Informant, November 1944

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INFORMANT

NOVEMBER, 1944 "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God.”—Ps. 143: 10 BROOKLYN, N.Y.

“Ready Always for Defense”

Requires Service, Vigilance, and Study

Is the Pioneer Service for YOU??

Be a Defender of the Gospel by Being a Publisher

Jehovah God has granted all publishers of The Theocracy freedom to worship Him. This freedom is secured to them alone and apart from all peoples. Worldly authorities attempt through mischievous laws to regulate, restrict and control their worship. The issue of God’s law or “Caesar’s” law comes to the fore, requiring the fighting witnesses of Jehovah to be “ready always for defense” of the gospel and their right to preach it, as well as the right of misinformed millions to hear the Kingdom evangel.

To be “ready always for defense” of this freedom to worship Jehovah requires that one be a user of that freedom for the intended purpose, namely, worship. This worship is rendered in the form of service in the field, Kingdom service in all its features. Thus, the primary requisite is to be a Kingdom publisher, an active ‘true worshiper’ of the Almighty God.

To be at all times ready to defend this right to serve God requires, too, that the publisher be vigilant and continually prepare himself to meet, resist, cope with and push back opposition to his worship that is designed to push him off from proper performance of his commission to preach the Kingdom gospel.

As will be observed, the service poster for November, headed by the words “Ready Always for Defense”, illustrates a Theocratic publisher making his defense before the court concerning the Kingdom and his right to preach its gospel. He has made himself “ready always for defense” of his hope and his Godgiven right of freedom to worship God prior to this time. He has made a thorough study and has a good working knowledge of the procedure as outlined in the Freedom of Worship booklet, and he is applying it rightly here. He has a comprehensive knowledge of Kingdom truths through diligent study of The Watchtower, the Informant, Organization Instructions, and other communications from the Society, the Lord’s instrument on earth. However, it is not his knowledge of these things that brings him into court. No; it is the application of this knowledge by actual worship, house-to-house preaching of the Kingdom evangel. His constant devotion to this service work in all its features is his worship, and it is this that he is defending. Through this constant devotion, study and application of knowledge gained through study, he has prepared himself, and made himself "ready always for defense” of freedom of worship.

However, it is not only in the courts of “Caesar” that the free worshiper of God must make a defense. In his daily activity, constantly, he is always ready to defend his right to preach the gospel. When in the house-to-house work he finds opportunities arise constantly to make defense of the truth. In back-calls and book studies he has the opportunity to explain the truth of the gospel and defend it against religious lies that have for years stumbled the good-will people. By constantly keeping on the watch for privileges of service, and being “ready always for defense” of these privileges of service, he maintains his position of freedom to worship God.

November’s Equipment for Worship

November will complete the regular offer of the book “The Truth Shall Make You Free” and the two booklets The Coming World Regeneration and Religion Reaps the Whirlwind, on a contribution of 30c. This will mean that six months will have been afforded to get this vital information into the hands of the people. Most individual territories will have been covered fully with this presentation. However, the reports to the Society indicate that there is still much territory throughout the country in company assignments : isolated sections and “undesirable” territories that are accessible, and that need to be covered with the above offer. This will afford the opportunity to clear out any surplus stock of the above three publications in preparation for the December activity. All publishers not holding individual territories are urged to get into this group work and assist in getting this territory covered and the people of good-will reached.

Alternative Offer

For those publishers and companies who have fully worked their territory with the above offer, an alternative offer is provided. This will be made up of one colored-cover booklet and three self-covered booklets released prior to the booklet Freedom in the New World. This combination will be presented on a 10c contribution. This too will afford companies and pioneers the opportunity to clear out any surplus stock they might have of these booklets and get them into the hands of the people where they will accomplish their purpose.

By continually engaging in preaching freedom and fighting off all attacks to prevent you from doing this work, not only will you maintain your right to worship God but you will maintain the right of “strangers” to hear this message and you will have the opportunity to present the truth that will wipe away the misrepresentation of religion that has so long confused and blinded them. Also, you will defend your position of strength as a Kingdom publisher by ‘studying to show yourself approved’ and thus “be ready always for defence to every one who is asking of you an account concerning the hope that is in you.” (1 Pet. 3:15, Young’s)

Consider Your Privileges

The Lord Jesus laid down the Father’s policy for judging his people when he said that they would be judged by His word in the last days. This undoubtedly has reference to the revealed word brought forth for our guidance now. Recent Watchtowers, on ‘The Holy Spirit’, “The King’s Marriage Feast,” and “Organized for Final Work”, clearly reveal the Lord’s requirements and bring forcibly to our attention the principles the Lord uses in judging his people.

He invites those who wish to engage in his service faithfully to do so. Some joyfully accept, and receive his favor and blessing; others, burdened with the cares of this life, reject his gracious invitation. This was true of the anointed as outlined in “The King’s Marriage Feast”. Some refused to accept the invitation. Others accepted the invitation but refused to put on the wedding garment, that is, to faithfully and joyfully do the Lord's work as he directs. Self-examination by each one enables him to see where he stands in this judgment.

The Jonadabs are undergoing a similar test. They are to wash their robes in the “blood of the Lamb”, and to manifest their appreciation of the Lord’s goodness toward them by ‘standing before the throne

Consider the Field

There are almost 60 counties in the southern part of the United States that contain a population of 50 percent or more colored people. Neither the white nor the colored in this territory have been witnessed to since the dates shown. Some of this territory goes as far back as 1935. There are undoubtedly people of good-will in these counties to whom the Lord's people are obligated to carry the Kingdom message. Pioneer brethren are the ones upon whom this responsibility rests particularly. We would ask all of them, therefore, to seriously consider this matter, and, those pioneers desiring an assignment to any of these counties shown, please write the Society immediately for an assignment, stating a first, second, and third choice.

COUNTIES 50 Percent or More Colored Population

ALABAMA: Perry. MISSISSIPPI: •Tunica. 1936

LOUISIANA: Pointe Coupee. MISSISSIPPI: •Leflore, ’Warren.

1937 GEORGIA: Baker, Jefferson, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro. LOUISIANA: ’St. Mary.

MISSISSIPPI: ’Chickasaw, Claiborne, Holmes, Tate.

ALABAMA: •Dallas, Marengo.

GEORGIA: Putnam, Schley, •Terrell, Wilkinson. LOUISIANA: ’De Soto, Richland.

MISSISSIPPI: De Soto, Issaquena, ’Jefferson Davis. NORTH CAROLINA: ’Hertford.

SOUTH CAROLINA: ’Chester. 1939

ALABAMA: Greene, ’Macon. GEORGIA: Burke, Quitman, Webster. LOUISIANA: St Helena, ’Tensas. MISSISSIPPI: Copia, ’Humphreys, Marshall, Rankin. NORTH CAROLINA: Gates, Perquimans.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Fairfield, Jasper. GEORGIA: Camden, Jenkins, McIntosh. LOUISIANA: ’Madison, St. James. MISSISSIPPI: Grenada, ’Hinds, ’Lowndes. NORTH CAROLINA: ’Halifax. praising the name of Jehovah, and waving palm branches’, all of which pictures their joyful submission to the Lord’s purposes.

All of these pictures come to a climax in our day. The King has come and is examining the guests and also the bride's companions. All are under surveillance. The principles of the Lord do not change. He extends his invitation to his people, both anointed and Jonadabs, to faithfully discharge the obligation of publishing his name and purposes.

“Count the Cost”

Rather than just ‘counting the cost’ in terms of pleasures, comforts and conveniences to be sacrificed, and the hardships of pioneer life, consider above all the rich blessings, enjoyable experiences, and joy in the Lord’s service and receiving of his approval that might be lost if you don’t become a pioneer. Ask yourself, “Can I afford to pay the price?”

For those brethren who are now in position to meet the pioneer requirement of 150 hours a month and other features of the pioneer service in proportion there is awaiting their request an Application for Pioneer Service in the Society’s office at 117 Adams St., Brooklyn 1, N. Y. Write for it.

Notice

To All Companies and Pioneers

With this Informant we are sending to all companies and pioneers a six-month supply of Remittance Forms. Heretofore only companies have been using this form; but from now on loth companies and pioneers will please use one of these forms each time they make a remittance to the Society. Also a duplicate copy is to be kept for your own file. This form need not be used when sending in an order IF the order blank you are using has a Remittance Form printed in the lower left-hand corner. Filling out the form appearing on the order blank is sufficient, and an additional one is not necessary. However, many companies and pioneers still use the old order blanks which do not have the form printed thereon. It would be preferable if all companies and pioneers would order the latest order blanks instead of using those that are two or three years old. Please remember that every remittance you make to the Society, whether for literature, for subscriptions, or on an account, should be shown on a Remittance Form, either one printed on the order blank or one of those enclosed with this Informant.

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ALABAMA: Monroe

FLORIDA: ’Leon, ’Marion.

GEORGIA: Calhoun, Dooly, Early. LOUISIANA: Morehouse.

MISSISSIPPI: Yazoo.

NORTH CAROLINA: Northampton.

NOTE: Those counties marked with an asterisk (•) are partly open for assignment to pioneers, a large part of the county being isolated. The rest are whole counties that are isolated.

The “Freedom Now!” Testimony Period

Campaign for December

Wisely Use Your Freedom by Preaching

Freedom now ! What good tidings for tlie meek! Good news for men of good-will held prisoners by Satan’s organization, and who long for freedom from sin and selfishness, from superstition and religion. Yes, Jehovah, as the God of Freedom and the Free is today, now, offering this freedom to all lovers of righteousness, to all men of goodwill toward him. And by what does he make men free? By means of the truth; for ‘’the truth shall make you free”. To this end he is causing a world-wide campaign of education in freedom-giving truth to be carried on.

To carry on this campaign he has commissioned all of his servants today, the only ones who are free in the true sense of the word, to “preach good tidings unto tlie meek”, to “bring out the prisoners from the prison", to proclaim “freedom now”. In fact, that is the very purpose for which they were set free: to preach freedom. And their continuance as free men depends upon their asserting their freedom by preaching this good news.

The New Offer

To this end Jehovah has arranged the “Freedom Now!” Testimony Period for the month of December, and has furnished us with two new instruments, the bound book “The Kingdom Is at Hand’’ and the booklet “The Kingdom of God Is Sigh", which will be offered to all during this campaign on a contribution of 25c. What a hope-inspiring message they contain! With clearness and beauty they show the Kingdom to be the main theme of the Bible, tracing it from Genesis to Revelation, and giving cogent proof that the Kingdom is here. That is why freedom exists and can be offered to the people now. By the time this campaign begins more than three months will have passed since we received these instruments at the United Announcers’ Theocratic Assembly, and by which time all should be thoroughly familiar with their contents and filled with a keen desire to bring them to others. Let us, therefore, begin this campaign with an impetus of zeal and enthusiasm that will carry us through the entire month.

So that this campaign may get off to a proper start, however, it is also necessary that all preparations be made ahead of time. Sufficient stock should be on hand, so that there will be no slowing up because of lack of literature; all territories should be checked, so that those being worked may be renewed if due, and those being neglected be turned in for others to work. The back-call files should be carefully examined, and all whose names appear therein should be given an opportunity to obtain the new literature at once, and also to join in offering freedom to men of good-will. This activity could be very well worked in with the group back-call work on the company's back-call night. Arrangements should also be made for group house-to-house witnessing, particularly for the benefit of new and irregular publishers. In making plans it should be borne in mind that December brings cold weather with it, and therefore may somewhat circumscribe our activity. However, the righteous requirements of Jehovah’s organization remain the same, regardless of the time of the year.

We still have our quotas as special pioneer publishers, general pioneers, or company publishers, and therefore all will put forth diligent efforts to overcome this winter-weather obstacle instead of permitting it to overcome them.

All territories are virgin soil for this new offer. Go over the territory carefully, taking time to note the result of each call on the House to House Record form; calling back at some other time of the day or week to contact all not-at-homes. , Territory cannot be considered completely witnessed to even once, until every home has had the opportunity to accept or reject the message of “Freedom Now”. As interest is found and literature is placed, this should be noted, and back-calls made upon all such; for it is necessary not only to plant the seed but also to water it. Therefore call back and stimulate their appreciation of the message they have received. Place the question booklet with them and show them its value and how to use it, thus working toward a book study.

Nor will we preach “freedom now” only from house to house, at the doors and in the homes of the people, but all Theocratic publishers during December will also engage in the magazine work, on the street and from store to store. And while engaged in this work they will always carry with them a copy of the book “The Kingdom Is at Hand” and several copies of the booklet “The Kingdom of God Is ' High”, so as to be able to make the most of every opportunity that comes their way.

The Resolution

At the time of the release of the new book “The Kingdom Is at Hand” a resolution was made and adopted and all who accepted the spirit of that resolution were given a free copy of the book. That resolution clearly showed that the Kingdom has been established; that tlie nations have had the Kingdom gospel preached to them and that they have chosen to ignore it; that they are going ahead with their own scheme for world rule; that Jehovah’s servants have given their allegiance to Jehovah’s kingdom; that the command to preach this gospel of the Kingdom still holds; and that they will continue to preach it down to the final end of Satan’s organization, never slacking the hand. Therefore all who accepted a copy of the book thereby expressed their unqualified allegiance to that Kingdom and unequivocally committed themselves to zealous, consistent and continuous activity in preaching tlie gospel of the Kingdom. By announcing the Kingdom we shall be preaching “freedom now”; for only the Kingdom can give true freedom.

There is much work to be done. “Freedom now” must be preached in all the world for a testimony. Will it be accomplished within the divinely allotted time? Jehovah will see to It that it will be. The question that concerns us individually is: Will I have a part in this great and all-important work of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, of proclaiming freedom now ? That will depend upon our faith and appreciation. If we have put our faith in the Kingdom of Jehovah as the government of our choice; if we appreciate it as tlie Instrument which Jehovah will use to vindicate his name and give everlasting life and true freedom to man; if we appreciate tlie glorious treasure of service that is ours in connection

Servant to Brethren’s Visit

While busily engaged in the proclamation of this gospel of the Kingdom for many years, God’s visible organization lias been blessed of him in developing definite instructions for the advancement and bestpossible handling of the work in hand. Brethren known as servants to the brethren are at present being I used to aid the companies in understanding and applying these organization instructions so that all companies and other publishers may operate in unity and the most effective manner possible. The prosperity and increase of all units of God’s people is measured by tlie application through God’s spirit of i Theocratic instructions; therefore the responsibility of faithful conformity to these as brought to the company’s attention is manifest.

Instructions Clarified for Company’s Use

Any suggestions or instructions on improving files, stock arrangement, accounts system, advertising activity, any feature of company organization, or field activity, come from the servant to the brethren not in criticism but with the sincere desire to remedy defects and aid all willing ones to improve their capacity for service. In carefully considering the information as given on the Company Information form, the servant to the brethren is able to convey to all the servants first and then the entire company that which is needful to offset any deficiencies and render assistance in making future progress. Hence the main worth of the servant’s visit lies not merely in the benefits obtained while he is present witli the company, but in the company's ! future conformity to the information and counsel given.

This means that the servant to the brethren must be thoroughly familiar with the duties of all serv

Company Responsibility in Applying Theocratic Instructions

ants in the company, and be able during his meeting with them to advise on the proper performance of their duties. The same applies to every feature of Kingdom activity and the best manner of conducting it. Therefore, in his ministry both to the servants and the entire company, lie will bring forth much counsel and admonition that all who love the Lord will be most anxious and willing to carry out so that the best possible results will be achieved.

Benefits of Applied Instruction

Before being visited by the servant to the brethren the spiritually healthy company will naturally be putting forth the best possible effort to advance the Kingdom interests, ail servants and publishers co-operating joyfully in doing so. Upon notice of his visit, the Company Information form will be accurately and neatly filled out in duplicate by the company committee, in order to present a true picture of the company’s condition. The servant to the brethren’s discussion of this form before all the servants and study conductors will present a full description of what each one may do in order to improve whatever defects appear in the company activity; and, having this information before him, and the proposed remedy, every servant of the company will be fully equipped to operate at highest efficiency.

The entire company will turn out in whole-hearted and cheerful support of the servant to the brethren’s efforts to assist them. Thankful appreciation for Theocratic instruction received will be manifested, and faithful application thereof will follow. Thus the endeavor of every company will be to the end of ever increasing in understanding and the ability to put into effect organization instructions, and to thus grow in capacity to faithfully serve the Lord.

United Announcers’ Theocratic Assembly

Report Ready

By the time you receive this Informant all subscribers for Consolation should have received issue No. 655, containing the Interesting

11944 United Announcers’ Theocratic Assembly report with its very attractive supplement of an eight-page । insert containing some very fine pictures of the key city and other convention-city activities.

For the convenience and benefit of those companies and brethren who desire additional copies of this issue, the Society is running an extra supply. This special issue will be available at 21c per copy in lots of 50 or more. Less than 50, tlie regular rate applies unless you have a magazine account with the office. Remittance should accompany all of these orders. Orders should be sent in as soon as possible.

New Publications

Freedom in the Hew World, Greek. Children, Icelandic. I

with the announcing of that kingdom; if we appreciate the freedom ( we are now enjoying and the need of those of good-will for the mes- | sage of the Kingdom so that they too may enjoy freedom now; then we will not wait until some less favorable time to accumulate this world’s goods, but we will demonstrate our faith in and our appreciation of the Kingdom by preaching “freedom now” now.

Bookmarks

Ail orders for bookmarks must be made on the Special Order Blank for Bookmarks, which blank the Society sends free to all companies upon request.

September Report

Those actually participating in field service improved both in time and in back-calls. This is proof that if all were taking advantage of present-day opportunities, more would and could be done. Present-day conditions are more advantageous for greater activity than ever before. Considering all the prospects for an increased number of publishers, and having in mind the many thousands now learning of the truth by means of book studies, etc., the actual picture should be of a continual increase rather than the present condition.

Let everyone in the company seriously consider the implication of this report, make an earnest effort to remedy the situation, and, by casting aside every obstacle, use the present favorable opportunities for service.

PREVIOUS ALL-TIME PEAKS Publishers Av. Hrs. Av. B-C

Sp’l Pios. 1,580 2/43 178.0 3/42 65.7 3/42 Gen. Pios. 5,322 8/43 151.3 5/44 38.8 4/44 Co. Pubs. 66,079 4/43 20.3 6/40 4.6 10/40

Sept. 1944 Sept.

Av. Av. Av.

Pubs. Hrs. B-C Hrs.

Sp’l Pios. 1,157 171.6 59.4 163.1

Gen. Pios. 3,144 151.0 37.2 110.1

Co. Pubs. 57,672 15.8 3.7 15.1