The Watchtower, December 1, 1954
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The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
DECEMBER 1, 1954
Semimonthly
THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
TO PREACH WORLD-WIDE
NEVER FIGHTING ILLEGALLY OR
QUITTING WORLD-WIDE PREACHING
THE "TIME OF THE END"
HOPE FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
1954 DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES
WORLD-WIDE
©WTB&TS
"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12 THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases.—Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself. Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street
N. H. KNORR, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
<tr><th>CONTENTS
Hope for the Living and the Dead
The “Time of the End”
1954 District Assemblies World-wide
The Fight for Freedom to Preach World-wide
Never Fighting Illegally or Quitting World-wide Preaching
European Assemblies in 1955
Living Now as a New World Society
Questions from Readers
Announcements
Check Your Memory
AS
American Standard Version
LXX
The Septuagint Version
AT
An American Translation
Mo
James Moffatt's version
Da
J. N. Darby's version
NW
New World Translation
Dy
Catholic Douay version
Ro
J. B. Rotherham's version
ED
The Emphatic Diaglott
RS
Revised Standard Version
Le
Isaac Leeser's version
Yg
Robert Young's version
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HOPE FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
HAVE you ever wondered where the dead are? Whether they are in heaven or in hell or confined to some other place like limbo or purgatory? Or just what is the state of the dead? Have you ever wondered why men die? What happens at death? Is it just the body that dies and not the soul, or do both die? What is a soul? Most thinking persons ask themselves these questions. But on these points there are about as many theories as there are people on earth.
Strange, is it not, that there should be so many conflicting opinions when all of Christendom's religions claim to get support for their doctrines from one harmonious book, the Holy Bible? Surely the Bible is not so vague or confusing on these issues as are the theories and philosophies of men, nor is it divided into as many conflicting opinions regarding the place and state of the dead. In fact, the Bible is in perfect harmony on this subject.
The Bible is plain that man is a creature created. Note Genesis 2:7 (NW) on this point: "Then Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul." Thus we learn that man is a combination of two things, namely, the "dust from the ground" and "the breath of life." The combining of these two things or factors produced a living soul or creature called man. The apostle Paul called Adam "a living soul" at 1 Corinthians 15:45. That this soul, Adam, could die is clearly stated by God at Genesis 2:17 (NW): "You will positively die." There should be no question in the minds of intelligent creatures of Adam's mortality.
Why does man die? Again the Bible plainly answers for us in the third chapter of Genesis that man disobeyed God's commandment and proved himself unfit for existence. Verses 17-19 (NW) contain the pronouncement of the judicial decision: "And to Adam [God] said: 'Because you listened to your wife's voice and took to eating from the tree concerning which I gave you this command: "You must not eat from it," cursed is the ground on your account. In pain you will eat its produce all the days of your life. And thorns and thistles it will grow for you, and you must eat the vegetation of the field. In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.'" This sentence says nothing about punishing man in a place of eternal torment, nor does it speak of a limbo or purgatory. It states plainly that man is to labor and then return to the dust from which he was made. Is not that what we have witnessed for the past six thousand years?
Even the prophets believed that the dead returned to the dust. The inspired record at Ecclesiastes 3:19,20 says: "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again." The inference is that both animals and man are created from the same dust, breathe the same air, and in death both go to the same place. Both are made from dust and both return to dust again.
Some may object to this view, and say: "Is not this a rather hopeless view to take? Does not some part of man live on? What about the soul? Does not this live after the human body dies?" The Bible states specifically that the living creature man is a soul, and nowhere does it say that man possesses a soul alive apart from his body. After reading Ezekiel 18:4,20 there should be no doubt in the minds of those who believe the Bible that the soul dies. Those verses very conclusively say: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." If it dies, then it is not immortal as some claim.
As to the state of the dead, note what God's Word has to say on the matter: "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." In these few verses the Bible tells us plainly that the dead are in the grave, that they "know not anything," that "there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom" there. If that is the state of the dead, then they are not undergoing conscious suffering or torment as some teach, nor are they in a state of bliss.
The dead simply, plainly, do not know anything. They are unconscious. They are dead.—Eccl. 9:5,10.
Some may feel disappointed, thinking that the wicked are not punished for their wicked deeds or the righteous rewarded for their good efforts. The wicked do not go unpunished. They are "like the beasts that perish." They die without hope of ever living again. The righteous who die have hope of a resurrection from the dead. Jesus emphasized the hope of a resurrection with these words: "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment." As Jesus called Lazarus forth from the memorial tomb four days after burial, so he will call all of humankind that are held in the memory of God and these will come forth with an opportunity to live for all eternity under his Kingdom arrangement. This was the hope of the prophets of God, to live under the kingdom of God by Christ. As Job wrote: "O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands."—Ps. 49:12, 15; John 5:28, 29, NW; Job 14:13-15.
But we living today who exercise faith in Jehovah God and his Son Jesus Christ have the unspeakable hope of never dying! Some might find this hard to believe; nevertheless, it is true. Listen to the words of Jesus (John 11:25, 26, NW): "I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life, and everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all.
Do you believe this?"
Jehovah's witnesses believe it. This is the hope of the dead and the living.The
dead receive it through a resurrection; the living, through the spirit and power of God, who makes this hope both understandable and possible.
NO DATE in history affects the destiny of every living person so much as the year 1914. That
"The turning point in our time," "a dividing line in history," an "age of violence"—these are terms used by modern historians to describe the epoch that began with the outbreak of World War I. What startling significance lies in their observation? The answer affects your life.
year marked the turning point in the affairs of men. World conditions since 1914 have taken a turn for the worse. War has ravaged the earth, inflation has strangled the world. Countries once prosperous are now plagued with poverty and revolutions. Great empires have collapsed, whole nations and islands hardly known before 1914 have become world problems. Mankind lives in the soul-chilling shadow of atomic annihilation. All this, grimly true as it is, does not explain why world conditions are exactly as they are. It does not explain why 1914 is a turning point. Nor does it explain why 1914 affects your everlasting destiny. What, then, explains the matter? This: in 1914 mankind entered the long-foretold "time of the end."
Only one book tells of the "time of the end." That is the Bible. Its prophecies, for the most part, have their major fulfillment in the "time of the end." Then an understanding of the prophecies would be available to truth seekers: "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Dan. 12:4, AS) Lack of knowledge concerning the "time of the end" leads to death. How vital, then, to have the
right answers to certain questions! What is to end? When will it end? How will it end? Who will end it?
Jehovah God has decreed that this earth must eventually become a global paradise, with its inhabitants enjoying everlasting life in perfect health and happiness. So what is to end could not be this literal earth, for the Bible plainly declares: "The earth abideth for ever." What is to end is this evil system or state of things. This means that the world that mankind has known ever since the days of the Noachian flood will soon be blotted out; a righteous new world will take its place. So the news that 1914 brought the beginning of the end for what the Bible calls the "present wicked system of things" should be a source of great joy for all right-hearted persons. —Eccl. 1:4; Gal. 1:4, NW.
Christ Jesus, the greatest Prophet that ever lived, pointed forward to the "time of the end." He called it the "consummation of a system of things." The word "consummation" (Greek, synteleia) is interesting. This is because synteleia combines the preposition "with" (syn) with the noun "end" (tel'os).
So the word indicates that several things work together or with one another to terminate in a complete end. The consummation (synteleia) about which the disciples asked is the same as the "time of the end." It is a period that has a beginning and a completion (tel'os). —Matt. 13:39; 24:3, NW.
How does the "time of the end" come to its completion? It closes with the mighty battle of Armageddon, "the war of the great day of God the Almighty." This war results in the destruction of all the nations of the earth and the abyssing of the Devil and his demons. Since 1914 the Devil has learned he has only "a short period of time."—Rev. 16:14; 12:12, NW.
But now, how do we know for a certainty that 1914 marks the beginning of the "time of the end"? Because the "Gentile times" or "appointed times of the nations" ended A.D. 1914. Why, as far back as 1880 the Watchtower magazine declared that 1914 would mark the end of the "Gentile times." Briefly, these "appointed times of the nations" refer to a period when no representative government of Jehovah would exist on earth, but the Gentile nations would dominate the earth. Jesus had said: "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled." (Luke 21:24, NW) With the overthrow of Jehovah's typical theocratic government, the nation of Israel, in 607 B.C., theocratic rule in the earth ended. "Seven times," or a period of 2,520 years, must pass before a new theocratic government toward our earth could begin operation. This new government would be a heavenly kingdom under Christ Jesus. The King would rule from heaven while the Devil's world was still a going concern. So there was need for a sign. True to prophecy, when the 2,520 years of Gentile domination ended in 1914, the great sign of the times made its appearance. In 1914 World War I broke out and the "consumation" or "time of the end" began.
DANIEL AND JESUS FORETELL WORLD WAR
That World War I pointed up the "time of the end" is clear from Daniel's prophecy. Likening the democratic powers to the "king of the south" and the autocratic powers to the "king of the north," the prophet wrote: "And at the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through." (Dan. 11:40, AS) These military movements, affecting the earth from north to south, could not begin, as Daniel says, until the "time of the end."
Now, from Jesus' words, we also know that World War I marked the beginning of the "time of the end." He spoke of the close of the "time of the end" by using the word "tel'os," meaning "an accomplished end." Why does not the "accomplished end" occur immediately in 1914, at the close of the "appointed times of the nations"? Jesus explains: "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress."—Matt. 24:7, 8, NW.
The "pangs of distress" began in 1914 with total warfare, an all-out war for global domination, the like of which had never occurred before in history. In explaining further what the "pangs of distress" include, Jesus said there would be "on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and its agitation, while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth."
Today any observing person can perceive the "pangs of distress" upon all the nations of the earth. Yet the masses of people fail to find any significance in it. Oh, they are quick to say that times are worse than ever before. But when they are told of Jesus' prophecy concerning the "time of the end" they scoff and ridicule. Strange? No, because the ridiculers of the great sign of the times were to be so numerous in the "time of the end" or "last days" that they in themselves would constitute part of the sign: "In the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: 'Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as from creation's beginning.'" Luke 21:25, 26; 2 Pet. 3:3, 4, NW.
Why do the scoffers scoff? Because "their own desires" are selfish. They want to hang on to this present system of things for their own selfish gain. So they willingly refuse to see the "pangs of distress" foretold by Jesus. They claim that "all things are continuing exactly as from creation's beginning" because 'we have always had wars, famines and earthquakes.' The scoffers fail to realize that the sign Jesus gave is not comprised of an isolated earthquake here or a war there. But rather all the happenings must occur concurrently upon one generation in intensified doses. Now if we carefully analyze the "pangs of distress" that Jesus foretold at Matthew 24 and Luke 21, can we honestly say that since 1914 "all things are continuing exactly as from creation's beginning"? No!
It is interesting to note that many of the "intellectuals" of the world—the philosophers, the scientists, the sages and the historians—are quick to admit that since
1914 there has been a striking change. Bertrand Russell, the philosopher, not long ago declared: "Ever since 1914 the world has been reeling drunkenly toward disaster." An editorial in the Washington Times Herald for March 13, 1945, stated: "The last completely 'normal' year in history was 1913, the year before World War I began." Dr. Harold C. Urey, one of the world's leading creators of the atom bomb, said: "We have not had a peaceful world since 1914." (Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 9, 1951) Declared an editorial writer in the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegram, August 1, 1954: "Forty years ago the world overnight goose-stepped from the 'golden age' into a volcanic epoch marked by bloody wars."
An editorial in the Edmonton Journal of Alberta, Canada, dated August 7,1954, explains further: "It seems likely that when the history of the twentieth century is written, August 4, 1914, the day hostilities became general in Europe, will loom larger than even the date of the outbreak of the Second World War or the dropping of the first atomic bomb. That August day, we are beginning to realize, marked a dividing line in history. An era of peace, progress and security ended, and an age of war and revolution began." This same observation was made by an associate professor of history at Columbia University's Barnard College, who wrote in The Scientific Monthly of July, 1951: "It is indeed the year 1914 rather than that of Hiroshima which marks the turning point in our time, for by now we can see that, whatever the future may hold in store, it was the first world war that ushered in the era of confused transition in the midst of which we are floundering."
And, when making a comparison of the two world wars, the New York Times Magazine of August 1, 1954, came to this conclusion: "The first war marked a far greater change in history.
It closed a long era of general peace and began a new age of violence in which the second war is simply an episode. Since 1914 the world has had a new character: a character of international anarchy. . . Thus the first World War marks a turning point in modern history."
A DESTINY-MAKING TIME
plished end" comes. This does not mean that when the "time of the end" closes the mass of mankind will have decided for God's kingdom. No, the mass will stick with the old world, even though the warning witness has been given earth-wide. Thus multitudes will be abandoned to their self-chosen destiny of destruction. Said Jesus: "I tell you, In that night two men will be in one bed: the one will be taken
Such terms as "a turning point in modern history," an "age of violence," "an age of war and revolution" and "a volcanic epoch," used by leading authorities, ought to jar scoffers into some sensible thinking! For, of a certainty, things are not continuing exactly as from creation's beginning. The "time of the end" has come. The sign of the "last days" is visible evidence. Never before in history, prior to 1914, have all these things occurred at once upon one generation:
along, but the other will be abandoned. There will be two women grinding at the same mill; the one will be taken along, but the other will be abandoned." To be taken into Jehovah's protection at Armageddon depends not on any family or friendship ties; it depends on a clear-cut decision for God's new world. Those who choose to go along with the old world will, as Jesus showed, be abandoned to destruction, just as the preflood people were left to their watery death when "the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged
World wars
Matt. 24:7
Widespread food shortages
Matt. 24:7
Unusual number of earthquakes
Matt. 24:7
Sore pestilence and disease
Luke 21:11
Persecution of Christians
Luke 21:12-15
Many forsaking Christianity
Matt. 24:12, 13
Formation of the League of Nations and United Nations
Rev. 13:14, 15:17:11
Nations perplexed
Luke 21:25
Increased lawlessness
Matt. 24:12
Sleepy condition of the world despite the sign
1 Thess. 5:2, 6
Moral breakdown in public and private life
2 Tim. 3:1-4
Widespread juvenile delinquency
2 Tim. 3:2
People overly engaging in everyday affairs of life
Matt. 24:37-39
World-wide preaching of the established kingdom as good news.
Matt. 24:14
with water."—Matt. 24:14; Luke 17:34, 35; 2 Pet. 3:6, NW.
Before the "time of the end" closes the people must be warned. So Jesus foretold: "This good news of the kingdom will be
"Truly I say to you," declared Jesus, "that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." So "this generation" from 1914 shall not pass till the "time of the end" closes with the "great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again." Those who are left to their self-chosen destiny of destruction pay the penalty of everlasting death. So since we are living in a destiny-making time, do not wait until face to face with "the
preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come." To people who are heartsick because of this present wicked world, the news of God's established kingdom and the "time of the end" is indeed good. Jehovah's witnesses have been diligent to bring this good news to peoples of all the earth. When the preaching work is finished the "accom-
accomplished end" of this system of things. That will be too late. Decide now for the new world. Give proof of your decision by associating with the already formed New World society. Share in the warning witness now being given. Then you will be in line to survive this world's "accomplished end" and inherit everlasting life in a perfect new world.-Matt. 24:34, 21, NW.
District Assemblies World-wide
An outstanding series of more than 80 gatherings this year
EHOVAH'S witnesses were on their way. All over the world they were getting together. By air liners and chartered trains, by private automobiles, by boats and in some places even by bicycle and on foot, they were assembling for a worldwide series of more than 80 district and national assemblies, which had a total attendance of over 427,000 persons.
These assemblies were held in many places, and therefore under vastly different circumstances. In large cities there was often the convenience of a fine auditorium; in places in the South African "bush" they were held right out in the open. Ball parks were made into "hall" parks and great stadiums were converted to theocratic use. There was the floor-level cafeteria in Japan, the warm-water baptism in Puerto Rico, the assembly in four major languages in Honolulu (English, Ilocano, Korean and Japanese), and the beautiful weather at Villach, Austria, where some of the brothers chose to sit outside the hall on the bank of the river to listen to the talks.
In some places transportation was a problem. In Northern Rhodesia the Society's van carried sound equipment to the assemblies in the "bush," driving 2,000 miles over dirt roads through wild territory, and, in one instance, being only the second vehicle over that particular road this year! In order to get to the assembly in Seoul, many Korean witnesses, some with babies strapped on their backs, rode
all day or all night standing all the way in hot, humid coaches. A ship was hired at half the regular cost by the Bergen, Norway, congregations to transport 300 of the brothers to the Stavanger district assembly. These instances illustrate the great effort that was put forth to get to the assemblies, but, as a brother of 65 years, who reported having walked a hundred miles in three days to get to one Northern Rhodesian assembly, said: "It was worth it!"
THE VALUABLE PROGRAM
Yes, the program was rich. It was made up of practical, Scriptural, theocratic discussions that heightened the hearers' already great appreciation for Jehovah's provisions through the New World society. At most assemblies the program was basically the same. On Thursday afternoon the chairman's address of welcome showed the importance of proper appreciation for what was to be heard, of proper deportment at the assembly, and served to remind the conventioners that the welcome at such gatherings actually comes from God. Other Thursday talks outlined the practicalness of showing the principle of love by loyalty, showed the importance of helping new interest to mature, and of being mature oneself through regular participation in all the congregation meetings. On Friday practical advice was given on the best ways to reach the people of good will by means of the magazines, through expanding our service and by using the Bible in our houseto-house ministry.
That evening such topics as dispelling the spirit of complaint, theocratic family conduct and the importance of recognizing Jehovah's organization were discussed.
On Saturday the importance of daily blessing Jehovah, of keeping integrity and of showing true love was stressed. The vigorous fight for freedom to preach worldwide was recounted, and in the talks "Lies Lead to Loss of Life" and "Christians Live the Truth" the need for Christians to be honest and upright in all their dealings was stressed.
Sunday morning the necessity of speeding up the flight of an ever-growing multitude of persons into Jehovah's organization was outlined in the discourse "Speeding Up the Flight to the Mountains," and, through tape recording at many assemblies, the Watch Tower Society's vicepresident and president spoke on "The Sacredness of Our Warfare" and "Sanctity of Christian Warriors Guarantees Victory."
Then came the climax, the widely advertised public lecture "God's Love to the Rescue in Man's Crisis." Did the public respond to the invitation to attend? Indeed they did! More than a quarter of the attendance at Brebach in the Saar were people of good will. The 13,800 in Denmark were nearly 6,000 more persons than there are Jehovah's witnesses in that entire land. And in the tiny Caribbean republic of Haiti the excellent attendance of 1,679 was eleven times the approximately 150 brothers who were present!
This public lecture related the ways Jehovah has proved his love, which ways include his provision of a ransom and of a righteous Government and of the opportunity of everlasting life for man. It concluded with an appeal to the audience to band together with the New World society to receive everlasting life, and so that
"God's love in coming to our rescue will be vindicated."
The Watch Tower's enthused Canadian branch wrote: "The entire program of the convention was a combination of spiritual explanation and instruction, along with logical, practical advice of the best way of reaching the people of good will with the wonderful message that Jehovah has entrusted to his people to deliver."
UNITED STATES ASSEMBLIES
Seventeen of the year's district assemblies were held in the United States. The largest of these was in Boston, Massachusetts, in the thickly settled East; the smallest were in the sparsely settled areas of the West. Yet all had the same spirit of love and Christian brotherhood that is always manifested at assemblies of Jehovah's witnesses. The Boston assembly was held in comfortable Fenway Park, home of the local baseball team, and it had a peak attendance of 17,910. There were three other assemblies near the east coast, one at Mooers Field in Richmond, Virginia, another at the large Johnson-Hagood Memorial Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina, and the southernmost assembly was in Plant Field at the fairgrounds in Tampa, on the west side of Florida.
The nation's second-largest assembly (attendance 17,588) was held in the convenient Cincinnati Gardens arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the city put a large electric-lighted sign on the City Hall tower. Visible over a considerable area of the city, it proclaimed: "Welcome Jehovah's Witnesses." The New Orleans, Louisiana, meeting was in Pelican Stadium, a place of considerable local pride, being the home of the city's victorious baseball club.
Assemblies at Sioux City, Iowa, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, were held in modern, air-conditioned municipal auditoriums, with stage settings appropriate for New World society gatherings.
The San Antonio, Texas, district assembly had a Latin-American touch, with discourses on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Spanish language, and 1,637 in attendance at the Spanish public meeting.
It was a hot but happy group that assembled along the Mexico-United States border in the El Paso, Texas, Coliseum. The Pueblo, Colorado, meeting, held in the grandstand at the state fairgrounds, suffered some difficulty with regular afternoon windstorms, sometimes accompanied by rain, but none of the program was missed, for the speakers continued their talks from the press box located across from the stands.
Billings, Montana, is in an area that is mostly just wide-open space, and here there was a true cross section of western brothers: ranchers, sheepherders, farmers, miners, oil men and business people all zealous servants of Jehovah. Salt Lake
City, Utah, is the capital and headquarters of the "Latter-day Saints" or Mormon church, which practically controls all the large places of assembly. However, the Utah State Fairgrounds Coliseum was obtained. Two Hopi Indians from Arizona, who recently accepted the truth and have been actively spreading the good news of the Kingdom among their tribesmen on the reservation, were among those baptized here.
The three remaining United States assemblies were held on the west coast, in San Diego and Oakland, California, and in Portland, Oregon. The Portland assembly was held at Portland Meadows, which is
a race track. The acting mayor, who extended the city's wishes for a most successful convention, said he was glad to see these facilities being used for such purpose.
GILEAD GRADUATION
The largest Canadian assembly was in Toronto, Ontario. Here the meeting was for five days, rather than four, so that the graduation of the 116 students of the twenty-third class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead could be held on the assembly's third day.
After song, prayer and reading of telegrams from many parts of the world, Gilead's five instructors briefly gave parting words of counsel. It was pointed out that trials reveal whether one is truly dedicated or serving out of selfishness, that something is wrong when one seeks social contacts outside the New World society, that for safety we must 'hold fast to the organization,' never losing sight of or acting independent of it, that we must be kind,
City Hall tower Milwaukee, Wisconsin
for sheep may need a rod at times but never a kick, that we radiate spiritual good health by sticking close to God's Word and his visible instrument, and that by 'holding fast to quality service' quotas would take care of themselves.
Next F. W. Franz, the Society's vice-president, developed the theme of the missionaries' happy lot, for they are "taking the lead in showing men how to love." We need love to be happy, and by giving generously—missionaries have so many opportunities to give—we shall be loved spontaneously. Then the Society's president, N. H. Knorr, gave admonition on "Think on These Things." He pointed out that failure to think on right things will cause one to lose the truth, and contrasted the fruits of old-world thinking with those of right thinking.
Stressed also were the need of keeping clean in thought and conduct and the importance of going to God's Word and to God in prayer in forming proper mental habits.
Four other assemblies were held in Canada, in the extreme east in St. John's, Newfoundland, and Halifax, Nova Scotia; out in the prairie provinces in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and on the Pacific Coast in beautiful flower-decked Queens Park in New Westminster, British Columbia. This latter meeting served brothers from as far north as the Arctic Circle.
BRITAIN
Four assemblies were held in Britain. One was in an ice rink in Dunfermline, Scotland, across the well-known Firth of Forth from Edinburgh. The rink was made into such a cozy Kingdom Hall and the brothers had such a friendly atmosphere that one landlady said that nowhere had she seen religious instruction given under such natural conditions of fellowship, and added: "I intend getting in among these people." A generous sprinkling of local people who had been impressed with the organization came to hear the message. A school headmaster, seeing a fellow teacher in the crowd on the way out, remarked: "We are always learning, aren't we!"
The second British assembly was in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Here, where the deep-rooted feud between the Protestants and Catholics flares up periodically into open conflict, the orderliness, dignity and courtesy of the New World society were characteristics that could be noted both out in the field and at Ulster Hall where the assembly was located.
The assemblies at Nottingham, in the Midlands, and at Luton, some thirty miles north of London, were held in athletic grounds. In Britain these are built to house an active and often boisterous crowd for an hour or so, therefore only limited seating is needed and provided. But there are plenty of concrete terraces for standing. Volunteers built enough benches at Nottingham to more than double the seating capacity, and newspapers throughout the area commented on the transformation that had taken place at Luton. A national newspaper added: "Just a ball of string kept the thousands to the three-foot cinder path and not one foot was placed on the pitch."
PUBLICITY
Assembly publicity was tremendous. Many radio and television stations carried quarter-hour or even half-hour interviews with the visiting speakers. One Cincinnati radio station alone broadcast five interviews. A number of television stations showed parts of the descriptive film "The New World Society in Action." A Toronto broadcaster said: "If you want to know about Jehovah's witnesses it won't cost you anything to go down to the Grandstand and find out."
Newspapers of all sizes and descriptions reported on the assemblies. In the Boston, Massachusetts, area alone 120 newspapers carried assembly reports. In Sioux City, Iowa, the assembly's best coverage was in a two-and-a-half-pound Centennial issue of the Sioux City Journal—a souvenir item that was sent all over the country. The local newspaper in Billings, Montana, carried assembly information into a wide area that is normally off the beaten path, helping to acquaint people in unassigned territory with the activity of Jehovah's witnesses.
In Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, the paper carried front-page photographs and a write-up.
From Cuba comes the report: "The newspaper publicity included a splendid interview with the Society's vicepresident." From Puerto Rico: "The principal newspapers of the island carried information concerning Jehovah's witnesses and the assembly. A radio station broadcast the entire public lecture free of charge although it lasted one hour and twelve minutes." The conventioners in Denmark were waiting anxiously to see if moving into the Forum, Denmark's largest indoor hall, would make a difference with that conservative land's newspapers that had ignored former Danish assemblies. Indeed it did! They carried nearly 1,500 column inches of material and fifty pictures. One article speaking of the tremendous crowds, proclaimed: "Billy Graham Can't Hold a Candle to This."
Assembly publicity in Luton, England, goaded the Anglican bishop to write a letter to the churches calling the witnesses heretics and schismatics and generally trying to minimize the effect of this Christian gathering. The local press carried the text of the bishop's letter, together with the Witnesses' reply, and it also published a good report on the assembly.
Assembly publicity in the Netherlands was the best the press had ever given in that land, though the local clergy apparently thought that curbing the preconvention activity would be as easy as writing a smear article or two in their religious papers. However, some Dutch Reformed people became so indignant over these articles that they volunteered to provide conventioners with rooms, some even offering them free.
In the United States many brothers were thrilled to see the Berlin assembly brought right into their own living rooms through means of television newscasts on the Thursday following that assembly. Movies showed the immersion, including close-up
shots of sisters being lowered under the water. The announcer mentioned that more than twenty thousand witnesses were in attendance, and that two thirds of them came from the East Zone of Germany at the risk of their lives. This he referred to as a real demonstration of faith.
CHRISTIAN DEPORTMENT
Proper Christian behavior is easily recognized and makes a good impression. The sergeant of police of Fenway Park in Boston said that Jehovah's witnesses were the most orderly crowd in the park in his eighteen years there. The practice of applying the principle of love to everyday living was being explained by one of the witnesses to a group of Naples policemen on duty at the theater where the Italian assembly was being held, when one of the officers admitted: "We are here only to increase the attendance. I can't understand why other religions don't teach what you do." The explanation came from another policeman: "That's simple. They have the truth and follow it, while the other religions engage in politics."
An example of this Christian love was shown in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Forum was packed to the doors a half hour before the public talk was to start. At twenty minutes to three it was requested that some of the brothers wearing lapel badges vacate their seats so as to make room for the good-will persons still outside. The response? Almost two thousand brothers and sisters lovingly stood up en masse and quickly moved out into the streets, allowing many guests to find a place and to hear the high point of the assembly.
After the assembly was over, the Oakland, California, Tribune said: "Lindsley Lueddeke, director of Oakland Auditorium and Exposition buildings, will welcome Jehovah's witnesses with open arms should they decide to hold another district assembly in Oakland.
. . There were no problems of any kind, and when the assembly ended the buildings were left spotlessly clean, largely because a committee of 50, moving about the arena, picked up every discarded scrap of paper almost the instant it hit the floor. 'Be REALLY glad to see them come back,' says Lueddeke."
OFFICIAL ATTITUDE
An unusual aspect of this year's assemblies was the warm attitude of city officials. In the United States it started off at Cincinnati, one of the earlier assemblies. When the speakers from Brooklyn arrived at the airport, Dorothy N. Dolbey, the acting mayor, was present to extend an official welcome and to drive them into town. The mayor or one of his aids also came out to welcome the assembly officials in Charleston, South Carolina; Sioux City, Iowa, and Portland, Oregon. In Toronto, Ontario, a member of the City Council said they were "proud to have this Christian organization coming to Toronto," and mentioned especially its good work among young people.
In a number of cities the officials granted permission for large advertising banners to be put up across principal streets, and police escorts were frequently provided for car-sign parades through the heart of the city, each car bearing an overhead sign announcing the public talk.
The assembly chairman at Tampa, Florida, asked: "Why the change in attitude toward Jehovah's witnesses since former days? Undoubtedly the two record-breaking assemblies in 1950 and 1953 at Yankee Stadium, New York city, where demonstrations of law and order, peace and Christian unity rocked the religious world, contributed much to this changed attitude."
The effect of this truthful publicity was specifically evident at Tampere, Finland, where reports in their Finnish newspapers about the 1953 Yankee Stadium assembly prompted the directors of the Tampere Hippos to volunteer it for assembly rental. It was used for this summer's meeting.
BAPTISM
The total number baptized at the district assemblies was 14,509!
In Seoul, Korea, the baptism was held in the swimming pool at the school that was rented for the assembly. However, since the war this pool had been filled with rubble and debris. The brothers cleaned out the bricks, stones and mortar and then got a sister's husband to haul several fire truckloads of water to fill the pool. The school and the children of the community are grateful to Jehovah's witnesses for holding their baptism there and restoring the pool for them. When the baptismal candidates were asked to stand at this Seoul assembly, everyone was astonished to see almost a third of the audience rise!
In Copenhagen, Denmark, the police would not give permission for one continual car parade from the assembly hall to the immersion pool, but they broke it down into groups of ten and fifteen cars, then provided a police escort for each group. This arrangement merely called additional attention to the assembly, because every three minutes a new group of cars would pass the amazed sidewalk onlookers. Each car carried a sign identifying it as part of Jehovah's witnesses' baptism.
Perhaps the most unusual baptism, though, was in the Luapula River at Kashiba, Northern Rhodesia. It is infested with crocodiles, so a number of brothers first went out in their boats (which are hollowed-out tree trunks) and formed a ring around the immersion place. The crocodiles kept away and the immersion of 580 brothers went ahead smoothly.
ASSEMBLY PREPARATIONS
To hold assemblies of such size, many rooming accommodations must be obtained, not only from hotels, but also from private homes. Almost everywhere this year sufficient accommodations were obtained in good time and the rooming work was completed well ahead of schedule. In New Westminster, British Columbia, the chief of police had asked where the thousands of conventioners would stay, since all the available rooms would be taken by the visitors who came to the widely advertised British Empire Games, which were to be held at the same time as the assembly. It was discovered, however, that the landladies had become room-renting conscious and were happy to have Jehovah's witnesses stay with them, while the other visitors did not have such a good reputation. The rooming work was finished in just ten days, and many more offers of accommodations had to be turned down.
In Kyoto, Japan, another source of accommodations was found—Buddhist temples. One temple provided accommodations for ninety brothers, and received a good witness. One brother who stayed at a temple talked two and a half hours with his host, the Buddhist priest, who is a Watchtower subscriber and who came to the assembly and said that if he can gain faith in Jehovah he will abandon his Buddhist religion.
Mooers Field in Richmond, Virginia, is now generally used for midget auto racing, and was pretty well run down. Preassembly work included painting the main entrance building and the boards surrounding the field. By assembly time it looked very nice.
Assembly places of the right size are often difficult to find, and to make them satisfactory considerable work is sometimes necessary. In Salt Lake City, Utah, more than a hundred brothers and sisters spent several days cleaning the auditorium and converting it into a suitable assembly location. The manager was dumfounded. Never in all the thirty years that he could remember had the place been so clean.
In Honolulu the brothers could not move into the school building where the assembly was to be held until 9 p.m. on the day immediately preceding the assembly. The Adventists were using it up until that time. Brothers were notified of this and about 400 of them moved in as soon as the Adventists moved out. First came the sweeping compound, then about a hundred with brooms and mops. In a very short time the auditorium was spick-and-span, chairs were being set up, flowers were arranged on the stage, the yeartext appeared, sound equipment was installed, and in less than four hours this volunteer labor had transformed the place into a large Kingdom Hall. This proved to be a good witness to those watching and an encouragement to new ones who saw the unity of Jehovah's witnesses and the evidence of His spirit upon the organization.
In Lahore, Pakistan, an outstanding impression was made on the Moslems by the sight of Europeans, who, in these lands, never stoop to menial tasks, working side by side with their darker brothers in the kitchen of the cafeteria and in street advertising work. Street work, which was done for the first time in this strongly Moslem town, forced many to take notice. Said one high-placed Moslem official who attended the public lecture: "You can sense the spirit of God with these people. You find a restful and happy atmosphere where they are and you always feel welcome."
RESULTS
The final chapter of the assemblies cannot yet be written, because their real success will depend upon how the conventioners apply to their own personal and congregational activity the things they learned and the suggestions that were made at these assemblies.
Weak points were stressed. The importance of meeting attendance was driven home. All were encouraged to more zealous service. From Indonesia comes the report of a new peak in publishers the following month.From Puerto Rico it was reported that attend-
lands. When the Italian branch servant at the Naples district assembly enthusiastically announced that one 1955 international assembly would be in Rome, tears of joy were a common sight. Although many of Jehovah's witnesses in Italy are very poor materially, yet the thought of having brothers from other lands come to associate with them in Christian assembly has
ance at the congregation meetings has increased considerably, sometimes as much as twenty-five per cent.
Also, Jehovah's witnesses are thinking of next year, when brothers from many parts of the globe will assemble in conventions in North America, Britain, France Germany, Italy, Sweden and the Nethermade them determine to be in Rome next year to praise Jehovah and to enjoy the sweet fellowship of their brothers who are coming from overseas.
Now all eyes are turned to 1955 and the witnessing work ahead, with the international assemblies just seven months away!
1954 DISTRICT ASSEMBLY FIGURES
This chart does not include all the assemblies, because some in the Southern Hemisphere were held later in the year, after this chart went to press. (Totals are given for the country if it had four or more assemblies.)
Attendance
Baptized
Attendance
Baptized
Attendance
Baptized
AUSTRALIA
Broken Hill, N.S.W.
Kalgoorlie, W. Aus.
Rockhampton, Qld.
Toowoomba, Qld.
1,520
(More assemblies later)
AUSTRIA
Bregenz
Linz
1,217
Villach
1,166
BELGIUM
Ghent
1,998
Liège
2,464
BRITAIN
Belfast, N. Ireland
1,055
Dunfermline, Scotland
2,672
Luton
11,839
Nottingham
9,620
Total
25,186
CANADA
Halifax, N. S.
1,801
New Westminster, B. C.
9,632
Saint John's, Newf.
Saskatoon, Sask.
6,232
Toronto, Ont.
22,201
Total
40,302
6,534
Bremen
Cologne
8,567
Freiburg
6,070
Hof
3,780
Munich
8,149
Neumünster
4,709
Wiesbaden
7,750
Total
74,557
2,854
GUATEMALA
Guatemala City
HAITI
Port-au-Prince
1,679
HAWAII, Honolulu
1,120
HONG KONG
INDONESIA
Djakarta
Surabaja
ITALY, Naples
1,260
JAPAN, Kyoto
KOREA, Seoul
1,245
LUXEMBOURG
NETHERLANDS
The Hague
11,800
NORTHERN RHODESIA
Broken Hill (African)
11,069
<tr><th>Location
Number
Value
Bloemfontein (African)
Bloemfontein (European)
1,520
Durban (African)
1,903
Durban (Non-European)
East London (African)
East London (Non-European)
Johannesburg (African)
5,641
Cape Town (African)
Cape Town (Non-European)
Total
11,451
SOUTHERN RHODESIA
Bulawayo
8,025
Salisbury (African)
3,370
Salisbury (European)
SWITZERLAND
St. Gallen
3,120
Vevy
THAILAND, Bangkok
UNITED STATES
Billings, Mont.
1,796
Boston, Mass.
17,910
Charleston, S. C.
4,351
CUBA
Havana
4,212
Holguin
1,761
DENMARK
Copenhagen
13,800
ETHIOPIA
FINLAND
Kuopio
2,000
Tampere
4,750
FRANCE
Amiens
4,317
Lyons
1,584
Nancy
Paris
3,300
Total
10,161
GERMANY
Berlin
22,500
1,022
Bielefeld
6,498
Broken Hill (African)
14,069
Chingola (African)
8,678
Kashiba (African)
7,121
Luanshya (African)
15,000
Mankoya (African)
1,017
Mulilo (African)
2,375
Mwanza (African)
2,779
Nkana-Kitwe(European)
Total
48,172
2,623
NORWAY
Hamar
1,327
Narvik
Stavanger
Vardø
Total
2,335
PAKISTAN,Lahore
PUERTO RICO,Arecibo
SAAR,Brebach
1,058
Cincinnati, Ohio
17,588
El Paso, Tex.
1,279
Milwaukee, Wis.
12,618
New Orleans, La.
5,482
Oakland, Calif.
11,460
Oklahoma City, Okla.
5,389
Portland, Oreg.
9,439
Pueblo, Colo.
4,761
Richmond, Va.
11,460
Salt Lake City, Utah
1,573
San Antonio, Tex.
7,543
San Diego, Calif.
14,538
Sioux City, Iowa
5,257
Tampa, Fla.
6,764
Total
139,208
3,760
VENEZUELA, Caracas
TOTAL AT THE ASSEMBLIES LISTED HERE 427,057 14,509
The Fight for Freedom to Preach World-wide
"The king granted the Jews . . . to stand for their life."—Esther
TEHOVAH God commands that this
8:11, AS.
good news shall be preached in all the world. (Matt. 24:14) Jesus warned: "You will be hated by all the nations on account of my name." (Matt. 24:9, NW) David declared: "Why do the nations rage, . . and the rulers take counsel together, against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us." (Ps. 2:1-3, AS) This means a fight to preach world-wide.
2 This world-wide fight today finds a parallel in ancient times. In the fifth century B.C. the Persian Empire was the world power. It was ruled over by Ahasuerus, who is commonly known in history as Xerxes. God's people were in captivity and scattered throughout that world. The wicked prime minister, Haman, sought to destroy all of God's people throughout the empire. (Esther 3:6) He tricked the king into signing an unchangeable decree of death for them. Jehovah then used the king's new wife, Esther. At the instance of Mordecai she intervened. A request was made for relief from the death sentence that had been ordered by the king. The
king granted Esther's request. He did not change the decree, but he ordered that all the Jews in each of the provinces and in every city should stand and fight for their lives. (Esther 8:11, 12) Jehovah's people gathered together in all the cities and provinces. They fought throughout that empire for their lives.—Esther 9:16.
Are not the modern-day witnesses of Jehovah in the same position as those ancient servants of God? Yes, exactly! We must fight world-wide for our lives. Since our lives are at stake we fight for freedom to preach. Jehovah has commanded us to preach the good news. Our lives depend on faithfully preaching it! In fact, necessity to do it is laid upon all of us. Woe is to every last one of us if we do not publicly and fearlessly declare the good news. (1 Cor. 9:16; Ezek. 3:20) Jehovah has stated: "If I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die,' and you say nothing to warn the wicked man from his way, that wicked man shall die for his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand." (Ezek. 33:8, AT) The only way we can expect to save ourselves is to preach and to declare the good news for the salvation of others.—1 Tim.
4:16.
4 The Devil is the invisible ruler of this present evil system of things. (2 Cor. 4:4) Does not Satan know the Scriptures? Surely he does! Did he not quote them to Jesus? (Matt. 4:6) He knows that the only way he can destroy Jehovah's witnesses, according to Ezekiel 33:8,9, is to force us to stop preaching in all the nations as commanded by Jehovah. He knows that if we do we shall suffer death. To attempt to stop us he, therefore, frames mischief by law against us throughout the world. Jehovah's revealed Word shows that we must, therefore, fight for freedom. Let us call it "The Fight for Freedom to Preach World-wide"!
Where does our freedom come from? Is it from the nations of this world and their rulers? No! Jehovah God is the author of freedom. With us there is liberty and freedom. As it is written at 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NW): "Now Jehovah is the spirit; and where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom." We have been set free by the Son of God, Jesus Christ. "If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Therefore if the Son sets you free, you will be actually free." (John 8:31, 32, 36, NW) We are blessed with that treasured liberty. But we must fight to hold it. It is knowing and talking the truth accurately that keeps us free.
6 Who was the first to possess this freedom? Jesus was the first to claim it. He was persecuted. He had to fight for his right to preach. He did this by carrying on without any protection from the Roman government. He declared the God-given right to preach. He gave this freedom to others. (Gal. 5:1) Did he claim any
guarantee as a citizen? No, he had no Roman citizenship. His citizenship was in heaven. He claimed the fundamental freedom to preach given by God. Was he afraid because he did not have any protection from Caesar's government? No! He declared his freedom with a boldness that was frightening. He showed his confidence in the power of Jehovah, the Giver of freedom. He said: "And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but can not kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna."—Matt. 10:28, NW.
7 Does this not show us that Jesus expected to be persecuted by the rulers because of his claiming the freedom given by Jehovah God? Yes! And Jesus also knew that the persecution would not spend itself on him or end with his death. He knew that every one of his followers would be persecuted even as he had been. Did he indicate that it would be confined to only a few nations? No! He showed that this persecution would come from all, every nation! He gave the reason. It would be because we bear his name. Jesus said: "If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also; . . . But they will do all these things against you on account of my name."—John 15:20, 21, NW; Matt. 24:9.
8 The mistreatment we receive is no surprise to us. It is not as though it were unexpected. (1 Pet. 4:12) Does it discourage us? No, it really encourages us. It proves to us that we are the ones worthy to bear his name. Jesus also mentioned our persecution as a sign of the approaching end of this wicked system of things. So we lift up our heads and rejoice. Persecution is a sure sign that our complete deliverance from the present evil system of things is rapidly approaching. "But as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near."
(Luke 21:28, NW) This gives us courage to push on in "the fight for freedom to preach world-wide."
FIGHTING WITHOUT GUARANTEE AGAINST PERSECUTION
9 Did the early followers such as the apostles and disciples give up the fight to preach the gospel world-wide because they did not have a license or guarantee against persecution from Caesar? Only one apostle was a Roman citizen. That was Paul. The others were Jews living under military occupation by Rome without any rights of Roman citizenship. They all kept on preaching boldly, as did Jesus, even though their rights were not guaranteed by Caesar. Paul's rights as a Roman citizen did not stop his persecution. Apparently he was persecuted more than some of the other apostles. They all had to fight for freedom to preach. The apostles could not be stopped by the absence of a license or guarantee from Caesar. They continued preaching. Many even gave up their lives for the good news.
10 They fought for freedom to preach the Word of God. Because they claimed the Jehovah-given freedom the early apostles were mobbed, arrested, persecuted, imprisoned and whipped with lashes. (Acts 4:3; 5:17-27) The false religionists could not bear to hear their cutting and piercing message. The apostles were accused of turning the world upside down. (Acts 17:6) They were commanded by the high priest not to preach any more in the name of Jesus. Peter and the apostles declared their bill of rights, their God-given freedom! They said: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men." (Acts 5:29, NW) The hatred of their preaching and freedom did not stop in courts. When they won their
cases before the judges and were discharged they were followed by the mob that attended the trial. Their persecutors beat them. (Acts 5:40) Did not justice done in the law courts drive the enemy mad?
11 What else happened because of the bold fight of the early church to preserve their freedom? It is commonly known that, after Jesus, Stephen was the first Christian martyr. He was forcibly brought by a mob to the Sanhedrin. There he gave an eloquent public witness. He was seized by the mob. They then dragged him to the edge of the city. They threw him out of town! There he was stoned to death outside the city limits. Saul (later to become the apostle Paul) was present and conspired with the killers of Stephen. (Acts 6:11-8:1) Do not forget, also, that King Herod had James beheaded with the sword.—Acts 12:2, AT.
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