1928 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses
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WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY
TEACHINGS
ANNUAL MEETING
GOD’S ORGANIZATION
ZION
REQUIREMENTS
WHO FULFILS REQUIREMENTS
HEAD OFFICE
COMMISSION
THE RADIO
STATIONS
OTHER RADIO
BOOK MANUFACTURE
THE DAY OF THE BOOKLETS
THE DAY OF THE BOOKS
THE DAY OF THE FACTORY
OTHER FACTORIES
PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION
FIELD ACTIVITIES
COLPORTEURS
THE FAMILY
PILGRIM SERVICE
FREE LITERATURE
CORRESPONDENCE
THE WATCH TOWER
THE GOLDEN AGE
CONVENTIONS
DIVERS LANGUAGES
ARABIC
ARMENIAN
GERMAN
GREEK
HUNGARIAN
ITALIAN
LITHUANIAN
POLISH
ROUMANIAN
SPANISH WORK (in America)
FINANCIAL
LOCAL DEPOTS
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
BRITAIN
AUSTRALIA
ARGENTINE, SOUTH AMERICA
ARMENIA
AUSTRIA
BLIND
BRAZIL
BRITISH GUIANA
COLORED
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
DENMARK
ESTHONIA
FINLAND
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
POLISH WORK IN FRANCE
GERMANY
FIELD SERVICE
HOLLAND
HUNGARY
INDIA
ITALY
JAMAICA
JAPAN
JUGOSLAVIA
KOREA
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
NORTHERN EUROPE
NORWAY
POLAND
PORTUGAL
ROUMANIA
SOUTH AFRICA
SPAIN
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
TRINIDAD
YEAR TEXT
DAILY TEXTS AND COMMENTS
YEAR BOOK
of the
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
with
Daily Texts and Comments
(Copyright 1927)
Publishers:
International Bible Students Association Brooklyn, N. Y., U. S. A.
Also: London, Toronto, Melbourne, Cape Town, Magdeburg, Berne, etc.
Made in U. S. A.
International Bible Students Association
OFFICERS
Joseph F. Rutherford President
Jesse Hemery Vice-President
H. C. Thackway Secretary
W. E. Van Amburgh Ass’t Secretary & Treasurer
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
OFFICERS
Joseph F. Rutherford
President
C. A. Wise
Vice-President W. E.
Van Amburgh
Secretary & Treasurer
Peoples Pulpit Association
OFFICERS
Joseph F. Rutherford
President
H. H. Riemer
Vice-President
A. R. Goux
Secretary & Treasurer
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY
The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society is a corporation created and organized under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania for the purpose of carrying on an educational work amongst the people. It is devoted to giving instruction in the Bible. It was originally organized in 1884. Its official residence is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since 1909 it has maintained its main operating office at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York.
The Peoples Pulpit Association is a membership corporation organized and created under the laws of the State of New York. Its purposes are identical with that of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society and its organization is for the purpose of aiding and carrying on the work for which the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society was organized. It was organized in the year 1909 and maintains its official residence at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York.
The International Bible Students Association is a corporation created and organized under the laws of England with its official residence at 34 Craven Terrace, London, England. It is also an associate organization of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society organized to more efficiently carry on the educational work concerning the Bible. It maintains its main operating office at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York.
These three corporations have the same president. The other officers are practically the same. They all workin conjunction with each other, and the three separate corporations are maintained for convenience.
The term International Bible Students is a generic one which applies to all consecrated and anointed Christians throughout the earth who work together harmoniously in the proclamation of the message of God’s plan. In many towns and cities in various nations there are classes or ecclesias; that is to say, men and women who assemble themselves together in an orderly way for Bible study and to work together systematically for the spreading of the message of God’s kingdom on earth. These various organizations or classes recognize the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society and its associate corporations as instruments for the carrying on of the Lord’s work amongst his people on earth. The official paper or journal of the organization is The Watch Tower, published twice each month at Brooklyn, New York. It contains usually a leading article discussing some important Bible question. This article is used regularly as a text for Berean study of the many classes of International Bible Students. It also contains lectures or brief discussions of Bible questions suitable for broadcasting or otherwise for use at public meetings.
The term “The Society” is used as a general term to represent all of the consecrated and anointed Christians on earth who are harmoniously working together in the promulgation of God’s message to the peoples of earth. The above corporations are not the Society, but said corporations are the servants of the Society. Those associated therewith believe that the Lord is using the Society, composed of his anointed people, as his witnesses on earth to declare specifically the following things, to wit: That Jehovah is God; that Christ Jesus is King and God has set him upon his throne; that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and that through this kingdom all the families of the earth will have an opportunity for blessings.
The above organization diligently seeks to cooperate with consecrated Christians in performing the work above mentioned. There is no membership Toll, members are not sought, but all are welcome who believe the great truths taught by the Scriptures and who honestly and earnestly engage in the Lord’s service.
TEACHINGS
As an evidence that the Society is strictly adhering to proclaiming the message of God’s Word as taught by Jesus, the holy prophets, and the apostles, there is set forth herein an epitome of the truths so taught, to wit:
That Jehovah is the only true God; that his name has been pushed aside by so-called Christians for many centuries; that the Devil has blinded even Christians to the truth concerning him; that the world is totally blind; that the time has now come for God to make for himself a name in the earth and he commands his people, as his witnesses, to proclaim his truth.
That the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that it contains a statement of the divine plan for man’s salvation and blessing.
That the great fundamental truths prominently set forth in the Bible are these: Adam, the first man, was created perfect in organism and endowed with the faculties of wisdom, justice, love and power; that he wilfully violated God’s law in order to join his wife Eve in the transgression which Satan had induced her to commit; that the Lord God justly sentenced to death and expelled him from Eden; that all of his children were thereafter begotten and born, and that hence they were begotten in sin and brought forth in iniquity.
That God made promise that through the seed of Abraham he would bless all the families of the earth, and that in due time he would redeem man from death and ransom him from the power of the grave; that he would raise up a mighty ruler unto whom the people shall be gathered; that in due time he sent to earth his beloved Son, who died upon the cross, whom God raised up from the dead and who by his death and resurrection provided the great redemptive price for mankind.
That since the death and resurrection of our Lord, beginning with Pentecost, the Lord has been selecting the members of the body of Christ; and that these, Jesus the Head, and his body members, constitute the "seed of promise” according to the promise which God made to Abraham.
That Christ Jesus taught his followers to pray for the coming of God’s kingdom that God’s will might be done on earth as in heaven, and he promised that he would return in due time and set up his kingdom; that the great hope of the church from Pentecost forward has been the second coming of the Lord, the completion of the church and the inauguration of God’s kingdom.
That God’s provision for one becoming a member of the church, which is the body of Christ, is this, to wit: Belief in Christ Jesus as the great Redeemer of mankind ; a full consecration to do God’s holy will; justification of the one consecrating, which justification is obtained by the act of Jehovah in justifying or determining that one is right with him.
That justification by faith during the Christian era is for just one purpose and that is that the one justified may be a part of the sacrifice of the Lord, hence such have made a covenant with the Lord by sacrifice; that then God begets such an one by his spirit to the divine nature and inducts him into the body of Christ and anoints him; that thereafter such Christian must perform his part of the covenant faithfully unto death, and that thus doing he will receive full membership in the body of Christ and an abundant entrance into the heavenly kingdom.
That when Jesus was on earth his disciples propounded to him the question as to what would be the proof of his presence and the end of the world; that his answer was couched in prophetic phrase; that he gave a statement of conditions that would exist at the time of the end of the age and the setting up of his kingdom, to wit, the World War, famines, pestilences, revolutions, return of the Jews to Palestine, the persecution of Christians, and then a period in which the gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed to all the nations as a witness.
That the proof shows that the Gentile Times ended in 1914; that there God, according to his promise, set his anointed King, Christ Jesus, upon his throne (Psalm 2:6); that there followed a great conflict in heaven between Christ on one side and Satan on the other, in which Satan was cast out of heaven; that since then the Lord has come to his temple and is now strengthening his people for the final experiences on earth.
That soon will come the great time of trouble foretold by God through his prophets, and specifically mentioned by the Lord, which shall result in the complete destruction of Satan’s empire and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth; that then unrighteous men shall cease to rule the world, and the world shall be established in righteousness that it shall never be moved. —Psalm 96:10.
That the reign of Christ will be for the purpose of granting to every one of the human race, both dead and living an opportunity for life, and that to this end all those who have died in ignorance of God shall be awakened and given a knowledge of the truth; that the church alone participates in the first resurrection; that all the families of the earth shall have an opportunity to know the Lord and to obey him, and that those obeying shall be granted the blessings of life everlasting in peace and happiness upon the earth for ever.
The Bible Students believe that the only reason for their being on earth at this time, and the only excuse for the existence of their organization, is that they might be witnesses that Jehovah is God and that his kingdom is at hand. The Devil for so long a time has blinded the people to God’s truth that now the time has come for God to make for himself a name. He will have his people bear testimony of him to the world, and then will follow the great conflict which shall mark the final end of earth’s wicked organizations; that such trouble is not a fight in which the Christian shall participate, but it is a fight of God Almighty against the Devil’s organization; and that the part to be performed by the Christians on earth is to faithfully represent the Lord by telling others of God’s purposes, and thereby to show forth his praises. The Bible Students are earnestly attempting to do this.
The International Bible Students Association is not seeking membership and has no membership roll. All who believe in the truths taught by Jesus and the apostles, and who now believe in the presence of the Lord and that the time has come for him to set up his kingdom, and who desire to participate, and to the best of their ability and opportunity do participate in giving the witness to the name of Jehovah, are counted in as members of the Association or Society. All such, in obedience to the admonition of the Apostle Paul, are standing shoulder to shoulder, fighting for the gospel of Jesus Christ and never quailing before the enemy. These have entered into the joy of the Lord; namely, seeing that the time has come for the establishment of the kingdom and the vindication of Jehovah’s name, it gives them great joy and delight to tell this good news to others.
The Bible Students, in the performance of what they understand to be their covenant and in diligently trying to be witnesses for Jehovah, are now doing their part to hold up the standard of the Lord to the people, to remove the false doctrines that have stumbled the people and point the people to God’s great way of returning to him, and thereby are bringing consolation to all those who desire to be free. Believing that the time has come when a witness must be given to the kings and rulers of the earth, as well as to the peoples, they are earnestly putting forth their best efforts, gladly spending what little money they have and also spending their time and energy in spreading amongst mankind the good news that Jehovah is God, that Christ Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, that God has set him upon his throne and that he bids all the peoples of earth to give heed to his message and to render obedience to his rule. It is now the privilege and joy of the Bible Students to make known to Christian peoples and to all peoples of good will that the kingdom, for which Jesus taught his followers to pray, is here; and therefore with gladness they are declaring that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
ANNUAL MEETING
Pursuant to notice duly given as provided by law and the charter and by-laws of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, a corporation created and organized under the laws of Pennsylvania, the annual meeting of said corporation was held at Carnegie Hall, Allegheny, Pittsburgh, at 10 a. m., October 31, 1927.
The meeting was called to order by the president and opened with prayer. There were present at said meeting the officers and a number of shareholders of the Society. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting was dispensed with.
The president presented to the corporation his annual report. The report being voluminous, it was not deemed wise to read it all. Excerpts were taken from the report, and a general statement made concerning the work throughout the field. The report was unanimously approved by members of the corporation and was ordered printed in the Year Boole for the year 1928. The report follows;
To the Lord’s Anointed in the Earth:
As president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society it is my privilege to submit to the people of the Lord, on earth, the report that follows. I first call attention to the Scriptures showing why Christians are engaged in any work on earth, and then to the work that the anointed ones are doing in the name of Jehovah and of his beloved Son upon the earth.
GOD’S ORGANIZATION
“Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings."—Psalm 9:11.
MANY professed Christians have difficulty in understanding why the Bible Students are so persistent in their efforts to tell others about the kingdom of God. Frequently the question is propounded: Why do the Bible Students continue to call upon the people with books and other Bible literature and try to induce them to read ? Is it an effort on their part to make money and to get converts? Is the purpose to make their organization strong in the earth? True Christians should always be able to give a Scriptural reason for what they are doing. It seems appropriate that answers to the above questions be here given. First, let the questions propounded be answered in the negative. The Bible Students are making no effort to convert the world nor to acquire money nor to increase the organization in numbers.
The words of the Psalmist quoted in the above text are prophetic. At some time they must have a fulfilment. The prophecy states that Jehovah dwells in Zion, and that some are to sing forth his praises and tell the people of his great doings. From the words of the Psalmist this song of praise is not to be given in heaven but on the earth, for the reason that it is to proclaim Jehovah’s name to the people and tell of his marvelous works. The people are on the earth; therefore the declaration must be made on the earth. It is also manifest that the class which fulfils this prophecy must be in complete harmony with Zion and joyfully carry out the commandments.
ZION
An understanding of what is meant by Zion and what relationship the true Christians bear thereto will enable one to more clearly understand what is the duty of a Christian at this time. It should also make clear what constitutes God’s organization. Zion is the name of God’s organization. Zion is symbolized by a city. Jerusalem, a city, was a symbol of God’s people; while Zion more particularly represented those people of God forming a part of the city and who were charged with special duties and responsibilities. There was a Zion in picture. There is a Zion in reality. The former foreshadowed the latter. God chose Israel as his people, established them in the city of Jerusalem, made Zion the official part of that organization, city or people, and put his name upon that people and charged them with certain responsibilities.
The Head of real Zion, which constitutes God’s organization, is his beloved Son Christ Jesus. He is the foundation of that organization, as it is written: “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”—Isaiah 28:16.
Those who are begotten and anointed by the power of God and thereby brought into Christ are united to the foundation stone and become a part of God’s organization. (1 Peter 2:5-9) As long as they remain faithful and true to the Lord they continue a part of God’s organization. Many may claim to be the Lord’s; but only those are of his organization who have covenanted to do his will, and who are endeavoring so to do. In order to continue in his organization all such must be obedient to God’s commands. It is written: “Be ye clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and showeth favor to the humble.” Humility means a willing and joyful obedience to the commandments of the Lord. The conditions for final exaltation require full obedience, which means to be clothed with humility. (1 Peter 5:5, 6) God’s organization therefore consists of those who are in full harmony with him and members of the body of Christ.
Jehovah has chosen Zion for himself, which means that he uses Zion for his own purposes. “For the Lord hath chosen Zion: he hath desired it for his habitation.” (Psalm 132:13) Again, it is written: “His dwellingplace [is] in Zion.” (Psalm 76: 2) Jehovah has put his name there, and he will use Zion for his purpose. Therefore Zion is God’s organization. To remain a part of Zion one must be at peace and in harmony with God and joyfully obey his commandments.
It is Zion that produces and gives birth to the kingdom of God, which is to be God’s righteous government on earth for the benefit of man. The time of the birth of that new nation must be the time when God installs Christ Jesus as king. "Yet I have installed my king, on Zion my holy mountain.” (Psalm 3: 6, Rotherham) From the time Jesus ascended on high and until God installs him as king, the Scriptures show that he awaits God’s command to take action against the enemy, the Devil and his organization. Christ the King is the rod of strength sent forth out of Zion to reign. (Psalm 110:1, 2) Since the kingdom is to be for men and men must be brought to a knowledge of the truth, it follows that there must be some representatives of Zion on earth. Some part of God’s organization, which is called Zion, must function on the earth.
It must be true, then, that a part of God’s organization is invisible, while there is some part of it visible to man; and that this condition must continue until the last member’ of the royal family is taken from earth and glorified. If we can ascertain from the Scriptures definitely what God requires of Zion on earth, and then if we can find an orderly body of men and women on the earth fulfilling these Scriptural requirements, undoubtedly we should be able to determine who on earth constitutes God’s organization. If we are thus able to locate God’s organization on earth, then all who are properly and sincerely devoted to the Lord and who love him will diligently strive to be in harmony with that organization.
REQUIREMENTS
Concerning Zion it is written: "The Lord is great in Zion, and he is high above all the people.” (Psalm 99:2) To those who are members of Zion, God is great beyond all others and there is none to compare with him. Again it is written by God’s prophet: “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.” (Psalm 50:3) That does not mean that those of Zion who are on earth shine, but it does mean that they make the name of God to shine by declaring his honor and praise to others. This conclusion is corroborated by the words of the Psalmist: “Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.” (Psalm 9:11) To the same effect it is written: “Blessed be the Lord out of Zion.” That means that those of Zion will be blessing and praising the name of Jehovah.
The Apostle Peter, after telling of the laying of the chief corner stone of Zion in completion and how the true followers of Christ as living stones were made to conform to that chief corner stone, then says of and concerning them: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” —1 Peter 2: 9.
These scriptures positively prove that it is required of the members of Zion on earth to show forth the praises of God. They are called and put into positions in Zion for that purpose. If they love the Lord God, they will keep his commandments and will be unselfishly devoted to him; and this is required in order to continue in Zion.
Furthermore, God says to those on earth who are of Zion: “Ye are my witnesses, that I am God.” (Isaiah 43:12) This scripture requires that the members of Zion on earth give testimony to the fact that Jehovah is the only true God and beside him there is none other, and the further fact that his kingdom is his means of blessing the human family. Thereby they show forth his praises in order to glorify his name.
WHO FULFILS REQUIREMENTS
The Scriptures show that God set his beloved Son upon his throne in 1914. This is fully corroborated by the physical facts in fulfilment of prophecy. Then followed the war in heaven, in which Satan was cast out to the earth. Further Scriptural proof and the physical facts show that the Lord came to his temple in 1918, which marks the time that he places his approval upon those whom he found faithfully attending to the interests of his kingdom. These he invited to enter into the joy of the Lord. (Matthew 25:21) The prophet shows that these are they who constitute the members of Zion on earth. Through the prophet the Lord says to them; “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.” (Isaiah 52:1) This would clearly indicate that the members of Zion would be awakened to a realization of greater responsibility and greater privileges in carrying out the will of Jehovah.
The prophet of God also shows that at this time these members of Zion were brought under the robe of righteousness and given the garments of salvation and did enter into the joy of the Lord and greatly rejoiced. (Isaiah 61:10) This scripture means that they received the approval of the Lord for faithfulness up to that time; that they were able, by the witness of the holy spirit, the Scriptures, and the Lord’s dealing with them, to identify themselves with the saved class. To continue in that favored position requires thereafter continued obedience. This continued obedience would afford greater opportunities of service to the glory of the Lord.
After the Lord’s coming to his temple the true followers of Christ on earth began to realize the time of the fulfilment of these scriptures relative to this favored position of the members of the body of Christ. They also recognized that the World War and the attending events from its beginning up to its end were proof of the Lord’s coming and the end of the world and the time for the establishment of the kingdom. They then realized the importance of the command of the Lord when he said: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.”—Matthew 24:14.
Then they began a strenuous campaign to carry out this commandment to advertise the King and the kingdom. From that time forward they continued to carry the good news to the Jews and to the nations of earth, telling them of the goodness of Jehovah and his beloved King and the kingdom. Again God through his prophet designates such faithful ones on earth as members of Zion when he said: “0 Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God I”—Isaiah 40: 9.
The prophet also shows that these same faithful Christians constitute the feet members of Christ; that is to say, his last members on earth doing his work under the direction of Christ Jesus the Head. The same prophet also identifies them as a part of Z.ion or that part which is on earth. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.”—Isaiah 52: 7, 8.
In view of these corroborative and harmonious scriptures it is not presumptuous for the Bible Students to say that there is no other organization on earth which is wholly and exclusively devoted to giving glory to the name of Jehovah and proclaiming the message and the plan of salvation. It is not boasting for them to claim that the true and faithful Christians who are engaged in this work in obedience to God’s command constitute Zion on earth. It is not to be understood that everyone who claims to be of the International Bible Students Association is of Zion. The Lord knows them that are his. We can, however, with safety and propriety say that every true Christian on earth who is working harmoniously with his brethren of like precious faith and in the name of Jehovah to proclaim his King and kingdom by carrying the message of truth to the people, constitutes Zion on earth. It is our understanding, therefore, when we speak of the Society, that the Society, as God’s organization, is properly called Zion on earth; that it is the organization upon which God has put his name; and that it is made up of the true and faithful followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who are now fearlessly and lovingly obeying God’s commands in singing forth his praises and announcing his kingdom.
Zion, that “faithful and wise servant”, the temple class on earth, and the Society, within the meaning of the above scriptures, are the same and are composed of the same people. It is not for one to judge another as to whether or not he is of this class; but it is the privilege of each one to judge himself and measure himself according to the Scriptures and determine whether or not he is of Zion. Those who conclude, in the light of the Scriptures and the facts, that they are of Zion realize that this is the day of the Lord in which the Lord is beginning to manifest his power in the earth and which will reach a climax in a great demonstration of that power and the overthrow of Satan’s organization. These realize that they are encompassed about by enemies and would be instantly destroyed by the enemy except for the Lord’s protection. They further realize and appreciate the blessed truth that those who are of Zion have entered into the secret place of the Most High and are privileged to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. Concerning that time it is written: “In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.”—Zephaniah 3:16.
By the Lord’s grace they claim this precious promise as to themselves, and therefore they fear not. They hear the command of the Lord saying to them of Zion, “Let not thine hands be slack.” They conceive it, therefore, to be the duty and privilege of each one to be zealous and energetic in the Lord’s service and to lovingly encourage and beseech their brethren to always be diligent in the service. (Romans 12:1) Such is the reason for the activities of the Bible Students as set forth hereinafter.
This report is not made because the law of any earthly organization requires it to be made. It is not made because the charter of the corporate body of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society requires it to be made. It is made to the brethren throughout the earth for the purpose of encouraging them. It is intended that each one might have some vision of how the Lord is blessing his work, and thereby may take courage and press on in doing what is found to be done and to continue to boldly make proclamation of the message which the Lord has commanded them at this time to proclaim. It is with pleasure, therefore, and with much gratitude to God and to our Lord Jesus Christ, that the following facts are submitted for the consideration of the true followers of Christ that they might take courage and continue to rejoice.
HEAD OFFICE
Christians are directed by the Lord’s Word to do everything in order. It is also proper that Christians should carry on their operations in harmony with the law of the land in so far as they can consistently do so with their covenant to do God’s will. The law of the land provides that a number of persons may form themselves into an association or society under a given name and act as one person in performance of matters of business. Such an arrangement is called a corporation or an incorporated body. Any person withdrawing from the association (or society) would in no wise affect the title to property nor the operation of the association or society, where such an arrangement is made. While the Society as heretofore defined strictly consists of all the fully consecrated and anointed ones of the Lord, yet it was deemed wise and proper to have a corporate body under a given name that the work of the Society, or Christians, might be conducted in a more orderly manner.
Accordingly the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society was incorporated and organized under the provisions of the laws of the State of Pennsylvania. The Peoples Pulpit Association was incorporated and organized under the laws of New York. The International Bible Students Association is incorporated and organized under the laws of England. All three of these corporations are servants of the Society, that is, the anointed body of Christians on earth; and all function as one under the direction of the same official organization.
The head office of the Society’s organization is at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, N. Y. All departments and matters pertaining to the work in every part of the earth are directed generally from that address. Effort is made to have the most efficient organization possible. The true motive for all service to the Lord being love, the organization functions much better than any worldly or selfish organization could function. Love covers a multitude of defects. Of course the organization is not perfect because composed of imperfect beings, but it strives to carry on in the spirit of the Lord.
It is to be expected that from time to time some will become weary in well-doing and drop out, while others being overreached by the enemy will become opponents.
The faithful and true do not permit these things to disturb them, but go on diligently serving the Lord as he points them to the right way. The brethren, heeding the Scriptural admonition to bear one another’s burdens, by the Lord’s grace get on well with his work.
The number engaged at the Brooklyn headquarters now is nearing two hundred. It became quite clear that the quarters were too small to properly care for those engaged in the work. Hence ways and means were sought to enlarge the premises. In December of 1926 the lot adjoining the property at 124 Columbia Heights was purchased; and early in January the three buildings situated on lots 122, 124 and 126 Columbia Heights were torn away and the erection of a new building begun. That building is now nearing completion. It consists of nine stories, including the sub-basement, and contains approximately 80 rooms. These are in addition to the building that is situated at the rear of these lots. On the top floor of the new building will be located the executive offices of the Society. The official address will continue to be 124 Columbia Heights. The entire premises will be occupied and exclusively used for the Society’s purposes. It is hoped that the more comfortable quarters will enable each one to render more efficient service to the glory of the Lord.
The new building will provide rooms for both class and individual study, so that the evenings may be devoted to the spiritual upbuilding of the members of the household. The Bethel home is not a place for physical ease, nor is it a rest sanatorium. It is a place for strenuous service. No loafers are kept there, and none are welcome. Drones do not belong in the Lord’s service.
After the usual duties of the day and the necessary class and individual study in the evening, there is no time for visiting. That is a good thing, because no opportunity is afforded for gossiping. The anointed ones are more keenly appreciating the fact that God has called them for a purpose, that there is much to be done; and they desire to get on with the work at hand.
The organization of the Bethel home is not perfect, of course, but it is good and functions by the Lord’s grace. The president is the head of the house; and by the terms of the charter of the organization and the rules governing in it, it devolves upon him to determine who shall be members of the family. This being the headquarters of the Lord’s work on earth, every effort is made to have all members of the family efficiently perform the duties assigned to each one. There is a superintendent of the home, whose duties require him to generally look after the details of the house, the feeding and caring for the family and the comfort of the rooms. There is a housekeeper, who performs the duties usual to keeping a house of Bethel’s size. She is assisted by other sisters in looking after the rooms and the house generally. In the kitchen is a trained and competent chef, who together with his assistants prepares the food for the family. The dining-room is served by a number of brethren. The furnace, plumbing repairs, etc., are looked after by brethren assigned to that duty. All of these brethren are consecrated to the Lord, and take their turn in teaching Bible study classes and in proclaiming the message of the Truth in such other ways as the Lord has provided. There is no other home in America like it. Probably there is not another exactly like it on earth. There are families similarly organized in London; in Berne, Switzerland; Magdeburg, Germany; but not an exact replica of the Bethel home.
The Bethel home is a happy one because it is the Lord’s house. Of course strict rules and regulations must be had and enforced. The Lord disciplines all of his children, and we should endeavor to discipline ourselves. No one is at Brooklyn headquarters because he has a full right to be there. All who are there are there by the grace of God. To be a member of the house of the Lord even on this earth is an important and serious matter. It is a wonderful privilege; and the Lord placing one there, he should remain at his place of duty until the Lord takes him away. The brethren are more fully appreciating this fact than in former days. They are realizing that it is just as important, if not the most important part of the Lord’s service on earth; and they are faithfully striving to be examples to the flock of God in performing the duties assigned to them.
COMMISSION
God has commissioned or authorized his people on earth to do certain specific things. Among the things that the commission of God directs his anointed ones to do are these: Tell the good tidings to the oppressed; bind up the broken-hearted; proclaim liberty to the captives; and the opening of the prison doors to them that are bound. The obligation rests upon every member of Zion to perform the duties prescribed by this divinely- given commission, in so far as possible, because each one who loves the Lord God also loves his brethren. He is anxious to aid his brethren to see their privileges of service and to encourage them to engage therein. Such is one of the purposes of this report.
THE RADIO
The oppressed people embrace the masses of humanity and are oppressed by the official part of the Devil’s organization. These must have some opportunity to learn the good news of the kingdom. God has made ample provisions for them to learn thereof and be relieved of their burdens. The broken-hearted include many who have suffered either directly or indirectly from war, fraud or injustice. God has provided the balm to heal their hearts. The captives are those who have fallen into the trap or snare of the evil one, which trap is set and baited by the ecclesiastics, who are servants of the evil one. These captives must have an opportunity to find the way to freedom. The prisoners are those who are held in the denominational religious systems, and who by reason of fear resulting from threats or coercion know not how to escape. The prison doors must be opened, because God has commanded such. The members of Zion cannot well enter these prisons; but they can proclaim the good news from afar and encourage and strengthen the prisoners.
Long centuries ago God foresaw the conditions now being experienced. He provided the radio, whereby the members of Zion can speak at long distances to those who are kept in the prison house of the ecclesiastical systems. In due time he brought the radio into operation to meet the present conditions and to be used to serve upon the peoples of earth notice of his intention to set up his kingdom. Of course Satan the enemy is expected to do all within his power to prevent the broadcasting of the truth, which would be a comfort and aid to the prisoners. The Lord’s anointed have had to encounter this opposition in their daily efforts to make known the good tidings of the kingdom.
STATIONS
Radio Station WBBR is owned by the Society. For some time it operated upon the favorable wave length of 416.4 meters, and was sending out the good tidings with great force and through the prison walls. It was reaching many at a long distance. Its wave length was suddenly reduced to the less favorable one of 256 meters. Acting upon its legal privilege WBBR filed an application for a hearing before the Federal Radio Commission, asking to be placed upon a more favorable wave length. At the conclusion of that hearing the decision of the Radio Commission was against WBBR. The hearing, however, was not without good results. It seems quite certain that the Lord lets the adversary go so far and no farther in operation against him and his anointed; and that in his own good time and way he makes the wrath of the enemy to result to God’s praise.
The Lord used the conditions arising at Washington, D. C., in the hearing of the above case to provide for the greatest broadcasting arrangement ever on earth up to that time. The lecture "Freedom for the Peoples” was delivered by the president of the Society at Toronto, Canada, to a visible audience approximating fifteen thousand people. Fifty-three radio stations were tied together by wire connections; and the lecture transmitted from the auditorium at Toronto to the central station in New York known as WEAF, and from there sent to all parts of the United States, and was heard clearly from Maine to California and from Canada to Mexico.
Within the area served by these stations are more than six million receiving sets. In numerous places large companies were assembled in halls, while other companies were in private homes; and it has been recently estimated that the audience ranged from fifty to seventy- five million persons. Of course, no one can tell the exact number. Great numbers of letters were received from every part of the United States and Canada, requesting copies of the lecture. A full report was printed in The Golden Age, and in response to these requests more than twenty-nine thousand copies were sent out. This publication was followed by the issuing of a booklet, Freedom for the Peoples, which contains the lecture and the resolution passed at Toronto, and which has already been printed and shipped out to the classes for distribution to the number of 1,898,796.
The far-reaching effect of the aforementioned radio hook-up cannot now be well estimated. Reports from every part of the country are to the effect that it broke down a tremendous amount of prejudice, and opened the eyes of great numbers who are now willing to listen to the message concerning the kingdom of God. Heretofore the clergy have misrepresented the message of the Lord’s kingdom and grossly misrepresented and slandered the servants of the Lord, and have thereby prejudiced the minds of the people against the Bible Students and against the Lord’s message.
The lecture “Freedom for the Peoples” broadcast over fifty-three stations, and heard by so many, exposed the duplicity of the clergy and enabled the people to begin to see them in the true light. The people are now beginning to learn that organized Christianity, called Christendom, is a fraud and a snare and an instrument of the Devil to work against the interests of mankind. The people have been bearing up this organized system for a long while; and now seeing that the ecclesiastics are in an unholy alliance with the profiteers and professional politicians, it is to be expected that the common people will withdraw their support, and it is quite manifest that such is progressing just now. This is gratifying, because it seems to be clearly in fulfilment of the prophetic utterances found in the Scriptures. This tends to strengthen the faith of the Lord's servants in every part of the earth.
OTHER RADIO
The Society owns and operates a five-kilowatt radio station with studio at Chicago, Illinois, which is devoted to the broadcasting of the kingdom message. This station has served people with the glad tidings of the kingdom as far north as the extreme part of Alaska, and south to the northern part of South America, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, and has been heard in Australia and Europe.
By contract and arrangement the Society also does the exclusive broadcasting of all Biblical matters over WHK in Cleveland and KFWM at Oakland, California. These stations serve a wide area, and the letters coming from the people indicate that great numbers are benefited and comforted by what they hear.
In addition to the above, the Society owns and operates four radio stations in Canada; and these stations well cover all the provinces from the Maritime Provinces to the Pacific Ocean. These stations are served regularly by consecrated children of the Lord. The sacred songs and other sacred music broadcast are greatly commented upon and enjoyed by the common people. The music of all the Society’s stations has come in for much ridicule at the hands of opponents, the claim being made that it is amateur and not up to the standard. Attention is here called to the fact that it was the common people who heard the Lord gladly; and the same class of people now hear the message of the kingdom gladly. This is evidently the class that the Lord wishes to be reached. As a general rule this class of people are not so highly educated in music as that term is generally understood. The music that appeals to them is that which stirs their hearts and minds to an adoration and worship of Jehovah. The songs of praise to the great Creator of heaven and earth, the soul-inspiring music of the old masters, who were moved by the spirit of the Lord to write them, are the ones which the common people love to hear.
This is the very kind of music that is seldom if ever heard over some of the so-called most popular stations in America. It can therefore be confidently said that the stations that are operated by the Society furnish the very kind of programs that are beneficial and helpful to the people, and that they provide the very things that the people need for their aid and comfort. This is another evidence that the Society is doing the Lord’s work by means of the radio just as he intended it to be done.
The anointed therefore with confidence can go on, knowing that the Lord will not permit the enemy to stop the broadcasting of the message of his kingdom, unless it is his good will that such shall be done. If that time should come, then the Lord’s people would know that it is proper, that Jehovah had served all the notice upon the people that he desired to serve at this time.
In addition to the above radio stations, owners of many other stations have been approached by the consecrated in various ecclesias, and arrangements have been made to regularly broadcast the message of God’s kingdom. At the end of this fiscal year the total number of stations in the United States and Canada broadcasting the message of the Truth, including those owned and operated by the Society and those from which time is bought by the various ecclesias in different parts of the country, aggregate the total of, to wit, ninety-five. Many will say that this is miraculous, and indeed it is. It is the Lord’s doing, and marvelous in out eyes. The radio belongs to the Lord, and he will have it used to just such extent as he desires it to be used. The brethren therefore in every part of the earth should be encouraged to use every available means at hand to make arrangements to use the radio for telling the prisoners of the glad tidings. Those who are restrained by their prison-keepers, the clergy, from attending public meetings can sit in their homes and turn the dial and listen to the message coming through the walls, telling them that Jehovah is God, that Christ is King, and that the day of deliverance is near at hand!
In addition to broadcasting the kingdom message in America and Canada, our brethren in Hawaii have for some time been regularly broadcasting. Also our brethren in Australia have sent forth the message of the kingdom over the ether and are continuing so to do. The same glad tidings have been broadcast in Spain, in Holland and in Denmark, which latter stations with powerful equipment have sent the message throughout Britain and Ireland and many of the European countries. The brethren in other parts of the earth are taking advantage of every opportunity possible to make arrangements for the broadcasting of the Truth.
It will be observed in considering the report that the public meetings addressed by speakers in public halls have not been so well attended during the past year; but this is fully explained when we take into consideration the fact that great multitudes, far beyond any that have ever heard in public halls, have been getting the message by radio in their homes. Ample proof of this is furnished by the number of letters that are received, showing the great numbers that are gladly receiving the message of Truth.
It will be further observed from the report that the circulation of books and booklets throughout the earth is greatly in excess of that in any former year. This can be largely accounted for by reason of the use of the radio. Those who go about from door to door with the books frequently report that when a house is approached having a radio set, it is only necessary to mention that these books contain the message broadcast by the Bible Students, or something to that effect. Those who have heard by radio invariably desire to have the lectures in printed form. These appear regularly in The Golden Age and now in The Watch Tower. This opens the way for the sale of the books and booklets; and the witness that God intends should be given goes grandly on, to his glory.
The radio has also furnished a wider field for service by the brethren of the various ecclesias. To put a program on requires a speaker or one who is a good reader. Almost every class throughout the land finds amongst its numbers one or more brethren who are competent to proclaim the message of the kingdom by radio. It can therefore truly be said that the message during the past year has been preached to more people than at any other time during the Christian era. This ought to be exceedingly gratifying and encouraging to everyone who loves the Lord.
The Truth is also broadcast from the Society’s stations and other stations in German, French, Polish, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian and other foreign tongues. This enables those in the United States who have come from a foreign country to hear the message of Truth in their native tongue. There are competent brethren in the Truth who speak these languages who regularly serve at the radio stations.
BOOK MANUFACTURE
The wide advertising of the King and the kingdom by radio has greatly increased the demand for books, booklets and other literature. This necessitates the manufacture of more books and literature. No one but the Lord, knowing the end from the beginning, could have timed everything so exactly and arranged it so perfectly. Ten years ago the Society was printing and manufacturing no books whatsoever. Now it prints and manufactures all the books, booklets, magazines and other publications that it sends out. The work is all done by- consecrated hands, and the Lord continues to add his blessing.
In the annual report of 1926 reference was made to the fact that the Society had purchased a lot and had begun the erection of a new factory building. This building was completed and ready for occupancy February last. The printing and book-binding machinery was moved into it, and work begun. The building covers a lot of ground practically one hundred feet square and is eight stories high, with a freight elevator and a passenger elevator, light and well ventilated, and furnishes a splendid home for the manufacture and shipping of the books and booklets and generally for the work that is carried on in the office in connection therewith. This building and the equipment are a real joy to those who have had a part in the work at headquarters during the past six years.
The progress of the printing and manufacturing of books by the brethren during the past few years is marvelous. When it began, our brethren knew nothing about the use of the machines. They had to learn. As a comparison with what they can now do and what they were able to do at the beginning, the following is an instance : A large press was manufactured in Germany for the Society and shipped to Brooklyn. It was necessary to bring an expert mechanic from Germany to install the press. This expert together with several helpers took two months in which to put it up and get the machine in operation. Within two years thereafter another press of the same size and make was bought in Germany and shipped to America. It was erected by one brother in the factory, together with others who assisted him; and this was done in three weeks. Many marvel at what the brethren are able to do. Men of the world cannot understand it. It is plain, however, to those who are devoted to the Lord.
When the time came for the erection of the tabernacle in the wilderness, God directed Moses to speak unto the children of Israel and say to them that they should bring an offering “every man that giveth it willingly with his heart”. (Exodus 25: 2) In the construction of the tabernacle work was to be done in stone, wood-carving, gold and silver, which required skilful workmanship. God called certain men to do this work and it is recorded concerning them, “And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in -wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; and to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in the cutting of stones to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.” (Exodus 35:31-33) By this we understand that the Lord specially qualified men to perform this work.
It must be conceded that the preparation of the Lord’s message to be sent to and enlighten the people is of like great importance, and the Lord God could just as easily qualify men in the use of machinery to manufacture books as he could qualify them to do skilled labor in connection with the tabernacle. The brethren who served for the tabernacle construction did so willingly with a pure heart. The brethren who have served in the erection and operation of the machinery to manufacture books and booklets, have done so willingly with pure hearts devoted to the Lord. The results have been beyond the understanding of worldly men. The results should be and are encouraging to all who are in the Lord’s service. Ordinarily men who operate such machines must serve an apprenticeship under one who knows and learn gradually, but even then they are not prompted by the right spirit to do the best work When one is thoroughly devoted to the Lord and anxious to learn and trusts in the Lord and then puts forth his best efforts, he may depend upon it that the Lord will help him. The proof of this is shown in the progress of the Society’s plant for the, publication of its books and literature.
Brother Martin is the manager of the factory and office at 117 Adams Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. He has been keenly interested in and participated in the progress of the printing works from its inception. In his report to the president of the Society made at the end of the fiscal year he says:
Dear Brother Rutherford :
It was a great day when the Lord put it into your heart to let us get out the big edition of Golden Aye No. 27 in the Lord’s own factory and with the Lord’s own help. That seems like a long time ago now. Things move so rapidly. And yet it is only seven years. And in those seven years what wonders have been wrought as regards the Lord’s work.
I have forgotten now how many carloads that special edition of four million copies made, but it would have made a fair sized train, and it was all run off on one big rotary press, the one that we still fondly call by the name “the old battleship”. That old battleship has been a good friend to us all.
You will remember that when you first tried to buy a large rotary press, right after the war, the first answer was that there were only a few of them in the country, and that they were all busy, and there was no chance whatever of getting one for many months, longer, indeed, than it seemed right to wait.
But at the right time the Lord opened the door; and the big rotary came into our hands, came into the hands that knew nothing about its construction and operation. But the Lord knows how to quicken the minds of those who have committed their all to him. And in a few days, one might almost say, but surely in a very few weeks, we were able to make that press hum; and it is still humming, doing work that even its makers never knew it could do.
That was a very, very little print shop in which we first put the battleship to work; that is to say, little as compared with our present ideas and present surroundings. The whole floor space available for factory operations was only 3000 square feet, distributed over three floors; and the whole force working on production of printed matter was only twenty brethren. Only the Lord’s help made it possible to do what was done. Previous to that issue every bit of our printing had been done by outside concerns, and we were always dependent on them.
THE DAY OF THE BOOKLETS
It was another great day for the Lord’s work when you wanted to know if it would not be possible to get out our own booklets on the battleship. It did not look at all feasible at the start. For one thing, the makers themselves said it could not be done. It never had been done, and therefore it was useless to try. But we tried, and you know the result.
Back there in 1920, when the boys first started to make booklets on the battleship, the total number of booklets made per day averaged only a thousand, but by the next year it was 3,000 per day, by 1923 it was 6,000 per day, by 1926 it was over 10,000 per day, now it averages 15,000 for every day; and these booklets are all made on the same press. Experience and the Lord’s blessing have accomplished these results.
As you know, all our booklets are wire-stitched. On our first stitcher two workers could stitch 2,000 booklets in a day, or at that rate, when they had them to stitch. Now, with an improved stitcher, which makes two stitches at once instead of separate stitching for each wire, two expert operators will each stitch 25,000 of the booklets in one day.
Similar progress is to be noted on the folding of the booklets. The folder, you know, is our own invention, and very efficient. Two brethren on this folder displaced twelve when we folded them by hand. At the outset a capable brother could fold 10,000 booklets a day on the folder; today a brother, disciplined in the use of hands and eyes and muscles, folds 30,000 on the same machine, a remarkable achievement.
THE DAY OF THE BOOKS
Greatest day of all was the day when you wanted to know if there was any good reason why we should not print and bind all our own books. It was a breath-taking idea, because it meant the opening of a complete typesetting, electroplating, printing and binding plant, with the operation of more than a score of unfamiliar machines, mostly machines we never knew were made, and the necessity of learning more than a dozen trades. But it seemed the best way to meet the war prices charged for books.
You leased the six-story building at 18 Concord Street (with tenants on two floors) ; and on March 1, 1922, we moved in. You bought for us a complete outfit of typesetting, electroplating, printing and binding machinery, most of it new, some of it second-hand; and we started work.
One of the great printing establishments which had been doing much of our work heard of what we were doing and came, in the person of the president, to visit us. He saw the new equipment and sagely remarked, “Here you are with a first-class printing establishment on your hands, and nobody around the place that knows a thing about what to do with it. In six months the whole thing will be a lot of junk; and you will find out that the people to do your printing are those that have always done it, and make it their business.”
That sounded logical enough, but it left out the Lord; and he has always been with us. When the bindery was started he sent along a brother who has spent his whole life in the binding business. He was of great use at the time he was most needed. With his assistance, and with the Lord’s spirit working through the brethren who were trying to learn, it was not long before we were making books.
At first the book production did not go so fast. Books cannot be rushed, anyway. But during the first year that we did our own binding we managed to bind 2,000 per day, and that seemed like a good many at the time. The next year, we bound 3,000 per day; and in 1924 we jumped to 5,500 per day. In 1926 we were binding 8,000 per day; and now, with our new machinery, we are producing 10,000 to 12,000 books per day.
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