The Messenger—1931
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CONVENTION REPORT
1931 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY
COLUMBUS, OHIO, JULY 25
Seven Thousand at Opening Session
Judge Rutherford Arrived at Columbus at 4:15 p.m.
Yesterday
Finds Preparations Complete
During this convention Columbus occupies the center of the stage in the most unique chain of public concourses in the history of the world. It will be the center of the world’s biggest hookup of radio stations. Yes, but when the great meetings here are a thing of the past and the speakers are homeward bound, they will continue their addresses at other great conventions held on immediately succeeding days at Cleveland, Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Washington, D. C.
And when we thus envision ten conventions all in one in the United States, we see but a part of the picture, for at the same time that the nine Columbus extension conventions are taking place in the United States, there are twenty-nine Columbus extension conventions taking place hi Canada, seven taking place in Mexico, eight taking place in the West Indies and South America, eight taking place in Africa, seven taking place in Hawaii and Asia, nine taking place in New Zealand and Australia and eighty-eight taking place in Europe. And thus the Columbus convention extends all over the world, one hundred and sixty-six conventions all in one.
What We See at Columbus Itself
What we see at Columbus itself we can easily record. The special trains began to come in on Wednesday morning, July 22, with the convention staff on the first one, 100 workers all together, the vanguard from the Bethel, needed in starting off the various departments, of which The Messenger is but one.
The train arrived at Columbus at eight o’clock in the morning. By nine o’clock some of the workers were at their appointed tasks, and by ten o’clock meals were being served in the big dining room, for those who wanted them, and have been regularly served ever since.
The second special from Brooklyn came in Friday morning; other trains came in through the day, over all rail-
President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and Generalissimo of the Convention.
The Honorable George White, Governor of State of Ohio, Welcomes Convention
THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS
Seven thousand conventioners greeted the governor of Ohio as he came upon the platform of the Watch Tower Convention, with the chairman of the convention, Anton Koerber.
Victor Schmidt opened the session with these words:
“Jehovah has again assembled his people to swell his praise.
Governor White will give the opening address of the convention.”
As Governor White stepped forward he was greeted heartily with applause. The high points of his address follow:
Usually, when I welcome a convention, I am invited.to a dinner or a banquet, but as yet I have not had an invitation from the Watch Tower folks. I wish you pleasant weather; I have ordered it from the weather man. I am very glad to welcome a class of people who do not need any policemen: I have not hired any extra force; you do not need it.
Prior to the Wall Street crash the country gave, too much attention to material things; at this time our minds should be turned to the more serious phases of life. The 'only solution to the problems of the world is that the minds of the people should be taken off the more material things and placed upon the enduring and eternal things.
Recently I have thought a great deal about how the Pilgrims worshiped God and thanked him, and I think that this must be our attitude if we are to perpetuate our inheritance as a nation.
I am very much pleased to have this people assemble in this community at this time; I realize that your mission here is a good one and that the things you will leave behind you are good things that will benefit the people.
The address of the governor was well received by the conventioners and he was roundly applauded as he took his seat.
He was followed by Anton Koerber, chairman of the
ways, from North, South, East and West, bilists arrived on the grounds by July 20, and by Wednesday night probably fifty house-cars and trailers had made their appearance and found their parking places. Since then the number has been added to in every daylight hour and even into the night.
Since the first of June the friends at Columbus have been busy making arrangements to provide rooms for those who would come. By Thursday night they had made some six thousand assignments, and the number is being rapidly increased.
The Most Important Convention Ever
Judge Rutherford has been thinking of this convention and planning for it since last December. We know that, for it was about that time that the first committees were appointed, those that should investigate the various grounds that could be obtained and present recommendations as to which should be engaged, and why they would be the best for the purpose.
At length it was decided that the convention would be held in Columbus. In many respects this is an ideal location. For one thing, the Coliseum is a good place for a big meeting. It will accommodate an audience of close to ten thousand
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people, and while a great auditorium is not so necessary as it was before the days of the radio, yet there are many people who like to see as well as hear a speaker when he gives a great address, one in which they are vitally interested.
And then the Ohio State Fair Grounds are admirable grounds for what might be called the physical setting of a big convention. There are ample buildings for the meetings that will be held in foreign tongues, and other buildings in
The Staff Appointed by Judge Rutherford to Look After the Comfort of the Conventioners.
THE CHAIRMAN’S REPLY
Jehovah the King Eternal has made it possible for his people to assemble here in the greatest convention ever held on earth. We come in his name and to him we give all praise and honor and glory.
Governor White, and the good people of Ohio, it is with pleasure I acknowledge your greetings of welcome in behalf of Judge Rutherford, president of The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and its delegates from various parts of the earth assembled here in convention.
We recall the kindness accorded us during our convention here in 1924, which added to the joy of our return-
Many improvements have been made in the state. Your fine transportation facilities and good roads throughout the state made our trip to Columbus one of delight. I was favorably impressed with the natural resources and high state of agricultural development of Ohio. The diversified scenery, to one traveling through the state, is a real treat.
Its great lake, large rivers, beautiful mountains, and broad fields, are real cause for gratitude to the great Creator who made all these things in love for his creatures.
plenty for all the other purposes for which buildings are needed. The buildings and grounds are well kept up. There is ample shade. The drives and walks are in excellent condition. There is all the room that would be needed to park fifteen hundred cars without intruding upon the driveways. The grass is kept
mown; the flower beds are kept up; it is a very attractive area on the edge of one of America’s attractive cities. Columbus has many fine homes, and the State Fair Grounds are adjacent to the best section of the city.
In the physical lay-out of the grounds (Continued on page 2, Col. 1)
What a wonderful Creator we have! He has dealt bountifully in providing for man, and Ohio has shared well in its portion. The whole land is fast becoming a veritable paradise.
If man could but enjoy it forever in good health, at peace with God and his fellow man, his life would be complete.
It is Jehovah’s purpose he shall have that blessed opportunity. Men and women have longed for that time, and we are
(Continued on page 2, Col. 3)
President of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and Generalissimo of the Convention.
The Staff Appointed by Judge Rutherford to Look After the Comfort of the Conventioners.
The Columbus Convention Will Have Its Closing Sessions Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday in 166 Cities in Every Part of the Earth. Here They Are.
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of the tens of thousands of messages of God’s kingdom, the only hope for the world, that they would be leaving in homes all through this part of Ohio. All parts of Ohio that can be reached by automobile in a day will be covered by these workers. We shall have more details about this later.
Up stairs, over the Book Room, is the sign painting department, and here, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday four expert sign painters were making all kinds of signs such as would be needed to minister to the comfort of ten thousand guests, each of whom will wish to know where to go, and many of whom would be sure to go into some places they ought not to go unless carefully steered in the right direction.
Around to the south of The Ohio House, Building No. 2 will accommodate Russian sessions of the convention, No. 4, the Greek sessions of the convention, and No. 5, the Italian sessions. The rehearsals of music, and especially for the chain programs, are had in a portion of the structure that houses the Greek sessions.
Building No. 29 accommodates the Polish sections of the convention, No. 41, the Hungarian and Luthuanian sections (Hungarian in the main part of the structure and Lithuanian in the alcove), and Building No. 43, of rustic design, almost in front of the Ohio House, accommodates the Slovak section.
The Grandstand, which is Building No. 68, in its section No. 11 will accommodate the German-speaking friends, while in its section No. 2 the Ukrainian friends will be accommodated.
Finds Preparations Complete
(Continued from page 1, Col. 3) the central point of interest is The Ohio House. It is purposely painted white, and is the only building of that color on the grounds. It is located approximately in the center of the buildings, or rather a little to the front of the center. This entire building is given over to Judge Rutherford and his staff. The general oversight of everything that goes on at the convention will be centered at The Ohio House.
Just back of The Ohio House, to the northeast of it, is the Administration Building. It is just what its name implies. It is here that the chairman and the assistant chairman of the convention have their offices. Here is the cashier, the director of instrumental music and of vocal music, and a headquarters for the reportorial staff of The Messenger.
North of the Administration Building is the Coliseum, which houses the Information Bureau, subscription offices of The Messenger, and the various subdivisions of the Service and Colporteur Departments, which, in this convention, is one of its greatest features. Here you will find too, the Post Office, Telegraph, writing tables, rooming assignment, and other conveniences for the friends.
To the west of the Coliseum is the Restaurant and Book Room. The Restaurant is really thirteen cafeterias in one. Each one of the thirteen sections is complete in itself, equipped with eight waiters, who minister to the needs of the hungry. There are sixty people in the kitchen. It is estimated that at the thirteen counters and upon the 200 tables in this great room four thousand people can be accommodated at one sitting.
At one end of the great dining room there were piled on Friday morning thousands of paper bags each of which contains Judge Rutherford’s books and booklets. These books and booklets are now printed in forty-eight languages. Many of these tongues are represented in the literature now about to be placed in Columbus and vicinity, but, of course, as Columbus and vicinity have no great) foreign population there is less need for some of the tongues here than there would be in a place like Paris, where one of our great conventions was held less than two months ago. We hope every conventioner will call at the Book Room and take away with them combination No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3.
The piles of books looked very neat and orderly. It was an inspiring thing to think of the thousands of workers that would be taking those bags of books around, within the next few days, and
Between the Grandstand and The Ohio House is the Baby Nursery, located on the top floor of a two-story building, and equipped with cribs, sand piles, toys, bedding, mosquito netting and whatever is necessary to keep little folks busy and contented and safe while parents are elsewhere. Nurses are provided. The hospital is next door.
The story about the campers, the hundreds of house-cars and trailers, the camp of the front line soldiers in this great battle of Jehovah against all untruth and unrighteousness is a separate story in itself and will be told in a future issue.
You sometimes have company at your house, don’t you? And if there are to be lots of guests, there is plenty of excitement long before the guests arrive. There has to be. Now suppose there are to be a dozen guests. That would be quite a houseful. It would be necessary to make some unusual provisions, if the guests were to run to twenty-five, fifty or a hundred.
But suppose there were to be a thousand guests; the work would be multiplied tenfold; and if there were to be ten thousand (and it is anticipated that there will be that many or more at Columbus) the responsibility is still greater and provision must be made long ahead, looking to every possible contingency.
The Chairman’s Reply
(Continued from page 1, Col. U) confident this good news will make their hearts glad.
When we consider the wisdom of our 1 God reflected in the works of his hands I in the heavens and earth, it must be apparent to all that he never purposed his creatures to live here just long enough to learn to love the things he provided, form strong ties of friendship, and then to die, leaving it all behind. He has promised that some day it shall be different. That day is at hand. It is God’s will that all shall know about it, and it is our happy privilege, as his witnesses, to bear this good news to the people of Ohio, and to all peoples of good will throughout the earth.
Alighting on Ohio Soil after His Drive from the Headquarters of the Society in New York City.
Knowing the end from the beginning, Jehovah foretold of the radio and pro- , vided it as his means of conveying his message to the people.
It is a remarkable fact that radio was discovered at the very time God commands the good news of his kingdom shall go to all nations.
Next Sunday, by Jehovah’s providence, his message will be heard in the greatest broadcast ever arranged, reaching the people from Alaska to Australia and including every state in the United States, and covering Europe, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Hawaii, British Guiana, and virtually every place where it can be heard by radio.
All the peoples of earth need God’s help. Jehovah is man’s real friend and benefactor. He has promised to establish his kingdom upon the earth forever, through his son Christ Jesus, and bless all the families of the earth. His promises are sure. It is God’s will that his people shall come together at this time to consider his purposes and with confidence declare them to others as his witnesses.
We are therefore assembled as children of the Most High, as one family in Christ, with one purpose to honor the King Eternal and as one man to obey his commands by joyfully doing the work he commands us to do. We are glad to have a part in the Lord’s work, and take this occasion to invite you, Governor White and all the people, to hear the message next Sunday and join in praising our God.
The conveniences you have so graciously placed at our disposal, this large Coliseum with its spacious grounds, together with the fine hospitality shown by the officers and everyone with whom we have come in contact, has greatly added to our comfort and happiness.
In behalf of Judge Rutherford and this entire congress, I thank you for your kindness and assure you, Governor White, this whole assembly agrees with me in declaring it is fine of you to come here and personally welcome us in this manner, and we appreciate it.
Alighting on Ohio Soil after His Drive from the Headquarters of the Society in New York City.
The International European Conventions
Planned by Brother Rutherford for the Convenience of Our Brethren Across the Atlantic Who Could Not Come to Columbus
The Greatest Ever Held In Europe
Let’s Join the Party That Accompanied the Judge
“All ashore that are going ashore.” The deck steward gave his last call for all visitors to get off the boat; the gang planks were lowered and at 12:01 a. m. Saturday, May 9, the great ship began to slowly move away from the pier. The deep, bass, steam whistle gave a long blast as a parting notice to the city of New York that the SS. Rotterdam was once more leaving- for Europe. This time she carried Judge Rutherford and his small party of assistants to attend the Watch Tower conventions in Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen and London.
Life aboard the ship was a very happy one for our little party. Each morning Brother Rutherford invited us to have a study on one of the articles on Mordecai and Esther which had just started to come out in The Watch Tower. Every lesson left us on “pins and needles” of anticipation and expectation for the next morning’s study. If the trip had been limited to those morning studies, it would have been blessing enough, but the Lord had even more in store for us. , During one of these meetings, Brother ■ Rutherford, by way of illustrating how | the Haman class was conspiring against the Mordecai and Esther class, told us about a letter he had received from Germany before leaving Brooklyn. This letter threatened him with arrest and im
prisonment if he addressed the public and spoke against the clergy while in Germany. It so happened that a big public meeting was being arranged as one of the features of the Berlin convention. In spite of the letter he sent instructions to the Magdeburg office to go ahead with their preparations for the public meeting. Further than this he did not tell us what he was going to say or do. You can imagine the interest this gave us in the Esther articles as we learned how Haman plotted against Mordecai and the Jews and what happened to him. What would happen in Berlin? That was the question in our minds.
The trip across the ocean was a very delightful one. On Sunday, May 17, we arrived at Plymouth, where a party of friends met Brother Rutherford, who disembarked to spend a few days in London. On Friday of that week he went to Paris for the first big convention Paris had ever had.
Arranging for the European Conventions and the Columbus Convention and Extensions Requires a Prodigious Amount of Planning and Decisions. Here He Is Keeping Two Secretaries Busy with Preliminary Work.
What a convention that was! The Berne office, which made the arrangements with the assistance of the brethren at the Society’s headquarters in Paris, had engaged the Salle Playel, the newest and best equipped hall there, for the entire convention. With one large hall seating about 3,000, and two smaller halls seating about 200 and 500 respectively, it provided excellent accommodations for the various meetings. In all there were about 3,000 brethren at the convention from all parts of Europe, from Asia and from America. The total number to come from England was 778. Germany sent a delegation of 1,450 brethren and 551 Polish brethren reported to assist the 200 French brethren in giving a real witness to the King and Kingdom in
Paris. The final count showed that among the 3,000 there were 23 different nationalities represented. This made the handling of the meetings a very difficult problem. But fortunately all who were there could understand English, French, German or Polish, hence it was necessary to make arrangements for having the various lectures translated into only these four languages.
Brother Rutherford seemed to be absolutely untiring in his administration to the needs of these brethren who had traveled miles to hear the comforting news which he had to bring to them from God’s Word. One morning, for example, he spoke to the French brethren, and as he spoke, each sentence had to be translated by another brother into French. Talking in this manner is a great strain on the speaker. Having talked to them for a full hour, after only a few minutes interval he went into the large hall and spoke to the German, Polish and English brethren. This meant that two interpreters had to translate for the audience each sentence as he spoke it. It was amazing to us how he was able to do it, and certainly proved to us that the Lord aids one in accomplishing his purposes. At other times when the brethren of all the nationalities assembled together in the same hall, three interpreters translated his talks into Polish, French and German.
On Monday evening arrangements had been made for the public meeting. We had been looking forward to this with interest. You will probably remember, from The Watch Tower’s report
Three Thousand at Paris—From. Twenty-Three Countries. Count Noses, if You Like, but Don’t Overlook Those in the Spacious Balcony.
The Camera Wasn’t Large Enough.
Arranging for the European Conventions and the Columbus Convention and Extensions Requires a Prodigious Amount of Planning and Decisions. Here He Is Keeping Two Secretaries Busy with Preliminary Work.
ME55AGERES DE BONNES NOUVELLES SONT UNE GRANDE ARMEE P^
Their Visible Leader—About to Give Instructions to the Paris Division of “Une Grande Armee.”
Three Thousand at Paris—From Twenty-Three Countries. Count Noses, if You Like, but Don’t Overlook Those in the Spacious Balcony.
The Camera Wasn’t Large Enough.
The convention officially opened that afternoon with an address by Brother Rutherford. All of us were surprised at the large attendance at this first meeting. We had rather anticipated that this convention might not be so large, because of the hard time through which the German people have been passing, but when we came into the great Sport Palace, we beheld a crowd of fully 8,000 people there. Sunday’s meetings were attended by an even larger crowd. A conservative estimate of the number to attend the convention would be 10,000 brethren. In his address Saturday, Brother Rutherford made no mention of the threatening letter he had received, but greatly encouraged the brethren to go out into the service the next morning. He called for a show of hands of all those who expected to do this, and it was thrilling to see every hand go up. That the brethren actually did this was shown by the service reports which were received from 8,000 workers.
What a witness that crowd of 8,000
Brother Rutherford Addressing the Paris Conventioners in Four Languages at the Same Time: English, German, French, Polish
of the last time that Brother Rutherford addressed the public in Paris, that the meeting was broken up by a crowd of people who caused such a disturbance that those who wanted to hear could not. This time there was absolutely no disorder. The people came in in a very orderly manner, and never had our party seen a more interested and attentive audience than this one. They eagerly drank in the water of truth as it flowed to them from God’s Word, and thirsted for more. We knew that this was true, for after the lecture, we watched the crowd come out of the auditorium carrying the books and “parlezvousing” over the good things | they had heard. The report showed that 900 books and booklets were taken away by the public at that meeting.
Tuesday was service day. Bright and early the friends met at the hall to go out into the work. It was a real problem to take care of so many people who could not speak or understand a word of French, but it was done. Four brethren were on the platform to give instructions to the workers in four different languages. Various captains were given numbers, which they had attached to long sticks to hold them high above the heads of the people. Each worker was assigned to one of these numbers, and as the captain’s number was called out from the platform he came forward so that all the workers assigned to him could follow him out of the auditorium. Each group had a couple of interpreters to aid the captain in placing his workers. Some parties went to their territory in big sight-seeing busses, which had been engaged for that purpose and which waited outside of the hall. Others who were assigned near-by territory went by trolley, taxi, or on foot. Practically 100 percent of those at the convention at that time engaged in the service. During that one morning of service, the workers placed 1,329 books and 14,557 booklets, making a grand total of 16,776 books and booklets placed in Paris during the
entire convention, public meeting
eluded.
“How couldn’t guage?”
in
was this possible when understand or speak the you ask. Well, you see, it
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in the city of Berlin during Sunday Monday, the days set aside for serv-Not only did they leave the books booklets with the people, but they personally invited thousands to at-
like this. Each worker was furnished with a card which contained a short witness and the price of the books. We took this in our hand, knocked on the door, and as they came we handed them the card to read. When they asked us questions in French, we waved our hands, shrugged our shoulders and told them in our own language, which, of course, they couldn’t understand, that we didn’t have the slightest idea what they were talking about. This usually ended in their reading the card, if they had not already done so, and, as the total figures show, in many of them taking the literature. One brother told of a taxi driver he canvassed for the last two booklets he had. He understood the man to say, “No Bible,” after he had read the card. To this the brother replied with gestures, “Oh ‘messier,’ Judge Rutherford, Salle Playel (this being the name of the hall), American, radio, 200 stations.” The man looked at him in wonderment, repeated to himself what he had heard, reached in his pocket for his money and took the booklets.
Everybody had a happy time in giving Paris this witness. Besides that which has already been mentioned, Brother Rutherford spoke over the radio, his lecture in English being broadcast by station Vitus. It was followed by a translation into French so that many people throughout that country and surrounding ones could hear. The managers of the station greeted Brother Rutherford most cordially. Station Vitus has been broadcasting the Watch Tower’s electrical transcription programs, and hence the management was delighted to have Brother Rutherford speak over their station in person.
On Wednesday, the day following the Paris convention, our party left for Berlin, breaking the journey by stopping one night at Cologne, that ancient city on the Rhine, and another night at Magdeburg, with the Bethel family there.
Saturday, May 30, and Berlin at last! The convention which had been of such
tend the public meeting on Monday night. We were amazed at the final service report, which showed that 146,505 books and booklets were disposed of during the convention, public meeting included.
On Sunday afternoon the workers returned from the field to hear another most encouraging discourse by Brother Rutherford. On his way to this meeting
meeting and the time for seeing whether or not the Devil’s organization would attempt to make good its threat, finally arrived. As we came into the hall a brother informed us that some members of the Nationalist party had attempted to put up their banners but that these had been taken down by the brethren. This in itself looked as if the troublemakers were there, at least. The great hall was packed with people. Every seat was taken and many were standing. Another adjacent hall, connected with loud speakers, was also filled, making a total attendance of 16,000 or more. Some estimated the crowd at 17,000. The friends, a large number of whom had returned home so as to make room for the public, took the seats to the rear of the speakers’ platform and in the balconies, leaving the best seats on the main floor for the public. There were approximately 5,000 friends there. The rest of the crowd was made up of the public.
When Brother Rutherford came upon the platform a tremendous applause greeted him, which must have put fear into the hearts of the trouble-makers. From the very first the people eagerly leaned forward in their seats and closely followed the interpreter’s translation of everything that Brother Rutherford said. Instead of detracting from the interest, this sentence-by-sentence translation enabled the people to grasp the full significance of each word. Brother Rutherford opened with a general survey of world conditions and the need for some remedy. His first thrust at the hypocrisy of the clergy was not so pointed, his next was a little sharper,
Loading Up the Workers for Field Service—Paris Convention
little
incident occurred which illus-
particular interest to us was about
begin. What would be the public meeting?
the outcome
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trates the longing existing in the hearts of many of the people of Germany. While waiting in front of his hotel for his car to come, in his usual friendly manner he spoke to the hotel doorman, mentioning that he was a tall, handsome fellow. With tears in his eyes, the man replied, “There are not many big men like you and me left in Germany.” This gave Brother Rutherford the opportunity to speak a word of comfort to him, and later he left with hirti a copy of Life.
Monday night, the time for the public
and his next still sharper as he developed his argument showing what the Devil’s organization actually is and how it is working against the Lord and his anointed and endeavoring to keep the truth away from the people. Thrust by thrust, step by step, he led up to a climax. Then like a bursting bomb he told them how he had been threatened with imprisonment if he addressed that meeting.
You should have seen that audience! The critical moment had arrived. Would the Haman class show their faces and
IL
Here They Are—At Least All of the 3,500 D< Get in One Photograph. Yes, He Was There,
Brother Rutherford Addressing the Paris Conventioners in Four Languages at the Same Time: English, German, French, Polish
Loading Up the Workers for Field Service—Paris Convention
cause a disturbance? Our eyes swept back and fotth over that vast audience for the first signs of disorder, but instead of disorder, from the section reserved for the public as well as every corner of the hall, came an overwhelming, deafening applause and many shouted out their indignation and their shame upon the clergy and conspirators. The audience was with him and against the conspirators. In a clear and logical manner the judge proceeded to tell them what was the only remedy, and the meeting ended with no disorder or attempted arrests. The public showed their interest by taking away with them nearly 12,000 books and booklets. Another great convention came to an end and the friends went home rejoicing.
The day following the convention our party returned to Magdeburg where Brother Rutherford remained at the Magdeburg Bethel until it was time for him to go to Paris. This second trip was necessary for him to complete the arrangements for a much needed house for the brethren who are looking after the work in France. While there he spoke over radio station Vitus for the second time. Because this second trip
Our party met together again in London, just in time for the opening of the London convention, which was held at Alexandra Palace. This hall is an immense structure located in a beautiful spot, high on the top of a hill from which an excellent view can be had of the city of London for miles around. It is surrounded with a lovely park filled with beautiful trees. The grass is lux-. uriant and there were no “keep off the grass” signs to keep the conventioners from sitting under the trees between meetings. The building itself has many different halls in it. The largest one known as the Great Hall, is so large that the Alexandra officials told us before the public meeting that no speaker had ever been able to attract enough to fill it. The convention meetings were held in one of the smaller halls, which comfortably seated the 3,500 brethren who attended.
The weather was fine and the brethren never manifested a better spirit. The long-tail coats, black ties and more or less ecclesiastical formalism which used to be in evidence had entirely disappeared. With hearty enthusiasm the brethren greeted Brother Rutherford’s1
was necessary it was impossible for him to attend the convention of the Scandinavian brethren in Copenhagen, June 5-7. Instead, two of our party, together with a brother from the London Bethel, made the trip. The same spirit shown by the brethren attending the other con-
talk on the 54th chapter of Isaiah, particularly when he told them that the time had passed for giving honor to any man and that all honor for the truth belongs to the Lord. After this lecture we heard many brethren say that they had never attended a meeting which they
Three Hundred Sixty
Scandinavian Brethren at the
Convention in Copenhagen
ventions was manifest
Judge Rutherford s Popularity with Londoners Packed Out the Great Alexandra Hall—The First Time It Was Ever Done by a Speaker
’orn.”) When the subject was announced some were so enthusiastic that, in accordance with the British custom, they stamped their feet, clapped their hands, and one or two called out “ ’ear! ’ear!” That talk will long be remembered by those who heard it. At its conclusion the friends were so encouraged by the increasing light on God’s Word of truth that they were more anxious than ever to do their part in showing forth the praises of Jehovah.
To tell about the London convention and not mention the field service would be omitting one of the biggest things; for the brethren came to work, and they did work. Practically all went into the work during the two service days, and as a result left 10,105 books and booklets in the hands of the people. This figure included the number placed at the public ; meeting.
And now to tell you about the public meeting. The Great Hall was packed to the overflow, fully 10,000 being there. Some were standing in the rear and others were turned away. Amplifiers carried Brother Rutherford’s voice to all parts of the auditorium. Again in a fearless and logical manner he laid the plain facts before the people for them to \ accept or reject. He reminded them of । public statements made by their leading ; clergymen which showed that they did ! not believe in the Bible and therefore could not be the Lord’s representatives, but in truth and in fact were agents of the Devil. He told them that he was not there to get the favor of any man, but to
lions of dollars in gold, which had been loaded on our ship, the Bremen, in payment of that part of Germany’s debt to the United States due on July 1, having to be taken off on account of the moratorium. But this delay in getting started was offset by the courteous treatment which we received while on board the ship. It pleased us to see how the officers and crew showed their appreciation of having the judge return home on their ship. When we went around to engage a table in the dining room, we found that they had already reserved one in the choicest location to the immediate right of the captain’s table. When we spoke to the deck steward about a couple of deck chairs, he told us that he was “holding them for Judge Rutherford in the ‘Ambassador’s corner.’ ” Another evening the captain himself invited Brother Rutherford to visit him in his private quarters and to bring his entire party with him. Only one other passenger on board was asked to attend. After this visit he requested Brother Rutherford to sign a private book which he kept for distinguished passengers. Many well-known men of the world had placed their signatures therein, but none were able to leave with their signatures such words of comfort and real good cheer as those which Brother Rutherford affixed. This was greatly appreciated by the captain, for he in turn presented Brother Rutherford with an autographed copy of a beautiful book of views of the ship. We found that all of Brother Rutherford’s books
there. All day enjoyed more; and we felt the same way
Saturday they spent out in the country about it, too, for a spirit prevailed which sections of Denmark preaching the King- warmed the hearts of everyone. Brother dom Gospel by witnessing from door to Rutherford told us afterward that he be-door, to gather together again in the ■ lieved the brethren there were ready to evening for a discourse. Again, on Sun- i go right down the line for the Lord and day morning, they went into the work, I his Kingdom.
tell them the truth. It was for them to “take it or leave it.”
It was truly a wonderful meeting, and, taken in conjunction with the other meet-
were in the ship’s library for the passengers to read.
All these courtesies on the second fastest ship afloat made our trip home a very
pleasant one.
The sea again was never
this time in the city of Copenhagen. As : As much as we enjoyed this meeting, a result of this witness 2,816 books and j we had another treat in store for us; booklets were left with the people. Here i for his next discourse was on the 9th 360 brethren from Norway, Sweden and | nhnntor nf FIzpItipI Dp cnbipet hpino-
Denmark attended the convention, and i all left with a greater determination: than ever to continue to press the battle to the gates.
chapter of Ezekiel, the subject being ford gave “The Man with the Writer’s Inkhorn.” brethren in
(It amused us to hear one brother who spoke with a broad, cockney accent call
it “The Man with the
Writer’s Hink
ings, the friends went away with the pleasant one. ____ _____ ______
feeling that the convention was the best; very rough and none of us were sick, ever held in England. ’ While we were sorry, in a way, to see
Another week was spent in London - • ' ' ’
following the convention, to take care of the many things which had to be done.
On Sunday evening Brother Ruther-
a farewell talk to the the London Tabernacle
the trip come to an end, we were glad to get back so that we could aid with the preparations for Columbus convention. From start to finish the Lord’s blessings in this trip to Europe were
clearly manifest, and
everywhere were greatly
and on Tuesday, June 23, we left for everywhere were greatly home. Our departure from Southampton I hearing and seeing their
was delayed about ten hours by the mil- more.
the brethren encouraged by president once
legates at the London Convention That Could Too! Quite Near the Center of the Picture.
Here They Are—At Least All of the 3,500 Delegates at the London Convention That Could Get in One Photograph. Yes, He Was There, Too! Quite Near the Center of the Picture.
Judge Rutherford’s Popularity with Londoners Packed Out the Great Alexandra Hall—The First Time It Was Ever Done by a Speaker
Three Hundred Sixty Scandinavian Brethren at the Convention in Copenhagen
Beth-Sarim— Much Talked About House in San Diego
The House of the Princes
Somebody Paid a Hundred Thousand Dollars for Advertising the Resurrection of the Old Testament Saints. But Not Us. Come Again, Reporters
“All men have not faith,” and there is no use in expecting men to exercise faith I when they do not have it. At the present | time there is only a handful of people । in the world who really know that the ! Bible is the Word of God. Since the Bible is the Word of God, then we may depend upon it that it was especially written for us who are living just now, when Satan’s organization is slipping down into the abyss from which it will never arise. i
God has a people in the earth at this | time. These people are his people, and ; not the Devil’s people. They look like other men; but they are not the same. | They are governed in what they do by the Word of God. Their desire to do j God’s will as they find it recorded in his I Word is the all-consuming passion of' their lives; it means more to them than | all else in the world put together. j
We know who the people of God are.: They are, collectively, God’s “faithful ! and wise servant” in the earth at this ; time. Collectively this “servant” goes to make up the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. There is no other “ser- j vant.” God does not have fifty-seven; or even two different ways of doing his work in such an hour as this. i
It is the positive conviction of the “ser- i vant” that the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society is being used and will be I used by the Lord to proclaim God’s name ; and Word and his judgments in the earth and to help God’s people, both those who are free and those who are in the Devil’s cages, to grasp the blessings and to see
What the Back and the West Side Look Like. Do You Think David Will Like It?
A View of the Front and East Side.
the duties and privileges of the hour.
Judge Rutherford, president of the Watch Tower Society, is one of the hardest-worked men in the world. Anybody can be a Christian in peace-time, but Judge Rutherford was one of the wartime Christians; and, for daring so to be, went to Atlanta Penitentiary under four sentences of twenty years each.
When he emerged he was in poor physical condition, and even now has the use of but one lung. Since his return from Atlanta, prudence and good common sense dictated that, working as hard as he constantly works, he should have the benefit of the most equable winter climate to be found. It is a matter of common knowledge among meteorologists (weather experts) that San Diego, California, is as near perfection for a winter climate as it is possible to get. About a quarter of a million people besides meteorologists have made the same discovery and make the city their winter home.
For years after he emerged from prison, Judge Rutherford went to San
Diego to work during the winter months, renting such quarters as could be secured. His physician, Dr. A. G. Eckols, of San Diego, urged him to make the city his permanent winter home; and in the latter part of the year 1929 some brethren, out of their own personal funds, arranged for the erection of Beth-Sarim, “the house of the princes,” of which several illustrations appear in this issue.
Before Judge Rutherford would accept and use the home, he insisted upon writing the deed that it shall forever be held in trust by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society for the use of the Lord’s (Continued on page 8)
Looks Pleased, Doesn’t He?
Just “Finished” the News Reporters
A View of the Front and East Side.
What the Back and the West Side Look Like. Do You Think David Will Like It?
Looks Pleased, Doesn’t He? Just “Finished” the News Reporters
This Kingdom Gospel Must Be Preached in All the World
Amazing Growth of the
Lord’s Work Since 1922
The Witness Work in Australia
The Messenger Takes Great Pleasure in Passing On to Its Readers Reports from the Brethren Brother Rutherford Has Appointed to Carry Out His Instructions with Reference to the Lord’s Work in Foreign Fields.
(First Installment)
Jehovah God states in his Word that this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness. We are pleased, therefore, to make a report of the activities in Australia, New Zealand and the South Sea Islands, which come under the jurisdiction of this branch.
The Witness Work in Argentina
Argentina is a vast country, about equal in area to all the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast states of the United States. Today it occupies much the same relation to the rest of the world that was occupied by the United States seventy-five years ago.
You think of the United States as having many residents of foreign birth, but in proportion to our population we have twice as many foreigners here as you have there. Thus, the foreign-born । population of the United States is given as 13 per cent, while the foreign-born population here is 25 per cent.
Yet, although Argentina is a, young country as respects the immigration period through which she is passing, she is an old country otherwise. The University of Cordoba, in Argentina, was founded in 1613, seven years before the
The Bethel Family in Buenos Aires, John Muniz (center), Resident Manager.
Montevideo and the Uruguayan republic is under the representation of Brother Carlos Ott, German. Next spring, God willing, we expect to extend the message to the republic of Peru.
if given 50 percent of the proceeds of his placements. The situation can be appreciated only by those who are in it themselves.
Acting under the advice and instructions of our beloved president our first aim is to keep the witness work under way, and where a colporteur cannot quite make a “go” of it we assist him to the extent that is absolutely necessary. Thus, by one means or another, we are getting the work done.
“Pilgrim Fathers” landed at Plymouth. Immigration into Argentina has come principally from Spain and Italy, though there are also many Germans among our new citizens. The state contributes; T, ,v , ,
about $1,000,000 in gold every year to L sometimes seems to me that the the support of the Roman Catholic re- Latms bave to be handled with kld ligion, but other religions are tolerated, i ghwes Work among them is difficult The constitution requires that the presi-! a*lde Jrom *heir Poverty and lack of dent must be a Roman Catholic. education. Nevertheless we have now
We have a good deal of illiteracy to i sevfnty fr?.ends wbo a™ taklfn^ a contend with, except among the German 1 ,°5 less active part in the witness work, , ' the work which we consider most iman . f » £ TTnnp-arian immi i portant. At the special drive in May we
grants ^are^llitara^e^S^^per^ent o? the out 2’709 books and booklets. This Spanish immigrants’ 28% ?Zr cent of theiis not a &reat thin^ but it is our great-Italffin and 17 per ’ celt* OPf the French i -t figure for one week’s work.
Among the German immigrants all but 9; Rosario de Santa Fe, the work is per cent can read and write, and among; represented by Brother Oscar Schwandt, the English imigrants all but 8 per cent.; German. The twin cities of Parana and In the country the farms are of vast | Santa Fe are represented by Brother size, averaging some 500 acres each, as ; Febx Remon, Spanish. The city of Bahia would be expected in a land largely I Blanco and the southern part of the Regiven over to stock raising and wheat public is represented by Brother Ricardo growing. The great distances, poor Glahn, Paraguayan. The cities of Men-roads, general lack of education, and pre- doza and San Juan, with the provinces ponderating influence of Roman Catholi-; the same name, are represented by cism make it difficult to work the coun-1 Brothers Maximo Gimpel and Ramon
■SSI
try districts yet, but some progress is Mercado, the first German, the being made. i Argentinian.
Meantime we have a great work to do in Buenos Aires itself, where 40 ner cent of all the immigrants remain after arrival in the country. This is a great city, one of the great cities of the world. We are doing something, but we need help. Pray for us and send us men and women of courage to help us. _
At the time this is written we are in the midst of our winter, so things are quite different with us from what they are with you. We are differently situated otherwise than as respects the weather. Yours is a rich country, while at this time Argentina is very, very poor. We work under great difficulties.
Our work began in 1924, with only one brother. Early in 1925, at his request, the Society’s president sent in two able colporteurs speaking the German language to work among the immigrants from Germany. These brethren were and are to this day good samples of fidelity to the Lord and his cause.
We keen no regular office staff. Of the two brothers with me, one, the German brother, works during the day as a tile setter, when he has a job, and thus pays his room rent and expenses. When he has no work he goes on with his canvassing. The other, Pedro Kasanowski, has a knowledge of the three languages Polish, Ukrainian and Russian. He also works
latter J
Carlo Ott, in Charge of the Work in Uruguay.
As fast as they are ready we are sending colporteurs out to the different cities. They canvass these cities, and if they find any interested they hold studies in The Harp of God; and if the interest continues they establish classes. If not, when the city has been thoroughly canvassed they are sent to another one.
Classes, when formed, are held in the rooms of the interested party; if this is not possible rooms are rented for the purpose.
The dear friends here all, as one, send I
A. MacGillivray, Resident Manager of the Australian Work.
During the past year there has been a considerable increase in the work, both in the number of pioneers taking part in the field service and a general awakening amongst the classes. The work is directed by Brother Rutherford from the headquarters of the organization at Brooklyn, and we endeavor to carry out the instructions received as near to the letter as we possibly can, and we find that in proportion as we do this the Lord’s blessing is manifested to a greater degree.
At the present time, May, 1931, there are 130 pioneers battering away at the Devil’s organization, and also a number of auxiliaries and class workers. The reports received at the present date indicate a considerable increase in the work for the year 1930-31.
During this year the work in the Fiji Islands has opened up, and also in Tonga, Samoa and New Guinea. Little , or no witnessing was done in these countries prior to this year, and it is marvelous to see how the message of the Kingdom is being received, not only by the natives, but also by many Europeans who make their sojourn in these islands.
The work as carried on in these islands and in Australia itself is not easy, by any means. The pioneers who operate in house-cars sometimes report that they find a distance of 100 miles between houses. Working under such conditions it is hard to put in the number of calls
during tained, among sians.
the day when work is to be ob-and at other times canvasses the Poles, Ukrainians and Rus-
In the evening both of these brethren assist me in wrapping packages for mailing, and in making ready for mailing the 500 magazines which we send out from here every fifteen days.
The distribution of literature here is
these house-cars
love to all, and in the name of our wish that the great convention will the most encouraging effect pos-Let us all hope that the Lord will the convention abundantly, and
their Lord have sible. bless
maintain our courage while we fight on the side of the Lamb.
per day; however, in Lord does sustain all wholly devoted to him, all their needs.
Very recently one of
every case the those who are and he provides
The work in the
republic of Chile was
The Society’s Office in Sydney, Australia.
Charge of the Work
Chile. ।
Ricardo Traub, in in
with four pioneers aboard traveled from West Australia to Sydney, a distance of over 3,000 miles; part of this was over the Australian Desert. For several days no houses were seen at all, but when they
(Continued on page 8)
started last year, in the care of Ricardo Traub, German. Although so recently started, we already have some results. One expression heard by the writer when he was there in February (at which time eight were immersed) was that one of the immersed ones said when the truth came to him he was communistically inclined, and did whatever he could to serve the Devil and libel God. Henceforth it would be different with him; he would try to serve God to the best of
such a difficult task that a colporteur _
would not be able to make his expenses his ability, and he is doing so.
The Bethel Family in Buenos Aires, John Muniz (center), Resident Manager.
A. MacGillivray, Resident Manager of the Australian Work.
Carlo Ott, in Charge of the Work in Uruguay.
Ricardo Traub, in Charge of the Work in Chile.
The Society’s Office in Sydney, Australia.
His Bedroom, and the Famous Nightcap Which So Amused the Newspaper Men.
BETH-SARIM
(Continued from page 6) work in the earth, with the expectation that in due time Abraham, Melchisedec, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah or some others of the patriarchs or prophets of olden times will appear and will be glad to use this home which has been prepared for one or more of them in the western edge of the new world.
The climate is the same as that of Palestine. The place is planted with date and palm trees, such as would be familiar and pleasing sights to these men. On the part of Judge Rutherford, the dedication of this home to God’s work and for the use of these men was a simple act of faith. To a few newspaper men this exhibition of true faith in God and in his Word has seemed to give occasion for a little display of semimirthful incredulity; but for the most part the newspapers have treated the item with dignity, and the story of Beth-Sarim has gone around the world, conveying to millions of people the thought that shortly David and others will no doubt be awakened from the sleep of death.
1J "
Here’s That Celebrated Miniature
His Size) Would Make Quite a Splash!
(Continued from page 7)
Lake. The Newspaper Accounts Led People to Believe It Was Several Acres in Extent. Two No. 15’s (If We Remember Correctly
WITNESS WORK IN AUSTRALIA pioneers reported that even in the re" ’ / . „ / mote parts of the desert the people knew
came to a station and reported them- of the work being carried on.
Whatever the motive of the newspaper men, their action resulted in giving free world-wide publicity to a Bible truth, the resurrection on earth of the faithful Old Testament saints, publicity such as would have cost the Society thousands and thousands of dollars.
Another feature, an ominous one for those caught in Satan’s toils, is that the “evil servant” class, instead of being glad to see the preparation for and the use of adequate equipment for doing the Lord’s work, seem to have the spirit of Judas when he said, “Why was not this ointment sold and the proceeds given to the poor?”
The record shows that Judas cared nothing about the poor. What he really wanted was to get his hands on that money for himself. And the reason he wanted it for himself was not so that he
could use it to the glory of God. His j
thought in the matter was wholly selfish,! in their own language. We have yet a wholly indefensible. And the Judas | number of places to reach and plenty of class are like Judas himself. They are all room and liberty for those who wish to of the same stripe. ' ' .. .. ... -
: couple adventure with the privilege of service for Jehovah God.
The president has been pleased to assign Java to the Australian branch, and very shortly we are hoping to send representatives there.
The electrical transcription of Judge Rutherford’s lectures has been a great boon to this country and a wonderful blessing in sending out the message. These are so clear, plain and convincing that the people absolutely rejoice to listen in. We are hoping as time goes on to add a goodly number more stations to our present ‘going list’. Some of the Australian stations broadcasting the Watchtower programs have been heard in America.
This is a vast territory. If you were to take your stand in New York you would have the eastern outpost of our territory in London and the western about California, and in the north and northeast about the same distance. This will enable the friends to get an idea of the difficulties that confront those who are taking part in the work in these parts.
Take a map of the South Sea sometime and look at Tahiti east of us, Western Australia west of us, and New Guinea, Java and Fiji north and northeast, and you will begin to have an ap-
The Outside Stairs from the Patio to the Sun Parlor.
preciation of some of the work that is going on by your brethren in the Southern Hemisphere.
Here in Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the sea we are joining with you in taking part in the Columbus convention extensions by means of general assemblies and field service for everybody. We are looking forward to the report of this international convention with keen interest, and we pray Jehovah God that it may be the greatest witness that has ever been given in the earth.
A word in closing, taken from a report just received from the first pioneer to enter the Island of Tonga in the South Seas. After being there a few days he gathered around him a number of young native men and women and they continued all night discussing the message of the Kingdom.
After hearing the glad tidings they resolved to band together to make a translation of all the books and booklets so that their people who cannot read English may have the privilege of hearing the Truth.
This is a sample of what is going on in the various islands under our jurisdiction. Truly it is glorious to have the privilege of carrying the message of the Kingdom to these people. The work is plentiful and the laborers are still few.
(To be continued in our next issue)
selves these station owners sent word The Lord is raising up translators in
ahead that the Watch Tower folks were the different islands so that the mes- The Bethel Family at Sydney, Australia, Saying Goodbye to Two Pioneers Setting coming and the end of the world. These sage is being prepared for these people Out Across the Continent.
His Bedroom, and the Famous Nightcap Which So Amused the Newspaper Men.
The Outside Stairs from the Patio to the Sun Parlor.
Here’s That Celebrated Miniature Lake. The Newspaper Accounts Led People to Believe It Was Several Acres in Extent. Two No. 15’s (If We Remember Correctly His Size) Would Make Quite a Splash!
The Bethel Family at Sydney, Australia, Saying Goodbye to Two Pioneers Setting Out Across the Continent.
CONVENTION REPORT
1931 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY
COLUMBUS, OHIO, JULY 26
Millions Will Hear Judge Rutherford at Noon T oday
465 Radio
Stations in Vast Combination
‘ 4 Largest Individual Network Ever on the Air” Says the A. T. & T. Co.
164 Stations Linked by Wire and 300 Broadcast by Electrical Transcription
Our Lord had some great audiences when he was here in the flesh. We know that on one occasion he" ■preached to at least five thousand men besides women and children, for he fed that many after he had preached to them the good news of the Kingdom. We know that on another occasion he preached to at least four thousand men besides women and children, for he fed them too.
…