Informant, January 1953

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INFORMANT

JANUARY, 1953 “Worship Jehovah in holy array.”—Ps. 29:2, AS. BROOKLYN, N.Y’.

Fear of the Sovereign Jehovah 15th Annual Watchtower Campaign Begins

Every Publisher Works House to House

1 What! Fear Jehovah, the God of undeserved loving-kindness? Yes, fear Jehovah, admonishes Psalm 33: 8; fear lest you displease him and fall short of his glory. Fear him then, Kingdom publishers, by obeying his commands and regularly having a part in declaring his name and purposes, in accord with Psalm 83: IS.

2 During January all servants who fear Jehovah will follow the example set by Christ Jesus. How? By boldly preaching from house to house! All publishers will offer a year’s subscription for The Watchtower. Three booklets, which may include the new booklet God’s IFai/ Is Love, will be given free with each subscription. (Awake! may also be presented with The Watchtower in a dual subscription offer, if desired.) A little bad weather will not prevent those who have proper fear of Jehovah from regularly supporting Sunday morning group witnessing. Individual and group activity during the week will not be neglected either.

3 Our 14th Watchtower campaign during 1952 was a real success, 264,159 subscriptions being obtained in four months. This fine total was reached only because we planned, organized and then had an active part in the campaign, with Jehovah’s blessing. Servants organized company activity; good introductions were prepared individually, which resulted in a proper and effective presentation of The Watchtower at the doors. We can do it again in 1953! We did it in the recent October Awake! campaign when 107,394 new subscriptions were obtained in one month! Let us apply more zeal and enthusiasm to the Watchtower campaign, striving for our quota of two subscriptions for each company publisher and 16 for each pioneer. Unquestionably this will be the greatest Watchtoicer campaign if each one regularly takes part in the preaching work from house to house. Will you do your part?

10 Per Cent in January;

20 Per Cent by April

4 Let us make 1953 an outstanding year for regularity in Jehovah's service. By the end of January almost every one of the 3,114 companies in the United States will have reached its 10 per cent increase in publishers, if all associated with the companies are ministers in word and deed. With enthusiastic servant leadership and concentrated effort through the company book studies, we can reach our 10 per cent increase in January. Make this your company's goal! Companies who make the 10 per cent increase in January are requested to write on the bottom of their report card. “We made it!”

Circuit Revisions for Expansion

Circuit Assemblies Resume After 1953 World Assembly

1 In order to provide for the great expansion work that is taking place in the earth under the leadership of our reigning King, Christ Jesus, the Society finds it necessary to rearrange the entire circuit and district setup in the United States. In this adjustment 26 new circuits will be created, making a total of 161 circuits in the country, incorporated in seven districts. The size of circuits will be reduced from approximately 25 companies at present to about 18 or 20 companies. This will make it possible for the circuit servant to visit isolated persons, organize new companies and give better attention to the circuit requirements in general. Companies will be advised regarding their new circuit and servant.

2 These new arrangements will go into effect February 1, 1953. From February 1 until after the world assembly there will be no circuit as

3 “A 10 per cent increase by the end of January,” some might be thinking. “Yes, we can do that. But a 20 per cent peak increase by the end of April?” Yes, it can and will be reached if each Kingdom publisher has proper fear of Jehovah and grasps his opportunities to serve. Let each publisher now associated with the companies regularly take part in the preaching work and we will reach a 20 per cent peak over the 1952 average by the end of April. New publishers are going out into the field regularly; they will provide a good margin of increase. But brothers already associated are the ones who must determine to be regular publishers and fulfill their dedication vow by preaching, especially from house to house, every month. If all do this, the great majority of companies will exceed 20 per cent increase by the end of April and can write “We made it!” on their report cards.

6 Proper fear of Jehovah prompts all servants to be regular in the ministry, the basic feature of which is house-to-house preaching. Will you publish every month in 1953?

semblies in the United States. This will enable each circuit servant to become familiar with his new territory, with the various companies in the circuit, to consider the brothers who can be used more effectively in circuit assembly activity, and care for other details pertaining to work in his circuit. In addition to serving the companies, his job during this period will be to organize the new circuit and keep it moving forward, preparatory to the active expansion we anticipate following the world assembly next summer. Brothers in the various companies should cooperate wholeheartedly with the circuit servants, particularly in the selection of circuit assembly locations, halls and other details necessary to the success of these assemblies.

3 The Society will divide circuit funds on a pro rata basis, according to the average publishers transferred from one circuit to another. Cir-(Continued on page 3, col. 3)

Around the World with Jehovah’s Witnesses “Publicly and from House to House” To “worship Jehovah in holy array” requires his dedicated servants to bear united witness to his name. Visiting people at their homes and talking to them about the Kingdom is the primary way of doing this. The 1953 “Yearbook” shows that house-to-house preaching is vitally essential.

In Colombia a trip to an isolated town and baptism of nine new witnesses were followed immediately by two hours of house-to-house preaching, with the new ones in the forefront. (135) Brazil’s report demonstrates that new publishers take hold of door-to-door work readily. (110) Even a retired army officer in Libya does not shun house-to-house activity. (153) It is recognized as a mark of God’s true servants, as demonstrated in the Gold Coast and Hong Kong reports. (172, 186)

Pushing house-to-house preaching to the forefront brings many blessings. In Honduras the brothers find a great increase in their service averages because of this (184) With servants taking the lead in this feature of Kingdom work in Jamaica good results are forthcoming. (199) House-to-house preaching does much to stimulate interest in the truth, even compelling clergy to go from door to door in an effort to counteract the good news in Puerto Rico. (251)

For most publishers house-to-house activity is not as hard as for one brother in the Virgin Islands. (253) At assemblies, too, all publishers should engage in house-to-house activity, as the brothers in Surinam do. (269) Even those who have never had contact with the company service organization see the need for house-to-house preaching in Costa Rica (137) Indeed, how else would the good news be preached m all the inhabited earth?

“Gathering of Ourselves Together”

Fear of Jehovah as Sovereign prompts all servants to attend his table by giving diligent attention to meetings. This means recognizing, conforming to and appreciating the organization God is using. How much do you appreciate meetings? As much as brothers in Costa Rica who brave bad weather and hours of walking to reach the meeting place? (137)

If you have been in the truth a long time, do you have the same view oi meetings as our fourteen new brothers in Zacapa, Guatemala, who have a 100 per cent meeting attendance? (177) One must always guard against losing appreciation of meetings.

When you have opportunity to attend a meeting in a peaceful and quiet Kingdom Hall or other auditorium, think of our brothers in the Luangwa Valley area of Northern Rhodesia, where the roaring of lions is great enough to drown out their singing #of Kingdom songs around the campfire. (228) Do you have such threats to your meetings?

Have you ever been impressed with the importance of taking an active part in meetings you attend? Has it occurred to you how you might help others? At a company book study in Panama a man with poor eyesight called upon the brothers in attendance to comment so that he and others might be enlightened. (240) Another man of good will in Panama desired a study twice weekly, of two hours’ duration. In two weeks his questions were answered. The third week he and his family commenced attending the “Watchtower” study. By the fifth week he was going in service. His zeal rapidly increases because he prepares for meetings. (241) Do you appreciate meetings that much?

With the Watchtower Subscription

What do yon think of The Watchtower I Do you eagerly look for each new issue? Do you recognize it as solid food for maturing your mind? Do you consider it indispensable? Do you believe it will help others and be worth their while? If yes, then present it to householders with that conviction and enthusiasm.

The following has been used effectively : “I am calling this morning for a rather unusual purpose, and it has to do with the very serious conditions world-wide. Sorrow, distress among peoples, races and nations—surely these were never intended to be the lot of humankind. Why, then, do they exist? Think a minute. People do what is in their minds, don’t they? In turn, their minds are filled with what they absorb and meditate on. How obvious it is, then, that evil conditions result from evil thinking and improper mental nourishment. The contrast is likewise true: If we fill our minds with the truth of God's Word, then it will direct our thinking and actions along a path pleasing to God and beneficial to one another. To satisfy this need for proper thinking, the Watchtower magazine is published with its entire contents being devoted to Bible subjects of current educational value. You will notice the great variety of subjects with

THEOCRATIC

MINISTRY SCHOOL

During the week of March 15, 1953, the ministry school will complete the study of the A'etc World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. Enclosed with this Informant you will find a supply of the new schedule with instructions for studying the book Theocratic Aid to Kingdom Publishers during the coming year. A review of this valuable textbook will be of benefit to all brothers, for all need to be informed and refreshed on the principles set forth therein. Give it good attention and prepare yourself well for the weekly lessons.

It should be noted that the weekly oral reviews will be conducted by the school servant instead of by each instruction speaker, as previously. All student talks are based on artl-which it deals (have two or three recent copies to illustrate the wide variety of material covered). Thinking people today like to have this magazine come to their home regularly. For the small contribution of $1 you will receive 24 copies, two each month for a year, along with these three booklets. May I write up your subscription?”

To an excuse of “too many magazines" you may say: “Even though you may subscribe to many other magazines, only The Watchtower directs the mind and heart toward the effective remedy for wTorld conditions, namely, God’s kingdom. Foi-this we can’t look to man's opinions, for the Bible tells us that ‘wisdom of this world is foolishness with God’. In contrast, the source of God’s Word is likened to ‘great riches’ to be desired by all. The, Watchtower is designed to aid one in gaining the right kind of information, based upon Bible instruction. The contribution for a year’s subscription is only $1.”

In event of a subscription refusal, present the latest issue for a five-cent contribution. This will acquaint people with the magazine, increase placements, afford excellent prospects for obtaining subscriptions later, besides laying a foundation for good back-calls and, ultimately, Bible studies. Remember, too, that most subscriptions are obtained in house-to-house work.

cles in The Watchtower back to 1950. At some service meeting in February it would be well for the school servant to review the instructions printed on the reverse side of the new schedule so that all brothers will be familiar with the procedure from and after March 22.

Check to see that you have sufficient copies of Theocratic Aid to Kingdom Publishers on hand. Order only’ what you need.

Publications Now Available

God's Way Is Love —English

“This Means Everlasting Life"

—Hollandish

Will Religion Meet the World Crisis?

—Hollandish

“Let Good Be True” —Indonesian Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth! —Pampango

YOUR SERVICE MEETING

Analysis of the company’s past “Watchtower” campaign activity will focus attention on the goal for 1953 and what must be done to meet the quota. The discussion-interview below will provide good points to help the company. The demonstration (second below) emphasizes the proper mental attitude on the part of each publisher, with appreciation of “The Watchtower's” importance and need to present offer.

SCENE I (6 min.) The company committee, determined to make this “Watchtower” campaign the best yet, enthusiastically consider the 15th annual “Watchtower” campaign. By use of the “Informant” file, past copies of “Yearbook” and company records, they delight to note continued increase over the years. The first campaign in 1939 yielded 93,111 subscriptions, to compare with last year’s bountiful harvest of 264,159. Other points of interest are noted, with due credit given to Jehovah’s efficient educational and training organization. Attention is now directed to the local company organization. Past campaigns are considered, with emphasis on last year’s results compared with the country as a whole Did the company make its quota? How many publishers actually obtained one or more subscriptions? A study of the Publisher’s Record cards reveals, generally, that those who regularly engaged in the door-to-door work met or exceeded the quota. However, some cards showing fair hours also show surprisingly low figures for subscriptions. Why? One of committee suggests interviewing publishers who were successful and from them learn what is necessary in addition to spending time in the field to obtain subscriptions.

SCENE II (8 min.) Each one of committee selects publisher card and interviews publisher. (Factual interview on basis of card would be best here, if possible.) The following points should be brought out and established in the interviews: 1. Work from door to door and make the full offer at every door. Never get in habit of judging householder and deciding what you think should be offered. 2. Good presentation. Do not wait until at the door to decide what is going to be said. Prepare yourself for effective introduction. 3. Know your offer. Be familiar with contents so points of interest can be shown to householder to gain attention. 4. Proper mental attitude. It is the most important magazine published, a blessing to those righteously disposed. 5. Regularity in field work. Sunday morning door-to-door work supported. Put forth effort by being in field to make offer and Jehovah blesses efforts. 6. Subscription conscious. Back-calls and Bible studies also open up good avenues. Friends, neighbors, relatives often subscribe. 7. Show proper fear of Jehovah. We are his witnesses and prove love by regularly engaging in service. What offer could be better than “The Watchtower” which ‘announces his kingdom’.

SCENE III (4 min.) Committee sums up results of discussion. Agrees if all would have these seven points in mind publishers would be privileged to obtain subscriptions. Publishers encouraged to prepare individually and work closely with local company, support Sunday morning group work and other local activities. Make individual effort to do even better on subscriptions than in recent October “Awake!” campaign. “The Watchtower” is the more important instrument and should therefore receive even more enthusiastic support.

SCENE I (3 min.) Servant calls on Brother Hesitant, who was weak in last year’s “Watchtower” campaign. Hesitant places fair number of books but is low on subscriptions. Brother Hesitant says he can do all right with books, something he can place right on the spot; but to place a year’s subscription is something he just cannot seem to put across unless, perhaps, on a really good Bible study. Servant points out that his trouble is in not presenting the offer; if he did it as with books he would succeed. Also, it was noticed that since Brother Hesitant did not appreciate the “Watchtower” campaign, he neglected house-to-house work these months and engaged in other features of service. Servant says that the service meeting this week will be just the thing Hesitant needs.

SCENE II (10 min.) Brother at service meeting gives illustrated talk on “Watchtower” campaign. Shows that marvelous instruments God has given us all play their part, but “The Watchtower” is outstanding. It has served us faithfully without a break for 73 years Where would we be today without it? Being a periodical, its fresh, live material helps us meet the issues that face us every day, current issues. Then speaker recounts some history of “The Watchtower”: Its first issues appeared in July 1879, with circulation of 6,000 copies; then in 1904, 25,000 copies; 1928, 120,000; 1946, 500,000; now 1,500,000 copies of each issue in 36 languages! Enormous jump in circulation in a few years shows how hungry people are for its message. As these figures are discussed, other brothers or sisters (perhaps from small to large in stature) may appear with cards bearing the above-mentioned circulation figures for each period. (Example: size of 1879 card, 2" x 2%"; 1904, 4" x 5"; 1928, 9" x 11"; 1946, 18" x 22"; 1953, 30" x 38". At any rate, sheets of paper graduated in size will serve to illustrate circulation growth.) While these cards or sheets are being shown, the speaker can weave in remarks about outstanding truths “The Watchtower” has set forth progressively from 1879: end of “times of the Gentiles”, “millions now living will never die,” “Christ’s enthronement,” “higher powers,” “new name,” “great multitude,” “fill the earth,” “princes,” and the many vital truths of recent months showing us the way of proper living in this wicked world. Purpose of talk will be to show vital need of “The Watchtower” for the millions of people of good will today.

SCENE III (5 min.) Sunday morning Servant calls on Brother Hesitant who remarks how last year he went into campaign with negative, hesitant attitude, but now he is going to prepare, schedule his time for more house-to-house work and go forth with full confidence that this is the work Jehovah directs to be done at this time. Servant gets him off to a good start by taking him along to hear his enthusiastic presentation at first door. After this Brother Hesistant wants to go alone.______________________________

Change of Address

All mail to the Society, both for 117 Adams Street and 124 Columbia Heights, should henceforth show Brooklyn 1, New York. The postal zone number for the Society’s head-quaters at 124 Columbia Heights has been changed to Brooklyn 1.

Travel to the World Assembly

It is very gratifying to see that many circuits, companies and individuals are responding to the privilege previously announced of making donations to the Society for the purpose of bringing to the 1953 world assembly our brothers from foreign lands who otherwise would not be able to attend. Such contributions should be sent to Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Treasurer’s Office, 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn 1, N. Y. They should not be included with any other remittance or Good Hopes donation but should be sent by separate check or money order.

All persons interested in the New World society are planning so that, if at all possible, they will be in New York July 19 to 26, 1953, for the world assembly. Such persons now prudently begin to save funds for travel to New York. Jehovah blesses the planning efforts of his servants to advance true worship in the earth, and surely individual planning and saving for participation in assemblies of his people meets with his favor. Unquestionably his chosen people of old had to plan, prepare and save to make the annual trips to Jerusalem to participate in theocratic worship. It should be so today in connection with modern assemblies of Jehovah’s people. Do not depend on others to provide for you, nor expect a miracle to make the trip possible. Plan, save and work for the privilege of attending.

In due course the Society will have suggestions on transportation.

Circuit Revisions . . . (Cont’d) cuit servants, with the aid and cooperation of the local company servants, should divide the equipment owned by the various circuits in the same manner, or see that proper compensation is made. The circuit servant will have charge of this and will communicate with the various companies involved so that this adjustment will be completed by the time the circuit assemblies resume following the world assembly.

4 This new arrangement of the circuit organization is being geared to provide for the needs, not only of the brothers now associated with the organization, but also for the great number of people of good will whose interests were stimulated during the unassigned territory campaign. These persons, as well as others, will need the vital assistance provided them through association with God’s organization. Let each one, then, prayerfully lend himself enthusiastically to this new arrangement, that Jehovah’s name may be magnified.

Choosing New World life

Make Back-Calls on Placements

1 It is natural and logical to yearn for something that lias God's approval. That is why intelligent human creatures want life, for Jehovah created man with a desire to live. He uses his servants to aid righteous-hearted persons to choose his reasonable way of obtaining life, as against following degenerated man’s proposals that lead to death. (Deut. 30:19,20, .44?) Unitedly, then, we obey Jehovah's commands and encourage life-seekers to learn of his provisions by being regular readers of the Watchtower magazine.

2 Obtaining subscriptions is an excellent avenue for starting people on the narrow road to life. However, interest we have aroused should be cultivated. Therefore during February we will center our back-call activity on visits to magazine ob-tainers with a view to starting home Bible studies.

3 Effective back-calls will be made if we are well prepared. Enthusiasm, friendliness, understanding and love lay the foundation for this feature of work. Keeping a personal record of things the good-will person was interested in will aid in making a successful back-call. Magazine deliveries serve as a good means of approach. If a subscription is not obtained, endeavor to leave the latest copy of The Watchtower. Thus an opportunity will be provided for a return visit to stimulate the interest. Demonstrate the most effective way of studying the magazine. Home Bible studies may be started by this method.

4 Servants, pioneers and mature publishers aid irregular and new publishers in the back-call service. Aid everyone you meet to choose life by studying God’s Word with the aid of The Watchtower. And remember, you meet people by going from house to house!

1953 Public Meetings

The talks for 1953 are as follows:

1. Is Interfaith God’s Way to Unity?

2. A World Government for the People 3. Will Christ Come Again?

4. Does God Take Sides?

5. Who Gave Us the Bible?

6. Making a Success of Marriage

7. World Peace—By Church or State?

8. The Great Sign of the Times

These talks may be started the week end preceding Memorial, namely, March 28, 29, or as soon thereafter as possible. Three sets of outlines are being sent to each company with this Informant. One set should go in the ministry school library, and two sets are to be used by the brothers who will prepare talks. Isolated male pioneers will also receive a set, but pioneers assigned to companies will work with the company copies. Please note that No. 6 talk should be assigned to the most mature brothers.

Starting February 8 the circuit servant will give the new’ talk, “Practical Love in a Selfish World.”

Order handbills at least one month in advance in the East, six weeks in the West. Send your orders as soon as possible for the new 1953 series, double-checking each item. Write ’’Handbill Order” on the envelope.

UNITED STATES QUOTA FOR 1953 139,289 Publishers

Monthly Field Service Report November Report Av Av

Pubs. Hrs. B-C Bi. St.

Sp’l Pios. 213 134.2 55.6

Pioneers 6,756 90.5 30.4

Co. Pubs. 123,326 9.2 3.1

Total Pubs. 130,295

Public Meetings Held: 8,782

COMPANY ORGANIZATION

Proper Decorum at Meetings

1 ‘Become holy in all your conduct.’ (1 Pet. 1:15, Vil1 2 3 4 5 6) Thus the apostle Peter counseled Christians not only to have godliness but also to practice it at all times. This includes proper conduct at the meetings of Jehovah’s people. Reports coming to the Society indicate that many of us need to be more considerate of our brothers by exercising a more conscious effort to control noise and confusion at meetings.

2 Sometimes young children make noise’ which they cannot be held altogether responsible for; but it remains for parents to take steps to prevent these occurrences from causing undue disturbance. Parental discipline, when properly exercised, will minimize this disturbance by children. Young children should be seated w’ith parents at meetings. Attendants should lend tactful assistance in maintaining order and quiet. (See “Questions from Readers”, December 1, 1952, Watch tower; also July 1952 Informant, paragraph 3 under “Company Organization”.) However, with some allowances being made for young children, it is inexcusable for those knowing better to engage in unnecessary whispering and noisemaking. This shows lack of respect, denotes inattentiveness and demonstrates lack of consideration for the brothers teaching as well as for others in attendance. Consider the example set by the Israelites on returning from Babylonian captivity. While Ezra was reading, “the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.” (Neh. 8:3) Hearing, understanding and obey

★ Every Publisher a Regular House-to-House Preacher of Good News! *

ing the law meant life to them.

Not only do we want all brothers associated and persons of good will to attend our meetings, but we also W’ant them to feel welcome and at home. This means we shall have to do more than have an inward love for them, but we should show this outw’ardly. Let us, therefore, be friendly, warm and considerate toward those in attendance. But can we do this if we do not share in welcoming new ones and engaging them in theocratic conversations? Perhaps we have a habit of always sitting in one place in the Kingdom Hall and this contributes to our knowing only a few of our brothers. Try sitting at a different place each time, especially toward the front of the hall, and meet different people before and after meetings. Reserve the rear seats for those coming late. Of course, being on time show’s our consideration, too, so do not be a habitual latecomer. Remember, your company meeting habits will be reflected at circuit and district assemblies.

Decorum also takes into account the conduct of the ones w’ho speak to us from the platform. It is fitting

that every public speaker be dressed

neatly and in the attire that is customarily used by respected speakers,

which, in the United States, preferably includes coat and tie. His talks should likewise be w’ell prepared and delivered, as befitting a mature minister. In every way the Christian should “become an example to the faithful ones in speaking, in conduct, in love, in faith, in chasteness”.—1 Tim. 4:12, AW.