Informant, May 1939
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INFORMANT
MAY, 1939
EXTRA
“But they shall not prevail against thee.”—Jer. 1:19,
EXTRA
BROOKLYN, N. Y.
New York Convention Becomes International
Brother Rutherford to Address Entire Assembly Saturday and Sunday
London, Glasgow, Chicago and Los Angeles Tied In
“Government and Peace” to Be Broadcast
Assist Newly Interested to Attend Nearest Convention
Jehovah has an important message to be heralded far and wide throughout the land. Because of its importance the New York convention, June 23-25, has been extended to take in Chicago and Los Angeles in the United States, and London and Glasgow. The heart of this extraordinary convention will be in New York City, but, as it is a network convention, other cities will probably be tied in with New York in addition to those mentioned above. The same program will be carried at all points simultaneously.
Big Feature
The big feature of this network convention will be the lectures by Brother Rutherford, both on Saturday and on Sunday. On Saturday, from 3 to 4 p.m. New York Time, all of the convention cities will be tied together by means of telephone lines and amplification systems in each of the convention halls. Again on Sunday. 4 to 5 p.m. New York Daylight Saving Time, the lecture “Government and Peace” will be brought to all these auditoriums. All of the anointed and their companions who can possibly get to one of the many conventions arranged will surely do everything within their means to attend. Additionally, from now until the time of the convention there will be the privilege of encouraging the newly interested persons on whom you are making back-calls to come to this convention. At these large gatherings the enthusiasm and zeal of the Lord’s people are at their height. These conventions show the strength of the Lord’s organization on earth, give the “stranger” a clearer conception of the good will and earnestness of those who love the Lord, and remove all fear from the minds of the newly interested that this might be “just another religion”. Seeing Christians energetically performing the commandments of God will aid them in taking a stand for the Lord.
Advertising
The greatest advertising campaign ever arranged for a public discourse will be carried on to let the people know about the lecture "Government and Peace”. Some of the means that will be used in this convention are herewith mentioned. In all convention cities, five weeks before the date of the convention the publishers will start using a special handbill announcing the public meeting. This handbill will be used within a radius of 100 miles of each convention city.
Another special handbill will be prepared for each convention city to use during the week the convention is held. This will be designed differently and made more attractive, and with thousands coming to the convention, great portions of each city will again be covered with an announcement of the public meeting. Thousands of placards will be placed in conspicuous places throughout the cities. “Sandwich sign” parades will begin three weeks before the time of meeting, and as the date of meeting draws near more Intense witnessing will be done by this method.
Silk screen signs of the size approximately 30 inches by 50 inches will be made and displayed in windows, posted on outdoor boards, on sides of houses, on trucks and on backs of automobiles—in fact, any place where these signs can be posted they will be used. Three special inserts will be printed for the electric flasher signs, which will be used extensively throughout all convention cities. These inserts should be changed every three days, thus attracting much attention.
Sound-cars will soon begin announcing the public meeting over their equipment. From now until the time of the convention, on all their back-calls the brethren will point out the Importance of attending the convention. A special letter has been prepared by the Society and will be mailed to every Watchtower subscriber in each convention city ten days before the meeting. Special invitation cards will be enclosed in this letter inviting them particularly to the public meeting.
With all the handbills, placards, “sandwich sign” parades, sound-car announcements and numerous other means of advertising this convention, Madison Square Garden ought to be packed out as well as every hall in the United States and England now engaged.
Book Room
The Society will have a book room at each convention city. The literature to be used will be the special offer for June, namely, 7 booklets on a contribution of a quarter. Obtain your supply of booklets for the convention at the convention book room, as these will be made up in combinations of 7 and enclosed in a wrapper inviting the people to attend the public meeting.
Cafeteria
Each convention is arranging to operate a cafeteria. The food served will be wholesome, but no elaborate arrangement can be set up for the three days. Money spent at the cafeteria will be used to defray the expenses of operating the cafeteria.
Immersion
Local arrangements are being made for a baptismal service. The time will probably be early Sunday morning, thus allowing those who are immersed to participate in the field service on Sunday. Those desiring to be baptized will as-
(Continued on page 2, column 1)
Timely Message for All to Hear
We look forward with keen interest to the public meeting at Madison Square Garden, at which time Brother Rutherford will deliver the lecture “Government and Peace”, a message which Jehovah wants given to the people of the world. Not only will those fortunate enough to get into Madison Square Garden and other convention auditoriums throughout the world be able to hear, but, due to the importance of this message, a radio chain is being arranged and approximately 100 stations, we hope, will take “Government and Peace” into the homes of millions of other people. Special radio folders will be consigned to all companies sometime before June 25. As soon as you receive them, make every effort to distribute them.
In all your back-call work from now until the convention, point out to these people the importance of attending this convention, or, if they cannot attend, of listening in on the radio. The responsibility rests upon every publisher to stress the message that will be sent forth from this international convention, “Government and Peace.”
General Information
Pioneers are to send in $1.00 with all renewal subscriptions for The Watchtower and Consolation, as there is no special rate on renewals.
Pioneers and company servants should give their full name and address at the upper right-hand corner of each letter.
Company servants living outside of the town by which the company is known should always show the name of the company at the head of each letter.
The pioneers who are also serving as company servants should definitely state on each order submitted ] whether it is a pioneer or a com-। pany order, whether remittance is for the company or on pioneer account, etc. Pioneers serving in such capacity should always send in two Change of Address notices: one on a regular pioneer Change of Address slip and another on a regular sheet of paper, stating on the latter that such change is for address as company servant.
Companies receiving Distributors’ copies of Consolation and Watchtower should promptly notify the office of every change in the address or personnel of the one to whom these copies are being sent. Always, when sending in such notice, state the change is for “Distributors’ copies coming in the name and address of” whoever the party may be.
Shortwave Reception
The two lectures by Brother Rutherford, one on Saturday at 3 to 4 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time, and one on Sunday at 4 to 5 p.m., will be transmitted by shortwave to London, England. Those publishers not attending the convention and having shortwave sets should try to tune in somewhere between 16 and 50 meters. You may be fortunate enough to get the lecture. A report of your reception will be appreciated at the Brooklyn office.
Those company publishers remaining at home and able only to tune in the Sunday radio lecture may wish to send a report of their reception immediately. If so, the telegraph and cable address is “Watchtower, Rutherford, Brooklyn, N. Y.” It is also hoped that publishers will send a letter of appreciation to the station to which they are listening, relative to this program.
Convention Expenses
In cities where conventions will be held June 23-25 brethren are asking the privilege of paying the expenses as far as is possible for them to do so. Any of the remnant, Jonadabs or others interested who are not in the vicinity of the local convention and who desire to participate especially in the expenses of the general convention may make their remittance for that purpose direct to the Brooklyn office.
—Don't Forget Subscriptions—
Electric Flasher Signs
The Society still has a supply of the electric flasher signs in storage. It would be much better if these were in use throughout the country, advertising the Kingdom. In order to get all of these in use the Society is offering two signs for 50c. In the convention cities these flasher signs can be put to very good use between now and the convention in advertising the public meeting. In other places you can advertise your local radio station, if in the chain; and at all times you can use these signs to advertise your local public meetings as well as Watchtower studies. Order should be placed through the company servant for those you desire. We should like to get them all in use during the month of May.
On going to press May 9 there were
106,758 new “Watchtower” subscription* reported (world-wide) What will it be by the end of May? Don’t Forget Subscriptions
Our Work During May
“New Earth” Testimony Period All of June
Watchtower Campaign Continues
In the “box” is shown the total of new Watchtower subscriptions in the office as this Informant goes to press. Our 100,000 goal is exceeded and not all reports are in. This is wonderful. Continue this fine effort during May and get just as many new subscriptions as possible!
The book and booklet placements, however, are not so good, and indications are that to reach the quotas it will be necessary for all to specially stress books and booklets during May.
With the Watchtower Campaign extended another month, many companies should be able to cover much of their rurals during the four weekends and Tuesday the 30th with the special offer, blanketing all their small towns with the two “hailstones” of truth, Face the Facts and Fascism or Freedom, and spending evenings during all of May in booklet distribution. Keep in mind that all the Face the Facts in stock should (due to the special offer printed on the back cover) be disposed of as soon after April 30 as possible. Publishers may go out singly or in groups in the evening work, leaving the two booklets on 5c contribution or the Face the Facts booklet free when no contribution can be made. Longer daylight hours (and daylight saving time in many places) will make this evening work available to all.
Keep in mind, too, the various
Six-Month Comparative Report
Best We Have Ever Had
There is shown herewith report of field activity during the first six months of this fiscal year compared with same period a year ago. While there is a decrease in bound books, this is more than offset by the splendid increase in booklets, the net increase in pieces of literature being well over a million and a half.
Note that the average number of publishers, 32,173, or an increase of 8,520 over last year, is an increase, as well, over the 1938 peak number of publishers of 31,351, which was had last June. Additionally, all will be pleased to know that a new peak of 34,179 publishers was reached in March; and, without doubt, 35,000 and more will have been out in the field service during April. Each company should see that its present peak is maintained and every effort made to increase it during the coming months, remembering our goal of 40,000 publishers for 1939!
The increase in sound attendance is evidence that we are seriously (Continued from page 1, column 2) semble in the first few rows of the auditorium at the time the talk on Baptism is given. Each one should provide his own swimming suit and towel.
Music
Each convention will arrange for an orchestra. Those playing instruments should report to the chairman of the convention on arrival, bringing their instruments with them; also song books with notes.
Parking
No special arrangements are being made for taking care of parking of cars in New York City. As the convention is being held in the heart of the city, there is very little room for parking cars. We recommend that persons coming to New York in cars park them somewhere near their room accommodations and use the subways, which will be cheaper and quicker.
Other convention cities are making arrangements for parking where it is convenient.
DON’T FORGET SUBSCRIPTIONS other methods suggested in previous Issues of the Informant, for placing the booklets. Reports reaching us indicate great success in placing booklets in “sandwich sign” parades. To aid in this, the two booklets may be tacked, one above the other, to a stick similar to that used for the “Serve God” signs, with a square cardboard reading “5c” so It is not necessary for the ones carrying the booklets to stop and explain to the people along the line of march.
May 31 not only ends the Watchtower Campaign, but also the very special rate to pioneers and companies on Face the Facts and Fascism or Freedom booklets. Beginning June 1 the cost of all self-covered booklets will be the same; that is, the same rate that now applies on Safety and Armageddon booklets. All orders received June 1 onward will be so charged. However, during May we will ship out all the Face the Facts and Fascism or Freedom booklets you may need, and hope all these booklets will be placed in the hands of the people by May 31.
While May 31 ends the special Watchtower Campaign, yet every publisher should continue to offer The Watchtower (and Consolation) to the interested people at every opportunity. A goal of three more new subscriptions for this year should be set for each company publisher, while the pioneers should set a quota of at least six more new subscriptions for this fiscal year, which ends with September.
considering our slogan, “Every witness a phonograph.”
The outstanding feature of the accompanying report, however, is the tremendous increase in back-calls. The new figure of 610,282 means that practically every publisher is striving hard for the one back-call per week, and that some are making many more than that, taking to the “other sheep” the “meat in due season” which the Lord has so bountifully provided at this time.
Jehovah’s rich blessing has been bestowed upon us, and we will show our appreciation by using our every faculty to His praise.
Increase
1939 1938 ’Decrease
Books 843,374 990,503 * 147,129
Booklets 5,817,231 4,143,001 1,674,230
TOTAL 6,660,605 5,133,504 1,527,101 Av. No. Pub’rs 32,173 23,653 8,520
Field Hours 3,817,365 2,885,226 932,139 New Subs. 82,694 No record kept Sound Att. 6,389,188 6,271,262 117,926 Back-Calls 610,282 83,847 526,435
Public Meeting
Madison Square Garden is one of the largest indoor auditoriums in the world. Other very large auditoriums are being obtained throughout England and the United States. It will be the desire of every publisher to do his part in trying to pack out these auditoriums by advertising to the very best of his ability the convention and “Government and Peace”, the lecture to be delivered by Brother Rutherford June 25. Make it your business to bring some people of good will to the public meeting.
Pioneers
All pioneers in continual service for six months or more will be credited on their book account with the sum of $10 upon receipt of a post card stating which convention they attended. The post card should be directed to “Pioneer Desk” and mailed from the convention city.
Rooming Accommodations
One very big problem will be finding accommodations for all publishers for three days. The New York company is hard at work on this. It is suggested that you write the Convention Room Committee as soon as you can after June 1, so that your accommodations
Booklets to Be Placed
Special Offer
7 on 25c Contribution
To all of those on the Lord’s side the month of June is the “New Eabth” Testimony Period.
According to the Lord this “new earth” will be glorious. It is the footstool of Jehovah, and His witnesses are now given the privilege of carrying knowledge regarding this wonderful provision to the people of good will who desire to take advantage of It
The agency that the Lord has arranged to comfort the people during the month of June is 7 booklets on a contribution of 25c, composed of 4 colored-cover booklets and 3 selfcovered booklets.
There will be no testimony card supplied by the Society for this combination. Therefore, use your phonographs and the record P-101, “Value of Knowledge,” to introduce the booklet combination.
Where you are unable to place seven booklets, drop to Fascism or Freedom or any other self-covered booklet on any contribution they are able to make. If they are unable to contribute, leave a self-covered booklet with them if they are sufficiently interested to desire to read it.
When witnessing in foreign-language territory a combination of seven booklets in that particular language is to be offered, the same as in English.
All companies are to clean out their present stock, starting first with those of which they have the largest number in stock and reducing them until they bring the supply
can be mailed to you and you will know where to go when you arrive at the convention city. In your application for rooms state what price you desire to pay, the kind of accommodations you want, the number in your party, and how many in a room. Set out all the details clearly in your letter. Select your convention city now, and then arrange for your accommodations with one of the following:
Watchtower Convention Room Committee 5955 S. Richmond St.
Chicago, Ill.
Watchtower Convention Room Committee c/o Embassy Auditorium 9th and Grand Ave. Los Angeles, Calif.
Watchtower Convention Room Committee 117 Adams St. Brooklyn, N. Y.
Service In the Field
The territory to be covered in each city is being carefully planned and mapped out for the publishers. The booklet campaign carried on during the testimony period in June will also be effective during the convention days. Combinations of 7 booklets will be provided the publishers at the convention book rooms, and these combinations will have a special wrapper announcing the public meeting on Sunday. It is expected that many thousands of booklets will be placed in the convention cities. The service in the field will include not only the door-to-door witnessing with the literature, but also the use or phonographs and soundcars, distribution of handbills, engaging in “sandwich sign” parades, and making back-calls wherever possible. Come prepared to devote a good portion of your time in advertising “Government and Peace”. Each publisher finding interest that is deserving of a back-call should arrange the same and turn In the Back Call slip to the convention city. The local publishers, we hope, will take care of these immediately thereafter. It is believed that more than 30,000 publishers will be engaged in the field work in these international conventions.
All company servants should announce between now and the convention the following:
“Report your activities of field service at the convention on a regular Publisher’s Field Service Report slip. Keep a duplicate of this report and, on returning home, turn this duplicate slip over to the local company servant.”
Traffic
Publishers driving cars should be sure they have with them their driver’s down to a normal amount, then using others until their entire stock is balanced. Companies, for the duration of this campaign, are hereby authorized to transfer booklets to the pioneers working in their territory, and pioneers are urged to draw on the company’s stock for their supply, as long as the company has an available supply. However, companies are not to order an extra supply to provide for pioneers. When such a transfer is made a regular Transfer of Stock form is to be filled out and signed by both the company servant and the pioneer. The Transfer forms are to be retained until the end of the campaign and then they are to be promptly sent in to this office by the company servant. Pioneers are not to send in any notices of such transfer of stock, the one sent in by the company servant being entirely sufficient.
The pioneers who cannot get their booklets from company stock, and such companies as do not have an adequate supply of booklets on hand, should order direct from the Society at once. In making up your order for this booklet campaign, choose it from the following publications, of which we have a good supply in stock: Favored People, Supremacy, His Vengeance, Angels, Righteous Ruler, World Recovery, Dividing the People, The Crisis, Armageddon, Uncovered, Protection, Loyalty, and Government-Hiding theTruth: Why?
Let all of the anointed, Jonadabs and people of good will unite in pushing this campaign to the glory of the Lord. Make the proclamation during this “New Eabth” period one of the greatest and liveliest we have had to date.
license and ownership license. Observe traffic regulations.
Trailer Camp
The Society suggests that pioneers do not haul their trailers long distances for only a three-day convention. There will be no trailer camp provided at New York City, as none can be arranged close enough to the convention halls to be convenient. If you come in your trailer, park it somewhere outside of the city. As to arrangements for trailer camps in other convention cities, write to the rooming accommodations committee for details.
Transportation
Many special rates are in effect now, particularly to New York, because of the World’s Fair. Inquire of your local railroad agent and at bus terminal as to what is the best fare to New York and return. Inquiries should also be made locally for group rates by train and by bus to other convention points. Zone servants may be of some assistance to the various companies in arranging for transportation. Those coming by automobile and not having their cars filled might arrange with other brethren to come with them and bear a part of the expenses. The publishers should also do what they can to assist the newly interested to get to the convention.
Other Information
The locations of the auditoriums in the convention cities are as follows :
New York
Friday and Saturday: Manhattan Center 34th St. and 8th Ave.
Sunday:
Madison Square Garden 50th St. and 8th Ave.
Chicago
Will be announced later.
Los Angeles
Embassy Auditorium 9th St. and Grand Ave.
Programs, territory and other details relative to the convention can be had on your arrival. Information booths will be handy in each auditorium. Decide now to which of the international convention cities you are going and who is going with you. How many newly interested ones are you trying to assist to get to their first convention? There is a great blessing in store for all who attend. Make your arrangements now and
Enjoy "Government and Peace” DON’T FORGET SUBSCRIPTIONS