. Lendin, J. Lester, C. Lindem, M. L. Lindsay, L. M. Lopp, P. L. Luce, C. O. Lundgren, A. R. Lundgren, H. B. Lunstrum, D. A. T. Lusga, F.

Luts, J.

Lyon, C. H.

MacAulay, D. F. MacAulay, J. Y. MacDonald, H. W. MacGillivray, A. Macmillan, A. H. Magyarosi, M. Markus, J. F. Marsh, E. C. Martin, L. R. Mason, B. B. Massey, H. McClure. M. A. McCormick, G. Y. McGowan, J. McLemore, L. L. McLuhan, R. G. McRoy, G. E. Metzger, D. H. Montero, R. Morgan, R. E. Moyer, R. K. Moyer, W. K. Muniz, J.

Myers, G. Nathan, J. Nein, E. H. Nelson, M. Ness, W. Nicholson, C. G. Norris, D. Ochala, S. Oertel, H. C. Oertel, W. J. Olson, H. C. Oman, E.

Orrell, E. D. Paine, R. E. Palo. W. J. Papadem, A. Papageorge, D. Papargyropoulos, A. Parsons, F. H. Paschall, A. L. Pate, A. Paul, J.

Payette, J. A. Peach, A. F.

Peavy, L. B. Penhollow, I. H. Perry, J. A.

Peterson, C. T. R. Peterson, W. Petry, R. J.

Phillips, F. E. Phillips, G. R. Phillips, O. W. Photinos, P. Pierce, J. R. Pierce, R. E. Pool, S. Price, W. F. Prosser, C. S. Pudliner, M. P. Putnam, G. W. Quackenbush, C. D. Quackenbush, M. N. Quinley, C. A. Radosevich, W. Rainbow, J. C. Rann, G. A.

Read, G. T. Reddish, K. C. Reid, W. A. Reusch, L. E. Richards, J. Riemer, H. H. Roberts, C. Rohner, C. Roper, L. L. Rosenberger, J. A. Roth, J. J.

Rowitsch, R. M. Ruffner, J. S. Rusk, T. J. Russell, G. M. Ruth, W. B. Rutherford, J. F. Ryan, R. A. Sabo, L. M. Sage, W. A. Sampson, J. O. Santos, J.

Scarbrough, L. Scheid er, W. Schieman, H. C. Schmidt, W. Schnell, W. J. Schroeder, A. D. Secord, A. H.

Shawver, C. G. Short, C.

Shuter. S. A. Siebenlist, O. Sillaway, C. E. Simcox, A. R. Sioras, J. P. Sisson, E. W. Skaudvila, L. Skinner, F. E. Slaughter, F. Slik, H.

Smith, H. A. Smith, T. E. Spring, W. H.

Stewart, D. M.

Stewart, H. L.

Stierle, W. R.

Stone, R. A.

Stratigos, P.

Suiter, E. M.

Suiter, G.

Sullivan I. J.

Suvak, A.

Swingle, L. A.

Symondson, B. W.

Talma, G. L.

Taylor, W. B.

Tedesco, A. B.

Televiak, M. J.

Terry, F. H.

Theophilides, A. G.

Thomas, R. C.

Thomson, G. F. W.

Thorn, W. J.

Toutjian, S. H.

Treder, W. B.

Truscott, P. C.

Ulrich, C.

Umlauf, J.

Vaile, C. M.

VanAmburgh, W. E.

Vanice, E. R.

Van Sipma, S. M.

Van Zee, F.

Vasillades, P.

Vogel, A. C.

Voight, W.

Wagner, A. K.

Wagner, C. E. Walcekons, J. Wainwright, F. C.

Wargo, M.

Wargo, P.

Webb, L. H.

Weber, H. B.

Webster, M. L.

Werner, A.

White, V.

White, W. E. Wiberg, C. E.

Widle, E. C.

Wilda, C. de

Wilson, E. R.

Wilson, F. C.

Winchester, M. D.

Wise, C. A.

Wismar, F.

Wood, R. M.

Woodworth, C. J.

Woodworth, H.

Woodworth, W. E.

Worsley, A. A.

Wright, A. B.' Wright, A. S.

Young, G. , Yuchnlewicz, S.

Yuille, N. A.

Opposition

During the past year, in more than half of the states of the United States there were arrests made of Jehovah’s witnesses because they were preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. The enemy has been trying to frame mischief by law, and in so doing has tried to block, encircle, and even destroy the good work which Jehovah’s witnesses have been doing in this land.

There is an ever-increasing attempt on the part of the Devil’s organization to stop the advance of the Kingdom. This is shown in the fact that more than 600 individual arrests have been brought to the attention of the legal desk as compared with last year’s 471.

In order to aid the publishers in properly defending themselves when taken in by the "strong-arm squad’’, the Society lias published a 16-page booklet entitled "Advice for Kingdom Publishers’’. This booklet should be carefully studied by all publishers, so that they may give proper witness before the magistrates and see to it that proper record is made regarding the case.

The legal desk reports that during the last year the courts in the land have arrested the brethren under many charges. Some of the charges made against our brethren were: vagrancy, trespassing, annoying people, offending people, disorderly conduct, peddling ■without a license, canvassing without a permit, soliciting on Sunday, soliciting "business’’ without a permit, soliciting donations without a permit, selling without a license, "parading’’ without a permit, causing a crowd to congregate, inciting to riot, disturbing the peace, breach of the peace, distributing circulars (or pamphlets) without a permit, distributing "Fascist” literature, distributing offensive literature, assault and battery, felonious assault, simple assault, distributing obscene literature, violating “blue laws’’ of Mississippi, violating “anti-Nazi’’ law of New Jersey, attacking the Roman Catholic religion, “habitual offenders’’ (for refusing to salute a flag and recite a pledge of allegiance to worldly governments)

In addition to the many arrests reported to the Society, there were undoubtedly hundreds of our brethren taken to the courts and released of which no report was sent in. Many of the cases that come before magistrates are railroaded through. Many appeals have been taken in the various cases throughout the country where adverse decisions have been made against the brethren on the part of the court.

“Consolation"

The purpose of the magazine Consolation is to aid persons of good will to gei a quick vision of the world situation as the same is related to the Theocratic Government. In these times of peril one who thinks may quickly get a vision of the world situation by reading Consolation and from its pages learning that all of creation aside from real Christians are against the Theocratic Government and have fallen victims to the wicked one. They are deceived, of course. Amongst them there are, no doubt, some who would like to be in a better situation and understand more about God’s purpose, and the Consolation magazine is attempting to help them along these lines.

During the year this magazine has been published in the English and six other languages and has had a wide distribution in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and other English-speaking countries. Consolation carries no advertisements. It is not its purpose to make money, and all money received for subscriptions is quickly absorbed and expended in the publication of the message relating to the Theocratic Government.

Conclusion

Being in constant touch with the brethren in the factory and office, I hear their many expressions of appreciation of being here at Bethel. The provisions that have been made for all of us are numerous. Not only do we have the best place in the world to work, plenty of light, clean factory, effective machinery, but at the home the provision in the way of food, material and spiritual, has been of the very best.

BRITAIN

The work of The Theocracy has progressed in the British Isles during the fiscal year. In the year previous the British people had a clear warning that the Boman Catholic Hierarchy, acting together with Fascists and Nazis, would make a strenuous effort to control all the nations and rule them by arbitrary dictators. Many persons believed it then, but within the last few months many others have been thoroughly convinced. This is further evidence that the conclusion of Satan’s organization on earth is near and that within a brief space of time the Great Theocrat, by Christ Jesus, will eliminate every part of Satan’s organization from the earth. Then will follow the blessings to the survivors, which all lovers of righteousness have desired to see come to earth. From that time onward forever the will of God shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The Roman Catholic Hierarchy, assisted by other Fascists, have manifested great opposition to the British work far more than ever, but that opposition has only stimulated the devotees of The Theocracy to push the work with greater zeal. Two years ago little or no progress was being made. A change of the servants was made in 1938, and the remaining part of that year the work increased. As an illustration, the pioneers in 1937 were unable to find sufficient territory in the British Isles, according to the report of the one then in charge of the office, and for this reason a number of pioneers were sent to France. It was thought that Britain could not support more than 100 pioneers; there would not be sufficient territory. During the fiscal year just now ended the report shows 429 pioneers active in the field, with a greatly increased number of company workers. During the year phonograph and sound machines reproducing this gospel of the Kingdom, to the number of 4,837, have been in use. The sound attendance, that is, the people who attended these sound reproductions, totaled 1,515,747. Back-calls were made on the interested to the number of 175,942. There were placed in the hands of the people by the field publishers books and booklets to the number of 6,185,979. The total number of Watchtower subscribers for the year was 11,445, and copies of The Watchtower distributed totaled 681,704; copies of Consolation distributed,

508,197. For the month of September, the last month of the fiscal year, there were actually in the field 511 pioneers in the service, and on the last day of the year there were enrolled, ready for service, 593 pioneers, and the number is still increasing. Public meetings have been held in the British Isles to the number of 5,695, with a total attendance of 227,617. Information marches were had to the number of 2,623. Almost every town, city and village in the British Isles was visited. This brought forth the opposition of the enemy, and there were sixty-six cases of violent assaults made upon Jehovah's witnesses and attempts by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy to break up public meetings. Those who love the Theocratic Government will read with keen interest more details of the work in Britain taken from the report of the local servant in charge at 34 Craven Terrace, London, as follows:

To Jehovah, the Great Theoerat, and his King, Christ Jesus, we render thanks and praise for the privilege of advancing a portion of “his strange work’’. The record of the “strange work’’ in Britain during the year 1939 has been one of great devastation to the pastures of entrenched religionists by the division of His great army of “locusts’’ stationed in this land for duty. The continual unfolding of his purposes through the columns of the beautiful newly designed Watchtower, and especially the two series, “Drama of Vindication’’ and “Doom of Religion’’, have enabled Jehovah’s people here to increase in strength, courage and zeal for the Theocracy and to endure the Kingdom warfare. Living in the days of ‘ ‘ the latter rain ’ ’, our floors indeed have been overflowing with wheat and the vats overflowing with new wine and oil. (Joel 2: 24) Prosperity and expansion oi the Kingdom interests have grandly continued in spite of growing opposition and much tribulation amongst the people. The forward movement of the “strange work” has gained momentum, and hundreds more have taken their stand and joined in the work. Although the eyes of the world have been anxiously focused on Britain, she, like the other nations, has been sorely perplexed; yet this land has experienced during the past several months an intense demonstration for Jehovah’s Theocracy, the greatest it has known, to set a definite lead to all those who love righteousness. The honest ones are getting their eyes opened, forsaking religion, which is a curse, and are fleeing to the “cities of refuge”.

Rushing Toward Armageddon

Following is a brief log of the rushing course of events during 1939, which reveals Jehovah’s maneuvering and protection of his people as promised in the year’s text, “But they shall not prevail against thee.’’ (Jer. 1: 19) Prior to the beginning of the fiscal year 1939 the religionists in Britain had remained hidden in their centuries-old holes, but by ‘ ‘ turning on the heat ’ ’ they were forced out into the open and exposed to all righteous people as a gang of racketeers.

To give a complete picture we must begin with Judge Rutherford’s great lecture entitled “Face the Facts’’, given at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on September 11, 1938, where he thoroughly exposed the Catholic-Fascist move for world domination. This released a storm of opposition which resulted in a continual fight for the next twelve months.

Immediately following this event the September international crisis quickly developed leading to the Munich agreement. This crisis gave Britain a real shock and brought a grip of fear over the people. They had not faced the facts as previously warned by Judge Rutherford. During these critical days the new zone organization of Jehovah’s witnesses under the Theocratic arrangement was put into operation throughout the country, thus laying a further basis for offensive attack on Jehovah’s enemies. By October 1 one million copies of the new booklet Warning were in the hands of the brethren, and they moved forward as one man during the “Jehovah’s Battle’’ period of October 1 to 31. The public, in their unsettled state, eagerly accepted this latest message from the Lord, and many took their stand accordingly. This vast number of booklets was distributed in ten weeks.

On October 14 the London Catholic Herald launched out into the open for the first time and published a libelous attack on Judge Rutherford and his Royal Albert Hall relay of the ‘ ‘ Face the Facts’’ lecture. The Society’s solicitors were immediately advised to proceed against the Catholic Herald for libel and instructed to sue them at the proper moment for £20,000. The issue was sorely pressed by the Society’s solicitors, and after several weeks the Catholic Herald wished to have it settled out of court and agreed to publish a retraction to the satisfaction of the Society’s solicitors. This was published by them on November 25, but was such a humiliating incident that the Herald ever since has been out to even the score but has failed because the days of the Hierarchy’s end are at hand.

On November 18 a special witness was given to members of the House of Lords and members of the House of Commons and other government officials. They were each sent a letter drawing their attention to the booklet Face the Facts, a copy of which was enclosed, and its references to “The Aliens Restriction (Blasphemy) Act 1938’’.

The next step in the war was begun in December, when a nation-wide campaign was carried out for nine months thereafter, conducting public meetings with the recorded lectures “Face the Facts’'. “Fascism or Freedom,” “Violence,” and “Warning”. During the nine months 5,695 public meetings were held in cinemas, public halls, schools, Kingdom halls, etc., covering almost every city, town and village in Britain. The total attendance at these meetings was 227,617, of which 187,606 were strangers. To advertise these meetings, more than three million folders were distributed amongst the people and 2,623 information marches organized in which long lines of faithful brethren marched displaying their Kingdom banners. This public meeting campaign further enraged the religionists and was a “siege” they won't forget for a long time.

On January 1 the great five-month Watchtower Campaign began, during the first part of which three million Face the Facts booklets were distributed in the British field. This, together with the distribution of the new Watchtowers and gaining subscriptions for the same, proved to be a mighty onslaught. Also, as a result of Brother Rutherford’s special letter, all the company brethren redoubled their efforts with a try to make the sixty hours a month in the King’s service. During this campaign the counterattack of the enemy was launched.

Shortly after January 11 a special witness was given to all officials, Catholic leaders, and the press throughout the country, as to the Catholic Herald exposure. They were all served with copies of the Face the Facts booklet, copy of Consolation No. 504, which carried the exposure, and a copy of the special leaflet entitled “Catholic Herald Anxious to Gag Judge Rutherford”. Fifty thousand copies of this Consolation as well as two million copies of this leaflet were quickly distributed throughout the country. The religionists continued to howl.

By February the pressure on the Hierarchy was so great that they retaliated with a nation-wide campaign of violence and assault upon Jehovah’s witnesses. This was accompanied by bitter and vicious press attacks week after week in the Catholic Herald and the Catholic Universe, in which they subtly encouraged further acts of violence upon Jehovah’s servants. The first assault occurred at Clydebank on February 7, and other incidents quickly followed in other parts of Scotland as well as in Wales and England and Northern Ireland. This campaign of violence resulted in 66 cases of assaults, 3 mob riots, and 12 attempts to break up public meetings. AU this opposition was instigated by local priests and carried out by local Catholic Action groups. Ten of these cases were prosecuted and the offenders properly punished.

It was also in February that “pavement witnessing” began as authorized by Brother Rutherford. Brethren, individuaUy or in groups, wearing large posters advertising the Face the Facts booklet, stood on the pavements in the busy thoroughfares on Saturday evenings or other market days and placed booklets with the people on the regular contributions. Thousands of booklets were placed with the people in this manner, and the witness was given to many people who in the ordinary house-to-house work are never met. Farmers and others coming into towns to do their shopping on Saturdays were given a good opportunity to get Kingdom information as well. Many appointments for back-calls and subscriptions were taken in this way. The people felt free to come and talk to the brethren about the matter. This form of witnessing has proved to be very effective.

In April the Fascism or Freedom booklet was released to the public, of which eventually two million copies were placed. About this time a public statement was issued to the people in Scotland in a special leaflet entitled “Nazi Tactics in Clydebank”. A quarter million of these leaflets were effectively distributed by the Scottish publishers. A special campaign was carried out in Clydebank with this leaflet, and further violence occurred. On April 2, at the public meeting in Oldham where the “Fascism or Freedom” lecture was given, Aiderman Shannon, the former mayor of Oldham, took it upon himself to lead a group of Catholic-Fascists in making three attempts to break up this meeting. The police were called and put Shannon and his gang out of the hall in spite of Shannon’s threat to the police constable for taking such action against such an “important individual” as himself. A special campaign was put on in Oldham and the surrounding territory a few weeks later to inform the people of this Catholic-Fascist attempt. Four hundred thousand leaflets on this matter, entitled “Catholic-Fascist Action in Oldham—Catholic Priests Encourage Attempt to Break Up Bible Meeting”, were thoroughly distributed and caused a great stir in the Lancashire and Yorkshire districts.

In May a priest, McDonagh, brought pressure to bear on several hall and cinema managers in South Wales to break their contracts with Jehovah’s witnesses. This priest had practically established a censorship in the Ebbw Vale, and the Abersyehan brethren were shut out of their halls. McDonagh tried to pass the blame onto the local police, who got on his trail and made him squirm. All the brethren in this Welsh zone got together for a special campaign and placed 50,000 leaflets exposing this high-handed business of the Catholics. Priest Witty of Hebburn-on-Tyne tried the same thing and was met by a further campaign and exposure by Jehovah’s witnesses. Wherever they lifted their head in the country, the “locusts” went after them.

On June 7, after four months of hesitancy on the part of the Scottish judiciary, the two Clydebank trials were conducted. The first case was that of Jehovah’s witnesses against Patrick MeGrory, the ringleader of a gang of four Catholic roughs who beat up and knocked senseless one of Jehovah’s witnesses. This ruffian was found guilty and punished, and this four months after he committed the act. The second case was that of Clydebank priests Duffin and McEwen against four of Jehovah’s witnesses, who were charged by the priests with disturbing the peace in Clydebank by doing their ordinary witness work. Tn the trial the facts were brought out that it was the priests themselves who organized the mob against Jehovah’s witnesses and thus caused the breach of the peace and that Jehovah’s witnesses had nothing to do with inciting the mob who attacked them. This was a wonderful public witness, as the priests were put to shame and humiliated by their own speech and inconsistent testimony by their witnesses, who, needless to say, were loyal children of the “church”. The brethren themselves gave a splendid testimony in court. The judge acquitted the four brethren and found they were doing a proper and good work. Thus on this day two more victories were granted to Jehovah’s servants, and the dupes of the enemy exposed and put to shame. The Hierarchy saw to it that these trials were given no publicity, either in their own press or in the secular press. The brethren in Scotland rejoiced over this victory, and they have seen to it that the people have been informed about it.

In the weeks prior to June 23-25 extensive preparations were made to organize ten conventions in Britain to be tied in with the great convention at New York city. These conventions were held at Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, and Newcastle. Five thousand brethren joined in the sessions on Saturday night, hearing every word of Brother Rutherford’s “Victory” lecture. It was grand, and the best overseas reception at every point. On Sunday 24,000 persons gathered at the largest halls located in the above cities to hear the “Government and Peace” lecture from Madison Square Garden, New York. The British audiences were thrilled with this speech, and heard every word in a perfect transoceanic broadcast. Jehovah’ hand was marvelously displayed in bringing through perfect broadcasting. Three million folders, scores of information marches, and thousands of posters and placards were used in the biggest advertising campaign yet for a convention. On Satuiday, June 24, the I.R.A. (the Irish Republican Army, a Catholic terrorist movement which had been carrying out a campaign of bombing throughout Britain for the past several months) phoned an “official” threat to the London offices of the Society, saying they would take action if the London-Belfast circuit were not canceled for Judge Rutherford’s overseas lectures. This information was immediately given to Scotland Yard, and the halls in both Belfast and London were closely guarded by police and detectives. Quickly following the Saturday evening session of the convention five bombs exploded in the center of London near to the Kingsway Hall, where Jehovah’s people had been meeting. This was their worst bomb outrage, causing much property damage and injuring many persons; however, their dirty work did not touch a hair of Jehovah’s people. This was the third threat received from these maniacs signing themselves as the I.K.A., in the course of four months.

On July 7 the second witness to members of Parliament, to the press and to public officials throughout the land was given. They were sent a special letter drawing their attention to the Catholic-Fascists' move for power in this country. They were also supplied with a copy of Fascism or Freedom, copy of Consolation No. 516, containing the article called “Fascism in Britain”, and a copy of the leaflet entitled “Catholic-Fascist Menace in Britain”. After the leaders had been served, a hundred thousand copies of this Consolation and two million of these leaflets were placed throughout the land.

In view of the Compulsory Military Training Act which came into force in June many of the younger brethren had to make their stand as “conscientious objectors”. Several of the brethren had to appear before the military tribunals during August and were privileged there to give a good witness to the Kingdom. These young brethren used the name “Jehovah” so many times in their stand that even the judges were using the word. In each case the tribunals awarded the brethren exemption from military service and granted them freedom to carry on their work as heretofore. Our brethren and their uncompromising stand made a contrast to the various religionists who also made appeals for exemption, but they got mixed up in their scriptures. In one instance the national press gave wide publicity to a brother’s case. As a result of this publicity, he now and then receives a caller commending him for his stand, and, of course, this gives the brother a further opportunity to talk about the Kingdom. In one instance a clergyman commended him for his bold stand.

By the time August 1 came around, the beginning of the “Divine Mandate ’ ’ period, the field was ripe for the new book Salvation and its good news. The brethren were overjoyed to receive this new book at the convention in June, and now were eager to take it to the people. It is undoubtedly the finest book we have ever had, and so clearly marks out the course for a righteous person to take to receive Jehovah’s protection. 95,000 copies of this beautiful new book were sent to this country, and 50,000 of them were placed during the ‘ ‘ Divine Mandate ’ ’ period, and the remainder during September. This book has received the largest initial distribution of any bound book.

Near the end of August the international situation began to deteriorate quickly, and on Sunday, September 3, this country declared a state of war, and a state of national emergency, existing henceforth. Most of the brethren were in the field on the Sunday morning when this solemn announcement was made. People were upset, many of the women weeping, so that witnessing during those historic hours was an experience never to be forgotten. There was no wild demonstration of patriotism or shouting, but an unhappy acceptance of what seemed to be the inevitable. An air raid signal of warning followed fifteen minutes after the war announcement, and there was a rush to take to cover. Soon, however, Jehovah’s servants carried on calmly with their errand of comfort and consolation. Most of the people received them kindly, and many Salvation books were appropriately placed. Since the beginning of the war strict blackout obtains every night. This greatly inconveniences the meetings, back-calls, and evening drives of service. In spite of the many emergency regulations, restrictions and the other difficulties of “rationing”, etc., the “strange work” has been going right on. The first month of the war, September, was the second largest month of the year for bound book placements. The brethren gave a splendid demonstration of their determination to press forward the witness work, come what may. People are accepting literature now more readily than ever before. People are getting fed up with religion, which is again busy blessing the conflict. Yet the Catholic Press writes on September 15: “Jehovah’s witnesses again. . . . What can we do against calumny? . . . The Church has been attacked ... at a time like this. ’ ’ They evidently expected the war would entrap Jehovah’s witnesses by silencing them and give the priests a rest from the pestiferous “locusts”. But not so—yet. Jehovah’s witnesses and their message are now more effective and powerful than ever before, and the religionists are in for a continual exposure until the Lord says it is enough.

And now as, with the close of September, the fiscal year has ended, we are faced with an embargo on imports of records, bound books and booklets from the Brooklyn factory. The Devil and his organization are trying their best to cut off the food supply to the great multitude and have taken advantage of the totalitarian state of emergency that now exists in this land. If he can’t stop the work one way he tries another. Thus ends a twelve months’ panorama view of the “strange work” as it has progressed in Britain.

Field Report

The field report for 1939 is the largest on record. A total of 6,185,979 books and booklets were placed in the field. This is an increase of 1,877,269 pieces over last year’s report. It is interesting to note that the 1939 report shows about three times the literature output during 1937. There has been an increase in the monthly average number of publishers of 1,344. It has been a real joy to see so many new ones coming into the work and having a regular share. The peak of publishers for the year was 6,861. There has been a splendid increase in field time, the actual increase being 574,922 hours over last year’s report. The new subscriptions for the year were 11,445, most of which were taken during the five-month Watchtower Campaign. This is an increase of 3,496 new subscriptions. The sound attendance shows a decrease of 233,399. This may be due to the intense publie-meeting program which was undertaken this year: last year pitch work was featured by the sound-cars. A large portion of the sound attendance is made by the phonographs, and especially through the doorstep method of its use. The back-calls for the year more than doubled last year’s total. This is good to see, and shows that a real effort is being made to help the “other sheep’’ to take their stand. There is an increase of over a thousand phonographs in use during 1939, and 12 more transcription machines, thus bringing the total of sound machines up to 4,827. A great work has been done with the magazines, The Watchtower and Consolation. A total of 1,189,894 copies were distributed during the year, including both the individual distribution by mail to subscribers and the bulk distribution. This is almost three times the output of the previous year. The Memorial report for 1939 is, attendance, 8,349; and partakers. 4,548. The report' for 1938 was, attendance, 6,366; and partakers, 4,853. You will note there has been an increase in the numbers attending the Memorial, yet the number of partakers shows a decrease. In addition to the above field work twelve million leaflets were distributed. If this figure is added to the large number of books, booklets and magazines distributed, a grand total of 19,375,873 is shown.

Branch Service

The British branch has had its busiest year in each of its departments, office, sound machine factory, printing, and stockroom. Increased activity required larger quarters, and accordingly the president arranged for two thousand more square feet of factory space rebuilt to our requirements alongside our present printing room. These new premises have been thoroughly equipped with modern apparatus. The sound machine department has been moved into these new quarters, as well as the magazine mailing department. Occupation began in February, and certainly was timely and fitted in exactly with our increased production at that time.

The printing department turned out 13,911,857 items during 1939, consisting of office forms, leaflets and advertising signs. The year previous the production was 6,806,284; so you can see the work here more than doubled.

The stock department had a very busy time. 17,867 cartons of literature were received from the Brooklyn factory this year, to compare with 15,769 cartons in the year previous. As to dispatch, 85,563 parcels were sent out during the year, to contrast with 42,057 parcels dispatched in 1938. So the work here doubled to keep up with the great demand from the publishers in the field. We shipped to the brethren in the field during the year 495,067 bound books and 6,847,765 booklets. The sound department made 1,058 new phonographs and 15 transcription machines.

The office too had a full year of activity. The staff for the entire branch still remains the same as last year. Thus, to keep up with the increased demand for services required keener organization and working day and night during the busy seasons. In addition to co-operating with the Home Office of the Government in respect to the care of the several German refugee brethren, the office had to take up several matters with the Colonial Office of the Government pertaining to difficulties experienced by the local brethren in Fiji, Nigeria, Gold Coast, and Trinidad. During the first three months of the year the office sponsored a series of twenty-four Saturday evening meetings at the Hyde Park Forum. Questions and answers called forth interesting comment from the crowd, and the name "Jehovah’s witnesses” was well advertised.

Zone Service

The British field has thirty zones and four regions, with the corresponding complement of thirty-four servants. Most of these servants are full-time workers for the Kingdom. The Society uses fifteen motorcars to further this service. For the year the 34 servants traveled a total of 207,480 miles to render aid and assistance to the companies and pioneers in the country. 140 zone assemblies were held during the year. This new organization according to the Theocratic arrangement has resulted in greater unity and zeal on the part of the whole organization. It is because of this compactness of the organization under the zone arrangement that it has been possible to do the large amount of Kingdom work as reported for this year. The work in Eire (Irish Free State) has been opened up again during the year. The work in Eire is done by seven faithful pioneers together with the zone servant, and they have been rendering good service in comforting the people of good will in that country. People of good will there also desire to take their stand for The Theocracy before it is too late, and every effort is being made to help them.

Bethel Family

There are twenty-two members in the Bethel family. It has been their joy and satisfaction to witness the marvelous growth of the Kingdom activity during the past twelve months. They have not hesitated to spend their spare hours and energy to further turn out the equipment to keep the brethren in the field busy. At times it has almost been impossible to keep up with the demands from the field, but the brethren in the field have been patient and in due time have been served. Four members of the family serve as the four regional servants, and thus spend most of their week-ends with the brethren throughout the country. The family’s field report shows an increase over the previous year. 1,849 bound books and 25,888 booklets were placed. 6,370 hours were spent in the field service, 63 new subscriptions taken, sound attendance was 10,187, and 339 back-calls.

Pioneers

Our aim this year was for 500 pioneers in the field. We are pleased to report that for September 511 pioneers reported active service. During the last fortnight of September fifty brethren have joined the pioneer ranks, bringing the list to date to 593. Our quota now is for one thousand of these full-time warriors. Last year we had an average of 242 pioneers. This year we had a monthly average of 429. This little band of faithful servants put out 159,656 bound books and 1,690,667 booklets for the year. They put out more bound books than the 5,874 average company publishers. The total of hours for the pioneers was 556,759, taking 3,828 new subscriptions and having a sound attendance of 389,889 and making 56,931 back-calls. Most of the pioneers are fully equipped with a phonograph and series recordings. During the year five pioneer homes have been set up in London, and one each in Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow, Sheffield, and Edinburgh. There are 124 pioneers serving in these twelve pioneer homes. These pioneers concentrate in building up new interest in each of these large centers. They are doing a splendid work. There are many requests for the establishment of several more of these homes.

London Company

The London company with its 1,200 company and pioneer publishers, put out 1,041,996 books and booklets during the year; and this in the largest city in the earth. This is the first time the million mark has been made. New publishers are coming forward from all sections of the city. During the year it was necessary to add five new units to the London company, making a total now of 14 units, each with a fine Kingdom hall from which to radiate their Kingdom activity. To finance so many Kingdom halls and five pioneer homes it was found advisable to set up a corporation recognized by the government. This was done, and the company is known as “London Company of Kingdom Witnesses”. The government objected to the word “Jehovah” which was originally submitted instead of “Kingdom” in the name. During the year almost all the larger companies in Britain have followed London’s example in procuring large, modern, new Kingdom halls from which to conduct their Kingdom work. Such is necessary for general advancement. Since the Society purchased its large 220-acre Kingdom farm in Essex last spring, a truckload of produce has been coming to London each week before service-meeting night and makes deliveries to each of the Kingdom halls in the city. This arrangement has kept the brethren fully supplied with produce, and is now of great assistance to the brethren during the emergency. The Society has also assisted twenty-five German brethren to find refuge in this country. Most of these are cared for in London and some on Kingdom farms. Twelve of these serve as pioneers in the London pioneer homes. These German brethren greatly rejoice to have such further share in the proclamation of The Theocracy. Negotiations were in progress for ten more to come over, but the war has now made this impossible.

Building Program

The year 1939 was marked for its Kingdom building program. In addition to the general reorganization under the new Theocratic zone arrangement, many of the larger companies moved into new and desirable Kingdom halls. Several new companies were organized and set up. New service units were added to London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow. Three hundred more pioneers entered the field. Twelve pioneer homes were put into operation. The 220-acre Kingdom farm was purchased and set going. Nearly a thousand new Jonadabs entered the work. Combining the full-time servants at Bethel, those on Kingdom farms and the pioneers, there are now more than 630 full-time workers for The Theocracy. Jehovah’s Theocratic Government is in operation and is on the increase.

The nations are now in the "valley of decision”, and the zero hour has struck. The time for our deliverance is near. All the faithful brethren in Britain realize their position and are now ready to stand firm in their allegiance and devotion to The Theocracy. The course of our faithful brethren in Germany during the past six years of their persecution at the hands of the Nazi demons has blazed the trail which we may now be called upon to follow. If this is the Lord’s will, we rejoice to have such further share in demonstrating our love for Jehovah to the full vindication of his name under the leadership of our King Christ Jesus.

AFRICA (South, Central, and East)

Because South Africa is so far removed from America the fiscal year there ends August 31. The report, therefore, includes the year up to the date last mentioned. The same spirit that actuates God’s people in one part of the earth controls them in every part. All of the remnant and the “other sheep” of Jehovah are now seeing and more keenly appreciating the great Theocracy. The strong contrast between the nations and governments of this earth and the Theocratic Government continues to increase in clarity. Those who are on the side of the Theocracy have every reason to rejoice, while they observe the sorrow and sadness that weigh upon the peoples of earth who give their allegiance to Satan’s organization. They see an ever-increasing joy oh the part of those who have taken their stand on the side of Jehovah’s kingdom. They appreciate that this is the time that God foretold when his name must be proclaimed throughout the earth, and that just preceding the final conflict at Armageddon.

The publishers of God’s kingdom in South Africa have had their share of persecution during the year. The opposition to their work has not dampened their zeal in the slightest, but rather increased their earnest devotion to the Theocratic Government. The proclamation of the Kingdom message by the enthusiastic publishers in that part of the earth exceeded that of the year previous. There were placed in the hands of the people during the fiscal year books and booklets to the total number of 509,026. The field workers devoted 1,042,078 hours to this service. The publishers in the field totaled 3,179 persons. They put to use phonographs to the number of 337; transcription machines, 13; and sound-ears, 12. These machines reproducing public speech were heard by 396,839 persons. Back-calls were made to the number of 28,325.

The Society’s local representative at Cape Town, South Africa, in his report to the main office, sets out the following, which we are pleased to quote herein:

Brother Rutherford’s letter of January 1, 1939, and the Watchtower article entitled “Kingdom Activities” coupled with the application of the instructions issued by Jehovah’s Theocratic Government twelve months ago, have resulted in a great forward move on the part of the Kingdom publishers in this part of the earth. The results achieved by the Lord’s grace during the past year far surpass anything previously accomplished. Opposition from the enemy forces has increased considerably, but Jehovah’s army of locusts, “as a strong people set in battle array," have climbed over the political and religious “walls” and “like men of war” have carried the fight into the enemy camp. The enemy has felt the “heat”, and their caterwauling has been heard from one end of the country to the other. The people of good will, on the other hand, have responded in greater number than ever before, and many of these have taken a definite stand on the Lord’s side and are now sharing in Kingdom activities. The distribution of literature from the office amounted to 82,540 volumes, and 550,908 booklets, or a total of 633,448 pieces, to compare with a total distribution the previous year of 533,943 books and booklets. These publications were in 25 different languages. Approximately 75 percent of the literature sent out was in European languages and 25 percent in Bantu and Asiatic. In addition we sent out 138 phonographs and 1,482 English discs, 102 in Afrikaans, and 438 in various African languages; a total of 2,022 discs, or 4,044 records, which represent an increase of 1,194 records over last year’s distribution. In all we have now distributed 458 phonographs and 14,680 records, all of which have been used to sound forth various aspects of the Kingdom message.

The report for the house-to-house witness work in the various countries under the jurisdiction of the Cape Town office is submitted below. A comparison with the figures for the previous year reveals a healthy increase all along the line. A number of the pioneer and company publishers have exceeded the new quotas, and the others are putting forth their best endeavors to increase their time in the field service. One pioneer has exceeded 200 hours per month, and the best report from a company publisher reflects a total of 86 hours for the month. The number who attended the Memorial was 4,468, of whom 1,745 partook of the emblems. The peak of publishers was 4,025. The report follows:

Union of South Africa

According to the latest census the population of South Africa consists now of two million Europeans and seven million Africans, and these are scattered over an area of 473,000 square miles. Practically all the European publishers in this part of the earth are resident in the Union, and that fact should be had in mind when considering the above report. In the Union the peak of publishers during the past year, attained in the April campaign, was 555, of whom 375 were Europeans. That represents an increase of 15 percent over the previous peak of 482.

The Watchtower and other special campaigns were entered into with enthusiasm, and the Lord gave the increase. New subscriptions numbering 1,016 were obtained for The Watchtower during the four months’ campaign. We do not have The Watchtower in Afrikaans, and accordingly the Afrikaans Vertroosting was used in the Afrikaans-speaking centers, and 813 new subscriptions were obtained, also 370 new subscriptions for Consolation. Our total number of new subscriptions from January to April was therefore 2,221. In the same period over 16,000 bound volumes and 113,000 booklets were placed. During the

October campaign the booklet Warning had a wide distribution, and Face the Facts booklet, released on January 1, and Fascism or Freedom, released on April 1, have both gone out like wildfire, and approximately 150,000 copies were placed by the end of August.

The recordings of the lectures “Warning”, “Violence,” ⁴ ‘ Face the Facts, ” “ Fill the Earth, ” “ Fascism or Freedom, ’ ’ and “Safety” have been much used, and these records and the advertising done in connection therewith by information marches and in other ways have greatly roused the ire of the Hierarchy’s agents in this country. Several front-page and leader articles dealing with the ‘ ‘ Kutherf ord campaign in South Africa ’ ’ have appeared in the chief organs of the Catholic Press. Efforts have been made by the Catholic Federation to induce owners of public halls to refuse use of them to Jehovah’s witnesses, but thus far such owners have refused to be intimidated and have sent these political religionists about their business, and thus have upheld the principle of freedom of assembly. The following are typical squawks from the Catholic Press: “Judge Kutherford’s leaflets and booklets are flooding the country, and thousands are flocking to hear his recorded lectures describing the efforts of ■ fanatical Fascists and Nazi dictators, with the aid and co-operation of the Koman Catholic Hierarchy at Vatican City, to wreck continental Europe’.” This is followed by the suggestion that halls should be denied us. And again: “The agents of Judge Kutherford’s Bible & Watch Tower Society are active everywhere. This Society recently held a meeting in the Ked Cross Hall in Johannesburg. When the nature of this meeting [the Biblical lecture entitled ‘Fascism or Freedom’] was brought to the notice of the Ked Cross officials by The Catholic Federation, they regretted the incident and gave an assurance that it would not occur again. ’ ’ The Ked Cross Hall was packed out on that occasion, and an enthusiastic audience gave rapt attention to the fearless proclamation of the truth, joining in the applause at the end and thereby manifesting approval of the Lord’s message directed against the Hierarchy and all other enemies of God’s kingdom who would, if thev could, prevent the people from hearing the truth.

Early in the year the book Etches and several booklets were banned by the Minister of the Interior as being “objectionable”. Representations were made to have the ban removed. Attention was called to the fact that Riches and other publications had been before the highest court in the land, viz., the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, as a result of the Rhodesian case and that the court had ruled the literature to be not seditious. The Minister refused, however, to alter his decision, and no reason or explanation for his action was forthcoming either from the Board of Censors or from the Department or the Interior. According to the existing law (which according to all enlightened opinion is sadly in need of revision) the Minister’s decision is final and there is no appeal to the courts. It later came to light that the Minister’s action was the result ol a wicked conspiracy hatched out by clergymen of the German Lutheran Synod, who were foolish enough to publish the Minister’s reply to their representations to have the literature banned in their German magazine. The letters which passed between the Society and those responsible for the banning, and the fact that public officials in this country had yielded to this Nazi effort to suppress Bible truths, were set forth in the form of “A Protest”, and such Protest has had a country-wide distribution in English and Afrikaans. We are now informed that the Minister has ruled that the booklet The Kingdom is not objectionable! It was one of the pamphlets previously declared “objectionable”, and no alteration has taken place in the booklet meantime! Surely this is persuasive evidence that there is nothing ‘ ‘ objectionable ’ ’ in the other publications either, and we hope the Minister will yet have the manliness to rescind his decision with regard to the others on the banned list and which decision we have good reason to believe was taken in the first instance without full personal investigation on his part. With the exception of the Nazi-Fascist-Roman Catholic Hierarchy bloc, which is out to take away the liberties of the people and to suppress the truth, the great majority of South Africans stand for freedom of worship and speech, and the only result of the banning has been to stimulate interest in the Society’s publications. Thus, as always, the enemy overreaches himself and Jehovah gives his people the victory

Another diabolical effort to misrepresent the Society and its work was for the religionists to release a story in the press about a sinister “Secret Society” distributing inflammatory pamphlets to the natives in the Mine Compounds. It was stated in the ‘ ‘ story ’ ’ that foreign natives prohibited from entering the Union were in charge of the movement. Replying to a question in Parliament about this “story”, the Minister of Justice replied that it was “suspected that literature of the Watchtower movement was being distributed in the Mine Compounds and that the police were making investigation”. The facts regarding the Society and its work were set forth in a letter to the Press and to the Minister, and the leading newspapers in the country were fair enough to publish such facts. The enemy’s ruse to induce governmental action against the Society was thus frustrated and went off like a damp squib.

For some time we have felt the need to have a magazine published in this country in Afrikaans, and with your permission arrangements were made to publish an Afrikaans edition of Consolation. The first issue of Vertroosting, which is published once per month, appeared in. January, and by the end of July 40,000 copies had been distributed, Vertroosting is performing a useful service, and we hope to greatly increase its distribution as the months go by.

The back-call work is another feature of the work which has greatly increased during the past year. We acting on instructions from head office, all subscribers for the journals were called on. Other interest has also been followed up, and the result is an increase in the number of those attending the meetings and sharing in the service. The zone servants have been diligent in their part of the work, and regular reports are now received from 115 centers, to compare with 80 a year ago. Service assemblies were arranged in various zones as usual. A well-advertised public meeting at which one of the latest recordings is put over is always the main feature of such assemblies. The publishers enter into these rallies with enthusiasm, and the publicity given to the message is such that there can be but few, if indeed any, who do not receive a personal invitation to attend the meeting. Information marches, coupled with booklet distribution and street witnessing in the early part of the evening, was a new feature introduced during the year which yielded excellent results. In all it has been by far the best year yet enjoyed in Kingdom service, and we give praise to Jehovah for the increase He has given. The full and detailed report for the Union is attached hereto.

Southern Rhodesia

Nowhere in these countries has the progress of the witness work been more remarkable than in Southern Rhodesia. Southern Rhodesia covers an area of 150,000 square miles. The population consists of approximately 55,000 Europeans and million Africans. During the year just ended the full benefit of the High Court decision in favor of the Society’s literature has been experienced. There are only some fifteen European publishers in the country, and consequently the greater part of the work is carried forward by native Africans. A zone servant has visited the various companies, and these are now better organized and the brethren have a clearer understanding- of Jehovah’s organization and their relationship thereto than heretofore. There has been an average of 473 publishers, who have spent 154,811 hours in the field work, placing 7,872 volumes and 25,657 booklets. More publishers have armed themselves with phonographs and the records in English and Cinyanja, and these instruments, in addition to the literature, have been greatly used in bringing enlightenment to many who previously had been held as prisoners in the religious organizations. The difference between Christianity and religion is something that the African is now beginning to appreciate, too. One of the outstanding features of the work during the past year was the arrival of the first booklet in Chishona. It has brought great joy to the Kingdom publishers and to thousands of others living in Mashonaland. ¹ ‘ Certain bodies of the churches, ’ ’ still smarting from their discomfiture resulting from their failure to have the books prohibited under the Sedition Act, have not attempted any further organized opposition, and the Lord’s work has progressed in an orderly way, the Kingdom publishers going from strength to strength. As the detailed report submitted herewith indicates, there has been a splendid increase in every part of the work. Although the Government can find no occasion against Jehovah’s witnesses, they still persist in their attitude of refusing to permit them to open a depot in the country.

Northern Rhodesia

In Northern .Rhodesia there are approximately 12,000 Europeans and 1J million Africans. These are spread over an area of 290,000 square miles. The railway which runs from Cape Town to the Congo traverses the country, but apart from the Copper Belt there are no branch lines, and other transport facilities are few and far between. Practically all the witness work is carried forward by native Africans. These are almost entirely numbered amongst “the poor of this world’’, and many are the difficulties and obstacles to be overcome. A few own bicycles, but with the vast majority it is a case of footslogging all the time. Yet these fellows are “rich in faith”, and with the zeal peculiar to those in the Lord’s organization they have pushed forward and carried the Kingdom message into all corners of their territory. The provision of literature in Cinyanja and Chiwemba and records in the former language have been greatly appreciated and have helped forward the witness work immensely. It is with pleasure that we can report a good increase. During the past year there has been a monthly average of 7 full-time workers and 1,191 company publishers, to compare with 939 last year. They have averaged 100 and 28 hours per month respectively, placing 334 volumes and 33,343 booklets. Back-calls numbered 3,657, and the sound attendance was 53,623. Phonographs in regular use now number 23. The brother in the depot at Lusaka reports as follows: “The past year has been marked by increased activity in almost every aspect of Kingdom service, and there have been many encouraging evidences of the Lord’s continued blessing upon the witness which has been given in the territory. There has been an increase of 71 percent in the booklets placed; 150 percent in the sound attendance, and 107 percent in the hours spent in field service. The now instructions regarding organization have been put into full operation where possible, and on the Copper Belt, the richest and most populated area, these instructions together with the visits of the zone servant and regional servant have resulted in a state of zeal and understanding not hitherto attained by the publishers in Northern Rhodesia. In the distant parts, off the line and main roads, close contact is much more difficult to attain and maintain, and our few pioneers and zone servants have to travel by cycle or walk many hundreds of miles to reach scattered companies of interested people who seldom have a capable servant to help them in an understanding of the divine purpose as revealed in the Society’s literature. The will to serve is seldom lacking