Bulletin, June 30, 1935
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BULLETIN'.
"THE NATIONS’ HOPE” TESTIMONY PERIOD—JUNE 30-JULY 8
CAN WE DO BETTER THAN IN LAST PERIOD?
83 Countries in Thanksgiving Testimony
Nearly Four Million Testimonies Given in Nine Days
Much Opposite
J on a dabs Have Share in World-wide Witness
Over One and a Half Million Booklets Distributed
The dividing of the people continues while Jehovah*^ witnesses go through the uttermost parts of the earth with the message the Lord has committed to them. The results of the latest international campaign are thrilling, and many countries show remarkable increases over any previous effort. It will be noticed that the number of workers, 41,037, is an increase of more than 6,000 over the world-wide campaign last fall, and they put in more hours and gave more testimonies. The previous high mark for workers was during the Remnant’s Thanksgiving Period, April 8-16, 1933, during which time 58,804 engaged in the witness work. However, 19,268 of that number were in Germany, and since that time the work has been stopped in that country.
The total number of books and booklets distributed is 1,561,242, which is only a little less than the world-wide witness last fall, and this is no doubt due partly to the fact that Dividing the People was used in some of the English-speaking countries in a campaign in January and in many places the brethren went over the sdme territory twice with the same booklet. Many of the reports show that much opposition was furnished by the enemy, but this only served to stimulate the brethren to greater zeal and activity.
During this period many of the Jonadab class came out and participated in the witness, work with Jehovah’s witnesses, and reports show that they had much joy in their share of the work. We are happy, too, to see these people of good will taking their stand on the side of Jehovah God, and look forward to even greater numbers in the future who will actively engage in singing forth the praises of Jehovah.
The transcription machines played a good part in the witness that was given in this period, particularly in the English-speaking countries, and in addition to the figures shown on the table, many thousands of people heard the message at the transcription meetings. Brother Rutherford prepared a special lecture, “Requirements,” which was recorded and sent to every company and pioneer having a transcription machine, and this proved to be a great help and stimulus to the brethren. Then, of course, there was the convention at Los Angeles, with the lecture “World
Encountered
Control”, which was delivered before an audience of over 12,000 people and over a large chain of radio stations in the United States. Reports show that this lecture was heard as far away as South Africa, Australia, Europe, the West Indies and other countries.
Having in mind that no reports could be received from Germany concerning the Memorial, nor the workers who did witness by word of mouth, we can merely make a comparison in percentages of those who partook of the Memorial last year and this as compared with the workers. We find that in 1933 about 63 percent of those who reported to have partaken of the Memorial engaged in field service. This year there is a decided increase in the proportion, as we find 71 percent of the partakers are workers.
Everyone in the temple really appreciating the work that is being done in the earth will sing forth the praises of the Lord and engage in the witness work. Shortly now there will be another special period, which is designated as “The Nations’ Hope” Testimony Period. We feel sure that everyone will press the battle to the gate, even against adverse conditions that now exist, and carry on the message of the Kingdom. It is marvelous in our eyes, and surely only the Lord could accomplish such a thing as to bring about the distribution of over a million and a half pieces of literature and the speaking to nearly four million people in only nine days. This represents work, energy, spending one’s vitality in the serving of our God. Surely those who ‘love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind, soul and strength’ are pleased with this gracious privilege that has been granted them.
SOUTH AFRICA
“Brother Rutherford’s stirring broadcast from Los Angeles was heard by brethren and members of the public In the early hours of Monday morning March 26. This was the first time his voice was heard direct from the ‘mike’ in South Africa, and the experience was thrilling beyond words. The message was a great incentive to put forth our best endeavors during Thanksgiving Testimony Period. The results in the door-to-door witness work were the ‘best yet’ and constitute the greatest witness ever given in a special campaign period. A noteworthy feature of this campaign was the large number of Jonadabs who participated. The total number of workers who had a share was 318, while the number who partook of the Memorial emblems was 276. Ten transcription machines were in action. Fifty-two meetings were held, with a total attendance of 3,000, and 390 pieces of literature were placed.”
BRITISH ISLES
“The good results of this campaign and the larger number of workers participating on this occasion are largely attributable to the consistent use of the printed testimony card by all witnesses. With but few exceptions all the pioneers were grouped in the various large industrial towns and cities, and their joy and enthusiasm as they witnessed under these conditions reached very high. The Watchtower readers who are not regular workers, and those of the Jonadab class, responded in a wonderful manner and placed no less than 16,903 booklets. It was indeed a great ‘feast’ period to Jehovah’s praise that will long be remembered.”
CANADA
“The results for the ‘Thanksgiving Testimony of Jehovah’s witnesses’ show a good increase over the January campaign. Due to the roads’ being impassable the friends were largely confined to covering the same territory that was covered in the previous campaign with the Dividing the People booklet; but despite this, in the Lord’s providence, 62,071 books and booklets were placed. Jehovah richly blessed the efforts of his people in this land, and one and all entered into the work with zeal and enthusiasm. As a result of these two campaigns alone, 119,369 Dividing the People booklets have been placed in the hands of the people in Canada and Newfoundland. Truly they are being instructed that they may take their stand on the side of Jehovah.
“Inasmuch as the brethren here could not assemble at the Los Angeles convention, arrangements were made for thirty-nine auxiliary conventions to be held. Brother Rutherford’s special message to the anointed, ‘Requirements,’ formed a special feature of each of these, and wherever possible the broadcast on ‘World Control’ was tuned in.”
CENTRAL EUROPE
“The Lord has again richly blessed our work during this year’s Thanksgiving week. The efforts put forth by the brethren in the various countries are very encouraging. The preparations made for this period were much more extensive than those for the former Thanksgiving periods. In the measure the Devil got aware of this he caused difficulties to arise. The opposition which manifested itself during this period in one way or another was the greatest ever experienced. Especially the pioneers are now hard pressed in practically all the countries of our territory. Not only the German pioneers are being expelled from France and Belgium, but also the Swiss and English. As a result, there are now 30 fewer pioneers in the field. Nevertheless the number of hours put in by the pioneers during this period is but 470 hours less than last year. This means that the efforts put forth by them were wonderful. The number of company workers has increased by about 600, although 300 fewer brethren could engage in the service in Rumania, especially on account of the difficult political conditions in that country.”
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
“In this week, for the first time, it was possible to distribute the same message in the four chief languages of this country, namely, Bohemian, Slovakian, German and Hungarian. The brethren in the whole country were advised to use the printed card method, and reports from everywhere show that the results were very good and that the Lord has blessed it. In the beginning and on the end of this week was a service convention, and by these conventions the brethren were much encouraged. On this occasion 4,000 booklets were distributed. It was the best we ever had.”
JAMAICA
“The period was fraught with many blessings upon those who participated in the memorial of our Lord’s death. Every one seemed fired with a real zeal, especially as the lectures were given on ‘His Organization? and ‘Requirements’. Each one went into the service with renewed vigor to press the battle to the gate of the enemy.”
JAPAN
“During the period several brethren were in prison and four of them had to celebrate the Memorial in jail. Although much oppression came upon them, Jehovah’s witnesses are more happy with their wonderful privilege.”
MEXICO
“The method of giving the message by card proved very satisfactory to all the workers. The results are the best yet.”
NORTHERN EUROPE
“We had 2,428 out on this occasion, thus beating our record, figure in January by no fewer than 357. On that occasion we spread 140,769 (pieces of literature), but on this
THANKSGIVING TESTIMONY OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
INTERNATIONAL REPORT MARCH 24-APRIL 1, 1934
COUNTRY
Memorial Pio- Auxil- Com- Total Testi-
Hours
Ob-tainer
s Books Booklets Total
Report neers iaries panj
Workers monies
Alaska
L
Albania
1,580
1,216
1,216
Antigua
L
Argentina
19 4
10,527
2,145
3,860
4,814
5,089
Australia
1,174
153 97
1,124
167,993
19,237
52,081
1,098
60,440
61,538
Austria
9 17
102,749
9,984
46,449
49,005
49,471
Bahamas
1,196
Barbados
5 1
1,481
Belgium
1:
. 4
28,401
1,837
9,383
9,688
9,732
British Guiana
British Honduras
.•
Bulgaria
Burma
1 2
2,824
1,205
1,226
Canada
3,159
17z
: 38
2,288
2,500
174,724
22,274
51,248
1,344
60,310
61,654
Canal Zone
2 2
1,991
1,010
1,056
Ceylon
Chile
3,182
China
2 1
Colombia
Costa Rica
, 2
3,533
’-.46
Cuba
4 •
5,151
1,103
1,112
1,176
Czechoslovakia
1,430
89 11
1,018
95,605
11,713
28,781
32,961
33,634
Danzig
18,360
2,564
17,002
18,360
18,422
Denmark
51 9
76,626
6,915
60,422
62,748
62,850
Dutch Guiana
East Africa
Egypt
1,564
England
5,293
150 90
4,189
4,429
545,678
43,957
202,248
205,300
205,300
Estonia
3,381
1,563
1,835
1,863
Fiji
Finland
3t
42,630
7,321
30,855
33,280
33,501
France
1,438
1,197
1,283
163,699
16,814
52,290
1,455
54,709
56,164
Germany
Gold Coast
1,750
1,388
1,303
1,435
Greece
53,549
3,679
16,427
16,538
Grenada
Guatemala
Hawaii
Holland
34 7
47,421
3,516
11,247
10,790
10,890
Hungary
IC
9,746
4,450
4,339
4,605
Iceland
India
18 3
16,795
2,508
1,963
5,002
5,174
Ireland
22,143
1,204
7,381
7,423
7,423
Italy
1,250
Jamaica
5 68
16,793
3,742
3,800
3,614
3,830
Japan
69 4
93,079
5,534
9,112
20,159
20,159*
Java
1,148
1,073
1,351
1,375
Latvia '
IC
3,896
1,574
1,810
1,817
Lithuania
969,
Luxemburg
Mexico
4£
27,597
3,822
8,918
9,096
9,549
Newfoundland
New Zealand
38 10
28,537
3-,533
9,239
10,655
10,996
Norway
14,491
2,222
8,002
15,027
15,261
Nyasaland
3,671
1,272
Palestine
. 1
Panama
,97
Philippines
1'
3,399
67ft
Poland
2,493
35 29
82,987
7,967
16,112
12,508
13,011
Porto Rico .
Portugal
Rhodesia (N)
1,494
104‘
4,212
1,406
1,068
1,344
Rhodesia (S)
5,939
1,175
Rumania
2,799
41,775
4,232
8,547
10,291
10,356
St. Kitts
J
St. Vincent
Sarre Basin
30,751
2,397
7,876
8,093
8,146
Scotland
84,141
5,952
27,298
27,441
27,441
Sierra Leone
South Africa
46,746
5,498
20,154
22,815
23,378
Spain
4,260
1,341
2,098
2,128
Sumatra
Sweden
1,017
5]
89,825
12,142
68,983
74,890
75,663
Switzerland
1,236
88,165
8,893
42,588
44,505
45,300
Syria
1,480
Tobago
Trinidad
8,679
1,529
1,590
1,607
1,768
Turkey
I
United States
25,805
l,75t
17,291
19,871
1,575,532
219,010
531,984
15,182
580,803
595,985
Uruguay
1,906
Wales
37,770
2,976
15,189
15,261
15,261
West Africa
10,199
1,535
3,840
3,524
3,959
Yugoslavia
26,373
2,532
7,518
8,928
9,235
Total _
57,139
3,073
1,442
36,522
41,037
3,953,214
462,302 1,393,115
29,310
1,531,932
1,561,242
Total for Kingdom Proclamation
Period Sept. 30-0ct. 8,
3,110
1,274
30,134
34,518
3,668,766
433,399 1,380,864
27,465
1,545,166
1,572,631
*Golden Age copies distributed.
were
arrested, but
in spite
of this
foreigners were forbidden to distrib-
occasion 201,082. There
is thus
the work was done. Looking back
ute the Watch Tower literature. The
an
on what was accomplished,
we can
police acted
immediately and tried
increase of 60,313.
but gratefully acknowledge Jeho-
to hinder the pioneers from work-
So rar as can oe judged tne use
vah’s
wonderful
protection and
4ng, as
well
is the Polish company
of the testimony card
has largely
care.’
workers and
even the
Swiss breth-
helped to this end, especially in the
RTi’T.nTTTlVr
ren who regularly go
to France to
better-class houses. It has been more used on this occasion than at any time previously. Then, too, the Memorial article ‘His Name’ (in two parts) was out in time in all languages, and was truly inspiring and strengthening to all. More Jonadabs got into the chariot than ever be-~ fore, for till January 1934 our highest
number of- brethren out was 1,809.”
AUSTRIA
“We are very pleased to send you the report for Thanksgiving week.
“I am happy to report the best result ever reached in any special service period. The companies have written of the joy they had. The feast of Jehovah this year has filled the brethren with joy and zeal more than ever before. Our brethren of foreign nationality are now in great danger of being expelled if they further participate in the witness work. However, during Thanksgiving Period they have shown that they fear the Lord and him alone.”
do the work there. However, the Lord overruled things in such a way that a good witness could be given in France in spite of all these difficulties. Especially the Polish brethren were urged on to still greater zeal giving the witness regardless of this governmental order. Most of the policemen in the territory worked by the Polish companies have known our activity for years, and did not take measures against it, but allowed the distribution, with
Nearly 100 brethren more than
3ur-
ing the last Thanksgiving week par-
FRANCE
SWEDEN
ticipated in the service, and the com-
“Shortly before the Thanksgiving
“This period was remarkable in
pany workers alone placed 10,000
week
the Devil tried to greatly in-
two respects:
(1) that the number
more booklets than last
year.
The
jure the work. The Minister of the
of workers was an absolute banner
companies reported difficulties
in
Interior issued a circular letter to
record, exceeding the January peri-
manv where the brethren
all the police offices stating that
od by
154, Which was up to that
tlmetnemgnestngureever; izr the number of pieces of literature exceeded January figures by 15,297, and showed that all peaks can be surmounted. This is the Lord’s doing.”
DENMARK
“We had ‘Requirements’ interpreted so that we had Brother Rutherford with us, and afterwards he was translated into Danish. The Memorial article was very encouraging, and the message just right. Everywhere there was joy and enthusiasm. The result for this period far surpasses our previous best.”
FINLAND
“The week has been, in Finland, the happiest time we ever have had. It is true that the partakers of Memorial have gone down from 943 to 888, but the number of partakers in work has been the greatest we ever had, or 680, to compare with 518, which formerly was the highest number. Participating in the work were 42 Jonadabs, leaving 2,135 books in the hands of the people. It is no wonder if the Devil has been very angry, as the work is so grandly going forward, and his agents have put in the newspaper a remark about us, stating that if others in our land should publicly and in print tell the people what we are doing, they should sit in prison.”
NORTHERN RHODESIA
“In spite of all efforts to crush the work and discourage the witnesses, the Kingdom work continues to make good progress in Northern Rhodesia. A considerable number of witnesses have been cruelly beaten and imprisoned by native chiefs who are more or less given a free hand by the European native commissioners to mete out punishment as they think fit to any members of the ‘Watch Tower’. The brethren are in good spirit and rejoice.”
SOUTHERN RHODESIA
“Amidst much opposition and persecution Jehovah’s witnesses in that land continue to boldly proclaim the Kingdom message. Several native witnesses, knowing that European witnesses from South Africa are not permitted to enter the country, took it upon themselves to give the witness to Europeans and went around in government offices, shops and other places of business, distributing the latest booklets. They have now been deported to their homes in Northern Rhodesia, where they will continue the witness work.”
THE UNITED STATES
The number of workers participating in this campaign exceeded that of last October by over 3,000, with an increase of 12,000 hours, and of over 123,000 testimonies. Despite this, the number of obtainers dropped by about 8,000, with a corresponding drop in the total amount of literature placed? although the bound books increased by almost 3,000.
The fact that less literature was placed, and fewer placements were made this spring than last fall, despite the fact that a greater effort was put forth by the brethren and more time devoted to the service, indicates that the attitude of the people in general is not as optimistic as it was in the fall. However, the activity this year has been decidedly lower than the spring of last year, when there were approximately 65,000 more hours spent in field service and over 600,000 more testimonies given.
It seems hard to explain why the number of workers this year should fall short of that one year ago, for the Jonadabs are continually increasing. The weather was considerably worse, but this should not be a hindrance to those who love the Lord, but rather another difficulty to overcome to the praise of Jehovah’s name.