Bulletin, July 1929

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WATCH TOWER

BIBLE

AND TRACT

SOCIETY

Clute* and Auxiliary to Date 378J02 Books 488,981 Booklets

JULY

FIRST NINETEEN

TWENTY-NINE

Colporteurs to Date 692,210 Books 490,440 Booklets

BIG HOOK-UP AUGUST 25 To Make One Report for

IBSA Week of August 25 to

Bethel to be Closed

August 18 to September 2

Nation Will Again Hear Brother Rutherford s"2

To be Specially Advertised

Everybody to Take Part

Preparations sire* being made io bring about u tremendous witness in Ilie earth that Jehovah is God. The next. IBSA Week, August 25 to September 2, will be inaugurated by a nation-wide hook-up. The president of Ilie Society will give a lecture over this coast-to-coast network on the subject, “Health and Life for tile People.” A sixty-minute program, originating in New York city, will begin at ten a.in., Eastern Daylight Time. The program win inetude some select musical num-iiers. Tins morning hour will afford opportunity for all the field workers throughout America to hear this lecture mid then go into action. Wc feel that tins hook-up will greatly assist in preparing the minds of the people for the message of truth and of the good things of God's government Io be brought to them by ihe workers.

In order that this broadens! may have wide publicity, the Society is arranging n special advertising campaign. A special announcement of attractive design has been prepared, printed in colors and carrying a list of the stations. These we will suje piy to the classes and any individuals at the following rates:

Less Limn 5,000 ...,5<><S a thousand 5.000 to 11.000 ........45< ii thousand

10,000 to 24,000 .....40c* a thousand 25,000. and up _____.35<l a thousand

We can fill orders for these im-inediatoly. One million copies are being printed for this special distribution, giving everybody an op-portiniity to have a part in armoinic-ing the network broadcast. ;

Xince the classes are doing considerable canvassing in rural territory al this time, wc suggest that about throe weeks in iidvnneo of the date set for the broadcast the work-ens begin using these while canvassing from door to door. Ju Ibis man-, tier considerable rural territory will be reached with amiounceineiils. One week before August 25 it would be advisable to concentrate on the larger cities and towns, so Hint thousands of the announcements can be distributed in a short lime. By eireiilating the largest number just three days before the hook-up Uic hour <if Ihe lecture will be fresh in the minds of ninny people. If some !

for IBSA Week in tin unprecedented way. Let every one of us make n special effort to arrange our work so that this second world-wide witness of the year may be a real honor Lind joy to Jehovah.

Try Auto Camps

Automobile camps, wheri* tourists upend one or more nights, are springing up throughout Hie country. The majority of these people will not want Io buy the larger books; but three booklets for a quarter will be mi at tractive oiler. Booklets are easily carried and easily read, and if (uoperiy presented will have an appeal for these people. Brethren cun spend many a profitable evening also in this service. In each territory iliere are numerous other conditions which should he carefully considered and for which plans should be made Io supply the need of Hie people for the message.

To avoid confusion and the misunderstanding which some of the classes have had about reporting work done during IBSA Week, it has been decided to eliminate tlio specialty prepared curd for IBSA Week. For the drive of August 2-5 io September 2 the classes will follow the practice observed by the I colporteurs during the May drive, i.i».. of using one of their regular weekly report cards. Instead of reporting Um work done during the seven days of tlio week only, this : card is to be held until 1 lie conclusion of IBSA Week and Ilie results of the entire nine days, from August 25 to September 2. are to be included. This will mean, then, that the report for the week following will be for a period of only five days instead of seven. Colporteurs, as well I as classes, are asked to follow this practice. Remember, then, that only mm report card for the entire nine days is In be sent to us for next . IBSA. Week.

Classes Show Big Increase over I928

42.1% of Quota Sold

Notv for a Steady Drive

IBSA Wook is not so much a campaign In itself as it is the opening attack of a big summer campaign. It lays the folliidiilion for Ihe suiuiuer iicliviiies. A number of friends who, because of elimtilie conditions, spring aelivilies on Hie farms and in oilier industries, find it dillicult io devote nnieh lime to before May. are now some of these responsibilities and are in position to devote more lime to Ilie service. With Ihe truly consecrated Christian the Kingdom is the biggest event of Olli.' day. It. was the biggest event of Jesus’ day, am! he devoted more time and energy to its proclamation mid preparation limn to any other I fling. 11 is work was in preparation of an event to come. The event has taken pirns'. The Kingdom is hero. Jesus, as God’s anointed King, is much more active in tlie Kingdom today than he was at his first ml vent. Those

the Lord blessed with lite incomparable honor of being Ills witnesses during tills drive will continue to sing forth the honor of ids naino.

The work vvlticli the classes have been doing so far this year shows a marked increase over the number of books sold to date of June J, 192.8. We know that you will rejoice to learn Hint there has been mi increase of 1211,8 !1 clot li-bound bonks, which brings our total to 378,1182 hooks for 1929, as eom-]>ared with 2 18,871 sold to dale of June J., 1928. This represents an increase of 34.28 percent. Las! year at this time ihe classes had sold but 42.U percem of lliolr total hook sales for llm >e:ir. This year, io date, yon have sold 12.1 percent of the year’s quoin of 90(1.01)0, If the same ran* of progress is eoniitiimd you should make the quoin. To bi' sure, it will mean work", even as it 1ms meruit work Io nmlse the Hi.28 pm-i'cnt in crease o\er hist year Urns far. But

who have llm spirit of God mid the spirit of devotion manifested by Jesus will likewise be more active in the Kingdom work limn ever before. Let us ask aui-selves the question. "Is our aciivity in the Kingdom increasing in accordmiei' with the

what greater joy is there than to 'get out and work hard for the Lord ami flm interests of Ids kingdom and ; io show litm that yon delight to do ids will. We are confidenr that, you ; will have much joy during the en-j suing months.

Now just how can Hits quota bo aJhiiiietl? During llm month of May I there was an average of 5.013 work-

Tlie vm-nlion dale for ihe Bethel family office and factory force ;it Brooklyn is fixed for the two weeks beginning August J8 and ending September 2. The factory will be closed at noon cm Saturday tlie 17th, and will open for work on Tuesday morning, September 3. All colporteurs and classes are advised to have sufficient books on limid to last them over this period, as well as to be supplied with sufficient territory.

We ask every one to remember these dates mid to refrain from writing during tins period. If you write, tlie itmi.1 will just accumulate and take so much longer to dispose of when ihe factory re-opens. Since there will be no one to answer your correspondanee during this period, you might just as well wait. By so doing you will aid us materially. We are ntixlotis to give you the very best service possible, and therefore ask of colporteurs, classes, and till the friends as well, the following:

1. Please do not write to us between the dates of August 18 and September 2. Just send in the class recommendations for Service Director, and the usual weekly report cards, without orders or correspondence.

2. Please hold mer letters that are not urgent tor a few weeks following llm re-opening of tlie factory. so that we cun lake care of aecumulatcd mall us quickly ms possible.

3. Be sure that your order for books, Io last you during tills period, is in early enough to avoid all last-minute rushes. Please do not -semi in orders which arrive on Saturday morning, August 17, and expect us to fill lliem before we close.

4. C'olpoi lours, before llm closing time, be sure flint you lmve sufficient territory Io hist you until about October I. ”

Tn oilier words, inuki' your plans sufficiently in advance that you can carry rm your work wiliiout being aH'ceted by this closing. R.EMEM-i BEU, THE TIME DURING WHICH THE FACTO RY AND OFFICE ARE TO BE CLOSED IS NOON OF AUGUST 17 UNTIL THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 3.

el' the classes can insert tlw advertisement in Ihe local newspaper Iwo or three days preceding the broadcast. this, too, will greatly7 aid in notifying the pultlit-. All classes using (lie radio for local broadcast lag should likewise minoum-e the August 25 program during the preceding week and on the previous Sunday.

We feel sure that this great broadcast will prepare the terriiory

Kingdom light and responsibilii les?” Each year should mark u decided liiereiiso in m:r activities. ‘To him ttoil Iiath, more shall be given,’ says tlie pa ruble.

■ Thore were 7,511 workers in the -field during IBSA Week. Tlio average number of weekly workers in the service during April was 3.880. Almost twice as many were out during drive week. Surely those whom

: ors in the field each week. During i IBSA Week there were as many as 7,511. If the 7,511. class workers continue regularly in the service, selling four bound books mid seven booklets ii week, you will more than make the quota. Let us make this : the weekly quota for the remaining four months. Tim Lord will bless

i the effort. He will do His part, if we do ours.

Study of Special Bulletin Helping Workers to Place

Books

Many letters have been received from Ihe colporteurs and class workers expressing bow much benefit they have received from tlieir study of llm (■'uflifculifHix to Workers--A'/icr mt lliillethi, Ono brother writes us: “You lmve now given us a reg-uliir handbook Io be kept and cou-stilled ngriin mid again. No specialty salesman could improve on the sales suggestions.” A letter Inis been received from a sister in which she (Continued on page 2, column 2)

May’s Colporteur Report Proves Necessity

of Regularity

Regulars and Auxiliaries Sell 122,722 Books

May’s figures have now been compiled. The results show that both the regular and the auxiliary colporteurs put In their best month SO far this year. During the month 1,092 regulars and 523 auxiliaries, or a total of 1,015 reported at least once. The average to report weekly numbered only 907 and 419, respectively, or a total of 1,320. But the 1,326 worked more diligently during this month than during any previous month of the year. The regulars averaged 24.47 hours a week In the service, and the auxiliaries 11.30 hours a week. This Is a marked increase over April’s figures, which were 21.43 and 8.40, respectively. It but demonstrates what can be done when the colporteurs really put forth the effort; and we want to congratulate you for your good work. W'e feel sure that Ulla has been a very Joyful month for you; because when one puts forth a real effort to magnify the name of Jehovah, he is sure to receive a rich blessing. In fact, from the many letters that we have received from all parts of the field testifying of the joy that has been experienced in the mighty campaign, we are assured of this. That the Lord’s blessings were on your efforts is clearly manifest in the sale during the month of 268,828 pieces of literature, which includes 122,722 books, 109,721 10f booklets and 36,485 5^ booklets. This literature has been left in the hands of 106,204 purchasers, which does not represent the total number, because many of the colporteurs have not been reporting them on their weekly cards. It will be much appreciated if in the future every one makes out these cards carefully and is sure that all the requested Information is filled in each week.

Summer is now here, and with It come better weather and roads. The farmers are beginning to harvest their crops, and they will be in possession of money with which to purchase the literature. The best months of the year are before you. Now is the time to start ‘making hay while the sun shines’, as the saying goes. If you wish to stay in the colporteur work until the end and without Interruption, we suggest that you put in regular hours each week and endeavor to meet the minimum average at least. This minimum has been set with your own interests at heart. The May figures demonstrate that tho only way for one to meet his expenses in the work is to really seek first the interests of the Kingdom, which means to work hard. Due to much backward weather, which has discouraged many farmers as to the prospects of a good crop; the seasonal depression which usually conies during the month of May; and the Increased number of new and inexperienced colporteurs who have engaged in the work, the average sales an hour per colporteur decreased to 1 1/5 cloth-bound books, 1 10 booklet and 1/3 5tf booklet Hence, if you wish to continue In the work, regularity Is essential; for only by putting in the time can the books be sold. We appreciate the many difficulties which you encounter, and want to assure you that It is our earnest desire to cooperate with you in meeting them. But, after all, Isn’t It through per-

in the Work

slstence In pressing on in spite of all these difficulties that it Is possible for a demonstration to be given of one’s faith in the Lord and one’s love for him?

(Continued from page 1, column 4) says: “I want to thank you so much for the Special Bulletin, May Issue, which you sent me. Sunday morning, when I was out In the service, 1 put In practice many of the invaluable suggestions from this Bulletin, and I had more success than I had ever had. Three out of every four calls were sales; and bound books, too."

This Special Bulletin has been Issued for the benefi t of the workers; and we would urge that it lie kepi as a manual and referred to repeatedly. One can not remember all the suggestions by just reading it over once or twice. We suggest that each worker, before going out into the work, read part of it, try to remember a point or two, and then experiment with these in your canvassing. The next time you go out, try some other suggestion; and finally you will have proven to yourself the value of the suggestions made therein and will have made them your own.

One sister writes us how her having followed the suggestion of agreeing and sympathizing with the customer aided her in placing the message in the hands of a party who would not otherwise have listened. She says, “I approached a lady who was sitting on the porch. She Said to me right away, ‘Ob, I am sick and nervous and I can’t read. It makes me so nervous.’ So I put up tho book and said, ‘That is to bad, I atn sorry.’ Then I said, ‘Won’t It be grand when the Lord will heal the nations and make the earth beautiful and there will be no more sickness?’ To my surprise she said she was looking for this very thing, and her face looked so happy as we talked. Then I said, ‘You know these hooks of Judge Rutherford are right along this line.’ She said, ‘Is that so?’ And eagerly she picked one up and began to look at it. She couldn’t take all, but took Creation. I have been wanting to know how to canvass better, but my lack of knowledge has caused me to act and speak in the wrong way.”

A Suggestion for Answering “I Haven’t Any Money in the House Today”

A brother writes us, “Here’s a little suggestion for what it is worth. When they say, ‘Well, I haven’t any money in the bouse today,’ and seem a little interested, just pull out your order book In a confident way and smile and say, ‘Oh that’s all right; we’ll just open a charge account for you. When is pay-day? I’ll see you then,’ and either leave the books and collect Inter or deliver later as you are accustomed to do.” Another brother writes, “I have had a number of successful sales of the sets by taking a deposit where I size up the person as reliable." The taking of a deposit and giving the customer a receipt with one book oftentimes impresses the customer with the obligation which he has incurred in leaving the order with you and aids in making the delivery inter of the fall order,

Bicycles Used for Rural Work

Colporteurs Have Covered as Much as Sixty Miles a

Day Without Difficulty

Now is the time to cover the rural sections. Some of the colporteurs in times past have used bicycles to good advantage In this work, but with the coming of the automobile many have overlooked their possibilities entirely. You might, therefore, be interested in the experiences of some of those who have been using them effectively.

The bicycle is comparatively cheap and easy to operate and to keep In repair. Because of its serviceability and economy as a means of covering territory, some colporteurs In house-cars have carried one along with them as part of their equipment. The heavy house-car can he parked, and gas, oil, and expensive tires saved, while the rough roads and rural sections are being canvassed.

One brother writes us that he is able to cover from 30 to 60 miles a day without trouble on his bicycle. Another one tells us that in his usual day’s canvassing he figures on traveling about 30 miles and on delivery days he often covers as much as 50 miles. Of course endurance like this comes with practice.

MAPS A GREAT HELP

You might be interested in knowing just how he plans his work. As soon as an assignment of a county is received, he obtains a map showing the rural routes. If he can not buy one from the government or some store, he goes to a public library where he is frequently able to trace off a copy of some map on their files. He then selects some centrally-located town as his headquarters, where he keeps bls stock of books and from which he rides out each day. A carrier arrangement which bolds a suitcase is attached to the front of his bicycle. (Some prefer to have a rack in the back, as well as in the front, so as to more equally distribute the weight.) He claims to be able by means of this to carry as many as 65 books without overloading, With a stand attached to the rear wheel, the bicycle is held in an upright position while the call is being made.

As he starts out each morning he loads up with enough books to keep him busy for the day. He so plans his work that the delivery date for any orders that are taken is set two weeks from his first day’s work in that particular section. By doing this, he is able to allow those who give him orders nt the end of the week, one week’s interval before the delivery. The orders taken during tlie week warrant his spending another day in making these deliveries in that section after having canvassed It.

If one does not feel capable of traveling so far to and from the territory, several changes in headquarters can be made. In this way all the rural route in the county can be reached with the least amount of traveling. This brother informs us that when he has taken an assignment of a county he calls at every house.

The bicycle can be used not only by pioneer colporteurs but by class workers as well. Many of the classes have done very little In their rural

Territory Boundaries

It has just come to our attention that instructions have been given to certain classes without consulting the Society’s headquarters to disregard their territory boundaries In disposing of their surplus stock of the Peopled Friend booklets. The instructions should NOT have been given. It is important that all classes and colporteurs observe strictly on all occasions the boundaries of the territory which has been assigned. When these boundaries are disregarded, some one else suffers. Classes or colporteurs should never work outside of their own territory. The only exception would be where classes have a working agreement with one another to assist in their respective fields; but even in such a ease definite arrangements should be made first.

Individual friends are also urged not to follow the practice of taking a bag of books along and working any place that might look good, without knowing who holds the territory. Your doing so may be with a desire to honor the name of Jehovah, but it may mean that you are working in some pioneer colporteur’s territory whose livelihood is dependent upon his sales of books. All isolated territory should be obtained from this office, as the Information regarding where the colporteurs are working is available only here.

New Field for Books

The early summer opens up an excellent field for the Kingdom message in the various resort hotels, among both employes and guests; and plans should he made to work these at the most advantageous times. It is often difficult to reach tho guests of the very large ho'tels, but the smaller hotels and boardinghouses can be reached if plans are carefully made anil competent workers appointed to handle the work. The employes also can be reached in the same manner. Each case will be a problem for the director to work out. No specific plan can lie made to cover all of these, lieyond the fact that in most cases the employes can be reached between 3 : 36 and 5:30 p.m. and after 8:30 p.m. This would provide excellent evening work for brethren who have to work during the day.

A Novel Suggestion for Selling Booklets

One colporteur writes us that their party has been able to place a number of booklets in the hands of people who are not iu position to purchase the set of five books. She writes, “We are putting all the booklets together and calling them our paper-covered set.” Having talked the cloth-bound set first, one has emphasized the desirability of such a purchase. A paper-covered set at a very small price is thus made to appear very attractive.

territory because of the limited number of automobiles. Sisters who have considerable time during the week have not gone out into the work because of having no one to take them. Women as well as men can obtain bicycles adapted to their use. They are easy to learn to ride, cheap to operate, and cover the ground quickly. They have an added advantage in working rural sections, in that no time is lost in waiting for other members of & party to finish their calls.